Everything's up to date in Kansas City....

We've gone about as far as we can go....

and so tomorrow we head home. We've had a wonderful time, visiting, walking, touring, etc. I wish I had some pictures to share, however, I don't have my camera cable, and my phone camera with bluetooth has died. Actually a good plan as it keeps me out of trying to call people or do much online. :-) Pictures to follow once I've recovered from the drive!

Sewing classes

So/sew...here's my newest sewing attempts, a quilted overnight bag. Much bigger than I anticipated. But the colors are GREAT.

Lining inside, *I* can see the pocket, but I think only because I put it on. There's one on each side, one split into two bigger pocklets, and this one into three thinner pocklets, for a toothbrush, comb, etc.

And the lucky gal, who's getting it for girl scout camp. I'm working on Emily's now, it's definitely more girly, as Rachel says, she's allergic to pink.

week in review!

A tunnel? Where to?

I dunno. But the girls spent DAYS here building tunnels big enough for their poor kelly dolls.

They did find a poor baby bird, and buried him appropriately...

with a friend and prayers.

Emily received her lemonade stand from sunkist, totally free. She'll be donating the money to our local Autism Walk, even though we'll be missing it because half of our kids will either be at camp, on their way TO camp, or on their way HOME from camp. 

Our first Staples (warning, graphic pictures of booboos ahead)

So I *am* behind, but our crazy family is always full of minor catastrophe and disaster, it reads like a french movie, to be quite honest. This week's injury is brought courtesy of 12th street urgent care.

Those who know me, know that I'm not one to flinch from wounds. So when Josh brought Ava to me covered in blood, I just started cleaning her off, after all, head wounds bleed profusely. We got her clothes changed and then I parted her hair, ready to snip some off and apply the ever popular steri-strips. However, once the hair was trimmed back, and she was looking down, the wound (a result of falling backwards off the arm of the chair (instead of forwards onto her brother as she intended) and hitting the fireplace...say it with me...OUCH!) gaped far too much for me to be comfortable with strips, and so we packed up and headed off to urgent care.

End result was five staples (I've never had a kid with staples. Stitches, yes, staples no), a serious headache, and the orders to not let her take a nap (uh, considering she didn't sleep the night before, I asked how serious that was) There would have been more staples, however, the mortar is recessed between bricks, and where that was, there is a gap in the wound. Interesting, huh? Here's the least gruesome of the pictures:

The staples were removed yesterday when Rachel and Breanna had their well-child check-ups. I had promised that the PA would just LOOK, not even touch, but it needed to be examined to make sure that there was no infection, or puckering of the scab, etc. So after the Ms. C had checked it out, she offered to remove them. I had already promised Ava that no one would touch them, so I asked her if she would like them removed now by Ms. C, or wanted to go back to the urgent care and have them removed by Dr F. She voted for Ms C, after all, she knows this person, and while Dr F was very kind, he's the one who stapled her. She doesn't trust him very much. It's her head. I don't blame her. 

Park Day, our way

Sam is really torn, climb or play Teen Titans? Why not both?

Bre was not ready yet. The wind is loud and hurting her ears.

Ava always enjoys the light.

Dan doesn't usually climb, but decided to try the rope today.

Rachel in the light...climbing as high as she can go.

"And Girl Scouting is not just knowing...but doing...not just doing, but being." ~ Juliette R Low

Final meeting for the year, Rachel has a few patches on her sash...but has earned EIGHT more. (although Juliette Low said that "Badges are not medals to wear on your sleeves to show what a smart girl you are")

Making snacks for the guests

Our first girl scout flag ceremony, a bit different than the boy scout version.

Rachel gets her year pin, as well as some other awards.

Dan the Man

"A brother is a friend provided by nature" ~ Legouve Pere

A picture FOR Dan, from Rachel

And pictures for ME, from Dan...his first face pictures!

In order, "Sad, with tears", "Sad, but no tears", "feeling better", "as happy as I can be"

HapHapHappy mama's day!

*My* mama's day presents...we have had so much fun playing!

And a gift from the universe...the library book sale had it on a completely wrong table, and it isn't at all what I expected, but it's exactly what I needed. Radical unschooling boost!

Avari does yoga

Downward Dog

and trying really hard to close her eyes and breath

:-)

Homemade Empanadas

With fresh apples, cinnamon and brown sugar, it was a

sweet treat

Made the crust also, to ensure safety for Breanna

(note the rice chex in the background...now guaranteed GLUTEN FREE!)

And for Dan, we used rice paper from Super Cao, they turned good as well, they didn't brown 

(obviously) or get a crust, but they were still tasty.

Meself

Just a note to self.

Over the last four months (since January 1st), I've starting the 'taking care of me' program.

I've walked two miles a day, five days a week (with the exception of a month, in which I was in the process of preventing/and then recovering from a miscarriage) for a total of 20 miles walking. I've run approximately 1/4th of that distance..five miles! It doesn't sound like much, but for someone with arthritis and who is forty pounds overweight, I'm impressed.

I've lost fifteen pounds and two pant sizes. I've finally convinced myself it's okay to buy new clothes.

I've learned to use that time to think to myself. I've taken random kids (young ones that fit in the stroller) but mostly it's my me-time. 

I started yoga, which was much more difficult than I planned on. Not only strength-wise, but also coordination, which I've always lacked. So I'm working on that. Last night I did my first sit-up since high school. Sounds silly, and dh laughed at me (with his 100 sit ups a night) but I was excited. Those muscles haven't worked since stretched out of shape by Josh's pregnancy.

Snapshots from last week

"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
Jane Austen
The past week has been busy. It seems to me that I've been depressed for a while and didn't realize it. Summer helps some, acceptance of our losses have helped some, kids are helping some ;-) But we have been busy, and so here is a quick review from last week. I have more pictures of course!

Wireless gaming

Chalk art by Breanna

The water is not *quite* warm enough, but yard work is hot enough to make it worth it.

And at the end of the day, a little snuggle goes a long way. 

I love the trust that these kids have for each other.

Happy Mother's Day, to the new mom

"The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

A fairy visited our yard this week!

Ava and I found this costume my aunt gave me last year for her...and it fits!
She only wore it for a few days straight!


and in the end, dirt is a very natural thing...I love how my girls will dress up, and then play in the dirt.

Sam and Dan go to Work

"Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun" Colleen Barrett, CEO SW Airlines





Zane took the boys to work one day. How much fun they have with him on campus...and how blessed we are to have him.

Cool information

"The U.S. breast-feeding rate has hit its highest mark in at least 20 years with more than three-quarters of new moms nursing their infants, according to a government report released Wednesday.

About 77 percent of new mothers breast-feed, at least briefly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24387268/

Now if we can just extend the amount of time...

"Unschoolers even question unschooling. What is it, exactly, and “says who?” The meaning of terms can change over time as people and groups of people create their own niche of understanding. For some, unschooling is perspective, and perspective is always open for interpretation and can be interpreted as loosely as educating a child outside of the school system." Life without School

However, I will note that even unschoolers can CHOOSE workbooks. Life today in the Gray household, witness. Breanna bought some word search books and dot-to-dot with her allowance. So at home, everyone was intrigued by the idea. Emily had one that she picked out at Sam's last week, and I had some old freebies that I dug out for Sam, Dan and Avari. They cut and glued, and colored, not even following the lines. That's unschooling for you. They're all outside now, flooding the backyard. As long as they stay away from our garden, I'm okay.

Dan's war wounds

cleaned up, before stitches
after stitches