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farm in the city

A gorgeous day to spend at the "farm" in the city

my childhood friend who is a patient mother, amazing homemaker & incredible spirit 

invited us to spend the afternoon at her "farm" in the city

the kiddos started out in the pool and then the gardens beckoned...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
the girls enjoyed the afternoon...playing in the pool, running through the sprinkler, acting like boys (being nekkid without shirts)...picking ripe red and some not-so-ripe green tomatoes, exploring the bean poles, sampling sweet green peas, picking purple peppers, digging for potatoes and onions (and worms) and tasting some "raw" sweet corn...which was dubbed "sweet & good" 

a  little feast of hard cooked eggs, pretzels and ranch dressing was shared before we headed for home

our dinner included some of those yummy green & yellow beans and this

 mama is planning BLT's with thick cut pepper bacon &  heirloom tomato slices later in the week...Yum!

 
 
 
 
 

camping

an impromptu weekend away with the neighbors...

stillwater, {darn knit anyway}, teddy bear park, the malt shoppe 

& then...

william o'brien state park, nature, SWIMMING & tenting!

this was our first foray into tent camping with kids and we learned:

bring long pants & sleeves even in the midst of a humid heat wave

always pack duct tape (because it can fix anything)

jumper cables come in handy

don't leave your trash outside (unless you want "masked" visitors!)

&

 sleeping bags are handy, but a mattress pad, fitted sheet and a favorite blanket make an absolutely perfect  "feels like home" bed after a long day of adventuring & swimming!

 

 

 

 
 
 

sun, sand, water & ice

hot sun, hotter sand, cool water and sweet frozen ice

floating, bouncing, sliding, swimming, splashing and lounging in the cool cool water

 

  

patience

this weekend was a practice in patience...

{long car rides with traffic & road construction, potty learning, fishing & knitting}

there were lots of long moments spent waiting...patiently

but those moments gave me the opportunity to sit and listen to what my littles had to share:

whilst driving, as a captive audience of two...Melania shared with us the amazing tale of her previous week & taught her sister how to burp on cue

whilst potty learning...Kiera shared with me her new word "pee" & then demonstrated

whilst fishing....Melania learned how to cut her own "bait" (pepperoni),  bait her hook & cast!

whilst knitting...this mama learned that sometimes things need to be "frogged"  

 

and...handpainted vases take a  l o n g  time to dry!

 

national night out

our national night out block party...

good food, great neighbors, face/arm painting & a gorgeous evening

 

 
 
 

Friday $5.00 Adventure

My September goal is to find a Friday family activity for $5.00 or less.

Friday's $5.00 adventure was visiting Como Park about an hour before closing.

No crowds, perfect weather and ALL the animals were outside!

We got to spend the best hour of Friday at Como with each other and the animals.

 

 

 

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls

Daddy's "Big Easy" bike pulled the girls in their Chariot to the Falls.

We danced to BlueGrass music, enjoyed some Surly Cynic, ate some delish fish, learned about acorns & witnessed a fantastic sunset over the falls.

  

State Fair Adventures

Sunday at the State Fair