Camera trouble

So, the camera isn't working and it's future doesn't look good. May be a few days before pictures resume...

Last two days

I suggested to Gene that he exercise in the morning, and he decided to write up an exercise plan, a daily routine. Lifting weights and using Brendan's medicine ball was on the list...

And he convinced Lucy to join in...

Our kitchen wastebasket is like another table- everyone uses it!

Tuesday morning is cleaning time, and Jane helped with the toilet...

Jane distributed peas and then rolled up lunchmeat for everyone's lunch on Tuesday- I didn't even ask her to roll it, she just knew that's what I usually do, and she knows how to roll.

Mats in the play-area have been a success. Now each person has a defined area, and it's easier to see what's left to clean up at the end of playtime.


Gene actually pulled out the watercolors a couple times this week, on his own, and painted!


More box fun (well, somewhat fun- turns out all the kids want to be in the box and it's not big enough for everyone at once...well, they're learning how to negotiate and compromise).

Lucy built her own fort with blankets around the family room end table. Janie was jealous of that one, too.


Atrium this morning, at Christ the King church. Jane loves to wash her hands at the little child-size sink in the bathroom.


And speaking of bathrooms, Jane has outgrown her little potty upstairs, but couldn't quite get herself up on the big toilet. So, I found a "stool" that gave her just the boost she needed (actually a Montessori writing tray that's supposed to be filled with sand or salt so kids can practice writing with their fingers...shh, don't tell!). She LOVES it! And is so proud of herself.


Reading a book to Jane before rest time, on my bed. Favorite of the day- Ten Apples Up on Top, a Dr Seuss book from before he was Dr Seuss.


After rest time the girls helped me make Boston Brown bread for dinner, then Lucy wanted more practice (play!) with packing brown sugar into a measuring cup, so she emptied the whole container into a bowl (1/3 cup by 1/3 cup).

Kids in bed, Brendan with friends...goodnight all!

May update

Jane was engrossed in "reading" her first cereal box one morning...

We visited our friends the Clausers and upon Jane was bestowed the honor of holding the new baby:) She was in heaven.


Lucy washed dishes...
Jane played in the dirt (actually, filled up some jars so we could plant more wheat seeds. Those seeds grow! In one week they've grown about 6 inches...)

And she observed the ants on the driveway for awhile...

She's been putting on her own shoes for awhile now- here's our "shoe spot" where we try to keep the ones in season.

My, lots of Janie pictures. It just happens- she's at that photogenic stage I guess. Anyway, she and cousin Ellie are best buds.

And she was allowed to wear Ellie's birthday cake hat while we were there last week.

Grandma Patti stopped by while we were there- she is always good for storytime.

Jane's animal of the week is the gray rhino.

She faked a nap in Lucy's carseat this afternoon, so she wouldn't have to come in. The kids were listening to a Raffi CD and didn't want to come inside...


Lucy and I worked on the 100-piece puzzle...she won't do it on her own but she'll get there.
Watermelon for snack- happy kids!


Afternoon painting session...

Box fun with Donal and Lindsey while Brendan and I went out for a b-day dinner - decorated with crayons, cut a window, and voila- kid haven.




There was some Wii playing...

And some wee playing...

And that's a wrap. Watching the Tigers and heading to bed.

Gene woke up early and helped me make banana bread before the girls came down.


Lucy made toast for herself and Jane. She was so hungry and impatient that she popped it up and buttered it before it even turned brown!


Gene has been showing interest in the piano...time for lessons?


Lucy plays the "ABC game" (starfall.com) once in a while, and no matter what Jane is doing, when she notices she brings a chair over and watches. She is starting to learn her letters now, so it's great for her to watch and I don't mind at all!


Lunch in the car on the way to Atrium (a Montessori-based catechesis program at our church).


They loved the banana bread!

After dinner, we generally have "candy baskets" for dessert. Right now we're finishing off the Easter candy, but before that it was Halloween and Christmas candy. Just a few little jelly beans are such an easy dessert. Lucy, however, being mechanically-minded, started playing around with the plastic eggs, noting different ways they could fit together.


And she insisted on trying to pile all the remaining jelly beans into one large egg. Had to settle with using two eggs, but sure enjoyed the challenge...

She had a swimming lesson before dinner, and is doing great. She's going to progress through those fast, I think.

I went running this morning, we visited friends for lunch, and while we were home we spent a lot of time picking up and putting things away. While we weren't doing that we were:

Watering our seedlings, which have already sprouted...


Not letting me come down the stairs...

Feigning sickness on the couch so toast and juice would be brought (she actually didn't eat enough yesterday, and was so shaky she couldn't get out of bed this morning! So strange.) But she perked up after a few pieces of toast...

Biking and reading...

Here's an update from the last few days. We spent a lot of time outside! And we finally got around to starting some seeds (mostly for the kids sake, as I have already started some of the early spring seeds in the garden). Everyone got to poke holes in the bottom of paper cups before filling them with dirt...






Then we squirted the seeds with water...



Speaking of water, these are the two resident water-babies of the family. This green tub is for the girls to fill up and have access to water while they are outside. Recently we have had a number of wet floors as certain people fill up containers in the bathroom sink to bring outside. The tub will (hopefully) keep our floors dry.


More watercolor painting...



And various gymnastics poses, from the girl who would probably love to take a gymnastics class herself!

And finally, we visited the park yet again for a baseball game. The girls, of course, went right for the swings. Since this will be a theme throughout the summer, I will try to refrain from taking (and especially posting) more swing pictures. Just know that they are swinging...


And Gene was thrilled to finally play "catcher"...in tonight's game: