Milestone

When you're the youngest of 5, there's lots of action at home, but not a lot of time for you to have your own classes.  Mr. Crash has been to a couple story times at the library and a couple parent-child music classes...  and that's it.  

This summer, we really wanted him to learn a few skills such as sitting in a circle and follow a teacher's directions, so we signed him up for a creative movement class. 

The first week, I attended the class with him.  He loved it but definitely wanted me there for security and needed a little extra guidance.  

This week his sister walked him in, and he did the whole class all by himself.  

So proud of this little stinker.  And so grateful for patient and kind teachers.  

June

 

Diary of June 2016, the month that came and went like cookies in the pantry : 

 

Days 1-5:  Diligently finishing 9th grade English papers, 4H projects, and packing!

 

smiling because he's done with 2 projects

Days 6-12:  Family trip to the Smoky Mountains with my parents and sister plus fam.  We hiked!  We shopped!  We had a girls' night out!  We rode horses, played golf, and slid down a ridiculous number of scary (by my standards) water slides!  Serious family bonding all around.  It was great. 

Boys full of pancakes

Three generations of bargain shoppers

 

Days 13-17: Ballet Intensive for kids 1, 3, and 4, track practice, more 4H projects, more English papers, a trip to the spina bifida clinic in Indianapolis, and a baseball game. 

 

Days 18-21:  More 4H projects, packing and preparing to send Joy to NYC.



 

Manicures for the girls on the day before Joy's departure

Day 23-27:  Joy and I flew with Grandma and Pada to the Big Apple.  Daddy and the other 4 are at home. 

First time in a cab!

Dinner at an Irish Pub for the tired travelers.

Grandma had the spontaneous idea to take in a show while I was still in town.  Incredible! 

Day 27-30:  Joy began her ballet training, Grandma and Pada stayed in the City while I flew back to reality. 

Celebrating 16 happy years of marriage with this handsome dude - one week late. 

 

 

All the while, our garden grew, we snuck in a whiffle ball game or two (pants optional), Yoyo and I euthanized lots of beetles in the garden, and Bosco the dog behaved badly, as usual. 

Say goodbye, you horrible creatures.

Happy 4th of July!  Here's to another wonderful summer month!

Little Dancers

Just for fun, I signed Yoyo and Kid 118 up for a hip-hop class this summer.  After the first night, their assessment was that hip hop is the exact opposite of ballet.  In hip hop, the teacher tells them to find what's comfortable and do that.  Their ballet teacher, by their report, says, "If it hurts, you're doing it right." 

So, the logical next question for me was which they liked better - ballet or hip hop?  They both gave me looks of incredulity at the audacity of my inquiry. 

"Mom!" exclaimed Yoyo, "That's like asking if I want a fly in my house or not." 

So, hip hop is fun, but ballet is here to stay.  There you have it. 

Afternoon at the Playground

I've been making a point lately of going places just for our littlest one.  It's way too easy to come up with one million reasons why I'm too busy to do things like take him to the park.  But errands can wait and the messy closets aren't going anywhere.  This little guy will not be 4 forever.  

Yesterday, we found a new playground, just he and I.  We had the place to ourselves, all the other kids were occupied with activities, so we had all the time we needed for him to gather his courage and brave that big slide.  

After the first run, he proudly climbed up over and over again, and by the end, he needed just a tiny push from me to get started.  

It was a rare moment of pure fun and togetherness for him and me.  

Time well spent.

May

I totally get why teachers save up all their field trips for May!!!!   The end of the school year is in sight, but those last few weeks!  Ugh!  This Spring, we've jumped on the yellow bus bandwagon and made some super-fun road trips...

This is Sauder Village in Ohio.  It's a historical village and worth the drive!!  We went with our good buddies and had a great day.

Next, Daddy braved the zoo overnighter with the oldest 4.  God bless him.  They all sleep on the hard floor in the aquarium.  Sounds like torture to me but the kids love seeing the zoo after hours, getting some behind-the-scenes interaction with the animals, and having a giant sleepover with their compadres.  I enjoy packing them all up and sleeping in my bed.  Here they are before...

...and after...

About a week later we visited Aunt Sara and Uncle Phil and COUSINS in Cincinnati.  

The Waffle House and zoo trip that will never be forgotten!  Don't ask why...  😄

Two more days of 'school' in this house, and then we switch to 'summer mode,' which means math, 4H projects, and whatever else we feel like.  

Yay for summer!  We're ready for you!

Dinner for Two

The text that came mid-Hobby Lobby run    said something like just to let you know... V and F have been cleaning the house and are making dinner.

An hour or so later, I arrived home to candles and kid-friendly margaritas on the table.  Just for me and Daddy.  

The menu included fruit and cheese kabobs, tossed salad with homemade dressing, PLC bagel sandwiches (pepperoni, lettuce, cheese), and ice cream for dessert.

Plus, the servers were extremely helpful and cute.  And they cleaned up most of their mess on their own.  

Sweetness overload.  

Happy Wednesday!!

Birthday Party!

My baby is 4.  I live in Denial City.  But here are some scenes from his recent birthday party!!  Of course, it's a basketball theme because that's his one true love...

 ...and here's his other true love =  Daddy!

 Distinguished party guests.

 His current favorite foods.

 The basketball purists in the house did not like the placement of the players on the cake. 

 Another favorite of the birthday boy is swimming!!

 

He was not a huge fan of fire on the cake.  That may bode well for his future...

 

Well, Little Guy, sweet 5th child, we love you to pieces and pray God will bless you with as much joy as you bring to us every single day.