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!

GArden Find

So one of the unintended blessings of the chores that have been done around the house is this sweet find. Little A and Lanster were weeding and found a PRAYING MANTIS. Little A has been searching and wishing for a praying mantis all summer. Dad said he would find one for him one day. Today Little A found it all by himself!

Proud boy!

The Bug Worth Searching For:

Excited Family:

Oh Happy Happy Day there is a bug in my house.

Results of the Chore Jar

So here are some of the results of the chore jar. It actually has worked better than I have imagined. I shake the jar, the child reaches in and picks a slip, then they read it out and I say "the jar has spoken". So far one kid did the dishes:

Other kids weeded the garden:

Another kid swept and mopped the kitchen floor:

And another kid dusted but was unavailable to have his picture taken. All in all I am not the only one doing chores around the house which suits me fine. I think the kids actually may be having some fun as well. So three cheers for the chore jar -Hip Hip Hooray!!