I Can Pedal A Bike!

As I've posted about before, I compare myself and my children to others. I know I shouldn't, but its something I do struggle with and am trying not to. I need to keep remembering the this post about appreciating the qualities of my own children. So, I'd see other children Corin's age or younger riding a bike and think "why can't Corin get the hang of it" I know some it is due to we weren't being consistant on getting him outside on the bike and teaching him, continually working with him on getting the motion down. And then I thought it had something to do with his legs. He still walks on his toes and children are suppose to grow out of that by age 5 and he still does it, so there may be something wrong, but he never complains about his legs hurting. So, I went out with my mom to do some errands and Shane stayed home with the boys. While I was gone they worked on riding his bike. I didn't know until I got home and he woke up from nap. The first thing he told me was "Mom I can pedal a bike!" I was SO happy and he was SO proud of himself that I hugged him and got teary eyed. So later that evening after dinner we went back outside so he could show me and I could get pictures and video of it. It just has taken him a little longer and that is fine! I NEED to remember that it IS OKAY for it to take a little longer and that it is NOTHING against my child or me that it does! All children have different rates of learning and catching onto things.

Too Hot

We only spent an hour outside and Corin told me he was too hot and wanted to come inside. They really didn't do much outside anyway, were kind of playing and walking around aimlessly and were gettting red in the face really quickly. So we came in and did watercolor painting, which they enjoyed. They were quiet and spend an hour painting. Not all summer days have to be spent outside.

Rhubarb Chop Chop

My boys LOVE to use my Pampered Chef Chopper! Anytime I need to have something chopped up (usually its garlic, but these pictures are of them doing the rhubarb for the Strawberry-Rhubarb freezer jam I made today) they are always wanting to do it.




The rhubarb courtesy of our home teacher who got it from his in-laws home on Father's Day and his mother-in-law was my senior seminary teacher and the only seminary teacher I can remember having (Sister Irey for those of you who read my blog and would know who she is) Why did he bring us rhubarb? Well, on Father's Day they gave the men pie, just as they did for Mother's Day. Shane happened to be talking to James Suckow (again some of you may know him) taking about loving Strawberry Rhubarb pie and them having some. James mentioned that his father-in-law had a HUGE amount of it in his backyard and said he'd ask him when he went over if he could have some. Well, Brother Irey was gracious enough to let James cut some for us (Sister Irey thought it was just a crazy weed) and he brought us some when he came home teaching that next week. So, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at making freezer jam instead of making a pie out of it. Shane had never tried Rhubarb in its natural, raw state, so he decided to try a piece. My thoughts were "I will get some great facial reaction pictures" because what I remember of its taste as a kid (our neighbors had a plant of it and we'd be "brave" and eat it raw) was that its REALLY sour!

And this is what I got

NOTHING!! I kept clicking the camera too and got nothing!

Declan wanted to try it so Shane cut off a small piece for him. I was SURE to get some great pictures of him

And again, I got....

NOTHING! He liked it!

(this was the cutest picture so it made the cut for the blog)

Hot Summer Day

We spent quite a few hours outside in the backyard today. Here are some of the activities the boys came up to play.

Played in the sprinkler

But Declan didn't enjoy being sprayed by it

Played in the muddy, makeshift sandbox and they could actually get into it since they had no shoes and swim suits on

They loved stomping and splashing in it

and digging in it, of course

Playing with the sprayer on the hose

Of course spraying our brother was quite an enjoyment

 you can't hide

Corin used the bucket as a "shell" as he called it, to protect himself

Made a pool in the wagon

 filled the bucket

 and dumped the water into the wagon

Had "a dink" as Declan put it

Another Just Go With It Moment

I posted about one I had here and today I had another one. So when we got home from Sprouts I told the boys they could go outside to play for awhile before lunch. We don't have much in our backyard for them to play with so I wasn't surprised this happened. The little plastic pool we have that is out makeshift sandbox still had water in it from the rainstorm we had on Sunday and Monday. I told the boys that I didn't want them to play in it and get dirty and muddy. Well, my boys aren't always the greatest listeners AND they are curious boys AND staying away from mud is just TOO HARD, so they did get into it. Instead of getting onto them, I just let them play. They were having SUCH a great time in it, why cause myself fights and problems. So before lunch we did have to have a quick bath to get all the sand off and out of their hair (Corin even said "Mom we need a bath, we are all messy")

Royality

 Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Husband who is my King with his boys who are our little Princes.

Ladder

Shane was up in the tree trimming off some dead branches and of course the boys had to climb up the ladder.