A bear!!

They say we have them in the neighborhood - Neighbors see them all the time and warn us about how to react - but honestly when you see one you are almost frozen.  Tuesday afternoon we were playing in my neighbors back yard when the neighbor BEHIND her started screaming at us waving their hands - 

It was a BEAR - headed right for us, slowly of course because honestly he wasn't interested in us.  We didn't know what to do.  Diana grabbed her dogs and I grabbed the kiddos and Chris (who was standing on the porch as our neighbors called him) told us to run into Diana's house  - so we did, dripping wet (crazy in times like that I was thankful to be told what to do!)

Chris snapped a photo of him while he walked right by our house, along the fence line and down to the river at Melanie and Kevin's house.

There it is, our official bear sighting.

Rock Star status - This guy!

Supper club was Saturday, earlier in the week we were plagued by the stomach bug - and he hasn't trained hardly AT ALL - YET, on Sunday morning this guy gets up in the pouring rain and RUNs a half marathon.  Pretty much killing it in the time department!  He is an absolute ROCK STAR.

And deserves every bit of this rainy day ON THE COUCH.

Christopher - may you never cease to amaze me!

Supper club

Saturday Supper club

rating a family truly takes a village - its wonderful having my folks such a BIG part of my kids lives. In addition, finding family friends is huge too - I had been wanting to plan a supper club and finally put it in action.  We invited 7 families and only 6 were able to attend - but not bad right?  

That meant 10 Adults and 12 kiddos - it was a BEAUTIFUL night and the kids played great.  The couples enjoyed chatting, not everyone knew each other but maybe of each other.  My desire is for to be a safe place to share REAL stuff about life, parenting, social aspects - whatever.  I would LOVE to have a mock election, or speak on hard topics as I TRULY value everyones opinion and believe they all different yet want to learn more about them all.  

Where did my inspiration spur from?  This book - a gift from Farrah that I hope to continue to pass along to others!

Of course I didn't grab my camera as often as I would have liked - but I snagged 2 quick photos to remind myself.

A deck full of kiddos!

Everyone brought so much and helped TREMENDOUSLY - The adults just chilled and enjoyed time chatting.  Exactly what I was hoping for!  Love finding some wonderful family to truly live life together with.

A tough day for Nick

He is my best care taker (minus a bit of absent mindedness) he has a heart of gold and really takes things to heart.  Therefore when he was up late at night randomly sick with the stomach bug (AGAIN) we all felt horrible for him.  He WANTED to sleep in the bathroom and woke up too tired togo to go to school.  

He went out that morning to check the chickens.  Someone (we have a feeling we know who) left the TOP coop door open.  Which meant, they could get out if they wanted to.  However they didn't have the ability of accuracy to get back in.  Nick quickly discovered it was his chicken Violet that was missing.  I am almost certain I was just as crushed if not more.....  We found a few feathers, yet no Violet.  We think it was a hawk yet really have no idea.  Now there are 6 and Gertie is missing her sister.

And I get a morning to chill with this guy in hopes of getting him to feel better.  Honestly I loved the morning - tears and all.

Until I started feeling like crap and had to get the kiddos out - thankfully we have places to go

Nick missed the school trip to Canton Intermediate School that day (where he will go next year) and he missed the 3rd grade special surprise (a juggler) but he took it all in stride.  Love love love that kiddo.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was AWESOME - no traveling and SO much time with friends.  The morning started with a HOT baseball game

than time on the back deck with Jill and Marc followed by an awesome picnic in New Hartford with Kelly and her family along with all their neighbors.  Sunday at church and Monday morning after our canton Parade was rained out we were able to attend the Simsbury Parade all together.  

Love seeing these 2 walking together hand in hand

Simsbury band - yes, I was hoping for Sirocco!

Quick family shot at a parade I have attended for YEARS.  another surreal moment of living back here.  With my family - young and old!

Now off to the pool

Ladies Night out

Our chicken are officially adolescents - that awkward stage where they have some 'down' left on their bodies, yet their feathers are coming in too - they are creating LOTS of dust in the basement and with the weather so warm - we decided it was time to get them outside =)!  Our friends have this great little coop that no one is using at the moment.  So to allow more time for further construction - we borrowed it

So tonight is the first night the girls will be outside.

I will admit - I was a bit nervous for them.

But they seemed to love it - looking for bugs, enjoying the fresh air - win win!

Here they are getting a little extra attention from the neighbors =)  They will be friendly chickens (or scared to death of us with good reason!

Snack Shack with my buddy

Our little league baseball or gram hosts a snack shack every season.  Folks bring crock pots of meals to share, restaurants donate yummy goodies.  They ask the parents to volunteer time selling and often times high school kiddos help out as well.  Drew and I managed to schedule a time slot on Saturday morning and we LOVED it.

It was DARLING seeing Drew help out, handle money and be responsible.  He rose to the occasion and I want to remember the time in the snack shack with him. grabbing gatorades, heating up hotdogs.

Love this kiddo