May 31

Dude!!!  Ya gotta aim if ya wanna hit one off!


Here, let me help you for a minute...

May 30

Josie and her class went on a field trip today to
Safeway, the Public Library, Sardis Park for lunch,
and the highlight of the day, the Blue Heron Nature Reserve.


Silently looking for snakes hiding in the grass.


Searching for pond life.


Carefully listening to the wonderful nature interpreter, Cynthia.


Caterpillar cocoon.


Carefully listening for nature sounds.


Using a magnifying glass to take a closer look.


Some of the flowers blooming at the nature reserve.

May 29

Sandbox time seems to be the rare time that the kids
all play peacefully together around here lately.
No bickering, no complaining...sigh...

May 28

Blake sampling chocolate chip cookie dough.
It's a wonder that any dough makes it into the oven around here...
especially if Dustin and Josie are around!

May 27

These shelves in the General Store at Burnaby Village
caught the eye of all the kids there!
My personal favorite?
Bottom right...brown and white stripes...humbugs!!

May 26

I'm so in love with these
pretty flowers in our hanging basket.

May 25

I've been trying in vain to get a better shot,
but this is as good as I've managed...so far.

It's Mrs. Black-Headed Grosebeak visiting.
Never had these at my feeder before (that I know of).
Now if only she'd bring her mate...I'd love to see him too!!

May 24

Today Dustin's class went to Burnaby Village Museum for their annual class trip.
All the kids (and a few of the moms) were dressed in period costume.
The kids had a very nice time, the weather was perfect too.
And if you plan on going there (it's free admission from now until September),
make sure your fingernails are clean and nicely trimmed...
or the school headmaster will be sure to punish you!!

May 23

Just because...
:)

May 22

A pair of Black-capped Chickadees
is making a nest in one of our birdhouses.
See him sticking his head out??

May 21

With strawberry season just around the corner,
here is a super easy recipe to try.

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

Mix ingredients and press into a deep dish pie plate and up the sides.

Place in the freezer while preparing filling.

Filling:

2  8oz pkg of cream cheese

1/2 pkg strawberry Jello powder (4 serving size)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 cup Cool Whip

Whip cream cheese and granulated sugar until well blended.

Add Jello powder and icing sugar and mix well.

Add strawberries and Cool Whip.

Spoon into pie crust and cover.

Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.

May 20

Blake fell asleep on the way home from church.
Big brother wanted to snuggle him.

May 19

Dustin made himself a tepee
with some maple branches.

May 18

Country living at its best!!

May 17

Well, the baby geese have hatched.
Well...minus the 3 eggs that our dog stole.
(Yes, after the third egg showed up, we concluded
that it must have been Sasha doing the stealing.)

May 16

Every sunny day after the big kids are off to school,
Reuben wants to give Blake a ride in the bike trailer.

We've got a system...
He goes out and hooks up the trailer.  When he's ready,
he rings the doorbell.  This morning, I noticed that
he got sidetracked so I decided to give Blake a bottle.

Ding dong...
Ding dong...
Ding dong, Ding Dong, DING DONG...
When I didn't come out with Blake, Reuben came inside in a bit of a huff.
I told him that I was just feeding Blake a bottle, but he'd be done soon.
A bit suspiciously he said,
"Okay.  I'll just come and see how many more ounces."

May 15

Mr. Rufous Hummingbird
stopping by for a drink.

May 14

Waiting (im)patiently until
Blake is ready for his nap.

May 13

I was wandering outside (for a few minutes of peace and quiet)
when I saw this looking out the window at me.
My heart melted.  Then I saw this...


Happy Mother's Day!!

May 12

This aquarium has been gracing
my kitchen table the last few days.
Can you see the three small fish in there
that the kids caught in the slough?