Wet and Wild

The text said, "we're headed out to play in water. You and the kids are welcome" so we lathered on the sunscreen and headed out. It was 90 degrees so promises of water were the only way we were going out! It was Ty's first exposure to a sprinkler and Kate's first time on a slip and slide. Both were awesome. I not so lovingly refer to our water as liquid gold and refuse to invest it on playtime since our monthly bill is $200+ with timed showers, no lawn watering, no flowers, no car washes, etc.... We were really happy to accept the invitation.

 

 

 

 

Bet you can't guess where he's headed with that slide!

 

 

At bedtime tonight, Ty started talking about his day. This is part of our routine and he loves the one-on-one time almost as much as I do. He talked about playing in the water at Anne's house, hitting balls with his bat, etc....and then started talking about catching a "big fat toad" and throwing it in the field. Next was a story about catching a snake and getting his hands dirty so he put it on a rock. The final story had him catching a train and putting it back on the track by the tunnel! This was the first time he made up stories and it was challenging to keep a straight face. I love active imaginations. Yesterday, Greg mentioned something got a hold of a bird in our yard because he saw a pile of feathers. Kate saw the same pile and insists it's a pile of bear fur. Makenna at age three used to hunt for bears with her flashlight in our bathroom! One would think we lived in the wild somewhere.....we do, but our wild factor is all in the two legged form!

I could not believe he got out of the house looking like this but couldn't resist a photo anyway!

On a much sweeter note, a friend's four year old niece had her appendix rupture on Wednesday. She is one very sick little girl. Candy sent me a photo text today of Hailey after they successfully removed the vent, ahead of schedule. Ty saw the picture and asked about it so I told him she was a sick baby and we needed to pray for her. He didn't say anything more this morning but at bedtime he asked to see the picture again and then asked me if God made her better yet. I was blown away. We've not exposed him to anything so serious before and hadn't intended to today, but it appears he understood. Childlike faith.

 

Pinterest and Other Distractions

Brian pulled into the drive with a trailer attached to his vehicle on Monday. He casually mentioned to my patient husband that he plugged "Pinterest" into mapquest and our address came up. Thanks Brian. But, he always brings me a really cute kid and this trip included a project worthy treasure as well.

 Before:

After:

Makenna and Lauren love it.
And speaking of pink......Colby is going to be a big brother in October! Everyone except Colby is really excited and anticipating his little sister. Ask Colby about her and he will firmly say "no".

While I was busy painting, the boys found a few distractions as well......squirt bottles and sidewalk chalk are always treasures. They were busy "washing" my van for over an hour. It was glorious.

 

This little guy will no longer be hanging out with us as his grandma is feeling better and wants as much time as possible with him before he starts preschool this fall. He added a lot of personality to our house....

Ty packs a break time snack when there is work to be done on the tractor.....Brutus hangs out close by just in case that snack ends up on the ground.  Ty does put the screw back in place each time Greg or I repair the slipped chain. He is pretty pleased with his ability.

We are all working on summer knees this year and the addition of bee stings has been ridiculous. Ty's been hit twice this week and Kate and I each once. It hurts.

Isn't it amazing how far a boo-boo kiss will go with a little one? I find myself treasuring this phase so much more as I look at Erin and realize just how quickly it passes.

Ty got his first professional haircut this week. The sun has highlighted his otherwise dark hair so I couldn't take the clippers to it. My beautician trimmed it up off his neck and around his ears. As opposed as he was to the entire event, I think he looks rather handsome.

Just because

As I mentioned earlier, this past week was really too busy to be appreciated at times. I had multiple drop off and pick up times around the kids' VBS schedules, Erin was working, and Lauren was socializing, etc.....so I became desperate to get the boys to nap in a short window of opportunity and took a few drives. Five minutes down the road and they are out cold rather than wasting the little nap time they had available getting them to lay still long enough to actually sleep. During one of those drives, I stumbled upon a sweet little spot I think is associated with another local church and decided right away I would be back with my camera. As it turns out, Lauren, Makenna and Greg were up for the adventure today. We will be back.

The really busy Summer Break kick off......

This week a neighborhood church hosted VBS and Kate loved it. She went each morning and came home every afternoon talking about the lessons learned. Makenna attended with Audrey, who will be spending part of the summer with us and they had a blast. The middle school VBS program was a "Destination Unknown Bible Study" and every day was an adventure. The girls had so much fun they've begged the leadership to host another one for Christmas break!The end of VBS meant a party at the church where Ty enjoyed the music, food and puppet show. He was pretty disappointed all week he wasn't old enough to participate.

We wrapped up our busy week with a quick day trip to my sister's house yesterday. Erin elected to stay home and get a sunburn with her "second mom" rather than join us for six fun filled hours in the van but the rest of us had a great day.

Ty played wack a mole with Uncle Jamie's head and a foam noodle. He threw every imaginable item into the pool rather than getting in and playing.....with the exception of the one time he jumped in without warning. At that point, I also went swimming fully dressed and not exactly prepared to be in the pool. All is well. That boy...

We enjoyed the pool, the new puppy, the food and the fire pit with smores at the end of our visit. It was a great day and the perfect way to wrap up a crazy week.

These Boys!

 Aiden and Ty fight like brothers.....and after a particularly taxing day yesterday I told them they were going to drive me to drink. Aiden stopped in his tracks and looked at me with the most serious expression as he said, "but we can't drive".

Moves like Jagger

A little "Just Dance" to start our day today. Colby's moves are a little too similar to my Zumba routine which is why I never exercise with children or their recording devices in the vicinity. And Ty.....he dances like his daddy!

"Pa-pa's coming"

Friday our final two students wrapped up their school year. It was a long year full of changes and growth. I spent the end of the day in Kate's studio face painting. I cringed a little when I was assigned that department but was assured I didn't need to worry as the kids were requesting hearts, flowers and rainbows. My first customer wanted her face to look like a zombie. The second, a tiger that covered her entire face. At the end of the line was my sweet Kate who asked for hearts on both cheeks. She knows me well!

We are now the proud parents of a senior, a sophomore, a seventh grader, a second grader and a two year old who will remain at home because I don't know what I'd do without him! We will have eight kids in the house all summer. (Send food please!) In August, all of our school aged kids will be in the classroom. After nine years, it appears I am retiring from home education. I hope to spend more time volunteering in the Montessori school. We love the program and the support they've extended this year.

Prior to spending time at the school on Friday, Erin and I took the only two others I had that day out to run errands in preparation for the weekend. I always try to put Ty in a "little brother" tee whenever it is just us as she tends to get dirty looks and comments. Ty looks quite a bit like Erin. On the other hand, when I take all of the kids out, I am asked a lot of questions and field negative comments. My favorite being, "are you a daycare?" with "don't you know what causes that?" being a close second. One day I will have the nerve to answer that one with "no, can you explain it to me". Or not.

Mom and Dad came down for the weekend. Ty told everyone we talked to for days, "Pa-pa's coming on Friday". We loaded up on Saturday and cruised through two neighborhood garage sales to find Ty a big boy bike. He is a mad man on that thing and loves it even more because his Grandma and Grandpa bought it for him. That evening we made a frozen yogurt run, which was quite tasty. Mom and Dad brought birthday gifts from themselves and Aunt Kristin to finally end Kate's birthday celebration. She loves both the pottery wheel and the photo frames. All in all, we relaxed and enjoyed each other. It was a good weekend.

My sister sent a large bag of hand me downs with my parents for Ty. Included was a tee that says, "My parents are exhausted". Lauren wants one in her size. (I could probably use five.)

Future Attorney?

This beautiful boy renegotiated his potty training contract today. He drives a hard bargain. Since finding out his friend was getting candy for using the potty, the mini marshmallows simply weren't cutting it. We ended up at Walgreens today and he now gets jelly beans. In reality, he often forgets about his treat and is content to announce his success to all who can hear. He even asked the clerk at Walgreens if she puts her pee and poop in the big boy potty (by the way, she does). It's a pretty big deal.

I don't like roller coasters

I am not a fan of roller coasters. I don't care to have my life flash before my eyes. Ever. I don't seek thrills or need danger to feel alive. Nope. I prefer things smooth, easy going and predictable. I rode in the minivan as a passenger today while my oldest drove for the first time. I only screamed once. I had a death grip on the arm rest and door handle. I couldn't breath. I am certain a snapshot of my face would have made one think I was on a roller coaster, fearing for my life. I am not cut out for this. Her father has trained "knuckle heads" to drive fork lifts. He is much more qualified. I pass the baton. Honey, you're up. Even Ty declared at the end of our "bumpy road ride" he was "scared in the van". Mommy was too but Erin finally decided it was time to get her permit. It really was time given all of her friends have been driving for two years but we were in no rush and neither was she. I suppose allowing her to actually drive will take time too!