Spring is really here!

We made our last run of syrup.  Joseph even got to stay up late a few times to boil!  We made 4 gallons this year and had lots of fun again. 

 

Joseph has been very into birds lately.  When we head out first thing in the morning Joseph always chats with the birds.  Sometimes he draws them pictures when he is at school because he misses them.  And we rigged these birdfeeders for our friends enjoyment.

 

Brad sold the old tractor and got a new “Big Green Tractor”

 

Spring walks are always special

 

AND—meet Bean, our newest calf.  He was born here in Shoreham on April Fools Day and saved from the big sale because the farmer’s kids liked him. 

 

Brad and Joseph broke out their shorts

 

New frogs came to visit

 

The view out my kitchen window

 

A visit to Chuckee Cheese yesterday  with the cousins

Bogie and Bean hanging out for the first time today

 

nope, that is not going to work, but glad that they are getting along

How fast things change

The day after my last post Joseph drew this masterpiece depicting Jonny, Tonny, and Ronny (dad, mom, and son) at their house.  They each have a little bed upstairs, there is a fireplace, stairs, and some windows.  The sun is shinning and their goat is outside and a calf inside (yes, we have a new calf and no, we have not so far brought any bovines inside).   I just think it is adorable.  It is also exciting because this is one of the very few things that he really likes to do by himself.  I believe this was created while I showered and got ready for work.  We are having lots of fun with art lately.  I must add that the almost four-year-old whining, grumpiness, demanding, cunning, sneakiness (like hair cutting when my back was turned), difficult questions (is everyone going to die? so you are going to die? and me too? was I really a seed in your tummy? how did I get there?), challenging social intricacies are not always so fun . . . let’s just say it was a multiple time-out kind of day, with some sweet moments mixed in. 

The HUGE piles of pictures and projects in our house

So, just after my last post, of course winter came back to visit, but I’ve already blocked that out and we had some beautiful spring weather today.  Anyways, I have been meaning to post forever about Joseph drawing and being creative.  It has been so much fun watching Joseph’s changing and evolving creativity.

 

It was only about a year ago that Joseph first drew a picture that actually resembled something.  This was last March and he drew it at his old school (“Sarah’s”).  I was shocked at the time.  He was so proud he posted it on the door :-)  It depicts our family.

Only last summer that he wrote his first letter (the H’s)

And only this past fall he first wrote his name.

This Christmas was the first time he really drew something besides a face that looked like its subject (a reindeer)

Now here are a bunch of current pictures:

The Easter bunny

 

A bird (it really really is spring!)

 

Star Wars (he has some Star Wars legos)

 

(He labeled this himself!  He is not breaking any records in learning to write, but it is neat to witness.  Only very recently did he begin writing things besides his name.  Now he very often asks how to spell words and even knows some letter/sound correspondences.)

A plan for the house he planned to build with the play tools and blocks at school

He also LOVES making projects of different kinds. I have put many of them on here, but some of the most endearing are actually the projects he comes up with one his own.  He loves cutting and taping and is always making new things.  He has always wanted sugary cereals that we won’t buy him, so finally he decided to cover the jar we keep granola in with paper and drawings of Shrek so he could have his own Shrek cereal.   Just the other day he saw the sweater I was knitting, and after I wouldn’t let him help on the real one, he decided to make his own.  He ended up making a vest for each of us! 

This is all lots of fun and it is amazing to watch the fast pace of changes.  All this creativity has also been a big problem for my clutter issues.  It was only very recently that I was finally able to actual recycle some things.  So hopefully it will help to preserve some of the memories on here!

Signs of spring ;-)

  

the sap is flowing!

syrup!!

 

popsicle picnic with friends (followed by swinging, digging, trucks, and hours in a huge puddle, while us mommas knitted in the sun)

mud, mud, dirty, dirty

 

car washing

maple flavored everything

 

is it a lake?  a wildlife sanctuary?  nope, our neighbor’s flooded farm field

completely covered in geese (or ducks??)  (pictures do not even begin to convey how beautiful this, and the many other similar fields in the area, are)

animals loving life in the sun

 

checking the fence (and other outside chores)

 

walks and lots of play

and love in the air ;-)  (this is what I found in J’s pocket while doing laundry)

Potty talk

There is A LOT of this in our house right now.  Has been for quite some time (well, actually ever since I have known Brad actually, but now it is multiplied since J inherited his sense of humor).  Here are two little stories we found humorous:

The other day J was sitting on the potty and called me in.  “Look mom,” he said.  “It’s a happy guy!”  (I was dying with laughter, which of course encouraged him.) “He has a party hat on.  He’s going to a party . . . “  And some crazy story about Mr. Peepee going to a party ensued.  I was laughing too hard to remember it all. 

Another incident happened a while back, and Brad has always thought I should post it here.  Brad and I were looking at the computer in our room while J sat on the potty in the attached bathroom.  Suddenly the door opened, a sock with poop on it flew out, and the door closed.  No explanation.  Hmmmm.  “What is that?”  Brad yelled.  J answered calmly, “it happens.”  HAAAAAAAA!  It too funny too stay mad.

Lots of deliberate potty jokes also occur.  J’s current favorite is to blame his gas on someone else.  “You farted mom!” is about the funniest line ever to him.  Just before bedtime tonight Brad and J went on an extended songwriting gig about sitting on the potty set to the tunes of his Pete Seeger CD.  It goes on and on.  Well, laughing is good (even when crass)!

Snowy days!

"We are closed due to the storm. The select board has declared a state of emergency in the Town of Shoreham. Everyone is urged to stay off the roads. The state and local road crews have been unable to keep up with the drifts. Most of the roads are currently impassible. If you have a loader please contact Robin at XXX-XXXX. We could use your help."

This was the message yesterday at the Shoreham Town Clerk’s office.  We had quite a storm here!  It didn’t seem that bad to me, up on the hill here, but apparently it was record braking.  And certainly messy.  We got about 2 feet, maybe a bit more, with lots of drifts.  School and my work were closed both Monday and Tuesday this week, with convenient night before phone calls ;-)  Fortunately at our house no one had to go anywhere and we have been enjoying the snow.

 

We had tons of fun sledding down the driveway (AFTER dad plowed),

 

played on the snow banks,

 

tried out some new snowshoes we were gifted,

 

enjoyed the beautiful sunset after the storm was over,

 

shoveled many paths,

And played, played, played.

If I worked on the road crew or had a real emergency that necessitated leaving the house I would not be enjoying it so much.   Apparently Grandpa Fred had to jump out an unused door with no deck to get out of there house.  Postal service was cancelled and, as indicated by the messages, civilians were called in to help the road crews.  I left the house today for the first time and did pass numerous unplowed town roads, abandoned cars, and HUGE AMAZING snow banks.  It feels like driving through a tunnel; the banks are higher then the cars! 

Here are some photos that were on my camera from before the storm.  It was so springy and warm we took the animals out for some playtime!

 

And these are pics from an earlier snowday just before we went to Philly.  I took Joseph to the school playground for a bit.

 

And here he is practicing his hockey moves!

How to Really Love a Child

Be there.

Say yes as often as possible.

Let them bang on pots and pans.

If they’re crabby, put them in water.

If they’re unlovable, love yourself.

Realize how important it is to be a child.

Go to a movie theater in your pajamas.

Read books out loud with joy.

Invent pleasures together.

Remember how really small they are.

Giggle a lot.

Surprise them.

Say no when necessary.

Teach feelings.

Heal your own inner child.

Learn about parenting.

Hug trees together.

Make loving safe.

Bake a cake and eat it with no hands.

Go find elephants and kiss them.

Plan to build a rocket ship.

Imagine yourself magic.

Make lots of forts with blankets.

Let your angel fly.

Reveal your own dreams.

Search out the positive.

Keep the gleam in your eye.

Encourage silly.

Plant licorice in your garden.

Open up.

Stop yelling.

Express your love.

A lot.

Speak kindly.

Paint their tennis shoes.

Handle with caring.

*Copyrighted to SARK

This is a poem by Sark, of which we have a very large poster on the wall at my work (Addison County Parent/Child Center).  It is actually posted in a small bathroom right where you HAVE to look at it, many times I day.  I just adore the sentiment.  Also, at work participants and staff have written all over it, adding their own ideas for “how to really love a child.”  (Also, just a note, there seem to be many different versions of this poem.)