We Are No Farmers...

but last weekend our family got a taste of what a farmer's life is like. We visited Hull-O farm to help out farmers to take care of their farm . To be honest, we didn't even remotely experience the hard and non-stopping work that a farmer does every single day. The most, we "worked" perhaps was over an hour a day. Our duties included feeding calves, goats, sheep, dogs, kittens, bunnies, deer; milking cows and collecting chicken eggs.

The kids really surprised me, especially David. Julia wouldn't even feed the calves because of how messy it was. On the other hand, it was David's favorite activity and he was the first one to volunteer (there were other two guest families with total of 5 kids). Julia spent most of our time on the farm holding chicks and kittens. Both kids couldn't wait to finish their breakfast so they could run off and collect chicken eggs (surprise, none of the eggs were cracked). They were both eager to milk cows and got the hang of it right away.

Before we checked in to the farm, we had spent a few hours at the water park nearby. It was a weekend filled with activities from early morning to past their bedtime and if you ask our kids, it was their best "vacation" ever (haven't I written those words before?). I can see it being our annual getaway spot.

Visit to Howe Caverns. David still can't stop talking about them.

This is where I lost a few years off my life. David told me later he was nervous, but once in air, he had fun. Not sure how they let him do a zip line since he wasn't quite tall to go on it.

Julia got scared on a rope climbing and didn't finish it. David did complete it, but not before shedding a few tears.

Tea Time.

Julia turned 5 years old last week. Five! Last year she couldn't care less how old she was turning and this year she couldn't stop telling people that she is going to be 5 soon. I decided to throw her a tea party for girls only in our backyard. I was in a denial at first and then paid for it by staying up really late a week leading to the party making everything from scratch. Thankfully, I had come across some party ideas on this site , so I ended up using most of her ideas and barely any of mine.

David helped me out a lot at a last minute decorating, baking, making signs, but he didn't stay to enjoy any of it. Seth, his friend and David went away for a weekend to Poconos for a NASCAR car race. David's reaction? He told us he won't invite either me or Julia to his birthday party. Hopefully, it means I don't have to plan it either.

I can honestly say I've never been to a quieter party. It went on for awhile as the kids had a great time playing peacefully together. At night, Julia told me she wished her birthday was everyday. And when I said that I can't believe she is five already, she responded "But mama, my fingers are still little" ( I always kiss her fingers and ask her not to let them grow). Happy birthday, Julia, we are all so in love with you (even David even though he won't admit it).

Happiness.

Why do these two have the biggest grins on their faces and most importantly why are they so happy standing next to each other? It's unimaginable and that's why it needed to be photographed.

Actually, the reason why David is so happy is because he passed a diving test which consisted of swimming across the pool using the right technique. Julia was congratulating him and considering she has no interest in going on a diving board, there was no jealousy and she was sincerely happy for him. She had been witnessing him sitting on a bench for hours staring at the kids jumping off the diving board and water slide.

Now, when we are at the pool, I know exactly where he is at any given minute. Four hours on a diving board without a minute of rest, that's what I call summer.

Summer Fun.

Our past weekend was packed with a lot of exciting events. Saturday, David had his first swim meet. I'm not going to elaborate on the significance of this event for me because I'm trying to keep it sweet and short here for once. I'm just going to say that for a child who wouldn't get into a pool for almost 5 years of his life, it was a big deal. He loves team sports in general whether it's t-ball, soccer or hockey, but swimming seems to be his favorite right now.

As David was getting ready to swim, he said to me "I'm going to kill them". What? According to him, that's what a kid in a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book says. Ok, so after explaining that it's not really nice to say, I made a mental note to check the book myself. Not only does is say it in there "kill 'em" while referring to a child participating in a swimming competition, but the first few pages are filled with how much the kid dislikes swimming. I think the book will be going back to the library tomorrow. The only reason David picked this book in the first place was because the older kids, including his 3rd grade book buddy, read it. After all, there is a reason why many books have suggested age printed in the back of them.

Julia and I spent Sunday at the beach while Seth and David hung out in the city an entire day. They went to a museum, a street festival and visited Seth's uncle and aunt.

It was a great, yet another exhausting weekend. Every summer I wonder what we preoccupy ourselves in a winter with. I know, we don't sit around watching tv, but still it doesn't seem as fun, busy and sometimes tiring as these summer weekends are.

Knitting In The Summer.

Some of the below knits were done before the summer, but definitely after the snow has melted and we were hit with over a 90 degree weather. A lot of them didn't get a chance to be photographed. Since we have been living at the pool for the past month, I knit there too. The kids are comfortable swimming on their own (rather I'm more comfortable letting them go in the pool by themselves), so I can afford sitting back and knit while still keeping my eyes on them.

There is a skirt for Julia, another one for her cousin, a hat/booties/bib gift set for our librarian who's been very kind to us and mostly just random knits not necessarily intended for anyone yet. Once David's first tooth started wiggling, I knitted him a tooth "pillow" with a pocket on the back. He placed his tooth in the pocket and the tooth fairy left him a dollar coin there. He loved it.

We are off to the pool and I'm bringing my knitting bag that holds a very cute pattern. Stay tuned.

4th of July Run for Fun Race.

It's become our tradition to participate in an annual Leonia "run for fun" race on the 4th of July. I ran 5K in 24:08 minutes, Julia and David ran a race around a block. Here are some pictures from earlier today.

Do you see a woman behind me? She was able to catch up to me by a finish line. Our times were tied, yet she got a first place trophy. Am I just a bit sensitive? You bet.

It is a great family tradition and even though with a few bumps on a way (such as Julia being bored of waiting for her race to start and decided to walk back home alone crossing two streets until Seth realized she wasn't turning and coming back), I'm looking forward to them joining me one day running 5K.

Chores.

A sign of David doing dishes last night.

(Another sign -- broken dishes in a trash can.)

P.S. I know I'm overdue for a post or ten. It's been pretty overwhelming and busy here, but I'll try to catch up soon.