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!!!

Look what came home from school with Walks.

Yep. Jane loves Walker.

It’s on the back of a pretty picture she’s drawn for him.

I think we’re in for a ride with that handsome little man and women. Just didn’t think it would start this early!

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.*

Eric’s Mom Stephanie and sister Anneliese have been hard at work. They self-published an adorable book staring our very own Will. Written in his voice it tells the story of being a kid with Celiac. We love that it focuses on the fact that he is a regular kid in so many ways – and this is just one part of him.

We tore into our package! Both Will and Walker were thrilled with the books and bookmarks. And honestly it such a treat to see both my kids names in the dedication.

Both boys took copies to school and their teachers read them in class. I cannot tell you how special this is – the more people understand Celiac the more “regular” Will becomes in the eyes of his peers.

Thank you Grandma Steph and Aunt Ali!

For those of you looking for your own copy you can find it on Amazon HERE! And you can check out the other two books they’ve written/illustrated!

Can’t say I’ve missed you. I’ve felt pangs of guilt for neglecting you (since September -wow!) but really life is moving too fast for even too much guilt.

But the other night we did a little game at the table and it made me want to share. Then I thought of you dear blog, and for the first time I missed you.

So here we are blog, back together. I make no commitments – but I am glad to have found you again.

Love,
Shelly

Three Things:
At dinner on Sunday I asked the boys to use three words to describe themselves, and then it evolved to everyone in our family. Some are funny, some are dead-on, some aren’t three words, but mostly it will just be fun to read in a few years:

Walker on Walker
playful
loves to learn
loves army

Will on Will
nice
uncommon
helpful

Walker on Dad
playful
good cook
adventureman

Will on Dad
loves his iPod
smart
playful

Walker on Mom
good cook
plays with me
cuddler

Will on Mom
hardworker
rich
cuddler

Walker on Will
joyful
loving
loves Star Wars

Will on Walker
funny
good player
shares

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it”
~ Mark Twain ~

For five years I’ve been blessed to be this little man’s mom. Five years that have flown fast. He is joy and trouble, fun and challenge, and true hearty love.

This little boy makes me feel. Feel everything. Mostly, feel grateful that I get to be his mom.

Five things you should know about Walker:
1 – His favorite, and sometimes only, food is a quesadilla.
2 – His best friend Jacobsen is often by his side and is usually at fault for any trouble. And yes Jacbosen is imaginary.
3 – When confronted by news he doesn’t like he is likely to shrug his shoulders down and mope off…but when he’s confronted by good news he is likely to jump right into your lap and smother you with kisses.
4 – Knows all the words to Ironman by Ozzy Osborne and would tell you that’s his favorite song.
5 – Every emotion is expressed with his body. He is so physical it’s unreal. From hugs that are superman strength to rhythm that he must march out, his body is his major communication tool.

Happy 5th Birthday Walker. We love you.

(for anyone who wants to reflect on Walker’s past, like his sappy mom, enjoy these videos)

Birth Announcement
First Snow
Crawling

He is one thrilled kid!

*and I’m one thrilled Mom since watching that tooth come out (or helping it on it’s way) was about the last thing I wanted to do. So what joy to find that he woke up with it out of his mouth and laying on his bed! Now…if only the others would do that too…

I love them. My little yin and yang.