Our Crazy Life

Here is a classic picture dump post. It seems I get out the camera for random stuff I find interesting enough to take a picture. Sometimes I go back and wonder what the heck I was really trying to capture when taking the photo...

I wonder if I could fit in the dryer? I wonder if the dryer would work if I tried to turn it on while she was in there? I wonder why kids find it interesting to climb into the dryer in the first place? Because I think I've seen this picture rehashed a hundred times by a hundred different kids.

I don't know what I like more about this photo: the fact that he finds it so fun to stand at the steering wheel, or his hair.

Kiwi loves to hold her brother. It's scary. She's never dropped him though, so I let her do it. I just don't watch.

I don't know what's crazier, the carrot or the eyes.
Oh, and someone got a haircut. The aftermath of this photo was an all out war between him and Kiwi. Something about a doll house and how mean they both are. Can you see it coming in the background. I love my kids!

Piano Recital

We had another piano recital again! What a shocker...This year there were some major changes though.

First and foremost is the addition of Kiwi into the line-up. She began lessons back in January after much persuasion and encouragement. Come to find out, she loves it. She's picking up on it pretty quick. She really enjoys music (just like her mama). If I want to make her more willing to do chores, I offer her headphones to listen to music while she works.
G-man continues to progress. He had some challenging pieces for his recital this year. Frustration was felt in abundance. But we made it through and I think he is a better pianist because of it. He is progressing through one and a half levels each year. I'm trying to cram as much learning in as possible now because I know once he hits middle school, piano will probably be a bigger fight than it is now.

The second major change was who taught most of the students at the recital. It was me! I have been swapping lessons for my kids with a friend for the past three years. She taught G-man, I taught her oldest daughter. She also taught four other students as well. Over the summer I began teaching her younger daughter. Then she went back to work full time and I took all her students. She still teaches mine, but even that is a stretch with her schedule. I'm so grateful she still teaches them, because I can't do it. Just giving them suggestions when they practice is met with much whining and annoyance.

Teaching piano is a challenge for me. My theory skills are lacking and I'm basically just teaching based on my experience as a student. Plus I have to juggle my other kids while trying to teach. It can be distracting for the students and frustrating for me at times. Thankfully all my student's parents are friends who are understanding and supportive. No one has grand visions of concert pianists emerging from their home. As long as they learn to read the notes and can play church hymns, we'll be happy.

Good job G and K. You works so hard and I'm so proud of you!

Yard Work

We are constantly doing something in our backyard. It's a big yard, and we don't want to pay a landscaper. We are in the process of reigning in the bermuda grass so it doesn't take over. We don't like to use chemicals, so we are digging it out. This involves a lot of shoveling, a bit of sifting and some more shoveling. We probably will never finish, but the kids sure are having a lot of fun helping. Here are some recent of pics of J "helping." That is, if you consider eating rocks helping. We didn't get a garden planted this year. We do have things growing in the garden from winter still, but in a few weeks probably all we will have left is the strawberries, asparagus, and basil that is coming up from seed. I have really come to love fresh herbs. I have rosemary and thyme in my front planters, cilantro and dill that is going to seed, oregano, and basil just starting to grow. All I need now is some parsley and I will be set. I am going to miss my fresh tomatoes this year. Unfortunately these days we have surrendered to the demands of four kids. Maybe once the baby stops teething we'll get our garden back.

Easter

We took some quick pics in front of our church building Easter Sunday. This is all the pictures we have since we forgot to bring our camera to the Easter egg hunt Saturday. Now I just need to figure out what I screwed up on my camera to make the pictures so washed out. I tried messing with my settings and now it just doesn't work well in daylight. If I don't figure out how to fix it, that's a good excuse to get a new camera right? Chad? Are you listening?

I'm Three!

Mr. S had a birthday this past week. My little blondie turned three and not a moment too soon. He has been looking forward to this ever since his sister turned six in February. His desire for the special day were many and changed constantly. He wanted a party. He wanted a toy story cake. He wanted friends there. He wanted balloons. He wanted pizza. He wanted hamburgers. I could never pin him down on the exact details. Then I realized he was turning three. He just wanted a day to have what he wanted. So that is what we did.
We went to the toy store and he picked out his birthday present (a duplo garbage truck and crane). He went to the grocery store and picked out his cake and ice cream. He picked out a balloon on a stick because then he didn't have to be afraid it would float away. He was allowed to choose whatever spot he wanted to sit at for dinner. He was allowed to eat whatever he wanted (or didn't want) to eat for dinner. His sister was not allowed to tell him no or boss him around. I think he was in heaven.
Yesterday I took him to the doctor for a well-child visit. He was shy at first but once he warmed up to the doctor, she couldn't get him to stop talking. Being the third child, once he realized he had someone who would sit and listen, he was ready to go on all day about garbage trucks and trash cans with smattering of information about his day to day life.

S is such a sweet boy and a joy to talk to. He is very articulate for a three year old and always makes me laugh with what he has to say. He is probably our most observant child, always aware of how things are placed and where their proper place is. He is also a daddy's boy which can be nice sometimes and can be kind of annoying. He loves to cuddle with his sister's baby dolls and play daddy.

But no matter how much he shuns me for dad on the weekends, he will always have a special place in my heart. I think I can officially declare that at last I have a left handed child! I was the third child in my family and I am left handed. Now my third child is left handed and I couldn't be happier. As much as I enjoy having that unique trait, it is nice to have someone to share it with. I love you Seti boy!

Great Grandma Cox

My grandma Cox came down from Utah to live with my parents for the winter(she's my mother's mother). She amazes me how spry she is at 94. We tried to go up and see her as often as possible while she was only a two hour drive away instead of 12. All my great grandparents had passed away before I was born. I'm thankful my kids will have some memory of her.

Whenever we came she would sit me down and talk family history. I'm kind of scared to look too closely at her side because her family and Chad's mom's family we're both Germans from Wisconsin. If I look too hard I might find we're related somewhere back there.
Kiwi was named after my grandmother's mother Adeline and she passed on some things to Kiwi that had belonged to her mother. One was a love letter from my great grandpa to Adeline.
I was named after her first born daughter that passed away at birth. I feel particularly close to my grandma Cox because of this. I hope I have lived my life in a way that is worthy of that name. I love you grandma.

G's Science Experiment

G-man had to complete a science project for his class by the end of the quarter. We didn't have it done in time for the science fair. It turns our 2nd graders aren't the best communicators. G only gave me a weeks notice for that one. But now we are learning the questions that need to be asked to try and overcome those communication barriers. Plus I have no room to talk. I think I'm the queen of poor communication skills.

G-man chose to blow up balloons with carbon dioxide by mixing vinegar and baking soda. We were trying to see if we could create enough gas to make one burst. We were able to get one to fly off the soda bottle. But not to burst. I was tired of using up all my vinegar.
It was the perfect 2nd grade science project. G-man really loves chemistry and blowing things up.