Uncle Pete

Uncles are truly the coolest people on earth.  I absolutely love how our kids look to my brother in amazement!  He does the neatest, yet simple, activities with my kids and they have the best time with him!  What fun memories they will have of him!

Helping uncle Pete in the garden.

Hannah building with uncle Pete...she didn't flinch with him or give him any tears!

Learning to tie flies (for fly fishing).  This is something I know my father would have loved to do with the boys and I am beyond grateful that my brother is passing this craft down to our boys!   

A Month in Massachusetts

We will be spending a month in Mass visiting family and friends.  Daddy joined us for the first leg of the trip for a bit of a family vacation and then head back to Kansas to work and get some projects completed around the house.  Here are a few pictures of some things we did with dad before he headed back home.

Waiting to leave Kansas.

At the Ecotarium

Ready to launch the wind tunnel!

78 mile per hour winds!

DAY TRIP TO OGUNQUIT, MAINE

The Patnode kids spent the entire day in the frigid water!  We had to drag them home!  We'll be heading back to the beach before we leave, for sure!

.....I think the trip to the beach was a success!

Turtle Rescue

Sunday morning as I took my walk, I noticed something in the middle of the street.   Initially, I put the turtle on the side of the road.  I decided to go back with the thought that it would be fun for the kids to put him back in the creek.  So, I put him in the stroller basket, brought him home and returned him "home" to the creek near our house.

Cheap entertainment...and labor!

So, the rest of our "Week of Cheap Fun" Ended with free window cleaning by the twins (at their request) and donuts at DUNKIN Donuts for national donut day.

Friday, we ventured to the pool, even though we knew it would be chilly.  Hannah had her first "dip" (literally) in the pool.  I think once it gets warmer she will love it as much as the big kids do!

Fritz's - day 3

The rainy weather really is cramping the Patnode style.  Outdoor play and the pool is our thing, so this rain can stop!   In the mean time, on my quest for cheap, fun things to do, we hit Happy Hour at Fritz's.  For $12.05 we got four regular size milkshakes, large fries, one burger (that the oldest insisted on), and lots of entertainment.  Hannah had a blast watching the trains and sipping on a milkshake! 

Summer vacation-part one.

Last week was the first full week of summer vacation and I already don't remember what we did.....except being stuck in the house due to rain and a baby with a fever.  This week is an adventure in doing activities for under $20.  I've challenged myself to get creative and find a few age appropriate fun activities for 4 kids for cheap.  Here is what I have come up with thus far :

MONDAY:

Deanna Rose: $9.  Ok, not so new to the kids, but they haven't been fishing there before due to age and baby factor, so this was SUPER exciting for the boys, and Caroline.  She chose to ride the pony, but the boys shared their worms and let her catch a fish.

Caroline riding "Cowboy."

Caroline's fish.  Jonathan was kind enough to get it off the hook for her.

The boys baiting their poles.  Jonathan caught two very small sunfish. Joe lucked out...caught nothing but boy did they like his worms.

TUESDAY:

Bass Pro: $8.  My kids LOVE going to Bass Pro.  I typically never let them play the hunting game on the second floor, so again, this was a super treat.  There is the Wild West scene where, for $.50, you shoot at targets.  This kept them busy while I tried some sandals on!  I didn't get a picture of them playing, however, I did snap a picture of the twins pretending to be cowboys in the toy area.  Serious entertainment there!

DUNKIN DONUTS:  $7.  Finally a DUNKIN donuts opened near our house. We have been waiting for it to open as it is on the way home from preschool.  For those that don't know, DUNKIN donuts is on every corner in Massachusetts and is a nice reminder of home out here.

By the way, Hannah was content in her stroller during all of these activities.  She did enjoy running around bass pro for a bit, but this kid LOVES her stroller.... And I'm not complaining about that.

Last day of K!

This is slightly late.   Jonathan had a really great group of boys in his class this year.  On to first grade Boys!