Our More Unique Lawn Flora April 2016

These are three daffodil hybrids I simply bought at our local Pay Less supermarket last fall and was pleasantly surprised when they bloomed just this week!  What a refreshing pop of color they add to our periwinkle covered front lawn.  Really lovely.

Here are some white periwinkle flowers we found growing amongst the sea of blue periwinkle that covers our front lawn.  We look for that one spot every year and have noted they are definitely slowly spreading out.  It's amazing how many periwinkle flowers there are.  Andrew planted the bulk of them with my parents helping when they came to visit in the summer five years ago.  It's actually an evergreen also known as myrtle that is popular on lawns in our neighborhood due to the plethora of trees. 

The year after we moved to West Lafayette in 2010, I came across one package of "White Trillium" bulbs at Lafayette's larger greenhouse known as Bennett's and simply had to buy it since it is Ontario's provincial flower.  I'd seen it only a few times when hiking as a young student through my home province's woods and was always told one could never pick it since it is the provincial flower.  How neat I thought would it be to grow our own trilliums.  Year after year our planted bulbs would sprout but since they were planted in the only shady spot that was also near a walking path in our backyard, our sons' friends would unknowingly step on them in the midst of playing soccer, kickball or badminton.  Finally this year, after years of other failed borders, I surrounded it with a two foot tall decorative wire garden fence to hopefully protect them.  And finally they're really growing!  We are eagerly observing their progress as the spring passes.

The tree closer to the driveway near the front of our home is what is called a Red Bud tree.  I'd never heard of this tree before we moved to Indiana.  It's deep pink blossoms are really very pretty and add even more color to the interesting flora found on our front and back lawn.  Feel very lucky to have such a variety of flora on our property.  How generous Mother Nature is to us.

Signs of Spring March 2016

The recent warm weather had Edward and Aaron climbing our Red Bud tree together this past weekend.  It serves as their speedy fire escape route from their bedroom windows, too,

in case of emergency.  Not to mention just plain, old fun.

Edward and Aaron at our nearby Happy Hollow park during a Sunday family hike.  

Glad to finally be outdoors again.  

Our garden's first sign of spring.  Aaron is super excited this year due to all the new bulbs coming up that we planted last fall from the school's Fall Bulbs sale.  Hopefully the last frost didn't damage the tulips too much!

Edward's 12th Birthday At Get Air

Edward celebrated his 12th Birthday last weekend at the new Get Air indoor trampoline park.  A bunch of his friends whiled away the afternoon playing dodge ball and exploring the huge indoor exercise space.  Happy 12th Birthday Edward!

ISSMA Competition February 2016

Edward participated with Xiao Fei and Jaxon (fellow 6th graders with whom Edward is pictured here, and Mr. Pettit, Co-Director of West Lafayette HS Bands) at the District ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) Solo and Ensemble competition at the local Harrison High School this past weekend.  They were rewarded with a gold medal!  What wonderful news!  It was a surprise but duly earned due to their diligent and regular practice sessions.  Congratulations everyone!

Relaxing at Home on a Sunday

Here's Andrew reading the newspaper and Aaron relaxing thanks to Dad.  It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day tomorrow making it a long weekend here in the U.S.A.  The boys went to Get Air for some trampoline time with friends yesterday and are looking forward to a take out Olive Garden lunch today.  

Meanwhile, Mom's catching up on loads of housework after being sick for the last few days.  Really quite chilly here now in Indiana.  We're all thankful for the extra family time together this weekend.

Family Vacation Time At Great Wolf Lodge December 2015

We all vacationed recently at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio just before Christmas for the first time.  We were all impressed with the outside and inside of the Lodge and couldn't wait to try out the huge indoor waterpark.

The boys suited up and had an amazing time trying out all the bells and whistles of the waterpark's offerings.  Needless to say, aquatic nirvana was reached by all, including Andrew and I.  We tried out their water rollercoaster, the Hydro Plunge, and were thrilled yet soaked within seconds from the start.  The boys are already talking about when we'll be back!

This is the boys' "kids' kamp" where they got their very own bunk beds and got into the "bear spirit". 

On our last night, Edward and Aaron gathered with other kids in the Great Hall for story time.  How magnificent it is at night, all lit up with Christmas decorations.  Just magical!  Really special time of year to visit the Lodge.  Very glad we booked ahead and spent some family time there.  

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Aaron's 6th Birthday

Aaron celebrated his sixth birthday at the local Chuck E Cheese this past weekend, the ultra North American kid party place.  We finally caved in with Aaron but Edward never did have a party there.  Fourteen kids in all with lots of pizza, cake and game time.  Really quite overwhelming but apparently loads of fun for the kids.  Happy Birthday Aaron!