visiting the peace garden.

We went over to Ethnie's school to play on the playground the other day. She goes to J.J. Hill Montessori. She is getting so excited to start first grade! Playing at her school only magnified that feeling. 

On one side of the school students and families keep a peace garden planted and maintained with herbs, vegetables and different kinds of flowers. It is so cute! Ethnie wanted to walk over there and check on the carrots she helped plant.   

entrance to the peace garden and some of the veggies.

engravings made on the entrance to the garden.

friends.

Ethnie was showing Emmett around the garden and telling him the names of different plants. I'm really glad she has something like this at her school to learn about and experience hands on. It has helped her to appreciate and respect nature.

sunday sweetness.

 Ethnie had her first legitimate talk on Sunday at church during Primary. She was asked to speak for 3-5 minutes and her topic was "I can feel the Holy Ghost in my life". While working on her talk, she came up with everything she wanted to say and I helped her compose it into simple sentences that she could read on her own. She was so excited to read her talk. I went up front with her just in case she needed help with a word and she read the whole thing without any help! She was so confident and excited to do it and I was so proud of her! I almost started crying because her words were so sweet and touching. 

My favorite parts of her talk were:

"When I help a friend when they fall down or when I help my whole family I feel the Spirit. When I read my ballerina book or look at the scriptures I can feel the Spirit." 

Ethnie is growing up to be such a sweet and caring little girl. I am grateful that Emmett has a good example and role model to follow. I think he gets a lot of his nurturing and affectionate characteristics from Ethnie. She has a kind heart and a lot of love to give. It makes me very happy to know that she knows that God is real and she can feel his love through the Holy Ghost in her every-day life.   

irish fair.

We enjoyed the Irish fair on Saturday. The weather was beautiful. We went in the evening after dinner. It was fun to see all the kilts and bagpipes. Mine and Ethnie's favorite is the Celtic dancing and music. There were also some cute kids activities like coloring, face painting, and a playground.

I love St. Paul!

national night out.

On Tuesday, our street had a block party for national night out. I think in general, St. Paul is a big participant of the tradition. I personally love driving around on national night out and seeing the community get together and celebrate summer. It's so nice to see the neighborhood all blocked off with grills blazing and kids playing together. And in the street too! So fun. Our kids had a pretty great time this year. Emmett had fun drawing with chalk and blowing bubbles and Ethnie had a blast playing with her friends. And the food is always yummy. :)

washington county fair.

Matt took the kids to the Washington County Fair with his dad on Saturday. I was gone shooting a wedding with my cousin all day. They had a really great time. Matt said the kids had a blast and the weather was perfect. He took some cute pictures I'd like to share!  

 Ethnie is in love with horses. She looks a lot like me when I was little in this picture.

having a snack with papa.

blissfully watching the horse show. 

nom, nom, nom.

 sweet boy

I remember loving the fair when I was little. So many fun things to do! I love sharing those fun feelings and events with my kids. We have made it a tradition in our family to go to the fair every year. :) Next stop: the great MN get-together! Only 15 more days to wait!  

look, mom!

Last Thursday, there were a few construction vehicles and trailers parked in front of our house. The trailers were parked there because the city was creating a parking lot on Selby Ave. for Pizza Luce a block away. Emmett was in heaven watching them go back and forth. He loves anything construction!

wow!

 mom, truck.

 mom, look.
he looks so little next to the truck

such a boy!

all aboard.

We did this a week or so ago and I forgot to post our experience. I took the kids to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum at Bandana Square in St. Paul. I was very impressed. These models look so real I thought I was in the Gulliver's Travels book. Ethnie was able to appreciate it more than Emmett; he was just upset he couldn't pick up the moving trains. Some pictures to enjoy:

 

latest lit #4.

 WOW. Where do I begin? I'll start by saying this is a page turner!!! I LOVE those kind of books. It's like having a new companion with me all the time. This book is dramatic and serious. You get to dive right into the meat of it in the first chapter. I also love it because it gives you an idea of what the time period was like. Hard. 

Henry Oades and his wife and kids are from England and move to New Zealand because of a job opportunity. While he is out, his wife and children are kidnapped. After a long search, they are pronounced dead. Seven-plus years later, after Henry has moved on and married another woman, his first wife and kids show up at his door. Crazy! Now he has two wives and is in deep with the law. 

It's a good one! Check it out!

diva moment.

Can you read what this says? The other day I found this taped to her door shortly after she got in trouble. By me. It says, "No one come in my room right now." I guess it's her version of a 'keep out' sign. Matt and I were laughing because she has never done anything like this before. The drama is just beginning....