September 12

Today started out as just a normal Monday, until something very exciting happened.

Daisy showed me that she can read.

WHAT?!?! 

I know.

Really, this has been a long time coming. She's been ready since at least May, but she has been pretty resistant about actually trying to read something. Today, however, she decided she was ready, and SHE DID IT! (She's still pretty shy about it, so if you see her in real life you may not want to gush like I am doing now. She will balk like a skittish animal.)

This is her starting to read a book to me. I love that you can tell from the look in her eyes that she knows she's going to do something awesome.

Some of the book she had memorized, but when I made her slow down she could actually read individual words. She doesn't like being forced to sound out words, though, because she is afraid of being wrong. (She's definitely my child.)

It's a funny story.

See? BAM! WHAM!

And then she read three more books to me. 

My sweet girl with the books she read to me! I am so proud of her!

And of course I had to take a picture of Caleb doing some school. We read about Charlemagne today, so he colored a picture of a Viking longboat.

Story of the World selfie!

Also, I have to share this because it is disgusting and awful. Back in the spring, I sent Chris to the store to buy me plants for my garden. I asked for zucchini and squash, and he came back with a spaghetti squash plant. Not what I had in mind. But I planted it, and all summer long it yielded nothing. In the past few weeks, though, I have been watching one squash grow. It was finally ready, so I planned dinner tonight around this spaghetti squash. 

My preferred method is to bake spaghetti squashes whole, then cut them in half, scoop out the guts, and shred the spaghettis. After this one baked for an hour, I cut it open... and saw that giant white caterpillar in the center. At least it was dead.

The whole thing went in the trash, because I couldn't even.

Also, Caleb made this and asked me to photograph it. 

It's "Good Guy Island". Doesn't it look like it's floating in the ocean? He is really impressed with it. See how they're making the bad guy walk the white plank? Yep. Awesome.

September 11

Chris and I were feeling frisky today; or rather, we felt like we needed some special family fun time today. The weather forecast was perfect, so we decided to skip church and spend the day outside having family adventures.

Our first stop was the Flags of Valor at Forest Park. Today was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and they set up nearly 7,000 flags on Art Hill in honor of the service men and women who have died since then in the War on Terror. It was quite the experience. Chris and I were awestruck at the enormity of it. 

Each flag had a picture of a soldier and information about where and when they served and died.

Before we visited, Chris and I took the time to explain 9/11 to the kids for the first time (I think). I showed them this little video that addresses the attacks very simply, and explains what God says about it. They seemed to get it, which was sad.

The flags seemed to go on forever!

After we walked through and paid our respects, we headed out to the apple orchard to pick some apples.

These kids were so excited! The big three each got their own little bag to fill with whatever apples they chose.

I thought Eli would be content on my back, but eventually decided he was big enough to explore with the big kids. He was happy with my decision!

Chris helped him a lot.

Picking apples.

More picking.

Looking for the biggest, reddest ones!

Getting help from Daddy. Don't you love their apple picking outfits?

And then Eli went back up on my back. 

I love this picture of these three!

Cheese!

After we were done picking, we visited the farm's play area. 

Eli is so into trucks, and he was in heaven in the rock bed!

There was a super-fast, shiny metal slide that was really hot. Thankfully, they had burlap sacks to slide down on so no one got burnt. (Remember the time that Daisy got actual burns on her legs from a slide? I thought she was just being dramatic until I saw the wounds later. #momfail)

And do you spy someone special in the background? My mom and Ryan joined us after they left church.

The kids were so happy to see Grandma!

Then off to the bikes and ride-on toys. 

Lily wasn't tall enough to push the pedals, but she tried as hard as she could!

Caleb has been obsessed with - consumed by - Mario Kart lately. He hopped on this little bike and zoomed around the track, and I could tell that in his mind, he was doing a real live version of the game!

 Then I saw this:

Chris was "helping" Eli ride a bike. And look at Ryan behind them. Too funny!

Daisy, too!

But these two were my favorites.

Lily took a water break, then headed out to help push Eli.

Isn't she a sweet big sister?

We finished up with a tractor-pulled wagon ride.

I love the look my mom is giving Caleb. She clearly enjoys him, and that makes my heart happy.

Also, isn't Lily the cutest? Her sweet dress is one that Chris' mom made for her as a birthday gift. 

And then we were done! 

It was nearly lunchtime, so we headed to a restaurant with a lovely patio and ate a nice lunch outside. There was a man playing his guitar and singing some bluesy tunes, and it was just perfect. Just what we needed!

September 9

On Wednesday night, my mom came over to stay with the kids so that Chris and I could attend the visitation for a dear woman who was my neighbor's sister, and my friend's mother. We are connected to her family in so many ways, and though we didn't know her well, we feel the loss deeply on behalf of our friends. 

Chris and I returned right about bedtime and found my mom applying metallic temporary tattoos to all of the children. She looked up at me sheepishly, knowing I would disapprove of the fact that she gave Caleb a golden headband across his forehead.

She was right.

Luckily, she's the grandma. She may have been pushing her luck a bit, but I let it go. 

Eli ended up with a golden star on his belly, and he loves it. Ever since then, he will lift his shirt up several times each day and point to his belly, saying, "'tar!" It's pretty cute.

I tried to capture the cuteness today, but the boy didn't want to be photographed. Lily did, however!

(Have I ever mentioned the story of the shirt she's wearing? Last December, I took all four kids to a children's resale shop to find Christmas outfits. While I searched, Lily came across this shirt on the racks. It was a size too big, but she was adamant that she wanted this shirt. Normally with things like this, I humor the child until they forget. But Lily would not forget; she insisted that she needed the shirt. It has been a favorite ever since, and well worth the $3 I paid for it.) 

Daisy also wanted to be photographed. She was being a goof.

Finally, after watching his sisters pose and looking at their pictures, Eli decided to let me photograph him.

He's naked and dirty because he was playing outside with the big kids, and he got his clothes all muddy and wet. Once he was naked, he saw his 'tar again. He's pointing to it in this picture.

I know I need to cut that wild mop of hair, but I'm so afraid the curls will be gone.

But I need to do it.

Hi, Eli! (Can you see his star on the bottom?)

He is really proud of that star!

Sweet baby. He loves that star so much that I'll let him run around in his diaper as much as he wants!

Also, still lots of babywearing around here. A friend bought her first woven wrap in anticipation of her baby's arrival next month, and it just happens to be one that I have been eyeing for a really long time. She kindly let me borrow it, so that I could help break it in before her baby arrives.

Eli is really fighting being worn lately, which is frustrating. Sometimes he will scream as I put him up, then settle in and happily enjoy his ride/snuggles on my back. Other times, he screams when I put him up and then says, "UPPP! Up. Upppp. UUUUUp." the whole time he's on my back. (You know, because "up" clearly means, "Please put me down, Mommy.")

Luckily, Lily is still a willing wrappee. 

She only wants to stay up for about five minutes at a time, but it's enough to give me a chance to practice various things.  Also, isn't the diaper-clad, sock-wearing photo bomber hilarious? Eli is so funny.

And this wrap - Didymos Blues Hemp Indio - is so lovely! I'm happy I have a chance to play with it!

September 7

We rocked school today. This is what it looks like:

At Classical Conversations, Caleb and Daisy learned about the 7 types of biomes. Today, among other things, they did a biome activity. I love that they were both totally engaged in the process!

Another engaging thing around here: babywearing.

I know. You aren't surprised. If you're surprised, you must be new around here.

I'm in the process of becoming a Volunteer Babywearing Educator, and I am borrowing lots of different carriers so that I can expand my knowledge base.

A new favorite carrier is the mei tai.

It's so simple, and so comfortable!

And look at how much my sweet baby likes it!

One I don't like so much is the pouch. 

These are super common because companies advertise that you can get them for free, when you pay a ridiculous amount for shipping. Unfortunately, not many people know how to use them right. If you know how to use it, it can be a great carrier in a pinch. But really? It feels like a pillowcase. I suppose I'm spoiled by my fancy woven wraps, but I just don't feel like a pillowcase is particularly supportive for my baby.

He obviously is quite upset about it.

Or not.