Artwork by Uncle Josh and Therin

Therin has been asking for mail recently....Uncle Josh to the rescue! He sent Therin some drawings of Superheros. Therin said, "He missed some." so he added a few himself. He has the picture posted on the magnet strip by his bed. He LOVES Uncle Josh!

Name Change

Kya has been requesting to be called "April" recently; after the reporter April in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Just who I had hoped her childhood hero would be!

April 24th, 85 degrees

Round and round they go, running through the sprinkler for an hour and a half.

Enthralled by Grandpa Doc's Hunting Stories

The kids couldn't get enough of Grandpa's hunting stories over the weekend. The number of hunts he's gone on in recent years has declined. He better schedule a few more so he has some new material.

100 Yard Dash

Pictures from race day

The man who doesn't rest

STUDY BEFORE



BEDROOM BEFORE



BEDROOM AFTER




Travis had an unexpected day off Friday, so rather than chill he was itching to refinish the floor in his study. It was a lot faster and less dusty than the upstairs so we're thankful for that. The floor looks great. Thanks honey!! Now I just have to load the pictures from the before and afters to the blog from a new camera I haven't played with yet (soon but not tonight-we still have an hour or so of things to put back in the study). Travis also finished his hot box outside so we transferred our spinach seedlings into it on Sunday. I can't wait for fresh greens!

Fairyland 101

Kya's friend, Gabby, has had an imaginary friend named Harry for several months now. In the last month, Kya has been talking about her "guards." Last Thursday night, Kya informed me at dinner, that she was going to Fairyland for 7 weeks with her guards, Harry and Bongee (prounounced kind of like bungee but an o instead of a u).

This is what we've since learned about Fairyland:

The address to Fairyland (should you want to mail anything to Kya) is: 1 mile.
There is another Fairyland beyond this Fairyland but it takes a very long time to get to.
Kya has two modes of transportation: a green, blue and pink van which she can drive, as well as a magic carpet.
Harry and Bongee eat fish from the Coop which she gets for them on Thursdays and Wednesdays with her car. They also eat: scorpions, snakes, beetles and crabs.
You play games in Fairyland-Yahtzee being the most popular.

If anyone has any further details they'd like to know about Fairyland, please leave them as a comment and I will relay the information once I have consulted with the Fairyland authority.

Bedtime conversations with Kya

As I was putting a very tired little girl to bed tonight, we finished brushing her teeth and I said, "I think Dr. Funk (her dentist that she's obsessed with) will be very impressed when you see him next month what good care you've taken of your teeth."
Kya: (crying) I MISS DR. FUNK!!! I want him to be my babysitter!!

Now recovered.

Kya: What if a rhinoceras was in our house?
Mom: He would probably do some damage.
Kya: Can we get a baby rhinoceras?
Mom: Let's talk about it in the morning.
Kya: (more crying) Because I LOVE baby rhinocerases!!

New goals

1. Learn to sew and knit this year (nothing crazy just the basics).
2. Redo the kids "playroom" area-bigger activity table, reading corner, art display, some plants.
3. Contemplate homeschooling.

I have been very inspired by the book The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule and daily look forward to her blog entries on SouleMama. She is the reason behind my first two goals. The third has come from reading a magazine simply titled, "Mothering." It has really pushed me to think about what my children will do in school and how their precious time will be utilized in the coming years. My biggest concern: not enough time outside. I will really listen to Therin this fall as he describes what he does at school, what he likes/dislikes about it, whether he thinks he gets enough time to play, etc. I've found it sad how little we, as parents, know about what fills our children's days at school (even daily activities like how long is recess?); so it's challenging me to really KNOW what Therin's schedule is this fall and decide whether his time is being used appropriately/beneficially for a 6 year old. I guess I've just felt a real desire to get back to the basics: nature (weather and gardening), cooking and baking, crafting, reading and playing; do kids not learn almost enough from these simple, daily tasks and routines for at least a few years beyond 5? I guess we'll see where this crazy #3 thought goes.......

If Only......

If only I would've had my camera on me today. It didn't seem important at the time to run in the house and get it but now, lying in bed, I so wish I had. Kya, lived on her bike today, and by late afternoon had a compelation of clothing on from various parts of the day. I told, Sarah, our neighbor, she looked like a skydiver. Imagine if you can, Kya in a blue bug helmet, big, buggy-looking sunglasses, a Little Red Riding Hood sweatshirt, square pink tulilp backpack, gray long underwear, and pink and black Mary Jane golashes. After she crashed on her bike, I felt like I should've told her to pull her parachute cord next time. "Spirited," yes. Dull, never!!!! Thankfully, I'm sure there will be more moments like this. Next time, I'll get my camera to share with you all.

This one's for you Josh

Optimus Prime

Kya's new bike

Thursday night, I went to a presentation called, "Taming the Spirited Child" by Michael Popkin. It seems that Friday Kya needed to demonstrate just how "spirited" she is. The first full day she had this bike she got it taken away after arguments over wearing a helmet and shoes (not flip flops or barefeet); as well as not biking more than half a block in front of me. She loves this bike; through it, she may learn some lessons in responsibility and the importance of listening and following instructions. We'll see, in the meantime it's nice to have her moving faster on her own.

Fairy Water

My sister, Julie, lives in Switzerland. Recently, my parents and sister went to visit her and her husband. I asked them to bring some Sigg water bottles back for the kids as souveniers. This is the one they got for Kya. I love that she asks, "Where is my fairy water?" Rather than, "Where is my fairy water bottle?"

Therin's lastest drawing obsession

Can you guess who these guys are?

We have pictures everywhere!!!

Practicing their wrestling stance

Travis is quite determined to turn Therin into a wrestler. He has begun teaching him a few basic things. Unfortunately, I think Kya enjoys it more and last night asked to practice with her daddy. Travis yells, "Hit it!" and the kids drop to the floor on their bellies and try to get back up as fast as possible. It's quite entertaining.