And Another Thing...

To the water!

All of the sudden, the weather here in southeast Michigan has been beautiful, so we decided to start taking full advantage and head to one of our favorite parks to play inthe water and get reacquainted with spring.

We played in the water, got pulled around by dogs chasing birds, found huge branches and set them sail, built fairy houses, laid in the sun and listened to all the spring sounds around us, discovered a huge swan convention, practiced sleeping with one leg up like the swans, and had a group of swan thugs intimidate us (and our dogs) away from them.  Then we stopped at the playground on our way back out of the park to wring the last bits of energy out before we headed home.  It was a great day!  We're all looking forward to going back in a few weeks to visit the little signets that are sure to be hatching soon.

Whew! What a great weekend!

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity.  On Friday, we went to our orthodontist's annual ics skating party.  I didn't get any pictures of this, I was way too busy eating pizza, pigging out at the chocolate fountain and ice skating with the kiddos to photograph anything.  Suffice it to say, it rocked!

When we got home, we had to bathe the girls and get them into bed so we could all get up early for Olivia's First Communion!  But first, I put Olivia's hair up in rag curlers.  It was so much fun and she looked so cute!

So when I was done, I shooed her off to bed and finished getting the house ready.  Then we were up early and bustin' our butts to get out the door on time for Olivia's mass.

Ben and Braidon served this mass so I thought I'd include ths shot of them and our beautiful church. 

Olivia in the dress my mom made for her, the sweater I knit for her and my own First Communion viel re-made to be a little more modern.

Olivia with my dad, because my dad made his First Communion this spring too!   After 40 some odd years, he finally relented and became a Catholic.  Olivia actually made her first communion at the Easter vigil with my dad.  This is technically her second communion.

Olivia with Grandma and Grandpa.

Olivia with Grammy and Papaw.

Olivia with Mama and Daddy.

It was a great mass,  Olivia got to read the second reading and enjoyed spending the morning in the limelight for her special event.   It's not very often in our house that you get a whole day just for you!  After mass, we went home and started getting ready for the party, of which I have no pictures beacause I have apparently taken leave of my senses.  I don't know what's wrong with me, people...

On Sunday, we got up and a bee-yutiful morning!  Oliver's parents stayed the night, so Oliver made french toast for everyone to selebrate Mother's Day.  It's super yummy french toast, and uf you ever spend the night at our house, chances are, you'll wake up in the morning to find Oliver in the kitchen, frying up a batch.  Yes, he deep fries his french toast.  Yum-o!

Then we spent the morning outside chatting with Oliver's parents and generally enjoying the first really fabulous day we've had this spring.

Good times :o)

Sunday Dinner

What could be better then homemade waffles, scrambled eggs and watermelon for Sunday dinner outside in the cool evening breeze?  Maybe the massive watermelon fight started by a certain Mama and ending with one boy up in a tree while his Dad waits on the ground, hose in hand.  Yup, that's how we roll here at the Eikenberry Nuthouse.

Outdoor Living :: The Bathtub

As the summer passes each year that we live here, 2 blocks from a lovely private lake, I realize that a week or two might go by and we have not given the girls a proper bath.  But really, that's okay because we spend nearly every evening that we can down at the lake, and that gets the littles clean enough to face another day of sand, dirt and mud.

 

Also, the beach area also serves as my relaxing room.  I love to sit on the beach, knitting or reading while the kids splash about in the lake.  It's so peaceful.
Although this has been a very nice summer, it has also been very hot for quite a while.  I can't say that I am really ready for autumn yet, but the sight of  a few leaves falling from the trees did solicit a sigh from me.  A cold front came in yesterday and it has been lovely to have the windows thrown open to let the lovely lake breeze in.  We ate dinner outside and then just sat and enjoyed the cool weather.  Sigh.

Outdoor Living :: Family room

  This table was made from scrap deck wood and 4x4's.  It weighs well over 300 pounds and it took 5 grown men and 2 little boys to turn it over to it's current position.  We figure out of all our possessions, this one is the most safe and may very well be where we want to be during a tornado or earthquake.  It's also our main hang out during the warmer months.  Early in the morning, I haul out my basket of stuff and park myself for the day.  We eat breakfast, lunch, snacks and frequently dinner out here.

This spot becomes command central and I can do everything from here.  I only wish I could move the fridge and coffee maker out here because that would make it perfect.

The kids bring books, lovies, projects and crafts out here and I love that.  We transition easily from the kitchen table to the patio table as soon as the weather warms up.  When I sit out here, the kids will easily play outside all day and that makes life so much easier and more peaceful for all of us.

Outdoor Living :: The pantry

This is our lovely garden area that has obviously been overtaken by weeds.  It's been so hot lately, that I haven't even considered weeding.  If the shot was wider, you could actually see the exact spot where I threw in the towel.  Literally, there's a towel there that I threw down when I walked inside. 

While I was taking these pics, I bumped this plant and the obviously ripe, red tomato fell right off.  It got eaten before I could take a pic.

My lettuce plants are still going strong, even after all the heat.  I've been waiting for them to bolt, but they're just lovin' life right now!

Mmmmmmmmm...basil.  Enough said.

The cukes are starting to come in like gang busters!  I checked on them this morning and all I could say was, "Yikes!"

This is the first time I've tried celery and I think it's going well.  I guess we'll know for sure in a few weeks.

This tomato plant is so monstrous that I had to use a tomato cage and then stake it!  I really hope that means we'll get good tomatoes this year.  Especially after the awful tomato year we had last summer.

So, everything is still a bit green here.  That's good for some things, but I'm really wishin' and hopin' that the tomatoes turn red very soon!

Outdoor Living :: The Laundry Room

 

As soon as the temps get above freezing for a good length of time, I start hauling wet laundry outside to hang on the line.  I love just about everything about hanging laundry to dry from the physical act of hanging, to the crispness of sun-dried clothes and linens to the huge savings we see on our gas bill.  I love that it gets me outside numerous times each day.  I love getting up early and sneaking outside to hang the laundry while the rest of the house is sleeping in blissful silence.  I love that I am utilizing the awesome power of the sun, which is free by the way, to dry clothes instead of using gas and electricity.  I love that I can do my laundry, for the most part, in the open air rather than the dank, dark basement.  I feel like our clothes and linens get a little more love during the warm months and in return, they give us a little more love.

Do you hang clothes outside when you can?  What about it do you love?

Outdoor Living

In celebration of this wondrous season, I have a series of outdoor living posts scheduled.  I'll be giving you a peek into how our family turns the our big back yard into our living, working and playing space.  Hopefully you can look forward to a post or two every week!  Don't forget to check back!