Wilderness Center

 Our first summer adventure was to visit the wilderness center.  We planned on going to hike and somehow timed it perfectly with a pond exploration that was taking place.

I was a little nervous, each child had a sieve at the end of a long stick.  I thought for sure someone was going to be hit, or end up in the pond.  Thankfully neither happened.

After scooping up treasures from the pond, they brought them over to the guide.  We put them in a shallow tray to watch and even got to examine them under microscopes!

Dawson was so funny.  The program was at two in the afternoon and we had already done a mile and a half hike in the morning.  He was whining, whining, and then finally said he was tired and really wanted to take a nap.  The guide heard him say this and remarked "I've never heard a kid ask for a nap before!"  Must take after his Mom, I really like my naps too!

Carter was in HEAVEN!  He didn't want to stop exploring!

It was a fun adventure and we will be back!

Project Time!

For the past two weekends, we have been working hard to get the back bedroom ready for all three kids to share.  They have been sharing Carter's small blue bedroom for a couple of months now, and it was time for an upgrade.  Dawson has been sleeping on a crib mattress thrown on the ground and poor Ava has been sleeping on a tiny toddler bed, clearly too small for her.  On top of all that all three are in the smallest bedroom and quarters were getting pretty tight.

So our ultimate plan:  build bunk beds for the boys and bring Carter's twin size bed into the big room for Ava.  They like sleeping together, and 95% of the time they are really well behaved.  If there are any problems, they Ava can be sent back to her pink room and Dawson will be sent to the blue room to sleep.  I only had to do it one night, but it worked like a charm!

Wait till you see a picture of the bunk bed's Daddy built.  They turned out wonderfully!  Great job Daddy!

So, while Daddy was busy cutting and measuring, the kids did a little wood working of their own.  Did you know that Lowes sells hammers for kids?  Perfect!  Dawson loves hammering nails into scrap wood.

So does Carter!  He has even made some creations, including a castle.

Ava preferred the chalk paint instead.

This weekend I spent the entire time painting the bedroom superhero lellow!! (As Dawson calls it.)  Tonight they are slumbering in their own beds.  I'm so glad we got this project out of the way!

T-ball!

This past week was a t-ball marathon.  There were three games scheduled, and them one more was added due to a rain cancellation.  It was the first full week of summer vacation, so we didn't have any other obligations.

His t-ball skills have improved so much!  He was playing pitcher in this picture and throwing the ball to first.  He was throwing the ball to other kids while they weren't looking, and after a little talk he will now stand there, arm back waiting for eye contact.  Sometimes he stands there for quite awhile!

The funny little move he does with his leg while batting!

The ever dramatic I missed the ball so let me lay here curled up in a little ball.

Throwing and 

Catching!

We are having a ball watching you play and so are these wacky little kids!

Three and a Half

Crazy, Ornery, Silly.

Loving, Smart.

Active.

So many ways to describe my three and a half year old

You like to ham it up for the camera, so most pictures include you sticking out your tongue or making some sort of silly face.

Not that this comes as a shock to anyone, but you tend to have a slightly obsessive personality when it comes to your interests (trains anyone?)  Well, although trains are still fun thankfully you have found other things to play with.  Let me take that back, you haven't found "things" just legos.  If we are inside you are playing with legos 90% of the time.  In so many ways you yearn to be a "big kid" so you have eschewed the larger legos for the smaller legos belonging to older brother.  You love to make "vehicles," trains, fire trucks, helicopters and boats.  FIRE TRUCKS!!  Oh yes, I must not forget your newfound interest in fire trucks.  If you see a fire truck you get so pumped up.  Yelling, jumping and fist pumping are all typical reactions.  At the recent Memorial Day parade we went to you were so excited to see the fire trucks you did a fist pump at me.......and accidentally punched me in the face!

Many of your gross motor skills have developed by watching your brother and sister.  I love watching your fearless smile as you speed down the sidewalk on your bike.  Daddy recently learned the hard way that you aren't sure about the brakes yet, and luckily the stop sign stopped you from speeding out into the middle of the road.  You can climb to the tip top of the pine tree to visit your brother's office.  Apparently there are some items squirreled away up there, I need to climb up and take a picture!  Also at the pool you hate wearing the puddle jumper.  You insist on walking on your tip toes in the water and have no problem with the occasional wave that threatens to wash up over your mouth or nose.  

We are working on writing your name.  You can trace the entire thing, but only write letter D and O without assistance.  When we draw together you like to challenge my skills and ask me to draw things like lego batman.  You are also drawing figures, with the body/head being one and the same and eyes, mouth, arms and legs.  Right now we are working on learning your letter sounds.  Honestly, I really want to give Carter and Ava a FUN summer because they will be working so hard during the school year, so I see less structured learning taking place and more informal discussions of letter sounds.  We will pick back up in September once you are in PRESCHOOL.

Right now your favorite food is corn on the cob hands down.  Last night for dinner you had two of them!  You also love your milk, bananas, pizza, lara bars and dried fruit; raisins, plums, apricots, you will eat them all!  Very recently I bought a special treat of the kettle brand BBQ potato chips and you are smitten.  

Favorite TV show:  Rescue Bots

Favorite Books:  We read Goldilocks and the Three bears nearly every day.  You also went through an intense Little Old Lady who wasn't afraid of anything phase.  Any non-fiction book about tornadoes, thunder and lightning or storms is bound to please.  A nice change of pace from the transportation theme.

Favorite Toys:  Legos, legos, legos.

Favorite Outside Activity:  In the front yard, bike riding.  In the back yard, tree climbing or construction work in the garden bed.

Happy Un-Birthday my sweet little charmer.  So much awaits you in the next half year, it will be interesting to see what you decide to tackle next.  Your arrival in our lives has brought us all immense joy and love.  

Funny Stories

Recently both of the boys had new experiences with their bodies, and used very creative descriptors.  I just had to laugh, and I hope you will too!

• We were driving in the car and Carter starts yelling "MOM MOM there are a bunch of tiny bugs in my leg and they are poking me with spears!!!"  He was genuinely upset and I had to explain the phenomenon of limbs "falling asleep."
• Dawson was sitting snuggling me in the morning and his stomach let out a growl.  He looked down and said "There's a hungry wolf in my belly!"

The perfect beginning to summer!

I decided I wanted to do something fun for Carter's last day of school and I was hoping to set a tradition.  The last day of school was a half day, they ate lunch at school but were home off the bus at 12:15.  So we decided to invite over friends and have an ice cream sundae party!  We inflated the water slide, got out the squirt guns and had a blast.  The kids ran around outside for at least four hours climbing trees, playing in the mud, building mud canals, playing tag and just being kids.   It was the best afternoon ever!  And topped off with ice cream sundaes it just couldn't be beat!

Ava also went to her five year old check up this morning.  She was 41.5 lbs and 42.75 inches.  But the big news was that she had to get three shots and this little girl took them like a champ.  Not a flinch, not a tear, not an ow, nothing!  Clearly this is one area she does not take after her mommy!

Guessing Game

One of our children climbed onto the roof this weekend.  Mike had to get onto the roof of the sunroom to make a repair and this child climbed the ladder and brought a pair of wire cutters onto the roof.  Mike turned around and there were the wire cutters about four feet onto the roof.  Can you guess which child?

One of our child asked for a blow torch for his birthday.  Can you guess which one?

One of our children has asked "Dad, do you let me do dangerous things?"  Mike's answer: "Well, we don't let you, you just do them."  

Can you guess which one?

One of our children begged to use an axe to chop wood.  Starting to sound familiar?

I'm pretty sure you will only need one guess.

Isn't this picture just personality plus?