A true sign of summer time at our house: chalk dust and lots of it. The kids love to cover the driveway with flowers, animals, race car tracks, and, in the last year, dust. They love to make chalk dust. And then add water. And make paste. And paint the rocks. And themselves. Its like a kids' version of war paint. And, they love it!
It was a long day and I actually found myself at the end of it having not snapped a single shot. So, I rummaged around the piles on the counter top and found this. It's a certificate Beckett gave to me for Mother's Day, signed with his own budding signature of "b's" and "t's". After re-reading it, I bust out laughing. First of all, this kid does not call me Mommy. Ever. Since the day he could talk, I have always been "Mama". No idea why but it works for him :) Second, I don't let the kids go to McDonalds! Maybe 2-3x a year at best. Of all the answers he could have given (i.e. reading books, snuggling, making cookies, playing games, going to the park), Beckett decided on this one! And, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, there was a teeny tiny bit of wishful thinking and manipulation going on here??
Every day, ALL SUMMER LONG, the ice cream truck drives up and down our block. Over and over. Like, 3 times a day. And EVERY time it drives by, you can hear the jingle it plays from blocks away. The neighborhood kids are like flies to honey: they stop whatever game they are playing and run to the curb to catch a glipse of the truck and to give the driver a wave.
A beautiful Memorial Day morning to remember all of those men and women whom have served, and are serving, in our armed forces. Before the parade, Zoe and her friend decorated the sidewalk and got a lot of comments from passersby on their art work! After sitting back and looking through all the photos I took during the day, I was struck by this image of tiny little B and the big tall trees on our block. Not masterful, but I like it. And lastly, today we had a spotting of the Oscar Mayer hotdogmobile downtown. It was a photo op waiting to happen!
Beckett is a collector. Of all things. He delights in everything: a found rusty washer, a cool little rock, a seed pod from a tree, a cicada shell, a petal from a wilting flower. Nothing escapes him. I love the curiosity of a four year old. Everything is still new and exciting.
Mulch day! After trucking home loads and loads of mulch, the "boys" made quick work of making our gardens look beautiful.
I am not quite sure if it's proper terminology, but the caterpillars that turned into cocoons have begun to transform into butterflies...Now, we'll see how long it takes for the kids to decide to free them!
Summer is here and with summer comes water and pools of it. The kids were content to hang in the back yard, fill up buckets from the hose and squirt each other with toys while Rodger and I drank a few beers on the porch and enjoyed. (Side note: yes, our grass really is that yellow. It made us realize that it is time for the hoses to come out more!)
The kids LOVE going out to dinner and, as long as their manners are good, we'll continue to love to take them. Tonight's trip up to Grand Haven for dinner and a walk along the water was a surprise to them both. B clearly loved the extra daddy time and for a change, my lap got a break.
The dude is always working on a "project". Lately, these projects have included lots of paper folding and tape. Lots and lots and lots of tape. His intensity and determination make me smile.
Beckett loves the process of getting "suited up" for soccer: the shin guards, the team shirt, the filling of the water bottle. And, after years of watching his sister participate in all of her sporting events, he loves the fact that Zoe now sits on the side lines to watch HIM! After today's game, we couldn't resist an impromptu visit to Kilwins for ice cream. Zoe knows to guard her cone carefully if dad doesn't get his own. The sideways eyeball she kept a watchful eye on him with was killing me! Beckett was oblivious and very focused on the task at hand!
Zoe was invited to a birthday party that was held at Tunnel Park. Once the dude caught wind of THAT, he was all over it. So, we went early to pick her up and spent an hour, down the beach doing what little brothers do: building sandcastles, getting his clothes wet and "spying" on his sister.
Guacamole and beers on the upstairs porch. Yummmm!
Nothing says "it's almost summer" like a trip to Captain Sundae. Beckett surprised me with his request for a strawberry shake while I stuck with tradition: the Tommy Turtle.
Our garden is working its way into full bloom and one of my absolute favorite flowers are the peonies.
The dude has been watching our caterpillars grow, and grow and grow. Today we entered a new stage of the circle of life and now they have stopped growing and begun to encase themselves into their cocoons. Beckett remains fascinated with their "ba-coons". I, of course, am fascinated with him!
Yup, orange juice is always better out of a Green Lantern pint glass.
Beckett is up to something, I'm just not sure what it is yet. But this sly little smile tells me that my guy is "working" on something.....hmmmm.
My kids...they make me cry with pride, laugh with disbelief, scream with joy (or agony depending on the day). When it came to my one request on this day, a mother's day photo of the three of us, I forgot one little word: nice. So, instead of a "nice" Mother's Day photo, I went with the mood and got this instead. Probably more fitting, really!
Our annual trip to the greenhouse to pick up our ferns for our green house became a little silly when the ferns became hats!
The neighbor kids next door had these awesome boxes - I mean robots - I mean forts - I mean hiding places. Whatever they were at the moment, they were loads of fun!
Another year of marching in the Kinderparade. The weather was phenomenal and the kids had a blast waving at the crowds, shouting to people they knew along the side walks. Our little honorary Dutch girl was all smiles.
Getting a package in the mail is always a special treat. Today was doubly special when we got not one but TWO packages for the kids. Weeks ago, we sent away for the larvae to put in our butterfly habitat (see habitat in this post) and today they came! The kids were mesmerized by the tiny caterpillars that were to turn into butterflies. Next, the dude got his own package too! Grandma sent him a jar of shark's teeth. Both kids were shocked at the different sizes, shapes and colors. SO COOL! Thanks Grandma!!!
B is really, really, really into Spiderman and Batman lately. A pair of 3D glasses and a cape are all a boy needs to transform himself into a super hero too!
With Z off to school, and the dude and I at home "alone", I suddenly noticed the house was a bit too quiet. I crept upstairs and found my little man, with all of his vehicles, zooming up and down the hallway. So sweet.
We spent an awesome afternoon with great friends walking / biking / scootering to Kinderplaats. The impending rain kept the adults watching the weather radar while the kids watched us from "up high". The only thing Beckett and his buddy Miles were missing were martian antennas as they zoomed around in the flying saucer!
Back to reality and a soggy AM soccer game huddled underneath umbrellas. I secretly think the girls like to play in the rain - makes it much more of a challenge to get a foot on that slippery ball!
One of the things that I love about Europe is the coffee - not just the amazing care to its preparation but the beautiful way it's presented and the lovely little chocolate that is it's typical accompaniment. Not too shabby for airport coffee!
I am lucky sometimes to get to travel to some great places. Unfortunately, the work part gets in the way and I dont get to see much of those great places! This trip has been no exception. However, one of my co-workers had never been to Paris and so it was the perfect excuse to take whirlwind trip of the city: a walk to the Arc de Triomphe, a glass of wine at the Cafe George V on the Champs de Elysee, macarons at Laduree, a quick peek at Notre Dame at night and a final walk back along the Seine past the Louvre....
Ah Paris. I love you through bleary, over tired eyes.
Some mornings, at drop off, Beckett wants to run to the window and wave goodbye to Zoe and me. This AM was bittersweet as I was leaving town for work for a few days. I do love that he loves his school.
