Magic Moments

Summer is winding down and I'm wishing it wouldn't go. We've had a wonderful Summer. The boys have played until their hearts are content. We've spent hours at parks and they've run wild at the cabin on their little bare feet and without a care in the world. And now, come next Tuesday, we will be in our neglected school room and we will enter the scheduled school year.  Even though I'm sad I know school will be good this year. I'm (trying to be) excited for the learning that awaits and I feel Aiden's curriculum will be engaging and challenging as we walk through American History and study  the flying creatures of the fifth day of creation. Sage starts school this year too!!! I'm not one for early "schooling" at all. I think kids in our country begin school at an age much too young and they suffer as a result. But, I am all for early learning. There is a difference!!! Sage's curriculum focuses on a book each week with lots of fun activi...

Week 34: Savor- The thing I savor most is time. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how the boys won't always be little. Admittedly there are moments when I think to myself that I'm GLAD they won't always be little. But, mostly I want to savor this time when parenting is relatively easy, I still have answers to most of their questions, they still get way excited about hanging out with their mom, and listen when I insist that they call me "Mama." My goal is to savor this time and overlook the sleepless nights and small trials. I don't want to have any regrets someday about how I spent or about how I viewed my time at home with little boys. Today was beautiful and we were at the wading pool. I couldn't help but want to hang on with both hands to the Summer days that are dwindling as the schedule of the school year is about to begin. I also wanted to savor these moments when my boys are still little enough to not only be entertained by the ...

Sage has a need for speed. He is obsessed (and I do mean obsessed) with all things that have motors. He spends his days at the cabin begging anyone who will listen to please, please please take him on the pontoon, the John Deere, the fishing boats and now even the jet ski and tubing. I'm really not sure how Sage weaseled his way into a jet ski ride and the opportunity to go tubing. These are privileges which, in my opinion, should be reserved for some twice his age...at least. But this kid LOVES them and will beg you to go faster. And I should add that his Daddy was the one to give into the begging first. I was still holding out for when the kid had a few sessions of swimming lessons under his belt. When Sage isn't on some kind of boat he fills in his time riding his Motorcycle, which he still loves, but now that he's had a taste of riding a machine that will give you a thrill, the Motorcycle comes in second. This past weekend Sage took his Maiden Voyage on the tube. And ...

Week 33: Create-Painting with fly swatters is one craft activity my boys get excited about...probably because this activity involves more physical energy than creative energy. Either way, their creation was pretty...until they soaked the whole thing with their squirt guns. Here are the outtakes from the photos I took:

These five sweet friends have been buddies since they were in the womb. :) Aiden is the oldest and starts first grade this year and the rest (although only a couple months younger) start kindergarten. While we do get together often and are in contact with each other often, it's not super often that we are all together, so this morning was perfect and so special. I think the kids will all be at different schools (or at least 4 different schools) but I'm telling you, these kids will be friends for life because I dearly love their Mama's. These kids even sang "Happy Birthday" to me this morning and I think it was my favorite rendition yet. :) Tonight I'm very, very tired but I'm going to bed with my heart full. Love you guys!

Once upon a time there was a wee little toad held captive by three adorable children. Although the children had good intentions the toad wasn't appreciative of their gestures and the "park" that was built just for him. The toad received lots of love and care being held by one child's hands and then another. One of them may have squeezed him a little too much but it's hard to tell because the toad can't talk. The toad was forced to spend some time in the "park" and luckily for the toad the children didn't build the walls high enough so he was able to make a quick escape when the children turned their backs for just a second. The story ends happily ever after for the toad because he rejoined his toad family. The children were sad and miss their prisoner toad very much. Beware toads. They are planning for their next catch!

This week it was brought to my attention that Penny and Puppy had a birthday coming up. We love any chance for a celebration and I had a frosting recipe I was dying to try. So we planned a party for the stuffed animals and set Friday as the big day. Aiden made the cupcakes. True confession: I hate baking with the boys. So, for this occasion I just bought a box mix (don't throw stones) and Aiden made them himself.  Earlier I had stumbled upon a S'more Buttercream Frosting recipe. Homemade buttercream frosting with marshmallows mixed in?????? Yes. Please. A few words about the frosting:  In short, it was marvelous. Buttercream with melted chocolate and melted marshmallows mixed in....you could really taste the marshmallows and the light but creamy texture was amazing. Obviously, the sugar load in this frosting was intense. We don't normally eat tons of sugar but I'm game for a treat now and again (or everyday:) ). However, my blood sugar wasn't normal for the ent...

I had been spending days trying to teach Aiden to ride his bike without training wheels. Moms teach their kids a lot and as a homeschooling mom I've taught that child everything he knows. Trying to teach Aiden to ride his bike was proving to be the most difficult thing I've taught him by far. He had only gone a few sidewalk squares independently once or twice and the end was not in sight. I left for work on Wednesday and Tom told me he would take over with Aiden. He sent me a video not even half an hour later with Aiden riding up and down the sidewalk on his own. I was thrilled! Truth be told I was also a little annoyed that what I struggled to do for days Tom somehow accomplished in 20 minutes. I'm telling myself I did all the leg work. :) I'm so proud of Aiden, who is obviously feeling very grown up to be riding with no training wheels. And of course I'm thankful that Tom is willing and able to teach the boys things like this. He is my hero. Sage, who is always do...