Pet Snails

We found snail "pets" while picking beans today. They kept the kids busy for three hours, doing snail races, building snail homes, inspecting, feeding and naming them.

Snail races!! These were high stakes...there was jumping and cheering from the bystanders. The snail Eddie won every time.

The "Food Land" the kids created for the snails. 

While they were busy with pets, I was snapping beans and peas. Yay for garden veggies!

 Sissy, Baby, Leafy and Eddie.

Pajama Morning

We actually have more pajama mornings than I'd like to admit...but at least it was a productive morning!  The kids helped me do Saturday chores a day early while Brian studied for his end-of-labor-and-delivery-rotation exam. Then while Kinsey took a nap we went outside and painted our toenails while listening to Cracken and Tandra stories on my phone. (Bracken painted his toenails clear so he could be a part of the fun but still feel manly.)

Cracken and Tandra stories...Brian started telling these to the kids a couple of months ago.  They all feature Bracken, Chandra and Kinsey (with slightly different names) jumping through portals and going on adventures to all sorts of places...the desert, spy land, in the clouds, with pirates, space, dealing with Rumbleshnorkles, etc.  Almost all the stories include Chandra spanking the bad guys with carrots and Kinsey throwing her poopy diapers at the bad guys. The kids love this special time with Brian.  He started recording some of the stories and now they can listen to them at night even if Brian is still at work or it's just too late.  

Kinsey's First Tea Party

At least it was the first time she got to drink out of a tea cup.  She was soaked by the end, but happy the whole time.  Chandra made sure Kinsey had a crown and jewelry so she'd fit in at the Princess Tea Party.  

Colonial Heritage Festival

 What a perfect festival/celebration for the week of Independence Day! I took my kids and Melissa and Zedek.  We watched them fire a cannon (Bracken loved the boom. Chandra, Kinsey and Zedek did not.), do military drills, went to school, and visited many booths of various colonial vocations. (Above: the blacksmith. We watched him make a fire with a bird nest, push the bellows, and bend some metal).

Bracken in the stocks.

Bracken loved being in the children's militia. 

 Trying on colonial clothing...neither of them wanted to give the clothes back.

 Bracken and Zedek are buds!

 In the colonial schoolroom...they lined up, waited for the bell to ring, got to wear a hat and bonnet, learned new songs, wrote on mini chalk boards...And they got lemon drops.  They loved school

 Not a violin...I think a Hungarian fiddle.  Anyway, an absolutely beautiful instrument inlaid with mother of pearl and with a dragon carved scroll.

The broom and barrel maker shop.

Bracken grinding herbs with a mortar and pestle at the apothecary.

Chandra really wanted to carry the water with a yoke, but it was pretty heavy! She got a little help.

Chandra in the stocks.

Chandra at school. 

Feeling So Big

Kinsey has been pulling herself onto our little bike and feels so proud of herself.  She waves her hands and claps and wants us to make a big-to-do about her. She went missing a couple days ago and we found her at the very top of our stairs.  Now she makes a run for the stairs every time we're not paying attention. She's started standing on her own. She signs "more" and "all done." She says "dada" all the time and "mama" every once in a while. She is so expressive and fun. Love our "Big" little girl. 

Just a few pictures

Kinsey's Smoothie Face

She has the prettiest and craziest bed hair...just depends on the day.

Early morning pajama and cousin fun.  Zedek got to stay with us for a few days and we did lots of playing.

Kinsey kept grabbing Zedek's feet while he was eating and he thought it was hilarious.