Action Figures and Horses

Darth Vader on his..... throne??

Jabba the Hutt lives underneath the pegasus family.  They abide peacefully together.

Flynn Rider is a farmer of sorts.  He has dogs and rabbits.  Also a cannon.

Just another day in the barn -- storm troopers keeping order while Yoda stands guard.

Chloe makes all her accessories -- these apples are made of playdoh and they are over a year old.

She also loves making horse blankets.  Obiwan is allowed to drape his gown and light saber near this dwelling.

Droids, sleeping horses and Rapunzel living in harmony.

This set up makes me smile forever and ever.  Two kids who love such different things have figured out a way to make it all come together.  I wish they would play with the door open so I could hear more of what goes on here, but I can imagine some of it and that's pretty fun too.

A Growing Bond

Every day they grow a bit closer.  They learn to love each other a bit more than yesterday.  There is tenderness from a brother and respect from a sister showing up in their daily play.  He reads to her and plays imaginary horses.  She makes jeeps and action figures part of her set ups to entice him to play and is always up for an afternoon of RC truck driving.  They play each other's favorite video games (Lego Star Wars for him, Spirit for her), laughing and encouraging each other throughout.  Of course they fight and get really frustrated with each other.  They are both pretty strong-willed kids after all.  But the atmosphere between them is one of love.  Truly.  The magical memories they are making together will bond them forever.  Bestest of friends on a deeper level than anyone but a sibling can know.

Danger

 I was making dinner the other night when I heard a bunch of clattering, rattling and thumping coming from the basement stairs.  What are those kids doing now??

Using stilts to climb up the stairs.  He made it about half way up and then got a bit nervous as he was tipping.  At least he knows his own limits!

Wheelbarrow Rides

Evan can give rides pretty well (his arms are like lead pipes).  Flying across the yard, Chloe screams "Evan STOP!" even while laughing  because she is really freaked out but having fun too! 

It's adorable watching her try to give Evan a ride.  She moves him along at a snails' pace, all the while Evan is holding on for dear life as his ride tips from side to side.  Brave boy indeed!

Chloe Draws

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I edited my Summer Days post from July 18th 

which was supposed to have more photos, 

but they weren't uploaded yet.  

Scroll down 

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You know she's got an artist's heart, something she was just born with... a deep desire to create beautiful things with her hands.  Her dexterity is off-the-charts amazing for a bitty girl of 6 1/2.  She draws dozens of pictures daily.  Markers, colored pencils or a nice Number 2 pencil for tracing.

She sculpts with clay at least once a week and a new pack of modeling clay is the second thing on her birthday wishlist, right after a unicorn stallion.  The paints also see weekly usage as she sets up all her supplies, creates a masterpiece and closes up shop.  No big deal.  She uses yarn and embroidery thread and felt and  fabric.... it's all over her room in bits and pieces.  The scotch tape and scissors follow her around the house.  She. Loves. Art.

This is what she made for me on Mother's Day:

I was blown away, but I guess I shouldn't have been.  She does this stuff all day long so it's natural to her.  Can you even imagine what she'll be making next year at this time???

{All this, and not one lesson!  Go unschooling!}

Summer Days

It's been so hot and humid this week.  Entirely too much time has been spent in the air conditioning.  However, the great outdoors still beckon and we must answer!!


The kids run around with RC cars until they are dripping with sweat, then grab water guns and have drenching battles with the neighbor kids. 

We scavenge free berries from around the area so that we can gorge ourselves every single day for weeks on end.  Oh my, the berries!

The face of TEN strikes again :-)

The kids jump on bikes and ride up and down the block at top speed (usually with no hands on the handlebars) until their legs are aching. 

They climb and swing on ropes under the tree where there's shade.  The hose is always on and ready to spray a cooling mist if we need it.  When it's just too unbearably sticky, the bathing suits go on and the sprinkler gets set up.

When it's just too hot during the day, we can always come outside in the evening.  That's a good time to catch fireflies.

Popsicles are part of lunch.  Ice cream makes sense for a morning snack. And salad is about the only thing we are hungry for at night.  All of these are better out on the deck.

These are the days of summer so far....

Strong

The ultimate strength-building toy is the rope swing.  Chloe couldn't do this stuff very well last year, but every summer she shows more strength, more endurance and more confidence.  Watch her go!

ONE-arm!!!

One arm again! and again and again!

The backwards kick-off.... scary!

One arm!!!

They can also develop super strong legs and toes with the rope swings. 
How, you ask?  Observe:

Grit and determination!!!

Notice Evan in the background??

Evan's just doing his thing....

Her toes are seriously primal.

Evan's been doing this stuff for years.  He even looks bored while climbing.  Ha!

{A challenge for Aunt Bryce on the next visit:  You've already done the one armed rope swing (and recovered), now it's time to climb using your toes!}