June Part II

Despite an obnoxious amount of roadwork between here and the camp, the kids made it to camp on time every day for a week.

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

Between the pool, nature walks, canoeing, a horde of yard games...

And this Gagaball game, (dodgeball in a confined arena,) the kids had a great time.  There has been much discussion of an overnight camp for next year.  They would probably be fine, I'm not sure Alexe or I would be.

We had our new neighbors over for dinner, and I took the kids on a trek down the secret path through the woods that connects our houses.

Caspian getting ready to set the table.  He's meticulous.

On a busy Saturday morning, we had a couple extra blond heads over for pancakes while their parents were working.

Miss Dixie picked Caspian up at the farmer's market later that morning for their Birthday lunch date, and Annaliese and I took off for a father/daughter day.

It started with a quick visit to the BTC to see Alexe.

Then we did a repeat of the trip I took with Caspian out to the lake.  A stop at the country store for bbq and rolos...

Followed by a walk along the lake.

Except Annaliese is a little fish, and couldn't stay out of the water.

When we got back to town, we found a baseball tournament was going on, and the BTC was swamped.

Various things happened for the rest of the day, some of it centered around the departure of a tenant in the Blue house, who was moving out mid-month, to make room for new tenants that were arriving from Virginia the next day.

Which meant Sunday was a day spent scrubbing and conducting repairs on a rental property, always a fun way to spend time.  Broken faucets, missing smoke alarms, touch up paint.  BUT, we did get to pick all the apples from one of the apple trees in the orchard.  These fruit trees were mere sticks when Alexe planted them six years ago.  We walked away with a decent bushel of lovely tart apples, leaving the peach-covered tree for another day.

Later that evening we ended up at a neighborhood gathering, where some (both) of us partook of some local moonshine.

To the store to do paperwork, and I managed to extract Caspian's last front tooth.  That makes 7 he has lost, 3 more than his big sister.

We made it home a few minutes after g.sharon arrived form the airport, and after a garden tour by flashlight, the kids settled down and went to bed.

The next morning after farm chores the kids and I processed the homegrown apples into applesauce...

And some very tart cider.

While Alexe was off hunting and gathering along the Mississippi back roads.

We gathered for lunch.  

The next morning Alexe and I had an early appointment for a tooth extraction, and after I brought a woozy Alexe home and tucked her in bed, I went out to chip away on my "must do before leaving home for 3 weeks" list.  Checked off new tires and an oil change for the truck.

The kids playing their own version of run-around-tickle-game.  These two are best friends.  With all the good times, and bickering, that entails.  I hope it lasts.

June! Part 1 of...

We often end up sitting and catching up on the day after milking in the early evening.  Until Alexe gets chased inside by the mosquitoes, leaving me with a child or two for a few minutes.

I love the time. 

They do too.

On this evening both girls headed inside, so the boys decided to go for a walk to check on the latest section of cleared forest, and maybe see if the brush piles were dry enough to catch fire.

So nice to be able to see into the woods.

After many failed attempts to start a fire, we stacked some wood, and then built a secret fort for Caspian's new dinosaur collection.  I suppose it's less secret now.

This is my children being introduced to Seinfeld.  They first met him through Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee; it's fun to go back and show them a younger, and very different, version.

I'm not ready for this.

Monday morning, the first day of Camp!  Threats and coercion were necessary to get a smile out of Annaliese while we waited in line to complete registration.  Caspian was all smiles.

They each had a quick physical.

Caspian ran away as soon as his was over, and Annaliese rocketed off as quickly as she could.  The nice lady here said, "those two are so independent!"  yup.  I chased each down for a hug goodbye.

I spent a day in Oxford, catching up on computer related things, (knocked out several catch-up posts here,) paperwork and curriculum design for the upcoming project, and had a working lunch with a friend.  

When I came back at 4 the kids made no move to come with me.  Caspian was happily chattering to two of his counsellors...

And Annaliese was sitting with one of hers, discussing how she wanted to stay all summer, and didn't want to go home with me.

Look at those faces.  They speak volumes about these kids' personalities.

Five minutes on the road, and the back seat went quiet. So far I think camp is a success.

Caspian Turns Six!

We took a whole day to celebrate Caspian's birthday.

The girls hit the kitchen first thing to bake Caspian's birthday cake.

The pancakes came next, and Caspian went racing back to bed so he could have breakfast in bed, just like I did on my birthday.  He was not allowed maple syrup, something uncle william was very quick to point out.   

He was excited every second of the day.

His sister decided that unlike last year, she was going to support her brother and be excited for him. There were a few moments when she needed to take some time and vent, in this case with a squirt gun on the french doors, but she didn't shed a tear all day.

After a leisurely morning around the farm, we packed up and headed to Oxford.  Grandfather Frank was in town for the week, and made a handy cushion.  (We're testing fate with this four seater car.)

A little lunch.

And then we walked around the corner to the pet store, where Caspian got to pick out his very own Beta fish.  And the bowl and shiny rocks and plant etc. to go with it.  Here he's holding an impromptu purchase of mine, $6 worth of goldfish that we dumped into the pond to see what happens.

We toodled back home, and the kids opened presents.  A couple loving aunts included presents for Annaliese in their packages.

(That fish t-shirt was a morning present we gave him before heading off to buy his fish.  The day was more than a little fish-themed.)

And then... we packed up the picnic dinner, the grill, and the cake, and headed to the pool for the boy's official birthday party.  

Where he was spoiled yet again.  

We made it home before dark, and after milking and farm chores, I got a little cuddle time with the big sister while the sun set.  

*sigh*  I don't think we could be more present as our kids grow, and yet it still feels like we can't get enough, and will miss this time.