cute critters... and a watermelon

The horse family stopped by last night for dinner. They were reading the newspaper and Lemur joined them.

Lemur loves to kiss Yak. A Lemur kisses like this: Touch your nose to the place you want to kiss and make the "smack" sound with your lips.

And yes I do eventually get the boys dressed at some point during the day.

We have a really nice sand box, but there are also lots of neighborhood cats that we don't want to share it with, so we've never filled it up. There was some sand already here in a pile - full of goat heads (stickers), so Lemur and I shoveled some into a colander and got the stickers out, then I let him play in the bucket of sand in the shade by the patio (where someday I'm going to make a big flower bed with lots of beautiful climbing flowers on the patio...) Lemur played in the sand for about an hour Monday morning, and again an hour this morning. He LOVED it! All he had was another bucket and a scoop.

Love the sinister eye-brow look.

Hunter planted a bunch of watermelons, cantaloupe and honeydew in our garden this year and they are all getting ripe at the same time. This was the biggest watermelon, but Hunter wouldn't hold it for me to take a picture of it so you could see how BIG it is. (Hunter hates getting his picture taken... you'd think he woulda picked a wife that didn't have a camera attached as another appendage if he didn't want his picture taken now and then.) Kinda hard to tell when its on the floor hu? Anyway, it was 20 pounds. We gave it to the Elk family and they said it was good. If anyone wants melons, stop by and get some!!

The NEW TRUMPET!!!!

After being in band for 2 years and loving playing the trumpet, Grandma Panda bought Martin a shiny new silver Holton Trumpet. Martin is so excited about his new trumpet! (he just can't act like it too much because he's a teenager, you know) You should have seen the look on his face when he saw it for the first time!! He wore a huge smile and his eyes were a twinklin' the rest of the day.

Hi comment before this picture was..."I feel really dumb mom."

Soooooo pretty! Thank you Grandma Panda!! I hope she can come out for one of his concerts this year... there will be many because he is in the 8th grade concert band AND he made Jazz band!!!!

First Day of School

Monkey is a third grader this year. He still hasn't forgiven me for "holding him back" in kindergarten. His birthday is May 30 and he would have been the youngest in his class so I had him go to Kinder again at Montessori and now he is the oldest and smartest and best athlete in his class! (well, there's usually someone smarter and faster, but it gave him an edge up). He has Mrs. Cliff and she seems really nice and fun. Monkey is a big old kid, he just about eats us out of house and home. Thank goodness he loves fruits and veggies and can go outside and eat a plum or a peach off the tree when he is hungry. He really loves our bunnies and takes good care of the kitties too. Monkey is my best worker - he always jumps right in to get his chores done fast so he can go and play.

Bee is in 5th grade. She is getting so tall, and we had to buy size 7 shoes for her!! I wear a 9 and that's because my feet grew having kids! Bee is my best mommy helper around here. I love it when she cleans things because she does it just as clean as I do. She's really good with Yak too. Bee is excited about her 5th Grade Teacher Mrs. Mills who has taught school for 32 years so she knows what she is doing. We got Bee a desk and she got it all set up and organized last night so she's ready to study!!

Martin is in 8th grade this year and "top dog" at the Middle School. When he got home from school the first day he said, "the 6th graders are so small!! I was looking down at them like... 'hellooo down there...'..." :) I think Martin has finally gotten taller than me - and his feet are way bigger! He gets to wear a uniform to school, which makes it easy to get dressed in the morning. I really appreciate that Martin is so well grounded in his beliefs and standards. There is a lot of yuk that goes on in Middle School and he chooses not to participate in it. He is really good to get his homework done. He is excited to be in jazz band and concert band this year - he had to get special permission to be in both. So far he is a tolerable teenager... keeping our fingers crossed on that one!

Getting off the bus the first day of school. Monkey and Bee leave at 7:15 on the bus and school starts at 7:55. The same bus drops them off, then comes back and gets the middle and high school kids and takes them to school - it starts at 8:40. Monkey and Bee get home at 2:50 and then the bus goes and gets the middle and high school kids and Martin gets home around 4:00. I didn't take a picture of Martin getting off the bus because that would have been too embarrassing for him. I have to start thinking like a teenager now that I have one. I wouldn't want to be an embarrassment to him! :)

cut, cut, cut

Guilty look or what? Here's a peek into why I am nominating myself for mother of the year...

Yes, I let my 2-year-old cut things up. Well, I don't actually LET him, he just finds the cutting devise and gets at it. Today it was a cube of butter. The day before a banana. The day before that a peach, and before that a nectarine.

This was actually the pampered chef spreader, not a real knife. :)

A Huckleberry Birthday

We were so lucky to be able to spend the day with Mama Bear on her birthday! We enticed her over with picking Huckleberries at our secret location and dinner at "Grandma's." They treated her to a huckleberry shake and apple/huckleberry pie (which she took home to share with Papa Bear).

Lemur followed Mama bear all around. He would pick a berry, put it in his container, and then eat it out of the container.

We bought him a "cherry crush" in a good old fashioned bottle. It was pretty funny watching him drink it. I remember thinking that drinking pop out of a bottle was so dumb when I was little. It was hilarious watching him fill his mouth and throat up with the carbonated drink, his eyes would water and then 3/4 of it would go back into the bottle. yik!

Three of my boys.

Giggling Sit-Ups

I do not have a picture of this, but, well, maybe you had to be there, but it was so dang funny I have to tell you about it. So I was doing some sit-ups this morning... time to get rid of that baby flabby tummy that I have, I decided. I stuck my feet under the couch and started doing sit-ups. Well, apparently Lemur had never seen mommy do this before, and he thought it was time to play. He started throwing the pillows off the couches at me. I started laughing, and, it takes what little tummy muscles that I do have left to laugh, leaving none for sit-ups. So when I started laughing, Lemur decided that was his cue that this was a fun game, so he continued to throw pillows at me. While laughing and dodging pillows, I continued to do my sit-ups. Then out of nowhere Lemur launches himself on top of me mid sit-up. I made some funny noises and Lemur laughed hysterically. I'm trying to tell him to get off of me, while now crying and laughing at the same time. Lemur is perplexed. He is not sure why mommy is laughing, but maybe she is crying, so he launches himself on top of me again and then rolls over my head. I'm trying to get it across to him to LEAVE ME ALONE, I'M DOING SOME EXERCISES HERE (if you couldn't tell) and he just thinks this is a great game. He keeps jumping on me like I'm a trampoline (I know I'm round and bouncy, but I am not a trampoline, thank you very much.) So tears are streaming down my face and I'm making ridiculous noises laughing and grunting while trying to do sit-ups. You want to know what I sounded like... have you ever heard my mom laugh really hard? My Aunt Margaret laughs the same way... so it's a big inhale, then your body shakes in rhythmic bounces while you hear, heheheheeeeeeeeee (like wweeeeeeeeeee, down a slide). Then I started thinking (as I'm being trounced upon by a certain Lemur) I sound just like my mom. I wonder if I'll cross my legs so I don't pee my pants next. But of course, I can't cross my legs because my feet are stuck under the couch and Lemur is bouncing on top of my rib cage. I try and wave my arms so he will get the idea to go away, and he starts flapping his arms like me, while jumping up and down on his poor unsuspecting mother who is now curled up in the fetal position trying not to pee her pants. I finally flop over on my back (when Lemur got off me to throw another pillow) and just lay there with my arms spread out gasping for air with tears still streaming down my face. Lemur stopped. He looked at me wondering if I was okay. Then I started laughing again because I'm sure he was so dang confused. Of course that set off another round of him hurling himself on top of me. I ended up tackling him and tickling him until he ran away and I collapsed in an exhausted heap. I guess my tummy muscles did get a work out because I hadn't laughed that hard in a long, long time. Sit-ups are over rated anyway.

Harry Potter Look-a-like

Sunday, during church, Yak scratched himself on the forehead. It bled and oozed and looked so sore. I felt horrible because I had cut his fingernails just a few days before, but obviously missed something. The poor little critter.

Several people at church and more at Stake Choir practice asked if he was trying to look like Harry Potter.

Yak is just hanging out while Zookeeper goes through the Pampered Chef boxes.

Lemur wanted to help me unpack all the Pampered Chef stuff. (He is SOoooo helpful, I tell ya what.) I finally bribed him to hang out with some root beer on his "snack stool" and watch me. That lasted for about a minute, but it was nice while it lasted. Thank goodness he is so happy and cute or I might lock him up when he tries to help me. He's such a squish, I love him to death. He wanted cantaloupe this morning for breakfast, but of course he had to cut it up himself. Thank goodness for PC little knives that are not very sharp - he likes to cut things. He also cut up an apple in about a million pieces this morning and ate that. The scary thing is that he gets into the knife drawer and brings me all kinds of knives throughout the day wanting to cut things. I've had a pyro and a hydro (critters that love fire and water) but never a... what would you call it... don't know the Greek root for knife, sorry.

Lemur is trying to talk more, only we still can't understand him. He tries to say vitamin, and I remember what it is FINALLY after him saying it, pleading with me to give him a mumumim and then I GET IT, then I forget the next day. He mostly yells Maooam, and Daaaaad and then mumbles. If you haven't been around Lemur in a while, you may not know how much he loves his daddy. He asks for him when he first wakes up. Then, all day, all day long, he sees things around the house and points to them and says, Dad, Daaad, Daaaad, until I acknowledge that he is showing me something of his dads: hat, deodorant, razor, toothbrush, bed, pillow, clothes, TV, his cup, limeade, computer, book, chair, lawn mower, chain saw, etc. etc. etc. Can I say, hearing Daaaaad all day long gets a little old sometimes? It's all good though. I think one day soon I'll be wishing he didn't know how to talk at all. maybe.

Yak is growing and getting squishy and squashy too. He is so cute and fun. He is so happy and content and just wiggles and smiles and plays and is happy wherever we put him. He will play on his back, in his swing, on his belly, sitting up on the couch or in his car seat. He likes it inside, he likes to be outside. He is good in the car, good in the store, good at church. He sleeps all night long and takes 3 or 4 naps a day. I couldn't ask for a better baby. He goes in for his 2 month check up on Friday (even though on the 19th he will be 3 months old, I didn't make his appointment soon enough). I can't get enough of my baby, he is growing up too fast!!

Better than Christmas!!!

So this morning I got up early and worked for a few hours. Then Lemur and I went outside and put weed and feed on the lower lawn, picked up sticks/branches on the upper lawn and started mowing it. When we were about half done, the Fed Ex man came and said, "I have 6 big boxes that say you're done mowing the lawn." I knew it was my Pampered Chef Party and I ran right in the house to open the door for him. Even though I couldn't WAIT to open those treasure chests, and being the goal oriented/self-disciplined person that I am, I made myself finish mowing the lawn, feed Lemur and I breakfast (at 10:30), feed Yak again and shower before I could open them. Finally at noon I dug into the first box.

I had stuff scattered everywhere trying to sort out everyone's orders (and wishing I had gotten some of the cool stuff my friends got). But don't feel too bad for me, because I think I got more stuff than everyone else put together.

Here's my loot!

I invited about 75 people to my party. 18 showed up and I had about 10 outside orders. Thanks to all my PC junkie friends, I had an awesome party and got BOTH cookware sets at 60% off, 3 items 50% off (I got the mandolin, the Salad/Berry spinner and the Trifle/Salad bowl) $165.00 in free products and everything else at 30% off. Hooray for me! We have been needing new cookware since before we got married. Last night Hunter made breakfast for dinner and burned the eggs to our cruddy frying pan. Instead of washing it, I happily tossed it outside in the garbage can, knowing my new pans were supposed to be here the next day. I got so many goodies: the citrus juicer, lots of utensils, measuring devices, a fun cake decorating set, new veggie peelers, (all 3 different kinds), the splatter screen, the mix and pour (makes salad dressing) cook books, bamboo salad tongs etc. etc. I actually ordered so many new utensils, I had to get a new turn table too. (I already have one that is full of PC stuff, yes, I'm an addict!) Ahh, see why I say it's better than Christmas? But this isn't all about me (I rationalize), think of how much fun the critters will have cooking with me now AND cleaning up the new pots and pans that will require no scrubbing and/or elbow grease. And think of all the fresh lime/lemonade Hunter can make now with little to no effort. See, I was only thinking about my family when I had my PC Party.

Goody-bye old pots and pans. You have served us well for over 13 years!!! (I had my first Pampered Chef Party when Martin was born, and I got this pot/pan set). It has seen its better days. The bottoms are so warped they don't sit flat on my flat top stove. It took forever to heat things up because only a little part of the pan was actually touching the stove. Oh happy day!! I can't wait to get cookin'!!!

WARNING

It has been about 3 weeks since I posted a blog so, grab a bowl of popcorn, a rootbeer float or an ice cream sundae and get ready to get caught up on our lives. Also, from here on out we have decided to change Bunny Rabbit's name to Yak. :) He talks non stop (I think he'll probably be using full sentences before Lemur does) and after thinking about it for a long time, taking the case before the judge, paying all necessary legal fees, filled out 732 pages of state and government documents to change a name, paying more fees to the government just to pay fees, and going through all legal courses of action, we have legally changed his Farmly Name to Yak.

Oh, the new look for our blog is supposed to be a barn wall and a white picket fence - it looked better on the sample. Anyone know how to change it so it will look better? We might get another makeover in a few weeks when I find something I like better. AND I posted so many new blogs today that when you get to "older posts" you'll have to click on that to see the other ones. Okay, have fun!

Dinner with Farmly

After we went berry picking (see below) we stopped at the Fish Family's Pond for a yummy dinner of chicken noodle soup and bread sticks. We benefit from Rainbow Trout's yummy cooking.

Lemur loved the bread sticks!

Yak shirt says "Little Version of Daddy..." ya think?

Yak took a little nap in Salmon's Family cradle. Salmon said it is over 200 years old, passed down from generation to generation through the oldest son. Very, very cool.

We were in charge of bringing dessert so guess what we brought? Gee, how'd you guess? Was it good?....

Huckleberries! Yum!

After Hunter and Zookeeper both worked on Saturday morning, then Zookeeper, Penguin and Yak went to a baby shower, we headed up to the mountains to pick Huckleberries. We hit the jackpot and we're not telling anyone where it is... it's a secret! Shhhhhhh.

Porcupine did a great job picking huckleberries. I think he picked more huckleberries in a couple of hours than he picked strawberries all summer long!! Humm... now that I know he's a fast picker, he gets to be fast at home too! :)

Zookeeper found a nice log to sit on and the berries were so thick I didn't have to move for a long time.

Hunter LOVES Huckleberries!

This is the last time Lemur will wear his cowboy boots up in the mountains. They were super slippery and he could hardly stand up. When we were at the Fish Family's Pond later that evening, Lemur kept telling Aunt Sea Lion all about him falling down and hurting his side on a log.

Apricots, squish, squish, Apricots

We canned apricots and made apricot jam on Saturday. Lemur was right there in the middle of it all. He had a little knife that he cut the apricots into little bitty pieces with, and then he put the pits in the jam bowl and stuffed the apricots in the pocket of the chair. He threw apricots at the cat, off the deck and onto the floor and then squished them with his bare feet. He was SO MUCH help! :) Each of the other three critters made a batch of jam and helped me put apricots in the jars and process them. It was nice to make the mess out on the covered patio where it was cool and we could use the hose to clean up.

DAM!

The last day all the critters were here for the summer, I felt like crud. I had a double ear infection (I have not had an ear infection since I was 3 that I can remember), I had a sore throat, runny nose, hacky cough and pounding head ache.BUT: I'm a mom, so I couldn't just sit around and feel sorry for myself and nurse my achin' body. SO: The critters got the barn all clean and we loaded up into the big van. We drove into town and stopped at WinCo and I let the critters get as many doughnuts as they thought they could eat. This is a "I'm an insane mom moment" that I like to do every now and again. I let the critters eat as many donuts as they can, and then they get sick and don't ask for donuts for a really long time. The critters love it. Steelhead isn't much for donuts so he got a bag full of fresh baked bagels and had that instead. The critters went back to the van and ate donuts (and bagels) until they were sick while I went into ShopKo and got a life jacket for Lemur.

Then we drove over the hill to Black Canyon Dam and spent the rest of the day playing in the water there.

Monkey and Porcupine found a log to play with. It was a submarine, a cannon, a sea monster and who knows what else.

Everyone took a turn playing with Lemur, who loves, Loves, LOVES the water.

Building a sand castle with Steelhead.

Goin' fishin'.

Even Zookeeper got in and splashed around and played with the critters. It felt really good in spite of my aching head, eyes, ears, nose and throat. After swimming for about 5 hours, we met Hunter at a park and hung out for an hour before he had to take the K. Kritters back to their mom. Then the C. Critters and I went to a car wash and vacuumed out the big van (that only took about a half hour and $4.00) and then we washed the van (and each other - wish I had pictures of that, it was awesome) and finally made it home and yes, I crashed. (my ears were so plugged up I couldn't hear very well. Hunter said I am gaining sympathy for him - he is half deaf)

I was sad the critters are all taking off for a few weeks. We'll have them here and there, but not all together again until after school starts. It has been a really fun summer and the critters have all worked hard and played hard and helped me out a ton.