Summer Sagas

[rugger]

All things summer break. The good, the bad, the ugly.

[rugger]

Anyone else's 8-ish year old already about to lose all privileges for the entire summer? Mine is a hot mess of reactivity and I'm very much over it already.

[charlotte]

rugger my seven-year-old is a ball of emotions at all times. I think he’s burst into tears three times in the last 2 hours.

We are spending our weekends at the pool in hopes of improving everyone’s swimming skills this summer! I sort of hate public swimming pools but… ya know.

[rugger]

Jun 17, 2022 16:42:06 GMT -6 charlotte said:

rugger my seven-year-old is a ball of emotions at all times. I think he’s burst into tears three times in the last 2 hours.

We are spending our weekends at the pool in hopes of improving everyone’s swimming skills this summer! I sort of hate public swimming pools but… ya know.

I know it's an age thing (R was the same between 7-8) but YEESH it's not any easier the second time around

[DGM]

My kids had VBS last week and start swim lessons on Monday. We were supposed to go visit Southern California family but between my on-line class and the rising numbers down there, we are postponing it for a few weeks. Our summer is a good busy with park lunches, playdates, and a home based "science camp" for L. We couldn't afford actual camp so thankfully she is loving our home version.

ETA she is almost 8 and yells everyday she wishes she didn't have a brother. 4 year old J definitely bothers her on purpose so that's been tough.

[mc13]

We have 1 more week of school, with a half day on Friday. After we pick up the girls, we’re driving right to a state park about an hour away to go camping for the weekend! Our basement is getting finished this summer too. He’s starting next week. Luckily the mess and noise will be contained down there. Other than that, I’m hoping the girls play outside every day with the neighbors. I bought a giant slip n slide from target and we got a blow up pool last summer. I hope having new friends the same ages will keep them mostly not fighting inside the house.

[mintyblueair]

L has school right until the end of June, so we're not quite on summer break yet. We're having his birthday party two weeks from now and we have no other plans yet for the summer.

MH is in France for another week and a half. I don't regret not going. His dad broke his ankle a couple of days before MH arrived at their farm, so MH has been doing all of the farm work. We would have been trapped on the farm all day every day if we had all gone.

We may try to plan a small getaway later in the summer but I'm not sure where. We're kind of in the middle of nowhere here 😅

[rugger]

We had the girls' make-up birthday party today. I felt bad that only 2 of A's friends could make it, but she still had fun. I got VV burnt 🥵 and so did R. Parents fail there for not applying sunscreen.

I love that the girls have sweet friends. I hope it stays like that ♥️

[sarenu]

I’m at the pool. All three are in the toddler pool because it got below 60 last night and the big pool is chilly.

I purposely didn’t bring snacks so they would want to leave when they got cold.

[sarenu]

Note to self, I need a sun hat.

[rugger]

Jun 19, 2022 11:41:44 GMT -6 sarenu said:

I’m at the pool. All three are in the toddler pool because it got below 60 last night and the big pool is chilly.

I purposely didn’t bring snacks so they would want to leave when they got cold.

Brilliant plan.

[rugger]

I really want to redo our chicken yard, but I have no idea where to start. It's all crushed granite gravel and river rock and brown and sad looking. I want clover ground cover and a plum tree and some Russian sage and other pretty, but hardy plants. Roses, maybe?

So, I guess I sorta know what I want, but the process and where to put things is what I'm lost at. And it's a small space, so I'm not sure a landscape designer will take on a small project.

[charlotte]

Ooh sarenu I want to get a big sun hat too.

[mapleme]

Jun 21, 2022 7:14:54 GMT -6 rugger said:

I really want to redo our chicken yard, but I have no idea where to start. It's all crushed granite gravel and river rock and brown and sad looking. I want clover ground cover and a plum tree and some Russian sage and other pretty, but hardy plants. Roses, maybe?

So, I guess I sorta know what I want, but the process and where to put things is what I'm lost at. And it's a small space, so I'm not sure a landscape designer will take on a small project.

Do FB (or otherwise) chicken groups have design ideas? It seems like the sort of thing that people would post pictures of so you could get an idea of what would survive in there. 

[rugger]

Jun 21, 2022 9:31:19 GMT -6 mapleme said:

Jun 21, 2022 7:14:54 GMT -6 rugger said:

I really want to redo our chicken yard, but I have no idea where to start. It's all crushed granite gravel and river rock and brown and sad looking. I want clover ground cover and a plum tree and some Russian sage and other pretty, but hardy plants. Roses, maybe?

So, I guess I sorta know what I want, but the process and where to put things is what I'm lost at. And it's a small space, so I'm not sure a landscape designer will take on a small project.

Do FB (or otherwise) chicken groups have design ideas? It seems like the sort of thing that people would post pictures of so you could get an idea of what would survive in there. 

Sometimes. I know Russian sage and plum trees and clover and roses do well here, as well as a few other plants. I just don't know where to put them so it looks flowy and nice. Or how many plants to get. I need like a person studying landscape design to come do a design for a school project or to build their portfolio. Happy to pay someone, but again, it's a small space and I feel like a lot of designers only want to do larger projects

[Speedy]

Hello all! We just got back from our 2 week trip around PEI and Nova Scotia. It was fun, but 2 weeks in a motorhome with 6 people was way too much. It definitely wasn't child proofed in the slightest, my parents refused to put anything away, and their dogs were just... not good. One kept snapping at the kids (he's blind, but would lay right in the way) and the other kept wanting to eat our laundry. If we go again we're 100% bringing a tent!
We did PEI first, went to Green Gables and Charlottetown. Then we took the ferry to Nova Scotia and went up to Cape Breton where we visited a reconstructed 16th century fort and the Alexander Graham Bell museum (very cool but very not little kid friendly). Then we went down by Halifax and spent a day there and then we went to Peggy's Cove to visit the lighthouse. After that we went down to the Western tip and explored down there a little bit, but my parents got sick so we didn't do much after that. We were supposed to stay until Saturday in the Annapolis Valley (famous for orchards, farms, and scallops) but we decided to head home on Friday instead because we weren't really doing anything anyways.
All in all though it really was a cool trip and neat to see a lot of things I've heard about but never had the chance to visit before. We're going to be doing that around New Brunswick a bit this summer, but we won't be doing the week long tour we had originally planned because of hubby needing to use that time when the baby comes.
Here's a pic of us in front of Green Gables =)

[mintyblueair]

We invited five kids to L's birthday party this Saturday and all five are coming. Every year his birthday has been sunny and hot, so I planned a slip'n'slide and inflatable pool party. Of course, this year it's going to be 23C (73F), which hardly seems warm enough for that (though we have a hot water tap outside so we can fill the pool with warm water). I think I need to come up with a back-up plan 😑

[mc13]

So cool Speedy! Looks like it was a great trip, other than being crammed in the rv. We’re heading to PEI in august and I can’t wait!

[mc13]

Jun 28, 2022 18:18:51 GMT -6 mintyblueair said:

We invited five kids to L's birthday party this Saturday and all five are coming. Every year his birthday has been sunny and hot, so I planned a slip'n'slide and inflatable pool party. Of course, this year it's going to be 23C (73F), which hardly seems warm enough for that (though we have a hot water tap outside so we can fill the pool with warm water). I think I need to come up with a back-up plan 😑

What a bummer! It was only 72F today and my kids were begging for the splash pad. If it’ll be sunny, I bet the kids don’t mind the cold at all.

[Speedy]

mc13 I was very much enjoying the scenery. It was similar but different from NB, and in some ways reminded me a little bit of a hilly version of Holland! There was a lot of cool things that we saw but didn't get a chance to stop at. When we go back I definitely want to take the kids to the Toy Factory - handcrafted wooden toys! And Avonlea Village for sure! We tried to go see the lighthouse at Victoria By The Sea but it wasn't open until July so we just got to look at the outside.

[sarenu]

Jun 28, 2022 20:05:04 GMT -6 mc13 said:

Jun 28, 2022 18:18:51 GMT -6 mintyblueair said:

We invited five kids to L's birthday party this Saturday and all five are coming. Every year his birthday has been sunny and hot, so I planned a slip'n'slide and inflatable pool party. Of course, this year it's going to be 23C (73F), which hardly seems warm enough for that (though we have a hot water tap outside so we can fill the pool with warm water). I think I need to come up with a back-up plan 😑

What a bummer! It was only 72F today and my kids were begging for the splash pad. If it’ll be sunny, I bet the kids don’t mind the cold at all.

Or get a ton of water balloons for the pool. Maybe buckets to play balloon toss into.

Bubbles?


Water guns would work too. Especially with warm water.

[mintyblueair]

Jun 29, 2022 7:39:10 GMT -6 sarenu said:

Jun 28, 2022 20:05:04 GMT -6 mc13 said:

What a bummer! It was only 72F today and my kids were begging for the splash pad. If it’ll be sunny, I bet the kids don’t mind the cold at all.

Or get a ton of water balloons for the pool. Maybe buckets to play balloon toss into.

Bubbles?


Water guns would work too. Especially with warm water.

Thanks for the ideas! I was thinking of water balloons, and I'll definitely pick up bubbles, too. Except now the forecast is for rain 😭. But that could change, so I'm keeping my eye on it...

[rugger]

It's so flipping hot (forecasted in the 90s now through all next month 🥵) and I can't help but complain. My poor husband is going to have to put up with me whining all summer.

[DGM]

It's "only" in the 80's today which is nice after a week of triple digit weather. The local school district did a farmer's market today during the free BBQ lunch for kids. Each kid gets play money and then shops for fresh produce. It's so clever and such a help with rising food costs.

[DGM]

Jun 29, 2022 15:07:45 GMT -6 rugger said:

It's so flipping hot (forecasted in the 90s now through all next month 🥵) and I can't help but complain. My poor husband is going to have to put up with me whining all summer.

I'm not brave enough to live in snow, but I'll take cold any day over the heat waves.

[milano]

Me welcoming the heat waves into my life:

[mc13]

I moved North to not have to deal with the heat and we’ve already had a handful of 90 degree days this year. Do not like it. 🥵 I let the girls soap up the slip n slide today so that’ll have to do.

[DGM]

milano, that made me LLOL!

[rugger]

We stayed out late to watch fireworks. It was a good time, but I didn't get to sleep until after 11:30. Didn't quite hit my 8-8.5hrs of sleep, so I'm feeling rough this morning. 🥱🥱 Thank goodness S has the day off so he can entertain the children

[pbandj714]

mc13, same here. It was a rough morning around here.