Other Places

Enjoying a warm afternoon, after a cold rainy morning

Out in the rain, while I stayed inside to drink tea and crochet!

This little guy is crazy about slides .... crazy!

Our little Mud Monster, so much mud, his pants were falling down!

Playing the new lunch kit drums

Sometimes they actually play with all that cardboard stuff we've made!

I've had my mind in other places, and now it is actually taking us somewhere! We are planning a trip to Scotland and we couldn't be more thrilled! I've been spending a ridiculous amount of time on my computer, researching and planning routes. We've decided to stay on farms for most of our trip. I think the country air and secluded areas will be just perfect for us!

We are avoiding all big cities and just sticking to the back roads. I can't wait!!

We've been busy doing little things around the house. Cory built and installed some book shelves for the kiddies and also put up a rack for dress up clothes! I think we are finally going to start painting the living room ... okay maybe after we get back!

Jack has started preschool two days a week and loves it. Though I think Dylan loves it more! He runs around, happy to have the house (and all the toys) to himself! I hardly even see him, he so enthralled with all the toys he gets to have, those ones that Jack always takes away!

Alright time to get off the ol' blog site and book us a little Scottish farm cottage!

Why I Get Stuff Done ... Or Not.

This is what my kids love to do.

J gets right down to the action of hauling stuff (though looks like he's sleeping!) and D tries to find a place to dig

Still looking ......

Ah ha! A pre-exisiting hole! Perfect!

Finding a good spot to unload.

Lastly, the inspection of dirt and bugs.

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This is why I get stuff done outside. Okay really I don't get a lot done, but I have had a bit of luck growing stuff this year!

I met a mother today and we were talking about dinner. I told her that I already had dinner made; a huge pot of baked potato soup! All ready and waiting for us! Later we were talking about other stuff and I mentioned that the boys had been digging large holes from where our ptoatoes once were.

I think she thought I was crazy ........ that I already had dinner made and that i grew my own potatoes for said dinner. I love food, and gardening, so I put a lot of effort into both those things.

In order to do lots of gardening and cooking, I let other things slide. For example, a few weeks (okay months) ago I knocked our clock off the wall. It sat, propped up on the credenza until today I finally got around to re-hanging it. I have tons of art i haven't put up yet. I have tons of clothes that just live in laundry baskets. I have dishes piled up in my sink ALL THE TIME!

I make time for the things I like, and ignore the other things .... until i absolutely have to do them. Luckily my hubby does a lot around the house. I do however think he appreciates my fine cooking and all the time we spend together in the garden as a family!

I love how the boys take part in the garden. J is always telling people what jobs the bugs in the garden do for us ..... it's too cute!

Dragging My Feet

our deck, where most of the play has been happening lately. pretend dirt (rice) is everywhere!

the boys in the new bike trailer!

Things have been great. Things have been terrible. It is entirely possible to have both, especially because I feel as though I've been living two days in a row, and no nights. Poor Dylan has been sick, or something for two weeks now. He's waking a lot in the night and sometimes not going back to sleep for hours.

Last night i was up from 3am until 6am. The only reason I got any sleep was because at 6am, Cory took over and let me sleep for an hour. I require a caffeinated cup of tea in the morning now, and sometimes one midway through the day. This is one of those days. The kettle is boiling and soon the tea will be steeping..... I'll come out of my mid day stupor soon!

This past weekend I opened my etsy shop, almost completed my Ravelympics blanket, hosted a BBQ, looked after the kids while the deck was being re-enforced, cut two of my friends hair, went shopping with the family for bikes, and bought bikes, went for a nice evening bike ride followed by a quick dinner at the local fish and chips spot......

did i breathe once? no

did i sleep much? no

am i paying for it now? YES

So this week I am going to try to take it easy. I have an etsy order to fill and finish my Ravelympics blanket, but other than that, I've just got to live, oh and keep the kids at bay. Luckily the weather has been amazing, so the kiddies have been outside a lot! Tonight I think we are going on another family bike trip before dinner. Of course this means I should be preparing dinner, so we can eat as soon as we cruise home. Alright then, good bye for now.

** I will host the contest for my new etsy shop this coming weekend, I promise!**

Out and About

My little one, sleeping on my back while I make hearty turkey soup!

Outdoor fun lasted until dark!

I have been encouraging Jackson to get outside and play as much as possible. Once he's outside, it's hard to get him back inside, but the tough part is getting him out. Today we went for a walk and as we were returning home we saw a funny sight. Our neighbors kids were busking on our street! They had a hat out and everything! The problem is that there aren't too many people who walk along our street. Also the boys were a bit shy about playing in public it seemed. So Jackson and I walked right up to them and requested a song. The boys played, we clapped and tossed a few coins into the hat. Once inside, Jackson decided that he too wanted to busk, however he wanted to busk with the other boys. So we got all bundled up again, Jackson grabbed his guitar and did a few songs on his own. The boys had gone inside, and I don't blame them! It was cold and not very lucrative. Jackson decided to do some performances for the birds in the backyard, then play with his trucks. He stayed out there 'til it was pitch black! I love it! I love it when all Jackson wants to do is dig and fill things with water and dirt!

It's such a shame when children are not left to their own devices outside. I am so excited for this summer. Jack will be able to stay out all day, just running in for quick potty breaks and the odd request. I have a plan in place to really do his play fort up! Pulley systems, steering wheels and winches, oh boy! It's going to be so fun!

So while we struggle through these dismal, wet, cold months, i take comfort in the fact that Jack will bare any weather to have a little outdoor fun! It's so good for him, and me too!