If I totally ignore the snake-in-the-house incident, the cats have proven themselves quite worthy.  They have brought us at least 5 moles this size (jumbo) and several little moles since this spring.

I actually forgot Julie’s birthday on the actual day (sorry, Julie), but I did take their kiddos for two nights to the cabin around that birthday.  I can’t think of a better present to give a stay-at-home mom!

Wesley and Parker are still best buds when they’re together, even for 48 hours straight.  Cecily still demands her Pipey Mommy, and Kyla oversees them all. 

We spent a lot of time at the beach…

   

After a day like, we have an evening like this:

There’s a couple of kids in the neighborhood on the island that love it when our minivan pulls in to the driveway, so I often have an additional two kids to supervise and feed.  I now just plan for this whenever I pack up to head over.  But it’s pretty fun for all.

A friend gave Wesley a clown nose, which has been pretty fun. At least until he found another place to put it on.  Must, must, must be a boy thing.

 

Ahem, this makeshift nose is bigger.  Is this a boy thing, too?

 

Neither Wesley nor I can say why he’s putting a brick down his pants.

He’s all active until he wants his refueling snuggle with Mama.

  

 

This shot cracks me up. I love how he prepped for his street island adventure.  And then decided not to come inside to use the bathroom, and just remove his underwear instead.  I’m still scratching my head…while laughing.

 

The girls simply climbed on the garbage cans to break into the house (that’s the garage keypad he’s reaching for).  I like Wesley’s improper use of his bike.

What happens when Wesley gets my camera.

This is from preschool.  The picture on the left is captioned “I am dancing for my mom and dad” as drawn in September.  The right-hand one is from May and says, “I am walking cat, Timmy.”  He drew himself in his underwear.  It may be one of the few bits of evidence that he occasionally wears said clothing.

 

Wesley poses at beach and then is distracted by his water gun.

 

And sometimes the kid just melts my heart.

What does Piper love more than her cats?  Any dog she can beg, borrow, or steal!  Papa Jim brought Daisy and Duke to the cabin, and Piper crushed hard on Daisy.

She’s a sweet little thing, even when being terrorized.

 

Yellow Rose

by Kyla, age 8

Mom you are like a rose

when you are mad

it hurts my heart

like a thorn pricks my finger

but your thorns soon dull

and a bud blooms

and you make me smile

and your flower

lasts a lot longer

than your sharp thorns.

 

(This poem sounds vaguely insulting, but it is so beautifully written and very true—I have a temper and Kyla found the beauty in it.  This shows the depth of Kyla’s own beauty.  Truly an amazing child.)

 *    *    *    *    *     *

Snuggling with me

Shopping for food

Baking our family

Gardening in the garden

Resting on the couch

Typing on the computer

Reading us books

Driving us places

Loving our family

Understanding us

Buying useful stuff

I love my always smiling mom.

                           Piper, age 7

*   *   *   *  

Sadly, I seemed to misplaced Wesley’s Mother’s questionnaire.  I know he knows I’m 40 years old and thinks I like jumping on the trampoline with him. 

We still did our annual Mother’s Day family pictures.  This year, I asked my beloved friend, Susanne, to take pictures of us, and I like them about as much as I liked the professional ones we’ve had (much better than 2014 at, literally, fraction of the cost). 

A friend from Wesley’s Pre-K often takes her grandson to a park after school on Friday and invites Wesley to go with them, giving me a few of the free hours I get during the week.  Today, I caught up with them later in the afternoon  at Miner’s Corners Park.  It has water, sand, and sticks for swords and guns.  Wesley and Westin were in heaven.

 

Then the girls come home from school and we head to the pool for an afternoon of swim lessons and play.  We usually do a “Grab an Ab” (pick up Piper’s best friend, Abby), swim, and then come back for pizza.  And then I’m pretty done with the kids as we finish up or school week.  Phew!

The “Ab” we grab.

My beautiful mermaid. 

 

A+

I needed a 220.  I got a 290.  I had 3 hours, but finished in 2. Yahoo! 

In March, I completed my final class for a Literacy endorsement.  Then the N.E.S. Reading Instruction test was next on the list.  Check and done.  Now I just have to do a 6 week internship in reading/writing instruction.  I won’t be able to do this for 16 or 17 months because…(pause for irony)…I will be too busy teaching Kyla to read and write while we home school next year.  But I’m so pleased to get this off my list.  Who wants to study in this fantastic weather!?

We were one of the districts that walked out in protest of our state’s…attempt to remain in contempt for not funding education.  I struggled with this, as I felt I needed to actively support the teachers in their strike.  However, I do actively support the teachers 4 or 5 days each week.  So after a 5 minute mental wrestling match, I decided to take the kids to Pacific Science Center instead of a rally.  The Boeing IMAX theater just reopened with this:

Forgive the shouting font, but it was

AWESOME!!!!

 

And I have to give a shout-out to my darling daughters who brought Dwayne and I breakfast in bed to start off the day.  Thanks, Sweeties!

Can you believe this cat?  No self-respect at all.  Piper has a way with animals that she has yet to try on people.  She can hold Timmy upside down by the tail, and I’m not sure he’d complain.  He is either very patient or very stupid. 

A sunny spring day brings out the best in our yard—the best being my husband and kids!  And the gorgeous colors taken from a viewpoint too far to see the weeds and bare spots. 

 

I love the dogwood.

Truly, it is a slice of paradise!

I am Wesley’s second favorite jumper.  Dwayne is the landslide winner!