Memorial Day weekend

On Saturday we wanted to go hiking in the mountains.  But we settled for a picnic up north in Cornwall.  The drive felt ridiculously long this time.  Even more so coming home!  The kids had something to do with that :) 
We found a state park picnic area right by the Housatonic River.  The bugs were out in full force, so we stayed long enough to eat and let the kids run around and hopefully expend their energy...it didn't work.

He already shakes his little legs and arms when he watches his brothers and sister running around.  He can't wait to join them!

On Monday McKinley and I went to the Wilton town parade.  We were accidentally really early and had to wait a long time for the 10:00 start.  I got a little teary eyed when the flag came up that road though, and all the servicemen in their uniforms.  I love America!  The parade also had many of the town sports teams marching, a few preschools, the library, boy scouts and girl scouts.  It was a fun little time.  If we're here next year I'll go again!

Kent headed out that evening for a business trip to Ohio, so the kids and I ate waffles for dinner and had ice cream later.

Waiting for the bus

Hayden was playing outside while I was waiting for Sawyer's bus.  Today we did bubbles and sidewalk chalk together.  We also went for a walk (Josh too) while Hayden made chalk X's to mark buried treasure.  It rained a little, but it was a Seattle rain, not heavy. 

Seeing this kid go to kindergarten is going to be bittersweet.  I'm gonna miss him all day!



He is pure joy  (most of the time)




I love all the trees and wilderness around us here.




He told me to take a picture of his "handsome" here.  Oh boy!

Hayden has been up and down about kindergarten.  Mostly down.  He wants to stay home with me!  I'll have to remind him of that when he's a teenager. 
The other day he told me: "don't pay for me to go to school because what if I'm not good at it."  It hurt my heart a little.  He does not like to make mistakes, and is often reluctant to try things because of it.  I think he's wonderful!  Mistakes and all.  I hope once he tries kindergarten out he'll realize just how imperfect everyone is...and it's ok!

Sunday afternoon

Such a sweetie!

I was feeling sick yesterday, so we had a lazy Sunday at home.  It was warm and humid, so Josh hung out like this and we enjoyed his soft, warm, squishiness.

Books

I think the rest of the world may have already read these books, but books are slower coming to my knowledge way out here!  They are Divergent (book 1) and Insurgent (book 2). 
These were entertaining books that left my children somewhat abandoned and me a little tired from staying up late to get in just one more chapter at night. 

The premise is that society is divided into factions based on character traits.  When you turn 16 you get tested on which faction you should belong to.  Then you have to decide to stay with your faction or leave your family forever. 
These books are written to the teen audience, but in my head the characters are at least late 20's, because they don't act like kids...at all.  So to me it's a YA fiction since I matured my characters in my head considerably.  16 year olds?  Come on!
Anywho...they're a very entertaining trilogy with 2 of the 3 books already published.  There is some violence though (disclaimer for my mom who doesn't like violence, and really didn't like Hunger Games violence). 
Highly recommended reading.

9 years old!

McKinley's birthday was today.  She's a great, big 9 year old!

Here's how her day went:

When she woke up she got to open all her presents.  She got two shirts, two books, a book light, a bookmark, candybar from us.  A nintendo ds game from Grandma and Grandpa Korth, and her card with money from Grandma and Grandpa Van Leeuwen.
She got to spend the day at school for the most part.  They are allowed to bring a special snack for themselves for snacktime, so I bought her a big cupcake from Crumb's bakery (in New Canaan).
Then she wanted to be picked up after school instead of riding the bus.
No homework.
She asked for crepes for dinner, then a very specific birthday cake (white cake with blue frosting and green polka dots) and ice cream. 

one of her birthday shirts she's wanted forever

Here's her birthday interview:

What's your favorite color?  green and blue
What's your food?  cake
What's your least favorite food?  brussel sprouts
What's your favorite thing to do?  play with my friends or draw
What's your favorite thing to play?  my DS
What's your favorite book?  Greek myth books
What's your favorite tv show?  Pair of Kings
What's your favorite subject in school?  math, recess, lunch, and dismissal
What do you want to be when you grow up?  veteranarian
What was the funnest thing about being 8?  that I was older than my brothers
What will be the best thing about being 9?  That I can have more experiences in my life and do more things than when I was 8
What do you really like about yourself right now?  That it's easy for me to make friends

7 months old

And getting so big!

K is for kisses

Preschool letter 'K' today

A poem

Tick

sucking blud

liking black

liveing in

any paece

Even in you!

by Sawyer

Books

Each year for Easter we get a book.  I wasn't sure what to get Kent or me, then I remembered The Maze Runner by James Dashner that we read a few years ago.  Books 2 and 3 came out in the meantime, so that's what we got.  I liked them.  Although I'm a little bugged by the way one relationship was handled.  It was too abrupt and underdeveloped in it's explanation.  It is a trilogy so it felt good to know I had finished off a storyline...until Amazon notified me of the prequel coming out in August, grr.

Room for one more

A few years ago when I was 'soul searching' over whether our family was complete or not, I came across this picture, and I knew there was one person missing.  And I always pictured a boy.

It feels peaceful to know our family is complete now.

**disclaimer:  that doesn't mean I wouldn't jump at the chance of #5 it's still on my table if Kent would put it there too. **

Lacrosse

Hayden's sports squirts today was lacrosse.  In the video you'll see them learning the skills while pretending they are picking up trash and throwing it into the coaches yard, while the coaches are tossing it back out and yelling "Get out of my yard!".  Hayden thought it was funny to chuck it at coach Adam. 

He told everyone in our family: "I love lacrosse!"

This is the best introduction to sports class ever, and perfect for 4 year olds!

I had to wake up Josh from his morning nap to go to the sports class, so he got a little grumpy.  Luckily when we got back home he went back to sleep for another 3 1/2 hours. 

Stepping Stones

Today I checked the kids out of school early to go to the Stepping Stones Children's Museum.  I got a science museum pass that is good at certain museums throughout the U.S., so we used our pass and made all of our money back in one visit.  Nice!

Hayden had been there before with playgroup, but it was McKinley and Sawyer's first time.  They all loved it of course.  The one drawback to the place is that stroller's aren't allowed unless your infant is sleeping, so I had to lug around my nearly 20 lb baby in a little frontpack.  My back was dying.

Sitting

Tripod sitting (with a boppy to prevent head trauma when he falls over and mommy is still snapping pictures).

Yesterday he was on his tummy and started to get on his knees a little.  I have a feeling crawling will be coming upon us way too soon!

Sacagawea

McKinley's 3rd grade put on a "Living Musem" today.  She was Sacagawea (along with her friend here, Libby).  They had little "buttons" on their hands that parents and siblings pushed and then they "came to life" and recited their life accomplishments.  It was a cute way to learn history.  McKinley loved it. 

She brought the doll Libby is holding to represent Sacagawea's baby Pomp, but she really wanted Josh to come and be her "Pomp".  I didn't think he'd like doing that for an hour or so.  Not to mention he's almost 20 lbs.  Those tiny little girl arms can't hold him for long.  So we took this brief picture with her baby "Pomp".



Sacagawea and baby Pomp