Summer Break is here!!

Finally finally finally!  The long awaited summer break is here.  Life is so much better when Phil is around!!  It just is!  We are still as busy as ever but it is a different kind of busy...family busy, project busy, errand busy. 

I don't think I will ever tire of creatures tucked into their blankets in various locations around the house.  This is on the floor of our room among the baskets of laundry waiting to be folded.


Phil had a conference in Portland so we decided to make an evening of it and have a picnic dinner at the zoo.  We picked him up and arrived at the zoo just as the crowds were leaving.  We were able to stroll along at a brisk pace, thoroughly wear the children out, and leave at 7:00 when the grounds closed.  Perfect!
The cougar

After a couple of weeks of playing with food, Glorielle decided to actually start eating!!  She eats regular meals with us and feeds herself whatever the rest of us are eating.  Here she is eating raspberries and fig bars.

When the storm clouds are just right, the hillside behind our house lights up in the evening sun.  I love looking up the hill and seeing the lamp post!

And so it begins....you can see the various paint colors that we tried out.  It was a long week of 1-2 trips to Sherwin Williams daily looking at swatches, buying samples, buying more samples.  We finally decided on a dark purple with green and orange trim (yes, its wild!).  The windows have broken seals so they need to be replaced.  The siding in the front of the house has dry rot.  Phil has quite the summer project ahead!

On a side note, I do have to brag on our children for a minute.   They were so patient and well behaved with the numerous car rides and waiting in the store.  On one such trip, I had been looking at samples while they sat patiently for a good 30 minutes at a table with scissors and a sample of their choosing to make shapes with (clever, yes?).  Then, the man helping us let each of the older 3 make their own paint sample (computer buttons and machines and all!).  While all this was going on, a man waiting for his paint asked if he could treat me and the children for how well behaved they are and handed me a 20 dollar bill!  What a blessing.  We were able to take the children out to ice cream on one occasion and "coffee" (hot chocolate) on another.

June garden tour

Angel's Fishing Poles 

My most favorite....sweet peas! 

Green green green! 

Chard and peppers 

Our first kiwi!

In the garden, we have chard, kale, lettuce, peas (shelling, snap, and snow), carrots, onions, strawberries and raspberries that are ready!  We have a handful of cherry tomatoes, gooseberries, and currants that are on the verge of being ripened.  I love being able to serve fresh fruits and veggies at meals!
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