b's bday | one

Like I've written before, one of the most challenging aspects of living just a few minutes from both sets of parents is that when birthdays come for Braden and me, we normally HAVE to have two parties. It's so difficult, let me tell ya! Especially when the food looks like this...

Greek olive-feta-lamb burgers + rosemary potato wedges + pasta salad + fried ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers + fresh garden salad + champagne grapes.

I don't know where these goofy children came from.

No wait, I do. I married the culprit.

Maddie surprised Daddy with a birthday crown.

We all breathed a sigh of relief that my tart actually came out right. (You just never know when I'm the one baking!)

Caleb's favorite birthday gift of Daddy's was the tube packaging from the print I bought him for his office.

That night Nonna and FaFa gave Maddie their old camera, much to her delight...

...and she proceeded to take lots of awesome pictures just like this fabulous one here.

We had a great time celebrating Braden's birthday. What can I say? He's a great guy!

back to school!

Even though we technically started school 2 weeks ago, the first week was a bit crazy with some necessary appointments and events. So we didn't follow our routine a bit, as school was done piecemeal--a little here and there--fit around the immovable items.

That said, we had our 'real' first day of school last Monday. This included our first day of school photo and a big tub of Trader Joe's Schoolhouse letter cookies. Hmmm...can you tell who's ready for school and who's not?

And no, the picture does not deceive you. Caleb has spent the past two months growing that last half-inch so he can catch up to Maddie. They are exactly the same height.

(Gee, Braden, we sure do make cute kids!)

uncle dave

Last Sunday we got to spend one whole hour and a half with Uncle Dave, who was here for a whirlwind trip, flying in Saturday and flying out Sunday. We all had lunch at Mom and Dad's together. Even though it was literally an hour and a half visit, the kids still managed to squeeze in storytime with Uncle Dave.

We were glad we could see you again, Dave!

at the fair: bobe conquers his fear

As soon as Maddie saw the rope bridge, she wanted to cross it. Caleb wanted to as well and got in line behind Maddie.

The first time up, he climbed the ladder and then FROZE, clinging to the ladder. He did NOT want to step off the ladder onto the ropes, and he burst into tears just bawling. Braden got him down and off he ran to play more basketball... ...only he kept eyeing the bridge. I asked him if wanted to try again...no, yes, no, not sure. He ran over and got in line...only to run back over to play more basketball...only to say he wanted to try again. We encouraged him to give it another try. Back into line he went.

Up the ladder he climbed, Braden helping him from behind this time. But when it came time to step from the ladder onto the ropes, Caleb went completely limp, only Braden holding him in place. We knew Caleb wanted to do this, and it was just that scary step from the ladder to the ropes that was making it so tough for him. Braden told him this was his last chance (because we were leaving), and...

...he got this determined look on his face, and fighting fear he took that step, and did it! We were so proud of him! Once he was walking on the ropes, he was fine. It was challenging but not scary.

After he climbed down the ladder, the boy scouts gave him that sticker. It says, "I crossed the rope bridge." Yes, Bobe, you did!

at the fair: the carousel ride

at the fair: monster truck ride

Let's see...now how does this here thing work?

Steering wheel check, yep, that's workin'!

Okaaaay...looks good over here, too.

Okay, Mom! Everything looks good. I'm ready!

Speed racer!

at the fair: the day in review

John Deere.

Pony ride.

(Caleb, do you want a pony ride? Nevahhh.)

Duck races. Potbelly pig races.

Caleb LOVED this basketball hoop!

Ropes course.

Look at that concentration!

Disaster strikes.

(At the very end of a looong, HOT, sweaty afternoon, one of Caleb's silly bands broke, flying through the air and landing in the dust of the fairgrounds. More than he could handle at that point.) The free tractor ride back to parking helped the recovery process...just as good in Caleb's mind as any other ride.

mmmm...chocolate!

Chocolate walnut crust, chilled and awaiting the filling for crostata di cioccolato, or simply put, a gooey chocolate tart.

Braden's first family birthday party: tonight.

yes, silly bands have entered our household...

...thanks to Auntie La, who keeps her niece and nephew up-to-date. ;)

ramping up

We're easing in to the new school year this week with a little school here and there in between appts and other scheduled items. We are practicing our new routines and just kind of ramping up before we fully begin on Tuesday.

Our first project this year...

a very simplified pictoral family history.

qotd

Driving home...
"Mommy, I wewwy don't wike our fence anymore. It's so dwyyyy."
Trying to understand (a dry fence?), I guessed, "Do you mean you would like it better if it was painted again so it looks cleaner?"
"Yes. But not white. It's too dwy. It should be pink."
"Pink?? Like bright pink?"
"No. A wewwy wewwy wewwy wewwy wewwy wewwy wight pink."

a classic

The Sunday afternoon plan was for me to go to my friend's bridal shower, but on the way I had to drop something off at my parents' house and then drop the kids off at Braden's parents' house...and that was after a small change in plans. So once the kids and I were in the car driving down the road, I explained to them the new plan.
"Okay. So, Mommy, we aw going to stay at Bubbie's house and you aw going to go home."
"Nooooo, Caleb! Mommy is going to a shower!"
"Okay. So, Mommy, we aw going to stay at Bubbie's house and you aw going to go home and then take a showuh."

race car 14 wins in a flurry of smoke!

school is coming!

I've spent the last few days letting the laundry mound up to gargantuan proportions while I've devoted myself to planning for the new school year...which we are beginning on Tuesday, yikes!

One of the little things I'm most excited about are the art cards I made. I pulled my old reliable art history college text book off the bookshelf, along with a few other art books I own, scanned in 40 famous paintings beginning with the Rennaissance and ending with modern art. I printed them out, cropped them, and they are being placed in an index card box according to this system.

Each day at lunch, the kids will learn (or review) one art card. We will work on one card a week, working chronologically, until we work through all 40 cards. My goal is for them to learn the title, artist, date and country of origin...but that may prove to be a bit too ambitious. We'll see. If they learn author and year, hooray!

There were so many other paintings I wanted to include--I hardly touched the surface of paintings and artists! But, there's always next year, right? :)

(dis)advantage

The advantage to having Maddie and Caleb the same size right now is that when you find out a few days before the performance that Maddie needs to wear dark pants (of which she has not a pair yet for fall) then you can always snag a pair of Caleb's for her to wear. The disadvantage is that you expect the pants to fit. Ooops!

maddie on stage

This weekend Maddie had her two performances from Music Camp. We were delighted to hear that there would be two performances this year, because Braden was leading a conference on Friday night, the same night as her first performance. His conference ended Saturday around noon in time for Maddie's second performance. But most of the family came Friday night. Maddie was so excited to perform...not a hint of nervousness for her! Alas, there was no hilarious performance this time...she is getting older. You could see her bouncing just itching to break loose, but a little look to the left and one to the right at the other kids kept her in check.

She was cute and perky--full of smiles and bounces, toes tapping in time to the music.

Quite a few of the kids from last year were in camp again this year. One of my favorite moments was at the end of the performance (both days nonetheless) when their music teacher was being thanked and was asked to stand. Connor (left), Maddie and Joshua (right), eyes on their teacher, all stood up when she stood up, received the applause and sat down again following their teacher. They didn't have a clue!

The musical was about how a boy's life is transformed by God when Jesus fed the 5000. The 'big kids' really put on the show. Maddie's class sang two songs with them and were fish during the 'Five Loaves, Two Fish' song.

It's really impressive what is pulled off by the big kids in just two weeks of morning camp. There was an orchestra, a choir and dancers, as well as the main actors and singers.

Saturday, Daddy and Granny got to watch Maddie's performance. Bubbie, Caleb and I came for the second time. We all sat right behind the orchestra pit this time, and Caleb loved watching them play and faux-drummed to all the fast songs.

Afterward, Granny took us out for ice cream to celebrate. What a treat!

Next year, Caleb will get to join Maddie at music camp. As much as he loves music, he'll love the camp...the performing, I'm not so sure about. He says, "Nevoh!" We'll see what a year does.