Ode to Keera

So Keera loves any sort of hat, headband, tiara, barrets, really any sort of head gear. If she finds something around that can go on her head, she puts it on. So this was the look she was working today...

Another Successful Day at Being a Kid!

So today was just one of those fun outside days. We grabbed some groceries first thing and got home around 10:30am and we were outside the rest of the day. I got Ella a new swim suit and of course she wanted to wear it, so I figured eh, why not. When Keera got up from her nap, she got her swim suit on too. So because they had their suits on, why not turn on the sprinklers... They (Ella) loved it. All the kids really love being outside and if we are outside they entertain them selves (for the most part). Jay got home early today (ya!) and started working on phase 3 of the pergola. He almost got done, and prob. would have if he didn't have so many interruptions (dentist, meals, helping a buddy move some furniture) well he could prob. be finishing it up right now but he's out shooting the breeze with the neighbours, which he loves to do. He works hard so I'll let him off easy tonight :) So I took ALOT of pics today, I'll do my best to not to upload too many.

Our 'waterslide'

Smilie Keera (yes her hats too small, she's got a big nogg'n)

If it was a football we'd have something here!

I get many of these 'treats' through out the day. Sometimes they are apple pies, sometimes blueberry, some times it's soup and sometimes it's cake.

Jayme's big helper. She LOVES helping her Dad.

I told her to 'model' and this is what I got...not too bad, as I don't think she's ever heard that word before, lol!

Action shot (arn't they all with Ella?)

Jett climbing over the wood. He always must climb over things than go around.

Jett's hang out spot while Jay was working.. untill he turned the saw on, Jett was not a fan of the saw.

I hope the girls look back and really love this picture. This is about the 10th shot of this as I had to MAKE Ella put her arm around her sister and she was not happy with me about it. (no naps i'm sure added to the anger) but I think it's such a cute picture! You'd also never guess from this pic they are less than a year apart in age!

Ella testing out Dad's work so far on the day bed. This cracked me up!

Keera trying it out too.

and we finish with Jett eating a mop. (this is for you Jen)

Ella the Photographer

So Ella got a hold of my camera, and I just let her take some pics... her is a sample of her work. She had quite a few more of me, but she was NOT getting my best angle.

Pergola Curtains

So I have a vision.... a vision of a beautiful pergola, flowie curtains, and me lying on a soft day bed with lots of pillows, Jayme rubbing my feet by a warm summer fire and I'm sipping on pina colada punch.

So we finished phase 2 today (phase 1 being build the pergola) Phase 2 was pergola curtains. They blow more than I thought they would, so have to weigh them down. Even the rocks Ella was putting on them weren't holding them down. We attached them with Velcro, so they are removable, and they do add to the shade factor which is nice!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

So pics from my first 'sproutings'. It's fun to see Ella so into it! She also really like watering the garden as well. Though you do have to watch her with a hose; she's learned too many tricks from her father! Keera, eh, she can take or leave the garden, but she really enjoyed planting it with Grandma!

Radishes


Lettuce


Peas

Fluke...

It was a fluke that I had a camera right there, that she was singing and that she didn't stop once I started taping!! Sorry it's back-lit, but you can still hear her beautiful voice :) ...oh and sorry I don't know how to edit out Keera's bare bottom at the end, lol!

Diner...

So a couple fun things at diner tonight.... I was at the sink, cooling the cauliflower and Jay was getting Ella to say the blessing on diner. I do the one eyed peek to see who's doing what (aka make sure nobodies eating) and what do I see.... my little man Jett sitting in his high chair with his arms folded participating in family prayer, it was so STINK'N CUTE!! It brought a tear to my eye, that he's that grown up already and that he's picked that up already. I have to admit we haven't even taught or done it with him, figuring he's too young. He showed us!

And also, I got good deal on breaded sole fillets today at superstore; 50% off (reg. $13.99 so $7 for 2 meals= $3.50 for a fish meal, pretty good!) anyways the girls were asking what was for diner, what i was making and we've learned we can't call it fish, so i was stalling/ignoring the question and Ella says "Mom it's like Chicken Nuggets!" So that's what we went with. Well wouldn't you know it was the first think off BOTH girls plates! I was quite excited. They've liked fish before when we've served it, but that was last summer (when I was on a more healthy kick) and really it's a crap shoot every day what they'll eat from one day to another. But I was just happy they ate a very healthy meal. Oh and they both gobbled up their cauliflower too, but Ella is a free that way. She LOVES broccoli and cauliflower.

So diner time went quite well tonight! and I'm off tomorrow to buy more Sole!

Potato Salad...

So if you are a relative, on Jayme's side, then I'm sure the first thing you thought of when you read my title is Grandma Hough's potato salad; it's the BOMB.

So I thought I'd give it a go and make it for our Church potluck tomorrow. I feel like I'm pretty proficient in the kitchen so shouldn't be too hard... well. .. how many times have I called Grandma over the last 24hours? Seriously alot! I'm kinda a stickler for details in recipes and she gives recipes like I give them (a taste of my own medicine I guess). I'll have to give her credit. I never really knew how much effort went in to one of her big bowls of potato goodness. But now I know.

It might of helped if I didn't try to do a massive about, using 10lbs of potatoes and 14 eggs. And who knew that Super stores eggs would be so fresh that they would not peel!! What a pain. So sorry Lloyd branch if there are some shell's in your potato salad tomorrow. I ended up having to mix it all together in my big roasting pan, with my bare (gloved) hands! (If you watch Diners Drive-ins and Dives then you'll know this is actually how all the good places it do it :) ). Jayme did taste it and said it does seem pretty close. At that point I was just aiming for eatable.

So hats off to Grandma Hough and her potato salad...

Mail...

So there was a nice little treat in my mail box yesterday! A package! Who doesn't like packages. Wasn't expecting one, so that made it better, AND then it was even addressed to ME, even BETTER! So what was it you ask.... it was a VERY cute apron and a very sweet card from my MIL (mother-in-law for those not up on the abbreviations). It was thanking me for doing their taxes (crazy easy). She already cleaned my house when she was here, that was thanks enough and really not an equal trade (I made out better on that one for sure, you should see how messy my house can get!). and then to get a cute 'hot house-wife' apron to boot, I'm a lucky gal. Thanks Sharon! You made my day. I'll have to post pics of the apron, it is really cute! Cute fabric and cute design. Jayme quite liked it too!

Gardening

I am sooo NOT a gardener. AT. ALL. Not my forte. But I was out this morning pulling weeds from our garden spot. I am kinda excited to reap the rewards of a garden, but not so much in putting in the work. Also excited for the kids to experience growing a garden. They are growing 'rattlesnake' beans Right now, from an art class they went to a week and a half ago. The are just about to start coming up so that Will be exciting.

As for what we are planting, these I know for sure, raspberries, strawberries, lettuce, sweet peas (flowers), and prob. green/yellow beans. I want to do a herb section too for sure. Corn might be fun too. and maybe squash... ohhh we could maybe even try and do our own pumpkins! The kids would love that! OK, I am excited to have a garden, I'll admit it. But again, I don't want to do the work.