A Little Dirt

Yesterday, we went to the Rickel's/Mallery's to help them with some gardening (and to spend some sweet time with them). We got a lot done and had a great time doing it. I am certain that Honour had the best time, though - he was wearing fun all over him. He was very interested in analyzing the cucumber mounds we were digging with his feet. We decided that what the little man needed was his own piece of dirt over which to take dominion. And boy did he.

This is how he looked at the beginning...just a tad of cookie on the face

Here he is at the end - One with the dirt.

To see the progression of dirtiness (and all the work that we did) you will have to look at the rest of the photos. It wasn't just him that ended up muddy - the girlies all had a great time helping him in his conquest. We hosed everyone's feet and hands off pretty well, but when the girls and I stopped at the Farmer's Market, the library and the grocery store in Columbia Falls on the way home we were quite a sight. The girls were filthy (Micah looked like she and her dress had been dragged through a bog). Our feet were so dirty (even hosed off) and when I got home, I found that I had a big, muddy blob on the back of my shirt! I thought people were probably wondering what kind of mother I was to let my kids run around like that. The girls said that I should be EXTRA nice to them while we were out so that no one thought I was a rotten mom. I think they were vying for ice cream.

Micah the Biker

The other day, Josiah called me outside because Micah had picked up a bike, asked for helped getting on and peddled away. Last October, Josiah was trying to teach her to ride - she got it for a minute and then just could not stick with it and gave up out of frustration and that was the end of that until now. Today, however, was different; no lessons, nothing. She just decided to do it and then did (here's the video). How fun is that? No frustration, no crying, and no scraped up knees. You gotta love it. Now, how many other things would work that way - wait until they are ready and "poof" you just saved yourself all sorts of time and trouble. Maybe grammar is that way - all of a sudden they get it and don't ask for the 400th time in the same year (at lesson 75) - "what's a subject again?".

Ah, Summer

June 10th.....snowed ALL day long.

June 11th...nice and green.

If you don't like the weather in MT - hang around for five minutes - it'll change!

Warning

If you let the Dunhams babysit your kids this could happen to you. No one was harmed here, in fact, she is clapping her sweet little hands. But just know that you never know how things will go! :) Some people!!

On the way home

We stopped in Bozeman on the way home from San Diego and stayed with the Olsens for a couple of days. It is always a treat to be with them and the Behrendt's in Bozeman. While we were in San Diego, we ended up getting a go-cart that someone in my old home school group was giving away. Kimberlynn was in the right place at the right time and nabbed it for us. Brad got it running in fifteen minutes. What fun. We took it out in Bozeman and had a great time zipping around.

Friends

Our stay with the Curles was unbelievable. I still cannot believe how much fun it was and how well everyone got along. There were 2 moms, two dads and 11 kids - the moms and kids all day every day - living together in blissful harmony. What fun it was. The creativity that flowed was inspiring. The house looked like a bomb went off during each day until we did a tidy each late afternoon. Josiah had read The Lord of the Rings books this winter, so he was allowed to watch the movies with Katelynn, Campbell, and McKenzie (who are bona fide fanatics - as you will see from our SD photos - swords, dresses....). Isaiah and Campbell decided to read The Hobbit together out loud and then to listen to it on tape as they read along. Katelynn made the world's best cheesecake for my birthday. The kids baked cookies. Kimberlynn and I sewed darling purses for ourselves and her neighbor who gave us the fabric. The girls sewed, the little people (Elias, Micah, Kathryn, Wayne) made finger puppets and put on a little show (The Puppets Who Don't do Anything), Elisha and Campbell made jewelry, Isaiah and McKenzie worked on refinishing and painting a wood project, Josiah sat in on Mac and Kate's online essay writing class.........creativity ran rampant. They all interacted so beautifully. Who buddied up with whom varied by day and activity. One part of a day Isaiah and Campbell would do everything together and then another time Elisha and Campbell were inseperable. Katelynn and Josiah would be doing something together and then Katelynn and Isaiah would decide to bake while McKenzie and Josiah were discussing books. Caroline and Elias were always together - they are best buddies. It was all lovely. Our kids all love each other so much - it is like being with family (minus all the bickering). It was a wonderful experience. Kimberlynn and I laughed, did laundry, talked, did laundry, played, did laundry, and enjoyed each other's company just doing nothing. And we so enjoyed each other's children. I am thankful for the Curles and our friendship with them......it isn't just Kimberlynn that I miss - it is the whole package. I love those Curles girls (and the boy!). Oh how we miss them.