Things We Plan To Do This Summer

As a mommy of two growing children, I always start day dreaming about summer fun around March. It's always a dream of my two children with smiles on their faces and skipping hand in hand down some imaginary path in the woods. They stop and look at some interesting critter all while I, with my perfectly coiffed hair, in my cute dress and, (oh, yes, I am quite a bit skinnier, maybe even willowy) high heels, look on with utter delight and contentedness. All is rainbows and unicorns in my day dreams. My children get along, no fighting and even more importantly, I have the delusion of owning the patience of a saint. I know, get real!! I mean, who can walk down a rocky path in the woods wearing high heels anyway and never mind the sweat and bugs.

The reality is, my summers will look like whining kids not wanting to do anything but stay inside and play the Wii. I am still hoping though, that I can entise them with some fun. I told Caleb that I am looking forward to some water fights with him. He started grinning and planning. Hopefully, I can get him on my side and maybe we can ambush Grandpa. In addition, we live mighty close to the pool and I think this may be one of the last years that Moriah is going to want to go hang out down there.

For a little educational fun, I am planning some trips to our very nice library and I've told the kids that for the summer, I want them to pick a country and study it. I'm going to see if I can use some of those crazy research writing tricks to help them dig down deep and find some knitty, gritty details about a country they are interested in. Moriah has chosen Norway and Caleb has chosen Australia. I think it will be very fun.

Finally, to get a little art and science in this summer I thought I'd take them on some nature walks. I am putting together a nature journal for them complete with drawing and painting utensils. My hope is that they will learn to examine stuff in detail, or at least in the kind of detail appropriate for them.

I have other thoughts that I'd like to add to the mix but if I were getting real, and I'm not just yet, all of this stuff will be rather sporadic. It's a good goal though and I fully intend to do my best to at least get to the tip of the iceberg.

Hope your summer plans are coming along nicely. Happy sunny days!

May to Now

May, of course starts out with a birthday. In fact, it was a 9th birthday which is amazing to me. C had a nice birthday party with all the rambunctiousness of boys. It was wild and fun.



Both kids were asked to part of the Mini Pole Peddle Paddle. They had 2 practices and then the race. Unfortunately Moriah got sick so she wasn't able to race but Caleb had the time of his life.

Over Memorial Day we went to the beach and hung out with some of Todd's old school classmates who have become great friends of ours. The picture below is of Caleb and their son sitting on a rock wall overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was gorgeous!


While at the beach, the kids realized that Grandma's house has some "wicked cool" climbing trees. They all spent quite a bit of time seeing how far up they could go.

Moriah and went on a tiny treasure hunt on the beach. These are some of the shells she found. Aren't they pretty.

On Monday morning...early....we went to Haystack Rock to look at the tidepools. Below are some pictures of the critters we saw.

Above is a crab molt (the outside skin of a shedding crab) and a sea slug.

Giant green sea anenomes

Tide Pool

Looking for tiny treasures

Enjoying a warm evening at the beach

Todd!

The kids got Abbie digging in the sand by digging in the sand. Get it?

Hope your days are great. I think I'm updated on pictures now. That was a whirlwind huh? I'll try to get more pictures up as I take them.

February, March, April

So here are some photos from February, March and April of this year. I don't feel like I have even scratched the surface of all the fun we are having but you get the idea.

We had some beautiful winter weather. Lots of frost leaving the Junipers looking like pieces of delicate art work.

Viking Knit chain I made for a customer. It turned out beautifully I thought.

Caleb and I went on a date while we were in Newport over spring break. He and I went to the Newport Aquarium. I decided to hand him my big camera and let him go on a photo safari. He is definately a natural and I learned a thing or two about photography by watching him. It was so much fun!

On our way home we went to Todd's Aunt Billi's house to help her celebrate her birthday. We made her dinner and watched her open presents. It was fun to be able to spend that time with her.

Caleb played Aunt Billi some music on his violin. She loved it!

Easter was celebrated at my parent's house. This is is a picture of Caleb waiting anxiously for the Easter Bunny to get done hiding the eggs.

We got to enjoy Easter with my Grandpa and Ardel as well as Christy's entire family. It feels so good to have such a big group of people sitting around bantering about this and that. It always feels like it is the first sign of spring. It's almost as if my soul is stretching and yawning after waking up from a long winters nap.

Moriah and Caleb have made some terrific friendships this year and it just so happens that these beautiful children belong to a family that we are getting to know. We feel so priveleged that we can call them friends. Their momma is quickly becoming one of my closest friends and I dare say, their daddy is someone Todd loves to hang out with.

Shortly after taking this picture of the kids battling over a hidden Easter egg, C, Moriah's friend, took a tumble out of the tree. She got all scratched up but still had a smile on her face.

C and Moriah are in the same class at school and have learned to play the marimba. We barrowed it for the weekend and let the girls give everyone a concert. It was fabulous.

In addition to the marimbas, Caleb asked C if she would be willing to do a duet with Caleb on her cello. It is one of the most gratifying experiences to watch your kids find a passion and pursue it. Caleb LOVES to play the violin and Moriah LOVES to play the piano and marimba. Our house has been filled with music this year. Next year for junior high, Moriah has decided that she wants to learn to play the flute in addition to her piano lessons. Caleb will continue on the violin and may add another instrument....maybe piano?

This is a medallion I made for a friend who is a "prince" in the SCA.

As you can see. It has been an incredibly rewarding year so far. I still have tons of pictures to post so will work on doing more of that. Hope your days are terrifiic.

Photo Updates

I'm trying to get caught up on blog stuff and generally trying to get photos and such straightened out. So here is my attempt at updating you all on what has been going on in our lives in photos. Enjoy!

DECEMBER 2008

Todd playing the Digeridoo Dad & Mom brought back to us from Australia

Jon playing the other digeridoo. The funny thing was, when Todd and Jon were done playing, Jon's lips were all swollen up. It was so awesome!~

Dad unwrapping his Christmas gift

Mom with her Christmas gift

Christy unwrapping her Christmas gift.

I am melting silver in my centrifuge for a ring I was casting

Me being silly

Okay. I will try to post more photos of our life. Next up will be January. Hope you all are doing well.