Time Together

I haven't forgotten about the pantry-fermented sauerkraut, but it's been a crazy few weeks, so for now, let's talk about some family fun!

This past weekend we got a good solid chunk of much-needed family time.

On Saturday we started out by going to the farm supply store to visit with the little baby chicks and goslings.







Next, we went to a park and ate a picnic lunch, explored the playground and pond, and skipped rocks on the water.

















Finally, we ended our day with a surprise stop to a frozen yogurt place, and let the children pick their own toppings.... (Nerds + jelly beans + red hots + gummy bears + rainbow sprinkles + Reeces Pieces + M&M's + chocolate sprinkles.....oh lovely sugar high).



A gorgeous weekend with my dearest loves.

Breaking for Spring

It's Spring Break!  The joy of this week is not being set to a strict school schedule, being able to do fun activities as a family, getting the chance to really spend time with all four of my children.  The challenges are...not being tied to the strict school schedule, having the pressure of coming up with fun family activities, and spending EVERY WAKING MOMENT with my four darling children.  Yes, my friends, it's that time of the year.  Love it or hate it, it is what it is.  For me, Spring Break essentially started on Friday afternoon when school let out (NINE DAYS TOTAL of no school....), and so far we've had some challenges, but mostly we're having a really great time together.

This morning we packed up our bikes and went riding across this mile-long dam that has been paved as a wide biking/running trail.  This is a dam that we pass often in our daily travels, and every time my children see it they shout "The Mountain of NOCK-DOOR!!!" at the top of their lungs.  No one is sure why it is called that, but there you have it.  We've never taken our bikes up there, so when we got to the center of the dam and could see the road off in the distance, we all put our fists in the air and shouted "THE MOUNTAIN OF NOCK-DOOR!!!!!!!!".  This may or may not have drawn looks from passers by.  Move along folks, nothing to see here.


This was taken at the very end of the trail when we got back to the car.  We're not sure why Daisy was sad.  We're also not sure why, even though she was wailing, she chose to pose with the boys anyway.  Four-year-olds are amazing creatures.


These are some free-form stuffed animals that my children designed a few weeks ago.  They call them "Puffels" (any Club Penguin fans in the house?)


If you are familiar with Club Penguin, you will be wondering why there is no "puff-ball" shape among this lot.  I was wondering too.  My children thought that this was perfectly rational, and their free-form thinking delighted me, so we just went with it.  Love those little spur-of-the-moment projects that actually please everyone.



I have a few thoughts on sauerkraut for tomorrow.  But for now, hurrah for Puffels!  And googly eyes!  And happy children!!  And saying a prayer for patience for tomorrow and the rest of this week.....six days till school starts again.

Spring

There are purple blooms on trees, a green haze of newly emerged leaves.  I've been scrubbing the house with windows open, enjoying the smell of new spring.

Today, however, it is chilly and raining.  I can't seem to get quite warm after my early morning run.  Billy and I ate lunch with Daisy, Max and Sparky at school (lunch times starting as early as 10:30!)  It was supposed to be the Texas Day "cook-out", but since the weather did not permit, we ate in the cafeteria instead.



Now that we are back home for naptime, I wish nothing more than for my pajamas, a wool blanket, a cup of hot tea, an afternoon movie.  Dinner will certainly be a large pot of chili.

Spring loves nothing more than to tease.