The Farm: This year has been really tough for the farm. With all the downs (frozen fruit, no milk/baby from bella) and now with us losing half our flock to a skunk attack its hard to keep a positive attitude toward this hobby farm. But there have been some good things like produce from our garden (tomatoes, peas, broccoli, lots of vining squash growing well) we just hatched 2 baby chicks, and our pigs are getting giant! It's also a good feeling knowing we are teaching our kiddos to work hard, have responsibility, and enjoying farm fresh food.
Broccoli heads!
Zeyta loves visiting the pigs
Working together to clean to water trough which was over grown with moss
Zeyta picking peas - they are all dried up now but we sure loved them while they were producing!
Blain turns 6!! Blain had such a special day for his birthday! We slept over at Em's the night before so the drive to the aquarium wouldn't be so long and so we could spend time with Em and her cute girls. We had a yummy pancake breakfast per Blain's request and he got to open his present from Chloe which turned out to be a stuffed Pikachu she made for him!
Birthday boy and thoughtful Chloe
Chowing down on pancakes
The Aquarium: Blain really wanted to go to the aquarium again this year so we had another fun day listening to Blain tell about all the sea animals and watching all the animals in their habitats.
They were having an animal encounter when we first arrived at the aquarium with snakes and other reptiles. They got to pet the animals with "2 soft fingers".
First stop was the jellyfish! There was a whole room dedicated to different jelly fish. We then went over and saw these deep sea creatures called isopods that Blain knew all about from watching wildkrats. It never ceases to amaze me how much he retains from that show!
watching all the fish with his cousins and siblings
Cutie girls enjoying the day
We spent a good chunk of time at the petting pools where Blain and the others loves petting the sting rays. There were also guitar fish in the pool that they were not allowed to tough and Blain told every kid that came up next to him not to touch the guitar fish! One time when Blain was getting ready to pet a sting ray it got startled and jumped out of the water splashing Blain in the face! He thought it was awesome.
Looking at the big sting rays and sharks in the shark tunnel
The aquarium goers minus Sadie who was napping in the carrier. It was a great day and Auntie Em even bought Blain a little sting ray to go with the Manta Ray that he got last year. They are both currently on his bed for under water adventures come bed time :)
Splash Pad: We stopped for lunch at Em's house then headed over to the splash pad at Riverwoods shopping center. It was fun but didn't last long, they were all pretty tired out from a day of walking around and fun!
Chloe getting all wet in the spray
Avenlea surprised me with how brave she was going through the fountains!
Blain running right through the middle of all the jets
Zeyta was a little timid but still liked to put her little feet and hands on the jets
I forgot towels so I had them lay down on the rocks to dry off. I thought they would all fall asleep they looked so comfy!
Blain requested baked potatoes for dinner which made me way happy since they are so easy to make!
Blain's blue cake with blue frosting as requested. I hope all your wishes come true Blain you are such an awesome, special boy.
Cutting the cake with the special Birthday Knife! Daddy was in Chicago but got to face time for the big Birthday cake cutting and birthday song!
Yumm!!
Blain got a real bug catching net that he has used every day since his birthday! He catches about 3 butterflies a day, keeps them in his jar for a while, then lets them go! We also got him jumbo pokemon cards, and a ninja lego set which he really liked putting together.
Out butterfly hunting
Releasing the big yellow butterfly he caught
We threw his family party that Saturday. We had it outside and had a really yummy crepe bar. Blain was so happy to get his birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Moyeda. They took him shopping afterwards and he picked out power ranger action figures. He also got some cool ninja turtle toys, a new real life treasure box with lock, and a venus fly trap that is growing on the windowsill!
Blowing out his birthday cupcake
Blain getting really brave letting Daddy throw him forwards, backwards, front flips and even a one and a half flip! It was really fun to see him flying through the air like that and pop right up out of the water wanting to go again!
Up up and away!
Grammy brought a slip n slide which was really fun. I tried to get Chloe and Blain to go together but they couldn't quite time it right.
Good sliding Chloe
The shade gradient looked more distinct in real life. The skin colors go Nate, Chloe, Avenlea, Blain, Mommy, Zeyta.
The shade gradient looked more distinct in real life. The skin colors go Nate, Chloe, Avenlea, Blain, Mommy, Zeyta.
Blain and Grammy all decked out in 4th of July colors
Family Picture!! Blain is winking in case you couldn't tell
Nate helping Zeyta with her poppers
Everyone got their own square this time so nobody got hurt
watching the fireworks
Blain was the only kid who wanted to do sparklers after the show was over so Uncle Jonny helped him light 2 off that he could play with
Blain writing his name with the Sparkler
Cousin Camp: Grammy booked a bunch of campsites and 2 cabins for the family to enjoy for cousin camp. We hung out mostly by the cabins for meals and Grammy had lots of crafts, coloring and games for the kids to play. They watched Meet the Robinson's over the 2 nights we were there, made tie Dye camp shirts, and played with their cousins all day!
watching the outdoor movie courtesy of Aunt Darcey's laptop and a cool projector Grammy brought
My sweet girls sleeping in! They woke up about 8 and 8:30 which is basically unheard of for my kiddos! They did good staying in their bags and went to sleep really fast each night. We were borrowing Tim's tent so Chloe and Blain had their own little pod that was connected to the big tent. We will be using Trudy's tent in the future if we can get the Fly fixed!
sweet Zeyta in the morning with her cute rosie cheeks
Blain had a blast playing with Tiaga and comparing nature knowledge
We went on a hike up around the hills which was hot but beautiful! Avenlea did a good job staying hydrated :)
making wishes with the huge dandelions
cute kiddos taking a break in the shade
Most of the group after we completed the loop!
Playing a ring toss game that Grammy made out of paper plates. The only problem was trying to toss them into the wind, the plates kept coming back to the thrower! They all got a fun prize for playing.
We went fishing in the afternoon and helped some of the cousins who have never fished take a turn casting and reeling. Tiaga came with us around dusk and was able to catch a fish which Nate cooked up for him in the morning.
Zeyta in her tie dye which turned out really cute with the circle on her belly
Nate taking a 2 second break from baiting hooks, untangling lines, and rushing to people who needed his help casting.
Doesn't Chloe look like she's having fun?
Avenlea and Marie making stained glass trucks
We love Grammy!
There was a little creek right by Molly's tent that the kids all really liked playing in. The water was freezing but all the kids got in!
I love these pictures of Avenlea in the creek!
Cheese in the water!
Zeyta Eating some yummy camp food on the nice cabin chairs
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