Playing at home

 The boys love helping me in the kitchen.  This past week I made zucchini salsa, zucchini loaves, and zuchhini choc. cake.  Rather than have them each on chairs beside me I set up their little table.  It worked great.  Lots of flour everywhere but they had fun and I was able to get lots done.

 Tim has a thing when he goes golfing - collect as many golf balls as you possibly can.  The boys found a couple in the garage and made their own game up.  Put the balls down the eavestrough and then chase after them.  They have entertained themselves for hours with this new game.  I went downstairs and got bunch more balls for them and do they ever have a blast.

 This morning Connor went hauling hay with Tim so it was just Scoot an me.  After a nice walk I tackled my pantry in a hopes to get it organized.  There were a few potatoes in the bottom that Kale found and  he made his own games up with them.  He used his truck to haul them to an empty box and then started hauling them around the kitchen.  Then he just moved them from empty box to box.  Then he started playing hockey.

 One evening Tim came home before I had supper ready and asked what he could do so I sent him outside with the boys.  Oh how the boys love wrestling.

The other day I didn't get a chance to change Kale out of his pj's before his brother had him on the trampoline.  Then they were playing in the garden.  Then they were riding their bikes in the garage.  It got really quiet so I went to check on them and I couldn't find them.  Then I hear Connor yelling at Kale to wait up.  They decided to go for a walk down to the barn on their own. 

 

 

I love how they are playing together so well lately.  I love that they are best friends and I pray they will continue to always be best buds.  Thank you Lord for blessing me with such wonderful boys.

Happy Birfday Papa!

Last Sunday we headed down to m & d's for dad's 62nd birthday party.  To this day my dad always wishes us a happy birfday instead of birthday - I just think it is too funny.  It is a rare occasion but everybody including spouses were there.  It was fabulous to see everybody together again.

 

 Taylor and Ben (my brother Brian's kids)

Mom and Karen.  Karen and Wally are like grandparents to me growing up.

 Pam and Ewan.  He is such a sweet baby!

 I love watching Gavin play.  He has so much spirit - I love it.

 

 Uncle Dave cooking the hot dogs making sure the kidlets were all fed.  Him and Naomi are great!

 Gram coming back with the boys from picking apples.

 Bryant and Declan.  That kid always has a smile on his face.

Before we left we had birthday cake and I tried to get all the grandkids on Papa's knee for a picture.  Taylor and Kale decided they didn't want to be there and started screaming.  It was too crowded for Gav to join.  Ewan was sleeping.  In order to distract the little ones Uncle Bri started screaming so all the kids joined and here is the picture.  Oh the memories.

Date with Connor

 

Yesterday Connor and I went on a date.  Whenever I tell him that Tim and I are going on a date he always asks to go on a date with me.  Needless to say he was super excited all week for it.  Tim took Kale checking cows so we had the whole day together.  We just hung out for the first part of the morning at home.  Then we headed into Airdrie to do some shoe shopping for the boys.  I indulged myself with a fine coffee and Connor got a super chocolate cookie.  His eyes just lit up when he tasted it.  

 

I wanted to hit Michaels before we went to our movie and on the way there we listen to our vbs cd  http://gofishguys.com/album/kickin-it-old-school and the Lords army song was on. (this is a great upbeat cd for kids)  While we were shopping Connor was sitting in the cart singing "I'm in the Lords army, Yes Sir" over and over again (not very loud).  My initial reaction was to get him to stop but then I realized why should I?  We got a couple weird looks but oh well.

 

Then we headed to meet our friend Janna who had invited us to watch a movie with her.  Her company was taking the office out for a movie and they were allowed to bring 3 guests and we were the lucky ones to get the invite.  We got to watch Brave in 3D.  Super cool.  At one point Connor was reaching in front of him trying to grab something from the screen. There was a scary part near the end and so Connor came onto my lap. After that he would look up at me squint his eyes together say I love you mommy and give me a big kiss. He did this about 3 times.  We didn't really have time for lunch so we had popcorn and pop for lunch and then stopped for Tim bits on the way home.  

 

God has truly blessed me with wonderful boys and I was grateful to be able to spend some time just with Connor.  It was a FABULOUS day!!

Summer Day

After Scoots nap today we headed out to watch the haying crew as they were right beside our place.  I toted my camera with in case the moment came to capture some memories. 

 Boys watching their dad unload hay.

My little Bug

The other afternoon while Kale was napping I asked Connor if he would like me to take some pictures of him.  Below are the shots that capture him best.  This summer has been lots of fun with him.  We have had many adventures around the pasture.  Following the cow paths is again one of his favorite games to play.  He has taken on the big brother role even more - stopping what he is playing to show Kale how to use a toy, holding Kale's hand when we are walking into a store, all the way to helping Kale get is shoes on and off.  I love his squeaky "mom" voice when he talks to Kale.  He is continually wanting to help me in the garden.  One day I watched while he was showing Kale which weeds to pull and put in the bucket.  He has become an expert pea/bean/potato/carrot picker.   

I love watching him grow and wonder.  We have entered the "why" stage.  Some days I am so tired of coming up with answers I just say "just cuz Connor".  If I don't answer him right away he'll say "just cuz mom?"  But overall I love that he is asking questions.  He wants to learn and it gives me a great opportunity to teach him.  The other night we had a bunch of hay cut and the thunder was booming and the clouds were getting black.  I prayed out loud for the Lord to let the rain pass us.  He asked what I was doing and I told him.  Seconds later his hands were on the window looking out at the field saying "Jesus please don't let it rain".  Just about melt my heart!!

Yahoo!

When we built our house we never poured the cement pad in front of the garage.  My brother got married 1 1/2 years after we moved in so the focus was getting the yard nice.  Last year we planned on pouring the cement but we needed my dads expertise.  Between our 2 schedules it never got done.  So finally this last weekend we got it done.  YAHOO!!  Mom and dad came up Thursday night and we poured some on Friday morning and the remainder Saturday morning.

 We needed to wet the ground before the cement was poured so Kale enjoyed helping out.

Tim helped pour the cement but then had to go hay.  So dad, mom, Connor and I finished it.  Cement pouring is incredibly exhausting.  My pour dad - I thought he was going to faint.  Connor got right in there helping me edge the cement.

Saturday morning we poured the cement in front of the steps.  My mom told Connor and Kale that there were snakes hiding in the cement so they wouldn't step in it.

My official job was the raker - getting the cement in just the right places. 

We were very grateful for Tom and Greg's help as well; without them we couldn't have got it done.

The boys were making their own fun on the deck.

Lee and Lindsay Markert

copyright Heart and Key Photography 2012

This past weekend we enjoyed witnessing my cousins wedding.  They got married on their future homestead with beautiful weather.  I love weddings. I forgot my camera so I had to wait till some were posted on facebook. 

Weddings are the one time that the Markert side gets together.  It was fun to catch up with all the cousins and watch our kids play together.  There were 13 kids there from our side and  6 of them were born in 2009.  There was only 2 girls and one was only 4 months old!  The reception was at a golf course and so after dinner the boys got to play on the grass and run around.  While they were being crazy, Sydney (the only girl) was sitting with perfect posture listening to Grandma reading a story.  Later I couldn't tear Connor and Kale away from the dance floor.  We had so much fun.