Once the summer hits, we like to live on ice cream and freezies. But, we got an even better treat when we visited my parents last week--soft ice cream!
When I was a kid, we'd all go over to The Dairy Freeze (near where my mom grew up) for soft ice cream. It was a half hour drive to heaven. The best was the chocolate dipped ice cream, although I could never quite eat it fast enough to prevent the drips that my dad had to help us "lick down". (I have learned since becoming a parent that this is just a big excuse to get some extra ice cream.)
Well, now my childhood hometown has soft ice cream in the form of a Dairy Freeze knockoff. Why did they have to wait until I moved away? Friday night we headed to "Danielle's" for some burgers and soft ice cream. Sydney (who helps Dad with the horses) was giving carriage rides, with Faith in tow. And the rest of us were there to enjoy eating outside on a warm summer evening and visiting with people.
We bumped into George's Uncle Tommy and Aunt Carol when we pulled up -- small town for you. Then, after burgers, it was time for ice cream -- chocolate/vanilla twist dipped in chocolate anyone? Even the horse, Suzie, got her own vanilla cone after Blake helped her "lick it down". (Check out the side shots from flickr for a picture of this.)
A perfect summer evening!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Nothing to do with the picture
Does this look like the face of a kid that goes to the potty by saying, "I can do it Mom" and shutting the door in my face? Yes, I have a two and half year old that is not only completely potty trained, but can in fact go to the potty all by himself without spraying my bathroom with pee.
Faith is going to our sitters for the summer, so she informed me today that he goes to the bathroom all by himself every time when he's there! He's a potty prodigy! I'd write a book on this miracle and make millions but it had nothing to do with me.
(The picture is just another excuse to show off cute puppies...which are now all sold to happy new owners.)
Faith is going to our sitters for the summer, so she informed me today that he goes to the bathroom all by himself every time when he's there! He's a potty prodigy! I'd write a book on this miracle and make millions but it had nothing to do with me.
(The picture is just another excuse to show off cute puppies...which are now all sold to happy new owners.)
Monday, July 06, 2009
Puppies!
2009 07 02_2003
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3
In this video, Gramma helps Blake pick up some puppies while Lora watches in the background.
My first cousin, Lora
The last couple of weeks has been a whirlwind around the house. The big news was a visit from Lora, my first cousin from Australia. Having her come for a visit is always a big event, and Faith makes it an even bigger one because Lora (and her sister Charlotte) are like the big sisters she doesn't have. In her eight-year-old eyes, hanging out with her teenage cousins is the height of cool.
We got to visit with her twice in the last two weeks--one here and one down at my parents' farm (more to come). My Aunt Margaret and Lora came for a visit to our place two Fridays ago. In honour of the visit, we got to do a couple of firsts.
We got to go antique shopping in the little town next to ours...something I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but have shied away from with a baby/toddler in tow. My credit card/nerves couldn't handle that. But, Lora likes to antique, Faith and Aunt Margaret were up for it, and Blake was at the sitters. So, the elements aligned.
The antique stores ranged from garage sale to don't touch anything ($10,000 antique desk anyone?). My favourite spot was a place called Funky Junk, so you can tell which end of scale I was on. I got a couple of nature prints for the house, Faith got a little ring with an F on it, and I got a nicely rusted flower climber for the garden. Then, we had to stop for a "snack" at an outdoor cafe where we had yummy scones and a cinnamon bun floating in a bed of caramel sauce. (We shared...and Faith and I are planning a return trip with Blake. :)
Our next stop was Stratford for West Side Story. Aunt Margaret kindly treated us to rush tickets (thank you!) and we had some pretty good seats for the afternoon showing. Lora was very familiar with the play (band), as was Aunt Margaret, but I'd never seen it, and this was Faith's first play EVER. (We were going big.) They assured me I would know most of the music, though, but I'm not a musical fan so I was just prepared for a "pleasant" afternoon.
Wow! What a surprise. I knew almost all the music, and the play was fantastic! It wasn't just the music but the staging, dancing, and physicality of the production. The balcony scene was spectacular and the audience broke out in applause for Tony half-way through the scene to say HOLY COW...I can't believe you just did that while SINGING/ACTING/DANCING. Faith's comment was more on point, "How many times did they kiss?!?"
So, yes, I actually liked this musical, as did the rest of our girl-party. I was very happy that Faith enjoyed her first real theatre experience. As she said, "I didn't understand it all, but I liked it!"
So that was the day. When we got home to the boys, we mostly recovered (i.e. napped), and then Faith watched a Family Channel movie with Lora (yes even 19-year-olds...and adults...can enjoy some things produced by Disney). A relaxing ending to a great day.
We got to visit with her twice in the last two weeks--one here and one down at my parents' farm (more to come). My Aunt Margaret and Lora came for a visit to our place two Fridays ago. In honour of the visit, we got to do a couple of firsts.
We got to go antique shopping in the little town next to ours...something I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but have shied away from with a baby/toddler in tow. My credit card/nerves couldn't handle that. But, Lora likes to antique, Faith and Aunt Margaret were up for it, and Blake was at the sitters. So, the elements aligned.
The antique stores ranged from garage sale to don't touch anything ($10,000 antique desk anyone?). My favourite spot was a place called Funky Junk, so you can tell which end of scale I was on. I got a couple of nature prints for the house, Faith got a little ring with an F on it, and I got a nicely rusted flower climber for the garden. Then, we had to stop for a "snack" at an outdoor cafe where we had yummy scones and a cinnamon bun floating in a bed of caramel sauce. (We shared...and Faith and I are planning a return trip with Blake. :)
Our next stop was Stratford for West Side Story. Aunt Margaret kindly treated us to rush tickets (thank you!) and we had some pretty good seats for the afternoon showing. Lora was very familiar with the play (band), as was Aunt Margaret, but I'd never seen it, and this was Faith's first play EVER. (We were going big.) They assured me I would know most of the music, though, but I'm not a musical fan so I was just prepared for a "pleasant" afternoon.
Wow! What a surprise. I knew almost all the music, and the play was fantastic! It wasn't just the music but the staging, dancing, and physicality of the production. The balcony scene was spectacular and the audience broke out in applause for Tony half-way through the scene to say HOLY COW...I can't believe you just did that while SINGING/ACTING/DANCING. Faith's comment was more on point, "How many times did they kiss?!?"
So, yes, I actually liked this musical, as did the rest of our girl-party. I was very happy that Faith enjoyed her first real theatre experience. As she said, "I didn't understand it all, but I liked it!"
So that was the day. When we got home to the boys, we mostly recovered (i.e. napped), and then Faith watched a Family Channel movie with Lora (yes even 19-year-olds...and adults...can enjoy some things produced by Disney). A relaxing ending to a great day.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Happy Canada Day!
In honour of the day, I made some very "red" strawberry-rhubarb crisp today. I totally went local with the ingredients. The rhubarb and strawberries are from a farm market that I pass by each day.
The kids and I also made a double-batch of chocolate chip cookies. And, I made homemade pecan/dark chocolate ice cream. Yum!
Don't worry...we'll all fit into our clothes next week. Most of the baking is headed elsewhere or into the freezer for a bbq we're having.
So have a Happy Canada Day and enjoy whatever you're doing. Me...I'm off to take a nap. Baking is exhausting. :)
The kids and I also made a double-batch of chocolate chip cookies. And, I made homemade pecan/dark chocolate ice cream. Yum!
Don't worry...we'll all fit into our clothes next week. Most of the baking is headed elsewhere or into the freezer for a bbq we're having.
So have a Happy Canada Day and enjoy whatever you're doing. Me...I'm off to take a nap. Baking is exhausting. :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The wiggle/giggle car
The wiggle/giggle car
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3
Weigela
Last fall Ryan planted a "living" fence of various bushes at our place (courtesy of Melissa's design). This spring and summer I'm enjoying watching the plants bloom. I'd never heard of a weigela before, but I have two varieties now!
I love their colorful pink flowers. And, looking around my garden, I seem to have repeated this color, or a version of it, all over the place. I may not wear pink, but I seem to like the color in my flora.
I love their colorful pink flowers. And, looking around my garden, I seem to have repeated this color, or a version of it, all over the place. I may not wear pink, but I seem to like the color in my flora.
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