Wordless Wednesday: Spring Recital Costumes!

First Camping of the Season

Toddzilla got his much anticipated, first taste of camping last weekend. The girls had peppered him with such enticements as "we get to stay up as late as we want!" and "we don't even have to brush our teeth!" Needless to say, he was more than excited to go.

They left with a forecast of thunderstorms, drove 2 hours to their destination, and proceeded to enjoy a warm, sunny day. Hot dogs over the fire, s'mores, a pyromaniac strange fire ritual Hubby performs to the delight of the children... All were in bed by ten.

The storm came in the middle of the night, soaking more than the outside of the tent. The girls, especially, woke up in a puddle. They headed home earlier than expected, but a good time was had by all. Toddzilla ran to greet me with, "Mom, I LOVE camping!"

Girls Weekend

I've been in denial about how much I miss my friends after our recent move, so it was so much fun to have my two best buddies fly in for a long weekend. All ten of our combined children are best friends too, so it was hard not having the whole gang together, but that will come soon enough. Plans are in the works already.

Hubby took the big three camping for some of it so we could have some girl time (plus Crockett). We definitely wined and dined (without Crockett of course), eating outside and enjoying the warm weather. They went home to six inches of snow. That's North Dakota for you. Can't say I miss that.

But I do miss you both already. Thanks for a great time!

A Plot Of One's Own

Lots of planting going on around here for little hands. (Crockett's hands are trying to pull out whatever goes in, but that goes without saying). The children each picked a few flowers and a vegetable. Signs were quickly painted and added for finishing touches. Now I've just got to figure out how to waterproof them. Toddzilla wrapped his in Saran Wrap, one of his favorite artistic mediums. Time will tell how that fares...

After buying the flowers and vegetables, we were listening to Beethoven Lives Upstairs in the car. Everyone was saddened that Beethoven - being deaf - couldn't even enjoy his own music. Bobo got excited thinking that "in heaven he'll finally get to hear it!" To which Elbow promptly replied, "he might not even be in heaven, he did have quite a temper!" Big sister's response: "No, God will be extra gracious to Beethoven because he had special needs."

Not exactly sure if either argument can stand on it's own; but hey, combine the two girls and you've got the Law and the Gospel covered.

chrysemys picta

Hubby found this sweet little painted turtle in the creek this morning, on a woods walk with Crockett. The girls immediately dubbed him Tiny Tim, from a song they sing to the baby whenever he's crying: I found a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim, I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim...

While we were frantically googling to find his Latin name, what he eats, etc... Crockett was promptly trying to eat him. He grabbed Tiny Tim no less than three times and plopped him into his mouth. Fully into his mouth. The three of us girls were screaming, mind you, which caused Crockett to panic and start howling himself. Hubby found it all rather amusing, as did Toddzilla. They had the nerve to laugh at our squeamishness!

The big three had a great time gathering leaves, sticks, and materials to make a wading pool for the little guy. We're going to observe him for a few days before putting him back in the creek. Don't worry, he's well out of Crockett's reach.

Easy Entertainment

Landscapers are here to turn our mudpit backyard into something a little more child friendly. Little do they know it's more mom-friendly than anything, since this will reduce my laundry drastically. (And make the neighbor parents happy; ours is the "it" backyard right now and their children inevitably come home caked in dirt).

The best part is that little boys will be entertained all morning by diggers, shovels, and other loud pieces of equipment.

Still Clinging

This sweet creature had no qualms about us getting very close to her as we watched her forage for breakfast this morning. She came within about six feet of the deck we were standing on, looking at us for a few seconds, and then turning back to the task at hand. Poor thing isn't going to make it long in any woods but these if she's this bold...

Speaking of hunting -- and other gun-clinging, religion-crutching sentiments... Oh, I usually don't get into politics here, but hello? Obama? Are you serious? You "chose your words wrong?" Really? It may just be what you truly believe about folks who don't see things the way you do. And by the way, there are some of us who have Ivy League degrees too, and aren't economically frustrated, but love - yes, even cling to - our religion.

Mom, Dad, Mark: Sorry! Enough said.

Learning Room Make Over 2

The learning room is pretty much done. We still have quite a bit of Dick and Jane fabric left, but I think we're done decorating for now. I say "we" because this was a collaborative effort. In other words, don't go looking at the seams. The girls helped pick fabric combinations and guided the pieces through the machine -- with help. We've made four pillow cases, a book bag, and the valance.

As for the rest of the room, I like to keep it simple with not too much visual distraction. This suits me perfectly, so I'm glad our little students feel the same way. I remember Bobo's first experience in a "real" school room. She was in Daisy Scouts back in Fargo, and they met in the kindergarten room of the public school. The walls were covered with posters of this, that, and the other. There were plenty of toys and gadgets and a play structure in the middle of the room. Bobo got that glazed over, deer-in-the-headlights look, and exclaimed, "Do they learn in here?" Ah yes, a chip off the old block...

Suffice to say we've kept the walls basically free of "schoolish" stuff. We do have a map and globe that we use along with our history studies, and a home made time line we're adding to as we go through Story of the World.

He's SUCH a Keeper!

Hubby's out of town defending his doctoral thesis. (But we do have company, so don't get any strange ideas, Internet.) Obviously, he's very busy and more than a little pre-occupied. But look what just arrived at my front door!

I think I'll keep him.

To Hubby: We're praying for the successful completion of this long journey. We know you'll be awesome! We love you...

Of Neighbors and Varmits

The world's come alive in our little neck of the woods; even the neighbors have come out from their "winter" hibernation. We've been wondering where is everyone, anyway? Seriously, there have been plenty of sixty degrees days since we moved in three months ago, but nary a child on a bike, no conversations on a sidewalk. Nothing. (Then there's my little brood, running in sun dresses and tee-shirts on those balmy fifty-one degree mornings).

Apparently, seventy degrees is the threshold around here. It's been warm, warm, warm in central Ohio and the neighbors are out in droves. We've met more families in the last forty-eight hours than all our days here combined.

But we've also met some critters. Outside and in. There's a real beauty to living in the woods: deer, cardinals, blue jays, and bunnies abound. But we've also spotted snakes slithering under the playset (eek!) and a few strange bugs in the house.

Enter the Orkin man.

My children were very excited to have the red-tyed bug man in our home. They ran up, grabbed Toddzilla's little clip-on church ties, and paraded around searching for bugs. Not long before they rounded up flashlights, notebooks, and backpacks and off they went, in search of critters. Toddzilla followed the real Orkin man around, yelling singing "God is bigger than the Orkin Man!" Not sure our bug man knows this particular Veggie Tales song, but he seemed quite amused at all the fuss being made over him. I'm sure it's not everyday he has four apprentices clamoring for his position.

Bugs be gone! (Because I know Mr. Orkin doesn't want to come see us again.)

Fresh Off The Press...

Creative Family arrived and I'm about half way through. The children are all about the embroidery projects - "right now!" But I can't see myself finding any burlap, hoops, and blunt needles in the very near future, so that one might have to wait. SouleMama continues to amaze, inspire, and make it all seem more than possible with small children around.

Along such artistic lines, we had a great time at an exhibit on the Portraiture of Aristocratic Children today. A little dress up, a little glue, glitter, and gems - even a mini production of Shakespeare's The Tempest... (Although I must say, I read that play several times for an International Baccalaureate exam in high school, and I couldn't make heads or tails of today's strange rendition. Some things just can't be reduced to a 15 minute quick take for tots.) Kind of amusing to watch them flail try though. Sorry.

In true SouleMama fashion, the museum collages went right up on our bulletin board for all to enjoy. I love how Toddzilla made his Artistocratic dude into a pirate!

The rest of the day was spent OUTSIDE in the beauty of true spring weather. I think we're sunburned.

First Hair Cut - Finally.

Remember this? And even this? Yes, those were vows to get my baby's hair cut months ago. Rest assured, it's finally done. He looks a little shell-shocked here, but all in all, things went well.

Wordless Wednesday: Butterflies and Blooms

The Hagia Sophia made out of plants!

We had just finished studying Constantinople

so everyone was very excited to see such a great model.

Not Working.

Crockett has taken to climbing on everything. I've been spared the climbing child up til now. No one escaped the crib, no one found their way onto counter tops. Nothing.

But here is where I found the little man yesterday. (The floor beneath this table is stone, mind you. I guess I should be pleased that he's looking at the Latin prayer cards though. On a side note, keeping the prayers from Prima Latina in a little book of index cards in our napkin holder has greatly helped us learn and retain the prayers.) He then proceeded to put the total kabosh on school time, nudging the students right out of their chairs and climbing up onto their desks. Stomping on top of math lessons is way more fun than playing nicely with blocks on the floor. Obviously.

Needless to say, we're back to waiting for his nap to get much of anything accomplished in terms of lessons.