summer time

Well summer is upon us however it has sure been a WEIRD one...the temps have been fluxuating so much we are enjoying alot of cool canadian like weather with it down in the 50's some mornings...we had hail twice last week tho thru some bad storms and were out of power for 12 hours the one day BOY was that rough trying to sleep and NO whit noise to help us out...Dale had a ROUGH day the next day as he struggled to stay awake on the road but God gave him strength and kept him awake and brought him safely home again!
My dad is here briefly. He brought some things down and it sure has been fun to go thru some of mom's things in her cedar chest he gave to marina...So he pops in and out of my life as summer has brought the usual onslought of garden stuff...
We canned 32 qt of beans so far but it looks like I may need to look elsewhere for some cuz mine are coming to a close??? My zuchinni are flourishing and I made 2 batches of relish so far which was 17 pints! I want to try to get some more baking done with it as my family LOVES the chocolate zuchinni cake I make and of course bread is a hit too...
We just redid the upstairs bathroom which could have been spared had hubby not been so hasty in ripping some of the GORGEOUS ( I am being sarcastic) tile off the wall since they blew insualtion in the TOP part of the walls they never needed to touch the area of the tile...so anyway we put bathroom wall (paneling) up and its SO bright and fresh in there Marina wants us to update ALL our towels to ONE color scheme...I said that would be lovely but VERY impractical for right now...
the trim will be getting done in the dining room and kitchen here in the next week or so and then dale will start on our laundry / bathroom adventure...
Ashton is a continued joy as he runs around and explores his world. He loves school and is on a summer break right now so its nice to SLEEP in on occasion.
Shannon was hired at a local nursery this spring and has really been enjoying it. He only works saturdays now since they are slower over summer again...he bikes there. He and Marina were both hired at Green Dragon a few weeks ago which is a friday only market and they work at a large produce stand. Marina is a cashier and trying to learn then ropes and shannon restocks produce all day long. We are privy to freebies at the end of marina;s shift as is available so that is a blessing too!
the twins are turning 12 and summer is looming ahead with much boredom as they have no clue what to do except keep doing chores for their ever nagging mom (ha)
We did buy the kids a pool pass which they can bike to so they have been enjoying that as the weather permits...I have not gone yet I just enjoy the QUIET house with Ashton and let them go have fun!
Well that is it for a update for right now..
O we will be going to Penn Valley over the 16th and can hardly wait as it is a time for families to get refreshed and encouraged with a special needs child.
Shannon leaves on work week to vermont in 2 weeks too so pray for our youth as they travel...

School is almost over!

All I can say is WOW another school year is GONE and I am so looking forward to SUMMER time this year...why? I have been so crazy busy trying to keep 3 school schedules straight and the chaos of high school and middle school and preschool and now youth activities have kept my poor head spinning...So it will be a treat to be able to maybe SLOW down abit and try to relax with NOTHING pressing on the plate for the early weeks of June anyhow...
Next week Marina graduates from 8th grade and Shannon will have completed 9th grade...he continues to GROW and is 6 ft now...I cannot keep him in clothing...he wears a 32 34...Marina is 5'5 and decided she needs 3 inch heels for her graduation lol...now tonight she said MOM maybe I should take these back and look for something with a LOWER heel...tee hee...o well as long as SHE made the decision..I am finding it hard to let her learn some things on her own...part of letting go huh?
The twins are almost as tall as me and that is NOT cool...I feel so SHORT in the presence of them all now as they all tower around me...they had a very good year in school and their teacher will be their teacher NEXT year now too! They look forward to it!
Ashton has had a wonderful year at S June Smith and has learned many new things and LOVES his bus rides!
We are enjoying our new kitchen as well and while the trim is still not up it has been SO great to have more space to spread out in and store things in...
we are anticipating renovating the downstairs bathroom and laundry area as well and that will bring MORE closets!!! YAY!
It has been SO wet and dreary and cool this spring really reminds me of Northern Canada weather! the garden things are mostly all up now even the corn tho I pity it as the coolness is so hard to make things grow..something is chewing my baby grape plants leaves...GRRR
well I must close for now...my dad is having sale this weekend..this is sure bittersweet for me as it makes it more of a reality that he is REALLY leaving the NORTH!
til another day...blessings...