Nine Down, Two to Go

Flying, people! We are flying through the end of summer here. June already has homework (through the mail) for the first day of school. And not just one assignment...I think there were four?

This last week was busy, as you will see...

MONDAY

We deep cleaned the pantry. I only gave one shelf/area to each child. I like the progress we made on each one. Now I just need five more children to finish off all the shelves in there.

I think I will keep the deep cleaning chores going for myself once school starts. It is very satisfactory to clean a space, and apparently, we are kind of messy around here. (I think it comes with the territory of having five children.)

TUESDAY

That was a busy day. So busy, in fact, that we didn't get our treat made until almost ten in the evening. We watched Olympics, and then we made Snickerdoodles.

They were yummy, but nothing to write home about. I feel I am always missing some key ingredient to cookies. It may be a stand mixer that is missing, but that won't be remedied any time soon.

WEDNESDAY

Tricia invited us to come play at a park in her neck of the woods. It was great. There were new exciting toys for the girls to try, and then a splash pad for cooling down. We started on the park side. Everyone found something entertaining.

Tricia's girls are such dolls. I want to squeeze them both.

When it got hot and the water beckoned, we went to splash pad. It was the perfect way to cool off.

We had lunch and snacks with us. Pearl was digging the Cheetos. And since she wasn't too interested in the water, they kept her company.

Robyn is ever the serious one.

June was bonding with Annalise.

This is the last picture I got, right before June came up with a chunk out of her knee. (There are NO RUNNING signs for a reason, kids.) That abruptly ended the fun and we went home to find a butterfly bandage. We'll have to go back to play again sometime. Thanks, Tricia.

THURSDAY

We got to go see a movie again. (Kung Fu Panda 2—fun.) What with our trips to Lagoon, it has been a while. In fact, Ivory asked what we did on Thursdays, because she had forgotten.

Me: We go to the movies.

Ivory: That's right. Thursday is movie day...or Lagoon day.

(Nice try Ives.)

FRIDAY

(Today) Sheesh...it is still Friday?

We had a really fun craft today. We made rainbow jars. The supplies are pretty easy to find and not too pricey. You need lots of salt, some colored chalk, paper, and a glass jar. Here is everything all ready for the chaos.

You pour out the amount of salt you need to fill a layer of your jar. (We had small jars.) Then you rub your chalk in your salt until it takes on the color.

Then you pour your salt into your jar.

Start over with another paper and color and make another layer. We saved the extra salt in bowls so other people could use them.

The layers don't have to be perfect. In fact they are more fun if they are at angles and different sizes. Careful not to shake your jar, or your sand will turn brown and not be so pretty.

The girls eventually wanted to just play with the sand and chalk. I was already planning on a mess, so that was fine.

But I did make them take it outside eventually. This was probably wise, since they used up a whole container of salt out there. Experiments are good though.

And I love the finished products. They all did a fabulous job.

This was definitely one of the better crafts.


And so we reach the end of the week. I like to look back at a fulfilling week. Granted, there have been highs and lows. Pearl is becoming more stubborn if that is even possible. It is forever one step forward and two steps back with her. She screams more, but she goes down for naps easier. (Meaning, she doesn't cry every time I close the door, but she also doesn't nap.) I would say there is plenty of rough mixed with smooth each week. But you take the good with the bad. And I wouldn't give it up. (And the extra feisty this week might have something to do with all the late night Olympics. We have had our fill of gymnastics and swimming and have loved it all, but we will need to fix some bedtimes around here before school starts.)