Clover Lane

Early morning.

Late evening.

At the banquet I was SO proud that Andrew and Patrick both were chosen by their coaches, out of all their team mates, to receive the "Hardest Worker" award.   The coaches had the nicest things to say about them-they were respectful, and listened well, and didn't whine or complain, and worked hard and asked questions to improve, and showed up at almost every single practice.  I hope it doesn't sound like I am bragging but it was just a little boost for my mother's heart.  I SO want my boys to be hard workers and good students and respect their teachers and coaches and one day that may all morph into being great husbands and fathers.  I know a swim team trophy doesn't mean my work is over, but I'm going to take it as a sign that we are heading in the right direction and all this work I'm doing every day-because you know what? it does take time and effort and dedication as parents to teach these things!-will pay off here and there. 

And really..look at this blurry picture-it is my favorite.  Patrick was shocked that he received a TROPHY of all things, and couldn't even stop staring at it the whole ceremony.   He sees his older brother's trophies and desired to have one of his own so badly, and finally his dream came true.

I always seem to end my ordinary day posts with a photo of Janey, but I can't help myself.

Here she is with "bunny face".

Janey and I stayed behind for the grand fireworks celebration in our town-we zipped ourselves into the trampoline in our pajamas to listen to the noises, and lasted till the mosquitoes came out.

A photo from our "only girls allowed trip" to my hometown. 

Janey with her ice cream-less cone during our Amish country tour.

Too much rain also means that the boys get to earn lots of money from grass that never stops growing.

Stair blockage....these chairs have worked for the last month, but she's going to outsmart me soon.

At a little local toy store it was about $15 and there are plenty of rubber bands that come with the kit to get off to a good start.  The refill bands are sorted by colors are about $4-but some are "hot" and Andrew put himself on a waiting list for a few and it's been weeks.  Every time the store calls and says, "We have the (insert color) bands in now" you'd think he just won the lottery and we only have five minutes to pick up our millions.

Here is the link to the Rainbow Loom site if you can't find a store near you.  Amazon also has them but for a few dollars more.

I woke up on the second last day of June and found her hanging by a thread.  I had to laugh...I said, "I know JUST how you feel June. But we made it!  We survived-just barely, but we survived."  

I might wake up and have a conversation with a wall calendar but I'm still standing.  

Little boy legs...covered with bruises and scrapes always.  

Miss Dare Devil showing off.  

And in my favorite dress.

An arsenal.  Dare to enter.

Have you ever done the butterfly kit with your kids?  We have a few times and we've enjoyed it so much.

This was a Christmas gift for Andrew and of course we had to wait till warm weather.  He handled the entire process himself and we released some beautiful butterflies.

Isaac.  

A summer fort.

Safety sure has changed since I've been a kid.  We had no car seats, heck no seat belts (or maybe we had seat belts but didn't have to wear them?)...I remember bouncing around in the back seat with my sisters.  I got to laughing one day when I thought of all the unsafe things we did.  How many rabid raccoons and chipmunks and you name it, wobbling in the driveway in broad day light, did we take under our wing? Patrick had a whole session put on by the animal control officer. We would plummet down the hills on our bikes, pedaling to go faster, with our bare heads. We ice skated on creeks and ponds we tested ourselves...if we made it out to the middle it was deemed "safe". We ate berries that I'm sure in large doses could be poisonous. When I look at the things my mom used for us as babies-little seats, swings-all of which I'm sure didn't have five point harness systems-I wonder how we survived.  I sure do remember talks on stranger danger at school-the most terrifyingly inappropriate film was shown to us little first graders, and it scared the beejibbers out of us. I don't think I talked to strangers till my late 20's and I can still see scenes of that film in my head.  Don't take candy from strangers, was really the lesson behind it all, or you might end up dead in a drainage pipe.  Eeek!

Anyways-I loved Safety Town.  I love their approach (gentle, no murder scenes involved).  Patrick received a little certificate and a great deal of pride.  What I really wish he would receive is a little stamp that would stay with him for life-sort of like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval-a lifetime guarantee that he will stay safe always-through the daring boy years, into the invincible teenage years, and then beyond.  It would let my mother's heart rest a little easier.  Wouldn't that be great?