Annual Visit

We had our annual visit with my best friend from across the country.  They stayed 2 nights.  As per usual, the weather did not cooperate.  Still, we managed some outside activities and introduced them to geocaching.  We filled the remainder of our indoor time with a play, and many board games.  The kids got along really well this time, too. 

The Phone

I am always complaining about my husband's phone, or rather, about him being distracted by and attached to his phone.  However, his attachment does have some benefits.  He always has it when a picture opportunity is presented.  Here are some pictures taken from his phone over the last year - 6 months.

Did I mention that this girl loves to dress up.

I have no idea when this was taken.  Perhaps in February when we visited the local science place.

Ah yes, the tree.  We came across this tree when trying to find a place to eat.  This is located at our favorite beach town, which also boasts our favorite toy store and is somewhat mid way  to my sister.

This was is May of 2012.  I believe this is the week of our 10 year anniversary.

LBB laceration after falling from his bike.  He required on stitch.  The nurse suggested that my husband and I should sit down in case we felt faint.  Ha.  I do not think this will be our last stitch in this guy.

And here he is all sewn up.  He was very brave, until the nurse told him it was okay to cry.  Then it was hard to stop him.  I mean he is the middle child and has fully learned how to scream and cry from attention.  Our family doctor phoned several times to schedule a time to remove the stitch.  Ha.  I have had enough stitches myself to know that it is a simple thing.  We sterilized our equipment, called all the kids to around to watch, and together removed the stitch without him knowing it was over.

Our local story time had some old fashioned games.  These two managed to get in the local paper with this one.

Builder was not interested in participating.  Animal was game, though.  He had a great time.

Water Rocket

After finding inspiration from a book, we checked out some You Tube videos on simple water rockets.  By 8;30 am, we were launching water rockets int he backyard.  Fun.  With all sorts of science talk added in.

Life

The crank level around here lately has been at an all time high.  The three boys have been fighting like crazy.  Full on hitting, kicking fighting.  They were arguing with me and just being all around nasty.  I was trying to empathize and reason with them.  Nothing was working.  So, what is a momma to do.  Ha.  Cut out TV.  Yup.  Within a day, the fighting decreased dramatically. They would still disagree with each other and argue, but the hitting and kicking is almost gone.  The twins are now including LBB in their play.  Oh and the play has increased of course.  I had a couple of medieval craft books sitting on the craft table for 2 weeks.  They were still untouched.  They finally looked at them and started creating.  They made catapults and a kings tent.  They decorated.  We visited the library and took out even more crafting books: origami, clay, felting.  Fun, fun.  Several times a day, they still ask for TV and melt down when I say no.  They have their pout session.  Then they ask me to help them sew a teddy bear, or read a book.  It is nice to have my little people back.  The transformation is amazing and well worth the few meltdowns over no TV.  I much prefer this way of life to the none stop fighting.

They even helped LBB make a blow gun.

The kings tent, which later turned into a circus tent with juggling ferocious tigers and venomous snakes.  Eek.

Oh and hear is a random cute picture of this little girl.  She is now climbing everything.  She climbs up the toilet and plays with the taps at the sink.  She was very happy until her brothers insisted on her turning off the taps just before I took the picture.

Museums

We visited our first local museum about a month ago and the kids have been asking to go to another.  This one was really neat with a tent city to show various Gold Rush Scenes.  The kids are really into this and patiently listen to the guides and even ask questions.

 I sent them to jail!!  Look.  They were even happy to go.

 Of course, even BW got in on the action.  The kids are great about not touching and respecting the old artifacts.

 We even got to gold pan.  The kids struck it rich and took their finds home in vials.

Previously in the week, Builder had found some metal on the side of the road that he insisted was really old and needed to be taken to a museum.  I thought it was a car part.  We showed my husband and he said it wasn't a car part.  So, to the museum we went.  We asked the guides if they thought it was an artifact.  They said that they didn't know, but they could ask their historian and let us know.  They graciously took the metal piece, Builder's info and will get back to us.  What a great experience for him.  Lets hope we hear from them soon.  We will definitely be back to this museum.  And the next time, they will pick up some other information.  This is the way learning should be.

The Accomplishments of LBB

Yesterday, (hrmm, I mean 2 days ago now) LBB had a big day.  Just one week previously, LBB learned to ride a two wheeler with no training wheels.  Wow.  That same week, LBB decided he was now going to wear big boy underpants.  So, we headed to the store where he could pick out his new unders.  He has had few pee accidents since and no poop accidents. Wow.

So the other day at dinner, the twins were taking turns telling stories.  Usually, LBB just takes it all in and eats quietly supplying a laugh every so often.  That night, though, he told his first story.  Please try to picture this told in almost a whisper by a little boy with big blue eyes, and even bigger facial expressions to accompany his tale in very serious story telling mode.  Here goes.


Once upon a time there was a dragon.
And there was a tree.
The dragon ate the tree.
And he POOPED!


You have to realize that at the moment all his thoughts revolve around pee and poop.  The story was priceless.

Later, after I had cleaned up the kitchen and we were out on our after dinner bike ride.  LBB asked me to watch him ride his bike.  Yup, he had already mastered a trick.  He had barely been riding the bike for a week.  He can now lift his bum up off the seat while he rides.  What a trickster.

Upon arriving home, the boys continued to ride and BW helped me replant the rose bushes that I had removed a couple days before when LBB had a window put into his bedroom.  I. had just finished cleaning up and was about to call in the twins when LBB said he was going to have one more ride.  Well, he decided to ride down our steep drive and over a baseball bat.  SPLAT.  He fell right on his chin.  We rushed to the hospital.  Thankfully, Uncle R came to the rescue and stayed at home with the other 3 kids.  LBB bravely received his first stitch.  I fear, however, this will not be my last trip to the hospital with this little man.

What a big day.  And what an even bigger week.  He is growing up too fast.

The Bond

These two have a bond like no other.  They have shared a bed since LBB was about 15 months old.  LBB often sleeps in his own bed through the night, but he can't resist a close snuggle with daddy at least one night a week.

When you are in this stage of getting little sleep as a parent, thoughts are often consumed by getting your kids to sleep on their own, be independent.... The time flies too fast, though.  Is he still going to come to our door and ask to sleep with us in a few years?  We usually always say yes.  We choose to enjoy the moments now.  Soon they will just be a memory and we will wonder why we were in such a hurry to push them away and have them grow up.

Sports Day

Yup.  Even homeschoolers have a Sports Day.  And because we are all families, there was even a group for LBB's age level.  LBB was a bit skeptical at first, but once Daddy arrived he brightened up.  I don't think I would have pulled this one off by myself.  It was nice to have my husband and Nan there.  The event took place in the town where beefcake works, so with a few adjustments to his day he was able to drop by.

Big Jump by Builder.

Daddy was at the end, so LBB was pretty keen to get down there.  He even false started.  As you can see, BW even got in on this one.  Oh, and Nan.  She can't seem to resist a competition.

He was a bit of a pendulum - swinging about 10 times before he threw.

Another big jump.

This was by far the twins favorite event.  They had huge smiles as you can see.

Here comes Animal.

They even got a certificate.

And we were all together and had an extra person to take the picture, so we took a family photo.  When all was finished, Animal asked if we could do that again.  Yup - next year.

My girl

I just thought this was a great picture of her eyes.  Mind the hole in the wall behind her, please.

Science World

We went to science world a few weeks ago.  The trip was organized by the home school group, so the rate was great.  However, because it was a school outing, I was flying solo with 4 kids in a busy place.  All and all, it went way better than I anticipated.  We had a great time.  The kids wished they could have stayed longer.  We participated in a magnets workshop that the kids found a bit too structured with not enough time for experimentation.  They did return home, though, with a need to show and tell everyone they say about magnets.
 

 They have spent a fair bit of time at this wind tunnel wall each time we have gone.

 LBB gave the weighted wheel a try.

 BW quite liked that this one was at her level.

 These guys were experimenting with pulleys and their own weight.

 A great shot of just my kids.  This took a bit, but I finally got it.

 They each ran around trying out the different science experiments.  I was constantly counting 1, 2, 3, 4 and swinging my head like a pendulum.

This was by far the favorite this time around - the water area.  BW loved this and would happily have spent all her time here.  Well, here and the dancing room.  The other 3 had a great time shooting the balls, diverting water, making fountains and dams.  Next year we will buy a family pass.

Unfortunately, our adventures are still structured around BW's nap.  So, we had to head out at 1:30.  We had to pick up a buying club order on our way home.  The pick-up took way longer than expected and we ended up in rush hour traffic.  Thankfully, my cousins were home and we dropped by for dinner and a play visit.  Thanks guys.  You saved me.  The kids were very done with being in the car at that point.  We stayed until bedtime and then I finished up the last driving stretch.  I survived.  It was a long day, but well worth it.