End of Pre-school for Slater

Showing Jade how things are done!


Hanging with Mrs. Gray on the playground. The pre-school playground was shared by four classes (2 pre-school and 2 kindergarten).


His classroom at North Pole Elementary.


These three people have worked so hard this year with our sweet boy. They were all great communicators with stories to tell about Slater each day. We appreciated all the love that they showed, even on his bad days.

Yardwork - Goodbye trees, hello view

We cleared a large area (which use to be the dog yard) next to our house last week. The goal was to be able to see the kids play-area better, make room for three small raised beds, and get rid of the aspen. I was busy keeping the kids out of the way and forgot to get a "before" photo. But these three show the yard after Wade chain-sawed the trees, we cleared and hauled the trees and brush away, and then ran the brush cutter over the entire side yard. This week we are working on pulling stumps, removing the fence posts, and raking up the remaining debris.


Downed trees (about 70 small aspen and loads of arctic rose bushes)


Working hard with the brush cutter.


Cleared section.

New digs!

The turtle sandbox from Step2 was great for Slater, but a little small to contain to shovel-wielding toddlers, so we decided to go for the boat. This is a design that our friends the Powells used in their yard. I love the huge box, boat shape and large sail that acts as a sun-shade for enjoying the sandbox all day. We spent about 6 hours working on it- the turf we had to cut out took most of that time. Once we started to work on the box it went fast and the kids loved playing with it during every part of the building process.

Helping Uncle Dan and Dad with the sandbox-ship.

Each kid picked a tool to work with: Jade loved the triangle and pencil, while Slater worked with the tape measure.

All this building makes for hungry kids :)

The ship has been launched!

Slater helping with the sand.

The finished product with two happy campers! It needs a little more sand, but all the yards are closed for Memorial Day.

Favorite post bath activity

Reading in the big chair!

New vacation home!

Alright, it is only new to us and it isn't really a home. But we plan on making it our home-away-from-home this summer. It has room to sleep six comfortably and more if you wanted to be "cozy". There are a few little things that need work, but we are thrilled to add this "home" to our collection.

"Kid's Fish" Day at Cramer's field

Our little archer. He wasn't big enough to try the target shooting, but the kind man at the archery booth had a son the same age and very patiently walked him through shooting 4 arrows. He was thrilled to shoot and even more excited to go out and pull the arrows out of the targets for the next group. What a great event for allowing kids to connect with the outdoors.


Slater was skunked this year, but still loved just holding a pole and watching a couple of other kids catch fish, "Bravo, bravo!!"

Jade's lucky wasn't any better than Slater's, but she did enjoy her "Unc Carter" time. Lately she has been asking where people are and then informing you where she thinks they are. So today she said "Unc Carter watching a movie, mommy, with Aunt Sylia."

Soon to update!!

So many posts, so little time! You would think that being done with work for the next three months would give us some free time!!

Soon to be seen on our blog:

Yard work - Goodbye trees, hello view
New Vacation Home - (the redneck kind)
End of School
Slater Progress report!
The launch and landing of a pirate ship

This is my "to-do" list for weekend blogging :)

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day

Rough and Tumble Boys

A recent evening spent celebrating a birthday at Aunt Melinda and Uncle Rick's house. The younger cousins (all boys except Jade) had a wonderful time playing pig-pile in the yard. Jade had a great time running around with the boys, but never went any closer than this picture :) Oscar was such a good sport with the younger kids and was often the bottom of the pile.

More some ...

Yup, she's so cool that she has to wear shades at dinner.

A few little Jade-isms to mark month #21

Her language has continued to develop quickly, with 4-8 words sentence that have clear meanings and distinct opinions.

For several months she has said, "I want more some banana," or "More some swing, mommy." It is adorable to me, but still I am quick to say, "You would like SOME MORE banana?" It is hard to correct this cute quirk in her speech. She is now saying it the "correct" way and I can't help but record it here so I can replay it in my head as I remember the way that she began to talk.

A few others that we have heard recently:

"I need a hop-a-cikle" (Popsicle)
"Where my broffer go?"
"One, three, four cars I see"
"I lufe you!!"
"You a silly goose Daddy"

If you would like to hear more some Jade-isms, give us a call or leave a comment :)

Sibling LOVE!!

We have been seeing a L.O.T. of love around these parts lately. Encouragement to "come with me", "keep up", "show me", "wait for me", and general happiness to be around each other.


They created a couch cave with every pillow they could find and then hide in it. Slater did the pillow collecting and Jade did the arranging. Nature vs nurture? How to they fall into these roles so early in life?


Helping Dad make his first batch of Challah bread. BTW - whacking rising bread with a wooden spoon repeatedly seems to have no ill affect.


The picnic table has resurfaced from it's winter home and has not made it to the great outdoors yet. Many meals and snacks have been consumed here and I foresee many picnics on the lawn in our future.


Jade dropped her pacifier and Slater was trying to return it to her. They couldn't quite coordinate the event due to hysterical giggles.


Visiting Cramer's Field to view the arrival of the spring birds. They saw cranes, Canadian geese (gooses according to both of them) and a variety of ducks - we need to get a pocket guide to birds and foliage this summer.

One of many places that storm troopers get stored

The Star Wars fascination is never going to end!! He loves his Legos and any container is a new place to store them, line them up, or arrange them. My muffin tin was popular for about two days, then his R2 lunch box was used, and then ...

Spiffy Do for Boo

May the 4th be with you!

So it was brought to my attention that May 4th is Star Wars day. Why May 4th? After some research I found it goes back to George Lucas saying "May the Force be with you" in a German interview and the translation came out " I will be with on May 4th". Kinda dumb, I mean who needs a reason to celebrate Star Wars! Many of those who know me realize I will watch Star Wars anytime or place for any occasion. Some may say "crazy" or "freak" or even "obsessed"....( my wife?). But in reality it is just a good story(episodes 4, 5, and 6). The good news is my son and his cousins have latched onto it also and I can look forward to many more years of enjoyment. But what would Star Wars day be without a photo tribute?
Jade and her two Troopers

A small battle in the making.

Still undeterminded who had more fun, Slater or Dad and Uncle Carter.