Still got it

Just so you know, I've still got it...

Yesterday I was running through the quarter of a mile of my morning walk that may or may not host a homeless colony (thus the running). A high schooler drove by on his way to school, and I waved. He stopped behind me, opened his door, and hung out the side of the car to say something to me.

I turned around. "What?"

"You sure is cute, though."

I didn't even know what to say, and out of my mouth popped, "Honey, I'm old."

But yeah. Still got it.

Fall gymnastics

So, friends, THIS happened yesterday. Lucy's first ever day of gymnastics, and Milo's first day back since the spring. Can you tell they were a little excited?

These people. I'm smitten.

Lucy, in fact, did NOT nap before her class. It sounded like a party in her room, and all my storming in and spanking could not squelch her spirit. She was ready to go. She, in fact, said, "Rock 'n roll, beebees!" no fewer than 10 times on the way out the door.

And she was brave! This girl is undeterred by heights. She walked the balance beam like a champ and hung from the rings and the bar with no problem (and reminded me how extremely looooooong she really is). She was always the first one to try things in her class of four. I will say, though, that being upside down for handstands and backbends was not her favorite. In fact, her lack of nap kicked in and she would start to cry for me a bit. No worries, because she loves Ms. Amy her teacher and I think she'll end up doing them just to please her.

This girl was ready for class! Note - that IS a leotard. In future pictures you might see a little more leg (because, as you know, I am obsessed with Lucy's perfect, strong little legs).

Lucy liked sitting RIGHT by Ms. Amy.

This was right before she cried a little...

Loved the beam.

Looooooooong little baby girl!

Milo's class was immediately after Lucy's, and while we've gotten lucky in the past to have other little boys, he's the only one this time in a class full of girls. Milo also adores Ms. Amy, and he couldn't stop grinning at her (and she is so delighted with him). At one point, she made him the line leader and he led all the girls out to the drinking fountain. They were taking a bit, so Amy went to check on them, and when she came back in she was practically melting. She informed me that Milo hadn't had his drink yet because he told her that he needed to let all the girls go first. And then I nearly cried because he is so delightful and is turning into such a gentleman (he's also taken to holding doors for everyone, especially older ladies - LOVE this child).

Milo got right back into the swing of things and really flourished! He can practically run down the balance beam on his own now, has gotten off of his head in his backbends, and has finally figured out how to stand straight up out of a front roll (instead of rolling over on his side and heaving himself up). I'm so thankful that we have gymnastics during the week, because all of the other activities he wants to do take place on the Sabbath, so they're out (ARGH, youth soccer and kickball. Help a mommy out!).

Just showing off a bit.

Note that he is grinning at Ms. Amy. No winking today, though. I'm sure she was disappointed!

Check out those strong arms!

Milo has been practicing handstands against the wall, so this was a piece of cake for him.

Pom drop

I spend some time on Pinterest, mostly to get ideas for homeschool and activities for my little people (and fashion and makeup and hair... I have to tell the truth here). I see a lot of activities that seem awesome if only someone else would set them up and clean up after the fun is had. We had a bit of time between lunch and nap today, and I thought I'd try out something simple and easy.

Dropping poms down a cardboard tube. Seems simple enough, right? I added a degree of difficulty - pinching the poms with plastic tongs, and my little people were ready to go. And they liked it! Lucy was entertained for way longer than Milo, but I expected that because this is entertainment for younger kids. But after they both tired of the poms (dropping them down the tubes, transferring them from bowl to bowl, etc.) we did an experiment (and learned what an experiment is) and tried dropping different sized and shaped things down the tube to see what fit. I'm not going to lie - all of this happened within 20 minutes, but at least it was 20 minutes well spent. Success!

Pinching anything with tongs is a fun idea.

Legos are a love language

Maybe you could tell - Legos are a love language around here. Nate bought Milo and Lucy each a set recently, and my three people sat around the table putting them together (and completely ignoring me, which I can live with). But I love this! An activity that all three of them want to do together (and  honestly, I like some Legos, too). See these intense faces? When it comes to Legos, these people are all business.

Making changes

I've been having a super cranky time lately. I've been trying to do too much, and it doesn't work out, and the only people who really lose out on this one are my little people and I. So I'm trimming things down, saying NO again (I know, I know, I vow this all the time.), and leaving out things I thought were essential but really aren't (5 a.m. workouts had to be the first to go).

Today I slept until 7. I took a nice walk/run by myself when Nate got home from the gym. I had my quiet time, drank a big cup of coffee, and planned out my day. And guess what? So far, so good. I feel more patient and ready to have fun with these little people. Discipline issues haven't sent me to my bathroom crying (although, let's be clear - there have been some frustrations). I didn't look at the clock a single time this morning wishing it was naptime. This is huge, people. Sometimes I get so caught up in all the things I'm doing that I don't take the time to just be. So with just two weeks before I start school with Milo, I'm re-organizing how things are going to look around here, and I'm excited about what I see (not stressed or exhausted imagining it).

We did more artwork outside. This time I pulled out the watercolors, brushes, and banner paper and we got down to business. For a short amount of time before we got down to business with some new water guns and Milo's Jeep. You can plan all you want - little people always change the plans. We just rolled with it today and had a blast.

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Serious business here.

Just for fun, a little shot of the two sweetest, most wonderful little people in the world.

Tiny hats for little babies

I don't know if you've noticed, but I have some funny little people. And they're not trying to be funny. They just do things that crack me up.

I've been knitting hats for my cousin's twin preemie baby boys (and, by the way, say a little prayer for tiny Sam and Harry). I finally set them all out on the table yesterday so I could organize them for mailing, and Lucy couldn't get over them. She kept asking me, "Mommy, can I hold them? Can I look at them?" And then, probably twenty times, "Oh my goodness. Oh my word. Look at these tiny hats." I finally got the video camera and captured it for myself.

Shema

Oh hey there. I didn't forget about you. Nor did I forget that I have a blog. I've just been here and there and everywhere and at the same time have not much to report. I'm sure you know the drill.

Nate and I have been learning Hebrew for the last year or so, and it seems our little people are absorbing it as well. They both learned a song in Hebrew that we listen to here and there, and although their pronunciation isn't perfect, they're pretty darn cute.

One day at a time.

We've had a rough week around here. Correction. I've had a rough week. Surely there's something more to it than this, but my two little people have been fighting what feels like non-stop, and after long days of doing nothing more than disciplining and breaking up fights, I want to curl up into a tiny ball and cry. It's good to look at sweet pictures like this and remind myself to take one day at a time. Here's to a wonderful weekend!

Outdoor summer fun

Guess what we did today?

We took a fingerpainting journey. Outside. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is the only way to do it. We spread all over the driveway, squeezed our fingerpaint right onto the cement, and had plenty of air and sunshine to dry our paintings when we finished. Plus, I'm not going to lie, I did hose my little people off after they finished and let them splash in puddles to their hearts' content.

We painted with pinecones. Painted with flowers. Painted with pine straw and grass and berries. And, of course, we painted with our hands, feet, and just about everything in between. Hooray for outdoor summer fun!

Milo was just dabbing his hands here...

Project Central.

Paint. Everywhere. My sweet Lucy is 100% about everything she does.

She liked painting, but not as much as she liked the bowl of water I left for my little people to rinse their hands.

Milo was so happy about painting.

And he really got into it!

A row of finished projects!

Again, that bowl of (disgusting) water.

They are so cute together.