Okay.

We went to Hapers Ferry today to do some exploring. 
With all the interns in for the summer, the kids got lots of attention and learned everything they never knew they didn't know about interchangeable parts. 
We rewarded ourselves for climbing up to Jefferson Rock (Benjamin is HEAVY!) by getting some ice cream
Nate, just by being Nate, had pretty much the whole store in stitches. 

Turkey Boy also finished "American Boy Camp" today.  He learned about how to track animals and about corn & squash.  He is pretty excited about it.  We've been reading "Little House on the Prairie" at night and I haven't been able to tell how much of it he has been understanding, even though he seems to be really enjoying it.  Today, going to camp, he was pretending he was a reporter.  He had a pencil behind his ear and a steno notepad in his hand, full of picutres he has recently sketched.  As I dropped him off, he pulled out his notebook and showed Miss Amy his drawings.  "This one is Pa crossing the creek with the cows" and "This one is our wagon to go to Kansas" and "This one is me crying because I'm in Time Out"...
The boy keeps it real. 
He really does listen, when he wants to.

Since our camera has bit the dust, we resurrected the kid's Little Tykes camera to take to WV with us. 
Jim and I had a little walk down Memory Lane going through the pictures on the card. 
We came across old gems like this:

 And found some New Classics like these:

4pm

Tuesday afternoon - the kids are waiting to go outdoors to play. 
Benjamin has been sleeping for 3 hours. 
The only guaranteed way to wake him up is for me to sit down and blog. 
In the past 2 minutes since I have put my feet up, the words, "Hey, Mom?' have been spoken 8 times. 
I get ignored until I sit down. 

The kids are watching the middle school production of the "Wizard of Oz" and picking out the kids they know. 
The benefits of living in a small town. 

Summer continues.
Nate has us living on the raggedy edge of all things sane.  He got up in the middle of the night *again* last night and tore up a cardboard box into the tiniest pieces imaginable.  I think they numbered in the thousands. 
Seeing that I'm still vacuuming up the beanbag innards, I could have cried when I figured out what was all over the floor.  The kid is tired, he needs sleep.  I'm thinking that the naps aren't working and we just have to bite the bullet and send hm to bed early. 
We've also been in the midst of a concerted effort at decluttering.  I'm doing 15 minutes per day with Caroline on the premise that if she can hoe out her room and keep it clean, then she can paint it and pick out a new comforter.  She has declared she has outgrown the princesses on her walls.  In  hopes of raising a self-rescuing princess, I'm glad to hear this.  In 3 days, we've gotten rid of almost a trashbag full of stuff and have another trash bag for donating.   I'm trying to do 15 minutes on my own in different areas of the house everyday, too. 
A good start - we just need to keep it up. 
We've begun to get paint chips for different rooms and are finally starting to make the house our own.

The yard landscaping is finished and it looks great.  Very welcoming for playing.  We're trying to give the Mama Duck sitting on her eggs in the side tree some space, but at this point, it doesn't look like anything will come of them other than a pissed-off Mama Duck. 
Nate enjoys helping to water the new plants.  Dinglehopper tried to drink out of the hose as I was using the sprayer last night, so I had no choice but to soak him.  Unfortunately, he enjoyed it tremendously.  ;) 

Caroline threw a tea party for our neighbor who recently came home after surgery.  She made tea and banana bread muffins. 
It was adorable. 
Here she is waiting to go, "Mom - did you know there are 68 more minutes until 2 o'clock and I can go to my own tea party?"
My camera is not working correctly and needs to be fixed...so here's an old picture...

Favorite Uncle?

Mom just sent me this picture.
Looks like you have work to do Matt...

Summer

Hooray for Summer.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the volunteers at the Vacation Bible School at St Tim's!
Those 2 hour naps that everyone took this afternoon were priceless.
Thank you.
 So we're watching 1/2 hour of "Planes" before braving the heat to go outdoors in the pool.
The boys are anxiously awaiting Caroline's arrival.  It has been a bit too quiet here.  
But she's having fun.

Nate is NOT watching a movie.
He woke up in the middle of the night on Sunday and got into his sister's glow in the dark nailpolish.  It ended up all over the rug and the wall.
The worst part was when we confronted him about it, he attempted to throw both his brothers under the bus (not realizing they were both wearing footie pajamas and that his feet were covered with nail polish) before admitting it was his doing.
So he's grounded for the week.

We're trying to set a Summer Routine early this year.
Both Sam and CJ have daily homework to do.  It might be best to do it during rest time or it might be best to do first thing in the morning.  We haven't figured it out yet.
We have been reading more out loud.  Nate, much to my amazement, is enjoying the Little House books.  He'll sit through three chapters being read to him out loud at a time.  Those are some of my favorite books, so it's fun.  :)

Benjamin loves trains.  We got a Lionel Train Catalog and he's dragging it everywhere with him.  "Tain!  Tain!!  Tain Boot!" are usually the first words out of his mouth in the morning as he's searching for his train book.  He is talking more and is a very amusing little parrot.  He loves anything with wheels.  He goes outdoors and searches all over for planes, "Pane!  Pane!  Up dere!".  When a motorcycle goes by he gets excited and yells, "Motytull!!  Motytull!".  He also loves cows.  Seeing that he lives in a place where cows outnumber people, this is good.  He says, "Moo Tow!  Moo Tow!"
It's ridiculously adorable. 

Sammy Lammy has been missing his big sister.  He has taken his responsibility as being the Oldest Kid very seriously this past week.  His behavior has been good and he has really stepped up and been helpful.  "Mom, I'm the oldest now.  I have to be the most well behaved.".  That is logic I simply can't argue with.
Thank goodness.

I really like Summer Vacation (it's only a  week in...ask me again in 8 weeks).  I like that it's a time to do the things we normally don't have time to.  It's nice to not worry about bed times and to run outdoors barefoot and explore and take adventures.
I don't think we could do all these things with year round school.  We do a bit of reading, writing and math every day, but most importantly we are having fun.
More and more people have been talking about year-round school here.  I understand that it's best for working parents and that we're in the vast minority with me at home.  I also get that it's better for progress and test scores.  But it's just not right for us.
So much is crammed down these kids throats these days.  School, sports, other activities.  So much pressure for the kids to be good at everything.  So much emphasis on success.
Not enough emphasis on experiences, having fun, thinking and being in the moment.
Lots of activity clutter.  It's nice to take the time to step back and just live.
I fear that the way these kids are pushed, they'll grow up to be successful by all standards, but have no idea how to be good humans.
I will pontificate on that more later...but now it's time for the pool!

More than 300 runners take part in annual Pasta Run - WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg - Top Stories

More than 300 runners take part in annual Pasta Run - WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg - Top Stories

Can you find Nate?

Pasta Run

Thanks to Pops, we got the goods from the Pasta Run.
:)

What do you mean, I can't run?  I have to stay here while they have all the fun?

Obviously over the non-running disappointment and ready for one-on-one attention from his grandparents!

Plotting their running strategy

Sam hauled butt.  He was so proud of himself.  The first words out of his mouth were, "I beat Caroline!!"    He doesn't come from a competitive family.  Nooooo...not at all. 

Posing for the camera.  Can't miss a photo op!

Happy to see us near the Finish Line. 

Posing with their swag after the race.

3 generations.

The whole crazy bunch. 

Noodle Run

Like last year, we headed to the Harrisburg Pasta and Noodle Run to celebrate the last day of school. 
We met Nina & Pops there and the kids did the Fun Run.
It was a mile or so. 
What a change from last year.
I distinctly remember having to carry both Nate and Benjamin during the race, with Nate only deciding to run on his own once he figured out people were cheering for him.  Sam and Caroline ran holding hands and were all some of the last finishers.

CJ and Sam were all business and took off.
Jim and Nate ran all the way. 
We were surprised to see Sam as one of the top 15 or so kid finishers with Caroline not far behind.
Nate and Jim followed a few minutes later...

 

The kids were happy to run for Ethan and Ethan was thrilled to see his name in print~

I have to say it was a good day. 

Summer Vacation.

Two days into Summer Vacation.
CJ is gallivanting on far off adventures, we're hanging out closer to home. 
Think she's having a good time?

We celebrated the first day of Summer yesterday by going to the beach.
It poured the whole tie we were there. 
We figured we were wet already from swimming, so we stayed and played tin the sand.  We were there with two other families from Walkersville and we *ruled* the beach. 
It was too wet even to take out the camera for pictures.
The ride home was sandy and wet.  I can't tell you how much wet, sandy laundry I have done.
But it was worth it.  :)

Today we went into Frederick City and wandered.  We happened into the library right at the  beginning of Lego Hour.  They put a huge sheet on the ground, dumped 50 pounds of Legos, 50 pounds of Duplos and let the kids have at it. 
Little Boy Heaven. 
We missed naps, so everyone is pretty fried now.  We're cuddling in front of "Over the Hedge" now. 
Um...yeah.  A real over-achieving mother.  Oy vey.

The goal for this summer is to read out loud every day. 
I remember how much we used to read to Sam and CJ and can't help but think we're selling the Youngers short because they just don't get that quality time.  They got other good time, but we're falling short on the reading.       
It will get better.  

End of School.

But before we get to the vacation, we need to get through the end of the school year. 
Sam, not to be outdone by his older sister, also got a Character Counts award at school.
He was very proud.
We are very proud of him. 
My big First Grader.  Sniff, sniff. 

To counter the Fist Day of School pictures, we got Last Day of School pics this year, too.  We've come a long way...

 They have grown up, huh? 
Wow. 

Super Sam!

Actually, it's "Garbage Man".

Sam's teacher was nice enough to give us a pictures of their Super Hero presentation to the school.
The boy likes to ham it up.

Please excuse spelling errors, I'm holding Benjamin, who likes to push buttons.  He has also been singing our church "Alleluia" acclamation all day, which has been utterly adorable.  
Benjamin is a man of few words, mostly because he refuses to give up is binky.  I fear we will have to resort to for forcible removal/  If that happens, it will be ugly.
He is a man of action, though.  He is already swinging on big kid swings, climbing the slide the wrong way, scaling the climbing wall at the playground and riding a three wheel scooter like a pro.

Nate is eagerly awaiting his older siblings to be around for the summer.  He has been out of sorts recently.  Very flaky about toileting and is having accidents out of the blue.   I think it's a combo of coming back from Rochester and telling him he'll be going to the "big school" for Pre-K next year instead of the school he's used to.  We are still very much leaning towards keeping him back a year, but couldn't say NO to a year of free Pre-K.  He'll be in an Inclusion Program, like Sam was.  I don't think he's at the point academically that Sam was at, but we still feel it will be a good thing for him.  We'll have to call it as we see it.
We are finding that a certain amount of experimentation needs to be done to best determine the best school situation for each of out kids.  The kids are so very different and our educational system is not a one size fits all kind of thing.  We realize the decisions we make for our kids are very different than the decisions other families make.  It's what we feel is best for the kids.  I wish people would understand. 
Caroline is heartbroken her teacher won't be at her current school next year, but the disappointment of that is being overshadowed by her upcoming Summer Adventures and the prospect of being a 3rd grader.

Here's to a wonderful summer.  :)

Will You Just Go To Sleep?

Naptime.
How I used to love you.
Now?
Not so much.

Nate needs naps badly.  It's not even a question of me wanting him to nap and him not napping - he NEEDS it.  He gets grumpy and nasty when he's tired.  Unfortunately, he has decided he wants nothing to do with naps.  That is, until he's strapped in the car while picking up Sam and Caroline and passes out.  In this process, he usually pees on the car seat and then sleeps until 4:30, totally destroying any hope of a normal bedtime.
And Benjamin?
Now that he can flip his way out of the pack-n-play, it's a whole new ballgame.
Most kids would get one leg up and over the rail and slide out that way.  Benjamin, with the flair he must have gotten from his older sister, flips over the rail.  Like a trapeze artist.  But without a net.  So all you hear is a big THUD and then little sneaky footsteps that try to get to the door to open it.

So I tried to rest with Benjamin, to get him to sleep, thinking the whole time that *this book* should have received a Pulitzer.   After about 20 minutes, when Benjamin is calmer, but not all the way sleeping,  Nate comes in because he's "scared of the dark."  Too bad it's 13:00.  This, of course, rouses Benjamin.
All I can do is curse Newton and whatever law that he made up saying that once my butt rests, it's twice as difficult to get it moving again.  Especially now that I remember the amount of laundry that needs to be folded and put away and that the dishwasher is broken and everything from last night's dinner until lunch today needs to be hand washed, dried and put away.  I also remember that Jim is working late and dinner needs to be made and about 6 other things that should be done.
Then I want to cry. 

But wow.  I watch the guys that are ripping up our lawn and see how hard they work.  I have it EASY.
I think of my Mom and Grandmothers without dishwashers or disposable diapers or many of the other conveniences I depend on...
I can't even complain.
I can just wish for naps.

We had Carolin'es award ceremony at school today.
She got a Citizenship award and was very proud of herself.  We're proud of her, too.  

Okay - I think they're both asleep.
Ready.  Set.  GO!

Efficiency

There is no excuse not to blog. 
Only that I have become terribly inefficient after 8pm. 
The West Wing has been watched, the Sox are on a streak, soccer and t-ball are over...
So there is no excuse not to blog. 
I feel better when there is record of what we've done.  It's fun to look back and see where we were 3, 5 or 8 years ago.  I would like to keep that up. 
Here's where we were this week 8 years ago...

How times have changed...

Sniff...sniff...

 
Nate has returned from his week with Nina & Pops. 
He had a wonderful time.  He did everything.  He learned the banina game (yelling "BANINA!!" when you see a yellow car).  He loved being an only child. 
So wonderful of a time, in fact, that he did not want to return home. 
When I picked him up he sobbed in the car.  All the way from Williamsport to Harrisburg. 
"I don't want to live in Maryland (sob).  I want to live in New York (sob).  I don't like having brudders (sob sob).  I want to live with Nina & Pops (sob). BANINA! BANINA! BANINA!  I don't like Maryland (sob)...continuing on for another 90 minutes... "
If it wasn't so ear splitting and headache rendering, it might have been funny.  

So now we're gearing up for the summer.  Vacation Bible School, Day Trips, Dino Camp(!)...lots happening.  

It's nice to have a break from the sports.  We're fortunate that the parents of our kid's friends "get it".  Sport is for fun.  Sport is for learning.  They, like us, realize that we gave birth to Mathletes and have the kids in sports to learn skills they can use to keep themselves healthy later in life. 
But some of these parents?
Don't even get me started.
Ugh.

Oh - Sam pulled his own tooth out the other night.
We are learning he needs to do things on his own terms.

 Then his brothers follow on their terms...