Storms

Well... there's been a lot of rain... but then, there have been many days that were suppose to be "all rain" that we've woken up and had sun... we did eventually get the rain and thunderstorms, but we've been enjoying the sunshine which seems to be (at least in our neck of the woods) a bit more prominent.

Last night was suppose to be a none-stop thunderstorm adventure. The first storm came in, loud, bright, and well... with screaming and crying kids... wait, no, just one kid!

It started with the coming of the storm, which makes the wind pick up. Jeremy just couldn't handle that and thought for sure that everything (even our house) would blow away. For a kid who has never had to worry about hurricanes or tornadoes, he's awfully concerned!

Anyway, it only got worse as the storm rumbled in... then got louder, wetter, and brighter... he was certain everything in the house would blow up! I assured him that I'd already shut down the computer, and that the TV (which Peter had a movie going on) was plugged into a "special strip". But that wasn't enough... so the TV was shut off, only to make Peter go into hysterics. Then Peter also noticed the storm, and things just went from there.

I decided to some how convince Jeremy that we could at least try a family movie (since all the pillows and blankets had now been moved to the playroom for the "night" and for the ever anticipated "loss of power" (which didn't happen)). So Jeremy put on "Daddy's Ears" (the ear protection he uses when working in the shop) and I put on The Sound of Music! Thank goodness Jeremy calmed down when he could hardly hear anything, and then fell asleep! The rest of us watched the movie... which the girls decided was too long... even if, as Gabi told me, the music was good.

Oh, but for me... it was nice to watch an old classic again! They just don't make musicals like they use to...

Down By The River

We finally had a sunny day! It was warm before we really got going, but with all we had to do, Gabi had to remind me that we needed to go to the river... I had promised her the first nice day when C. wasn't here we'd head over. So, after getting some work done.. though not much... and eating a little lunch, we headed over... everyone except Bob.

The kids had a lot of fun - Gabi and Beth enjoyed "floating with the current" though Gabi wasn't happy that I wouldn't let her go where it was "deep". Peter loved to play "Kapluie" (throwing rocks) as well as Diego. Jeremy was just here and there doing his own thing and occassionally helping Peter walk along the little "rock wall" which was started last year when the river was up so high. It was mostly gone, but we started putting it back together.

When Peter would get to the end of the wall, he could feel the current rushing over his feet. He'd turn around and say "It's swimming me away!" He also had several "slips" into the water either from walking on the little wall or trying to get a rock that was just a little further than his reach. He'd land face first in the water, get up with a gasp (the water was cold), then laugh and say "I went swimming, Mama! Do it again!"

It was a nice way to cool off.. till we heard the rumbles. Then we came home... no storm here, though, so we're still heated and trying to accomplish something.. that's getting harder every day.. kids are ready for normal again.

Animals In The House

We seem to have had a transformation around here. Peter is no longer....we now have Baby Jaguar.

Can you tell we've had a little too much Diego play?

And It All Begins... The Baby Really Is Growing Up

I thought I'd wait until after the in-laws came and went... you know, traveling with a potty training or newly potty trained child is just not as much fun... so much easier to rely on diapers. And, since I didn't have an infant of my own to worry about, I figured we were good to wait.

I've let Peter lead the way... but the initial attempt ended the second time the pee went down his leg - since he was reacting to foods (and we didn't know them all yet) it burned his leg. Anyway, two days ago he woke up dry - he peed on the potty - he wanted to wear "undy-pants"... so, here we are.

Day one... perfect morning. Then he was more tired, but refused a nap... but still only a couple accidents. Day two... a few more accidents, but he figured out when to tell us he needed to go. Again, by afternoon he was "tired" and was having less enthusiasm for the "breaks in the day". Day three (today) was perfect until after he'd fallen asleep and got half a nap. Then it was dinner time and he was so cranky I thought he'd fall asleep again, so I put him in a pull-up. Well, he peed in it at 7pm... hey, not bad though... 12 full hours of no accidents... even through the nap!

He won't wear diapers any more (I tried to get him to wear one last night) insisting that he needed to wear the "undy-pants" to bed. I had picked up pull-ups for "on the go" so I finally convinced him those were okay. I don't think it will be long.. but the in-laws don't come for another two weeks.... traveling will be an adventure.. even if he is fully trained!

Insentives are tricky... no candies... that's new... so, it's 15 minutes of computer time. Which then was traded for movie time too... let's just say we've had a lot of media on in our house lately! (As a memory, though, Beth would only use M&Ms, Jeremy couldn't stand having the same treat twice in a row.. so we resorted to the mini-mix of chocolates, and with Gabi, well, she was cute. She received stickers. 1 for trying, 2 for peeing, 3 for a poop. The cute part: she'd run over, get her stickers, run back and flush them down the toilet. I'm sure this is not good for the sewer, but they were tiny and for some reason that was what kept her going)

Jeremy's 4!

Oh where does the time go to? Sometimes I wish he were still the little man... the baby... because then he wouldn't be antagonizing everyone else! But, I suppose, we'd miss the stunts, the teasing, the picking, the glint in his eye... the smile and laughter.

Jeremy is amazing... bright, cheerful and full of it! He loves to build things - legos, train tracks, recently the Wedgits (he got them for his birthday), blocks and whatever else he can get his hands on. He also loves to create things... making dinner, treats, and if allowed, whatever the tools will accomplish!

He hates to be outdone, but rather than compete, he simply insists that he can do it too... and then he'll make sure he can. He's been slowly reading - though he has less confidence than ability. He loves to manipulate things, and has really got a great hold on math.

Hands on is always best! If someone else has a workbook, a set of tools, time on the computer, certain toys, etc, he insists that he must also. If his hands aren't busy, well, you can bet that his mind is... and someone else is yelling out of irritation and frustration!

His smile melts all hearts! His sincere love of the world, of life, of people, of ideas is something we admire. The twinkle in his eye often makes us laugh, even when we shouldn't! And no one could ask for a more adoring and loving brother - he's so willing to teach (even if he does tease along the way)!

Happy Birthday, Bug-A-Lug!

Baseball

Okay, so I'm late as usual. Baseball season is done.. Gabi had a wonderful time... don't think we got any pictures of Bob... I only managed to see three games....

Gabi hated the beginning of the season because it rained every game (or so it seemed) so that the first few were canceled. But then we seemed to luck out and when they called for rain it would manage to hold off or be so light that the game went as planned. She loves sports, so she really enjoyed herself.

This year, in addition to the normal outfield and batting, she was able to play catcher (one of her favorite positions) short stop and whatever the middle man is between first and second (I know, I'm a disgrace to baseball!).. .I'm sure she played other positions as well. I believe her very favorite was catcher this year! I never actually got to see her play this position, but Bob had the camera the day of team pictures and she played it then, so he got a few nice ones of that...

Last year was the wonderful number 6.... this year.... drum roll please.... number 7! Yes, she's a year older and so is her shirt (okay... the shirt is new, but the number is older). Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Shoulders, Knees & Toes

Peter keeps me smiling! Beth and Jeremy went to bed early tonight being overtired from many late nights. Gabi is away with Bob at her last baseball game.. so it's just Peter and me! He decided to entertain me... and when I asked if he would do it again so I could make a movie, he readily agreed (he is such a ham... loves the camera)!



When we were done, he watched it over and over and over and over. I finally told him I'd put it on the computer. He thought I needed to do it right away!

"My movie on a computer, Mama!"

I even tried to tell him it would take a while and that we could do it in the morning, so let's have ice cream....

"No, Mama! My movie on a computer!"

Then as we were putting it up, he kept asking if it was ready yet... he's very eager to have it up here! What a little "star"...

All In A Day

Some silly things from today (they might well have been funny only in context).

After building boats for home school today, Gabi, Beth and Jeremy decided to team create the Titanic. I was not monitoring this, though I knew the bath was already full from their early boat attempts.

"The Titanic's in! Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"What??? The Titanic's going down??? It's sinking???"

(Yeah.... only this time there was no ice berg!)


Dinner was pancakes... Daddy pancakes... that means powdered sugar is an option. It also means we're guaranteed to have more mess. Maple Syrup is also offered - hey, what can I say, it's from Vermont.

Well, Beth promptly fills her plate (which has one thin pancake) with syrup... then picks it up with her hands. Syrup covering them and dripping clear down her elbows with her hair getting caught in the mess.

"That's why I told you to get a folk. I thought maybe you'd actually use it."
"I'll just make sure I get extra washed." (With an "I've got it all figured out" grin)


Since Gabi is away at a baseball game, Beth and Jeremy have started a club... of what? The only rule I can figure out is that Mom is not allowed and anyone not in it has to listen to this baby toy that is horribly loud so they "won't" figure out where the club members are.

After dinner, Beth and Jeremy go to the "club hide out" and Peter follows. So does the loud baby toy noise. Then Beth tells Jeremy that Peter can be in the club too and to show him where to go.

"And tell him that if someone not in the club comes he has to play this toy so they won't find us." (Which Peter takes to mean he's to play it non-stop....Gee, I wonder where they are?)

Civil War Day

We went to the Civil War Weekend on Saturday at Norlands. It was a lot of fun... to see pictures and hear more about it, click here.

Be A Star

No Mama Bear responses this year! Beth did great! She waited in the hall (by herself so I could be sure to see all of both her and Gabi) - went on stage every time with a huge, to-melt-your-heart grin, and danced for all she was worth! It was so much fun to watch her!



Apparently there were many people who were just smitten with her little charm on stage - she stole the show there.... big wonder with those beautiful curls, to-die-for smile, laughing eyes, and speed!



Gabi was a shining star - as usual! All the way up to the recital she was a crazy, all over the place, knows her stuff, speed demon! We kept laughing about it with her and trying to help her understand that there was music to "feel" while dancing, not a race to get through. Even dress rehearsal she was so big in her motions she nearly fell over! But she loves to dance and loves to be on stage.



Recital night she amazed us again because she was with the music - soft motions - enjoying herself and just did a great job! She surprised the audience with her running cartwheel - so straight and even - they were not expecting that from kids her age (and her size)... but I'll tell you a secret... Gabi does cartwheels all the time here... she gets tons of practice!



The girls both got to watch each other - both of them standing in the isle along the side doing the other one's dance along with her. I guess that's what you get when you practice together at home!



Grami Cretia, Grampi Kevin, Tia and Braeden all came up to watch. The girls loved the support... they even had some friends come too! The were excited to get flowers afterward, but were more excited to give flowers to their helpers and to Miss Jodi! They really love to dance with her!




The pictures are from Dress Rehearsal... Beth was so funny... she knew her dances and yet she seemed to think she couldn't dance without looking out at the help in the wings! For the recital, she looked out at the audience, huge smiles... and the couple of times that she looked for assurance, she did it only with her eyes... we were very impressed with how far she's come this year.

Gabi was still very independent... sticking close to her friends and getting herself ready for every show... the Tap costume she'd apparently put on backward dress rehearsal night.... and again on recital night. I happened to notice it right as they were walking up to the hallway... let's hear it for dresses with no under leotard... a quick slip of the arms, spin of the dress and she was all set! She had also managed to loose her shoulder feathers.... thank goodness the feathers from all the costumes were falling left and right... her friends helped her gather up bunches and we bobby-pinned them to her shoulder strap (and they actually stayed on during the dance)!

The videos might make you a little sea sick... sorry... there was a two year old trying to help! And, of course, there is that focus thing that was an issue as well.

Always crazy! Always a lot of fun! They'll be grown up before we know it!

The Final Result

Peter's finally better! Skin is clear - except for some basic scratch marks from itching the dry skin, but that is rapidly clearing up as the skin is gathering more moisture!

The following are the things Peter can NOT have:

Peanuts (and all nuts)
Chocolate (though Cocoa Butter is not an issue, so the chocolate may actually be because most of it is processed at the same places and on same equipment as peanuts)
Coconut
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries

You'd be surprised just how much stuff has peanuts (in the form of peanut flour), berries (usually as a sweetener or juice for flavor) and coconut oil... it's a good thing we were already making most everything ourselves!

He also has issues with perfumes and dyes as well as lanolin.

He's doing great... just thought anyone visiting or interacting with Peter should know what to avoid! (And be prepared....things are quite a bit different with the lack of peanut butter and chocolate around here!)