The Strawberry Patch

Sigh.  On Saturday we made our last trip to the farm to pick strawberries. And Kara & kids came too and Kat & girlies joined in a bit later.  And even though we didn't need to go, because we didn't need strawberries and I wouldn't be canning, I'm so glad we went.  It was one of our more enjoyable times there.  Everyone worked hard but it was still very relaxing and we took our time in the field...

Although poor Brynn started not feeling great right as we were leaving the house.  Then got really sleepy in the car.  Then she thought she might throw up right before we got on the tractor.  So she laid around the strawberry patch (literally).  But by the time we got to eating custard she was feeling better ;)

We ate about as many strawberries as we bought.

Strawberry kisses :)

And after we were finally all done, we loaded up everyone into the tractor and were ready to go.  When all at once I looked around at our crew and realized my Kate was missing and panic struck right as I hear a child crying from somewhere off in the distance.  I jumped up and saw the nice tractor driver picking her up and I rushed off to grab her. 

Breath.  Seriously?!?  How could I have almost forgotten about this face...

And no joke, just as we were settling down under the porch with our custard the first raindrops began to fall.  And then pour.  And the wind blew.  And then the tornado sirens went off.   And a lot mor rain came down.  And even some hail.  And it was an adventure getting everyone to the cars and home.  And the rest of the night was just as exciting. 

We are happy to inform you...

Imagine my surprise and delight when I got the mail on Monday and saw a postcard that said Tyler was chosen as Student of the Month for his class - yes, the very same month I got a call from the assistant principle about the "bus incident" ;)  Although it needs to be said that upon further discussion and information that that whole thing was blown way out of proportion... When he got home that day he didn't realize he had been in trouble, Brynn didn't even know there had been a problem with Tyler on the bus, the bus had apparently been pulled over because of another bigger kid in the back of the bus causing problems, his friend never actually asked him to stop tickling before he decided to bite etc, etc.  So I felt that his punishments at school of missing recess, eating lunch with the AP to have a talk, and calls home where enough to get the point across that we need to keep our hands to ourselves and so he didn't receive any other punishment at home other than to apologize to the bus driver for being silly.  Anyway...

I sent Tyler's teacher an email thanking her for all her effort and dedication in working with Tyler this year because we understood that he may not have been her easiest student, but that with her help we have seen such great growth in him in so many different areas.  She responded "You're welcome!  He has come so far this year, and I am very proud of him.  He should be proud of himself.  Thank you for working with me this year.  I always like to think that I help them grow, but parent support makes all the difference.  I will see you Friday!"  She has been so excited for Tyler and the improvement that he has been making, especially academically.  Report cards came out for Third Quarter not long ago and she flagged me down when I was at the school around that time to tell me that she was so impressed when she was filling out his progress report and realized just how far he had come when looking back and comparing to the start of the year.  He went from struggling in many areas to excelling in every single one!  We have been very proud of him too.  

When I was telling the kids the plan for this morning - that I would be dropping Kate and Dylan (and Brennen) off at Karas so that Daddy and Mommy could take Brynn and Tyler to school for the Recognition Ceremony Tyler was immediately not happy with my plan.  I was confused and asked him what the problem was and he said that he wanted Dylan to be there with him and that he knew Dylan loved donuts so he would want to come too.  How could I say no to that?! 

Tyler was so excited to show Dylan everything... like where the gates to his school were, where he used to have recess in preK, where he ate lunch, etc.  And when they sat down to eat he taught him everything he knew - like how to open the milk cartons.


I explained to him about how they would call his name and that meant he would nicely walk up, shake the principles hand, then accept his certificate and gift and go stand with his teacher in line.  He did a great job.

 With his teacher Mrs. Kennemer... 

 For the paper...

Way to go Tyler!!!

The circus came to town...

I learned from the base newspaper that small circus was coming to Mascoutah (a small town that we live right by) just for one day (today).  But I somehow failed to convince PJ that we needed to buy tickets and go :{  And I was sad about that but made myself feel better when I realized I could at least take the little kids in the morning to look around and see the Big Top being put up.  So off we went.  And Kate liked all the animals we got to see like the llamas and zebra and dogs but definitely only from a distance...   

And Dylan thought the camels were stinky.  But we have never been, nor will probably ever be again, this close to a tiger in our lives...

Totally cool.  

And we did get to go inside the Big Top and see the elephants and strong men (and truck) raise it up...

And it left me wishing even more that I had put my foot down and that we had tickets to the show tonight.  Oh well... at least Dylan thinks he really did get to go already!

Superhero's

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.
-Marc Brown

Tyler's doorknob was a little loose. So Preston sent him up to his room to fix the loose doorknob all by himself and with his very own tools. Which he did very well without ever needing to ask for help. And I mentioned that Kara had a doorknob that needed some work and that since Clark was gone maybe he (Tyler) could fix it for her. He was very excited and asked me for days when he could go get to work. Sunday night we were heading over there for dinner so I reminded him not to forget his tools so he could ask her what he could help her with. And he proudly took his tools, and his brother by the hand, and set off down the street to go be of help. My fixer can be a very impressive young boy at times... and a very good example to his little brother.

Kate Randoms

Kates in a fun stage of not being a baby anymore but not quiet being a big girl yet either.

As I've been going through our house and trying to sort through things and get rid of stuff we've found a few random items... including a couple of the pacifiers she used to use before she started teething. And she decided that she wanted them back - we've let her play with them a little bit here or there but won't be letting her get too attached to them because they will be going away again soon.
She also likes to put her shoes and socks on by herself now. And she spends a lot of time putting on other peoples shoes and she likes to walk around in Brynn's.

When we get home from the Y in the morning I usually try to settle Kate and Dylan in front of a show with a snack and drink (and put Brennen safely in one of the rooms to rest) while I rush to jump in the shower before anything happens. I say rush because Kate doesn't understand the principle of sitting and relaxing and watching a good show (her sister didn't at that age either). And the other morning when I got out of the shower and stepped into my room I found this...

...she was happily dismantling my birthday card from Anya and Ally Hartman and covering herself in all the fun stickers that were on it. She was having a blast :)

When Kate went through her little get-so-mad-while-crying-that-she-stopped-breathing-and-turned-purple-and-even-passed-out-once phase my sweet mom showed up one visit with a video monitor. Yes a video monitor... something that I used to think was ridiculous and then baby #1 came along and the first time we let her cry it out at night I realized why they were amazing and had wanted one ever since. But my husband wouldn't let me get one. Even when Kate did this. So my mom brought me one :) And it is so fun to just stand in front of that monitor and watch her all the time. PJ stares at it and smiles all the time (while still insisting that we don't need it). Anyway, my point is this, this week (while watching my daughter who should have been napping but wasn't) I caught her trying and almost succeeding to crawl out of her crib. None of my other kids ever figured out how to do that and never did. I think she may be my first. PJ asked me if I was going to go gt her before she fell. I said no, if she falls and realizes it hurts then maybe she won't do it again. He didn't think that was my brightest idea (guess he's seen too many kids at the hospital lately). So I tried to take a little video to show her climbing. But of course couldn't capture the moment. But what I did capture was her sweet little voice calling for "mommeeeeeee" over and over and over and over again and then stopping in the middle to try for "beeeeeee" (aka Brynn).

Kate thinks she's allowed to be on top of the dinning room table, and honestly I pretend not to see her up there a lot of times because it isn't worth the fight when I know she's just going to climb right back up. But I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to let her dance and spin up there when daddy was on the computer and listening to music?!...