Bug and Flower Shades
My future SIL gave the kids these fun sunglasses and stickers today. She has a knack for finding such fun things for the Littles.
We also had to try them on Little #4. Her expression cracks me up!
Tag: Shecklet #2
On the pontoon!
Stage one of Little #1 & #2’s pontoon build this morning.
Stage two…walls added.
Stages three and four.
Driver, riders and gauges added.
Final product!
Last Park Day of July 2013
This week’s “Tour of Parks” stop took us to the local nature center. Little #1 visited here for a school field trip last year and saw how they make maple syrup.
Here are the three older ones by the frog statue made from trash pulled from the Mississippi River.
They had lots of fun playing in the sand and water.
There was also a huge garden where the kids were encouraged to water the flowers, vegetables and herbs.
The kids asked when we can go back again, so we will definitely be adding today’s stop to our “must return” list.
Tour of parks
We have been joining our friends for a weekly tour of parks this summer. Today we had a lovely lunch outside and played at TWO parks – one on each side of the street. As always, the littles had a blast!
Visiting cousins
It might not look like it on Little #3’s face, but the kids had great time with their cousins this weekend!
Daddy’s prayer
While praying with the kids tonight, I asked what prayer they wanted to lead. The three oldest all said “Grandma Patti’s prayer,” so we recited, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” After Little #2’s turn (he went 3rd) Little #3 says, “I want to say Daddy’s prayer.” I asked her what one that was and she proceeded to recite her dad’s work phone number. From across the room, I could see Jake’s body shaking as he chuckled silently with his head down and face hidden. The moment was hilarious! Little #3 said the number without skipping a beat. I guess she has heard me say the number enough times while voice dialing it…and has committed it to memory.
Muddin’
The roads in our neighborhood are being replaced this summer so we have had fun watching the workers and machines from our front window. Tonight we took a family walk to see the big diggers up close. On the walk back, I told the boys they could go splash in the mud puddles. (I know, I’m a great mom!) Lincoln ended up getting stuck in a deep puddle and leaned a bit too far to his left. He was a tad scared at first, but when we told him he won the “mud award” for the night, he perked right up.
The Easter Bunny
We’ve had the Easter Bunny living in our attic for several years. The boys have seen him a couple of times, but I always forget to bring him out on Easter. While purging a bunch of stuff from the attic this afternoon, I decided to pull ‘ol Mr. EB out from the corner and place him in the rocker in the boys’ room.
Backing up a bit, my in-laws took the kids for the day so Jake and I could get a few things done around the house. Jake worked in the yard, I went in to the office for a couple of hours and then did some purging of things we don’t use/don’t need any longer. We took advantage of being kid-free and went to get something to eat. When we returned, the kids were back, bathed, and reading with Grandma Patti. Mr. EB was also snugly tucked in on the floor of the boys’ room.
Mr. EB was a gift from Sammy, my adopted grandma. We grew up living away from our other grandparents. Sammy over-flowed the grandparent void that Tony and I had with love, attention, & simple everyday experiences that left a life-long impression on both of us. Knowing I can share some of her with my own kids makes my heart smile. I’m sure she’s smiling down on all of us from Heaven, too.
Easter 2012
We roused the crew at a very unusual time this morning. We had breakfast and were out the door in time to start greeting people at 7am for Easter morning mass. The kids did a great job saying “Happy Easter” and handing out mass leaflets. I was really impressed with the way Nolan took ownership of his “job.” And Lincoln was a super “leaflet restocker” for us.
After mass, we went home and treated the kids to orange rolls for breakfast. After a failed attempt at getting Ingrid to nap earlier than usual, we headed to my parents’ house for an early Easter dinner. We dined on ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole (a favorite of mine), cranberry relish & cabbage slaw (also a fave and recipe of my Great Aunt Frances’.)
Later in the afternoon, Tony & Kristin joined us and were so sweet to our kids, as usual. They have such a knack for entertaining them. They “decorated” the sun room and dining room, which seems to have become somewhat of a tradition when they’re together at my parents’ house. The kids also smothered icing all over enhanced and then ate the rice krispy bunny that Tony made them. Kristin put together the cutest Easter gift bag for them, complete with stickers, fruit strips, and grow your own grass & flower kits.
Thank you Lord, for giving us the opportunity again this year to be together as a family and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on the cross. He is risen! Happy Easter!
