Boating with The Hoaglands!

A day on the Boat! There's nothing like it! This past weekend we were invited by our good friend Steve and Shelly to take a jaunt on their boat...we just couldn't refuse! Go! Steve! Go!

We had a super good time just feeling the air through our hair and laughing with each other. We let down the anchor for a dip and Kaleb, Izaak and Luke had a blast throwing themselves off the boat! Aliza loved the ride and had fun keeping up with the boys in the water.

Brenden and Ethan are already embracing their Daddys love of the sea, with a little comfort fromMomma!

This happen to be the day Izaak was scheduled to leave for his NH summer visit so it was good to see him have some fun before leaving us!

Watch my Gardens Grow...Update '08-1

If you take a look at the "Narleeville Gardens" post, you'll really appreciate these pics! It's a miracle what a difference a month makes in a garden! My Mom helped me realize that my Clematis needed a new home...so we added this solar light post to the middle of the front lawn and let the Clematis climb it! It's surprising how much curb appeal this added!

We are waiting patiently for the Butterfly garden to really get into the bloom swing! It's growing slowly but surely and being that they are all perennials I shouldn't complain!

The Veggie Patch is a happy place! We have already harvested all of our Radishes and have had some Swiss Chard, Peas and Beans. We had lettuce coming out of our ears, enough to share and tonight's dinner will consist of our first Cucumber Harvest! Our Tomatoes are getting big and we're excited to have some that we are positive aren't harbouring salmonella!

The Herb Garden had done very well! Out Dill tastes amazing in potato salad and we may even pickle some of our Cucumbers... In addition to Dill is Cilantro, Parsley, Lavender, Rosemary and Oregano...I think the Basil and Catnip washed away... or maybe they'll pop up later..

My Front Perennial Garden is having another good year. Nothing is really blooming right now, the roses just went through a bloom and should be again in about a week. Moving a few things away from the Peony was necessary this year as it has about tripled in size in this growing season! I laid some weed barrier down and topped with mulch...also put in a border to aid against erosion of my soil...

I'll keep you posted on my bloomings!

Stormy Sky...

I know this may bore some of you, but too bad, MY blog! Anyways, last week we had a fairly volatile storm come our way...I couldn't resist getting out my camera and take a few to see the changes.

It got dark really fast! This is when we realized it was a tornado warning, again...Imagine if I had a super fast shutter speed! Not bad for unprofessional though huh?

The Baltimore Zoo 2008

This spring It hought it would be a good investment to buy memberships to the Zoo and the Aquarium to guarentee we'd always have SOMETHING to do on the dog days of summer. So last week we went to the Baltimore Zoo for the first time and had a blast! This zoo isn't just full of great animals but it is beautifully landscaped and the amenities are well placed. We are officially fans! When going in Kaleb and Izaak agreed they were most looking forward to the monkeys, and Aliza a zebra...well, we weren't dissapppointed in the least! We had a really nice time watching the monkeys eat and Kaleb even practiced his monkey faces! We watched the lemurs too, and they were hilarious! They leap to their sides and it is so humorous! We saw snakes, and penguines, the baby elephant, giraffes...you get the jist, I'm sure!
Here is Izaak standing in an underwater tube designed for you to see the swimming of the river otter...he was no where to be found, but we'll catch him next time!"Look Ma - it's just like the one I caught in our yard!" This was fun for Kaleb and Aliza, you got to slip into a turtle shell and Izaak spins you till you puke! This donkey really tried to EAT Izaak...he was sucking, then started grinding his teeth into Izaak's hand...we were nervous for a minute! Here's Kaleb and Aliza hopping on the lilly pads!

Gramma and Pop 6.08

Gramma and Pop made sure to be here for Aliza's 5th birthday! She was tickled they made the trip! The kids always love their visits as it always entails a few good cuddles, great laughs and, well, never being told "no"...what are grandparents for?

Even though the weather was HOT, Pop had fun teaching Aliza a little about Croquet! They were both pretty good at this little game, even on my uneven lawn~!

I had to interrupt story time for a quick picture as these two were too cute to deny!When it was time for Gramma and Pop to go no one was more upset than Kaleb, and he makes no bones about showing just how displeased he is with the situation! Heartbreaking!

If only MD and NH were like NY and NJ! We love you!

Happy 5th Birthday Aliza!

5 is a big one...and it's been reached by Aliza! She was so antsy in anticipation for her birthday! All of her school friends had birthdays throughout the school year and Aliza was very eager to join them in the "5" club!

On the 4th of June, her actual birthday it was a low key affair. We made cupcakes which she helped me frost and she got her present from Eema...a Hannah Montana guitar!!! OMG - it is sooooo cool! She and Kaleb had a great time singing along to the songs into the microphone and having their own little concert!

Gramma and Pop came in for the weekend and for the party! It turned out to be 100 degrees outside with at least 90 percent humidity, so we made the executive decision to keep the kids inside for the festivities. It turned out to be a really fun bash, even when Daddy held the pinata up for the kids to beat in the living room! Hey, you've got to make lemonade...

Most of Aliza's school friends came to her party and were happy to see her be 5 finally too! Keep being sweet little Ali-Oop...don't grow too fast!

Kalebs Big Find!

We've had many visitors in our yard this year, but when Kaleb came in to say he had found a turtle, I pictured a BABY turtle...not two full hands worth of critter! He was so proud to have spotted this guy walking through our yard...searching for turtle fun!

This was by far the most laid back, dare I say, friendly turtle I've ever seen! He was so content to sit on your lay and look around, we were all tempted to keep him as a pet friend. Even Matilda was baffled by the nature of him!

In the end we all decided it best to leave nature to nature and let him go home. The thought that he may have a wife and kids somewhere was what convinced Kaleb! We haven't seen him since we let him go, but we hope he'll come this way again someday in his turtle travels!

Friendship Nursery School Graduation 2008!

This year Aliza Jane graduated from pre-school at FNS! It was a little emotional as we have been there for three years with Kaleb attending before Ali. They had a wonderful presentation that included poems and songs sung by the children.

They even had a little poll like in yearbooks for "best dressed" and what not, except theirs was"best listener", and "best paper cutter"...Aliza was dubbed "Ms. Congeniality"! So cute!

Aliza is already missing school this summer, but is very excited to go to Kindergarten at the same school as Kaleb. She went to the Kindergarten orientation and saw her classroom and thinks it is "So much bigger than MY classroom!"

I guess it's always bittersweet, but seeing my youngest go to "the big kid school" is really having an affect.

Above is Miss Sharon! She has provided so much for our family...my childrens first impression of school and learning, a sounding board for my insane days, a friend, a link to our community, and just an amazing woman all around, I'm going to miss seing her three days a week, but we'll stay close!

Wagon Wheels West!

This years Drama Presentation was "Wagon Wheels West!" at Lindale Middle School. Izaak played the "Judge" and he was great! He was able to project his voice and had his lines down pat! He said he messed up, but the audience was none the wiser. His wig wouldn't stay put but it added a comical flair flopping around and such! I am always so proud to see him and his friends pull off these plays!

Being in the audience is always fun for Izaak's productions as I can surely sing along to most songs, as he sings them around the house for months while rehearsing~!

So proud of the young man he's growing into!

Fishing with Aliza Jane

Early this spring Aliza and I had an urge to go fishing. She was quick to learn about casting and how to real the line in slowly. She even felt a couple of nibbles on her line!

Matilda had a wonderful time, as always, tracking animals with her sniffer and taking a swim. A beautiful day with my beautiful girls!

Baseball Days '08

This year Kaleb and Aliza both played ball. This was Alizas first go at team sports and she loved it! She has quite a swing and didn't need the "t" most of the time. She was awarded the "Game Ball" at one of her games for having the best hits of the team! Two to 2nd base!

Kaleb had a really strong start to the season and was considered the "Star Hitter"! He's a fast runner too...so A broken arm put a damper on this season but he enjoyed it while it lasted and is looking forward to Soccer in the fall and Baseball next spring!

Aliza looked like a space alien when she gave catching a try! Daddy gave some moral support and Mommy helped her on the field...it's hard to see out of those masks though!