Summertime

Only 4 weeks until school starts.  Don't think I'm not counting.  Depending on the day, it is counting the moments of,  "now I'm going to have one in school we will never be together and free again," or counting the moments of "holy crap is it ever going to start and can't I send Jack too?"

Here is what we have been up to...

Sleeping.  

Every now and then I can coerce Jack into a nap and that is a blessed, peaceful day when Jack AND Elise are sleeping and Jara, being the dutiful oldest child, goes in her room and will have productive "quiet time."  The best part of this picture is Jack's guardian stick horse. 

Reading

Thank goodness they like to read.  Not only will it pass many a quiet minute at home, church and in the car but I would feel like a failure if my own children wouldn't sit happily with a book.  Wouldn't that have been the great irony?  All those years of thumping my reading soap box to parents of first graders only to have my own offspring reject books.  And no I don't strap them in the car seat to read.  That was just the comfy spot of the moment.  I think they were playing "going on a trip" hence the buckets and car seats.

Swimming lessons.  

Jack was very annoyed you had to actually put your head in the water and not wear floaties.  Jack's teacher "highly recommended" he repeat beginning swim lessons.  The times you don't want them to take after you.

However, Jara passed with flying colors.  (It's ok Jack you are only 3.)  Jara loves the water and is now able to float, glide, retrieve objects-without toes, and paddle about.  The best part is her confidence in the water, she has worked hard this summer.  Look at that cute tutu and professional, orange goggles, no messin' around here.

So brave

Bonding

Not just reading, bonding too.  Isn't that a nice feeling when they play lovingly together and are not thumping each other over the head with the guardian stick horse?  

Fishing

Jack caught a big one right in our living room.  It's 115 degrees out there.  We don't go outside, unless we are swimming. Fishing is not to be confused with swimming just because they both involve water.

Pool time

Rub-a-dub-dub three kids in the kiddie pool tub.  We even got a custom slide set-up.

We have also...

-been to Jed's b-ball games, that involve a lot of bribery for good behavior 

-watched "Brave," we were brave, especially me, I drank a whole sprite and then sat for a full hour and a half with Jack on my lap without sprinting to the bathroom

-Had sock wars, good fun, using Jed's socks to bean my kids. 

-Made paper airplanes, thank goodness they are still young enough to admire my "planes."

-Made egg carton boats, guess what? they did float!

-Constructed numerous blanket forts

10 and a Half Months

A day in the life

Torturing the bobbleheads, she's got the pop-up toy down

Trapped in the bumbo leads to angry gnawing of mommy's camera case

Baby Crockett-my kids think that is Davy's real name

Elise and her best friend/cousin Scarlet

Rockin' that piggy-tail.  I like to call it a quail tail.  

Here's what we got going on this month...

-Crawling, lots of crawling. Lots and lots of super fast, hip-wriggling, toe clawing, elbow-dragging army-crawling.  If a toy, book or sibling gets in her path she disgustedly (this is not an inaccurate or exaggerated description) flings them to the side and continues full force ahead.

-The arrival of misery, also known as top teeth, bottom teeth and probably some fangs as well.  I want the tooth fairy to come when there is arrival of teeth and magically make everything awesome, forget losing the teeth and getting a prize, that's unnecessary.  Happiness while teething is what parents really want.

-Giving 5.  On the way home from Disneyland, the very long ride home from Disneyland, Jara and Elise had some time on their hands, so Jara taught Elise a new trick, she will be happy to demonstrate for you.

-Pure unconstrained joy at the sight of my raggedy cats, she practically bounces out of my arms to get to them.  Thankfully they are skittish and know better to get within tail-pulling range.  (For her safety, not their's)

-She has discovered how to squirrel open the puff-puffs.  Which is really handy for self-snacking, except during church when the Mt. Vesuvius of puff-puffs erupted all over the Relief Society room.  Picking puff-puffs off the floor in high-heels and a short (knee-length short of course) skirt is always lady-like and graceful for mothers.

-It took her awhile to get down the mechanics but Elise is also going from a crawling to sitting position (a bit more difficult for army crawlers) and starting to pull up on things.  The first time she grabbed the ottoman handles and yanked herself into a standing position she was so excited she almost started jumping and then tried to dive headfirst into the ottoman/toy stasher.  Oh the possibilities her world is opening up to her.

-Elise has no limits on food.  She will eat anything.  Hallelujah!  After two non-eaters I'm in a state of shock and bliss.  Terriyaki chicken, green beans, baked beans, roast beef, any fruit, most vegetables, mexican rice, you name it she will eat it, the more flavor the better.  The only foods she in not particularly fond of but will eat with minor protesting are: white rice and oatmeal.  Too plain.  And in case you were wondering she does not choke, not even on barbie shoes, which I'm thinking need to go to "the closet."

-She can say "mama," "dada" "baba" and "nahnah." And lets not forget her banshee, dementor scream that she likes to practice at church, in the grocery store or any store for that matter, and when she is getting her diaper changed, which she bitterly resents.

-Elise has heaps of personality.  When sitting in her high chair while we are eating lunch she will occasionally do something to get attention, such as spit her food like a camel, she will then look to Jack and Jara and give a conspiratorial  glance then laugh her wicked cackle and clasp her hands.  She also clasps her hands when she sees something she likes/wants, such as water bottles, the cats, bath-time, and daddy.

Onward to Eleven.

PS-If you ask Jack how old Elise is he'll say, "10."  He knows.

So 4th

There are some things that are required on the Fourth of July in order to properly celebrate our country's Freedom...

Fireworks.  

Little popping ones, that may or may not have been fed to grandma andy's chiuaha mix named Precious.  I can never hand my children a box of these little goodies without thinking of Precious.  Ashley and I were convinced if Precious ate one she would pop too, thus ending our childhood woes of properly behaving when in Precious' presence.

Family

I love this pictures of my sister and the babies.  I love Ashley's big, cheesy cheerleader grin.  I can't help but smile every time I see it and not just because I'm exploiting her on my blog, but because she is so fun and crazy and when I go to Pilates with her I get an amazing workout because we are laughing so hard at each other my stomach muscles hurt.  When we are funny, we are funny.  We make up awesome metaphors too.  Remember the pinetree shedding needles faster than a porcupine Ash?  I'm still laughing over that one

Pictures in the patriotic red/white/blue outfits

And look at our silly little spawn.  We kept trying to get them to pose and this is the best I could get but it does illustrate their personalities. 

BBQ

The grill man, roastin' up the corn, the best way to eat it.

Mother Nature's Firework Display

If I were cheesy I'd say something like...

By the dawn's early light...

Except it was the dusk's late light.  We were blessed with a gorgeous day, 80's, light sprinkles and breeze, perfect for watching fireworks in the NV desert.

Community Participation

Oh yeah and the big kids participated in the town celebration/candy drop.  That's as patriotic as we get as citizen's of this valley on the 4th of July.   

Jara's Officially Got Joy

Jara has officially completed the alma mater preschool of her dear old mom and dad.  She has spent the year studying obedience, the earth, sharing, goal striving, curiosity, honesty, imagination, uniqueness and pride.  Jara enjoyed learning about families the "bestest." 

The graduate 

The school friends, Abby, Jara and Faith (Mallory's missing)

There is no question about it, they've got joy.  I wish I could get the ditties out of my head, every time I type "joy" I have a crazy desire to burst out "oh boy, I've got joy" if you are not familiar with this song consider it a lucky travesty

Jara and her favorite teacher, she's a little bias.  I like that in Joy School all the moms get to be teachers.

Hooray for Joy School, on to Kindergarten...

sniff, sigh, YAY!!!

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

 Wheeler Family Fun 2012

Part 2

Disneyland!!!

Mickey and Minnie and their little Mouseketeers

...For the most part

A sight to behold.  25 Red mouse shirts=no one got lost.  I heard this once or twice "No it's my turn to tell them how many in our party."

The princess, we told them it was Jasmine, with the little princesses

Jara's favorite ride.  First time for all of us.

These bugs do bite, I mean bump.  

Jack loved the Merry-Go-Round. " I didn't have to cry mom!"

Elise merry on the go-around

Grandma livin' it up.  My favorite picture of all.

Thank You Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler for a wonderful vacation!

Just Beachy

Wheeler Family Fun 2012

Newport Beach

To begin our weekend o' fun we met at the beach.  I was surprised by the cold and the large waves.  Most of my beach time has been spent on Newport and I have never seen such large waves or been so cold.  Jack and Elise were initiated, having never been to the ocean before.  Four years ago was the last time we had a family beach outing so this was new for Jara too.  She remembers many things from a scary, early age but 18 months is even too far back for her.  

 Babe on the beach

 Jara constructing, it's in her blood.  Can you tell she is whistling?  She's really good and really loud.  Of course she is awesome at whistling since I spent many years squelching the ability out of happy little first graders.  

Cousins

Poor Jack spending most of his beach time howling at the whole beach in his eyes.

Flying above the waves.  I wish Jed could do that with me.  I try to get him to but alas...

Trouble, lots of sandy trouble

More sandy trouble.  Not entirely thrilled about face planting in the sand.  What they fail to tell you on the sunblock is that it will protect from sun due to the fact that the sand will stick to your child thus creating a naturally protective mask/barrier.  

I've Still Got It

I've alluded to the fact that in my previous life, the life I had before marriage and children, I was known to get on my feminist soap box, bra-burning benders. However, that Joshlyn seems light years away buried under cookbooks, cleaning supplies and poopy diapers.  I have learned to calm myself and realize you can be a gracious woman without being a subservient doormat.  I cook, clean and happily stay at home with my children because I WANT to, although heaven help us some day's when everyone is crying and I'm up to my elbows in some sort of bodily fluid I question why.  Every now and then I will feel a little nostalgic for my younger persona but am proud of the homemaker me all at the same time.  That being said, there are still core concepts that I won't let go.  For example...
Jed doesn't get a free pass on the dishes (or any other domestic chore) because he's a man.
And
My opinion should not be underrated or dismissed because I am a woman.  
Now,
should you feel inclined to pity Jed for being married to a ball-busting (did I just say that?)she-woman,
Don't.  Last week he went to use the vacuum I've had for two years and didn't know how to turn it on.  Besides, like I always remind him, "he knew perfectly well what he was getting in to it."
Plus, I can't make Jed do anything he doesn't want to, try as I might. Which is why we still have that hideous blue cookie monster chair, which is another story in and of itself.  I'm getting off track.  Anyway...
What I'm leading up to, is the fact that a fellow "good-reader" left me a snarky comment based on my Lonesome Dove review.  I knew I was setting myself up for it when I left a scathing 1 star review on a 4.something average rated, Pulitzer-prize winning book.  This is not my first show-down with unhappy male reviewers.  However, this IS the first time one has said (and I quote) "...you feminist man-hater."
Why does this bring me such unconstrained glee?  Here I was feeling all depressed today that I was turning into a whiny, pathetic little housewife, after I complained to Jed for the 100th time about the insurmountable pile of laundry, and then that dear golden nugget of criticism reminds me that, yes folks, even after all of these years...I've still got it.