Some of our Summertime Activities

The boys and I rode our bikes down to the BMX park and discovered that they loved it just as much as last year!  George is eagerly awaiting his turn to try it out--I did see a little boy on a Strider bike, but its not gonna be George...there was just one injury--Mr. O.  He hobbled around for awhile, but was okay after that.  He proved to be the leader in flying down Whoop-Up Drive.  Likes to go fast on that bike of his!  Tommy also made it up Whoop-Up on his own this year!  Last year I had to rig his bike up onto mine.  Progress!

Some random pics:

This kid ends up in our bed just about every night.  He is so cuddly and cute isn't he?

James had a fabulous trip down to Kansas with Lloyd to visit Jane--and brought back these KU souvenirs.  Perhaps he'll do up his own post about his trip...

Mr. Cute being cute in every way, even when its messy.

Trees!  They provide shade and privacy!  We know it takes years...but you gotta start somewhere, right?s

We called the city early this spring and asked if they would consider planting trees in the green space behind our house.  They said we could have two trees and they would plant them.  I was envisioning some leafy green trees, but instead they came and planted about 7 or 8 of these beauties.  I guess they will provide privacy in the winter months as well?

Super exciting--James and I purchased three trees of our own to put in our backyard.  This is our Adventure tree--an apple tree with 5 different types of apples on it.  It is still standing after experiencing 4 hail storms since its planting of less than 3 weeks ago.  The leaves are tattered and torn, but we're hopeful that photosynthesis will still be able to occur.

I am very excited about this Maple tree, as is James.  It just seems important to have a maple tree when you live in Canada, doesn't it?  And I think the leaves will be Reddish, which is saying a lot because there are hardly any reddish leaves around here in the fall.  The third tree is a Russian Olive--don't know why we didn't get a pic of that label.  I know a lot of people dislike them but I LOVE them.  They are so pretty to me and they are significant to James and I--Russia and all.  So yes, now we are praying over three small and delicate trees.  Someday maybe our yard will have shade!

I asked my friend who sews if she would teach my three oldest boys some sewing this summer.  She agreed, if I would teach her and her girls violin!  So we have been doing a switcharoo, which is working out well for everyone.  Here's what the boys have made so far (she said it would take all semester in a home ec class to do these two projects!):

Owen posing with his gigantic pillow--he had to sew the pieces of green together in groups of 4 first, the sew the big sides together.  He had fun stuffing it and was very careful to stuff the corners first.  He enjoyed making these cool summer pj shorts too, and even did his own elastic band, which baffles me every time.

Will chose the softest fabric available for his cool leopard-skin pillow.  He had the biggest smile of all when he came in to show me his completed pj shorts.  He was pretty proud of himself and all that sewing he did!

Ryrie chose the most difficult pillow option--the pillow case.  He stuck with it even though he had to unpick quite a bit at first.  He got Really fast on the machine--kinda scared me at times!  And he was careful to do a zigzag on his pants on all the seams, so they won't fall apart he said!