Today was a bit of an off day for me… the activities for the kids went off without any major hitch and I even finished a project (more about that later though I am sure if you have read previous entries you can guess EXACTLY which one)… but for some reason just did not feel that I accomplished enough today. I find that some days just don’t feel full enough… but looking back I know I did SOMETHING.
So the family walk which started off the Rock Critters… of course since Ken was coming with there was a bit of a problem with the boys being ready WAY before he was and thus getting antsy which led to a rather major altercation between the twins in front of the door. Something about who was standing near the door handle and the fact that Mommy said NO ONE should be standing there. So the agressor got sent to time out and the recipient who was ALSO in the wrong was sent to sit on the couch. This of course led to Emanuel coming up to tell me HE was being good (figures). Once time outs were spent and appologies said we were ready to go.
Emanuel and Trinity got the choice seats in the wagon, though Emanuel was a sweety and let each of his brothers have a turn! Ok so now such a happy thing for me who definitely noticed the difference in weight between pulling Emanuel and each of the bigger boys!
Note the Bonnet Made by Grandma Anna!
Zander is REALLY Getting too Big LOL
We took our time and did a nice long loop around the neighborhood. There was lots to see, some ratehr creative yards and doors and such. One house even had statues of bears that were adorable!
Bear Statues... the Boys Were IMPRESSED!
On the ride home we pilfered some rocks from someone’s yard (shhh), flat at least on one side and one for each boy. These were brought home to become our rock critters. Of course once we got home there was an apple and water snack at the picnic table before heading in to paint! All that walking sure does bring on the munchies and what better than apple segments (skin off for Trinity of course!)… one nice sized apple is enough for all 4 to have a decent before lunch snack!
Success! 4 Rocks! Gavin is in the red
I did things a little differently with the rock critters than when we did them way back in the winter. This time I had each boy choose ONE colour. Emanuel red, Gavin white and Zander blue. I used the lids off of baby food jars (we have tons) and gave them each a paintbrush and let them go at it! They then wanted a second colour so we just threw that on top. Luckily they were complimentary colours and if nothing else mixed with the wet paint already on nicely.
Note the Smocks (Michaels on clearance!)... Zander far left
Emanuel, Gavin and Zander's Painted
These were left to dry until after quiet/nap time. Emanuel had a bit of a problem getting to sleep. I think he was feeling a bit of whatever Trinity had… and has also gotten a rash on the inside of his legs. I am not sure if it is from his pull ups rubbing or his shorts, but potty training can be the pits!
After supper when the bugs were nice and dry each boy got to pick out googly eyes (I have 4 sizes I got at a dollar store), a little black pompom for a nose (I got those in some foam shape kit) and then a colour of construction paper I cut in to wings for them… no one wanted pipe cleaner legs though it was an option. I then had Ken use the hot glue and each boy take his turn dictating where each piece went. And there you go ROCK CRITTERS! And 3 very happy boys. Of course KEN hasn’t done his yet. I am hoping to corner him on that one tomorrow.
Each Boy Got His Say on Placement!
Gavin's Started off White!
Post Sand and Water Play = Clothes Muddy! Zander
I am debating where to put them… originally I was thinking in their Acorn Squash pots (which are getting VERY crowded!) but with the paper wings I may just have to find a fun place out of reach of Trinity to keep them in. Maybe around our paper flowers we have showing the numbers we have learned. There are 7 in the “vase” now (a wine glass) and hopefully Friday I will go over 8 with them. They already can count past that but we are working on actually WRITING the numbers properly.
Finished Product! (Don't ask the breed of critter lol) Emanuel, Zander, Gavin
On to the finish project… the evil bat has been vanquished and I am VERY happy with the results. I am not going to post the picture quite yet as it IS a Christmas present but I plan on adding the pattern to my site very soon – just need Ken to show me how to do it. I ended up outlining the bat in a silver Kreinik – very fine braid (#4) 001V. I am hoping to get Ken to use the same set up and get a design made for the one for my nephew and go from there. There is always the stocking waiting for me AND a Teresa Wentzler that has to be done for the spring as a surprise gift to another family member… I have offered to do a couple simple ones for people if they give me a saying. Easiest way to do a Christmas present ever!
We had a surprise visitor today as well! Our friend Sean who is working to become a plumber had an accident on the job and damaged his ankle. We are closest to the hospital and of coure always home so a kind gentleman who was also at the hospital drove him here. He is crashing for the night and then Ken will take him to his car which is over at his job site! Poor guy has to wait 4 days for the swelling to go down. No Heritage Festival for him! Thankfully I was home, Ken was out picking up our friend Fydo for a night of Magic the Gathering so was not even home to go get him even IF Sean had had his cell phone (which is in his car) with our number to call! ACK! And with Ken and I having our cell phones turned off to save money… we are rather incognito out of the house. It is an odd feeling and really quite worrisome. I am sure once things are… better… KEN’s will be one of our first things to deal with, myself I am going to wait. There are better things to spend money on. The main reason we got my cell in the first place was there was a couples deal going on so I could call Ken for free (still can if it was working) and I was pregnant with Trinity and he worked outside the house. So really NOT a big deal. The boys were quite concerned that Sean was NOT alright and wanted to know ALL the details… and of course Emanuel had to show him HIS booboos on his legs from his rash!
You Can See the Swelling! Thank Goodness NOT Broken!
All Wrapped Up
What else do I have to share today… well the raspberry bush is still taking no prisoners… I have lots of lovely scratches though Ken has promised tomorrow there will be some payback. Not so much against the bushes (who are really giving us quite the bountiful harvest) but the overgrown weeds and dead branches that keep attacking. I think when we have our very own house that is relatively permanent raspberry bushes are going to be my first foray into a “real” garden. They seem to be rather low maintenance and I do so love raspberries. I have already manged to fill a nice sized container in the freezer AND have enough for the kids to have some every day! BONUS! Now for the apples on the trees to be ready! Can you say APPLESAUCE?? I have even had offers of assistence YAY!
Tomorrow is the weekly homeschool park date which I am planning on going to for at least an hour. There is a lot to be done here at home with us gone for most of Saturday and Sunday for one reason or another. I also intend to get sorted enough that by Friday we can rest a little. Tomorrow is also when we plan on going to get our food tickets for the Festival. I think we are going to be a bit adventurous and get more tickets even with the added cost. After all this IS our one big thing for the month of July and potentially August! I also signed all 3 boys up for the puppetshow on the 8th since we are not able to make it to the wedding that day. The librarian sounded VERY excited about it… something about it being done by a woman who does shows for the local tv station. The boys LOVE a good puppet show.
So my day felt a little blah… the kids fought a little more than normal… and Trinity was a bit crankier than I would have liked BUT we also laughed together, created together and simply spent time together. So though I FEEL blah I KNOW I am lucky! 4 kids, one husband and friends who contact me online just to share their day… what a blessing! I was talking with my friend Ada about life and the day as a whole and went looking on Facebook for our wedding photos and came upon the ones of baby Trinity and tiny curls and all Emanuel… who would have ever thought that here I would be with the love of my life, 3 little boys AND a baby girl? So what if we don’t have our very own house yet, or all the money in the world? All the money in the world cannot give me my family… or my friends… and both are more precious! Thank you Ada for being here to remind me of that!
Isn't She Lovely? June 20th Canadian Wedding!
