Can Summer last Forever?

Summer is really a perpetual state of bliss. You care a little less about the budget and a little more on adventures and memories. I care a little less about the schedule and a little more in just doing what we want. Looking through our summer so far is satisfying that we actually made an effort to just spend a little more time together and got some great memories packed in.

Second week of July we got to go on 4-H horse camp. It was seriously amazing. 

Ellie left for 4-H camp so the other kids and I took off for the creek with Cherlyn and her kiddos.

A little Wallys beach

I was actually at all these places but I think this might be the rare photo of me! 

Dusty and Ellie got some cow chasing in with our friends Tara and Ally {and Austin and Mike}

More moving cows.

My happy place. We tried to put in an effort to get to "the lake" as much as we could. I am hoping to find another few days down there but it was heaven while it lasted.

Playing at the beach at the lake. Andy may love the lake as much as I do.

Annual fort Steele trip!


So much cards this summer! The girls are all finally old enough to really start playing cards. They learned how to play rook and bugger your neighbour and hearts. Andy tries to get in a few rounds of go fish in between.

BC is on fire this summer and the smoke has been an issue we've had to contend with at the lake and at home but it has made for some amazing sun shots. 

All the kiddos tubed this year. Ellie is hands down the champ. She has really stepped out of her shell and put fear aside. It's helped all the other kids too. 

Our cousins from Manitoba came and visited and wanted a rural farm experience. It was an awesome visit and the kids loved hanging out. Ellie, Kyle, and Penny were the only ones that managed to sleep outside all night!!

We did put them to work! We got the chicken coop partially painted and a loaf of hay stacked!!

We also are one kitten short in the barn. Miko the cat will be living the high life in Manitoba!! 

It was an awesome visit and we have to do it more! Thanks Aunt Jean for the snow Bobs!

This might be one of the biggest highlights for Lucy. She struggles with nervousness while we ride. She has come leaps and bounds this year on her pony but sadly she was outgrowing her. The universe smiled on us and the stars aligned and we found her her unicorn. Meet Reese. She wakes up every morning and begs Ellie and dusty to go riding. 

This has been Ellie's highlight. Kneeboarding. Hopefully we can get back to the lake because she is determined to ski this year!

We have 2 more weeks left of bliss! Fingers crossed we have a few more adventures!

July

It's hard to believe that it is already the END of July!!!

We have filled July with lots of memories.

We had our last lamb of the year....

Check out our farm blog for that exciting story!

www.cattailcoulee.blogspot.ca

and we did summer games

(see below post)

and we ACTUALLY FINALLY made it out to our favorite spot

(besides our home)

And mixed into this was a family reunion 

and 

our regular duties.

I can't wait to see what August brings....

Old Habits are hard to Break

The first part of summer was vastly different than previous summers

but

as August came in

we got back into some of our old habits.

Lucy was the exception

what was supposed to take 4 weeks 

has turned into

7

so she coloured

and did stickers

and read books,

I hope that she doesn't feel like she

missed out on too much.

 Ellie and Penny in the water

Penny had a slow start 

but now I put her in a life jacket as soon as her eyes open!

Ellie started swimming WITHOUT

her life jacket.

A HUGE accomplishment for 

a daughter

who holds dearly

to any of her safety attachments.

the supervisors.

and my little fish.

Who just might be into synchronised swimming...

Besides stickers she did make it on her quad a few times.

thank goodness for dad's.

and this is where he spent most of his holidays.

cleaning the boat...

from the children to the dogs

he had a full time hobby.

Staying so Cool

Penny has her own way of doing things

she has her own way of dressing

her own way of eating

her own way of speaking

she gets cool all on her own.

Penny inspecting her buster bar.

Nothing is better than a good joke.

Flyin around on her scooter

hands free freezie eating

passing this down to someone who thinks it's as cool

as she  does...

Oh the Places You'll Go

The girls are beyond excited. Ecstatic would be a more accurate description. Ellie and Lucy LOVE LOVE their quads. In fact, it is the first thing they ask for in the morning.... and they make me promise every night that I'll let them ride them. I'm not going to lie, the things TERRIFY me. Dusty assures me that they are governed down and that they won't perish...... none the less I still spend most of the time with my hand firmly wrapped around the kill buttons!

Lucy- first one on the brand new quad and testing out her new quad helmet. 

Ellie's turn and a little more than happy (she had to borrow Lucy's helmet... hers was at home) 

Ellie trying to make it up the ditch with a little coaching from Dusty- I may have asked for them to be governed a little low.... she couldn't quite make it up the "hill".

Lucy at the lake with "stealthy black little girl pirate" quad..... hahaha we bought one quad thinking that we would see how it would go but it was such a huge hit that Grampa kicked it and helped Lucy buy hers.

Ellie at the lake with her quad and helmet.. this picture freaks me out.....I think I may have a lot of years of worry ahead of me......

Only 10 more months.....