from the garden

lights out

We had a storm blow through with strong winds last Friday.  It left us with some clean-up and without power for 47 hours!  Thankfully, our neighbor did have power and allowed us to plug in our frig, chest freezer, and sump pump.  The rest was all just an inconvenience.

I didn't completely get 2 days off laundry though, I'm looking forward to being past the bed-wetting phase.

Despite the storm, Bryan still competed in our city's 10k race.  He's always been athletic, but he's never been a long distance runner.  I'm proud of him for being so disciplined to get to this point!

father's day campout

 

 

 

 

 

mom-n-kids roadtrip 2013

I think this was the third mom-n-kids roadtrip we have done, with our destination always being Grandpa's farm.  We missed last summer, so the kids didn't remember our previous trips.

 

The day before we left, the kids and I went to a feed store to buy a bale of straw to use as mulch in our garden.  You know you live in the city when you pay $7.45 for one bale of straw!  And you know you have city kids when you go into the store and they are all covering their noses and gagging from the smell!  Smelled good to me - smelled like childhood.  It was definitely time for a trip to the farm.

 

Here they are ready to go!  I packed a lunch, two sacks of snacks, seven screens, and of course all their cuddlies.

Picnic lunch in the truck stop.  I think we've had rain almost every day of June.

We spent the first night at the campground my parents manage.  I failed to take any pictures.  But the kids had fun riding in the golf cart, helping in the office, and having a campfire.

The next day, we arrived at Grandpa's farm.  The kids dove right in to farm-living.  Who needs toys when you have a horse to feed grass out of your hand to?

Who needs a playground when you have bales of hay to climb?

And who needs a swimming pool when you have a sea of tall grass to get lost in?

 

And who needs a TV when you have old buildings to explore?

 

 

And who needs a port-a-potty when there's...noone for miles and miles?!

Grandpa hitched up the buggy and gave us rides.  Can you believe this man is 90 years old?



 

I really wanted a picture of Grandpa and I on the buggy, so I showed Brett how to point-and-shoot...

 

I always appreciate how quiet it is when we are on the farm.  Even in the suburbs it is never completely quiet.

The "thrills" of the farm were a delight, and I'm thankful the kids got to create some memories that they can look back on. 

The following night, we stayed at a hotel, which, of course, the kids loved, too.  Here is a nice action shot of Brett pushing Reggie head-first down the water slide!  Fortunately, Reggie loves it.   These boys are going to keep me on my toes this summer!