New School Year 2001-2012

Don't know how it happened, but another school year is here.  Time really does seem to speed up as your kids get bigger.  I remember when they were all little, the days would drag by, now they fly at super sonic speed.  Can't believe they all let me take their pictures, but I guess that is how traditions start, they just expect it every year now. 

 Drew starting his second year at Penn State.

 Mark is a senior this year.

 Luke

 Katy ready for new adventures in 8th grade.

 Steven staring sixth grade, last year in Elementary School.

Becca going into fourth grade, ready to take on the upper elementary.

My last two in elementary school, by the time Becca is done I will have had kids in elementary school for 17 years.  I think I should get a retirement package!!!!

Ocean Grove, New Jersey - August 2011

I am still working at catching up on the Dymond Family Summer.  The summer went by so fast and now September has flown by, but I still want to record everything.  So here we go.....

In August we went to Ocean Grove, NJ for three days.  Ocean Grove is the most peaceful town on the shore.  It is made up of beautiful Victorian Homes and friendly people.  My family has been coming to Ocean Grove since my Grandpa Bennett was a little boy.  It is the place I go to revive my spirit every year.  Sometimes I feel like the turtle that needs to "return home", for me Ocean Grove is that place; and now for my kids it has become that place.

This year we were in Ocean Grove for my Great Aunt Shirley's 85th birthday party, which seems strange to me because Aunt Shirley does not remind me of an 85 year old woman.  So many of the family was gathered in Ocean Grove at the same time this year.  We had all of the Aunt Shirley's Kids (Nancy, Gail, Allison and Laurie), their kids, the Pauls, the Wangbergs, the Dahlbergs (Mom and Gunnar), the Dymonds (plus Amber, but we all consider her part of the family) and the Pollocks (my Dad and Lynn came Thursday and Friday)  So it was a really fun time and I loved getting to catch up with everyone.

 Early Morning Walk

 The beach right after sunrise

 When we say "Boardwalk" we me walk on boards, no "extras" to clutter up the beauty.

 My Mom Kathryn in green and her sister Tricia

 Heather and Andelyne

 Eating at our favorite place....Nagels!!!

 Getting ready for an evening walk.

 Luke had fun on our walk, but wasn't to thrilled about the beach again this year, so he and I made our "annual trip" to Target while the kids played on the beach.

 Two "hairy" men

 A new family photo

 Or maybe this one!!!

 Luke waiting for ice cream.  A few years ago we started a new tradition, stopping by Days Ice Cream shop the morning we leave.  We normally "open the store".  They sell the best ice.

I am always sad when we leave, but I also feel ready for another year and can't wait to go back.  Love ya Ocean Grove!!!



Yummy Blueberry Picking

July is blueberry picking season in Pennsylvania and since Karl loves blueberries, we went several times to pick blueberries.  One time when we went Becca wanted to come along.  Blueberries are so yummy straight off the bush.  When I had picked all the blueberries that I could....we ate them, froze a bunch (Karl likes to use them for ice cubes in soda during the winter) and made jam out of the rest.  What a yummy few weeks!!!  The place we go is called Dymonds Farm.  I have tried for years to get a discount since somewhere down the line they are related to our Dymond branch....No Luck....oh well, there is always next season!

The Garden that Grew and Grew and Grew

For the last several years Karl and I have been growing a vegetable garden in our yard.  Each year we try and tweak it, change things, and come up with new ideas on how to get the most "fruit for our labors".  This year was no different. I started by expanding the gardens, Karl started by turning the compost and working the soil.   

When Karl turned the compost he found several globs of seeds that he just tossed into a corner and said, "Lets see what happens."  Well what happened was that the several hundred little seedlings sprouted up.  Karl being the industrious guy that he is decided to plant some of those seedlings (about 20+ of them), and guess what......they all took.  All we knew was that they were most likely some type of squash.  Here is what it looked like earlier this week.



As you can see we have very healthy growth.  Personally I think a family of Gnomes have moved into the garden as well, but with everything growing, I can't be sure.  Since this is all behind the white fence, I just close the gate and send Karl into the wilderness, I am afraid of losing one of my kids back there, so he keeps watch over it.  Everything came up on its own back there, the only thing I planted back there was beans and we have to hunt for those plants.

Meanwhile back in the enclosed yard we expanded the garden beads, planted the flowers, veggies, and herbs.  Karl was excited to plant some Arctic Kiwi vines.

  When we were done planting we still had most of the back corner garden open, so Karl decided to transplant some of the plants from the back inside the gate.  Needless to say, Karl makes great soil and they are thriving.

I keep telling Karl that I think the garden wants to eat the garage, because it is heading that way quickly.  So as you can see Karl's "experiment" is going great!!  I am trying to take pictures every few days to see the progression across the lawn.

The one problem with all this growth, the amount of fruit that comes with it.  I think people are going to start running away from us soon, because I am always trying to give away veggies....Squash and Zucchini anyone!?!?

One fun thing that had come up is this little Sunflower.  I was so excited when I saw it.  Karl says we have one more, but it hasn't flowered yet.

 I am also excited about the pumpkins growing in the back.  We have several.  I have never grown pumpkins before.....Thanks Karl!!!!!

You would think that this is the end of my garden saga, but I haven't mentioned our garden over at our friend Dave's house.  It is doing really well also.  Zucchini recipes please!!!!!