On our nature walk today we saw

• Red winged blackbirds
• Bluebirds
• Bat boxes
• Chimney Swifts
• Some sort of wetland swallow
• A goose one her nest
• A goose nest
• A gander defending his lady
• Beaver trees
• Beaver dams
• A frog
• A beaver
• Plovers
• Yellow swallowtail butterflies
• Wildflowers 
• A garter snake
• A marsh vole 

Yes! Quite the list and quite the walk. The park’s nature trail is well marked and has a boardwalk to stay out of the muck. Thank goodness, because the garter snake would have been stepped on…we were up above it, looking down. A great discovery!

I miss seeing you everyday.  Where did my habit go?  Vacation. Other writing.  School.  Time whizzing by.  Sorry, blog.

Today was a beautiful day!  We went in search of a trellis for Ollie’s pea plants (and possibly chickens).  I was saved from myself because there were only three lonely, less than cute nearly grown chicks.  One may have been a rooster…they did not know for sure…just a mixed lot from the hatchery.  While Sam is willing to do away with bodies, I don’t think we would have the heart to let a rooster go to be something’s dinner in the woods.  Or responsible for a feral rooster in the woods of Gibsonia.  Maybe next year….

But, peas have been planted and trellis is erect.  Lily was out playing all day with Mia, then Olivia, then Landon, then Bryce and Seth.  Ollie went to Jack’s birthday party. Because they are BFFs.  And little Miss Em was my tag along-overnight, on a walk, picking out gardening gloves, planting things, and trying not to sleep in the warm car after dropping off Ollie.  Lily did her hair and nails this morning and she walked around with tiny curls all day long. Lily actually got to brunch her hair out; I think I will encourage this beauty alliance.  

Off to bed…morning comes quickly.

Or Zapped…either way, the sunshine gave us energy to play outside all day long. Everyone sat at the dinner table red-faced and slightly crispier than they were this morning.  Warm April days always seem hotter because the trees haven’t leafed out yet.  There were cries for sprinklers but none for popsicles, only because no one remembered where they are hidden.  The garage is cleaned and ready to set up messy science and art projects.  While I know the weather might change, the week made me so happy to be living in the springtime!  We started seeds on Friday.  Ollie has been diligent in his observation, looking for signs of change.  His peas have actually started to sprout.  Lily’s flowers and Emmy’s carrots and watermelon should be showing signs of green by the end of the week.  Lissa is visiting and brought along some cast-off goodies from a country club in Cleveland that is closing.  We have bags of money, drink order pads,  accounts payable checks and other various casino-like stuff.  If you visit, expect for Emmy to ask you what you want to drink and show you to your table.

Who is this girl who has grown so much over the past 8 years?  It is amazing watching her grow and turn into herself!  She still a sassy delight!  Always a girl with her own ideas and sense of style..and that smile!  You are much loved and adored, Lillian Hughes!  We love you more than ever!

I know I’ve been absent and irregular in posting. Hoping to get back into a rhythm by the weekend. Why did I think a dentist appointment on the first day back to school was a good idea?!?  You got me. But now Lily has sealant and Emmy has her first dental exam in the books!  As Lily said, she did really great and wasn’t scared at all!

We woke up to : 

   
What the heck, spring?!?  There is a mourning dove nesting in our big crescent window above the front door. She is working hard to keep the eggs warm!  We spent the day doing laundry, changing sheets, and reading new books from the library.  Listening to some playaways😍. And changing from clothes to pjs-only after threats of no food and the like. 

And it is sweet!  But I won’t lie. The sun only flirting briefly today and there was hail and rainstorms. Spring is not here yet. But the house was clean at the beginning of the day and the kids slept well past the usual time so good all around here. Grocery shopping done and unpacking. Tomorrow laundry and catching up on school basics along  with swimming. 

Beach Party!

We met some new friends today. Lila and I met online in a homeschool group and we watch each other Periscope. When we realized she is in CA and I would be here, we decided to get together. And today was the day!  While we planned to possibly go to the beach, once the kids started swimming there was no stopping them.  What a fun day and how awesome to become with someone who lives 3000 miles away.  

Monterey Bay on Friday. A long day but well worth it. Nice to spend a low key day here today with Brent and Jessica. Emmy loves skinny dipping and today: bare bottom got sunburned. 😂😂