Big Messes

Some moments in time just beg to be recorded for posterity. All of the following escapades happened within less than 20 minutes.

I've had a really good week. I have kept up with housework, done some extra house work, finished school and cared for a baby in addition to my children a couple afternoons. I just felt good about what I accomplished. Then this evening happened...

Jeremy played in a golf tournament this afternoon. It started a 2pm. He didn't get home until 9:30pm. I was making supper. Anna was throwing a temper tantrum. Over what I have no idea she seemed to have trouble keeping her temper in check this afternoon. Josiah was coughing incessantly. He needed allergy medicine. I turn to the kitchen sink and there is water leaking from the ceiling.

I run upstairs, calling to Aliza to turn off the water. She was washing the frosting off the toys she put on her cake yesterday. In the excitement of whatever story she was imagining she forgot to turn off the water. The sink was overflowing. There was water everywhere. Truly, she was utterly clueless as to what was happening.

Our sink vanity has a drawer in the bottom. When I pulled it out to realize it was filled with water I called Jeremy. What I wanted him to say was, "It's ok, Babe, I'll throw my golf clubs in the car, let my team down and come rescue you!" That doesn't happen in real life... He says, "Use as many towels as you need to mop of the water. " No rescue happening. He was an hour away anyway. I got the bathroom dried up.

Aliza told me well, Mom, the good news is that the kitchen is only dripping in one place now. That statement didn't sink in until I looked at the sink trying to figure out what all the containers were for. Aliza had done her best to catch the drips. Bless her heart.

I started looking a little closer and realized that my phone was sitting in a puddle on water in the cabinet. I had cabinets to dry out also. I told Aliza and Josiah to play Mario Kart. They agreed with out question. Hmmm.  I made the pizza and got it in the over. Gave Anna a snack. Josiah had to poop. Wiped him and mopped the floor (bad aim). It was then I decided that I needed to just go upstairs and look at facebook. Just a quick moment of silence and a breather.

All seemed well until I went downstairs to find Anna playing in the dish that I drain meat grease into. What a stinky, messy mess. I couldn't believe it. I was ready to curl up in a ball.

Of course, I didn't. I cleaned Anna up. Got supper on the table. Ate supper. Cleaned up the kitchen. Took a walk with the children. Called my Mom. Gave the children baths and tucked them in.

All those good feelings about being on top of home and housework? Out the window.

Good night.

Kindergarten Graduation

 Aliza and I have been counting down to the last day of school for a couple weeks now. Today was the day! Aliza woke up ready to start school. I held her off until 7:50am and we were finished at 9:20am. By far, our earliest and most efficient day of school! The last lesson was meant to be special. The teachers had a poem party and a "graduation" for the kindergarten mascot, Hopscotch. There were two segment of clips of activities from the year that brought back a lot of memories for Aliza. At the end of the lesson she cried...they were happy and sad tears. She will miss her teachers and her kindergarten character friends. Feelings very normal for a kindergartener.

My parents came over for a celebration supper and we decided to show 2 parts of the DVD lesson tonight. Aliza was very proud of her herself tonight.

Aliza was excited to read her chapter book to Grandad. It was called "The Fishing Trip." Her Grandad loves to fish. Aliza thought the book was pretty funny because no one caught a fish!

We had tacos for supper and cake for dessert. I had the cake decorated and then Aliza added her touch... I can't really explain this. It was a bunch of Lalaloopsy dolls, pets and accessories. Each person was supposed to pick what doll they wanted and they received the piece of cake under that doll. Some had very small pieces of cake! The whole thing just made me laugh.

 I laid out all of Aliza's work for the year. It was really fun to see how proud she was to read and show Grandma and Grandad her work.

 Aliza learned 35 service/sight words. She knows them very well. Her pattern is to say the word and use the word in a sentence.

 My Kindergarten Graduate with her diploma.

 Finally, Aliza wanted to graduation picture of her holding her littlest pet shop bunnies.

When we showed the DVD this evening and gave Aliza her diploma we were able to use Face Time so that Grandma and Grandpa could be with us. That was a special bonus memory to add to our evening.

I'm super proud of Aliza. She is prepared for first grade. I shed some tears today, but we'll save my reflections on the school year for another post!

Getting Ready to Celebrate

 Today had the sense of anticipation of an upcoming celebration. We had a special lunch. Aliza has wanted cut out sandwiches. I see it as an extreme waste of bread. And it is more like making three lunches in one. But today we did it. Aliza had ham, tuna, and jelly. Josiah had grilled cheese, PB & J and plain jelly. They thought it was great. I regretted buying only one loaf of bread this week!

Aliza read a book to Great Gramma.

 It was a rainy day. It was a warm spring rain. I thought I was in a humid jungle more than once today! Josiah got a hair cut on the porch and that led to everyone being outside. Anna got to play in the rain for the first time. Boy, did she have a ball! This is one drenched child!!! Muddy too!

Not Really A Post

While we are gearing up for a celebration, we had a fun day. I was going to write a post about it. However, for the life of me (and Jeremy), we cannot find my memory card reader. For that matter, we can't find the cord to charge my phone either. I haven't used either one since we got home from our weekend, but I'm sure I brought them home. I'm highly annoyed... My house has a way of eating things (I think my children know where the mouth of the house is). The good news is that the house generally regurgitates the things that it eats!!

A Day Filled with Fun

 We made a trip to West Virginia this weekend to celebrate Brandi's college graduation. It was a whirlwind of a trip! Jeremy worked a full day on Friday so we go to his parents late--which means the children stayed up later than late. Our trip went very smoothly though. We ate supper in the car and made no stops. 4.5 hours of straight driving! There were moments when I was listening to Aliza and Josiah talk and we were all singing along with the radio that I smiled to myself because I know that these are the moments when a family bonds. Eventually, the car got quiet and all 3 took short naps before we arrived.

Saturday morning everyone woke up ready to play. It was a beautiful day. TV was not even requested!!!! Outside they went to play.

Brunch was eaten outside.

 Josiah laid down to rest, but he couldn't sleep. Instead he and Aliza spent more time playing outside.

 Later in the afternoon, we watched Brandi graduate thanks to Shepherd University streaming the ceremony.

 Brandi's parents hosted the Heslop family for a graduation celebration that evening. We had SO much fun. Seriously, look at this grass...on a hill...that leads to a river. With a deck and hot tub at the top of the hill. Who couldn't have fun!? The hill begged to be run down and rolled down. Aliza and I ran down to the river. Then we WALKED back up!

 A tired boy couldn't make it back up the hill!

 We sat in the hot tub while the sun set.

 And watched the Super Moon rise.

 I am so lucky to have such amazing in-laws. And so lucky to have amazing in-laws who have amazing families!!! It is fun to just feel adopted into the family for an evening.

Sunday morning we left for home. We arrived home just in time to unpack and head to Renee's 2nd birthday party! That, too, was fun. However, I was pretty much pooped and I wasn't feeling overly social. =)

Now, thankfully, my house is silent. Hopefully, everyone will sleep good tonight so that we can (happily) start another week tomorrow!

Strawberries!

 Today was a perfect day to participate in a home school field trip to pick strawberries. On this field trip there were maybe 12 children who were all younger. It was nice to meet some Mom's that have families in the same stage as mine. We picked strawberries, had a strawberry shortcake snack and each child received a coloring book.

This must have been peak time for this patch. There were so many big, red strawberries. Aliza and Josiah filled up their quart boxes very quickly.

 I was going to buy a couple quarts to make jelly, but since we filled up the quart boxes so quickly I decided we could pick more ourselves. They only sell u-pick by the bucket (I think it holds 4 quarts) and, of course, each child needs a bucket. By the time it was said and done we picked 2 quart boxes and 2 buckets--about 10 quarts of berries!

 Anna kept herself busy. Her shirt was red when she was finished.

 When we got home Josiah and Aliza topped their box of strawberries.

 Strawberries are so pretty. They make me happy. =)

 This was my first attempt at preserving any type of food completely alone...and I was successful! Of course, jelly is super easy to do. I made 10 containers (2 batches). I feel like I accomplished something today!

 Miss Aliza adopted a caterpillar friend. She thought it was most hilarious when she first let him crawl on her. He now resides in a container with the best grass, leaves and flowers that Aliza could find. She frequently puts her finger in the container to let Mr. Caterpillar crawl on her hand. I'm not sure that he has been named, however, Aliza addresses him as "Honey" (in her most endearing tone of voice). Pretty cute.

Today

 Aliza loves having school in a fort in her room. I love it too! She does her work without whining, leaving the rest of the house quite peaceful. Why didn't she think of this sooner?

I'm taking care of this sweet baby boy a couple afternoons a week. I decided that this afternoon would be a good time for a walk. I carried the little guy in a front pack, pushed Anna in the stroller, Aliza walked and Josiah rode a bike. I got some good exercise! The mosquitoes were out in swarms though. I felt the need to apologize for being responsible for his first mosquito bites.

 Josiah decided it was too warm for a shirt. He rode through mud puddles and had mud splashed all the way up his back. After mosquito bites on his back, I'm pretty sure he will choose a shirt next time.

 I came across this scene. Josiah giving Anna a ride in the stroller. It's so fun for them to be able to play outside together. I love our little spot in the world. However, this lovely moment deteriorated to Aliza and Josiah pretending that Anna was the "bad guy" and hiding from her. Poor baby!

 We are so close to being finished with school that I can almost taste it! Speaking of tasting I'm looking forward to having some strawberries this week. My goal is to make strawberry jelly also. We'll see if I'm successful!