Feeding the Birds

Yesterday we dropped stuff, by stuff I mean crafts and paintings and other handmade items, off at the Ancaster Fair. The boys always get so excited...if the win first, second or third, they get money. And so that is probably why they get so excited. One year Brendan got $23.oo. That's a lot of money to a little guy. So now we wait until the results are in! While dropping stuff off, a nice old man gave the boys some Indian Corn to feed the birds. Joshie was so excited to feed the birds. So today after home school, we sat on the back porch throwing corn into the yard for the birds and Joshie kept saying, "come birdies, it's okay, here's some corn, come birdies". He couldn't understand why they wouldn't come to him...

Joshie and our 8 year old...

We went to our good friends Stephen and Rebecca's on Sat. They have 3 beautiful little boys. And the live on a farm!! Our boys were in their glory. They got to see the cows be milked, ride a 4 wheeler and climb hay bales. They also go to swim in a great pool and have a camp fire. When the kids were having fun on the hay bales, we told Joshie to be careful, and he said, "I'm okay, I'm this big" (with his hand on his head) ...it was so cute.

Brendan also turned 8 on Sat... 8... EIGHT! I can hardly believe it...that is so old. I can't believe that our first little boy is getting so big. He is such a sweet heart. We are so blessed to have him as our boy. We had fun with him as we celebrated, first with his friends on Saturday morning, at the farm on Saturday night and then on Sunday with my family. Lots of celebrating, lots of cake, lots of presents and lots of fun!! He brings our family JOY...because that is how he chooses to be every day...joyful!

The Z Team

Yesterday wasn't such a great day. We did school. We went to the beach. We met our home school group there. Yesterday, my sweet husband helped at the church at night so he didn't meet us at the beach...and the kids and I had a really tough time. It actually wasn't much fun, even though yesterday's post said it was...it wasn't much fun at all. Well I guess it was sorta fun when our sweet baby had a nap...moving on...

Today, was a great day. We still did school. We went to the beach again. We met our home school group there again So not much was different in terms of what we did...BUT...I decided to smile. I decided to try and make the best of a busy situation. And my husband came to the beach for dinner and a short camp fire. Things went smoothly, and the kids had fun, and I had fun, and Bryan had fun. He's great. And we work as a champion team together. What would I ever do without him? Seriously, I have no idea, when I need a break from the kids and the kids need a break from me, along comes Daddy and everything seems much brighter again! I am blessed.

First day back...

I really like home schooling, and today was our first day back. But it did not go as smoothly as I would have hoped. But it wasn't too terrible either. It is good to get back into things and establish routine again...but Keegan wasn't thrilled with hitting the books and Aliah is getting into stuff...so, it wasn't a great morning, but tomorrow is a new day, with a new beginning and we will hope for better times!

On a side note...I did take the kids to the beach this afternoon, because the weather is so awesome, and we had fun. And that is the beauty of home schooling, we can just pack up and go any time of the day...

Smile Buttons

I have been thinking a lot about memories lately. In my bible study and my home school preparation for this coming year, I have been encouraged to remember God's faithfulness in my life and in my family's lives. One fun memory that just came back to me this morning involves my brothers, especially my brother Mike and my mom. Mike has killer cute dimples, and as a little boy, he was so cute. He had really curly hair, beautiful eyes and a super cute smile! I remember my mom always calling his dimples smile buttons...because whenever you pressed them, he would smile. And she would do it to Greg, Dan and I too. I decided to try it out on my kids this morning, and you know what, smile buttons work!! They actually started giggling, and so did I. Awwww, memories!! (Doesn't Aliah have great smile buttons!)

What does the best camping trip ever, calamine lotion and itching all have in common?? Chicken Pox! Brendan has chicken pox, and he has them very bad...they are even in his mouth...poor guy. I feel so bad for him. But he is brave and hardly itches...he is s tough guy. I think all the Popsicles he wants to eat helps a little. Now the wait is on...who will get them next??

Summer Holidays

Sweet summer holidays. I love them. And this year they have been the best! We just got back from camping in Tobermory. It was seriously the best camping trip ever. For the first 3 days Greg, Rachel and Tyler were there...and so were my wonderful parents...and Dan was there too. We had such a great time with them. Going for ice cream, hiking in God's magnificent creation, swimming, going for a girl's dinner out and sitting around a camp fire every single, rainless night!! We also had Bryan's brother Mike come up for 2 nights...and that was also very nice. Then we had a couple days with just our own little, well actually large, family. I LOVE camping and vacationing!! We did splurge on one little camping luxury this year, which actually made the trip most enjoyable...we stayed in a one roomed cabin. We still had to cook outside...walk to the comfort station...live outdoors...get dirty and camp fire smelly...but Aliah could take her naps in the quiet of an almost sound proof cabin...it was worth every penny we spend on it. I have made this camping trip out to sound like the most perfect of trips...and to be honest, it wasn't perfect, but I don't think it could have been any better.