Fairies and Gnomes Welcome

At the beginning of the summer I began a 'Summer Bucket List' (for lack of a better name). With Chris expected to be gone for the first three weeks I wanted to have a collection of ideas for what to do with the kids. When it is spur of the moment, my mind is always blank. My list includes daily activities (exercise, read, etc), weekly fun (experiments, art, geocaching), and general ideas (blow bubbles, fly kites, bowling). I kept this list together with flyers for various activities for the library and local events. My goal isn't to complete the list but just to have ideas. It has been a lifesaver, especially since Chris's travel time was extended and has totaled nearly eight weeks.

On the general list was 'Make a Fairy Garden' which I added for Josie's benefit. I planned on using one of the garden boxes Chris made a few years ago. Josie helped me pick out some plants at a couple local stores. I found a little fence to put along the edges. I have bags of decorative glass pebbles that we put down as a path.

I figure this is trial and error with the plants. I'm not sure what will work well together or will do well in this fine Ohio weather. 

The funny part was that Josie kept wanting to buy a little fairy statue to put in the garden. She doesn't seem to believe that a fairy will really come live in it. Since we put it out, little wooden flowers have appeared as decoration. We've bought a bench and a little 'house' to put out, but there isn't enough room for the house. We'll figure it out.

Of course Josie having a fairy garden meant that Xander wanted one also. There was a second garden box, so that wasn't a problem. I did want it to be different so I suggested Xander make a Gnome Garden which he readily agreed to. We picked out his plants but two of them died before we planted them. Surprisingly, they were the same that were planted in Josie's garden. I'm guessing being in the back of the house instead of the front made a difference. 

Xander used red glass beads for his path, which I think makes a world of difference in appearance. We planted the dead plants with the rest just to see if they'd come back. 

Xander also has a bench to put out and a turtle to put up as decoration. We'll see what else comes of it.

Josie turns 4

Josie tried to have a party for her 4th birthday but, with Chris gallivanting across Europe (or stuck in some lab in the UK, whichever), I wasn't having any of it. I knew I could organize and invite and bake and decorate but I also knew I would try too hard and drive myself to a yelling, sobbing mess. So my gift to Josie was to not be a yelling, sobbing mess. That didn't stop her from randomly telling me who she wanted to invite to her (nonexistent) party and what gifts she wanted.

She did get gifts and a cake, I made sure of that. Her Grandma also made sure to get gifts to her in time to open on her birthday.

Birthday morning hair

Focus, careful!

Finally, Applejack!

Someone is a MLP fan. 

I treated Josie to some special time together by getting a sitter for Xander and Hannah and taking Josie to paint pottery. I had once painted a butterfly bank for Josie and Hannah broke it. Since Josie loved the butterfly and loves to paint, it made sense to let her make her own.

So many colors to choose from.

Josie requested a strawberry cake, so I whipped up a two layer cake. She requested purple frosting (which looked pink until you cut open the cake). We did not finish it ourselves but brought the unfinished 3/4 to a friend's house the next day to share with the kids there. 

She blew them out in one try, I wonder what she wished for?

Once Dad returned from his trip (with the European version of My Little Ponies), Grandma and Grandpa visited with their gifts. I can not tell you how many times I have read her this Fancy Nancy book (Fanciest Doll in the Universe) to her. Every time she points out something new or has a question about the story. Maybe this will be her new obsession. I almost hope not because this house is inundated with My Little Ponies that need to be played with first.

No update on her stats until September.

Look! No (training) wheels!

It's been a long time coming. Xander loves riding his bike. He gives the balance bike a go every once in a while. He LOVES going on the trailer bike with Chris. So Chris decided to take off the training wheels and see how Xander would do.

Pretty good for the first time!

A Month Gone

I was doing so well with updating the blog a few times a month. Then Chris up and left for five weeks right as summer began and something had to give. I did take lots and lots of pictures so I'm hoping I will be able to go back and give recaps of what the children have been doing. With that in mind, Chris will be leaving for another long trip and I signed up for an online class. We'll see how July goes.

Chris has been home on vacation between his trips so, without further ado, here are Slip'n'Slide pictures!

Josie couldn't get much momentum going.

She insisted that Dad help her go faster.

Xander had no problem throwing himself down.

Since it is technically Chris's Slip'n'Slide, he joined in the fun.

Hannah, despite loving baths, still does not like water outdoors.

She finally learned to put her hand in and splash around, but she mostly stood around watching the fun.
(You can see her in the background of some of the other shots.)

Baby curls!