Dance class

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After-dinner entertainment

Such a good evening...got to go to Farmington Gardens (alone!) during Bunny's softball practice (how many tomato plants is "too many"?), came home to a yummy dinner of burgers, and now some post-dinner fun:








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Rain or shine

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Playground's done!

Well, the playground's ~almost~ done, we decided to put the slide on, and buy a second slide for the berm. That will be later this week. But the kids have been out there nonstop all weekend even without the slide.





View from the guest room:


Poor Gemma, she can't go out until the fence is done next week (well, she can go out, but then I have to be right by her side b/c she will run off otherwise).


We already had some of the cousins over yesterday and they seemed to like it. ;o). We're looking forward to a fun summer enjoying our "new" backyard!

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How are the chickens doing?

The chickens are crazy! They are growing so fast! They eat a lot...they are making bigger messes...they spill their water all the time...they pester me when I walk in...they squawk so loud!...

Oh wait, you were asking about the ~birds~ weren't you? They're doing fine too.



Look at the crazy flapping one in the bottom right corner:


Dinnertime:


Trying to get through a weak spot in the door...our very own Chicken Run.


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Vulture

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Outdoor updates

When we left for Mass, this is what we saw in our driveway:


Our new fencing!! I am so SO excited to get a fence in our backyard. In a week, I will be able to work in the garden without wondering where Gemma went off to.

After we got home, I fine-tuned the staked-out fence line. We had to move one little tree, but that's ok because Marcus rotated it so now it looks better out our window.


If you look in the above picture just beyond the trike, you can see where my octagonal "garden perch" will be. This little deck will also be the access to the fire pit on the 2nd level. In the photo below, it is just beyond my perennial bed:


The view from my perch:


And finally...what the kids are most excited over. A play structure! Might be done tomorrow, but if not, then next week.


Now the question is, what took us so long? Oh well, at least we're getting to it now. Yeah!

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Today's events

On Thursday mornings we go into town for school Mass. It was Bunny's 2nd Communion! They were (relatively) good kids so we went out for doughnuts.


Gemma is a big girl, she gets a whole cake doughnut to herself now.


After doughnuts, we went to the library and returned about a bazillion books. Then we borrowed a bazillion more. We got home at lunchtime. Poor Gemma was beat:


She couldn't even stay awake long enough to finish her cookie.

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Happy birthday, Erica!

Some flowers for you, just like the ones I picked for you when you were born.


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Last hurrah with grandma

We had one last hurrah with grandma before she left. She took us all to Target to pick out some treats...Bunny chose a Star Wars figure and a Lego minifig, Mariposa chose high-heel shoes, a tiara, and clip-on earrings, and James wanted to save his money and buy something later. (that night, Marcus went on EBay and they bought some legos)


Our favorite airport eatery--Ikea!


The kids and grandma...they miss her already.


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Eliot's dance recital

Bunny, Mariposa, and I had the pleasure of attending Eliot's dance recital. It was so cute! The recital had a Disney theme...think Mulan, Mickey, princesses, pirates, etc. Here is the little princess:





Freestyle!





Daddy/daughter dance:





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Bunny's First Eucharist

Bunny and Aidan received their first Eucharist yesterday at 8:30 am Mass.


Grammae made Bunny's headband and veil.


I made Bunny's dress, and she chose a blue ribbon to wear around her waist (can't see it in this pic) just like Our Lady when she appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes.


Bunny and Aidan sang "Shine, Jesus, Shine" while James and Mariposa played percussion.


A lovely brunch afterwards to celebrate such a special day!


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Track meet

We were so lucky to have grandma here for a favorite annual event--the Elks/Elden Kellar track meet. This is an awesome kids' event at the local high school track where kids of all ages can try the different events, win ribbons, and have ice cream. For the purpose of this blog, I narrowed my plethora of pictures down to just one of each child:
James' attempt at the long jump...


Mariposa is our field events girl...


Gemma loves running (usually it's away from me)...


Bunny attempted the hurdles...


All the kids participated in all the events, and the won a lot of ribbons. They loved hanging out with their cousins, having grandma there, the challenge of the events, and of course the ribbons and ice cream.

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Grandma is here!

Breakfast before the track meet.


Momblog


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A peace offering

Marcus got home yesterday from a 4-day trip. He was really sorry for all the traveling he's had to do this year, so he had to make one more trip...to my favorite jewelry store in NW Portland:


c. 1940s estate emerald


The best gift of all, of course, is that he only has one day-trip scheduled in the next month! Ok, I'm lying, the ring is the best gift of all. ;o)

Someone else likes green things, too:


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A royal affair

Back in the last week of April we went to a Royal Wedding Watch party--grammae had recorded the early-morning wedding of Will & Kate since we couldn't be there in person (it's not that the Queen didn't INVITE us of course, we just couldn't attend the wedding since we had prior commitments, yeah, that's it). So we did the next best thing. Grammae made a chocolate biscuit cake (the groom's cake):


We worked on our hats and fascinators:


Some of us dressed up for the occasion:




















A great time was has by all!


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