One of Mina’s friends recently introduced us to a new book series which our entire family is LOVING. Jenny and the Cat Club. Sweet, simple and wonderfully written. We’ve read the first book as a family and Mina is reading it again on her own. Her goal for today was to read the entire book. I love to see a little person so excited about the big world of chapter books.
We’ve been fighting the rain with our tarp-covered coop. So we dedicated this weekend to finishing up the roof. It got off to a good start with some tea and dancing.
The chickens have been jumping up on the frame of the coop, so we added in some higher roosts. The weather was great for coop work.
The kids largely entertained themselves in the backyard. They had a pretend sale.
Went camping.
and ate homemade blueberry popsicles. I think that it was a pretty good deal.
The coop with a roof! Whew. Bring on the rain. Bring on the break from coop building!
Here’s a 101coookbook recipe for an awesome side dish:‘Lime and Peanut Coleslaw.
I make it with purple cabbage, no tomatoes, way less peanuts and i added in avocado. It is pretty, easy and absolute yummy!
I'm also having fun with tagging. I've tagged all the recipes and family photos. Check out the sidebar.
I love spring ferns.
Well, he’s too big for the Kelty backpack. How did we carry Mina in that thing till she was four? He’s a great hiker and wanted a backpack like his big sister. We are gearing him up with the kid-friendly ten essentials – including his new emergency whistle which he happily tested out the whole car ride home.
Miss Mina testing out her new monocular. Thanks Uncle Hot Dog and Becca!
Some serious wind meant that we got the kite up. I’ve had this kite since i was a little girl. My aunt gave it to me for my birthday probably sometime in elementary school.
Every chicken farmer needs a toy coop.
His new Japanese rice bowl – complete with owls on the outside and inside.
I needed a day to relax. To not work on a house project, plan a party/gathering, build a chicken coop. I wanted to go for a hike and a bike. We started with a lazy morning – lattes, cards and hotcakes. Then we got out the bikes. The weather was great. I pulled M out of the incline and through the city streets until we got to the bike path. That takes about five minutes.
Then she hopped off and biked on her own. She looks so cute.
My favourite stretch on this path. There is a long rock wall that is covered with green moss. It is a quiet spot and so pretty.
Playground stop on the way home.
“I’m a Mamma too now. Take my picture for Mother’s Day.”
The hike part with new hiking poles.
Sweet day. I’ve got a sweet family. Thank you.
Fruit cups for school. Mina made sure that the cups were not plastic. We brought in ecotainer cups, which led to a class discussion of composting and inventive ways to reuse your cup.
Like her mother, she’s a little chicken crazy.
She elected to go to a track meet on her birthday. Her new friend Midnight came along for the meet.
She was excited for her sixth place ribbon on her sixth birthday!
Red Robin for lunch. The wait staff sung happy birthday to Mina and she tried to hide under the table.
Phantom Lake Yo-Yo Factory. Probably an hour before the party. Not that i was counting.
The main thing of her party was painting the pre-assembled folk yo-yos. She had five friends and naturally her little brother.
The birthday party takes a coop tour. Poor chickens.
Mina’s dinner of things flowery (shape cutters and flower pasta) and favourite things like fruits, fancy cheese and chicken dogs. “Orange Minty” is a new tasty household drink, from a cool cookbook that she got last year.
Strawberry ice-cream cake (made by Mina and Mamma, with fresh strawberries, also from the above cool cookbook) and drizzled with strawberry sauce. Ice-cream cakes i can totally handle. This was awesome.
The yo-yos were dry and it was time for a test run.
Post-party fun with an old friend.
Miles REALLY likes birthday parties. Ever since his birthday last week, he’s been talking about his “second birthday party.” So he’s already planning the bash for his fourth. It will be an owl party with an owl cake. I think that we might start celebrating half-birthdays just for fun.
