Tuesday Random Five (May 12, 2015)

Normally I put my Random Five on Facebook (and I probably still will, so my apologies for the repeat...I know there is at least ONE of you out there who reads this and is not on Facebook though).

1. Nature.  SO much nature around here.  Multiple fishing trips (just behind the house) each week, sometimes the kids keep the fish in a big five-gallon bucket for the afternoon; we caught a box turtle who peed in our trunk on a road trip this weekend; there is currently a red-eared slider in a bucket on the deck; moths, lady bugs and other random crawlies in the bug cage; a millipede in a plastic container; worms every time it rains and butterfly season is sneaking up on us. It is always something, but boy does this sure keep the kids entertained!!  As does playing in the mud.  Sometimes it is just better not to know until it is time to clean them up and come inside.  I consider it the price of peace.
2. Clement.  He is so funny.  He eats lots of bananas, sometimes three a day.  Every time I hand him one he sets it on the table standing up and says, "it looks like a bridge," before I open it for him.  He has been hugging me and saying, "mommy, you're the best!" several times a day recently. He has very vivid dreams, and often wakes up (sometimes in the middle of the night) with very odd requests.  The ones that come to mind of late are having to cast his fishing pole in the backyard and reel it back in at 2am, insisting on a bite of hamburger from the fridge before he would calm down, and needing to clutch a pretend pineapple that I continually had to hand to him until he fell back asleep.  You can't make this stuff up.
3. Books.  I got a bunch of picture books on CD for our road trip this past weekend, and the kids really enjoyed them.  Kolbe has continued enjoying them this week at home, and we got a few more when we were at the library yesterday.  I see these becoming a staple over the summer.
4. Summer.  It's coming! 6.5 days of school left.  I volunteer in Gemma's classroom for the last time this week.  I can tell that she, as usual, has a bit of trepidation about the impending changes even though she is excited for vacation!  She was talking last night about how it was a little sad to have her last time with her teacher so I can tell she's mulling it over anyways.  We are working on our "list of things we want to do" and I am making a "here are some things you can do when you are bored or driving me crazy" list.  I also have our daily routine pretty well hashed out.  Hopefully.  Time will tell.
5. Marriage.  60 years of marriage!!!  Our road trip was to celebrate Aaron's grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.  I was so glad to get a picture of them with our kids.

Journal: reunions, routines, and lots of rain!!

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny and mild.  The weather has been remarkable, we've had so much rain that we actually wish it would dry out a bit (thought I would never say that again!!).  More in the forecast tonight and tomorrow.  We had 3 1/10 inches in one dumping last weekend, goodness!!

Clothing myself in:  bleh.  I have gotten a few new pair of shorts for summer from Old Navy and Target and one off the local swap page that I'm really enjoying.

Around the house:  We had overnight guests last Thursday/Friday in conjunction with a big family reunion on my mom's side of the family.  We had lots of fun (with the guests and the reunion)!  Trying to settle into the "new normal" that Summer brings, which has been hard because we've had VBS, Art Camp, the guests and the Reunion all in a two-week time period.  Nothing like everything at once, we have hardly anything on our calendar for the rest of the Summer haha.

I got some additional juice glasses from Montessori Services now that Clem is no longer using a sippy and ordered a little glass pitcher and some enamelware mugs as well.  I really like all these items, they are so cute and durable.  I'm hoping the pitcher will save trips to and from the fridge for milk refills during dinner.  Now if I could just get Clem to drink cow's milk...  

 

The baby/toddler: We flipped him front-facing after our "big" (1.5 hour) trip this past weekend.  At almost two and 23 lbs we probably could have kept him rear-facing for longer but he is so.stinking.long.  He had mixed emotions at first about being turned around, but now he enjoys telling me "ready, GO" when we are sitting at stoplights, and seems utterly fascinated watching traffic out his window. 

The kiddos:  Gemma really liked VBS again this year.  She was so excited it was CatChat and we have already listened the heck out of the new CD.  It really is very catchy music, for which I am grateful.  She seems to be loving Art Camp (put on at our local Catholic High School) and is very excited for their art show tomorrow!!  The first couple weeks of Summer were rough on her, the girl just does not do well with change.  I asked her if she missed school and she quite frankly answered me, "yes".  She seems to be settling in though, although she and Kolbe have been sparring more.  It's as if she feels she has to re-establish some sort of dominance around here or something.  Sigh.  Gemma's beloved fish Flowercup died this past Sunday, so we had a little "service" for her at the pond behind the house.  She has taken it pretty well, and we are waiting on any new pets since we are planning to be switching bedrooms and such later in the Summer.  Eventually I would really enjoy a 10 gallon aquarium somewhere in the house, so we will see if now is the time for that. 

Kolbe liked VBS too, but it stressed him out.  He was borderline nightmarish to be around last week.  It made me really glad he is not enrolled in preschool this Fall, because after last week I think I would have called and un-enrolled him.  I think it was just a little much for him.  But like I said, he did seem to have a good time, and never said he didn't want to go, and he has mellowed out considerably this week, so all's well that ends well I suppose.  I have started working on his Handwriting Book with him, and he is making some great strides with his pencil grip.

We took the kids to a water park/pool thing at the reunion and oh my we had fun.  I think it was very similar to what we have at the Y here, so now I am really looking forward to doing that a few times this summer.  The kids LOVED the water slides and Clem even had fun going down on my lap (after Aaron convinced me that I would not, indeed, die.  I am a big chicken).  It was a great afternoon despite being a bit chilly.

In the kitchen: Fajitas, crispy chicken lettuce salads, fish muffins, maybe some linguine (I have a bunch of grape tomatoes in the fridge I need to use). 

Crafting: oh for heaven's sake.

Learning:  VBS, Art Camp, a little "school" work here and there.  Hoping to settle into a more regular routine with that once our other activities are over.  Gemma's reading has really been taking off.  On nights that Aaron is working late or mowing and I am putting Clem to bed, she puts Kolbe to bed and has read him to sleep on more than one occasion.  LOVE. 

Reading: Finished Something Other Than God.  It was a great story of conversion.  The atheist aspect, and the fact that she landed in the Catholic Church made it all the more poignant.  Where She Went, which is apparently the sequel to If I Stay which I read a couple weeks ago.  And it appears there are one or two more after this. 

Watching:  New series of Duck Dynasty starts tonight!!

Bringing me joy: Time with extended family.  VBS and the wonderful Catholic community we are blessed to be a part of.  The kids playing with toys that were mine as a child.  Singing VBS songs with the kids and listening to them in the van.  Laughing with my Aunt about how crazy my kids are at Mass (she raised four boys and a girl, so I think she gets it).  Time outdoors in gorgeous sunny weather.  Watching my kids play with their second cousins...the kids of the cousins with whom I played as a child.  A new swimsuit.  Pentecost.  Chocolate.  A tasty glass of wine and cold beer on hot days.  Reading to Gemma, and all the kids.  New pictures of the kids (see sidebar).  Visiting my sister's farm.  An hour (ALONE!!!) in Adoration, and the prospect of getting to do this weekly this summer.  Chatting with my mom.  A quieter schedule on the horizon.  I have so much for which to be grateful, despite the crazies.

Thinking about: Routines.  I hate to be super schedule-oriented, but oh my, my children thrive on at least a general routine and rhythm to our days.  I enjoyed the reunion and VBS and everything, but if we had another week like last week I think my kids (and consequently me) would have completely flipped out.  Sheesh. 

Pictures to share:  

Some pics from the reunion...

Me with  my Aunt Kathy, her hubby Stu and my Uncle Don (and an uncooperative Clem).  Pic 2 is with my cousin Jess (and an even more uncooperative baby).  She, her hubby and their two kids were our overnight guests.

The kids had their first (and only if it's up to me) time on a trampoline.  And everyone lived and I don't think I even have many more grey hairs!!

Clem thought he was hot. stuff.  I am in the background trying not to have a heart-attack.

Some group shots, there were around 60 there from four generations (a few of my grandma's siblings came the first day).