$5 Fun!

Today we picked up a five dollar slip n' slide at Wal-mart. The boys wanted to try it out as soon as we got home....and had a blast! It is nice to know that when it pops and gets all mangled (and I know it will), we can toss it without feeling like we wasted too much money! I think the boys already got their money's worth in the first use. :)

Justin needed to observe his big brothers before he took a turn running through it. Maybe next time he will be ready to slide. :)

Jared's Recital

Monday evening was Jared's piano recital. I can hardly believe the "piano" year is over. Aunt Linda does a wonderful job teaching piano...and we are so glad Jared has been able to take from her. It's amazing how much Jared improved in the last year, especially the last six months. (I only recorded the last part of each song because I was trying to get some pics too.)

Jared is standing next to his cousin Riley (red shirt). Piano is over and summer break is even closer! Now if I can only get him to practice throughout the months off! :)

Fun in the sun!

Justin really wanted the little pool out the other day. He was in luck because a few hours after playing in the sun our weather changed. The sky turned gray, the wind picked up, and then came the rain. He had fun while it lasted!

DeGoede Bulb Farms

I feel like it has been a while since I have blogged. I thought life would be much slower with all the changes in our life...and so far we have been busy! Last week we snuck away to the DeGoede Bulb Farms to see the tulips. I always loved to visit the Woodburn Tulip Festival when we lived there, but it is too far now. I think our boys were more impressed with the mud between the rows of tulips than the actual flowers. Go figure! :)

Trying to photograph all four boys with happy faces is a real challenge! J.R. was not too excited about this one.

My baby is getting old! He is three months away from turning two.

After the farm, we visited a park in Morton to eat and play.

Garden time!

This weekend we were able to get our garden in! Yeah! We were lucky enough to have an extra helper (who was very kind to help) since my cousin Justin came to visit us again. My boys sure adore their cousin. Jesse and little Justin acted so silly to entertain and "show-off" for him. It was a side of them that I haven't seen too often! Anyway, yesterday we tilled the area and pulled out the weeds.

Today we planted. I should say BJ planted. I really have not done anything yet except take pictures and stand around talking to them all! This is usually how it goes, but don't worry soon enough I will do my share of work weeding between the rows! This year I think we are going to assign a row to each boy to maintain. Yeah for mommy! I always love when this time of year comes around. My farmer-at-heart husband maps out (sometimes to scale) the garden layout ahead of time. I love seeing my whole family working and playing together. In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than this.

Let the weeding begin!

Conversation with my firstborn...

Mommy: Hey Jared don't forget to...
Jared (interrupting): I know, put away my whites.
Mommy (laughing): How did you know I was going to say that?
Jared: Because you always say everything 140,000 times!
Mommy: Jared, you know me so well! :)

I did not know I was repeating myself that often!

Rhubarb Recipes?

Jesse was so excited to pick me some ruby (rhubarb) today. I had to make a pie crust for our chicken pot pie so I decided I might as well make a rhubarb pie! Every year I waste so much of the stuff...and this year I am determined to use more of it! Does anyone have any good recipes for rhubarb? :)

Today BJ enjoyed his first day unemployed. I know I certainly enjoyed it! These past few weeks were so busy for BJ. It was nice to have him around. :) After Jared finished his school, we took the boys to the park for a picnic...and then I got to go to the "County Garden" sale. This year's sale was a little dissapointing, but at least I left with one treasure to decorate my flowers this summer. :)