Drink Boxes Make a Good Popcicle

This is a great snack in the summer

Lasts a long time and the kids love it!

Often I will bring frozen drink boxes when we go out for the day...

They are perfect to keep our food cold and then when the kids are ready for them they 

make great slushies...Just bring spoons...

Perfect for those hot days!

I use to do this a lot when I was little too!

Bringing Nature Indoors

With little kids I have found many ways to pass time and keep their minds and hands busy...

So many great ideas I have picked up online and through friends...

One of the things my kids love doing is

"bringing the outdoors in"

It can keep them busy for a while

This is a double win as it gives me some time to get things done

And the kids are learning, being creative and happy

Today we got dirt, leaves, stones, wood chips and grass...

They wanted to add popcorn to the mix also

Add in cars/trucks and little people and just the right mix for a fun time!

Another favorite activity in the winter is bringing in the snow

Making little snowman and using food coloring to color the snow

Colty had some chow as he is still a little young and would likely try to eat the dirt...
He liked watching his older brothers play though!

Canada Day 2015

Since moving to the "Court" we have always celebrated Canada Day with our neighbors

We are lucky to live on a street that celebrates "community"

I had this as a child and it made a difference...So many fun memories!

I am thankful that my kids get to experience this...

Always a child to play with or a mom/dad to keep an eye on them...

The first Canada day on our street Ethan was a week old

This is when we first got to know many of our neighbors

Now 5 years and three boys later we have a bunch of 

friends that we continue to make memories with...

We start the Canada Day festivities with a swim in the neighbors pool

then BBQ and pot luck...This year we had a pinota for the kidos...

Then we play and chat and once dark

fireworks and sparklers...

It is always a great time

Love our Country and our "community"

Toddy was a little wild at this game and smashed Caitlin's leg pretty good
"Sorry about that Caitlin"

Going for a drive

Nate and I love going for drives

That's right...Getting in the car and driving

Sometimes we have a destination and sometimes we don't

We love checking out country properties

We love checking out nice neighborhoods

We love driving to the beach

But most of all we like the time together

sipping on a hot beverage (or cold one in the summer)

and talking

About anything and everything...

We started doing this when Ethan was a baby to settle him down in the evening

A van DVD player in the back helps things too

And we often will stop at a park or get a fun treat

Below are some cute pictures I snapped of the boys this summer 

"during a drive to Grand Bend"

We stopped at a park close to main street

Just love my little man

Pure Joy

Our second home in the summer...Storybook Gardens 2015

Who would of know how near and dear to my heart storybook gardens would become one day.  When Ethan was three and Todd one and a half we got our first annual pass...

Fast forward three years and we are still going strong...

In the summer months we frequent that place a couple of time a week for full day fun

The kids love it...They sing the theme song at home all the time

"It feels like a Storybook Gardens kind of day"

To be honest Storybook has saved my sanity

Being outside all day, sunshine (most days), picnic lunches, kids running around all day, kids sleeping well at night from being exhausted from running around all day...Many talks with my dear friend Ola who I usually meet there...It is just about perfect.

It's a great place to spend the summer and always a good time

How can it not be...One stop shopping for playgrounds, splash pad, stage and characters, building blocks, archery, animals, miniature houses, pedal carts, sandbox and ect.

All surrounded by parks and walkways by the river

My favorite is when we push the stroller and let the older boys ride their bikes

Takes about an hour to get there by the trails

Can't wait til next year!

Some pictures from this past summer

We love you Storybook!