1 My friend Brie - we are trying to figure out how to use these tie things to tie off 250 water balloons. We also tested the launcher for the end of school party :) Tonight a massive trebuchet showed up at my doorstep courtesy of a wonderful friend who shall remain nameless :) Otherwise he might be swamped for requests...ha!
2 The lilac is blooming! We planted this with Nana and PopPop last summer. So fun to see some buds!
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4 This is "Nana's" dahlia - it's a huge purple one that has large blooms shaped like a crepe paper ball, or something. It's really cool. Looks like the bulb survived winter and is coming back! I was beginning to wonder because it was delayed far behind all the other plants which rebounded sooner.
5 The first rose bud :) The deer like to eat this plant, but I put up a new fence around it. So far so good.
6 Weeded the whole path and mulch area, and under the blue spruces to the right of the shed. I also moved and restacked wood.
7 Dave brought this great spread out for the family. That is bread I made yesterday. Got my starter resuscitated after taking a winter off - I was just too busy to be inspired creatively. It's fun to have it back from the brink of disgusting-ness. It had a layer of mold on it but I knew I could get it going again. Sure enough - two weeks later it's revived and strong again!
8 Good irregular crumb structure and crust. Yay!
9 Sunday afternoon cubing and snake talking. I taught Ben about symmetry - one snake is more symmetrical than the other. The python (in Sam's lap) appears to be smiling on one side of his face but not the other. Dave is testing how to send pictures to my mom with his iPad.
10 More peeking in on baby chicks while out on a run in the morning before the kids get up...
11 Eating outside again!
12 Messing with Sammy :)
13 These movies are from the "Snake Dance Party" of June 2013. It was a celebration that Ben was back, no fever, and feeling better!
14 Second dance...
15 Now Sam is joining in...gets more wild!
16 Practicing for flag football Fridays - we are organizing it so the kids can play over the summer.
17 Decided to memorize the German words to Schiller's "Ode to Joy" - on the to-do list for a long time, so now I can sing it any time!
18 Sam learning to mow the lawn! He even used a machete to clear the trails this weekend.
19 He did so great!
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21 A new tradition has sprung up - "Sunday plate." I make bread and Dave procures yummy things for it!
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23 A math game the school has the kids do.
24 The Wilkes grass field has gorgeous wildflowers. I love picking them and bringing them home. I'm amazed at the variety of grasses.
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26 Second Sunday plate! We call neighbors to let them know this is here. This time neighbor kids came by :)
27 My bread-baking is back on track.
28 This was a very funny end to the math mentoring I do. This was the last Monday of the year...
29 More wildflowers for a friend who hosted coffee and muffins on her boat Monday morning.
30 Learning how to use a catapult - I had to call Dave and explain why dinner wasn't progressing, but this was so much fun!
31 Don't worry - looks dangerous but really isn't too bad.
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35 The hands look like he is doing Gangnam Style!
36 Those things got really launched high and behind him!
37 These next may be Ben doing it.
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39 Here comes Ben!
40 More catapulting!
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42 At one point Ben got this board right in the mouth - he did it "Slow Mow" as he calls it, but that meant the board just lazily flipped back up to where his mouth is. I was on the phone with Dave when it happened, so as soon as I saw he was just fine, I laughed so hard! Poor Ben, though - mommy laughing when something funny happens!
43 Daddy made a great farm breakfast which we got to eat outside!
44 Making throwing sticks and using a science poster display board as a target.
45 With neighbor and friend Ian, who is going into 5th grade.
46 Whittling with new pocket knife - he is very responsible! We had a LOT of shavings to clean up afterwards :)
47 Tito Pig says he remembers doing this!
48 Sharp point! So you see summer activities to date - only 2 days of summer vaca underway so far and we are cubing and making throwing "knives."
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50 Father's Day treats after church in Poulsbo!
51 There's Daddy!
52 And finally home...Sam found a beautiful garter snake, so we are showing him our toy snake. Both tongues are out at once. :)
53 And my roses are in bloom!
54 Ocean spray - a native bush. Really pretty in bloom.