Cool Beds

Tink's bed got spiffed up in a big way. The Simpson's were kind enough to give away their son's tree bed. An ikea loft bed that Diana transformed into a arbor-ian paradise. Tink added a few touches and made it her own. Lanster and Little A felt bereft of a cool bed themselves so I quickly created a tent bed for them. A sheet and a good staple gun later gave the result here. How long it will last, I don't know.

Since tomorrow is my back-to-school day, this will be my last post for a while so I am signing off. I have enjoyed this summer with my kids immensely. I have loved creating fun times and cool things with them. I have loved serving them good food and junk food and watching them grow (little Chia pets, they are). I love being their mom and hopefully their friend. They are each so different in personality, likes and dislikes, and talents but they are also similar at the same time. They are all creative, artistic, smart, and interesting. I am glad they are so close to each other.

This summer has been the best ever with the least whining and the least arguing ever. We didn't get to do everything we, I, planned or wanted to do but we spent a lot of time with cousins and close friends and with each other. Pike learned to rip stick. Little A caught more bugs and frogs than I thought any little boy could. Tink kept her childhood and her imagination alive for one more summer. Lanster snuggled and cuddled to his heart's content and made forts in between. We went to the pool and everyone became a better more confident swimmer. Little A and Lanster went from scared to put their face in to improving their crawl stroke and diving to the bottom.

So, I begin my time as a 'ghost mom' where the kids have to put up with me not quite being all there at all times because I have to study, but I have helped them transition by reading almost constantly this summer. Tink would laugh ask where her mom was and M would hide my kindle. Good times.

Like List

Here is my list of things I like:

• Redecorating with the Jones/Moss/Teaman/Cottle girls
• My new clean,organized, well lit room ( I have spent all morning here)
• Tink's silver nightstand (so cool and shiny)
• Clean fluffy curtains
• Going back to school (new pencils - nod to Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail)
• Babies
• Substituting in Primary/Nursery
• M when he sleeps still looks like a little boy, he crosses his arms and tucks his hands to his chin, soo cute!
• My kids of course but specifically when they are completely unified in an endeavor whether playing Legos or decorating for an event they have planned or imaginative play, I love seeing them work together so well without fighting, and I love that they do it so often.
• M sharing my deodorant - ok yeah slightly disgusting but the fact it happened on a Raymond episode and the fact that there is a person in this universe that feels close enough to me to share something so personal makes me feel all gooey inside.
• Well loved pets
• Clutter! Clutter, clutter!
• Red shoes

....to be cont...

CSA

A little while ago a friend sent out a group email request for a reccomendation for a CSA. So many of us said what is a CSA? I had never heard of such a thing. After a very brief google research endeaver I found many in this area. I think it is such a great idea for the farmers and the community.  With little effort on my part I could get a box of veggies, fruit, and maybe flowers every week.  Amy's Garden in Charles City offers 18 weeks of produce for $550.  The Country Market offers 60 Shares for $625. One of the biggest point I learned about the CSA deal is that you are supporting your farm for better or worse. If the farm does well you get a bigger boxful if your farm does less than its best that year, your boxful is less full. I think it sounds like a great idea especially for my family because of the idea that we would have a variety of fresh vegetables that maybe we wouldn't have bought otherwise. This blog is all about finding ways to use the CSA bounty they receive every week: A Bushel of What? http://www.abushelofwhat.com/ by Nicole Kutcher. I found an interesting article on CSA: Tales from the Field: CSA, PDQ By Michael Clune http://flavormagazinevirginia.com/csa-pdq/ .


Some CSA's:
Amy's Garden
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/M7649


The Country Market CSA
www.toanocountrymarket.com or
http://www.greentowns.com/initiative/community-supported-agriculture/the-country-market-csa-williamsburg-va


Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum
www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1162331

Ceo Maidin Feirm
8636 Merry Oaks Lane, Toano, VA 23168
(757) 566-0009
A cool blog post about the farm from a worker/ weed puller:
http://eatgrowlive.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/mostfemininething/

Dayspring Farm
492 Buena Vista Rd., Cologne, VA 23181-4010
dayspringfarmva.com
(804) 785-9401
http://www.dayspringfarm.org/

Berries!:
Agriberry
http://agriberry.com/content/9925
Founder and Coordinator for Williamsburg CSA for Agriberry:
http://www.agriberry.com/williamsburg-csa-information

On the Road Again!

Michael found this little sweety headed down 64 east. How does he find so many turtles? He is like a turtle magnet. Robert, Josh, and Michael were headed home after completing a curb job. When Michael saw it he yelled for Robert to stop, there was a tortoise on the side of the road! It was just walking down the white line like it knew what it was about. They finally stopped and backed up till they were close enough to pick him up. Michael called and said he had a surprise so the kids and I met him at the Compound to find him with an African Grazing Turtle. Some people pay 1,000 dollars for this 'little' guy. They can grow big enough to be in the ride-able range.
When they first brought him out of the truck Robert fed him tomatoes out of a bowl and he ate them like a well trained dog. We all were quite amazed and smitten by him. He like to be pet on top of his head and tickled under his chin. The only thing he did not seem to like was being picked up but the only way you could tell he didn't like it was from the small grunts he made.

So I am thanking my lucky stars that Michael did not ask to take it home to our lovely townhouse to stay for 150 years. Josh took it home to his brother in law that actually has one already. Now he has a buddy. And of course if you know me, you know that I can never say no to a pet especially if Michael looks at me with the "my heart depends on having this pet" face. I cave every time, although be sure that I have heartlessly discarded pets back to their natural environments when Michael wasn't looking. Score, for having a small house : no room for a Galapagos sized turtle! There are blessings found in all things. But wow, I cannot believe what a fine specimen we had on the Compound for a brief moment, grazing the clover, and traveling down the lane.

Mr. Big White Toe

Summer Buddies

With the big siblings going to so many summer play dates Little A and Lanster have found themselves alone in each other company more often than they have ever before, believe it or not. They have found more and more interesting games to play. Yesterday Lanster hit his toe and got a nasty slice on the top of it. A simple band aid would not do so we wrapped gauze with first aid tape. Today Little A needed a big white toe too. The boys added faces and named them. They even made hats for them. Throughout the day I had to make new toe man as they didn't last what ever adventure the boys made up for them.

Pool Time

Leapin' Lizards!

Little A and Lanster had a blast jumping in the pool today. I was trying desperately to catch them om film but they were way to fast.

Finally I forced them to stay still for this shot.

Just found out my camera will do a cartoon effect. Tink and Pike were playing together - reminds me of old times.

A Ferry Tale

 

Here are some pictures of our family taking a nice ferry ride in the early summer/spring with our good buddies the Teamans. It was a relative normal venture. The ferry men told Little A to be careful and of course all of the boys were their usual wild selves. Well, Sunday, the Teamans invited us to go with them and walk to the Ferry. This ferry ride was quite different. We walked those kids in the 90 degree heat a mile to the ferry. The boys of course each had at least one giant walking stick/sword/saber by the time we made it to the Jamestown parking lot. Once we made it to the bridge Tom realized that if we didn't run we would have to wait for the next ferry. The thought of waiting with eight tired kids/hyper on the bridge was enough to have us all booking it down the road. Some of us may have envisioned children jumping over the wall into the river. (Why do our kids get crazier the more tired they are? Do other people's kids do this too?) Erin and I are in flip flops encouraging, dragging, and carrying Little A and Jack Jack. And then there was Tom and the big kids leading the frantic charge to the loading ferry. It was hysterical. I wish I knew what the people driving by thought of us all. We were all so stinky and sweaty and thirsty by the time we made it on the boat. Erin and Mike asked the ferry woman were would she like us to park (ha ha). The ferry water fountain never tasted so good, it was still bad, but it never tasted better. We had brought enough bread to feed an army of sea birds and they loved it. We threw the bread into the waiting beaks until it was all gone and walked all over the boat. We waited to leave the ferry after the last car drove off. One of the best parts for me was that on the way home Hallie held my hand, my good buddy.

They lived happily ever after.

The End

Lego Mania

Pike's vehicles

Aid's movable door 

Aid's house

Lan's house

Today we laid low and had a Lego day. All of the kids played together, building and imagining. This is a welcome sight any day: a little bit of Lego harmony.

The Piano

I find it interesting that we have three piano students, Tink, Pike, and Lanster. They are able to take lessons from their Grandma who has turned out to be an absolute fabulous teacher. Going from someone with limited playing ability and little teaching experience - M says "what are you trying to say A?" (never insult a man's mama) I am trying to say Grandma was not a professional but as far as I am concerned she is now.

I love you. Thank you so much for giving my kids the gift of music, it fills our home with song and has bonded the kids closer together. They help each other practice, they occasionally fight over the piano to practice, and they understand each other better. I love seeing them work together and play pieces side by side. I pray they will always be friends and stay close and they will benefit from the gift you have given them of being able to play.

Bunny Birthday Preparations

So we went shopping for absolutely necessary bunny birthdays items and where do we girls end up? The shoe department of course! We are fabulous!

Dumbledore's 4th

It was a special day, our bunny's birthday. We decided to have a celebration. Well, at least Tink, May, and Hallie did and I said okay. The girls planned for a week. They selected the perfect day, made the perfect invitations, made up the guest list, designed party hats, worked on the menu, and made a pinata. I took the girls shopping for everything we needed: balloons, streamers, plates, napkins, candy for the pinata, candle, cake mix, and frosting. We decide to have homemade pizza, I was in the mood to cook which was rare these days. The pizza dough was great because I made it the night before the new secret I have found. Jordan was an amazing help. She helped cook, clean - no task was too hard.

The day of the party we were all so excited - Jordan near tizzy mode. Thankfully May and Hallie came over to help decorate. They made the place look awesome with balloons and streamers everywhere. They even helped Jordan get Dumbledore dressed up in his birthday suit- a bright neon orange bathing suit! Bizarre but cute.

Everyone brought their pet. It was hysterical to have that many kids and pets here. There were hermits crabs, water frogs, a cat, hamsters, a bird, a bunny of course, rats, and a mud turtle. And I almost forget, the preying mantis.

The little boys walking their pets.

Pike the DJ dancing up a storm.

Bunny Presents. The kids were so creative with their gifts. Tru gave him flowers from his garden with a note saying he "I hope you have a Happy Birthday. I bet you will love my gift." Dumbledore did love his gift, he gobbled it up. May bought a small doggie jacket that fit perfectly. He looked like a million bucks. Kendall got him a bag of carrots and an old washcloth to snuggle in. Lan got him a tye dyed cloak and block to nibble on, and a Santa hat. Tink got him a wizard hat that she sewed himself. Aid got him a butterfly hay dispenser. Hallie got him a flower bandanna. He really enjoyed opening the gifts.

Here is Spencer and Bella the cat sometime before Otis the bird flew out of his cage. Bella was having the time of her life. Hamsters, rats, frogs, and birds - best party ever she surely was thinking to herself.

Everyone singing Happy Birthday!

I made a sweet carrot cake.

Erin made sweet cupcakes that looked amazing too. They had the designer look to them with light blue frosting and purple sprinkles. They could have come from a store though she will deny it, she is too modest. They were great!

Happy Birthday, bunny , happy birthday Momma!

Awesome cupcakes.

The girls eating their cupcakes outside.

One of Tink's best friends, Isabella was able to come to the party. We were so glad. She fit right in with all the cousins.

Erin and Katherine stayed and helped and chatted which I was grateful for. Laura got to run erands which I was hoping she would, not because I didn't want her help or to chat but she is the only one in the family with five kids at home, one a new baby. It is nice to be able to do something for her since she doesn't really need any help, she is amazing and has everything pretty much under control or so it looks to me. She is such a great example to me. All of my sister in laws are. I am so grateful for each of them in my life. I always wanted a sister growing up (prayed a lot for one) and now I have  seven!! Robyn, Laura, Erin, Katherine, Lauren, Jamie, and Jennifer. Wow, and I got teary eyed. I think I should stick to blogging when I am exhausted at night and don't have anything to say. I have digressed.

So all in all a great time was had by all. Not all of the animals got out of their cages and not all of the animals got lost behind the couch, so I was pretty happy. Just the cat, bunny, hamsters, mantis,crab, and bird got loose. But no one was injured and everyone was eventually found.

Happy Birthday! Till next year....Love ya.

Play Date

We had a play date with Spence and Tig. Here is a snapshot of what Tink and Spence did with their time together. After concocting Fruit Punch Float and testing on their guinea pigs, Pike, Lan, Aid, and Tig they decided to make pumpkin bars (from a real recipe). I was so proud of them. We brought them over to their house later that evening to share. Tink says 'They were good!'

Here is what Pike and Tig did with their time. Webkinz.

Wonderful World of Webkinz

I am proud of them too.

July 20, 2012.
The kids and I were going to the compound and this is what I saw when I got in to drive. The big kids first fight over the front seat. Usually they do first come first serve and I don't hear anything about the front seat struggle they have but not so this time.
I have so many (now fond) memories of my own fights with my brothers over the front seat. Jake usually was the craftiest and 'called' the front seat before Nick and I could bat an eye.
Now this picture was totally staged (I egged them on a bit for the pic) and my kids weren't actually fighting but they were in a sit off and both of them were sitting together on the seat which of course I thought was hilarious. They are both pretty stubborn when they set their minds on something. We ending the "sit off" with 'one potato, two' and Pike won. Tink got to ride home in the front and everybody was happy.
Well mostly happy. Why can't they all just ride in the back? Don't they know how hard it is to drive with a squirrly kid right beside you? Maybe my purse will have to 'call' the front seat from now on.

Bella's Adventure

So "imagine my suupreese" when I opened my cabinet to fetch a pot for Cream of Wheat and found a furry creature in it! Yes I screamed like a girl and thank goodness it was a cute hamster and not something worse. I wish we had a hamster cam to watch her adventure that night as she traveled down from her cage in the boys room, down the stairs, all the way to the kitchen, and into this cabinet into this pot. What a crazy time she must have had. What an adventure!

Babysitting with Manda 4

bABYsITTiNG wIth mANDA Part 3

Baby sitting with Manda part 2

Well, since I see that my post Babysitting with Manda has recieved the most visits I think I have an audience to entertain. Here are some more videos of that great night I got to babysit.

Shavings and Chips

This activity finishes Pike's Bear requirements. Finally! He just bought his own knife at Walmart and maybe now will will let him use it. The first day he came one with it he couldn't stop touching the blade. Maybe after practicing with this much smaller knife he will be able to use the other properly.

Knife stories abounded between Mom and Dad. I wonder which ones Pike will remeber the most - Jason Brady and his machete at Scout Camp or Mom and her first Swiss Army at Girls Camp.

"Don't worry mom I just cut myself a little on my finger and it didn't even hurt."

"Would you like a bandAid?"

"Yeah. I know."

Well it really was a very small cut. You should have seen the blisters I used to give myself with the hot glue gun!

This was a snake then a camel. Pike you're the best!