Wait, That is Not a Chicken.

Zelda decided the chickens needed a little company today.

Yuck!

She was so happy in there and not at all happy to get out.

She must be related to this boy, her cousin, who also likes to visit the chickens.

Crazy Hair Day 2012

We only had 2 kids this making their hair crazy.  Daphne went all out as usual and Mo went for the "warrior's wolf tail" ala Sokka from Avatar (minus the shaving everything else off).

Happy Father's Day!

I am married to the most wonderful man and father.  

Father's Day morning the kids wanted to make him breakfast in bed.  It took us a while to get it all together, but here was the finished product.  Crepes and juice and 7 smiling kids.

And one happy daddy!

Rez said it best when he said, "He is doing a good job of being the father that kids always wish they had.  I don't have to wish."  

He did take his 5 boys plus 2 of Rez's friends to the father and sons camp out by himself this year!

Mo Lost a Tooth

Little Bird Girl

Zelda loves our parakeets, Louie (blue) and Leo (green).  She is getting better at letting them sit on her and not grabbing them.  

She recently got to have them both on her shoulder.  She wasn't to sure about it at first.  They kind of tickle.

Then she decided it was ok.

And took off with them.

Music To My Ears

Daphne has been playing the trumpet this year.  It was her first year playing in the elementary school band.  They only have lessons once a week for 1/2 hour, but she has come along way.  (She did have some help from her older brother.)

Here she is after her concert.

Last night was the boys concert.  

Rez and Ocean walked down before hand to be there early, and I came with the rest of the kids, and Trip met us there.  Mo and Harvey, got out of the car and headed off down the side walk as I got the rest of the kids out.  When we were ready to go, Mo and Harvey were no where to be seen.  I figured they had walked down to to the doors and would be waiting by the doors for us.  When we got there, they weren't there.  They weren't inside or anywhere I could find them.  AAAAAA!  I sat Daphne, Julius and Zelda in some seats and went out to look of the boys.  I met our neighbor and he started looking with me.  Outside I met Trip who had just arrived.  We all looked inside and outside of the school.  Finally, our other neighbor, who had just arrived, said she had seen them out in the back parking lot when she pulled in.  Trip and I went out to the back parking lot and split up.  I walked up by the upper field thinking I would have a better view of the parking lot, and started calling.  

Pretty soon I heard a voice echoing mine back as I called out, "Mo".  "Mom", "Mo",

"Mom, Where have you been?"  

It is hard to be mad when they are just as upset at having lost you, too.  

They had gone to that back of the school instead of the front (who knows why) and been waiting at the back door for me, then had gone back to the car when I didn't come.  

We discussed staying put when you are lost.  

We missed the first 20 minutes of the concert.  

Luckily, it was the 4-5 grade bands and orchestras. 

Here are the middle school bands.  Beginning is on the left and advanced on the right.

I didn't get any pictures of Ocean playing, but here he is watching the advanced band.

Zelda and Trip liked the concert too.

Harvey, Mo and Julius quietly played games to keep them occupied.

Daphne just watched and listened.

We couldn't really see Rez.  He was on the 3rd row behind the girl in the center playing the flute. 

If you look closely, you can see the bottom of his baritone peeking under her music stand.  Occasionally we would get a glimpse of his red head.

and when they stood at the end, we caught him.

And one more of Ocean.

They did a fabulous job.  It is amazing how good the full band sounds compared to just hearing their parts.

A Little Out of Hand

As you know, Zelda loves her "babies".  She carries them around and takes them to bed with her, but this is a little ridiculous. 

Horses and Ponies!

This year Daphne, being in 4th grade, gets to go to horse camp.  During the year, they learn all about horses, they write about horses, they sculpt horses out of clay,  a horse came to school for them to see it in person, they learn to take care of horses and how to ride.  Then they are rewarded by going for 2 days and a night up to a horse and pony farm about an hour away.   They are assigned a horse or pony for the two days and they ride that horse, they groom that horse, they tack that horse,  they play western games on the horse and they muck out their stalls.  Daphne is so excited to go!

 However, the teacher that has the "in" at the horse and pony farm is a 2nd grade teacher, Mo's teacher.  This year, they decided to take the 2nd graders on a one day field trip to the farm.  They got to learn about horses before hand and then go and get hands on experience with them.  And the whole family was invited!  I end up taking just Daphne, Mo and Harvey.  We had a great time.  

The farm has animals to fit every size and riding ability from

miniature horses and ponies.

To Clydesdales, 

We got to rotate through stations where we learned general horse and specific to the farm information.

Learned tacking and grooming, horse riding safety and of course the actual trail ride.

Here Mo is practicing.

Daphne wanted to practice too.

And of course Harvey had to have a turn!

It was so exciting to get on a real pony.

Here is Daphne riding Iceman.

Mo getting on MaryAnn.

They were great at matching horses/ponies to each rider.

Harvy is getting on Cody.

I walked along beside Harvey holding Cody's reins.

Here is Mo riding Harvey.

We ended the day with a BBQ and potluck dinner and the kids in heaven, running wild through the woods.

(It all just served to make Daphne even more excited to go to horse camp!)