Crossing the Bar

Her determination allows her to hold on for a long time and swing her body from one bar to the next until she makes it across. Sometimes she will let go. Usually she lands firmly on her feet, not always gracefully, but always with courage to try harder. Her precocious nature desires more challenges. Wonderful schools make it manageable for me to let go sooner than I had hoped. When she asks how many years she will be in school, I tell her as many as she desires, even though I'm secretly thinking too many. But for now, summer is here. Let's enjoy the here and now.

On Our Toes

When asked how we keep up with Zane, I usually answer something like "By using a lot of doors, locks, and gates, and by removing things." Luckily he's not strong enough to open the fridge door since he would likely dump all of its contents on the floor. And although he can open some child safety locks, we add more locks and put them way up high. He keeps us on our toes with creative thinking! How can I turn this lock so he can't open it? How can I rearrange the furniture so he doesn't keep climbing on it? How can I make things safe for when he falls? What is something he will eat that isn't so messy?


The food on the floor picture is a little old. He doesn't do so much of that anymore, thankfully. :) But he still climbs on the high chair. We're about ready to put the highchair away for now.

John 15:13

^{John 15:13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

Thank you to all who put others before him or herself to help make this the land of the free.

Conferred

Cousin Ben graduated from high school this year. It was our first time attending a home school graduation ceremony. It was combined with his Senior Recital. He played some of his own beautiful compositions and sang wonderfully. Ben has been awarded scholarships and looks forward to attending one of the universities in which he was accepted.

Cousins were supportive. Cousins performed with Ben.

 

And cousins competed for Ben's much-deserved attention. :)

Camouflaging

One morning this week, when Zane and I woke, Vanessa jumped into the room and proudly announced she was a ninja -- dressed in black leggings and a black sweater with hood on. Later that morning, during a rest at a park, Vanessa said she was "camouflaging with the stool."

Camouflaging . . . ? There is no camouflaging her sweetness and cleverness.

There is no camouflaging their sibling bond.

And there's no camouflaging my love for his love for this.

Angel

 

If an angel grows horns.

Forking

Vanessa has been practicing seaming and patterning with a fork. She decided to make "cheese biscuits" a few weeks ago.

And she recently made peanut butter cookies to share with her friends. She made arrays to practice math. She made cookies in typical circles and others elongated to be caterpillars.  She is quite creative in the kitchen!

If the shoe fits . . .

. . . wear it!

Zane wears many things well.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Wet & Wild in Ohio

"Da, da, da, duh!" (Translation: One, two, three, go!)

Zane wearing pants in the grass helps to keep his legs from breaking out.

One Mother's Day

I'm so very fortunate to get gentle reminders that I'm appreciated. A recent reminder occurred a couple of weeks ago. The story begins with receiving a Willow Tree figurine in sympathy for the loss of my father. Since then I've been drawn to them. Adam understood that I wanted one for representing each of my children. Months ago, when I received one for Zane, Vanessa said it was my trophy.  Then, a few weeks ago, Vanessa used her fun creature making kit she received for Christmas to make a special trophy. She brought it to me and explained that it was a trophy she wanted to give me. "A trophy for you, Momma!" Vanessa loves that I keep my trophy on the mantel. Zane talks about it too.

Extra grateful for all that I have and all that I receive.

Zane and Vanessa are my extra sunshine every day of the week.

Porta-Potty

Always on the go . . .

Oh, shucks . . .

. . . one hour will fly. We had some work to do before reading and playing more . . .

. . . they like to do it.

Vanessa is meticulous about the silky threads. She cleaned 4 very carefully.

Once dinner was prepped, we chilled under the silver maple and read our favorite books.

And then we played more . . .