With fall soon approaching, we've been taking every advantage of the beautiful warm weather.  

A few things.......

We just spent some fabulous days with Grandma, or as the boys seem to have renamed her, Nanee.  Is it possible that we'll have two Bupee's and two Nanee's?  Not sure if the older kids will allow this to happen.  We enjoyed our time tremendously. 

{An attempt at group story time}

 We are now in the midst of regaining our routines and schedules as we gear up to start school on August 20th.  Sean is hoping to take a week or so off in September, so I figured we'd get started a little early.  I spent several hours yesterday creating schedules, photocopying papers and getting ready. 

 This week the older two are at VBS and it is dinosaur week so I think they should come home with some interesting tidbits of knowledge.  I'll post more on our upcoming school year in another post.

Sean was sick on Saturday and called in sick for the second time in the thirteen years that I have known him.  Fevers have been making their way through three of the kids but hopefully no one comes down with any serious flus or colds.

The garden was slow to get started this year but we have now been enjoying lettuce, onions, carrots, tomatoes, peas, rhubarb, potatoes, and the odd raspberry that are just starting to ripen.  I love that the kids can snack off fresh garden vegetables, although, I don't love that they keep picking my zuchinni before they are ready.  I always hear people complain that they have too many zuchinni but I would be happy with even one!  

It appears that Alex might be potty training himself.  I have had a potty sitting in our bathroom for a couple of months to familiarize the boys with it.  Although I trained the others earlier, I haven't felt quite ready for the task of training two boys.  Recently, however, Alex has been asking to go on the potty and when he did, he would earn a treat for himself and the other kids.  This technique worked in the past as all the kids felt part of the celebration as they all nibbled on their smartie (or whatever small treat I have lying around)  This time, however, I realized that this might not work as Jordan is completely content to eat treats that were earned by his brother.  If you ask Jordan to go on the potty, he will run the other way yelling, NO!  Alex has been in underwear for a while and keeping dry but I'm still putting on diapers at nap and bed.  He takes these off repeatedly but putting the diaper on backwards seems to be working for now.  I guess we'll just continue doing what we're doing and see where it leads.

Although Jordan has no interest in potty training, he has used his time to master the running bike.  He can get going very fast and loves to add in little car noises as he flies by.  He will often follow Aiden around the yard.

My running friends and I might enter a 1/2 marathon next month.  I'm not quite sure I feel ready but it is so tempting as the medals are pink!!  We're going on a long run tonight to test things out.

 And that is a little of what we've been up to.

"The Best Birthday Ever!"

Aiden has been requesting to spend some special time with Sean.  We decided that this year for Aiden's birthday, instead of a birthday party, he would go camping with Sean.  The two left yesterday and will be returning tomorrow.  

They have been having an incredible time fishing, swimming, boating and doing all those things that are special between a father and son.  

Tonight, shortly after Grandma arrived in town, we went out to surprise the boys and have a little visit.  We ate dinner, had birthday cake and got to explore the gorgeous campground.