A summer activity

A lot of the summer was spent outside.  When we weren't swimming, the kids (especially Ethan) were using the hose to make their own "hot tub" in the sandbox.  Ethan took it upon himself to enjoy the hot tub "au natural".

Do you see the sparse stalks of something growing in front of the play structure (right by the red pail on the far upper left corner)?  

That would be the bird seed that Mason planted.  

Here the results today:

Do you see the sunflowers growing in the "fertile" sand of the sandbox?  It's amazing anything came up in that sand....I guess he's got a green thumb?  (That will be useful when he becomes a pickle farmer - his life ambition).

The kids have been begging us for a bunny.  We've told them that they need to take care of a plant first, before they take on the responsibility of a pet.

Mason was the first to let us know that he, indeed, already took care of a plant and even planted it from seed!

Trip to Oma and Opa's house

I'm finally ready to blog about the rest of our summer!

After Petra and Andrew's wedding, we went to my parents' house for a few days.

Lots of riding on the pedal tractor, four-wheelers, lawnmower tractor, and jeep was done!

Ethan and Mason went with Opa to get feed at "the big farm".

Watching Opa fill the mixer.

Ethan watched from the tractor too.

The boys with Opa on the tractor.

They had a few rides on the rustler too.  

They took turns "driving" with Oma.

Mason was allowed to press the gas pedal for a bit and he gunned it so hard that I tumbled backwards against the back hatch and the hatch opened! (It wasn't latched properly, we later found out).  Thank goodness I was the one sitting against it and not the kids!

Megan drives.

We ended the trip with a campfire supper.  Hotdogs, chips, and s'mores.

Ethan's first time roasting marshmallows...or rather, as he likes to call it, "can we burn some more marshmallows, mommy?"

Austen waited patiently for a soccer game to start after supper.

The teasing starts...

Look at this face!!  Not exactly the look of innocence!

The soccer game starts.  The kids versus Opa.

"I'm the king of the castle!"  (Ethan's favourite chant)

Kids were winning...

Then Opa got the ball and Mason tried to stop him.

Then, a whole round of teasing and wrestling ensued which ended with Opa's footwear on the roof.

Ethan was quite put out that Opa's shoes were on the roof.  I guess he was on Opa's team.

A shot of Ethan ready for bed....or not quite...

The boys wait patiently for Opa to be done.

It was so cold this summer morning that they had to wear their coats while waiting on Opa.  

The kids had a wonderful time at Oma and Opa's house (as usual).