Its Finally Summer!

We only know this is true because it has been warm enough to get out the large and spacious pool and set it up in the yard. We have even had a few swimming parties which feature two pools of this enormous size. Looking forward to more great times in warmer weather to come.

And look, they even like each other. What great brothers!

In case of flood...

What to wear when you are afraid that Dad might fill the bath too full.

This looks like he was taking a self-portrait in the bath... but trust me, he wasn't. :-)

PILLOW MONSTER!

Henry takes every chance he can get to run into his room and grab a pillow to come out and start a "piyo fight!" And it usually ends with him using the pillow case like he is in a sack race or putting it over his head and chasing people around... its no wonder we are worn down parents.

Blog-Stalking- Is it real or just imagined?

Scenario #1- I often have friends from church or work who will say to me- "I loved your (fill in the blank) blog post from a few days ago. By the way- I am totally blog-stalking you." At which point we usually laugh and I discover that I can then read their thoughts and see their photos at their blog address and we all move on with our lives, and have found another way to get to know those around us and expand our circle of friends, etc etc. You can see the scenario in your head, you might have been on either end of the conversation... this my friends- is Not a blog-stalker.

Scenario #2- A long lost friend (ok, maybe not "long lost", but at least as far back as college, maybe high school) comes to my blog and leaves a nice comment after a post, or I can see that they came to my blog from theirs and I then go to their blog and see recent pictures of the adorable children or dogs and usually a spouse, and we make comments to each other and we reconnect. And that is a nice feeling, to be able to see the happy blog lives of someone who I think about, but perhaps don't get a chance to talk to often as we have parted ways... this again, my loving friends, is Not a blog-stalker.

Scenario #3- The family members and friends who follow my blog have a link that shows the most recent updates to those on their list, and so you come to my blog because a title heading intrigues you, or perhaps you have a really boring job and you just end up following link after link to blogs that look interesting, that you would probably never be able to find again... Most likely Not a blog-stalker, but someone who should visit the library and check out a few good books.

Scenario #4- Someone who I may have met once or twice or perhaps never at all finds my blog through searches and who knows what other devices, then comes back day after day to read my 3 years of blog archives and enjoy my personal (though by all standards quite witty) commentary on my life and that of my family. This is a blog-stalker.

While we hope that none of the above readers join us for reasons of ill intent, one can't help but wonder- Is it time to make my blog private? Or perhaps it's time for us to work harder to stay in touch with those we care about and then go and find a hobby that enriches our lives and makes us happier than blog-stalking ever could.

Perhaps I will go and ask Gavin, he knows more than I do anyway. And I know that he would say it is time to do something that doesn't involve being on the computer... unless it is to play pbskids.org or playhouse disney.

Happy Memorial Day!

This morning after running a few errands we decided to stop by the cemetery where Caleb's maternal grandparents are buried. It was a good experience for Caleb to finally have to be the one to talk to Gavin about death and answer his never-ending stream of questions about it. It took a while, but seemed like Gavin finally understood what the cemetery was about and why were thought it was a good idea to go there today. It was super crowded, but nice to make the stop and give us a chance to reflect. Gavin and Henry spotted 2 potato bugs on the Atkinson headstone, which led to a long conversation in which Gav insisted that Memorial Day is a good day for potato bugs to visit everyone at the cemetery too. He is probably right.

I have some great memories of my Aunt Cathy loading up everyone she could find in her van (most not in seats) on Memorial Day and driving all over the gravel road of rural Iowa to the various small cemeteries where many of our ancestors are buried. She always took flowers from her own flower beds and we spent at least a little time pulling weeds from around the headstones. It was always pretty interesting and compelling to hear the stories about members of our family that she knew and until then had seemed quite far removed from my life, even when I was a grumpy teenager or got car sick sitting on the floor of the van. That's what makes the memories, am I right?

I spent the last hour finding all of the old scans of Caleb's ancestors and a few pictures of mine, and telling Gavin about who they are and what I know that they did. I will be forever grateful for all of those who we honor and remember today. All of which have shaped our lives through their choice and examples, and the love that they have shown us. I am glad to have this day to remind me that I need to remember.

Happy Memorial Day to you.

Summer is here.

Even though it is only about 60 degrees right now, at our house we are welcoming in summer this weekend. We barbequed on Saturday had a fabulous dinner of corn-on-the-cob and watermelon on Sunday (in part thanks to our lack of planning anything else), but its not just the food that makes it feel like summer. Some people insist on being barefoot or only wearing sandals everywhere we go, and things are starting to grow outside.

Also, our neighbors got a new hammock this weekend, that they have been nice enough to let the boys use. These two spent at least 30 minutes just sitting still and chatting it up in the hammock on Saturday night. It was pretty hilarious.

Yes, Henry is wearing socks with his watershoes, and they are both in pajamas outside... but who cares?!? It is finally summer.

Old Drivers

A couple of times recently when we were out walking and crossing the street, Gavin has made some ageist comments like-

"Watch out! Are they old?" or "Looks like they are stopping for us, they must not be old." or "Vatti isn't very old, he is a safe driver." Most of the time, I choose not to comment or try to hold  back a laugh, though I promise that I never told him any such thing about senior citizen age drivers.

Today, he was riding his scooter while I was pushing the stroller past a driveway. There was someone getting ready to pull out who stopped when they saw us, and after we crossed- this was the conversation...

Gavin- "Good thing they weren't old, or we might have been run over by that car."

Me- "What? Who told you that?"

Gavin- "Who told me what, Mom?"

Me- "Who told you that about drivers that are old? Who said that old people would run over you?"

Gavin- " No one told me that, Mom. I just already knew it."

Me- "What?!?"

Gavin- "I just already knew that when someone who is old is driving they won't stop for you to cross and will run over you with their car."

Me- stunned silence trying to think of a response, followed by... "That's not true."

Gavin- "Yes. It is true, Mom. I just knowed it already. I guess you don't know as many things as I do." little chuckle to himself- " I guess I just know a lot of things that you don't know, Mom." small knowing and pitying smile to me...

My Little Photographer

In the last month or so, I have had some fun teaching Gavin to use the camera. He even had a preschool lesson with our friend Paula, where he got to wander around and take some photos. While I am a little bit biased, I think he does a pretty good job. Some of his pictures actually show some creativity and an ability to crop a decent frame. And I really love how a lot of them have a least on of his feet in them.  Here are some of the things he has taken pics of in the last month or so. Pretty good job, I think.

And pretty cute too- though I took this one.

Triple the Kids = Triple the Fun

For the last 3 days and 3 nights we increased our number of kids to 6, by having all of the Cardon girls come and stay while Nathan and Stacy took a much needed break. We slept at the their house on school nights and had an indoor campout at our house some of the time too. We kept busy, but we had tons of fun. Here are just a few things that we did.

We played with animals to our hearts content.

We danced, danced, danced.

We did hair... that's right- I did at least 4 ponytails a day (only 3 are pictured here).

We accessorized... hurrah!

We played some more... and one of us carried around a light saber for most of the 3 days... we won't mention any names.

We hiked.

We snacked and snacked and snacked...
And we even got a little sleep.

We had a super great time and are all glad that we got this chance to hang out together.

Preschool Graduation

Today was the last day of Neighborhood Preschool and the big graduation party. It has been a great year, and all of the kids have learned so much from some pretty fabulous mothers.

Gavin was so excited to have the graduation party- though he is a big confused about what exactly we will do during summer vacation.

Caryn had the great idea to have the kids make yearbooks with some of the photos that we took over the year, and then have them each sign their name in everyone else's book. They had a great time decorating checking out their photos.

They also all decorated their own mortar boards, and seeing them wearing these was about the cutest thing ever.

the awesome decorations... and Finally...

THE HAT TOSS!

What a great year. Caleb asked this morning if everyone had met the graduation requirements, and I did have to tell him that only one is moving on to kindergarten and the rest have to complete another of preschool, but only because they have a certain birthday... not because they aren't smart enough to move on to whatever they want. :-)

Family Night Bowling

Monday night we went both with Nathan and Stacy's family. It was a great time, though with all the kids, our scores were at a very low average.

I loved that they had little Velcro bowling shoes for the kids. It was just too cute.

Gavin, Mia, and Libbie ready to bowl.

Henry insisted on using a 10 lbs ball since it was a nice copper color. He was able to carry it over to the lane himself for about 5 frames. It was pretty hilarious to hear him grunting and picking it up and insisting on carrying it all alone.

Gavin was so glad to finally go bowling and play air hockey with his cousins. Though he is already talking about not using the ramp and throwing the ball down the lane "like Dad" next time.

Neighborhood Preschool Hits the Zoo

Last week we took the neighborhood preschool kids, along with their younger siblings, to the zoo for a field trip. I think they had a pretty good time, and we didn't even lose any children. Though we did come close to Henry leaving with another group that he thought was ours. 

Just a couple of well posed shots. :-) (some of the siblings were safely strapped in strollers and are not pictured here.)