Jul 2024, first half

Now a tradition, we made preparations for a Canada Day party. Jennifer and Evelyn decorated cupcakes.

We hung up flags everywhere we could think of.

And then the guests came and the fun began! A lot of them are new to Canada, so celebrating Canada Day means a lot to them, because they are happy to be here. 

In July we usually participate in soccer camp. This year the boys all volunteered by helping coach the younger kids.

Daniel and Matthew got to help out with the youngest group.

Evelyn and Jennifer got to participate as soccer players..

We usually get home quite late, and it is often hard to fall asleep if it is hot. So there are some late starts in the morning!

Lazy summer days!

Matthew's days aren't lazy. He has long days working in the hot sun. But he doesn't mind it!

While in Korea Melanie got to spend a weekend with a friend that she made after Nathan came home...they connected via Zoom and met almost weekly. Now at last they got to meet for real!

We got ready for a road trip to Nova Scotia. Since we plan to camp the whole time, we have a lot of equipment to bring along.

Bikes would be handy too. Daniel found a way to fit one four on the trailer. Yay!

Jun 2024, second half

Summer days. So relaxing!

My flowers staring to catch up with the weather.

The slide getting used.

The kids set up a slip and slide...and tried it out with crazy carpets to see if it would work as well as the carpets at the indoor water park at Niagara Falls. It wasn't as good.

Evelyn and Bona hanging out in the pool.

Jennifer being kept out of trouble...she has been giving some tips on how to swim.

Sejin and I hanging out while the kids enjoy themselves.

Evelyn making some snack for us.

Daniel looking guilty for something.

Jennifer playing on the piano. She prefers to pick her own songs.

In the middle of June Melanie left us to spend five weeks in Korea, helping out with conversational English. She got to stay with different families every week.

She was given tours all over Korea

And was pampered by everyone. What a beautiful country and what an opportunity!

Jun 2024, first half

June is the time of year to get some work done in the gardens. Philip made me some lids over my strawberry gardens. That should keep even the chipmunks and squirrels out!

Matthew still found some time to do the line trimming for me on Saturdays.

Tidying up the tree I cut down.

All the lids are finished!

Evelyn helped me to completely redo the "island garden". My landscaper boys told me to just let the grass grow there instead, but we opted for a succulent different arrangement.

Evelyn had math work to finish for the school year still, and Jennifer had plans to do some rabbit breeding...so she did some research.

Another month, another potluck.

Melanie hanging out with her friends/co-workers.

Hot weather means time for a swim!

Evelyn helping me out with weeding.

Daniel keeping the patio weeds down.

Jennifer supervising.

May 2024, second half

Jennifer made some lungs for her science project.

The first day of swimming!

Picking up Daniel after a full days work. His job was once a week for the rush during opening season. He also found regular work helping our next door neighbour.

Putting my helpers to good use. The girls helped me bring mulch wherever we needed it.

Spring is here! Everything is green again. And the veggies are planted in the garden.

I decided to cut down a tree that was growing along the edge of the lawn...since I am attempting to grow fruit trees along the edge instead. This tree has been growing a few feet taller every year, so it was time to cut it down while my little chain saw could still handle it. As it was, it could barely handle it. Daniel and the girls helped clean up the mess for me.

With school finished for the year, Daniel and Evelyn are hard at work playing.

Matthew has been building a clock out of lego.

He has been struggling with getting the weights correct for the pendulum.

He also designed a system at the chicken coop that is supposed to open and close based on how light it is outside. Don't worry, it opens and closes very slowly so the chickens won't be at risk of getting injured.

Now that school is done, Matthew is eager to work for the summer. He gets to bike over to the landscaping company.

And Nathan gets to ride his dirt bike. They are both working for the same company this summer.

Evelyn is working for me.

She helped me get the planters ready. They don't look very full yet, just give them a few weeks! But even now it looks nice and colourful!