Getting the Elevator

Today Michael came to get the elevator that has been sitting in the same spot since we moved in and took it up to his field.  He even got it working, sort of.  The kids and I enjoyed the "Moving of the Elevator" show.  It went much more smoothly than Shawn or Michael expected.

Tony Bonjiorni's 3rd Birthday Party

Linnaea put on an awesome party, as always, and the kids had a blast.  Paul was terrified to go into the pool and would only cling to the ladder.  He is going through a scared-of-everything phase.  They still managed to have a ball.  Paul made a little friend to play legos with.

Arr, Matey!

Pain D'Epi

Our first try at making Pain d'Epi, or wheat stalk bread.  It didn't last long!  Then, yesterday we made homemade pretzels.  They were a lot of work.  I couldn't get them very thin.  They turned out more like fat knots.  I did make a small circle with the extra dough and I think it turned out the best.

Cabbage Worm Genocide

I must have picked off at least 100 cabbage worms from my kale, broccoli and cabbage. I just tore the kale out because it was almost done anyway.  It seems to have helped.  I've only found a couple since.  Maybe the plants will survive.  I don't know if we'll end up with any tomatoes.  They did look really terrible, all yellow and purple.  I pinched off the ugly leaves and they are growing back green.  They are so small, though, that I don't know if I'll get any red tomatoes before fall or before the next disease hits them..

Grandma Speer's 60th Birthday Party

Joy helped me bake bread for the party.

Superheros!

Happy, Happy Birthday Grandma!!!  We love you!

Bible School

Bible School is going great so far.  Joy has been staying in class all morning.  It feels weird but wonderful not be be wearing a baby!  My games have been going well and we have a really nice group of kids.  

In the Barn

Two good friends, Cana and Johnna, love to have dinner nightly together.  They are great friends, unless we have forgotten to feed Cana for days.  Then she nips at Johnna and tries to eat all her food.  Paul is really into sweeping the barn these days.  Joy tries to help.

They Can Finally Play It Together......

...sort of:)

Visit with Max

We were so happy to get to visit with Keli and Max and Clay on Saturday.  The kids had a ball playing in the sprinkler and with all Max's toys.

I think Joy was worn out!

Not pictured is Shawn doing the Rachael Carson 35 mile hike that day.  He had terrible heat exhaustion and has still not recovered.  We are so glad he came home safely to us!

Erie Vacation

We had a wonderful time on our vacation to Erie.  It was just the right distance and just the right length of time (2 nights).  

First we went to Fun Fore All in Cranberry to break up the drive and so that the kids would get tired out to sleep the rest of the drive.  

Paul and Shawn had a blast on the go-karts and bumper boats.  

 At first, Joy wasn't really into anything.  She was scared of the noise of the ball blasters in the ball area.  Then she got over it and had fun carrying the balls around.  I followed her up the play area a couple times, but it was very claustrophobic feeling and hot up there.

We all had fun miniature golfing.  

Joy had fun dropping the ball down the "slide" and rushing down the steps to catch it.  

The bunk beds actually worked out very well. They both seemed to like them.

The beach was fun the first evening; they had a great time digging a giant hole and playing at the water's edge.  

Joy called the mound of dirt her "motorcycle" and had fun riding it and tipping over off of it.  

The next day was cold, so we went to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center instead of the water park.  We climbed the giant tower, looked at the exhibits and played in the discovery room.  The puzzles, bug bingo and animal puppets were hits.  

Seeing the world like a fly does

"Riding" a deer

 A "fancy dinner" at Serafini's.

It was cold and windy and VERY INSANELY buggy at the beach, despite the OFF.  They still managed to dig another giant hole though.

 Strangely, there was no tub in the family hotel room.  We had to wash the sand off Joy in a bucket!

 Daddy carrying everything under the sun!  We had tons of fun playing in the heated pool despite the chilly weather.  Paul met some fun friends.

Having a blast at the water park even though it was still pretty chilly.   

Another tired kid at the end of the day.  Joy slept all the way home and Paul was very good.