July 4th

We had a fun 4th of July. Grandma and Grandpa Hedberg and Uncle Andy came out. We grilled up some fajitas, ate some red, white and blueberry trifle for dessert, and then it was time for fireworks. We did all the little poppers, smoke bombs and snakes before it got dark with the threat of rain hanging over us with gray clouds and the ominous sound of thunder all around. As we started to do the bigger fireworks when it got darker, it started to rain, and it rained, and rained, and rained.... Cory stuck with it though, and lit fireworks while the rest of us went under the cover of our out-building. It was a wet and hot night. The grownups were slightly annoyed by the whole thing as we sat outside sweating in the rain, but I'm sure the kids thought is was a grand adventure.

This is Grandpa getting "smoked out" by a smoke bomb.

Julia didn't like the loud fireworks, especially the "hen laying egg".

The Kids

Grant told me this morning that when he grows up he wants to be a construction worker, a pirate and a wilderness explorer. Sound like he is going to be one busy guy!

This is what Julia looks like after eating black raspberries from our raspberry bushes. She enjoyed them!

The "Pretty Peanut"

Running Bases and Graduation

We had a busy weekend. On Friday night, Cory, Grant, Johanna and I went to a Rascal's baseball game while Grandma and Grandpa Hedberg babysat for Julia. We drove Mom and Dad's car and ended up leaving my camera in the back of our van, at their house. Wouldn't you know that Grant was asked if he would like to race the mascot around the bases. Yes, he would! They did it in the middle of the 4th inning. They started at second base and raced for home. They announced Grant's name and age and... ready, set, GO! Grant dug in and ran, leaving the mascot in the dust, of course. When Grant rounded 3rd for home, "Rascal" went the wrong way towards left field. It was pretty funny. Grant would have smoked him anyway. I took pictures on Cory's cell phone and if I can figure out how to get them off, I will add them to this post.

Grant also had his home school co-op Kindergarten graduation on Sunday. Him and one other girl walked in before the 4 seniors that were graduating, and then got up on stage. The girl said a verse and sang a song. Grant recited the 23rd Psalms, with a little help from Mom, and then I and the other Mom presented them with their diplomas.

Rainy Day Drawings and Beeswax Frogs

We got back into the school room on Monday. It was a rainy day so we got out our blue crayons and drew some rain. We also made beeswax frogs while talking about the life cycle of a frog. We started out with a little ball of beeswax, which was the egg, then pulled out a little tail making a tadpole, then gave it some legs and did a little more shaping, and "voila", a frog. Grant and Johanna's frogs stayed in the tadpole stage and became catfish which made it into the dollhouse pond. I noticed when I went to take the picture that Johanna's fish was now in pieces. I have been told that it is now a fish family. The big piece is mommy fish. My frog is enjoying the view from a pond rock.

Grant's Rain drawing

Johanna's Rain drawing

Up, Up and Away

Julia will be 11 months old in 3 days. I can' t believe it! She pulls herself up to standing all the time. I don't think walking will be too far off. The "away" part refers to her crawling at lightening fast speed! Not only is she a fast crawler, but she is always on a "seek and eat" mission. This girl LOOKS for little things to put in her mouth, and it doesn't matter what it is.

She is also becoming a good little waver, and she loves to swing.

Grant put this crown on her. She enjoyed wearing it around, and when she did take it off, she tried to put it back on (she had a little trouble with that part).

These three keep me on my toes! Nap time is sacred for Mom!

Catching Tadpoles

Grant spotted tadpoles in our pond, and immediately said, "Mom, there are tadpoles! I'm going to catch some." That's what he did. He tracked down a little net and a container. He caught several tadpoles, lots of little snails, green gunk (tadpole food, you know), and he also scooped out a dead dragonfly who unfortunately got a little too close to the water. We scooped the dragonfly out. The next day Johanna was talking to me about the tadpoles and she asked me why we scooped the dragonfly out. I told her we really didn't need him in there, then she said, "Well, maybe the tadpoles would have liked it for dessert."

Camping

Two weekends ago, Uncle Andy came out to the house and the boys went camping in the woods behind the house. Cory had cleared out a nice spot with a great view of the stars through the trees. I took the girls into town and dropped them off at my parents house while I enjoyed a free afternoon! I met a friend for lunch, and got in a little kid-free shopping. Anyway, enough about me, back to the camping... I heard the boys had a great day. They enjoyed some swimming in the pond, caught lots of fish (Grant said he caught seven), grilled burgers, hotdogs and s'mores over the campfire, and played the longest game of Crazy 8's ever inside the tent. After all that, they hung out around the campfire until Grant couldn't stay awake any longer. He climbed into the tent, crawled onto his air mattress (making sure his little camping light was on), and fell sound asleep. Sounds like a 6 year old boy's dream come true!