Stuff that happened way back in June

A pumpkin funny to start out the first day of fall.

And now, back to summer.  Here are just a few things I want to remember about our June.

This is how we all felt on the last day of school.

I feel like Sam, Katie and I limped across the finish line on our on-line school journey.  We started out strong in March when the madness started but by the end, we were all DONE.

Katie found this toad that was missing one of his feet.  She named him Stumpy.

We had lots of weenie roasts in June.  

Katie became quite the fire starter this summer.  The love of fire is strong in our family.  I inherited it from my mother-in-law and now I've passed it down to Katie. 

Sam bought himself a four wheeler.

He loves it.  It makes his mom nervous.  That's all I have to say about that.

Gramma and Aunt Jen came to visit us for a week. 

We played lots of cards.

Went on a few adventures.

But mostly, I put them both to work!

They took Katie home with them and she stayed with my folks for about three weeks.  She had a great time!   Here are a few pictures I got while she was away.

She LOVES driving Uncle Glen's golf cart!

Sam turned 17.  

Trying out his new hammock from Holly.

We celebrated Father's Day.

Work continued on the pavilion.  The north side of the house got a new roof (we'll do the other side next summer). 

John and I were super bummed to see the cedar shakes go but they require so. much. work. to keep them clean and we are not getting any younger.  The longer we live here at the Hiemstra Hide-a-way, the more we are learning that we need to choose our battles when it comes to upkeep.

John's nurses gave him a rose bush when his dad passed away last winter.  This was the first flower but it continued to bloom all summer.  Dad loved roses (actually, he probably still does!) so it was such a nice remembrance of him.  

Covid hair don't care

That's not true.  I do care.  Covid really messed a lot of things up.  Like I'm really sad that brides couldn't have their dream weddings and that my kids couldn't go to school and that you couldn't find toilet paper and that our whole world basically got turned upside down but shutting down hair places - really?  Whoever made the decision that hair salons are non-essential businesses must have been some bald guy.  

I hate cutting John's hair.  I actually break into a sweat when I have to do it.  I almost let Katie do it.  Thankfully, he is very patient and very forgiving.

And my hair.  Ugh.  Getting old sucks.  The gray just comes back faster and faster.  I was so happy to get that magical text from my hair lady that she was back in business.

But Sam's hair.  Sam's hair was the worst.  He decided he was not going to let it grow during Covid.  It was painful.  Just look at him.

Much better!

Stuff that happened way back in May

Since we are now well into September and summer is rapidly coming to a close, I am thinking now is a good time to catch up my blog.

Our party pavilion that we started last winter is still not completed.  This does not make me happy.  However it's good to look back at these pictures and realize how far we've come.  

Sam helped a bunch with the cement work on the lower patio.  

Fire pit.

All done!

Katie had a birthday in May.  She had some friends over to celebrate turning 12.

We got some Spring flowers planted.

Per usual, as soon as my hanging baskets got hung, a bird built a nest in one of them.

Katie planted almost 100 dahlia tubers all by herself.

We had a wedding in our backyard.  Unfortunately, it rained but it was beautiful.  

And here's another picture of my dog.  Because some days, she's my favorite.

Back to School 2020

School started on September 1.  Most of the schools around here are starting off on-line but, PRAISE THE LORD, my kids are back in person.  SO thankful to our school board and administrators and teachers and support staff for working so hard to make this possible.  We were definitely ready!

My junior.  He got up early on the first day to go out for breakfast with buddies.  I'm fairly sure he thought this was going to get him out of first-day-of-school pictures.  He was wrong.

My 7th grader.

Had to get one with the mask on.  Yes, they need to wear them all day.  Yes, they hate it.

I have a deal with the kids that I get to take a picture of them with their teacher until 7th grade so I just dropped Katie off at the curb and of course no in person convocation this year so it was all pretty quick and uneventful.  Praying for an uneventful school year too!