Pretend play and clams

Tracy is reading Little House on the Prairie to the girls.  Sophie showed up downstairs with a "Yoke" - she had the buckets filled with cut up blue paper.  Sophie said "Look it's just like the yoke Pa made" - such great imagination!  Ceci appeared a few minutes later with her version too. 

Gia stayed busy checking out customers in her grocery store.  She put on the little apron and filled her basket with food to buy.  After scanning the items she put them in a little paper bag she got out of the pantry.  Gia enjoyed her birthday weekend so much!  It was fun to watch her little mind work! 

When Bruce woke up from his nap during the soccer game he ran down to the beach and dug some clams. 

A few minutes of digging produced enough for a meal.  Bruce also visited the fish market and bought some scallops and ling cod.  We will be having a seafood feast this evening!  The drive home was uneventful.  Better get back to my weekend chores - there is work tomorrow.  Weekends just aren't long enough! 

Ceci's Game

Ceci had an afternoon game.  Poppi took a nap and missed the highlights! 

Great kick Ceci!

Look at that pony tail fly! 

The weather was a little cooler than in the morning.  Sophie bundled up. 

Gia started getting silly and stripped down.  I'm holding her feet while she's trying to get her sweater off.  Sophie took some photos. 

Great hustle Ceci - her team played 4 quarters about 10 minutes long.  Ceci ran the whole time.  She is pretty darn fast!  We were very lucky to catch both Sophie and Ceci's game on Saturday. 

Pink Lemonade cookies

After the game and a shower the girls made Pink Lemonade cookies.  Sophie did the stirring.

Ceci helped make the balls and counted them.  63 from one mix! 

Tracy demonstrated the royal icing in a bag. 

Ceci took a turn.

Sophie did every one's initials. 

Testing the flavor.

Almost done!

On the platter with edible grass, peeps and chocolate bugs.  The cookies are delicious! 

Sophie's game

While in town we were able to catch one of Sophie's soccer games.  Here she is with her soccer mom before the game. 

Run -

Gia was the best little cheerleader!  Go Sophie Go! 

The field had a few distractions for me - the landing strip for Bellingham International Airport was just south of the fields.  Lots of jet traffic to check out. 

Sophie ran hard and had some great kicks.  The game was a lot of fun to watch. 

Good Hustle Sophie! 

4 Little Chicks

Ceci was in charge of the Chicken Chores on Saturday morning.  Fresh water is first -

Feed tray is checked.

Clean shavings.

I only remember two names - Hoppi and Henrietta. 

The reward for a job well done - cuddle with the chicks!  Nice job Ceci.

Gia's Birthday

This weekend we traveled north to Birch Bay to celebrate Giavanna's 3rd Birthday.  I worked a 4-10 week so Friday was my day off.  We left early from home trying to avoid the traffic near Seattle.  We were successful and made the trip in the typical 3 hours.   

This is a photo you will probably never see again - Bruce driving by the brand new Cabela's without even looking over!  We arrived in Birch Bay in time for lunch.  Barbecued Brats! 

After lunch Tracy took us into Lynden to pick up Gia's birthday cake.  Lynden is gorgeous any time of year - but it is especially pretty during tulip season.  The Dutch influence is everywhere. 

The bakery had amazing cakes and pies.  We also visited a few antique stores before heading back to Birch Bay to get ready for Gia's party. 

Gia was fresh up from her nap with her party dress on waiting for us. 

Presents for me! 

Can I open it now?

Poppi read a story while we waited for the girls to get home from school. 

Time for balloons.  Gia volunteered to hold the strings.

Choosing her favorite colors.

Sophie did a great job filling the balloons with helium while Mom tied them off. 

Presents!  The big girls were such good helpers with the gifts - reading the cards and helping with the tough gift wrap. 

New Earrings!

Test run on the new cash register. 

Bella, Peyton, Gia, Sophie and Ceci in disguise.  The cousins loved the new glasses!  I'm starting to see a family resemblance in the nose area of the cousins! 

Gia's favorite gift?  Bubbles and her purse with a "Hello" in it!!  I made the little sweater for her - turned out pretty cute.  I think she looks like a Mousketeer in this picture! 

EARTH DAY 2012

 Planted some seeds

Found out that the "white thing" stuck in a shrub is actually the first ever Magnolia flower! 

 Finished planting the potatoes and onions.

 Checked on the rhubarb.

And moved Ms. Citrus out to the patio.  The lemon tree has been growing this spring and smells amazing.  Hope you had a green Sunday!

American Restoration - Oergel Style

Sometimes I think Bruce watches a few too many Gold Rush shows and he thinks I watch a bit too much of home improvement shows.  Sometimes we find a cross-over - American Restoration is one show we both enjoy.   I love using "found" objects in our house and Bruce loves "finding" stuff!  I don't mind old things but I want them to work like new.  I don't worry as much about "patina" as I do about useful. American Restoration fits the bill for me - their stuff is old but works like new.  Yesterday we headed out for the first garage sales of the spring season.  The Kittitas Valley has awesome garage/barn sales!  Our first stop was just up the road from our house.  We found a brand new garbage can (I think it looks retro) - it is headed for the cabana!  At the first sale we also caught up with some of our garage sale acquaintances from last season  - shared some information about sales they had already visited and they directed us up the road to 3 sales we weren't aware of. 

My second buy of the morning - hmm, what do you think it is?  Hint the house had a bunch of catering supplies for sale. 

It's called a Wedge Witch!  It can be used for wedging fruits and vegetables.  The owner said it was a lemon wedger  -

 Bruce decided it was a french fry cutter! 

 Apples..

 Perfect!  We are very pleased with our find!

Next sale Bruce found a belt sander.  Tested, worked it was in the truck.  Here's a picture of the sander with one of Bruce's projects.  More about that project in the near future..

And last I found this mirror - works perfectly outside of the Cabana!  Touring around the countryside with a an address list is a little like a scavenger hunt for grown-ups. We both agreed spending a Saturday morning visiting garage sales was a perfect start to the weekend.  We hope you are enjoying your weekend.  It is supposed to be 80 degrees today! 

PS: The seed potatoes are in the garden and my rhubarb is starting to sprout!  Hooray for Spring!!!