conversations from the back seat

After immunizations at the doctor's office today, the boys got to pick a prize from the treasure chest...  Remember these little water games with buttons that cause bubbles to force little rings up into the fish bowl?  The goal is to get the rings on the dolphins' noses, at least that's what  you thought...

From the back seat driving home:

Fritz: This game is cool.  It's called "Angry Fish".
Wally: Yah.  Angry Fish.  That's right.  Like the Angry Birds.
Me: What is the game Angry Birds?
Fritz: Uncle Michael plays it.  The birds are angry.
Wally: Yah.  The birds are just pretending to be angry to get the other animals.  Well actually, not all animals, just pigs.
Fritz:  Yah, Mommy, pigs.
Wally: The birds go in this 'swingy' thing and swing out and go through stuff to find the pigs.  But this game is Angry Fish.  Angry Birds is a grown ups game.
Fritz: Yes!  I did one.  Angry Fish!!
Wally: Hahaha!  Yes! Me too, Angry Fish!!
Fritz: (imagine tough guy voice) This is my iPad.
Wally: Yah.  I have my own iPad too.  Let's play Angry Fish.

"when i grow up i want to be a raspberry farmer"

One of the benefits of living out in Timbuktu these days... berry picking just five minutes from home on a beautiful July morning.  

Wally and I picked 17 lbs. of perfect, ripe raspberries.  Fritz ate a bunch and played with sticks and bugs.  Not a bad morning.  Now we've got our work cut out for us to not let them go to waste.  And at $1.50 a lb. we will probably need to go pick again next week!

The plans:

raspberry jam

raspberry vinegar

raspberry yogurt popsicles

raspberry buttermilk cake

raspberry breakfast bars

homeschooling

No, I'm certainly never planning on homeschooling my kids.  But after much thought yesterday (thank you Cassie for the time to actually go for a cup of tea, sit and read, and THINK!) I decided that part of the behavior problem around here lately has to do with not being engaged enough.  And so this morning began a new attempt to work on academic, social, physical, and emotional development.  Where to begin?  Play dough, ofcourse!  The boys gathered ingredients and cooked up a batch.  We turned on some music and they sat and "worked" quietly for an hour.  Perfect.

Post script:  This entry should be titled "Oh, how we miss preschool."

who's kids are these?

I am the mother of two boys, ages 3 and 4 this week.  And they are skate boarding no less.  Where have the littles gone?

train adventure

Up to Tacoma to pick up a new car.  Perfect time for an Amtrak adventure! 

Papa Harvey's Day

Today is Papa's 90th Birthday.  That is a feat and accomplishment to celebrate for sure!  Unfortunately my little family can't make it up to the birthday lunch party 4 hours away.  We are thinking of you today, Papa, and loving you very much as ever.

Gnome back at it

Norman is hard at work in the garden.  The peas are taking over the world.  

lick the spoon

Brownie baking with Gramma while Wally was still napping.  Lucky Fritzy!

Uncle Michael

Oh how we love our Uncle Michael!!!  And head lamps are pretty great too! 

missing our friend already

We had a fun morning at the zoo last week with our sweet friend Henry.  The sun and animals were out and we had a picnic to boot.  So sad that Henry and Amanda are moving to Salt Lake, we are going to miss them a ton!

"bolis"

A treat of "bolis" from the paleta man on the beach.  We should have gone for the true paletas, these were pretty gross!  Like eating slurpee concentrate.

brave boy Fritz

Fritz had his little thumb surgery last week and made it through with good humor and lots of bravery.

 Fritz was a pretty grumpy guy after the surgery from the anesthesia.  3 orange popsicles helped his disposition a bunch.  

arrival of peas

The peas were in full force in the garden when we returned home from Mexico.  We've been picking and shelling every day.  The boys are definitely getting their vegetable servings in each day and more!  Peas and mint.... pickled sugar snap peas... Yum. Yum!