6.29

Summertime... And time to move some furniture! We are trying a new room and roommate arrangement, for now. C and A decided they wanted to share a room, so a few quick changes in Amy's room made that pretty easy. 

Before:

And after:

It was a fun day of us all just playing around upstairs, cleaning, sorting, all those good things. 

Now that C's room is vacant it gives me a good chance to paint her closet and also paint all the trim in her room.  After that sprucing, I'm going to move M in there, which means we will have the master to ourselves again! Imagine! I figure we can review room assignments anytime, really, and in a year or so C and A might want their own rooms back, and by then M should be old enough to go share with W. Funny, A and W shared from the time W was eight months old straight through the next 5+ years and I never thought much of it, but now that everyone has been separate for a bit it seems like a big consideration to figure out who will sleep best with whom. Ah, first-world problems. 

Oh, and lastly, new room enthusiasm had all four kids building a blanket fort well into the evening: 

Good times all around.  

6.28

I'm a couple days behind! I realized I didn't take one single picture on Wednesday, so how about another look at that magnificent hydrangea? 

6.27

More hours spent in the car than in the plane or airport this time. We were happy to make it back in the early evening, and had this to welcome us: 

It was a really wonderful vacation for all, but of course, there's no place like home. 

6.26

Last Day...

It was a very, very good trip. 

6.25

Out to dinner...

Good food, good manners, good times! 

6.24

Beach, Take 2

Smaller waves, better beach, pretty shells, good times all around. 

6.23

Just relaxing after the pool... cracker, Tiger, couch. This vacation thing is good. 

6.22

Beach, Take 1

Waves way to wavy to swim thanks to off-shore storm. But storm surge made great tide pools:

We made a friend:

And C totally rocked the new bathing suit I bought for...Matthew!:

6.21

Let the vacationing begin!

6.20

Scenes from 9.5 hours in Laguardia. And ultimately our speedy and serene flight to vacationland. Thankful for a day of happy moments even when plans didn't go perfectly. 

6.19

Not much beats looking out a hotel room window at night in the city. 

6.18

It must have been a slow chipmunk day, because Ollie spent all of it camped out under the bird feeder instead manning his usual post by the rock wall. 

6.17

Upcoming vacation. Plane trip. Four children. In-laws. Eight people one condo. Not going to Jamaica. Chosen nail polish color. Just sayin'. Send good vibes. Thanks. 

6.16

While we are only one day into summer vacation, I can't help feel like I'm winning in the chore/responsibility/routine department. I have been dreaming up this custom white board idea for some time now, making mental notes of things I'd like the kids to do or improve on, and noting how much certain people (William) have thrived on the rigid structure of school days. Toss in the need for a bit more religion in our lives (both kids miss their Christian private school in Oregon) and I had more than enough material to fill a 16x20 poster frame. 

Now, the best part is that the kids have been ALL OVER this new system. I thought my ideas about Handwriting Practice and chore assignments would go over like lead balloons but so far at least there is much enthusiasm. 

I'll keep you posted on how long the enthusiasm lasts, but has helped everyone get summer off on the right foot. 

6.15

Last day of fourth and first grade for these two! Mixed feelings abounded, as they should, but in all everyone is so glad it is now summer!

6.14

Today's grocery trip was unusually peaceful thanks to two kids who (for once) stayed happily in the cart the WHOLE time. 

And I found this on the table when I cleaned up yesterday's papers and such, by W:

"One day there was a chick. He was a good little chick. One day he was sad!!!!!! So. He took a nap. The End."

Wise, wise boy. 

6.13

Our latest creation (my design, D's construction). Looking forward to staining it! Destination: William's room (I think). 

6.12

Location of today's after school playdate was pretty spectacular. 

6.11

He has discovered painting...

6.10

Today's excitement included the neighbor's tag sale, where the kids scored some great deals and I scored some seriously nostalgic treasures. That birthday cake! My girls think it is as fun as I did. And the metal Tonka truck. I resisted the huge tub of Lincoln Logs. Oh and W went over later in the afternoon all by himself and bought this with his birthday money: 

Good deal, dude. 

6.9

Today: 

Shopping, 

Playing outside, 

And some mowing. Happy Friday! 

6.8

So today was not my most productive day ever, but it was certainly a nice one. Glorious weather. Every day lately, when I'm tempted to complain about how unseasonably cool it has been, I remind myself that we do not have a/c, and it would be a long sweaty summer if every day from June to September was 80 degrees. Really, 60s is good. 

Today we spent just about all our playtime outside. Watched our silly kitty find the catnip patch, then drink from the convenient birdbath nearby. I also had to rescue a chipmunk from his clutches (no harm done) and clean up two voles that were definitely not so lucky. Yum. 

We took a wagon walk around the neighborhood and stopped to visit Max, who is probably the nicest dog ever. 

Later, when M was napping, C and I went back out for some more chalk drawing time on the warm sidewalk. It was all so pleasant. We'll go to the grocery store tomorrow (right?).