CAMPING!!!!!

YEAH Camping!!! This was our first camping weekend of the summer, and although it was somewhat wet (!!!) for part of it, anyway, we all had a great time. We headed out to the Elora Conservation Area, and met up with a few other families who had young kids for a great weekend.

Friday evening the kids enjoyed a visit to the beach, then back to the camp site for (what else?) marshmallows.

Friday night got a little wet, and by Saturday morning our lovely little piece of nature had turned into a big mud puddle. I have to say that it was rather fun sliding around in the rain and the mud, but after a few hours we admitted that spending the whole day in the rain and the muck with 5 kids aged 6 and under might not be all that much fun, so we headed into town to a friends house until the weather cleared.

Sunday morning we celebrated Father's day with cake...(Carter, Charlie, Max, William and Tory)

Then off to the quarry for a swim in the sun.

The water was clear and blue, and very cold!

All in all, a successful weekend. I can't wait to get out again this summer...maybe to Tobermory??

White Rock Ostrich Farm

Have you ever seen an ostrich up close? They really are an odd bird, I must say. We spent the morning with our home school group at the White Rock Ostrich Farm, and it was quite an experience!! As well as a wagon-ride tour of the farm (always a hit with my boys) we got to meet the breeding ostriches, feed the 'teenagers' and even peek at a 2 day-old chick!!

Did you know that an ostrich has a brain about the size of a walnut? That they can live to be up to 75 years old? That they in fact do not bury their heads in the sand?

Did you know that one ostrich egg is about equal in size to 24 chicken eggs? That their legs are strong enough to kill a lion with a single kick to the head? That they are the largest non-flying bird, and that they have no problem going outside during the winter on a -20 degree Celsius day in Southern Ontario?

Think you know enough about ostriches yet?

Ice Cream!!

As a special treat, the boys made their own ice cream sundaes for desert tonight - I couldn't resist sharing a picture of William's masterpiece. Any guesses at what time they came down from the sugar high enough to actually go to sleep?

Humming Birds

We have really been enjoying watching the hummingbirds come to the feeder that hangs just outside our living room window lately. In fact, it is rare that any conversation taking place in that general part of the house is not interrupted by the excited cry of "Hummingbird!!!" at least a time or two. So you can imagine how sad we all were when we found one of our little friends lying on the deck by the window. Our best guess (from the odd angle of its neck!!) is that it flew a little too fast into the window. As sad as we all were, though, it was neat to be able to look at a real hummingbird up close - the photos in books just to not do them justice. Not only that, but my kids now know what iridescent means! We buried it, of course, on the top of our hill beside the robin we found last year, and Sydney, our beloved family cat who dies a few years ago. William marked the spot with a beautiful white stone, and plans to visit it often.
PS - Jim came home today with some beautiful window stickers that look like butterflies - a nice non-scary way to hopefully warn our other little hummers that there is in fact a window there!

Charlie's (Early) Birthday!!

Happy Day-Before-Your-Fourth-Birthday, Charlie!!!

Weapons Day

Today we got together with the homeschool group for a Weapons Day. I know, this is not really the kind of thing that is considered appropriate education for children (certainly not politically correct!) but what the heck...the kids are still worked up after the medieval festival, and are making swords and shields out of anything they get their hands on, anyway. Why not do it as a group? What a fabulous day!! Not only did about 25 kids spend 2 hours chasing each other around the field with foam swords, but some families brought more exciting things to share. Check out this cool catapult (below) that launches water balloons (looks like Jim is going to have a project to work on soon!) Another mother who has a Black Belt in Judo (I think) brought in her Samurai sword and few other weapons. There were bows and arrows, a cross bow, and a civil war rifle. And only one tiny complaint from a grandmother whose grand kids were also playing in the park that day.....

Beds

From The Bed Book

Most Beds are Beds
For sleeping or resting,
But the best Beds are much
More interesting!

Not just a white little
Tucked-in-tight little
Nighty-night little
Turn-out-the-light little
Bed-

Instead
A Bed for Fishing,
A Bed for Cats
A Bed for a Troupe of Acrobats.

The right sort of Bed
(If you see what I mean)
Is a Bed that might
Be a Submarine

Nosing through water
Clear and green,
Silver and glittery
As a sardine.

Or a Jet-Propelled Bed
For visiting Mars
With mosquito nets
For the shooting stars.....

By: Sylvia Plath