Adventures in Bennionland

I realize that the end of summer is something that many parents look forward to.

Not me. Not this year.

School starts next Monday and I find myself, as I do with anything I’m not looking forward to, digging in my heels in a fit. I’d really truly like to throw a fit…lay down on the floor and kick my feet!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

It’s like being in some weird form of grief. Denial: No, the summer can’t be over already. August 1st CANNOT be next week. Anger: But I haven’t done everything I want to. You can’t take them back! Bargaining: ok, if we could just have a little more time I promise to get to the beach every day. I’ll get my chores done. I’ll work on their penmanship so they’re ready for school. And depression: why do anything when I don’t have time to do everything?

Still, this is where we are at (last stage, acceptance). Counting down….
1st grade….
2nd grade…
August 1st…

We’ve had a marvelous we have had a marvelous summer – full of adventures. Utah (read about their trip here, here, and here), beach dates, play dates with friends, Lego land, aquarium, slumber parties at KK and Papa’s, late night movie nights, dates with just Mom or Dad, fun at Goosey’s house, trips to San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, and more pool time than I can count.

So it’s been a good summer. It’s ok for it to end, right? It’s ok to be grateful for what we’ve had and just move on, right?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ahhh…the joy of Sunday. Most Sundays you can find our family (at least the boys) snuggled in bed late, then off to church (maybe) and then off exploring.

This Sunday we just took it easy. I am so glad since we start school back up tomorrow*. In the afternoon we had some inspiration from these guys and found ourselves elbow deep in a Rube Goldberg experiment (yeah, I’d never heard of him either).

It was a blast. Sitting at the kitchen table drawing out our concept. Rummaging through the boys’ toys and our art supplies for tools to make our machine work. Then spending a good hour setting it up, testing it out, and trying to shoot a video of it. I think it ended up taking maybe 8 takes – Eric thinks it’s more like 15!

In the end the time didn’t matter. Here we were as a family doing something together – something new – and enjoying the creative work!

Now you can enjoy:

Our Popcorn Popping Rube Goldberg Machine!

Our Rube Goldberg set-up:
A ball started by Walker rolls down the ramp and lands in a cup. The cup is attached to pipe cleaners that pull down the light switch to turn off the light – and the cup swings and hits a truck. The truck hits the dinosaur which slowly bends over and hops. When it hops it hits another car which travels under the chair. The car hits a toy gun which has been holding another car – that car slides down the ramp hitting a chair (held up by another toy gun). The chair falls down and hits the books which are lined up in a domino fashion. The last book his an airplace which has it’s nose pressed into the start button – and then, the microwave starts popping the popcorn!

*And while most of you are still “ooohing” and “ahhing” over the video – I just have to say – nothing makes me want to homeschool my children more than preparing to send them back after a break. When we’re in the middle of school I’m ok, but oh it makes me sad to think of them not here everyday exploring and adventuring with me. Ok…that’s enough…

Do you see all these amazingly adorable (and green) faces?!?

Oh the joy that is our playgroup. It is full of wild and wonderful boys and girls. W&W absolutely love when we can hit playgroup* – as do I since I get to hang with my favorite ladies.

We always do something fun- like this! We even had a leprechaun show up and hide a candy treat for the kids – they ran all over the park.

Later that day the boys got a package from their Grandma Steph – and as always she spoiled the heck out of them. They particularly love their green cars! Eric and I even got a treat – but he wasn’t home for me to snap a picture of!

*I’m still trying to figure out a way to convince myself that playgroup is valid excuse for pulling the kids out of school.*