and down it came

Something we've been meaning to get done for the past few years is cutting down the great big tree in the back yard. We are NOT tree cutters - but this one in particular had been strangled over the years by vines, and was withering away, on the brink of getting blown over in the next wind storm, and had branches falling off periodically throughout the year.
Not such a terrific thing with kids playing in the yard.

So we took the plunge, called the tree cutters, and waited this morning for them to arrive.
Working feverishly on July 1st (bless them), they prepared, scaled, de-branched, chipped, hacked, raked, carried, and cleaned up in less than 3 hours.
Hurray:)

Tell me the truth...Do you really like boating?

Asked Little B & C this yesterday as we were gassing up the boat. Their responses?
Well, I'll let their expressions tell you....



Decked out in her new pink frilly bathing suit Little C was asking for "jak" (life-jacket) before the boat hit the waves. We are so fortunate to have 2 of the happiest children around when straight jacketed in their flotation devices.
Not a peep, grumble, or negative word from either of them. I wonder to myself, what if Little C had been the type of baby to scream bloody murder at the site of a life-jacket? What if Little B had a massive fear of the water and refused to set foot in a boat? The answer is obvious...the Stork brought us the right babies!!
Lucky we are...lucky lucky lucky!!


As if Mother Nature herself was craving some sand and sun, the early morning clouds and grey skies parted around our heavenly little valley and the sun shone down on us for the rest of the day.
The beach we frequented for the past 4 summers and fondly refer to as "our beach" has sadly disappeared with the high waters...as has our point that we like to relax at. One of the last places to visit is the infamous White Sands, where there's as many beer, bongs, and bikinis as there is grains of sand. Yesterday however the skirting clouds thankfully kept the tourists at bay for most of the morning and we had most of the white sandy beach and dune to ourselves.
Another family from town that we've beached it with a couple times stopped by and Little B was tickled pink.

Honey sandwiches for the babes and the most marvelous bacon and tomato sannies for mum and dad. Picnicking is always so fun!

Relaxing at Nana and Papas after an exhausting few hours out in the boat.

Backing up 7 days, this is what we were up to last weekend when we were sans the boat and searching for something fun to take up an afternoon. We bought some very delicious greasy battered hot dogs on sticks. An idea that was good in conception only. After gnawing off some batter and eating very little dog we sat on the beach and enjoyed the day.

Daycare

My two bumpkins LOVE their daycare. So much so I think if given the chance they'd move out of our house permanently if it meant they could eat, breath, and sleep Daycare! Not only do they have the #1 bestest daycare provider ever; the small group of kids that go there are sweet and they all get along great. Sure there's the usual pushing, shoving, yelling, chasing...when mommy is there to witness the mayhem; but when no parents are visible, as you can see from the following photos, they all have a wonderful carefree time together.

May, you're finally really here!

May is the beginning of the Summer. Our sleepy town awakens with the hustle and bustle of tourists. Fruit trees blossom, boats come out of hibernation, backpackers thumb into town in search of work. Days grow longer, brighter. Sunscreen noses and dirty toes. Flip flops. It's a strange balance between loving the solitude and peacefulness of our whistle-stop town as it is for so many months out of the year, when all we see are the residents, and handfuls of snowbirds escaping the Saskatchewan snow - and celebrating the coming of sweltering summer days, the onslaught of tourists, white caps, bikinis, and coconut scented air.

Looking past the big city folks and their enormous attitudes, their even larger boats, and fat wallets, I see how special our town is in these few Summer months. To me its like a big growly bear waking up from a long winter slumber. Shaking off all the dust and ambling out into the Spring sun...rubbing his eyes and getting a good look around at the new growth, melting snow, Spring flowers. That's us in this hamlet of O-Town. The long drawn out winter is beyond shadow of a doubt GONE! We're slowly waking up to the palpability of Summer.

X
(photo deleted due to Nana's apparent shyness at being broadcast over the internet...
Awaiting Nana approved photo, will post when received.)

Little C enjoying her time while visiting Nana and Papa camping.

Saying goodbye and saying hello all in 48 hours. Thats my husband for ya.




and then finding 2 good old friends at the car show.

Beautiful Boy on Bike

Need I say anymore?

Easter Shenanigans

That wily Easter Bunny! He didn't just stop at hiding a CHOCOLATE race car in the shower this morning. He also hid over 1,000 chocolate eggs at the Elementary School, and finished off by leaving a trail of treat filled eggs at Nana and Papas house.

Bryce has been in his glory all day eating chocolate and treats. I've also been in all my glory trying to eat HIS chocolate treats faster than him so he'll have less of a sugar buzz than anticipated. Oh! What we do for our kids eh?!

The day started out with a local Easter Egg Hunt and it was pretty much mayhem. I had planned on having Little C collect eggs with the rest of the kids, but after seeing the mass of bodies, I rethought that decision. She spent the entire time attached to Daddy's leg! Little B and I took part in the Egg Free-for-all stampede. It was great fun.



We headed over to Nana's house for another Egg hunt. It was a total success for Little B.


Little C decided throwing the ball and laughing her new "Evil Laugh" was much more fun than collecting bright colored objects hidden in the bushes.




Little B and mummy wanted to take part in the Easter Parade with our local Pre-School that we attend weekly. I had a tough time finding them so we snuck in with the Kiwanis Group and rode in the parade with them. Little B was uncharacteristically shy and tried getting off his bike a few times. I persuaded him to smile, wave, and keep his eye out for anyone he knew and in hte end he had a terrific time.