The problem with not keeping up with posting pictures is that all of this seems ages ago already... 😋
Cadence's field day was rainy. And it started on our way to school so I hadn't brought jackets or anything.
I was glad that we weren't sweating and getting sunburns.
That weekend we went to two graduation parties- Emily's first and then Cliff's. It was super nice out and the kids didn't want to leave either party. 😏 Also how is my youngest cousin already graduated??
Hard at work being a busy little farmer.
Emmy was soooo excited for pioneer day at school. Rachel loaned us a bonnet and apron (all the way from DeSmet!) and she wore Cecily's Elizabeth Cady Stanton dress. Not quite the right type of dress, but she looked very pioneer-ish. 😄
Bob turned the shower on to let the water warm up and left the room.... Mr. Perrin is not at all remorseful for putting his clean pants into the shower. 😂
We made it to the last day of school!! Hip hip, hooray! Cadence wanted a picture with Zulihka.
And with her teacher. :) Compared to the first day of school.
Emmy loved 3rd grade.
Cecily made it through 5th grade!
Bob brought home a milkshake one day and I'm not sure he got to drink any of it. Ha. Not that he wanted too after these three shared it.
Sleds are not just for winter. It's like a mashup of 'Luncheon of the boating party' and 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.' 😁
Just sailing, in the front yard, under the apple maple tree.
Brent and Galen et al were in W-ton Memorial Day weekend so we spent Sunday evening at the condos. The girls had fun with their second cousins (how are we related? are we related? what's a second cousin? sigh.)
Memorial Day we remembered.
And then we played in the woods. Dad brought over a picnic table that has been in the shed.
We checked out the logging trails.
We walked in the creek. Even the grandma! 😁
Perrin was not all that impressed. It was a little mossy so the littlest waders mostly wanted to be carried, but the rest of us thought it was quite refreshing.
Then we ate a lot of snacks.
Dad cut Emmy a walking stick and she spent the rest of the day peeling the bark and sanding it.
Oh these kids are something else... Emmy and Cadence are making cookies, Miriel is "I want to help!," and Perrin is trying to nonchalantly look innocent in the background because he knows he's not supposed to be messing with the piano books.
And Cecily is reading. 😁
Oh! A worm.
Fun with the water table.
And the sprinkler. It wasn't that hot and the sprinkler was cooooooold.
So Michelle and Nathan have moved back to IL (woot woot!) and they had a work day at their new house the day after they closed. I dropped off Cecily and Emmy (obstensibly to help work) and Perrin and I went on to Gridley to Nina's graduation party. My other youngest cousin. How did they get so grown up?? Back at N&M's, Cecily had turned a garbage bag into a paint shirt and helped with the painting, I don't remember what Emmy said she did before she went home with Bob and the other two.
There were a lot of people there and I'm not sure I was much help in the little bit that I was there. Perrin was just staring at Thalia...
Galen and Betty had us for pizza Sunday evening. Their chalk art is a little bit more sophisticated than at our house. :)
Betty pulled Cadence's wiggly tooth. haha... I don't do teeth. Cadence is missing all four front teeth now. :D
They were inspired to re-chalk our driveway.
We took a walk to Pinky's on a lovely evening.
Emmy was begging to go berry picking last year, and it didn't happen because, Perrin. I haven't taken them before since I don't overly enjoy picking strawberries- it's usually hot and humid and I'm a wimp.
They said spring weather and lack of rain made it not a great crop this year, and we went to the last day that they picked, so we weren't overwhelmed by berries (fine by me).
There was less complaining than expected.
And these two gooses did pretty well. We only had to chase Perrin a few times. Miri wore her strawberry shirt.
They all thought the wagon ride was the best part. Ha. It was a fun experience, I guess, but I still think I'd rather make jam with FFA strawberries that get delivered to my door, no sweating involved.
It was kind of a chilly first lake day and the kids spent most of their time in boats or fishing.
Leanne had the kids do a relay race to make a breakfast casserole.
Guys against girls. It was hilarious.
The competition was fierce.
Messy, and so fun.
Ending the evening with volleyball and ice cream.
I took the kids to "help" at the house again. Perrin was helping Grandpa.
The girls and I washed out closets and wiped down trim. I spy 3/5.
Then it was T-fest time! We ate supper at merchant's night.
Perrin is always up for eating.
Face paint, friendship bracelets, and Pinky's cones.
"Aunt Rita won't know we are washing her walls!" Miri was a little confused about who lives where and when, but she's a big helper. She also doesn't stop talking when she's excited.
The golden key made it's appearance. It looks right at home! So that little tree Miri is standing next to is in a small, indoor rock garden. (Perrin's pretty sure the rocks are for him to throw.) With two hidden lights among the rocks. Super cool era specific design feature. Hehe.
Sadly, the disco bulbs Matt brought didn't fit in the rock garden spotlights, so he put them in the store room and the girls had a silent dance party. 😂
They found Grandpa's paint hat.
Emmy and Cadence were begging to paint something so we started priming the basement paneling. It was a patience building process and they didn't do to badly. :)
Turkey sandwiches at the park for supper!
Saturday I signed up to make sandwiches, and Sunday was the parade. It was chilly.
Not that anybody minded.
Lila asked Cecily to help her carry the marching band banner, which I loved.
They got lots of candy, and lots of squishy corn cobs, and thus ended T-fest 2023.
Sunday evening there was a really big supper and singing at the fellowship hall- So many people. So loud. So overstimulating. But it was also a really nice evening. :)
Monday morning bright and early we started swimming lessons! And Monday evening started Bible School! We're nuts!
It was cold. The pool was warmer than the air, poor kids. 😆
They didn't have all three of our levels at the same time slot this year so we got to hang out from 10:30-11:30. Woot. Emmy and Miriel both had small classes, which was really nice. Miri was so excited... she had the biggest grin on her face the whole time, even when she stuck her head under water. 😂
Hanging out with his buddy Abe at the lake.
The older girls were cold again.
And more mornings at the pool. The two yahoos on the left mostly paid attention to their teacher. 😄And it was only slightly awkward for me.
Perrin is here for the pool snacks. On the warmer mornings he got to splash in the kiddie pool, which he sometimes loved.
Cecily sat in the shade and finished at least two books.
We got all of Grandma B's strips sewn together end to end, so now we are starting to sew horizontal seams- it's a little bit harder and some of us are more excited than others.
Emmy has been making hollyhock dolls for everyone, which I love. Since four kids were at VBS and I had nothing else to do (not) I dissected a hollyhock, traced it to make a pattern and sewed a felt flower.
It's so cute.
And then I made it into a felt hollyhock doll. I love it, and it won't wilt!
Don't ask. 😁
This is how Perrin feels about being dragged to a dance class put on by the library.
Emmy's best friend's mom is a dance instructor and the girls had so much fun!
We made it through VBS week! Miriel thought it was the best thing ever and her step stool is the best thing ever.
Cadence made a stepping stone this year.
Magnet board...
Initials... now to find homes for all of this.
It doesn't help that I keep making my own projects that take up space... ha. I had some leftover tie ends that I made a small wall hanging out of. Mostly because the thought of throwing them away just seems sacrilege.
We went to the farm for supper on Father's day. The haymow is almost empty and the older kids were having a great time up there.
It's pretty rare to see this floor. I put the camera on night mode; Cadence and Emmy were still enough, Jack and Gideon kind of faded... 😁
The guys played a board game, of course.
I wanted to see the original floor plans for the farm house so Dad dug them out. It didn't get built exactly like the plan, and a few things have been taken out/added since 1938. I was looking at room sizes, since I know how these rooms feel to move around in and how they feel with people in them.
And then we pulled out Grandpa and Grandma's old house in town. This is such a good house. It's what I mean by an 'apostolic house.' It was built to host, but it was also cozy enough/ the space was flexible enough that it didn't feel too big for everyday life either. And the big open basement with a second kitchen- it was the unofficial fellowship hall for a long time. Anyway, good Father/daughters bonding time over floor plans.
Cheesy face at the pool again for swimming week 2!
This week has been more relaxed, though these two neeeeeded to make cupcakes. I will not stand in your way, cake is the best thing ever. :)
Blessings.
