Last of May

May is time for planting! Melanie helped me get my seedlings (and some random perennials to make up for the unsuccessful seedlings) into the pots.

Matthew enjoyed giving the lawn the first cut of the season!

We decided that the weather was warm enough to open up the pool. So, pump it out and see how clean it stayed because we did such a wonderful job of covering it all winter.

Well. It could be worse. Like when we opened the pool the very first time. But still, disappointing. Maybe this is normal?

And the ornamental "pear"? tree is such a beautiful sight this year! It wasn't attacked by the gypsy moth caterpillars until after the beautiful show. Which I appreciated!

Biking around, just enjoying the weather and the freedom from the heavy burden of too many school books.

I tried to clean the tarp off. And put a lot of work into it. And then decided it had too many holes to use next year. And threw it out anyways. Not the best investment of my time and energy.

Eating breakfast and keeping the baby happy while rolling her backwards and forwards...a future multitasking mother!

And because the tree just looks so lovely and the kids are playing so nicely, another pear tree/sandbox picture. I think they were actually arguing when I took this picture, but no need to mention it and ruin the idyllic scene.

Time for the first swim of the year. Who will be the first one to go in?

Melanie wins!! The water feels pretty chilly, compared to what it was late last summer!!

So nice to go for a swim whenever you like!

Matthew enjoyed using the tractor with the trailer. He hauled a lot of branches off for me.

Evelyn came to tell me about a garden she made for herself down the front lawn in the tall grass. Yup, she decided she was going to have her own garden, and moved whatever she wanted there. Like forget-me-nots.

So nice out, we might as well eat breakfast outside! Remember when I used to take pictures of everyone eating breakfast? Here's Daniel waiting for his cereal to get soggy.

And Melanie wishing I just wouldn't.

Jennifer talking instead of eating.

And Matthew enjoying his morning breakfast. And looking at birds and wildlife in between times. Evelyn vanished. And Nathan had breakfast hours ago and has been long gone to work before any of us crawled out of bed!

We spent a day enjoying the company of friends. Their mother was happy to pull them out of school for a day. Online school is very overrated, so they get "mental health days" when she decides it's time for a break. It was a very hot day so we went to the water to cool off.

The kids had fun exploring the creek and area around their friends' house. Sure was nice to be spoiled for a day...we got served homemade pizza for lunch, along with a lot of over food for a full sized feast.

A hot spring calls for swim time!!

Nathan and I snuck over to his work's workshop and he sharpened up our lawnmower blades for us. Free of charge! Yay! Don't worry, he did ask his boss for permission first.

We had a lovely windy Sunday, which called for kite flying. Nathan gave some professional tips to the others.

Evelyn kept trying for a few weeks at kite flying. She would get really frustrated and needed help getting started, but really stuck at it for a long time!

With a lot of running, she got it a fair bit higher than when I took this picture.

More swim time! Please note how clear the water looks! (This is perhaps a lot easier to do in the spring when it is cooler!)

Warming up on the hot stones after a swim. Maybe that's why there are so many patio stones put in at our place??

It's amazing how quickly a three car garage can fill up. Along with my gardening machinery is the gocart/snowplow and NOW also a dirt bike. Nathan thinks maybe he can use it instead of cycling to work. It would be way cooler. But it needs a lot of work. (and we find out later to get it street legal is way too complicated)

It looks in need of a new seat but it looks like the basics are, hopefully, in good shape.

Jennifer the monkey.

Melanie got to go work for the day, helping with planting. She, once again, wouldn't pose for me.

Evelyn, flying kites again. If you look carefully, you can see she certainly has been successful. To let out that much string, it was certainly up there!

And without a steady wind, the kite will dive down again, watch out! Many a kite has been stuck in a tree here!!

Evelyn joined me on a walk. The golf course in the back is open again for the season, which is a loss of walking area for me, but a gain for the golfers. And yes, that is a typical "Evelyn expression". "Huh?" "What?", kinda rudely, when she usually knows exactly what is being said.

The plants are getting organized! Time for the farthest end of the garden. It sure it nice to have so many helpers. It'd be nicer still if I could keep them motivated with weeding and helping all season long. Alas.

More helpers.

And Matthew also helped out. He was great with the rotor tiller.

Daniel did a bit of bike repair for Evelyn.

Evelyn and Matthew worked on getting rid of more sticks for me.

Evelyn on her bike, keeping an eye on things.

Matthew at the wheel, taking a good stash away. Too bad they both got a bit itchy when the branches were trimmed near the "poison ivy" section of the driveway. The first time they were close they washed up in the pool/coldish water right away after. But the second time, they were farther away from it and didn't quite think of it. At least it was mild, and well, we think that's what is was.