Nothing is Easy

While the women (me and Grandma) were inside taking care of the children.....gathering.

The men (Kevin and Grandpa) were outside staring at a 500 pound chunk of concrete.....hunting?


We are trying to remove an old clothesline post from the middle of the yard but it is so heavy with concrete we can't even budge it.

Next stop.....someone with a truck, some chains and some moxy. Any takers?

Spring in Sycamore

Spent the morning at my Mom's in Sycamore enjoying the sights of spring.

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. I love spring wildflowers because of their vibrant colors at at time of year when I am in desparate need of some new life. I think Kevin is happy for spring because I finally stop rearranging the furniture!

I spent most of my childhood wading in the water of the waterfall behind my mom's house. I remember sitting beside the little creek and I just could not wait until it was warm enough to plunge my feet in. Water striders, daffodils, and bluebells were my playmates as I explored this winding creek in the spring.

They Call it Mellow Yellow

It was a pretty quiet Easter.

We dyed eggs.

We searched for baskets. That crazy bunny hid Ben's in the oven this year!!
We devoured some candy.
We went for a bike ride and splattered ourselves by riding through puddles.

Kevin, Ethan and Ben went on a dinosaur dig.

We wiped noses. The bunny delivered colds too! Thanks a lot!

We ate ham, mashed potatoes, homemade bread and strawberry shortcake.

It was a lovely, quiet, family Easter.

Poem

I hear it is national poetry month.
I would like to offer up the following.

ZOOTRIP 2011

Children wrestling, 9:30 deadline looming
Bad mood about the zoo.

No one listening, no one helping
Bad mood about the zoo.

Finally ready, finally off
mood lifted eager to get to the zoo.

Long lines, crowds of people, children scurrying in all directions
bad mood returning about the zoo.

Even so good memories, fun friends, sunny day
successful day at the zoo

Next day regret, next day remorse
embarrassed about the fuss at the zoo

Wishes for peaceful and endlessly patient mothering instincts,
next time plans to radically accept the zoo.

Q Tips in the Bath Tub

Q Tips in the Bathtub

La da da da da day

Watching all the cotton

go swimming down the drain.

Q Tips in the Bathtub

Don't put them in your mouth.

Oh never mind it's cute.

Put them in your mouth.

Disclaimer....they were clean, unused Q-tips.

When It Rains....

Build a dam.

The kids and their pals, Merry, Elspeth and Bea took advantage of the break in the rain showers, grabbed their boots and went stomping. They worked for an hour moving wood, leaves and other debris to build a dam. In my role as official photographer, I did not inspect the engineering side of the equation. However, yesterday when we had a torrential downpour the street below their dam was flooded, therefore I deem it a SUCCESS.

There is a Reason

When conversations turn to discussions of the negatives of where we live, I always find myself re-evaluating our choice of residency. Here are some of the reasons why we enjoy living in Small Town America, Pennsylvania: 1. You can say hello and have a friendly conversation with strangers. 2. Our children are experiencing life as big fish in a small pond. 3. Our neighbors share food with us, whether it be a cup of sugar, egg or extras from a prepared meal. 4. You only have to drive a few miles to see farm animals such as cows, sheep, horses, and donkeys. (or is it donkei?) 5. You can walk down the street carrying an ironing board and get random acknowledgements such as "have iron will travel". 6. There is nothing better than the views from the ridges. 7. Life is very plush and green all over in the spring. 8. You have to be creative in your entertainment activities because there is not a Chuck E. Cheese and Starbucks on every corner. 9. For the most part there are a lot of good, kind-hearted people living around us. 10. When you drive your son to school in your pajamas and slippers and he forgets his lunch in the van, a friendly appropriately dressed acquaintance walking into the school agrees to deliver it for you. 11. You don't spend endless hours of time commuting in grid lock traffic and waiting in line. 12. Neighbors watch out for each other. 13. You feel safe walking down the street with your children. 14. It's fun to discover the local flair....grouchy librarian, friendliest and most efficient check-out person, etc. 15. No pressure to keep up with the Jones's. They are actually very nice, humble and down to earth! Just some random thoughts that are on my mind. Sure, it's not perfect, but no where is.

She Blinded Me With Science

Three weeks and six science classes later, who knows what my ten first and second graders learned but they seemed to have fun. Our PTA organized an after school enrichment program and needed an extra class. Maxwell stepped up to the plate and took a pitch, agreeing to give it the ole college try.

Week one we made slime, explored the characteristics of solids and liquids, and took a core sample of a cupcake to demonstrate the earth's layers.

Week two we paper machied volcanoes and experimented with air pressure by flying paper airplanes and blowing ping pong balls out of dixie cups. Can you get a ping pong ball out of a dixie cup taped to a table using a straw and without touching the ball????? Huh? Huh? Can you? Take the Ping Pong Puzzler challenge and let me know the results.

Then in week three we refracted light and created rainbows, performed egg experiments (bouncing egg, stacked 11 books on top of three eggs and they still didn't break!), and exploded our volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar.

WHEW. It was busy.

Perhaps now the dining room table can be reclaimed and I can clear a path through the living room, which has been completely neglected. All in the name of science!

Blueberries, Sore Throats and Migraines

Well, I survived it. The worst sore throat of my life, mixed with a serious headache to the point I thought I was going to be sick. BUT knock on wood, I am feeling better, though a bit jumpy due to caffeine in Excedrin. Whoho. Look at all I am accomplishing while doped up!

Will cheered me up this morning devouring frozen blueberries and smiling for the camera. It's the little things that get you through sometimes. :)

s....i....c....k.....

We will return to our regularly scheduled programming once I am able to leave the fetal position and then only in the event that I regain the use of my extremities. Poor me.

Etc

And brake pads...... And brake rotors...... And alternator failing....... Calgon take me away!

You Picked a Fine Time...

Do you know the country song....."You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille"? Today we are singing the same tune, but have altered the words to "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel." Apparently K's car has a faulty wheel bearing. Yes, it's true. So some $400 dollars later K. can now drive down the rode without the risk of losing his left back tire. Old cars never die....they just require a lot of expensive maintenance work to stay on the road. If we can ever afford it we hope to buy some small groovy gas-savvy car for K.'s 45 minute commute to work. We've been eyeing the Prius and yesterday I saw some cool looking Honda car. The Fit? I can't remember the name. Gas efficient, compact and ready to turn corners on a dime. Until then, we will repair our bearings one wheel at a time.