Are we there yet?

Spring is here, isn't it? A few nice days, a few snowstorms. But that's what March is all about. We sneak out when we can, soak up every drop of sun we can.

 He "rode" this bike the whole way down the road. Even after he took a tumble and scraped up his face, he got right back on. First, though, he asked me to take a picture of his chin so he could see it. I showed him this picture and he stared at it for a few seconds and said, "Dat not my chin."

cookies

 "Want to make some chocholate chip cookies?"
"Yeah!" Then Jacob went to the freezer, "Where are they?"
Oh, my. My kids think all cookies come from the freezer. He thought I was nuts when I pulled out the sugar and flower. Convienence aside, these little things; making cookies from scratch, I know to be important, yet here they are, just about eight years old, and can't remember ever doing it. I can't say that means I haven't made cookies in eight years, just probably that I never included them. (And it has been a while) It has always been just a little bit more effort to do anything with the twins, so much easier to do it myself. So let's roll up our sleeves and make us a messy kitchen...

Vacation

We try not to take our vacation on the same days as the public school if we can help it. Anywhere you go is way too crowded. So we took this winter break and split it up, using our days off for when there was something fun to do. Three of the days were spent ice skating. We just discovered that our rec center opens up their skating rink to homeschoolers on Wed afternoons for a great price. ($2 and $1 for skate rentals) Grace even got out there. The first time she cried the whole way around, but in the second day, she really took to it and even let go a bit and skated by herself.

We have a couple expiring passes, so we took a trip to two museums. The first day off was the science center...

My kids are so cooperative when I ask them to pose for a family picture.

Joshua did NOT like the dinosaurs. But he did enjoy digging for their bones.

Our Forth vacation day was spent at Strong Museum. Doesn't Courtney look so grown up?
That's because it's Rachael. It was her birthday so we asked her to come along. And Courtney was invited to stay in her place to play with Nina. As much as my girls enjoy each other's company (eh hum) they had much more fun spending the day with their cousins.

Where did the girls go? Why am I not surprised?

butterfly exhibit-

Whenever we take a trip to a  museum, zoo, or anywhere there is a crowd, I have gotten into the habit of writing my cell phone number on the little kids hands. The girls have it memorized, but the boys have it written up on their arm where they can access it and they know to show it to a "good" adult if they happen to get lost. The babies have it written on their hand where it is easily seen by someone who may find them and want to help. It is difficult to teach the kids how to tell what adult to seek help from. There is not always a policeman or museum worker with a badge that is visible to the kids around. But they understand "stranger danger" and that the helping adult should be calling me immediately, and not trying to get them to go get ice cream.
While we were at the museum, a little girl (under two) was wandering around seemingly by herself. I have a habit of trying to "save" lost children that are actually standing within their parents eye shot, and am always embarrassed, but the parents never seem to mind that someone was looking out for their kid. So I fallowed her for a while and steered her back inside when she tried to walk out the door, with a gentle, "Honey, I think your Mommy's in here. Do you see her?" To which I only got a blank stare. Finally, the girl spotted the mother waaaay on the other side of the large, crowded room and ran to her. "Is this your child?"  She said, "yeah" like she hadn't noticed that she was missing for 20 minutes. I would have been frantic, screaming "MY BABY! WHERE'S MY BABY!!?" but that's just me, and that's why I want to take every precaution I can. So this is why I'm sharing this simple tip. You're welcome. ;)

Can't decide what season it is

He planted trees

 Years before he had any idea that he would be pushing his grand daughter in the swing hanging from sturdy branches, long before my children were around to climb high, watch the birds that nested there, use it as home base, years before his whole family enjoyed it's shade on a hot 4th of July, (those he was there for and those he wasn't),
he planted trees. Lots of them. I have a feeling he delighted in it. Yet, he never enjoyed them as we do now. I wonder if he had that in mind.
This old photo is new to me. (though I need to tell you- I photoshopped it. I cropped it and removed a fellow that I didn't know.) But this is my mother in law, and our yard, years ago. We got such a kick out of the beginnings of our landscaping. I love our yard. I try to garden, but I cant keep up with it. So the weeds have taken over all my gardens and there are toys and bikes scattered everywhere, but that doesn't much matter on a warm summer day when we head out to have a picnic under the shade of my favorite maple tree.


                                                                                                               Forth of July Picnic 2007


                                                                       Joseph and Grace 2008

                                      Joshua and a greatly missed Papa, 2009