Father/ Son camping trip 2012

Every year our church has a father/ son camping trip for grandfathers and dads and sons. Its way up north in the White Mountains of NH at a very family friendly campground.  The camp ground has a pool, a river, a playground and from the pictures plenty to keep everyone busy.  This is the first year Mike has gone as this is the first year Israel is potty trained. We went back and forth about whether he was too little or not to go and ultimately decided to let him go. Mikes dad agreed to come along as well. Some friends lent us all their camping gear since we have none. I obviously was not there but since returning I have heard nothing but camping this and camping that and swimming and camp fires and marshmallows. Its safe to say that he had a BLAST. So thankful for an amazing husband who took the time to pack and plan and pack and plan and shop and drive and give up his weekend for his little boy to have some fun and male bonding.

 It was all fun and games

And then this happened. They did end up coming home a bit early due to the rain and lack of rain jackets and boots and a tent that ended up wet.

Almost 15 months

 Dear Nairi, You are almost 15 months old. Your current favorite things are Tic Tac containers, water bottles, phones, swings, and the trampoline. You are saying more and more words every day. Some of your new words are "side" for outside " booo-dee" for bird and "saw-seege" for sausage and bye bye. This morning you were fussing while I was getting dressed and I said to you "Are you hungry? Do you want breakfast?" to which you replied. " Saw-seeege, saw seeege!! " I couldn't help but laugh because you are spot on. We eat sausage and eggs almost every morning.  After breakfast you know that daddy always leaves for work so you immediately go and get your shoes and bring them to him. Hoping he will take you with him I guess? You copy your siblings more and more every day. Every am when we use the coffee grinder Keira and Israel cover their ears and now you do the same. You call any animal on four legs a puppy. You know that we keep Tic Tacs in the car and EVERY SINGLE time we get in the car you say immediately "Tee Ta? Tee Ta? Its so funny!!! You love music and will dance whenever you hear it.

 Your hair!! It deserves its own blog I think. Its getting larger and more of a fro with the summer humidity.

 You must hold the phone if you see it. You put it to your ear and say "hiiiiiii" over and over.

 We think we have another book lover on our hands. You don't really let us read them yet though but you love to flip through them and point to things.

 You found the Ipad cover but no Ipad and you were greatly displeased by that. You are quick to throw a tantrum if you don't get what you want.

 Water girl. You drink more water than any of the  kids.

Maps

I love Maps. And we still need some wall art. Put the 2 together and you have our latest project. Framed maps as wall art. We bought  USA and world maps for $ 9.99 each at Barnes and Nobles and Mike built frames around them for me. He is still working on the world map. The "glass" part of the frame is plexi glass from Lowes. After finishing the maps we are going to do a huge framed collage of old black and white family pictures and frame that as well. Sort of like this http://pinterest.com/pin/18507048438227660/ only it will be framed.

Back yard chair make over

 Before and after side by side

 before

after


Disclaimer: I don't go through my neighbors trash piles. Not that there is anything wrong with it but its not something I normally do. However I was driving by the night before trash day and noticed these chairs by the curb. We always need more outside chairs so I mentioned it to Mike so see if he would take a walk with the kids and toss them in the wagon. Being the obliging husband that he his and knowing that I would probably be too embarrassed to be seen taking something from our neighbors trash pile he brought them home.  Being the genius that I am, I decided that painting them would make them look brand new and add some color to our dismissal backyard.  Mike spray painted them blue. Two bright blue chairs for the cost of two cans of spray paint.

Strawberry picking 2012

 We usually go strawberry, blueberry, and apple picking every year. The kids have a great time. Last year we skipped the summer picking due to adding Nairi to the family and moving and all that. The season began early this year so we went picking yesterday am. Keira and Israel  enjoying picking berries ( and eating them) and Mike made his fabulous strawberry pizza http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/02/fruit-pizza.html

 Israel was confused about the leaves and at first popped the whole berry in his mouth!

 Feeding the goats