Never A Dull Moment

Last week there was extra activity around our house.  Monday afternoon, we watched as shingles were unloaded via crane onto the roofs of our house, garage and barn in preparation for a crew who would be coming to re-shingle our roofs due to the hail damage. 

That afternoon, we headed back to Kim and Ron's house to collect eggs and play with chickens.

Tuesday morning, at 7am, there was a crew of 6 that showed up to tackle our roofs.  We were told they would have all three completed in one day, which was hard to believe, but in a 12 hour day they absolutely did!  It was amusing to watch them work so seamlessly and quickly, clearly comfortable and familiar with the task.  With nothing more than a rope and a harness, they scaled our steep house roof and walked all over, even dangled off the edge, with no hesitation whatsoever.

We had quite a mess, but they took care of that too!  That evening, the Kids and I walked around the yard with a magnet picking up nails, staples and random bits of shingle and trash that was missed. 

Wednesday, we headed over to Uncle Ryan's to visit.  We didn't go planning to swim, but the pool was open and the kids were eager, so even though they didn't have their swim suits or towels, in they jumped!  They played for quite a long time that afternoon.

Thursday afternoon, we went to Uncle Don and Aunt Peggy's house to see the baby goats and with hopes of seeing baby chickens and turkeys too.  This year, Ezri is going to show one of my cousin Rod's new baby goats and she was very excited to get her hands on them and start havign some fun.  The kids helped take the babies out to walk for their first time, along with their mom and sister.  It was so funny to watch the babies jump and hop around, mostly fighting the collar and being led, but also in play.

That night, a package arrived for Tierney, a brand new bike because she had outgrown her 20 inch bike and there were no more hand-me-downs.  She was thrilled with it!

Friday, we went to some garage sales in Sandy Pines and the kids found a few treasures.  Near the end of our shopping, we came across a purple scooter much like the one we got last year at the sales.  This one was marked $175 and claimed it was less than a year old and barely ridden.  We got the go ahead from Daddy, talked the sellers down to $150 and found ourselves deciding how to get it back to the van, half way around the park.  

Alora was more than happy to ride it for as long as the battery would last, so while Ezri chauffered us on the golf cart, Alora followed along.

We made it almost all the way back before hills and a tired battery made Alora have to Flintstone it back the last little bit, but we got it back!

That afternoon, (and every other afternoon this week), we were back at Kim and Ron's to feed the chickens some scraps, gather eggs and have fun with the chickens.  The kids are eagerly planning what they will do when they have their own, which they are determined to do after Ezri and Alora mailed letters to the Hopkins Village Council and recived responses regarding the council currently working on a new ordinance to allow chickens in the village.  They are positive they have swayed their dad and are eager to see that change come about.

Saturday morning, we were up and back at Sandy Pines for a quick ride around to find any more garage sales we might need to shop at.  A few more deals found and and hour later, we were back on the road toward home to get ready for Elam's last Tee Ball game.  Before we could go, he needed to first write a thank you card for his coach. 

As always, he was excited to play and had a great time, with his best two hits yet!

Elam walked away from his final game with a medal, a bag of treats and a goodie bag, and a huge grin!

Hot and Sandy

 We got to celebrate with Travis this week as we attended his 8th Grade graduation.

It was really hot last week, with temperatures well above 90 every day, and no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. It was a week where we watered plants a lot, did things outside earlier in the day and because we could, the kids and I were at the lake a lot.   

As of yesterday, they have already gotten 17 hours of swimming in, and who knows how many pounds of sand in my van, and this is just the final days of May and first days of June!  They were able to go with Payten and Bristol on Thurdsday, after Payten got out of school, and they all had a great time together.

The kids also held their own VBS in our yard for the neighbor kids.  They had a Bible story told with puppets, a craft, games and a snack as well as taught them songs.  They all really enjoyed it and I was proud of them for coming up with it all on their own and pulling it off fully without me.  I have some pretty cool kids!

There was some special mail that arrived this week as well.  Ezri was awarded the Mark of Excellence award for 4H because of an essay she wrote on what she can do because of 4H.  This award is open to 4H members 4H aged 10-12, two per county.  After anxiously waiting almost two months since submitting her application and essay, it was a very exciting thing to receive!

In addition to that, Ezri and Alora each received a response from the Village of Hopkins Council in regards to letters they had written requesting consideration of a change in oordiance that would allow them to have chickens on their property within the village.  They were quite excited to read that the wheels are in motion to begin making that change happen, and now they are fully planning the details of owning chickens when that becomes a possibility, slowly wearing their dad down as they go.

Friday evening, I did some celebrating as well, gathering with the four women who have helped me coordinate our MOPS ministry for the last year, with a dinner at the Melting Pot in Grand Rapids.  

Saturday morning, we headed out for another Tee Ball game for Elam.

After that, because it was already hot at 11am, we got ice cream from the creamery in Hopkins - yum!  

Later, the kids and I went to gather eggs and hang with the chickens for a bit.  

This was followed up later in the afternoon by more swimming at Sandy Pines, a picnic on the beach (with our friends, who joined us later) and then some relaxing together back at Kathy's as the day finally cooled.