nature spot, june

We almost didn't make it out there this month! I'm amazed at how much our scorching heat and lack of rain has changed the landscape since last month.

I want to remember how loud the cicadas were today.

there's nothing as beautiful as a nursing mother

You've got to admire the logistics of three at once.

team player

Tonight, while trying to earn extra points for her house team (Slytherin --?), Gwendolyn (aka "Katie") went around doing extra chores all on her own. She picked up Linus' room, the playroom, folded some laundry, and swept the kitchen floor with her Nimbus 2000. Awesome. I hope we play "Harry Potter" every day!

city folk

We took a day trip to the city today and had a wonderful time. Our first stop was the fire museum, which is one of Linus' favorite spots on the planet. We haven't been in over a year and this was the first time Casper has been old enough to enjoy it, and enjoy it he did.

We also paid a visit to the printing museum where we caught up with old friends, took in the exhibits, and reminisced about the old days.

The highlight of the day was hanging out with our friend Seth. Seth is a good friend from our years in Boston; as he happened to be coming to town on a book tour, we picked him up from the airport, took him out for Vietnamese food, and then attended (or screamed/whined through, depending who you are) his reading.

You know it's been a good day when you come home happy, exhausted, and full of tofu.

hp

Todd recently finished reading the first Harry Potter book to Gwendolyn and Linus, so there has been a lot of Harry Potter talk and play around here.

Tonight, Casper asks Todd for his "dility cloak" (invisibility cloak), which is a silky tied around his head.

Gwennie, talking about what the monster might be and might do in the second Harry Potter book, which we’re reading: “I’m not afraid of anything! . . . except cavities, and things like that.”

The other night at dinner, the children kept referring to the juice as "pumpkin juice" and so now Casper asks for pumpkin juice.

When playing Harry Potter, Gwennie first wanted to cast herself as Harry's girlfriend (which Todd told her was Cho Chang). We later pointed out how smart Hermione is and since then, she's taken that role. Poor Todd always has to be Malfoy.

homeless

As tempted as I am to keep these guys around for the sake of the blog (because looking at pictures of kittens never gets old), we do need to find homes for at least two of them. If you contact us soon, we can deliver to Houston or Dallas.

Key, Pudge, Spatzie

Gwennie and Pudge

commentary

As I took some laundry out of the dryer and put it on my bed to fold, Casper helpfully told me, "Laundry. Laundry, fold."

Casper is also loving the song "New Pair of Shoes," which Les Savy Fav recorded for Yo Gabba Gabba, and which Jeffrey sent our way. When he feels like dancing, he requests the song by saying, "Mama's ipod. Shoes."

acrobatic

Today Gwendolyn dressed Linus us as a cat tamer (and I think he was taming the kittens as well as his big sister who was dressed up as a tiger). Later, Linus decided he wanted to be an acrobat and just stayed in the same outfit. Here he is showing off some of his moves.

meet the rest of the family

Pudge, Key and Spatzie.

saturate

rotten

Yesterday Linus and Gwendolyn had dentist appointments. Later, Linus was on the phone telling Granny about their visit and he said, "We went to the dentist today. My teeth are great, but Gwendolyn's are kind of rotten." It's kind of true -- Gwendolyn has one small cavity in her top back molar that we are going to have to get fixed up. She also has four slightly loose teeth on the bottom. Seriously, she's almost 7 years old and losing her first tooth isn't in the near future. I'm not too worried about it, but I am worried that she'll lose 6 teeth at once and I won't be able to feed her anything but smoothies. She'd love that.

guess who we have living in the kids' bathroom

That's right -- four cats! Right now, I think everyone is very pleased with the situation. The kids have constant access and the cats have a safe, air conditioned place to live with a steady stream of food, water, cat toys and people to love on them. (Though I think they were a little miffed at me earlier for stuffing them into cat carriers and dragging them to the vet for check-ups and shots.)

as if Mason and the tadpoles weren't enough

This morning we went to get bicycles out of the shed so we could go for a ride and what did we discover? Three homeless kittens romping about. They were promptly fed and watered and pet and adored. The mama cat (skinny and hungry but very sweet and friendly) showed up later. She is a very good mother.Gwendolyn was excited beyond words, "I can't believe this happened to me today!" Funny thing, I had the exact same thought, but was dealing with emotions on the opposite end of the spectrum. I've since seen the blessings as the the kids have spent much of today outside with the cats playing, petting and building beds and play areas for them.At bedtime, only one kitten and the mama cat were around, so we don't know what has happened to the other two babies, but tomorrow we plan to take the mama to the vet and get her scanned for a chip and properly looked over.

Unfortunately, we can't keep any of these cuties because we currently live with the grouchiest cat on the planet. Adding a kitten to the mix would not be good. Anyone interested?

happy returns

After two weeks away, the children are back home today. As much as they enjoyed their time with Granny and Grandad, aunts, uncle, and cousins, they seem excited and relieved to be in their own space. We are happy to reintroduce them to their schedules and rhythms -- as well as their toys (after such a long time, these are as good as new), their new "pets" (a few tree frogs are left, though we only have three or four tadpoles still swimming around) . . . oh, and Daddy.

watering hole

Today my dear friend Christina invited us to swim at a local pool/mini-waterpark. Gwennie made a friend and the two of them went down the big slide at least a dozen times. Linus loved floating down the "lazy river". And poor little Casper was just plain freaked out by the water tower that splashed copious amounts of water every ten minutes. Still, it was a great time.Later while the kids were down for quiet time, I got to sneak away and visit with Christina some more. It was a rare treat. We were best friends back in High School, so how lucky am I that she and her sweet family ended up in the same town as my parents?

bonkers

It was a rainy day here in Dallas, so this morning we took all the kids to a gigantic indoor rat maze and they loved it. The big kids had been here before, but this was Casper's first time and that kid has no inhibitions. Linus was a little leery and wanted Mama to be up there crawling around with him. And I did, for a while, but I can only feel hot and claustrophobic in a place that smells like gym socks for so long. Next time we're bringing Daddy.

No good photos of Gwennie -- she was much too busy to stop and wave to the camera.

dramatic

When Linus opened the under-sink cabinet today, the roll of paper towels fell off the rack and tumbled into the cupboard. He commented, "I opened the door and the paper towels fell dramatically!"

reunited

We're back with the big kids! Now that I'm with them again, I realize just how much I missed them last week. Today we went to the park and I swear they've each grown two inches. Linus in particular has also grown in bravery when it comes to climbing and monkey bar tricks. When did these kids get so big?

The kids also insisted on wearing the t-shirts from the play place Grannie just took them to.

punch

For dessert tonight, Todd made some summer punch by juicing a fresh pineapple and adding some local peaches which we'd frozen last night in simple syrup. It was lovely -- a little thicker than your typical juice, especially with the addition of chunks of frozen peach. Todd made it into an even fancier dessert by using it as a syrup covering vanilla ice cream. Ask him for a pineapple peach-icle sometime, and he'll be happy to blend one up for you.

It took Casper a minute or two to take to the punch; he's often a little squeamish when he's offered new foods. But he got enthusiastic about it quickly once he'd mustered the courage to taste it. Add it to his other recent favorites: lemons (or "melemena," as he pronounces them) and salami (or "malamanee").

lowly lowly lo

Casper is currently going through an obsession with Lowly Worm from the Richard Scarry books. Since I had to return a Lowly-filled book to the library this week, Todd and I took Casper to Barnes and Noble the other night and found a chunky little board book in the shape of Lowly worm riding in his apple car. We read it multiple times a day. Then Casper reads it to Toffee. Then he takes the book to bed with him.

Also, Mr. Chatty has started forming short sentences. "Thank you, Mama." "I'm thirsty." When you ask him a question he doesn't know the answer to, he shrugs his shoulders and says, "Doh doh know." I'm smitten.

polliwogs

A few weeks ago when Ian and Sarah were in town, we rescued some tadpoles from a quick-drying creek. There must have also been some eggs in that water because we ended up with more than 50 tadpoles. Thankfully, we have the small tree frog variety and they are now quickly losing their tails and becoming frogs. Our current frog count is eight.

master gardener

With no siblings around to play with and keep him entertained, Casper has been very keen to help Todd and me with chores around the house. This afternoon we watered the plants, the flowers, the grass, the rocks, the sidewalk. . .

only child

Casper is an only child this week. My family returned to Dallas today and they took Gwendolyn and Linus with them (and oh how I miss them!). The house is eerily quiet, and a bit lonely. I miss having my mom and sister and her family here because they really are the perfect house guests -- they fold your laundry, they cook yummy meals, they take care of your kids when you are sick with a nasty sinus infection and/or migraine headache, they take pity on your poor husband and buy him a new lawn mower for his birthday {thanks, mom!}, they babysit so you can go on a date with your husband, they put your kids to bed better than you do and there are always cousins to play with.

backyard fun

Tonight the big kids are making smores and sleeping out in a tent in the backyard. They're beyond excited. I'm a little worried about the lack of sleep that's going to take place -- especially for Todd and Uncle BJ.

kissing cousins

Cousins Sophia (3) and Phoebe (22 months) have been here visiting with us all week and Casper and Phoebe could not be sweeter together. Those two little babies play together, scream and screech together and are always kissing. It's been very fun to watch them interact at such a young age.

poolside

Isn't swimming a must on Memorial Day? Though the big kids have been in swim lessons for a week, today was Casper's first time in the water this season. Though timid at first, by the end he was loving it.

Also, how cute is he in that bodysuit with the matching sunhat and swim shoes?

chocolate goatee

jungle book

The long-awaited dance recital was today. Gwendolyn played a butterfly and really did a beautiful job. She's improved so much this year and I loved watching that cute, skinny little thing flit around on stage, obviously enjoying herself. She was excited about having Granny, two aunties, an uncle and two cousins in the audience. Also, the attention, the flowers, the dinner at her favorite restaurant and the ice cream post-show.

growth

Gwennie's last day of dance class was today and we wanted to say a nice "thank you" to her wonderful teacher, Miss Diana. I did a variation on my friend Amy's idea. Gwendolyn loved it and I'm told Miss Diana did, too.

all wet

Swimming lessons began this week and both the big kids have been enjoying them (unlike last year when Linus refused to get into the water). Casper has been a good sideline observer, as long as I have snacks.



We also met up with some friends this afternoon at the splashpad. It was a little crowded today, so Gwendolyn took our frisbee and four friends out onto the grassy lawn to play a game of her own invention. She lined the kids up according to age and then she would throw the frisbee and allow the next child in line to fetch it and bring it back to her to throw again. It didn't seem that fun to me, but the other kids didn't seem to mind and Gwendolyn was very proud of her organizational skills.