New Family Rule #147

**You are no longer allowed to put your arms inside your nightgown while attempting to climb onto your sister's bed.

Kate looks a little beat up.  We are thankful that it wasn't worse.  Since her little arms were tucked inside of her nightgown, her face caught her fall when she slipped and hit the corner of the footboard.  :(  OUCH!

I placed an order on Amazon today for some corner protectors to re-baby proof our house. 

 At least Kate didn't hit her teeth...

We learned today that front teeth are essential if you want to have any shot at winning a seed spitting contest.  Going into it, we were wondering if Natalie would have an advantage or a disadvantage.  She quickly discovered that spitting watermelon seeds is tricky without your two front teeth! 

Some kids were super spitters and could get it to Line 12 and 13!  WOW!  (Natalie got it to line 2...ignore the foot over the line.) 

Growing Up & Maturing...kind of

*Tonight Kate & Natalie started dance class!  It was Kate's first time to go, and she wasn't the only person excited about this.  Scott told me before school today that he wanted to go with me when I dropped Kate off at dance and picked her up because he wanted to see the look on her face.  He then kept asking her on the way to class if she was excited.  He said, "It's strange that the baby in our family is now old enough to go to a class somewhere."  (He must have read my mind!!!)  When Kate was at class, both Scott and Natalie talked about Kate...wondering how she was doing.  Scott then asked to move the carseat up and positioned it next to his seat so that he could hear all about her first dance class afterwards.  It delighted my heart to see how much he was excited for and cared about his little sister.  I have a feeling he will help me snag some front row seats come recital time.  :) 

*Natalie had a great time at her class too.  We killed some time on a playground while Kate was in her class.  Ballerinas and playgrounds don't mix.  She managed to get all sweaty and make a hole in her tights prior to her class.  :) 

*This past weekend, we celebrated Jon's grandma's 85th birthday.  Here she is with her fan club. 

*School is off to a good start.  The kiddos seem to be liking their new school.  I've been asking the kids to tell me a "high" and "low" from their day.  I'm amazed how many of their highs/lows have to do with lunch.  Like...Scott's low..."You put my ham next to my Oreos in my lunchbox and that made my Oreos taste like ham." OR..."The kid next to me was dipping his Veggie Straws in tons of ranch sauce, and I was about to throw up watching him."  (I'm thinking if those are the lows from the day, that school must be going pretty well!)

Kate and I have been doing preschool at home.  Without the others here/any distractions, we are flying through the lessons. 

 Row, Row, Row Your Boat...

*A few nights ago, Scott and Kate starting giggling during our prayers.  Afterwards, Natalie said, "I was about to laugh too, but I tried really hard not to during the prayer."  I praised her and told her that was a sign of maturity.  She beamed for a second as she soaked in the praise, and then immediately turned to Scott and Kate and obnoxiously sang, "I'm more mature than you!  I'm more mature than you!"

We've all still got some maturing to do apparently!

 Find the frog...

Spot the praying mantis...

 I'm still lobbying for a kitten...

(Kate named her stuffed kitten Mrs. Barnes.)

Ready or Not...

We are starting at a new school this year and have been praying for a smooth transition.  The kids haven't seemed too nervous.  Maybe I'll start sleeping again once they get a few days under their belt.  :/  It's hard to let go...

We have been watching parts of the Olympics.  The first night we saw gymnastics.  Natalie said, "Do you think I will be in the Olympics someday?  I am really strong."

Later Scott asked, "What if you were really good at something, but you didn't want to go to the Olympics?  Would your country make you go?"  and then later..."What if you got injured while at the Olympics?  You would have to go to the hospital in their country and not your own.  I would never want to be in the Olympics." 

Their comments made me laugh inside because they speak so much to their two totally opposite personalities.  Regardless, we are enjoying viewing it for a bit before bed each night!

 Kate- dreaming about sticking the perfect dismount :)

 How many children does it take to level out the teeter totter?  (I can say this because I am not the adult on the other end!)

Hello August!

*When we returned from our vacation, we discovered that our freezer and washing machine no longer worked.  Ugh.  Repairing the washer was going to cost a lot, so we ended up getting a new one about a week later.  I've been washing everything in sight since we got our new machine- simply because I can again.  Laundry, anyone?

*I read an article lately linking later bedtimes with childhood obesity.  I shared this with the kids- half joking- as a reason why they need to get to bed pronto one night.  A few nights later, I was trying to get Kate in bed and she was protesting.  She surprised me with, "But Mommy, I WANT to get fat!"  I didn't think she was listening/even "understood" my humor a few nights prior.  

*We're cramming in our pre-back-to-school activities.  School starts in 9 days!  Long's donuts is still on the to-do list.  No worries...we will be sure to knock it out. 

*I spent some girl time with my sweet friend, Molly, today.   We ate cheesecake, shopped for clothes, and then decided we need to train for a 5K together.  :)  While away, Jon took the kids for a hike at the park.  (Another pre-back-to-school activity checked off the list!)  

The kids also spent half of the day at my parents house today.  They reportedly had a fun time, and I was drilling them when I got home about their behavior.  

Me:  Were you good today?

Kate:  Yes

Me:  Is that what Grandma and Grandpa would say?

Kate:  I don't know because I didn't ask them.

Scott enjoys reporting on the girls' behavior.  Jon thinks he would have made a good Pharisee back in the day.  Anyway, he was telling on Kate for a particular incident from this afternoon.  I gave Kate the look, and she sighed and said, "Natalie has been teaching me bad things."

She's said this a few times lately.  She's heard us talk to Natalie about being a good example, and so now...Kate's using the excuse that all of her misbehavior is learned from her big sis.  It's only partially true!:)

More than Potatoes in Idaho

After leaving Yellowstone, we had another day of driving.  By this time in the trip, I was figuring out some of our best strategies for being in the van.  Despite a few groans, we did manage to complete some summer workbook pages and reviewed a little school stuff.  This was best done in the morning and in small doses.  Kate LOVED sticker workbooks and would do page after page if I sat and did them with her.  Natalie and Scott were really great travelers and complained very little (as long as the flashcards stayed neatly packed away).  Kate was the only one to snooze in the van, and only did that for about three hours total during the entire trip.  

A friend had recommended books on CD prior to leaving, so I grabbed a few from the library right before our trip.  This turned out to be one of our favorite, calming activities.  We would all listen and enjoy the distraction.

We were excited to see our Idaho friends and were once again, overwhelmed by the wonderful hospitality.  They showed us around their BEAUTIFUL town, and we enjoyed our time to visit.

Who needs a John Deere museum when you can take a spin on the real deal?!

More animals!!  The kids were fascinated by the chickens. 

Four wheelin' Fun...(It took much encouraging to get me to drive one, but afterwards, I was glad that I did.)

 In case we never make it to New York...

How would you like to swing facing this incredible view?  Scott was trying to make it over the mountains!

Sweet Sarah & Natalie were trying to plan our next get together...maybe they should start saving up their pennies for plane tickets!

 We are thankful for this friendship that can continue despite the miles between us!

  

After our visit, we started a long trek back home.  

A couple of funny stories from our trip back...

 

At one hotel pool, Natalie had grabbed onto Kate and accidentally pulled her under the water just a bit (like her chin/mouth went under).  Afterwards, Kate said with a scowl, "Natalie tried to baptize me!" 

 

Restaurants stops (and restroom stops!) were always exciting.  There's nothing like sitting all day in a van to work up a good appetite!:)  Scott was "starving" one evening when we stopped at Arby's.  He looked at the spread of food in front of him and said, "This looks REALLY good!  If I was a dog, I'd wag my tail!" 

All in all, we had a fun time together as a family, and we are so thankful for the safe travel and the special memories that were created along the way.  No one is itching to go on another long road trip again any time soon (no place like home), but we are certainly grateful for this first family vacation!