any given weekend

These pictures are from last weekend, but it doesn't matter.  This could be any given weekend.   I've sorta felt a week behind all week, so it's probably appropriate.

We finally got the canoe out in water.  Before we took her out on the river, we wanted to check her out in safer waters.  My dad delivered it Memorial Day weekend and we finally just got it tested out.  I've had the paddles since March! 

One of my sweet little students lives on a pond and invited us out to test it at their house.  His parents seemed alright with his invitation, so we went.   I didn't trust us all enough not to tip canoe and tuck the camera safely away in the car before we got in.  We found one tiny leak, but we think we know where it is from and can be patched.

After we were done canoeing, we borrowed their paddle-boat.  Note Bee's lovely mood in the above picture.   Arms crossed, she was not happy. I don't even remember what the drama was about now.   No doubt she's forgotten too.

Then the kids played in the carwash while we loaded the canoe again.

My little friend also invited us for dinner and breakfast the next day, but I don't think his parents were alright with that.  We decided to save that for another day.

Fall

I know it's not really fall yet. You sure could have fooled us!   It's chilly, the windows are cracked and we're all in flannel jammies.  It's wonderful.   We've picked two pumpkins.  The little guy fell off on his own.  There are two more pumpkins left on the vine.  Bee says they're for her.

I keep hanging this old window on the front porch and then I can't find the right thing to hang on it, but my fall door wreath fits great.  The wreath doesn't fit on the front  door at the new house with the storm door, so I'm glad to have somewhere to put it.  

 
This is a wreath that, no kidding, I made in high school my senior for an art project.  I made it out of vines in my mom's yard.  The fall decor on it is all fake stuff that may or may not be outdated. I've hung it every year since then.  At one house i recall it just hung on the side of the house.  I'm surprised it's still in one piece.

screen door remake- project 2

I'm still reading that book I mentioned a few days ago.  I'm going to spend this evening working on it, but here's the other screen door from this project.  It's in the basement holding kid artwork.   It's above the TV I turn on when I'm on the treadmill.  If it stays here, I will give it a coat of paint, but I'm not sure if this it's home.  It will be on loan for a craft show in October, so whatever I do, it will wait until after that.   My friend Melissa is going to clip hair pretties to it at her booth.

I'm off to go read.  What are you reading right now?

indoor sandbox

Lou and I were at the teacher store the other day and saw small childrens play sandboxes for indoor play.  He was very interested in them, but I pointed out that we had all of the pieces already at home.  The price at the store was a bit steep.   

We came right home and gathered our supplies.  We pulled the drawer out of a wooden Diego game set he has and filled it with sand from our sandbox. 

Added some construction pieces, rocks, and signs and had practically the same box as the store, but for free.

Then we thought of hiding some dinosaur bones in it and letting some of his 'guys' be paleontologist and dig them up.

We also worked on a dessert scene, but with only three pieces it was a little lacking.

Admittedly, there was a bit of sand on the floor when we were done playing.  Next time we will put a mat or towel down, but at least it was a free mess. 

 

I am linking up to some of these fine kiddo related parties:

Wednesday's A story + art = A Great stART  @ A Mommy's adventures,   Made by Little Hands Mondays @ delicate CONSTRUCTION Wednesday's Kids Get Crafty @ Red Teg Art's Blog, Tuesday's Show and Tell blog hop ad ABC and 123,  Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity,  For the Kids Fridays @ Sun Scholars

silly girls

I just checked out a new book at the library and am pretty engrossed in it. It's a non fiction. I'm a nerd. I'm pulling something from the back-files today, just to have something to post. This is now a good three weeks old... at least.

These grew in our yard here at the end of the summer, this is our first summer in this house.  I think they are a silly flower, all stem and no leaves.   A friend I teach with said they are called 'naked ladies.'   Another teacher said she always called them 'surprise lillies.'

We've just called them 'silly girls' until now. Do you know a real name for these gals?

growing

We're starting to joke that Lou is like Paul Bunion and I'll have to sew him a new outfit every week because he's growing so fast!  He grew an inch and a half since June and 2 inches since February.  Bee grew almost an inch since June and almost as inch and a half since February.   Hubby says he's still hoping for another inch or two of growth as well.

first day of school gifts

Lou's first day of school was last Friday and I couldn't send him empty handed.   This fabric was fun to work with because it was the fabric that covered my bulletin boards my first few years teaching. 

I burned 4 CDs of my favorite mixed preschool songs (I made the play-list for myself anyway)  and made up a little case for them.  There's a lot of Dr. Jean, Hap Palmer, Jim Gill and Greg and Steve.  For the case, I sort of used my car CD holder tutorial and added a flap.   I added an initial to each, but poor Ms. A...  the one I made her with an A was too small to hold CDs!  I had to quickly make a new one.  I of course was sewing these the night before school.

Lou got his little first day of school treat too.  

I told him that he had to be dressed first, but he could. not. wait.

 There were shoe charms and a green lantern snap bracelet inside.  Pretty much exciting should you be a 4 year old boy.

Daddy got to go the first day.  I came over when I had a few minutes.  Teaching next door has it's benefits, but I miss most of the special days and party days.

This week he was on his own at preschool.  He was pretty hesitant but had a great time like always.

well there they are

Lou and I couldn't wait any longer.  We dug up some sweet potatoes.  Here's what the first plant gave us!  

  Hubby's aunt cooked them up for us last Christmas in a skillet with butter and brown sugar.  That's what the plan is for this first batch. 

 These are white sweet potatoes and we started them using this method. 

When Bee saw them after school, it was as though we went to Chuck E Cheese without her.   She called dibs on the next plant. 

There is a movie at out church library that I see each week, but haven't checked out yet.  It's called Faith Like Potatoes.  I really want to see it now.  I agree with the title though- all summer we just had to believe that what was going on underground was really happening.