Rainy Start and Gorgeous Finish

We had a rainy week and the kids were not happy to have sports practice in the cold and rain.  Luckily we had gorgeous weather Thursday through Sunday!  We hope our family and friends are enjoying summer.  We are sending good thoughts to all.

Fog and blue sky peeking through the rain clouds Wednesday morning.

Addie is feeding the chipmunks at our house (just like she did and Annie and Bob's camp) and Addie had questions for Ms Annie.  SO, we had Annie and Bob over Saturday afternoon to catch up and to chat chipmunks with Addie.  While the pool was a little chilly for swimming, it was the perfect temp for cooling off the legs!  

Ms Annie taught the kids hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil:)

Ayson had a layered creation on a crostini

For flare, Ayson added a cherry on top...no, Ayson did not eat the cherry together with the garlic-cheesy goodness.

Addie helped Adam pull the onions and potatoes on Sunday.

 

Garden pics!

On Friday evening, Amy went to a new (to her) book store in Marcellus: "That's What She Read."  Instead of a bag, the purchased books were wrapped like a gift complete with ribbon and lavender!

Saturday evening sunset

It's Mid August!!

The week seemed to fly by way too fast!  Ayson helped Ms Annie with yard work, Addie attended a birthday party, and we hung out with friends over the weekend.  We hope everyone is doing well and we are sending good thoughts to all of our family and friends!!!

The boys building a fire after fun in the pool on Wednesday.

Addie practicing her hula-hoop skills at a birthday party Thursday evening

Ayson getting ready to go for a walk in the woods Friday afternoon

Such a goofball!

Friday night smores after swimming with friends!

Ayson made cookies and Addie watched so that she can try and make the cookies next time!

The boys went for another walk in the woods Sunday afternoon (while the girls swam).  The boys taking a break after their walk.

 

Summer Days and Happy Birthday Grandma Collene!

We hope everyone is enjoying summer!  We had hot days and then a bunch of rain days during the week.  The weekend was gorgeous weather!  Happy Birthday to Grandma Collene!!!

Adam had to document that Amy got in the pool!

On Friday night, Amy and Addie went to our friend Kate's house to "pet the pets"

Addie and Adam trying to do flips over the mat. Now Adam has a sore elbow...and neck...and foot...hahaha.

Amy did not capture any pics of Ayson BUT he was busy helping a neighbor with yard work and he taught himself how to light a fire with flint and steel AND he made a grape vine xylem water filter - Ayson is in a survivalist phase :)

 Thunder sitting in the vegetable basket - one batch of tomatoes have been canned!

Gorgeous flowers from the week!

Two milkweed pods

We have finally been finding monarch caterpillars on our milkweed!!

Unopended sunflower

An ity bity caterpillar

First moonflower of the season bloomed!

Happy Birthday Amy and a Visit with Grandma Collene and Mike

We had a good week of swimming, warm temps, and enough rain for the gardens.  We hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of August.  We are sending good thoughts to all our family and friends!!!

On Tuesday, Amy and Addie discovered a gorgeous monarch that may have just emerged from it's chrysalis (it's colors were so vibrant - BUT we did not find the chrysalis)!  SO, we had to look for more butterflies and caterpillars :)

We followed this monarch as it flitted from milkweed plant to plant.

Goofball Ayson

Swimming pool fun

The kiddos playing catch with Adam on Wednesday.

Even more pool fun.  Ayson was trying to flip the girls off the mat.

Happy Birthday to Amy!  Amy requested a carrot cake and a family kayak trip to Labrador :)

Grandma Collene and Mike visited on Saturday.  Thanks for the birthday gift, Grandma!!!

Addie eating a green pepper from the garden like an apple.  

The garden tour.

Saturday night, Addie and Kate went monarch egg hunting AND found eggs and caterpillars!!

The pool is so normal now that both sets of kiddos won't swim (too boring) unless the other family kids will swim.

A perfect night for smores!

Monarch egg

Close up of the egg

LOOK at the itty-bitty caterpillar - too cute!!!!

We got up early on Sunday and were on the water at Labrador Pond by 7:30!  What a gorgeous morning for a kayak excursion with the family!

We discovered more areas with pitcher plants!

Water lilies

Addie was looking for turtles while we were kayaking but we did not see any until we were loading the kayaks back on to the truck at 9:30 SO Amy had to get a picture of a turtle for Addie :)

Flowers from the week 

A crazy tall sunflower that seeded itself from last summer.