Skunks, Rain, and Smiles

 I found the Devil's dipstick mushroom back in my yard.  Gross! 

 We recently had a very heavy rain.  The kids were so giddy about going to play in it.  The neighbor children were here and so they borrowed swimwear and went out too.  They had a good time.  To me, playing in the rain is a childhood must.  I remember putting on one of my dad's t-shirts and running in the rain and it being so fun. 

Zeke gets dressed for school on his own most days.  The other day it was cool out so I chose pants and a short sleeved shirt.  He put it on and then I turned my back and he changed into this... He says he likes the cold on his skin.  I thought to myself.. I just don't have the energy to fight this one... so off he went in 55 degrees like this. 

Romy's 2nd birthday is approaching and I have decided to make a pinata for her.  It's going to be an ice cream cone.  I went to Hobby Lobby to get supplies and the lady said "now, you know I have an ice cream cone pinata don't you?" and I asked her how much it was.  She said $12 and something cents.  I was tempted, but decided to just make one myself because if I'm going to be good at making pinatas I have to practice sometime and I fully intend on sending my kids one in college.  Or at least that's what I say now.  I think I might have lost my mind by not purchasing that one in Hobby Lobby.  

The girl on the left is Gwen... girl on the right is Romy.  They are like little peas in a pod!

We have a skunk that visits every night in my backyard.  It's driving me insane!

Fleeting summer

I saw this pig with wings outside someone's house and now I want one.

We went to Loose park. It's beautiful! I think I may have had sunscreen on. The lens, but I think it's cool anyway.

They have beautiful flowers there. The kids and I took a walk.

And we found a swing set.

I tried out jar salads for Ben and I today. I feel good about all those veggies going in us. If this works out well, then I'll do smaller versions for the kid's lunch. Thanks for the inspiration Leah! I used tomatoes from our garden, carrots, sugar snap peas, bell pepper, spinach and romaine, ranch sunflower seeds, mozzarella cheese, chicken chunks, and Ben got croutons.

Distracted

 I live in constant concern that I turn into this guy.  Missing the big wonderful moment when a humpback whale comes right beside you and you miss it.  Or rather, I miss it.  It's a real struggle to stay in the moment and really LISTEN to your people.  I mean kids, spouse, friends, ect.  I want to be a good listener.  I want to notice stuff.  I have to be alert.  The cost of not being alert is too high. 

When I went to Branson I bought this from Pier 1.  It was on clearance and I hardly ever go in there, but Ben and I were on a date and I saw it and wanted it.  I love it.  I have been journaling almost every day in there about why I need to be alert and it is a great reminder.  Instead of playing on my phone in the pickup line I journal or look around at nature.   

Back to School

 Over the past few days we have gotten both Gwen and Zeke off to school.  Gwen is in second grade this year and Zeke is in kindergarten.  Wow!  Zeke goes half day, so I pick him up at 11:30.  This morning he didn't want me walking him in.  I guess that means he is ready to spread his wings a bit, but it sure is hard to swallow at times. 

I don't buy back to school clothes, but I did buy the kids these shirts.  They came from Aldi. :) 

This is Gwen's watercolored lily.  I really think it came out great.  It's tough getting the shading right with watercolor, but I'd like to learn.

Here's mine.  Mine's all smudgy, but I still like it.

Here is Zeke and his little buddy a few houses down, Luke.  They are in the same class.

Zeke and mama

Gwen looks so elegant and grown up in these pictures.  I couldn't pick my favorite, so I included all of them.  I know every parent must think their children are adorable, but I really think they are beautiful.  You know you are getting older when you look at their unblemished skin and admire that.

Gwen and her friend Katie Beth.  They are in different classes, but same grade.

Romy likes the extra attention she gets when they are at school.

Playing with Claire.

Ben got this rose for me a few days ago.  He is very good about getting me flowers.  He knows I really love them.  Anyway, this one is spectacular.  I tell the kids if they touch it the petals may fall off and I be a beast forever.  It looks like the one from Beauty and the Beast. :)

Finale of Summer

Recently we've had a little backyard excitement with spotting a racoon in a tree.  It looked young to me and caused us no harm.  I was worried it would eat my baby watermelons... more on that later. 

Then there is a skunk that comes in our backyard almost every night.  I'm not sure what it wants, but it worries me that it will have babies under our deck.  Kansas nature is full of drama!

Gwen and Zeke have been getting increasingly restless these days so we turned to our friendly youtube video art studio that my friend Leah introduced us to.  I recently got some watercolor paper to try out.  We've always just used cardstock for our watercoloring, but I thought it would be interesting to see the difference in using real watercolor paper.  We feel so pampered by using it.  Anyway... so we decided to do a watercolor lily.  We've sketched it and will paint it tomorrow.  Here's the link if you'd like to try it. 

Mine

Gwen's

I have about 5 baby watermelons in the backyard that are growing now.  I am protective of them and watch them periodically through the day to see if they have grown.  Zeke is also watching them and seems very interested in the garden.  Gwen isn't interested at all.  Zeke picks vegetables when they are ready, waters for me, and gives me general updates and if something has grown or a new something is turning up he gets VERY excited.  It excites me that he is excited over gardening.  I can't tell you how enamored I am with these lacy vines and these baby watermelons.  I need help.  

This is a picture that my brother-in-law, Jake, shared with me.  It is of bricks in Africa.  Anywhere where there is construction there is a hut thing made to make their own bricks.  Most Americans couldn't fathom making their own bricks.  This picture reminds me that I (and my kids) can do more than we think we can.

This year we got a zoo pass. I have enjoyed it very much. Looking at animals gives me joy.  Where else would I get the chance to see a gorilla?  I was hoping I'd get to see the new baby gorilla born in late May, but they had it put away.  I did get this picture of the napping silverback though.

We went to a bird show there at the zoo and when the lady asked for volunteers Gwen raised her hand.  She was chosen to stand up and hold two grapes and a bird would fly onto her arm and eat the grape.  I was thinking... a small bird... and we kept waiting and waiting... and then Gwen changed her mind.  Gwen didn't want to do it anymore and sat down.  When I saw the size of bird that supposedly was going to land on Gwen's arm I totally agreed that she wouldn't do it.  It seems that the lady was "joking" and that she wasn't going to have the bird land on her, but rather she throw the grapes at the bird.  (aren't you laughing?? NO) She wouldn't even throw the grapes.  I didn't blame her.  What a horrible thing to tell a kid!  Well, Zeke threw the grapes at it and that was that.  

Yeah, um, this was the bird that was supposedly going to land on my 7 year old's arm. 

A red-tailed hawk.  One of my favorites. 

 A male orangutan.  I love their cheek pads.

Romy and an owl.  They both turned their heads as I took the photo... of course.