Reason Number 837 Why I Like Being a Mom

I get to be Spiderman's chauffeur. 

Going to Little Caesar's is a LOT more fun with a superhero.

Farewell, Gardening Season!

This summer, we grew our own vegetable garden. Watermelons, tomatillos, tomatoes, cilantro, and chives have been filling our bellies for the growing season. Matt and Nolan both planted watermelons (different types) and nurtured them from tiny, baby plants to full grown fruit.

Matt grew Orange Tendersweet, which have an oddly-colored orange flesh but taste wonderful.

Nolan grew Sugar Baby watermelons, which have a traditional red flesh and are also delicious.

And then we had watermelon coming out of our ears. Watermelon everywhere. I made watermelon jelly.

Watermelon fruit leather.

I gave watermelon away to friends and neighbors. I'm pretty sure we won't grow watermelon next year. I thought I would never say this, but we're sick of eating watermelon. Fortunately, the last melon has been cut up and eaten!

I also canned tomatoes and tomatillos, and we recently ate spaghetti sauce from some of our canned, homegrown stock.

I am officially addicted to gardening and canning. I just need more garden space so that I have more jars on the shelf next year!

Starting School

The day before school started, both boys were able to ride the school bus on a "practice run" to the school. They were thrilled to board the big yellow bus, and to meet their teachers for the first time.

On September 1st, everyone was up bright and early to catch the bus. Both boys were gone by 8:15am.

Nolan returned home at 11:40am, chirping about all the fun things they did: they sang The Wheels on the Bus, played with toys, and listened to a story about puppy dogs who go to school.

Matt had a half-day for the first day of school, and he arrived home at 1:00pm. He was so thrilled about school: "Mom, we got to see the gym, the music room, the art room, and the cafeteria. They called it a tour!"

School is now in full swing, and Matthew is gone from 8:15am - 4:10pm. That is one long day for a kindergartener! Still, he loves every minute of it. He is particularly fond of gym: they have very creative games of tag, and he raved about a game of "dog catchers" and "dogs." I can only assume the dog catchers were supposed to catch the dogs in that game - his teachers are very creative!

The Birthday Boy

Nolan absolutely loves thrill rides, so we took him to Waldameer Amusement Park on his birthday. He was so excited to ride the fast rides - fortunately most of the mild thrill rides at Waldameer allow a child over 36" tall to ride with a parent. Nolan was so very excited about his trip to Waldameer!

There were two small roller coasters that he could ride, and a wide assortment of other spinning/swinging rides that he and Matthew both loved. The sun was shining, it was a gorgeous, 70 degree day, and the boys had a blast!

Click Click Click....

Wheeee!

Riding Big Rigs - Number 4, of course!

Annoyed at Matthew's insistence on a boat ride.

On the Paratrooper ride. This kid is insane!

Riding the Frog Hopper

Trying to get some air on the Ferris Wheel

Hitching a ride on Daddy's shoulders

The Birthday Boy with Mom and Dad

Birthday Cake, a day later (we got home too late)!

Nolan was so excited that he insisted we come to Waldameer every day, and that Waldameer was "super fun because it has super fast rides."

I am so glad he had a wonderful time. I still can't believe he is FOUR!

Sliding

What do you get when you add water and children to a large sheet of plastic?

The world's most awesome slip and slide:

We spent all day at Luensman Overview Park, slipping down the hill and having a marvelous time. Matt and Nolan squealed with glee as they shot down the slide.


Of course, this was Amish country and there wasn't really a convenient water source. Everything had to be pumped from the hand pump at first: Matt decided he probably didn't really want to be an Amish child.

A water pump truck finally arrived and made the water hauling process MUCH easier. The kids were ecstatic to slide over (and over and over) and over again.

School starts in two weeks. Until then, we are in denial.


Summer, we love you!

Future Engineer

Matt builds with construction toys constantly. He called me upstairs to take a look at his "combine harvester," and I was pretty impressed! I love seeing what his mind creates!

Gleeful

Our apple tree dropped an apple prematurely. Casey couldn't have been more thrilled.





Now, if only he would realize that watermelons are not tennis balls, I would be thrilled!