Backyard Harvest

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Wild thing

                           One of Brixton's preschool teachers is a singer/songwriter and she writes musicals for the kids based on classic children's books. This year she wrote music for Where the Wild Things Are and the kids performed it. Brixton has loved listening and learning the music and sings it all the time, with the appropriate facial expressions. The songs are really catchy too, they get stuck in my head constantly.
We feel really lucky that Brixton gets to hang out with such creative people.

Toes

It was a slow summer day with not much planned. Brixton was at preschool and Unity and I were trying to figure out what to do with ourselves. We went out to run some errands and I decided that we could get pedicures as a treat. Unity was over the moon of course. 

We had a great time and Unity even got some extra flowers on her toe as a surprise. When Brixton came home, Unity wanted to recreate the experience for him since he'd missed it. So, she got a bowl and a towel and gave him a pedicure, complete with soak and massage.

You know, sometimes they fight so much. Sometimes I can't even think with the bickering and the long hot days and it just feels like it will never end and Chris will never come home from work and I will be in this house that is 85 degrees despite all the fans and they will be yelling at each other forever.

But then. This pure sweetness will happen, this moment of wanting to share joy and do something for a sibling and really, it makes it all worth it. 

Visiting

Unity and I went to visit a friend the other day, who has moved to an island nearby. This is one of her most dear friends from school and even though they are not far off, Unity is still going to miss seeing her every day in the classroom. 

We've been talking about staying close to people even when they're not right there and I told her about a close friend of mine who moved away in high school and how we stayed in touch for a few years. It's been good for Unity to hear that story and to make plans for visits and letters with her friend. 

And hey, then we have an excuse to visit an island. 

Adventure Playground

Today we visited a place called Adventure Playground.  It's a wooded park where kids are given tools, scrap lumber and hard hats. Then they're pretty much given free reign. (This is easier for some parents then others of course.) 

It was awesome. The kids wandered around, checking out the other tree house type structures and added a bit here and a bit there. My kids haven't done much woodworking or building type stuff so they had fun just pounding nails for a while, and carrying lumber around and dreaming of things to add to the structures.

And yes, I had to just swallow back some of my advice and concerns and let them figure things out themselves. They didn't end up building anything significant, but they had fun exploring, and that's the whole point, right?

Weekend in August

We had a restful weekend, with not much going on. It was nice to get caught up on chores, to work on the house and the garden and just have some chill out time. Our summer hasn't really been that busy but we've been gone for the past two weekends so weeds and laundry are always there. 

Today after Meeting, we went to a drive-through car wash. It was pretty exciting to sit there and watch the soap suds get sprayed all around us. The kids said they want to try it in a convertible next. 

Last night after dinner we went for a walk together. Brixton's preschool is doing a play of "Where the Wild Things Are" so we were talking about how he is a wild thing. He said "I am many of things." We talked about how that's true for all of us and we each took turns talking about all of our "things" that make us who we are. 

T-shirt time

Back yard harvest and making lemonade

The blueberries have really come in, and they are lovely. So plump and juicy. I have some cherry tomatoes too which no one will eat but me. That's ok, I'll enjoy them.

Unity made some lemonade herself. She gets these ideas and then really wants to do it all right away. This time, it worked out. 

We went camping this past weekend with some friends. I didn't take my camera but we had a great time hiking and cooking over the fire and just being out in the trees. Maybe next time I'll remember to take some pictures.