Lennon Bakes

This past week Lennon was baking up a storm. He dictated several recipes to me with very minimal suggestions on my part and they were all edible and mostly very good. His most recent attempt was for a cake called "The Not Have a Name Cake." It was a huge success. It fit inside a small cereal bowl and we all ate some of it. As you can see Mia thought it was delicious. It could have had something to do with the fresh butter cream frosting I made to go along with it too though.

My proud little chef. He loves being in the kitchen and is turning out to be pretty good behind an oven.

Happy Easter

The pictures are somewhat out of order, but you'll get the idea. This Easter was kind of sad for me. I think it was the first Easter that we didn't have some one in town for a visit and the lack of family really bummed me out this year. But, we got up and made the best of it. Mia said at one point that she thought it was maybe her best Easter yet, so I guess I did a pretty good job of faking my way through the day. We did have a pretty good day all things considered. The kids got up and hunted for their Easter eggs and were very pleased with what the Easter Bunny had brought them. (Thanks to some gift cards I had to Marshalls.) Then we had croissants and eggs (Grandmommy Mary Beth style) with coffee and orange juice. I made chocolate croissants for all four of us thinking it would just be a holiday treat, but Lennon threw a fit and demanded plain toast, as he is not allowed to eat chocolate and just could not bare break that rule for some reason that morning. Of course it was no sweat off my back for him to have a little less junk for the day. I was pleased as punch to serve him buttered toast with his eggs.

After breakfast we all loaded into the mini van and headed over the the fields at the high school so we could try out Lennon's action figure hang glider toy he got. It was pretty awesome until it broke on about our fifth attempt. I saved the receipt though, so I'll just have to take it back in to Marshalls some time this soon to trade it out. We all had a blast. We also go this toss and stick ball and "mitt" game for the kids and Mia really had fun playing catch with. And of course, what trip to the park would be complete for Lennon without bubbles and a snack.

About the time we got home Shelby had to do some school work so the kids and I went out for some lunch and a movie with some gift certificates I had laying around. We saw Hop and it was super cute. The kids really laughed a lot and Lennon was the best he's ever been in a theatre. I think he's finally old enough to sit through a movie quietly.

At some point in the morning Mia and Shelby did some more work on these awesome Ukranian eggs. Gaga got Mia a kit and the two of them had so much fun working on their eggs. Lennon and I stuck with the traditional - drop an egg in a cup and let it sit there for a minute deal - much more up my alley.

The set stage before I headed to bed.

Mia discovered the truth about The Bunny this year, and she wrote the sweetest note out of her new knowledge.

Just a few of Shelby and Mia's eggs

My favorite shot of these two dying eggs together.

Although this one is pretty sweet too.

Don't you just want to squeeze that guy?

Lennon spotting an egg on the staircase

Two happy kiddos about to go hunt for eggs. I love how their little faces are all puffy in the morning.

Going to Franklin Park Zoo By Mia Francis

We went to the zoo on Wednesday and had a blast!!! We saw a baby gorilla. it was sooooo cute! We also went to a part of the zoo we had never been to.

Lennonisms

Cow god is a cow. And he is not very good at somersaults.

My brain has a little cold right now. He is just sleeping and throwing up. But my heart is cleaning up after him. He is sweeping with his bed broom. He always cleans up after my brain.

So Far So Good

Our first week without the precious Tataddy is coming to a close and there haven't been any major disruptions to routine. He has seemed a little extra tense this past week and the loss of the Tataddy is all I can think of that could be causing his anxiety.

Mia found a book at the library today all about mills which Lennon has always been fascinated with and he is beyond excited about it.

She got a bunch of books today on various topics. Praries, wildflowers, unicorns, Indian fairy tales and folklore and more on Egypt of course.

Lennon's Birthday?

I know, I know. It's April, but our kids pretty much have everything toy wise, so when I think of something they actually need/want I feel like I need to pounce. Lennon is currently sleeping on Dora sheets that we got handed down from Miranda. He doesn't mind, but he would love some space themed stuff. I found a great set that includes everything he would need on Overstock.com. The link is: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Galaxy-6-piece-Bed-in-a-Bag-with-Sheet-Set/3191200/product.html.

He hasn't stopped talking about Space Opera since we saw it Sunday night and he has always been into outer space. Maybe he and cousin Peyton can travel to outer space together someday.

Makin' Stuff

Lennon has always been a big fan of machines. He is just fascinated by them. This weekend when we found out we got the awesome discount at Barnes and Noble we told the kids they could each have one "fun" thing. Lennon chose this machine building kit. It was recommended for 8 and up, but with a little help, it is right up his alley. He has built a crane, a tranktor, a fan and some kind of magic 8 ball type thingy. Below is a picture of him working on the first machine with Shelby. He was so excited when we told him he could get this kit he was practically screaming about it in the store.

I had these awesome tights and they got a huge run in them. So...instead of letting them go into the trash, I decided to make Mia some new fairy wings with them. I still need to attach some kind of straps onto them and add some finishing touches, but she's already wearing them by strapping on some soft headbands she had.

My Little School Girl

We have really kicked it into high gear as far as school goes. Well, maybe not for the average bear, but I think we are doing a lot, and having fun too! Mia is now studying English, History, Latin, Math, Spelling, Cursive, Science, Piano, Ballet, Tap and actually wanting to learn it. This week she is going to start her class at the aquarium as well and has an art class focusing on colonial America. She is on book 6, I think of Harry Potter and is also reading Little House on the Prairie in preparation for next months Old Sturbridge Village home school day. Her favorite subjects are science and history. Below is a picture of her right after she got home from the lecture on young entrepreneurship. She LOVED it. The website said it was geared for 11-18 year olds, but Shelby said Mia was the most involved in the conversation of all the kids there. She was the youngest by two years. She said the most important thing she learned was that you shouldn't do anything just for money. You should find something you love to do and find a way to make money doing it. She took lots of notes and would probably be happy to tell you all about the lecture if you were interested.

Our English book this year focuses a lot on creative thinking. There might be a picture and it will ask you to tell about what you see or to write a story about what you see. There are also frequent classic selections for memorization. Poems and stories. Last week I asked her to look back over all the ones we've learned this year and choose her two favorites to recite for me. She wanted me to film it for the blog, so I did. For your viewing pleasure....Mia Francis.

Good Bye Tataddy

Over the holidays Lennon, on his own, offered to send all his tataddies to Jaclyn's baby when she was born. I have continued to remind him of that and he never backed down. Well, yesterday at 2:33 little baby Tess Trinity Fulcher was born. And Lennon being the upstanding citizen he is, upheld his end of the bargain. This morning he cheerfully put his last tataddy in an envelope, sealed it and put it in the drop box at the post office himself. I addressed it to our house just in case he flipped out so that I would have it hidden somewhere. I know, nice that I have such confidence in my boy. I'm just trying to be prepared. He was super sweet at bedtime. He got a little bit upset, but didn't cry at all. He just said he really wanted at least something in his mouth while he slept. I reminded him that no one really sleeps with stuff in their mouths except babies. We went down a list of all the people we could think of who didn't sleep with anything in their mouths and after that he laid down and went peacefully to sleep.

Now, he didn't have his nap today, so he was very tired and fell asleep super fast, so tomorrow nap and night time may be different, but as far as his first night without it, I don't think it could have gone any better. I am so proud of my little big man!

Lennon smiling with the envelope containing the tataddy in - yes - his mouth.

The Day of The Deer Ticks

I have had just about enough of deer ticks in my lifetime. Thank you very much. Isn't it enough that my husband has diabetes due to the bite of a deer tick? Do I really need more evidence of their existence? 2 years ago when we first moved into this apartment we found a tick on Angel. A day or so later we found one implanted, yes implanted, in Shelby's abdomen. I mean, seriously? Why Shelby? He was about as scared as I have ever seen him that day too. Now, almost two years later we have had yet another nasty run in with the dreaded beasts.

The kids and I went out to a great state park this morning. We met at 10 with another home schooling family, a couple of park employees and some other random people for a couple of hours worth of hiking through the park. It was super cool to be out there with the ranger and the park interpreter because they knew so much about the area. We even got to see a little baby salamander which the kids thought was completely awesome.

Climbing in the rock quarry

Mia up on top waiting for Lennon

After the hike we had a picnic lunch with the ranger, interpreter and the other family. Now, here's where we first meet this jerk tick. I look over at Lennon while I'm eating and see what at first I think is some tiny little spider. The ranger kindly points out that it is not, in fact, a spider, but a deer tick. She calmly grabbed it off his face, squished it and handed me a tick identification card - I'll assume it's because she didn't want me to make that ignorant mistake again!

After lunch we attended a cool demonstration about the invasive Asian Longhorn Beetle which is having devastating effects on trees in Massachusetts. We learned how to identify and dispose of them and then did some crafts and activities.

The kids making Asian Longhorn Beetle headbands

Get ready - here comes more tick action. I had made a mental note to check the kids when we got home just to be cautious, for ticks, but had forgotten. I know, shocking. I forgot something? So, as the kids were getting undressed for their bath and I saw this monster on my little baby Mia's belly I was shocked and I'm not going to lie, I was a nervous wreck. I just kept thinking, "If I do this wrong, she's going to end up with Lyme disease and diabetes and it's all going to be my fault for taking her out in the stupid woods and letting her get bit by this stupid bug and then removing it the wrong stupid way!" A little dramatic maybe, but that's my style. Shelby, luckily was at school so he didn't have to partake in the hysteria. (I actually stayed very calm, but the dramatic language is so much more entertaining.) So, the first thing I did was to go over and enlist the help of Claire, basically for moral support. While I checked myself and Lennon and calmed Mia down, Claire googled the proper technique for deer tick removal.

I soaked a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and smooshed it on that sucker until it was a little whoosey. (sp?) Then I very nervously grabbed it as close to the skin as I could and pulled...I thought it would just come out, but no. Mia started crying and I was still afraid I was going to leave it's head in her. I really had to pull rather hard. I was not expecting quite the fight from that little jerk. It was the moment of truth - I was either about to extract this evil being from my precious daughter's belly or I was going to leave it's lethal head stuck deep into her skin. I'm sitting on the edge of the tub which Lennon is in and Mia is standing in front of me holding Claire's hand. Can you imagine what happened next? Lennon dumped a huge bucket of water down the back of my pants sending me shooting up from my seat. I'm going to confess that I actually kind of whacked him on the head for that one. It was just my instinct. Then, wet pants and all I finally, effectively removed the tick from Mia. Sigh.

In the end everything is fine. No Lyme disease for Mia. Lennon didn't get upset when I smacked him. And I... put on some dry pants. All in all a pretty good day, but I could have done without all the excitement.

The Demon Bug himself

I had a hard time getting a good picture of him. He's soaking in alcohol in the cap to some hair spray and my camera was just having a hard time getting a good shot.

A Very Busy Week

Monday morning just past 7 AM, Anderson and Theo were dropped off by their Dad, Ming. Theo commenced crying, which he pretty much did the entire 8 hours I had him. Because I know that he usually falls to sleep in the car, we headed out to my mom's group at the church a little early and I took the way I knew would be the most traffic-y to extend the "no cry" time for my morning. He cried almost the whole time I was at my meeting and they couldn't handle it in the child care, so I had him with me most of the time too. When we got home I fed the boys and Mia lunch and put the boys down for their naps. By the time 4 o'clock rolled around I was pretty excited to see Sue walk through my door. It had been a very long day. Shelby also had taken our van into the shop because I had noticed it seemed to be leaking some fluid. Luckily, it wasn't a big deal and they fixed the problem at no charge. When he got home from work he sent me out with some mom's from my small group for a nice, quiet mom's only dinner. I didn't know the restaurant my friend chose, so I ended up ordering a cup of soup for $10! Several of the other women ordered three course meals that were almost $40 each. It was fun, but I did feel a little bit dumb with my little cup of soup.

Today is Tuesday and I always do science with Mia and Mateus over here in the mornings while Claire hangs with the younger two before I take the younger two to gymnastics and she hangs with the older two here. Mia got all her school work for the day done before 9:30. After gymnastics and lunch I put Lennon down for his nap and Mia had her piano lesson.

Wednesday morning we are going out to Harold Parker State Park for a nature walk with some other home schoolers followed by an Asian Longhorn Beetle demonstration which the kids and I are all excited about.

Thursday we are going to spend the morning out at my friend Teresa's house. She home schools her three kids and one of them is one of Mia's favorite girls in the entire universe. Mia is hoping to sew some stuff with her on Thursday and both kids are looking forward to jumping on the trampoline.

Friday Lennon has his speech evaluation at Mia's old school and Mia is hoping to get to stop by her old teacher's class room to say hello while we are there.

Saturday Mia has ballet and tap as usual and Sunday we are going to a local theatre company's performance of Space Opera that sounds like a musical version of Star Wars basically. It will be Lennon's first live theatre I think outside of anything we saw at Disney of course.

Next week isn't quite as busy yet, but I'm sure it will be by the end up this week. We already have on the calendar a tour of a theraputic horse farm with the home school group as well as Mia's first day of class at the Aquarium. She is signed up for a 2 month session for home schoolers there and she is super excited. At the end of next week we have a roller skating social with a home school group and may go back to the art school at the MFA in the afternoon. Some how in there I am also going to fit all the other stuff I have to get done and all Mia's school and attempt to find ways to entertain Lennon and get the laundry done...wah wah wah wah wah wah wah. I started to feel like that was the gist of what I was saying anyway. I guess it's time to sign off and watch my favorite show, Parenthood. Yay!

Costumes and Burgers and Soup Oh My!

We took advantage of this sunny 40ish degree day to grill some burgers and spend some time outside.

Mia and Mateus have tried and tried to make a pulley system to no avail. Shelby helped Mia and Diva today create an awesome system with a big ol' bucket for filling up with stuff to bring up to the tree house. Mia is pointing to the pulley here.

Mia made herself a Tarzan and Jane costume in the bath a couple of nights ago and requested that the picture be posted on the blog. I had to blur a bit out so that the only disturbing thing was how old Mia is starting to look. :(

Some "delicious" soup Lennon made for us yesterday. He actually ate some of it. I smelled it. Does that count?

Lennon in his awesome rain coat from Granmommy that finally fits him. He looks so freakin' cute in it. The matching umbrella was down in the car and I didn't want to bother with going to get it, but he was pretty excited to wear this yesterday to play out in the rain with Mateus.

Later yesterday afternoon all four kids had an epic Star Wars battle in the back yard. Mia came in out of breath and told Shelby, "I just need a sword...because we are going to war."

4th or 5th Annual Breakfast With The Easter Bunny

The email said "Breakfast with Chick Fil A and The Easter Bunny." Other years they have served chicken biscuits, fruit cups, juice and coffee. So what did we expect? Well, we got served munchkins from Dunkin' and fruit cups, juice and coffee from Chick Fil A. I don't know, but I doubt fruit and juice are what people have in mind when they think of Chick Fil A. We were all bummed even though Mia loves donuts. She was counting on breakfast and three donut holes hardly fill her stomach up. Lennon who had only had one ever donut hole asked very sweetly for his and I could not deny him on this morning when their expectations were for a fun Easter breakfast. They both had a lot of fun and enjoyed the donuts while they lasted, but then both ended up having major melt downs before the morning was over due to the sugar high on empty stomachs.

Lennon was pretty excited that I agreed to let him have two of his munchkins.

Mia obviously approves

I think she's showing us a mandarin orange here

Every time Lennon spotted the Easter bunny during the two hour morning at the mall he ran full speed toward him and gave him a giant hug. Shelby said he wished he was an Easter bunny so that he could have hugs like that from Lennon. Unfortunately, Shelby didn't get to come with us this year. He had to work all day.

Both kids got a little goody bag, or rather a bucket with some Easter crafts in them and these bunny ears that they have been wearing ever since.

April Fools Day

On Friday we got Claire by telling her we were moving in two weeks for an alleged job Shelby got. She was getting pretty mad so we told her it was a prank pretty fast. Before we decided on that prank however the kids had some other ideas that didn't make the cut.

Lennon's best idea: He put his sock onto his hand and laughing hysterically said, "I'm going to tell them that I actually have a sock for a glove!"

Mia's best idea: She wanted to tell Bianca that Angel had died. We thought that was maybe a little too mean.

Oh these kids.....

Lennon is napping upstairs and Mia is out in the yard building a pulley system with Shelby and Diva for the tree house. She and Mateus have tried and tried on their own and now she has finally decided to go with an expert.

BTW- Shelby has an interview with CBT on Tuesday at 1! It's for a job in the Model Shop which is a job he always lusted after when he was employed there before. (his friend called him about the job on Friday so I was a little skeptical that it might have been a very cruel April Fool's Day joke, but once he got the interview all set up I felt a little better about it.)