Bits & Pieces :: Early June

:: chess 24/7 ::

:: how math just happens in everyday life for unschoolers ::

:: new haircut ::

:: running on shadow lines ::

:: resting on a big kid perch ::

:: solving Hidden Picture puzzles ::

{Thanks Gramma!!}

:: coloring together ::

 :: making paper horses ::

{Thanks for the idea Leslie!!}

:: tickle fights with Dad ::

:: having a pretend camp-out on the deck ::

Love for Ruby

Ruby hates to be picked up or held, but in a family with kids she really doesn't have that option.

Rabbit Stalkers

At bedtime I spotted a baby bunny in the backyard and called the kids to come see.  Not content to just look out the window, they went right out and started sneaking up on it.

Chloe still had a bedtime book tucked under her arm.

They were pretty close to it, and I know how badly they both wanted to touch it.

But it was not interested.  At least we saved it from being dinner for our savage cat.

Trail to the Creek

A little hiking expedition was in order when we heard that rain was in the forecast for several days.  Off to our favorite playground and the trail in the woods behind it.

Todd took the kids here just the week before and they really wanted to show me their "clubhouse" and how to get to "Papa's creek" (Walnut Creek is near my dad's house so obviously the whole thing is his).

They ran ahead while Bryce and I strolled behind.  The signs point the way to the creek, but kids who've been here before don't really need signs anyway.  "This is the way!!! Follow me!!!  It's right here past this tree!!!"

Lots of the trail has boardwalks to get past muddy, marshy, swampy parts.  But other places are straight hiking.

It was so pretty with the sun coming through the trees.

They didn't linger very long at their "clubhouse" so no photos of that, but we soon after found the creek and that is where we spent the next couple hours.

They threw rocks, examined rocks, moved rocks around, climbed on rocks, jumped from rock to rock....

{Chloe made bridges here}

{Amazingly no wet shoes!}

{Rock-skipping master... well, almost.}

Watching them explore the creek is always such a thrill for me. My youth is full of such sights, smells and sounds. 

Hopefully they will have this imprint on their hearts too.

Sprinkler

Tree Climbing

Over at Bryce and Chris's house there is a Japanese maple with fantastic low branches.  Last week we dropped by to play and the kids explored the tree.

There were lots of little perches and spots to claim as their own.  They declared it a kingdom, and themselves the rulers.  Naturally.

Evan loves showing off his strength and bravery.  Or maybe I should say Prince Evan loves battling evil forces that attempt to invade his tree kingdom. 

When they finally did come down to the ground again, they decided to hide their stuffed animals on the branches (this is one of their outside games they play at home all the time), and cousin Ajay got in on the action too.  Kitties everywhere!

Sometimes

Sometimes they wake up, put on pants and sweatshirts and head outside.... to finish building their redwood trees out of dirt.... or to have a cap-gun shoot out... or fight over who will get the rope swing first.  At 7:12am.  They come back in reluctantly for breakfast.  Porridge, Chloe's favorite.  Sometimes eggs and sausage.  Evan eats as much as his dad.  Chloe downs her glass of milk and they are back outside.

Sometimes they spend hours making up stories and playing them out.  They ask each other "Do you want to be Flynn and Rapunzel?"  or "Do you want to be horses?  I'm Hawk because he's fastest.  Who are you?"  They run in and out, out and in.  In character.  Always narrating:  "Flynn couldn't stand it for one.more.minute.  He HAD to go to the bathroom....  *door closes*..... Flynn burst out of the bathroom door in a whirlwind of speed as he couldn't wait to get back to his secret mission.  Blondie!! Where are you?!!"  And so it goes.

Sometimes they appear in a storm of angry words at the back door.  "MOM!!  He hit me!" or "I'm never playing with you again..... No!  You're the dummy!  No -- you are!  No -- YOU ARE!!!   MOM!!!!!!"  So we settle on the couch for some hugs and a book.  They are always up for reading.  And cuddling.

Sometimes they sit on the floor in the living room or their bedroom with art supplies strewn about, and draw for hours.  They have been making butterflies for weeks and show no sign of slowing down.  There are paper scraps (always from Chloe's new projects) and pencil shavings, stacks of paper and books for leaning on.  All of it gets left behind as they rush off to the next important thing.  Usually food.

Sometimes they build a giant slide on the basement stairs using cushions from the couches.  It's dangerous.  It's really loud.  And also frustrating on laundry day.
Sometimes they play chess.  When one of them is playing me or Todd they root for each other.  Chloe is really amazingly good at chess.  Once, she had her dad in checkmate within 6 moves.

Sometimes I look behind me in the car and see these two little beings that I am nurturing to adulthood and wonder, how did I get so lucky?  I also wonder how many stuffed kittens really need to be in the car at one time, since they seem to have multiplied and are in every nook and cranny of the backseat which seriously impairs my view.  Hmm....