Vivian Reading

I told Vivian to go and practice her reading, because they were completely on each other and gearing up to fight for hours. I heard her reading from the kitchen and came into check and found her like this, not missing a beat.

Spills

There are still spills on just about a daily basis, less frequent, but still happening.
Yesterday amazingly there was a double spill in the kitchen and living room, both of sugar cereal about the size of Rice Krispies and the same static properties of rice cereal. Its also one of the few things that we have discovered Jack won't eat, which probably is reason enough not to buy them anymore. There was about a five second delay between the two spills by two different kids, though the first kid did stop crying when the second kid started.

Strawberry Festival

We went to a Strawberry Festival last weekend and arrived in the morning to find a lot more patrons than we anticipated being there, and also possibly than the farm anticipated being there. Parking attendants seemed to be directing traffic to any open area, including, apparently, areas not owned by the farm. When we pulled in, we were directed into an area that had deep tire marks which appeared to be made by farm equipment, after a few rainy days. As we parked I wondered about the possibility of getting stuck in the mud.

We picked strawberries, luckily a friend arrived before us and stood in line and got a container, so when we appeared it was handed to us. We did find some good strawberries, but we really had to look for them, as it was already picked over.

The kids seemed to have fun though. We left as the festival was beginning as the lines for food and drinks and pony rides were extensive. As we walked to our car and loaded in, I watched a minivan, identical to the one we recently had, get stuck in the mud.

I'm not entirely sure why, but they unloaded the entire extended family from the van and then got it out and left it to the side which they directed more traffic out. The family still stranded. When it was our turn, the front wheel drive vehicle I was driving went back just fine, but as I put it in drive, got stuck. The attendants told me to "rev the engine and step on the gas" when I asked them for a push. Obviously that drove the front tires further in. When we were good and stuck, and had drawn a crowd, and their efforts to push us out were fruitless, someone finally got the tractor. They hooked us up and to the kids' delight, we were pulled from the mud by the tractor. My friend took photos for us. We left to the applause of a small gathered crowd. The kids waved to the audience.

Jack's Birthday/Anniversary Party

It's been a year since Jack came to live with us, so the kids' had a celebration and our neighbor humored us and brought Jack's friend Rudy over.

Rudy not feeling thrilled about his party hat.

Jack not being impressed by us singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

The girls blowing out the candles.

 

Jack playing with his new "hamburger" present.

Ballet Lessons

Vivian giving Lanie "ballet lessons" this morning.

Sam's Bookmark

I was organizing some of the many things that came home from school and found Sam's third grade bookmark.  I put it aside because I wanted to ask him what he had written all over it.  At first I thought it was names of historical figures and that he might have been cheating on a quiz. Then I figured he must have been bored and writing things down that they were learning about (ha). When I actually read the names, I discovered they were football players.
Silly mama.

Toilet Paper

Recently Sam put his bed up against his closet so that it can't be opened. I think he gets scared of it at night. We don't store many clothes in there, it's mostly winter wear and some bags and shoes that don't fit.  I was trying to purge some clothing that no longer fit and pass it on, so I made him move it so I could access the closet. The first thing I saw when I opened it was what appeared to be two entire rolls of toilet paper piled in closet.
"WHAT is this?" I demanded.
"Toilet paper," Sam replied. (I still ask the stupidest questions, I should have learned by now).
"Okay, WHY is there an entire roll of toilet paper unraveled in your closet?" I asked.
"No, two," Sam told me.
"Two what?"
"Rolls of toilet paper, mom," he said.
Deep breath. "Okay, Sam. Why are there two rolls of toilet paper unraveled in your closet?"
"Because Viv toilet papered my room."

Then we had a conversation about wasting toilet paper, that went no where because Vivian wasn't around.

Lanie's Easter egg balls

                    Now I have to be in charge of it so the "big kids don't get it."

End-of-the School Year

Some of the pictures that second graders drew with their writing for an end-of-the school year thank you book I received.

When I grew a child's brain while teaching.

Me helping choose a book for a student.

Me reading aloud to the class.

I'm making an anchor which actually pretty much looked like this.

Maybe we're posing? Not sure which one I am.

Reading aloud a book to a small group.

Sleeping Arrangements VI

Yet again, this is various days over a week. Because sleeping in a bed makes no sense.

Saturday Morning

As the kids finished up their breakfast and departed to go and play I started to make some coffee.  I heard a loud game beginning, some kind of (indoor) racing and capturing game that the dog was also a part of.
"This place is a MADHOUSE!" Sam yelled as he ran through the kitchen.
I went into the bathroom. The door opened about 30 seconds later. "I escaped from jail," Lanie whispered and left (with the door still open).
I poured the hot water onto my coffee as I heard Sam say, "good job not crying!" and Lanie reappeared and asked for a Band-aid, for her face.
"What did you bump into?" I asked.
"Da floor." Ah, yes. As we all do.
Now she has a Band-aid next to her eyebrow.  As I was getting the Band-aid Vivian came in, "I have another bloody nose!" she told me, blood dripping down her face.  Of course we're out of tissues. With school finishing up and all of the end of the year activities they're lucky they have clean underwear and food in the house.
As I was getting her nose cleaned up, with toilet paper and paper towels, Sam yelled, "Jack, NO! He's trying to climb out the window!"
It did appear that Jack was nosing the screen to get out and go see a dog that was walking by.

Next up the park before the floor gets injured.

Sam's Essay

 Chris went to the third grade work showcase, not me. Thankfully.

Hula Hooping

When you want to hula hoop, but it's a really hard skill and the hula hoop seems like it's going to stay up, but doesn't quite.

Long jump on Field Day

                       Sam's teacher sent me this photo of him doing the long jump at Field day.

Facepaint

                                               From a party that we attended on Sunday.