Pool's open, folks!

A little late, but better than never!

To be fair, the weather has been shit lately, except with a couple of nice days.

Since the weather would be gorgeous, we took the opportunity to open the pool. I was busy with the garden and didn't get any pictures.

We opted to transport the water ourselves.

Down in the hamlet near where we live, is a fire station. They have a public water spicket and we can get 75 gallons for a quarter. We spent $5 and got about 1,500 gallons to fill the pool.

It's COLD!

But it beats paying someone, like we did last year. We didn't have our huge water tank last year either though.

Steve and his BFF (and Best Man at our wedding) and his daughter. 

Now we just need the weather to cooperate so we can actually go swimming! Can't wait till our deck is up. When it is, COME OVER!!!

a beautiful and productive weekend!

It finally happened.

The sun finally came out and get this - it stayed out for THREE. WHOLE. DAYS.

It was glorious.

I had an eye appt Friday afternoon, so I was able to feel it around 3pm.

It was wall to wall sunshine from Friday to Sunday.

We got a LOT done.

I felt very, very productive!

We went for a hike around the property.

We also continued working on the garden!

We got some fencing up

My old door!

My plants are NOT thriving. I'm troubleshooting and replanted a few. 

Moved a couple more out from the basement.

Here it is! Now critters (and MR) cannot get in there! 

Love!

Steve also went out and got this for me. I had been walking (lunging) buckets of water.

This will be much, much easier and a lot faster!

We spliced it so I could also still water my flowers in my pergola flower boxes.

Mila loves the Poofy chickens!

Enjoyed the beautiful weather, well into the evening.

9 years!

I forgot to blog about our 9 year anniversary!

9 years went by fast. I can hardly believe it.

It was actually 5/29 but as we all know, work, kids and life gets in the way. So we celebrated the following Friday and went to dinner and a movie.

On our way! Eyebrows on point.

I got shrimp and risotto and it was amazing. Steve got an Alfredo dish with a side of meatballs. 

I love him more every single day. I'm so grateful to have married my absolute best friend. He's an amazing dad, husband and partner! 

We still laugh like we're in high school and I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.

Happy 9 years!

Then, next year? 

Here's what we're planning to do.

School Field Trips

I've said it before - I'm forever grateful to have a job that allows me flexibility.

As the end of the school year nears, we have lots and LOTS of end-of-year field trips, activities, etc. As fun as it is, it's incredibly stressful for me and causes my anxiety to go through the roof.

See, when I was a kid, neither of my parents could attend field trips. Their jobs just didn't allow for it. I honestly cannot remember one field trip that my parents chaperoned.

It's ok. I made it just fine.

Steve's parents also didn't go.

But, when my kids started, I really, really wanted to make sure we could attend as many as we could.

And so far, we have.

With Steve's schedule, we are able to make it work more often than not.

BUT, end of the year festivities?

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY??????

I get it. It's fun, it's cute, the kids have fun blah, blah, blah.

But for working parents? Juggling work, meetings, schedules, driving, etc.? It's a lot.

Last week, Ava had TWO activities.

One was an end-of-the-year picnic and the other was a zoo field trip. I had taken PTO on the zoo field trip day, so I could take her. We found out that morning that it was canceled due to rain.

It was too late to get her back into daycare for the day, so I just stayed home with her.

The zoo trip was postponed to the Friday of that same week.

Well, um, I had already taken a day off...and it was too late to switch.

Steve actually picked up extra hours at work, so he was also going to be working...

But, we made it work. And since it's 3's preschool, there's no transportation. So if we didn't take her, she didn't get to go. I didn't want that to be the reason she didn't go.

Starting this month, Mila has several planned activities/field trips as well.

Yesterday, we had the YMCA field trip. Chaperones are required to get into the water during swimming. I waited to sign up. Let's be real. Donning a bathing suit (first time this season!) in a public pool with a bunch of people I don't know? Not high up on my list of things to do.

BUT, being the mom that I am, I did check in with Mila's teacher, letting her know that if there were ONE chaperone short, I'd take one for the team.

Welp, guess what?

Yep.

So we went. And it was fun.

The best part?

When we got to the pool, we had to listen to the pool director give out instructions.

I realized I recognized him.

Oh, he's just Mila's friend's dad. Whom I've met twice.

He comes over to chat.

Nothing more uncomfortable than being in my bathing suit talking to someone who I kinda know. Who isn't wearing a bathing suit. There's just something weird about that.

me and my girl :)

Outside for a picnic lunch! This was after swimming.

Funny face

Still "small" enough to fit on play equipment! We spent a couple hours in this room after swimming.

So much running around! 

Tomorrow is a field trip to the Library, so Steve is bringing Ava and going to that. 

The rest of the month is nutty! They will have bubble day, watermelon day, beach day, camp day. 

Her end of the year picnic is June 20. 

After that, things should settle down. 

I think. 

I hope. 

The Garden

I finally, FINALLY got my plants outside!

Well, most of them anyway.

We started the garden last week.

Saturday was a decent day and I managed to get about 34 plants outside.

These guys were so ready to be moved outside. They should thrive now that they are in the ground. I've got corn, pumpkins and cucumber (I think) here. Also, everything in the upper right corner of the cart and the big watering can I picked up off the side of the road. For free! 

Tilled the ground with some organic soil.

They are a bit close together...so I moved a couple of them today.

Sunday called for a cloudy, rainy day, but was supposed to clear in the afternoon. I was hoping to get the rest of the plants outside.

I went out before it got sunny because it never really rained all that hard. I'm really glad I did, because I was out there for 4 hours! If I had waited until it was nice out, I would've been out there until 8pm!

I headed out around 12:30pm - the girls were eating lunch and then settle in for some quiet time. Steve worked a ton of hours this last week, so he took it easy today.

He did accompany me to Lowe's to pick up flowers and soil for the garden though.

Every time it started to rain and I started to pack up to head in, the rain would just hold off long enough to get a few more plants in. Before I knew it, the clouds broke up and the sun was shining!

Steve did come out and help me get the fencing up on either side. We plan on using the same wood from my old garden for the front and the door.

I think we're finally past the point of frost...considering it's June 4. Ha!

Weekend chores and some pics

There always seems to be a ton of stuff to do on the weekends and there never seems to be enough time to complete it all.

I was excited to sport my new chicken shoes I got a last week.

Rockin' my Ruple Farms T-shirt, of course!

They are surprisingly comfortable! I might just have to get another pair...

Me at 8am checking on chickens. I let the babies out to play today! 

The hair.

I can't.

Convenient

These guys were hungry!

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned the watering system we have in place for the chickens. This PVC pipe with "nipples" is attached to the 50gal rain barrel. When the chickens peck, the water comes out!