The First Part of June

We had a lot of beautiful weather right from the beginning of June that allowed us to spend time outside.  We took the kids to the newest splash park in our area for the first time, which opened up last fall but we didn’t get to it until now.

We had a bbq for our community group wind-up (there were some people missing).

Jared started helping our friend build our deck!

Blake also really enjoyed helping by passing tools.  So cute!

I had the privilege of going on Kiera’s field trip to the Mennonite Heritage Village where we got to see how our ancestors used to live.  We got tours of several different buildings including the printing press, the windmill used for grinding up grain, an old house and this was a one-room schoolhouse.

She was showing them how to use an old fountain pen by dipping it into a bottle of ink.

We got to see tools used in a barn and the barn was attached to an old house.

She got to ride in a little bus thing.  You could tell the kids were getting antsy and it was almost lunchtime!

We got to see how a summer kitchen works (where they used to cook their food in summer so as to not heat up the house).  We also got to try bannock with jam!

I loved all of the flowers all over the place.

We ate a picnic lunch outside and then the kids got to buy candy in the general store and play for a bit.

We went on a horse-drawn wagon ride.

All of the kids enjoyed the animals and feeding them long stems of grass.

I was amused that the baby goat hopped up onto the log.

The underground house was always my favorite as a kid (I used to take field trips here, too).

I’m so thankful for my friends who baby-sat my kids (and the little girl I baby-sit full-time) throughout the year so that I could volunteer at school and go on the occasional field trip!  More summer photos to come…

May Ladies Retreat

I’m starting to get behind on blogging again.  I’ve been enjoying sitting outside on our deck in the sunshine and going out and doing things together as a family now that summer has arrived!

In May, we had our annual church ladies retreat.  We used to always have them when it was still winter but last year they decided to change it to May instead.  I missed it since that was the week-end we were leaving for our Iowa vacation, so this year I got to enjoy my first “warmer weather” ladies retreat!

I like this sign and also the various things they have among the trees

 

I think they call this the Wigwam.  I recall being in this building for some sort of high school retreat (I think).

On Saturday morning, my roommates and I walked down to the water.

 

I thought it was so neat how I could see all of the roots coming out.

There were several of these x rocks which intrigued me.

This was the building where we had our meetings in.

On Saturday afternoon, I went for another walk with these beautiful ladies who make me laugh!  The 2 on the right were my roomies. :)

She was enjoying quiet time by the water and did not know that I was taking a picture all stalker-like.

The toboggan slide, which we obviously did not make use of.

There was a nice sandy area as well

We went exploring and found a see-saw…

…as well as a pond with a canoe.

One of my roommates brought treats along….yes, she had an entire chocolate cake in her suitcase which I thought was hilarious and fantastic!  My Paleo diet went out the window very quickly as I enjoyed our late night indulgence, and possibly more after breakfast the next morning!

God definitely spoke to me that week-end about it being a season of dancing in my life.  I was very encouraged, especially after all of the health challenges and a very painful situation that I’ve gone through, and I really enjoyed our time together!