Fete Day 2023

(August 27th, 2023)

This is possibly the latest we have done Fete day, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I had a whole thing planned with a scavenger hunt and three teams and then Tyler and Robyn got Covid. Well, didn't that just put the biggest kink in our plans. So, we scrapped all that and had Fete day a week late, on a Sunday afternoon, after church, when we were all free for a hot second. 

It was a total blast though. We invited the Turner's to join us. We all love their family so much. Daisy decorated our window and it looked super cute.

Since it was Sunday, I dressed in yellow twice! Gotta wear the Fete Day color. It's mandatory.

Plan B involved a game of Water Balloon Battleship. There are many ways you can play this, but we opted for our own unique version that was really fun. First off, our teams. Team one: Analena, Ivory, Beau, Tyler, Caroline, and Andrew.

Team Two: Pearl, June, Olivia, Jason, Annie, and Daisy. 

We chose some throwers. These people had to be blindfolded and they stood at the corners to chuck balloons at the opposing team. (Anyone else think Jason looks like a pirate?)

We roped off an area and each team spread out on the grass, becoming the battle ships.

The rule was that you had to lay down and not move. Teams were allowed to aim their cannons, meaning they could tell the throwers to turn right or left and about how far to throw. Even with precise instructions, it didn't always work.

The first game we played, splashes counted as a hit. Daisy never was hit with a balloon, but she was sunk quickly.

Here is Tyler receiving instructions about where to throw.

The second game, you had to actually hit the target. Lots of people got wet with no sunk ships. There were lots of laughs and some great throws.

I was running the balloon distribution. Someone had to hand out water balloons. When we finished playing, we used up the rest of the balloons in a mini water balloon battle. And then we picked up all the pieces, took some group shots and went home. :)

I made ice cream cake as usual. Besides that one cheesecake year, we've been very consistent.

Then time to eat cake and exchange gifts. Everyone looked great in their yellow. We all got some great gifts. 

It was a really fun Fete day, even with the last minute changes. This is a happy tradition that we love to share with others. Until next year...

Out for a Walk

(August 1st, 2023)

I love Summer months. They are the best for random walks in the evening. The sun lasts forever, so you can go later when it has cooled down, but it is still light outside. June and Pearl joined me on a walk one evening. They've been doing construction in a nearby neighborhood and there are all these huge pipes out on the side of the road, waiting to be put somewhere. This particular evening, there were what looked like, huge cement pipes. They were so big, we could climb and sit inside. I know they aren't pipes because cement is not the right material, but I don't know how they use them. But it seemed right for a couple photos.

Later, weeks later, Pearl and I came across more long black pipes, piled five rows high on the side of the street. We had so much fun going to either side and seeing if we could find the face of the other person peering down the pipe. Life can be such fun in simple ways.

Back to that August night, after playing in the pipes, we came back and inked our cruise shirts. They turned out so cute. Beau did the design. You already know we had a blast on the cruise. Glad those posts are done. :)

Chalk the Block 2023

(August 25-26th, 2023)

Chalk the block is one of my favorite things to attend. One of these years I'm going to get the girls signed up.

This year, I got to go twice. Beth and I took a nice stroll on Friday and it was actually cool to see a lot of the pieces in progress. We saw people painting the asphalt, which apparently washes off later but makes it easier for the artist to put the chalk on, and gives it a move vivid color. We also saw people with legs and arms covered in chalk. Hazard of the trade of course.

It is pretty amazing to see a piece of art reach its conclusion.

I clearly can't put all of the pictures I took on here. Well, I could, but I'm already worried about blog book size because of the cruise, so you just get some of our favorites. The second day, most of the rest of the family got to go see the art too. It was such a lovely night and the sunset was gorgeous.

Daisy and Pearl both found a matchy drawing. 

The world is full of really talented people.

Library Back to School Display

(August 15th, 2023)

I'm going to try and catch up on life with a quickness. Stick with me, since it should be a fast, bumpy ride. Let's start back right after the cruise. We got back and school started right away. Phew. No rest for the weary. Lucky for me, Analena and Beau came to do some art for me for my library display. I think it turned out super cute. 

The theme was jungle and wild. I did the signs. (Actually June helped me with those.) 

Beau made me an awesome leopard.

And Analena made me a cute Koala.

She also made a hippo for my bookdrop. Last year it was a shark and this time, I'll keep the hippo all year. 

The finished display was so cute with all the leaves on the sides. The leaves didn't stay very well. I kept putting them back up, but c'est la vie.

Also, Daisy came and maybe some really cute letters for my calendar. She is actually quite a good artist but is too hard on herself. 

As you see, with a little help, I was more than ready for the school year to start!