And perhaps just a teensey bit of chasing Australians.
Category: family
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Holes
When I saw the big Bobcat sitting in the yard, I knew we were committed. The high tunnel is going up.
Okay, really we were committed when all the pieces got delivered and started hogging every square inch of the garage, making the kids’ attempts to retrieve a bicycle turn into some sort of high wire act. I so want the garage back.
Originally, Tom was going to build this big, beautiful garden with a fence and seating area and, oh, it was going to be lovely. But then we attended a gardening workshop, where we learned about high tunnels, and how you can garden year round. This whole concept was really exciting, as I once added up our grocery bills for the entire year and almost had a heart attack. Feeding five people a primarily organic, fruit and vegetable filled diet is crazy expensive. (Thus, the obesity epidemic.) After we visited another family who had their own high tunnel, the decision was made, and practicality won out over aesthetics.
Anyway, Tom’s brother John came into town and helped dig enormous holes in our rock-filled ground (hooray for perseverance and patience) which would hold the supports in several feet of concrete. Big thanks to John for helping out, and to Alicia for letting us borrow him.
Needless to say, by dusk we had ton of great big holes in our yard. And, omigoodness, the kids thought they were the most fun things ever. I’m going to add this to the list for my future toy store—big holes and dirt piles.
Addendum: My friend Libby, who has been in construction for ages, said these deep holes are actually quite unsafe for children to play in because they could collapse unless you have those cardboard tube thingies. Which we had, but not actually in the holes at that time. So when I sell holes at my toy store, they’ll come with those cardboard liners or, like, super-safe titanium liners. With lasers.
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Field Trip: 6/11
It’s field trip season!
We kicked off the year with a night of camping, which the kids have never done. As fate would have it, rain was in the forecast for days on end. I crossed my fingers and toes and anything else I could think of crossing, and did little anti-rain dances.
I’m happy to announce it mostly worked.
As I arrived at 4pm to start meeting people, the skies opened up and it poured for about five solid minutes. Then there was thunder for about an hour. And then? The sun came out.
Seven families came out to brave the elements, and we had a fantastic time. Kids ran and chased and played. Adults set up tents, made dinner, and caught up around the campfire. It must have been a really good time because I completely forgot to take out the camera.
I shot this one photo the next morning. As dawn broke, the rain started. Just a sprinkle as we brewed coffee, and by the time breakfast was served, it was raining buckets. We broke down the tents in the pouring rain. Some kids splashed in puddles while others huddled under umbrellas or in cars. All the adults were soaking wet, but in great spirits.
If we had that much fun with questionable weather, our next family camping trip can only be better!
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Sleepover
I often think one of the best gifts I can give my kids is one another. Neko and Shep have been the best of friends as of late. So when they asked for a sleepover, even on a school night, I just couldn't say no.
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Reptile friends
Did you know my father grew up on a farm? When he got older he went running as fast as he could for a big city. In their time, my parents lived in St. Louis, Pasadena, and Philadelphia. But then they began the steady decline back into rurality (totally not a word, but I’m claiming it). And now? He’s back to living on a farm. Very full circle.
You’d never know he lived on a farm until he runs into a snake. And then suddenly a ten-year-old boy appears in our midst. In the time we’ve been here, he’s managed to find a slew of snakes, and Neko is right behind him cheering him on.
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Chicago: Day One
This morning I was greeted with birthday wishes and a delicious breakfast. My amazing husband came up with a few gifts I never would have imagined, which is a next to impossible task. (Can you guess what the gift on the right is?) Then off to get my oil changed, a trip to the yarn store, and a haircut.
And then I picked up Neko from school with a plan.
Most things about having three children is wonderful, but one of the hard parts is filling the needs of the oldest and youngest at the same time. When we visit a museum or aquarium, the kids all have different interests. We often end up skewing toward what the younger children need.
Over time, we hope to solve some of this by taking a bit of time one-on-one with each child. And this weekend, it was Neko’s turn. Tom agreed to keep Ellery and Shep for the weekend, and Neko and I get
to run off to Chicago for our collective birthdays (hers is on
Sunday).Our primary mission, of course, is to visit the American Girl store. All other entertainment is icing on the cake.
Traveling with a (nearly) seven-year-old is completely different than our trip to New York a year and a half ago. The five hour drive was virtually painless. Two hours outside of Chicago, she demanded that I turn the DVD off because “too much television isn’t good for you”. We could easily bounce into Chipotle for dinner. She was amazed by the enormity of the buildings.
Our hotel room has a window seat, where she immediately climbed up and gazed at the view. My old friend Marc and I were happily surprised to see one another (me checking in, he behind the Concierge desk). He has already sent up a bottle of wine and set us up on a special program so we get extra perks.
An excellent birthday. If only I could give Tom, the kids and the dogs hugs good night, it would be perfect.
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She will be missed
A little over 14 years ago, I walked by a pet store and saw some puppies in the window. They weren’t puppies bred for a pet store, as I'm not really a pet store girl, but three 12-week-olds someone was trying to find homes for. Ellie was the smallest. With her umbilical hernia, the clerk working the store knew she would be a hard sell.
The next day I returned to take her home with me, dubbing her my 30-dollar-dog, as they only charged me the cost of her vaccinations.
Strong-willed, stubborn, and as smart as any dog I’ve met, she was immediately a handful. Always on the move and often leaping several feet into the air to get there. Early on I took her to a trainer who told me he’d work with her for three weeks and have her following basic commands. Three months later the trainer and I finally said our goodbyes. He shook his head and declared her one of his toughest, but most wonderful, challenges. I think she might have been preparing me for another headstrong (and just as delightful) girl who would enter my life nearly a decade later.
She got me through the tough years. The ones where you go home to an empty house and swear you're going to be alone forever. Except you’re not because someone is wagging their tail and impatiently nudging her food bowl. She kept the bed warm, made hikes more enjoyable, and never failed to join me on the couch for Saturday afternoon football.
My dear girl, I’d like to think you’re resting somewhere peaceful now, in a perfect spot of sunshine, with a belly full of something delicious you just stole off the counter.
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Joe turns one
Have you seen this scrumptious ball of delicious I get to call my nephew?
He was at our house this afternoon, the day he turns one. He sat still for the camera (I would adopt him based on this fact alone). He got fed and carried and tickled and hugged. There is no doubt, this boy is surrounded every day with family who adore every edible bit of him. And a momma who loves him exponentially more.
A lucky boy, that one.
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Zhu Zhu mania
Allowance day was yesterday, and an executive decision was made by Neko and Shep that they would like Zhu Zhu Pets. This request would have been impossible a month ago, when that little hamster was the hottest holiday request, but now you can find them at a few stores if you poke around.
So off to the toy store we went, and adopted three little friends.
I have to say, at $10 apiece, these little friends have been money well spent. They have been played with non-stop since yesterday. Today we created mazes and obstacles courses. They went sailing off benches. Got handled by someone with blueberry hands. Traveled in my purse during swim lessons.
I still don’t understand why it occasionally crows like a rooster and makes a few other un-hamster-like noises, but you can’t beat that there’s no one to feed and no cage to clean.
