Preschool (not-so) Lately

A month ago Thane wrapped up his time in preschool.  We had the tremendous blessing to have (essentially) the same group of kids together in our co-op preschool for two years.  We had so much fun and so many great adventures during our time together.  It will be sad when all the kids go their separate ways this fall.

Here are some highlights from the past few months...

WAY back in January, we took a field trip to the Black Diamond Bakery.  We got to tour the 100-year-old baking facilities (which, admittedly, was more interesting to the moms than the kids).  

In the end, each kid got to pick out a doughnut, so everyone considered the trip a success.  

Next door to the bakery is a train and history museum, so whatever enthusiasm might have been missing looking at baking processes, my boys definitely made up for looking at train stuff!

For my last round of teaching, I chose a food theme.  We did all kinds of fun things, including painting our bread and then toasting it.  The kids took this challenge very seriously.

Here's a random, funny story.  For one of my teaching days, I had been really busy, and didn't have a chance to really sit down and plan the activities until the night before.  The following morning, I got a call from my sister, Colleen, at 8 am.  "Uh oh," I thought, "what's wrong?  Why is she calling so early!"

Colleen immediately assured me that nothing was wrong, but continued to explain, "I need help.  I'm in charge of preschool today and I haven't planned anything!" (In her defense, I'm pretty sure she was about 27 months pregnant at the time.)

"Okay," I said, "what's your theme?"

"Food!" she replied.

I laughed and laughed, then took pictures of what I'd pulled together the night before and we were both on our way!

Here are our cute kids at their Valentine's party.

Graham found a buddy and they hid under the counter to eat their treats.  

One of our mom's, Crystal, did an amazing unit on space.  Thane loved it.  One activity involved making moon sand.  I love it when other moms are willing to do the messy stuff at their house.  

 The kids thought it was great as well.

 You probably guessed that we also had an Easter party, and of course you'd be correct.  

 There were bunny kids hopping all around!

For our last field trip, we got to take a tour of a local library and have our very own story time.  The new technology used in libraries is totally fascinating!

We had our end of the year party at the local park.  Mostly we just let the kids play, and they enjoyed every second of it.  I'll miss these regular get togethers with the wonderful moms.  

Since Graham still has three years till he starts kindergarten, I won't be doing a preschool co-op at all next year.  I guess we'll have to find other ways to stay busy.

Royal Field Trip

Recently, a friend was setting up some really fun field trips and inviting us along.  That got me thinking, "what's the very best field trip I can think of?" Ding! Royal City, of course!  I contacted Ashlee, and in typical Ashlee-fashion she planned an over-the-top amazing day for us.  In addition to my not-so-little-anymore family, I also invited my sister Katie and her family, and our good friend Ashley and her four kids.  

Aubree got to miss another day of school (can you tell I get bad about pulling her out a lot at the end of the school year?) and we left reasonably early to arrive in Royal by 10:30.  Our first stop was the Royal Dairy.  The kids piled into the back of a pick-up truck for a slow drive around the facilities, while all the adults and babies squished in the cab.  I've been on the dairy tour numerous times, but I still find it fascinating.

When we got around to the baby cows, we hopped out of the truck so the kids could interact more with the calves.  Some of the kids were adventurous enough to try to pet the calves.  Most were content to look from a safe distance.

Ashlee also showed us how to have a little fun with the bigger cows who were over-eager to see our big crowd.

The newborn (less that 24 hours old) calves were especially popular.  This one was just learning how to stand up on her own!

We also got to go inside the milking barns and watch the actual milking process.  

Ashlee asked if any kids wanted to try to milk a cow by hand.  Graham was the only one of my crew who was interested in trying.

A highlight of the day was getting an ice-cream cone at the conclusion of the tour.  

What a group!

Our next stop was the famous Allred Pond.  We intended to feed the kids lunch, then let them play, but once they saw the water, none of them were even remotely interested in eating.  Bryce immediately headed to his beloved kayak and took Charlotte along for a ride.  

Our little parrot, Graham, was equally interested in the other kayak.  He worked and worked to get the kayak off the shore, but as soon as he was successful, and realized he was floating alone in the water, he totally freaked out.  No worries.  Big sister to the rescue!

The smaller kids spent most of their time on the paddle boat.  As always, it seems like my kids show substantially higher maturity levels when they're at the pond.  Thane took it upon himself to push his friends around when they were on the kayak, and was quick to try to "rescue" kids who got scared.  

After a couple hours, we forced the kids to eat a little lunch before we headed off on the next phase of our adventure.  None of them wanted to leave the pond, which is totally understandable.  However, our next stop was cherry picking, and who can complain about that??  The cherries weren't totally ripe, so the kids were supposed to be selective about which they picked.  As you might imagine, some were better at that task than others!  Regardless, they all ended up with bellies full of fresh cherries.

Bryce, Charlotte, Maggie, and Anna

Cherry picking was just the first in a line-up of produce picking.  Next we stopped by one of Ashlee's friend's who has a huge, beautiful strawberry garden.  The kids picked till they were distracted by the fun front yard grass and play area.  

Graham, Clara, Collin, & Ashley

Our next stop took us to a sugar snap field.  Despite the hot weather, the kids were ever-eager to pick and eat.  Aubree and the other big girls seemed hard at work picking peas, but just before it was time to go we realized what they'd really been doing... pulling the peas out of their shells to use in a pea war!  

Our final picking adventure is arguably the kids' favorite - potatoes!  This time of year the potatoes are still babies, so we pulled up a bunch of plants.  I think it was like a treasure hunt for the kids.  

Graham was much more interested in the dirt.

Potato picking is one of Aubree's favorite activities.  She did not want to leave.

After a day full of activities, we all headed back to Ashlee's home where she insisted on feeding EVERYONE!  But first, all the hard workers got an Otter Pop to help them cool down.

While the adults helped get dinner ready (oh, and made some strawberry freezer jam - because that's just the way Ashlee rolls), the kids kept themselves happily occupied outside.  There's never a shortage of things to do in the country.  These big kids whipped up their own dinner concoctions.  

When dinner was done, we all ate outside enjoying the beautiful views and weather.  My favorite aspect of the dinner is that a lot of it the kids contributed to providing.  The picked the potatoes and peas for the peas & potatoes in white sauce, and even washed the potatoes and shelled the peas.  

They had also picked the strawberries we had on top of shortcake for dessert.  

Yum!

By the time we left, ours bellies and cars were full of fresh food, and everyone was exhausted, filthy, and thoroughly convinced that there's no better place than the Farm.  Bryce was so upset we had to leave that he complained and whined for almost an hour on the drive home (NOT my favorite part of the day).  

I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times over, we are so blessed to have such wonderful, generous, inspiring friends.  Thanks for the "field trip," Ashlee and family!

Co-op Soccer Camp, Year 2

True to my word, I did organize another co-op soccer camp this summer despite being pregnant.  However, instead of doing two camps like last year, or expanding into other sports like I'd considered, this year I only planned one camp.  

Snack break

The main benefit of being the organizer is I was able to work the logistics to my advantage.  So, our Monday - Thursday camp hosted two different co-ed age groups simultaneously: a 5/6 group (so Thane could participate), and a 7/8 group (for Bryce).  There were two teams for each age group, and the different ages never crossed playing paths.  It worked out quite well.

I will admit I didn't enjoy the planning this year as much as I did last year.  I largely attribute that to being pregnant and uncomfortable and unmotivated.  I also didn't see as much interest as I'd expected, which makes me question whether I'm meeting a real need.  

However, I managed to get four amazing coaches, and this year I had a bunch of younger (9-12 year old) "assistants" who helped with coaching, babysitting (I also had two teenage baby sitters on-site to watch the younger children of coaches), setting up, running errands, and cleaning up.  They helped a ton!  And once camp started, it ran pretty seamlessly.  

Every day ended with a scrimmage, and that was generally the kids' favorite part.

Bryce and Thane had a great time.  Bryce just "loved playing the game" and being with friends.  Thane loved "winning!"

Even cousin Anna got to come down for one day!

The biggest downside was the heat, but even that wasn't too terrible (considering that the following week, when I'd originally planned to hold the camp, promised 90-100 degree temps every day!).  Yet, even without the overwhelmingly hot conditions, the kids were still wilting by the time we ended each day at 11 am.  I came home every day totally exhausted (but again, that's all pregnancy related).

I'm still debating whether or not I'll do another camp next year.  It's a solid maybe.

Entre-pet-nuers

We are planning a family reunion trip to Myrtle Beach for next summer.  Bryce and Thane are fascinated with the whole idea.  In fact, ever since they found out, they've been plotting a business venture.  

They started by collecting boxes.  When they'd amassed quite a collection we finally thought to ask, "Why do you want to keep so many boxes?!"

"Well," Bryce explained, "we're going to fill the boxes with sand and when we go to Myrtle Beach, we're going to dig for turtle eggs and bring them home.  Then we'll put the eggs in the boxes of sand, and when the eggs hatch, we'll sell them!"

Our trip is still a year away.  It's too early to tell them digging for turtle eggs is illegal, right?

Oh, and in the meantime, they turned part of their box collection into a monument in their room.

the Mississippi Winters'

Mark's siblings are scattered across the far corners of the country.  We don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like.  When his brother, Kevin, and their family planned an Alaskan cruise, it was a treat to be able to see them for a couple days before and after (especially since we'd never even met their two adorable daughters, Lizzie and Maggie!).  

Kevin, Katie, Lizzie, and Maggie

After their cruise, we picked them (and Grandma and Grandpa Winters) up at the Seattle cruise terminal, then headed for some quality family time at the Pacific Science Center.  Our little people wasted no time in becoming fast friends.

Maggie and Graham

The Science Center is always fun, but my boys were totally captivated watching the mechanisms behind the toilet flush!

We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed the sunny weather (Seattle has been sunny since February... so strange!).

Once we were all fed and happy again, we continued our explorations.  I'd like to say that the kids were fascinated by the butterflies, but honestly they were much more interested in the fish in the pond in the butterfly house!

We had the great idea to get a picture of the cousins on this big caterpillar (Aubree was at school). Thane (big shock here) refused to participate.  This is the best we got:

Not surprisingly, the kids were happiest in the children's play area.  It always surprises me how much they like sitting in pretend cars.

We were able to head home reasonably early so we could enjoy time to talk and play at home.  Well, the adults talked, and the kids convinced Grandpa to spend his afternoon reading to them.  

Unfortunately, Kevin and Katie had to leave the next day, but Grandma and Grandpa were able to tack on a few extra days to join in a few extra activities.  For example, they came with us to Aubree's school's PTA carnival.  We were double booked that night, so it felt like we just ran from one thing to another trying to use up the carnival tickets (although the kids did do pretty well on the cake walk).

Following the Carnival, we zoomed over to a ward ice-cream social.  It was such a nice night, they decided to have the event outside.  

Aubree and Bryce quickly ate their treat, then ran around with their friends.  Thane gravitated to our wonderful Bishop/home teacher.  

They also had a spaghetti/marshmallow tower building competition.  Aubree's team got third place.  Not too shabby.

We love having family visit... even if sometimes Grandma gets a little carried away with trying to knock Thane off Kevin's shoulders.  ("I don't think this snake is going to do much damage... it needs more weight!") 

All About Thane

It's been almost a month since Thane's birthday.  I'd better buckle down and get this post finished.  It's challenging, though, because Thane is not a kid who's easily explained or described.  He's still Captain Contrary, and sometimes that's evident in his behavior and choices as well.  He's simultaneously independent, competitive, and intense, and generous, thoughtful, and intentional.  Here are a collection of experiences to better illustrate my point:

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When I picked up my brother-in-law Stew from the airport recently he commented, "Wait, you have four kids?  Oh yeah!  I forgot about Thane for a minute."

I responded, "you only forgot about Thane because you haven't been around him.  He's not the kind of kid who lets himself be forgotten.  There's no danger of him getting lost in the shuffle!"

Thane's the first one to attach himself to visitors in our home.  He's especially fond of uncles and grandpa's.  

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Though Thane demands attention, he does not like the spotlight.  He regularly turns down opportunities to go up to the front in primary, doesn't like getting his picture taken, and even covered his head when the waitresses sang to him for his birthday at Red Robin.  He both wants to be in the middle of the action, and invisible on the sidelines.

Trying not to let me get a picture of him helping

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Thane is super-duper competitive.  A while ago in science we were talking about blubber and how it keeps animals warm.  We did an experiment where we timed the kids to see how long they could keep their hand in a bowl of ice water, then tried again with their hand protected by a lard-filled bag.  Thane was the last to have a turn in the first round of the experiment (we had two homeschool friends doing the experiment with us).  His only question: "how long did Charlotte (the current record holder) keep her hand in?" The boy proceeded to keep his hand in the water for over 4 minutes - until I made him pull it out!

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When describing Thane, I often tell people, "If someone tries to take something away from Thane, he will fight tooth and nail to keep it, and he will win.  However, if he has even an inkling that the person wants the thing he has, most likely he'll gladly hand it over without even being asked."

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I recently got the following email from Thane's primary teacher:

"A couple of weeks ago, the kids each got 7 jelly beans for being good in class. As I handed them out, every single kid gobbled them all up as soon as they got them. But not Thane. He slowly ate 3 jelly beans and was holding on to  his 4 other jelly beans tightly. He came and told me he was saving them. 2 for his brother and 2 for his sister. What 4 yr old does that ?! He is so so sweet. 

Also, whenever I ask him if he wants to be a helper,  he says yes, but if any other kid shouts that "they wanted to be the helper", thane always says, "that's okay, they can do it."

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Another day in primary, they had a kids vs. missionaries game in which they called up a kid and tried to see if the child could answer the question before the missionaries.  Whoever answered first got a sticker.  When it was Thane's turn, he was able to answer correctly and earned a sticker.  He promptly walked over to the missionaries and gave them his sticker - a totally typical Thane behavior.

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Thane LOVES to play games.  Bryce is his favorite playmate, and is the one who has taught him almost every game he knows.  In the early stages, games often ended with Thane furious at having lost.  In the last six months or so, Thane has become an excellent sport.  He's gracious in winning and calm when he loses (though he still freaks out if he suspects cheating).  

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Thane has always been fiercely independent.  I don't think it even occurs to him to ask for help.  A common phrase at our house (for years) has been, "Thane, if you have to get a stool, you probably shouldn't be doing it."

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Thane is a thinker.  When we read to him, he often oh-so-softly repeats the things he hears under his breath. He's not a passive recipient of knowledge; he's always considering, evaluating and questioning.  He's right on hand when I'm doing school with Bryce and is especially interested in the history, scripture study, and science.  He's full of meaningful questions about why people chose to do certain things, or how and why things work.  I call him my Little Scientist.

One night we were singing the verse about Jonah in the "Follow the Prophet" primary song.  When we finished he interrupted, "Wait.  Why does it say we should follow a prophet who made a bad choice and tried to run away!?"

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In addition to being a scientist, Thane is also a monkey.  The boy loves to climb and is totally fearless.

  

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When Thane was a baby he was always bouncing.  Nothing's changed.  He enjoys watching Mark play old-school video games on the computer.  I enjoy watching Thane, who is so full of nervous energy, that he always hops off his stool and starts jumping!

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Thane has proved himself to be extremely gentle and patient with babies and small children.  When Kami was here he was so patient and kind the entire week.  When other babies or little kids come to play, he talks to them in a higher pitched voice and gently, gently corrals and plays with them.  I'm excited to see how well he does with his own baby sister. 

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As gentle and kind as he can often be, Thane also has a fierce temper.  When he doesn't get his way, he loves to argue back and demand that he WILL get what he wants.  Frequently he tries using his fists as well.  Here's a very common conversation that occurs in this type of scenario:

Me: "Thane, how often do you get what you want by yelling, demanding or hitting?!" (the correct answer being "never...")

Thane (yelling): "EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!!"

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As I've mentioned, Thane is super contrary.  He adores arguing.   The night before he turned five, as I was tucking him into bed, he told me, "I won't turn five tomorrow.  I want to stay four forever and ever!"  

I couldn't argue with him; I'd be happy to let him stay four longer!  However, I couldn't quite understand what had prompted his statement.  Up until that point, he'd been thrilled with the idea of turning four.  The only explanation he'd given me was, "I want to stay in preschool," which made me laugh because though he always loves preschool after the fact, the mornings of preschool he usually says he'd prefer to stay home.  

As I thought about it later, I came to the conclusion that it was mainly a result of no longer having a choice in the matter. The next day he HAD to turn five, and that bothered him.  He likes to have his own way.

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Thane has informed me that he only has two friends, Collin and Finley.  Sure, he has lots of other kids that he plays with and likes well enough, but he's very particular about the use of the word, "friend."

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Thane still has a few speech/articulation issues.  All of them are developmentally appropriate, but sometimes result in funny situations.  For example, he is in the process of learning to read.  One day he asked me, "why do l and w make the same sound!?"

Another day he was taking a placement test for an online math program.  One of the questions was, "which word says 'three'?"  Thane repeated out loud, "free.  f-f-free!" And proceeded to click on the first word he saw that started with /f/.  Oops.

So, no.  He still can't say his own name correctly.  He's "Fane."

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At our house, for their birthdays, kids get to help plan the whole week of meals.  Thane planned most of his week based on what he knew his siblings and his dad liked best.  He talks so much about wanting to get things his dad likes, that when our home teacher (who is awesome) brought by a birthday treat for Thane, he also brought a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups for Mark (and that made Thane beyond happy).  

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Thane has finally mastered sleeping.  For years he woke up screaming multiple times a night.  When he got over that, he would still creep into our bed at some point every night.  For the past few months, he's been completely in his own bed.  A couple weeks ago, I commented to him about how well he's been doing.  I might have said something about "kind of missing his cuddles," because the next thing I knew he proclaimed, "then I will come in tonight!"  And because he's Thane, and always does exactly what he puts his mind to, he did in fact come crawling in about 1 am.  What a sweetie!

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What Thane Says About Thane:

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Candy: Tootsie Pops (which is what happened to be in his mouth when I asked the question)

What he wants to be when he grows up: a Dad

Where he wants to go on his mission: Antarctica, to teach the penguins

Favorite Primary Song: "I Know that my Savior Loves Me"

Favorite Animal: Cheetah

Favorite Movie: Emperor's New Groove

Favorite Thing to Do: Play games, my favorite game is Scorched Earth

Favorite Food: Square Ravioli

Best Friend: Collin and Finley

Favorite Book: The Three Little Gators

Favorite Toy: Books and puzzles and games

What makes him happy: Mom

Favorite thing to do with Mom: Read

Favorite thing to do with Dad: Play Scorched Earth