Mid Summer Update

Well, I don't often find myself thinking of blogging these days.  The middle of our summer is passing uneventfully.  We've played mancala, ants in the pants, cootie, don't break the ice, bang, labyrinth, and a few others I don't remember.  We toured a potato chip factory.  It was amazing to see potatos coming off the truck at one end of the warehouse and nice hot chips coming off the conveyor belts at the other end.  Wash, cut, fry, repeat.  It smelled really good. 
James' viola arrived in the mail this week.  I am excited for him to have a chance to learn a musical instrument.  I think he will love middle school. 
Simon is gearing up for kindergarten.  He is an excellent helper with the chickens and is very interested in learning to ride a 2 wheeler.  I was excited to teach a 2 wheeler when I am not pregnant, as has been the case in the past.  I was not counting on a helpful 2 year old who insists on running behind and holding Simon up as he tries to gain his balance.  Scary! 
Mia has really developped some great sewing skills through classes at the local fabric store.  She has made a pillowcase, an apron, a pair of shorts, and appliqued a cute t shirt.  She would like to make a dress all by herself.  She chose a pattern (after I insisted) and is looking forward to the day when she can wear something she made to church. 
Jonny likes playing with friends- he has had a lot of good  play dates this summer. 
Rachel loves to talk on the phone, sing songs and help Simon ride his bike (yikes!) She is funny, but don't call her that.  She will tell you she is not funny, she is cute.  I think she can be both.

We took the kids roller skating a few weeks ago.  It was tons of fun.  Gary and I were the only parents on roller skates at first, but a few more joined in.  This was the kids first experience and they were real troopers.  They skated and fell and skated and fell and skated and skated and skated.  Even Rachel got going a little.  James, Jonny, and Mia took to roller blades very well.  Simon did much better on standard skates.  Rachel did fisher price my first skates and that was just right for her.  Gary and I each took the youngest ones around until they got the hang of it.  At first, skating with Rachel was a bit like dragging a scarecrow around the rink, but she found her feet and had a good time.  Simon much had a similar experience on roller blades, but once he switched to skates he did great.  I felt like a kid again, it was so much fun.

A few days ago the kids started "The Night Night Club."  It's where they take all of the pillows and blankets and spread them on the living room floor.  Mia is the president.  Jonny is the national guard. Simon in the vice president.  Rachel is in charge of recruiting.  I am the secretary.  I think I have the best job because it is funny to write down what really happens.  First meeting: Jonny motions to remove Mia as president.  Motion is denied, but term limits of 1 year are established (this was a tough compromise between daily turn over and every 3 years.)  Next motion:Should the club do cuddle time or pillow fight?  membership voted 3-1 in favor of cuddle time.  (When James found that out, he determined that this was not the club for him. Rachel will have her work cut out for her as recruiter.)  Next motion: weekly schedule established, Monday cuddle time, Wednesday pajama day, Friday is trick day.  Meeting adjourned.     Only casualty: Daddy's pillow is no where to be found.  Sorry!  I promise we'll find it before you need it:)

The kids are all in swimming lessons, including Rachel.  I go in the water with her.  It's fun, but I am really missing seeing what the others are up to in their classes.  I didn't anticipate that. 

Summer Time

This summer, I set a goal to play more games with the kids.  The specific goal was to play one different board or card game each day.  3 weeks in to summer and I am not there yet.  Here's a list of games we have played:
Life
Busy Town
Apples to Apples (Simon can't read, but was just throwing in a random card each round and managed to win!)
Bang!
Set
Jumbling Tower (knock off of Jenga- buy the real deal, if you do- the blocks don't align well in the generic)
Elefun
Monopoly Jr.

Another thing I want to do this summer is find service projects to participate in.  So far, we helped clean up the landscaping at a local school (someone's eagle project) and help clean the house of a woman who had back surgery (the kids were pretty excited to be assigned the bathroom, if you can believe it.  All of those chore skills put to good use.)  If you hear of any family friendly service projects, let me know:) James has done a little free babysitting and Mia delivered treats to sick people with the Activity Girls.  Hopefully, we can all feel the joy and unity that comes with service. 

Jonny decided that he likes to do 4 things: eat, play video games, burn things (well, watch things burn, as in camp fires) and bake things.  As we have time limits on video games, he is twiddling his thumbs a lot.  And he is baking a lot.  5 dozen cookies donated so far, who knows how many consumed. 

Mia has decided that she only likes are amusement parks and vacations where you go somewhere.   This kind of reminds me of a kid I babysat a few times when Gary was in grad school.  When meals were served, she would politely decline, saying "I only eat Happy Meals."  Mia is taking sewing classes at the fabric store and has brought home some great projects so far- a pillowcase and a quilt/applique t-shirt.  She has a few more projects to go.  I hope she'll find some satisfaction in gaining a new skill. 

James has discovered the library's teen center.  He's not a teen yet, but he loves to sneak in.  So as often as he can, he goes to the library under the pretense of reading a great new series.  But really, it's the video games, every time.  He also went on a couple of over nighters with the scouts too.  How exciting!

Simon has read the first 4 Hooked on Phonics books to me!  I am proud of him for trying and proud of me for making time to do it.   He enjoyed a week of McGruff Safety camp where he learned all kinds of safety tips and how to drive a 4 wheeler.  (my favorite new saftey tip: for kids in 2nd or 3rd floor bedrooms, if there is a fire and you  are trapped in your room, open your window and start throwing your toys out the window.  The firefighters will see the toys right away and know where to find the kids.  The firefighter explained that the first thing they do is walk a perimeter around the house to gauge the situation and will find the toys and consequently the kids.)

Rachel has decided that it's time to act her age: 2.  She no longer likes the straps of her car seat and it's this "awesome" wrestling match when ever we need to go somewhere in a hurry.  She has also learned how to stretch "just a minute" to it's fullest extent.   She is in a big girl bed now and also sings and talks ALL the time. 

We rented chickens and for the next month, Winifred and Georgina will be wandering the yard, eatting bugs, laying eggs and delighting the children to the max.   Simon and Jonny are constantly checking on them and are especially fond of them.  They are good natured and calm and don't mind catching/holding. That's not to say that the others don't like them too- Rachel first saw them and said "OOO!  See my chicken sisters?"  Will it be heart break or good ridance when it's time to give them back?  Time will tell. 

We've met friends at the park each week (email for the schedule if you want to join in) and enjoyed the free movie offerings at the local theater.  That's a run down of our summer so far.  I'm trying to keep track for the kiddodiddo's sake, so they don't turn in another essay like this:
"We went to the store.  We went to the store again.  It was boring.  Next year it will be boring too."
Or, if they do, I can print this, to show the teacher I am not a shopaholic.