Playing outside

 

 Keepin' it classy.

ViaBeck

 

One of Beck's daily chores is to water the plants on the back patio.  One day we were getting ready to do chores and I told him he didn't have to water, because it had rained and God had watered my plants.  A little bit later I heard him in the laundry room, mumbling as he fed the dog. 

Me: Whatcha saying, Buddy?

B: I'm just telling God thanks for doin' my chore.

Every day at some point (or several points) Beck declares it "love time" and comes and crawls in my lap and gets hugs and kisses and writhes around so I will tickle him.  One day he told me he was glad I was his lover and I just laughed.  A few days later we were at the post office and he was talking to everyone in line behind us while I used the automated postage machine.  

B: What's your name?  (to lady behind us)

I'm Beck.  Her name's Mommy (pointing.)  She's my lover.

We went to lunch at a little bakery with Mimi last week.  An older lady came up to talk to Beck. 

B: I can see you're sure old.

Later in the conversation he started putting his hands in his pants and I gave him "the look" and shook my head "no" at him.

B: I KNOW I can't pull it out.  I am just checking on it. 

At church Wednesday night he told my friend,

I didn't used to like you at all.  But now I do.

At speech last Tuesday his teacher came out to report to me:

Ms. P: I was asking Beck to say his sounds correctly and he was saying them incorrectly on purpose.  So I told him that I needed him to say them correctly.  He told me that I didn't NEED him to say them correctly, I WANTED him to say them correctly.  (she thought he was being sassy....but we have the need/want convo with Quinn a lot at home, so he was being pretty accurate...)

He keeps me on edge at all times when he is talking to other people (and he talks to EVERYONE) because you just never know what is going to come out of his mouth.  

Zipling at the country house!

The kids spent the afternoon yesterday, and then the night and today at the country house.  The big news is that Grandbob built a zipline for them that they are gaga over!  Quinn had been promised the maiden voyage, and she looked forward to that all week!!

They each probably rode 100 times...seriously!!

  

Of course they also had a blast playing on the hill.....

And catching snakes...

And there was a fire with marshmallows.

 And wildflowers!

Around Here

My little guy is still in love with poetry and requests some of his faves (Oh Captain, My Captain...The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere....A Noiseless Patient Spider....The Arrow....The Children's Hour) every day.  I have to say I absolutely love this!!

 My monkey has never met something she cannot climb.

 Packing her lunch after school....for tomorrow.  She has gotten so good at this!  She knows she needs fruit, vegetable, protein and grain!

At school.....

 Some peeks inside Q's classroom:

A piece of art Matt and I made for Q's school gala--I painted the tree, the leaves are the kids' fingerprints, and then Matt built the frame for it.  

Geology @mamaschool this week...he's been big into breaking rocks with a hammer and looking at the crystals inside!

 Playing outside...he decided he had gotten tooooo hot!  Sitting on his throne he made.

 Enjoying a rainy day outside:

 His new (thrifted) shark shoes.  He loves the tails!

 Baby girl in our backseat...prompted the "Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling" rhyme when she lost a sock!

He's thrilled when my gas light goes on!

 On the way home from school they have water, snacks, and audiobooks on their headphones.  Some chill/rest time for both of them....and Mama, too!  I have my tea and snack and podcast playing!

 Doing our "morningtime" together.

ML and I had a little freetime just the two of us, so we went to the bookstore to get a book I've been wanting with a birthday giftcard.  They didn't have my book (boooo), but he found one he wanted, which is unusual!

And this guy got a well-needed haircut!

Sunset Hike with the fam

Last Saturday evening our crew was getting a little stir-crazy.  The best cure for that with our family is a nice hike in nature.  So we loaded up 3 kiddos (we had a foster-baby-love), the dog, and headed out to enjoy the last bits of daylight before sunset.  

The Jessamine was amazing...there was tons of it and it smelled so.good.  I love this vine, and this year it is more abundant that I've seen it in past years!!

 Baby Girl had a nice ride in my pack and happily soaked up some nature and sunshine, as well!  I must say I really like hiking with a baby on my back, and it's been too long since I've gotten a chance, so it was fun for me, too!  I love the little leg kicks and bouncing they do when they get excited!!

 Her trick was sucking the flowers against her nostrils without touching them.  She takes after her dad, what can I say?!  :)

 Of course my kiddos can't stay away from the water, so we explored the creek and crossed over to hike the other side, which we can't always do when the water is higher.

 Red clovers have begun to bloom.  So early this year.....

 Of course we had to give her a crown, too!!

And the sunset was gorgeous, so even the Mr couldn't resist a few shots of it.