Science Stuff

Like everyone else in the US, we were super excited about the eclipse. I've always been a space nerd and was thrilled to get to share this with my kids. We were only at 80% coverage, but it was still pretty cool! We went a local observatory where many local stargazers brought their telescopes for people to look through.

We got there nice and early to meet up with friends. Well, everyone else met up with friends. I got to sit in the van with Elise, who had fallen asleep. She never naps for long in the van...except that day. It was about an hour when we finally emerged and got to join the fun!

I didn't have a cool camera, so this is the eclipse via my cell camera 

with eclipse glasses over the lens:

Impressive, I know.

Next time we're going to Dallas for totality.

After 7 years of Singing Time I was released. I was ready, but also not. I really did love my time in there. Just a couple more years and I would have seen some of those kids go all the way through Primary! But I didn't cry on my last day. We won't talk about the good cry I had earlier that week as I drove home and thought about not being in there anymore...  

But change is good, and I'm now working with the Activity Day girls! I LOVE Diana, my co-leader, and we have a great group of girls (around 11 total). Our first activity was a doozy: visiting a local beekeeper. 

Not sure what I was expecting, but this was WAY more up close and personal than I anticipated. Bees and I don't have the best relationship, so I was wary. Thankfully the girls were (for the most part) excited and totally fine with having bees shoved in their faces.

Notice Aaron on the front row? I had all four kids with me.

Aaron was enthralled. I had to restrain him from sticking his face in the honeycomb several times.

He seriously put these combs inches away from their faces:

Despite his assurances that he had never had anyone get stung before, we had a few rogue bees that caused some terror. I flicked one off Elise's wrist just before it was about to sting. Another little boy had one stuck on his collar. And then there was poor Seth, who didn't realize that the itching by his ear was a bee and tried to scratch it. He got stung on his earlobe. I was so proud of his tough facade, even though I could tell it hurt. If he had panicked the girls would have panicked and the whole activity would have been over. But he just stood there and let me pull out the stinger and put anti-histamine cream on it and then was fine. 

It was a fascinating experience, but not one I feel the need to repeat anytime soon!

Elise at 18 Months

Oh, my little bitty one! 18 months already? It's gone so quickly. You keep us all on toes, no question! We love your little sass cat ways and all the chaos you love to create. We adore you!

Here's what you're up to at 18 months old:

-You're an outside baby, no question. You scream to be let outside several times a day.

That's one way to keep your clothes from getting wet!

-You are quite possessive of things you think are yours. Or should be yours. Or are Aaron's. You love getting Aaron upset!

Yelling at Catherine for touching "your" waterbottle.

All ready for school with your (actually Aaron's) backpack.

-Nursery was an easy transition for you. I think it was because I had been bringing you in to do singing time in there with me for a few months. Nursery was also your favorite door to look into while you were walking the halls with Dad. We had a little "first day of nursery" photo shoot when we got home:

I love your red hair with that yellow dress!

-I was worried about your speech. Not too long ago you could only say one word: "Dada." But just before you hit 18 months you picked up a few ew words: "uff" (woof, for dog), "shhuh" (shoe), and, your personal favorite, "no." "No" is the answer to all questions right now. You also love to say "Hi!" to everyone who passes by but will still only wave to say goodbye. You now say "cheese" for pictures, which is hilarious. Our favorite is "Hey, baby!" You say, "heh buh-bee" and it's adorable. 

-You are quite sure you're one of the big kids and insist on doing things yourself. Even if it means disaster. 

It's not blood, it's paint. On a Blood.

Water tables are for standing in, obviously.

-You are still an early napper (around 11 or 12) and usually give me around 2 hours. Bedtime is between 7 and 8, wake-up is between 6:30 and 7:30. You've been fighting your sleep; kicking and screaming when we say "bed" or start carrying you upstairs. You've also been waking up usually once or twice a night crying until Dad comes and covers you with a blanket. I think your dad is just a sucker for you. 

You found this pacifier somewhere.

Thankfully you were only interested for a few minutes. 

-You are very self-entertaining, especially if given a drawing utensil. You and your clothing are constantly covered in marker or pen. Sometimes it's the only thing that keeps you happy and I just have to let it go...

You are our sweet dinosaur kitten. You wreak havoc on the house but you also insist on putting all the shoes away yourself and putting the clean dishes on the table when I'm emptying the dishwasher. You love pestering Aaron and you love screaming while your siblings chase you. You still cry when you see Daddy walking out of the house without you (even if it's just for a moment). Love you, little cat.

Field Trip Adventures

Since we've decided to go back to homeschooling this year I've tried to take the kids on some fun field trips when we can. We decided to check out a local estuary center one day in hopes of seeing some snakes.

Field Trip babies

No snakes were found, but caterpillars were!

Little Miss "I Do It Myself" had a great time on these stairs:

They were a bit disappointed with the hiking, but playing by the water made it all better:

Our next adventure was a bit further away but totally worth the 90 minute drive. I've always loved visiting caves and I realized that my kids had never seen one. I had to remedy that, so we made the drive up to Pennsylvania to see Indian Echo Caverns:

I wasn't sure how these two would do on the hour-long tour, but they were awesome!

Thankfully there were lots of puddles and pebbles to entertain Elise.

Seth and Catherine both loved it:

 

The cave guardian:

Beautiful formations:

This was the perfect trip: fun caves, a playground to enjoy while waiting for our tour and nice clean bathrooms (this is very, very important). So glad that Tracie and her boys decided to join us on this adventure. Hopefully we'll get to visit some more caves soon!

Plumpton Park Zoo

We have a little "zoo" nearby that we love to visit. It's not huge, but it has just enough exotic animals to keep the kids interested. But the best part is the feeding/petting section! 

Catherine insisted I take this picture at the entrance

Elise was in heaven. There was much squealing with joy at the sheep and goats.

Catherine did her best to feed all the animals equally.

Glad that Seth's not too old for this kind of stuff yet!

The sheep were very, very excited to see us. 

Aaron was more inclined to throw food from the stroller than to get close.

We were lucky to have some friends join us. Catherine and Alivia had a great time together.

We saw lots of fun animals. Highlights were the screaming bird in the reptile house and the macaw who kept singing with Tracie. But, as usual, my kids would have spent all their time at the koi pond feeding the masses of fish:

Thanks for another great day, Plumpton Park Zoo!

Summer Adventures

I love summertime and the chance to spend our days doing whatever we want. The library is one of our favorite places to go. We consistently have around 60-70 books checked out at any given time. I love my little bookworms (even the one who uses the books as stepping stones).

Painting the back porch with sidewalk paint:

Cute Aaron:

Love those blue eyes!

Here's to a lovely summer!

Catherine Cat

My friend told me about a book called "Girls Who Looked Under Rocks." I'm definitely going to need to buy it for my Catherine! This girl loves bugs. All bugs (with the exception of bees, wasps, and big spiders). She spent one day playing with the sweat bees that frequent our yard during the summer. One landed on her net and she insisted I take a picture:

Then there was Nadara, the snake we babysat. This was true love.

She's currently working on saving up enough money to buy her own ball python.

And, finally, tree climbing:

I sure love this little girl and all her adventurous ways! We have our battles, for sure (usually about stopping playing outside and doing school or chores), but I love my little kitchen helper and my best babysitter for Aaron & Elise. I hope she keeps her uniqueness and independent spirit as she grows up.

Cousin Time

Daniel & Wendy stopped by to visit us on their way home from West Virginia. The kids were thrilled to have a few days to play with their cousins! 

We had big plans to take them swimming but the unseasonably cool summer ruined our plans. Instead we opted to let the kids go play by a creek at Jerusalem Mill.

Evan, Aaron, Jocelyn, Seth, Catherine & Megan

Katie & Elise played on the shore

I didn't anticipate the kids braving the cold water up to their necks (or over their heads in a few cases), but they did! Aaron was upset that he wasn't tall enough to play with the big kids. Luckily a helicopter started circling over our heads, which distracted him. When we realized it was landing nearby, we headed over to check it out.

Apparently we happened to be at Jerusalem Mill during a kind of display of local rescue workers. The helicopter was opened up for kids to touch and climb inside. Aaron was THRILLED:

Touching the front:

Evan & Catherine joined the fun later:

Catherine inside:

Aaron's turn:

Catherine helping put out a fire:

Riding in a fire truck:

We love having our cousins come visit! Wish we had family living closer.