Seen and Heard

Before going to the grocery store Bently made sure everyone was properly equipped to leave the house. So both Bently and Keira brought their backpacks, and a purse (both stuffed with miscellaneous toys).

But it doesn't stop there . . . Bently had to have his sombrero and Keira had to have her kitty leash that she made out of Tessa's link-a-doos. I sighed as we left the house and reminded both of them that whatever they choose to take to the car they have to bring back into the house.

After completing our trip to Harris Teeter. I took Tessa out of her carseat and with my one free hand - carefully looped four grocery bags onto my other arm. Bently was kind enough to take Keira's backpack into the house for her, but in doing so dropped his sombrero.

Mom: Keira, will you please take Bently's hat back inside.

Keira: (looks at the hat and then looks at me)

Mom: Please Keira. Bently took your backpack inside for you.

Keira: Mom, I think you can do it.

Beachy Stuff

We (Aimee, Autumn and I) went to the beach and May and it was great! We all went swimming, had a wonderful day together, and learned a few things . . .

1. We don't enjoy taking young children to the beach for a day.

2. They don't last very long on the actual beach. So after 2.5 hours of driving, .5 hours of trekking everything done to the beach, and 2 hours on the beach . . . they are ready to go home.

3. However, since you aren't staying near the beach - you cannot clean yourself off very well. So you're all sandy, the children are all sandy, and you have to spend the next 2.5 hours in the car like that.

4. And even though you brought a weeks worth of food with you - everyone is starving. Again. So you must stop somewhere on the way home to eat.

5. When all is said and done. It is a great time! But a very long day for 2 hours of playing on the beach!

So we decided to try it again!

This is the crowd we brought! Six of them and three of us.

• We stayed on the beach this time! There was a small backyard where the kids could play, and at our leisure we could walk down to the water - and back again.
• We got very sandy and dirty indeed! But there was a shower outside as well as two inside!
• We stayed for 4 days.
• We had more fun than I could ever recount in words!

(notice the tiny little hand holding on to the right side of the bucket)

We survived . . . and wanted to go back the very next week!

Is it really so Smart?

Today I saw one of these while sitting at a red light.

Cute.

Then I noticed this in the hand of the driver of the previously mentioned car.

Not cute.

And this is what the bumper sticker of said car proclaimed . . .

Really?

And Dakota, I'm sure they will properly dispose of the item in hand when finished. Just for you!

Seen and Heard

After a long day of lots of fun while sitting at the dinner table . . .

Keira: mmmmmmmmmm.

Mom, you're . . . you're a good maker.

Mom: Thank you Keira!

PS - Keira, you will not know how happy that makes me for many years to come! I love you!

Benefits of Summer

Summer Perk #1: Empty school playgrounds and athletic fields.
(as if we didn't already have a million and one parks and playgounds to explore - well our options just opened up a little bit more!)

We are happily practicing our soccer skills . . . which makes dad a very happy man!

Oh Tessa, you're breaking my heart! You're so sweet and loveable I am begging you to stop growing so darn fast!

We'll Start at the Beginning

Of summer that is . . .

These are Bently's teacher's on his last day of school. Miss Amy, Miss Luz, and Miss Shamima

and then his personal favorite - Mr. Lawrence.

Dear Bently,

There have been so many nights that your dad and I have talked about preschool for you. Should you go? How many days per week should you go? What type of preschool should you go to? The questions seemed endless to me. In my mind the only right thing was for you to stay home with me and your sisters. Thankfully dad was able to see hte bigger picture and fought in your behalf for preschool and independance. You have loved every minute of preschool! You have so many friends there. When you wlk in the door your teacher Mr. lawrence as well as all of your classmates welcome you by yelling "Benlty!!" I love the smile that brings to your face as you push the door open ready for your personal greeting!

Everyone at school knows you because you have quite the imagination. Many days you walk into school riding your horse and donning your cowboy boots and red tattered cowbay hat. First you make your rounds through the room giving high fives and riding your horse as fast as he'll go, then you use the bathroom and wash your hands. Next you exit the room to carefully hang your red bookbag, trusty horse and loved hat. On the days that you do not ride your horse to school you enter serenading the school with your harmonica. Once a month your class takes a field trip to Ravenscroft Elementary School. Usually I have you put your harmonica back into your backpack after you display your talent. However, on this particular day you had stuffed the harmonica down your overalls and on the bus ride to Ravenscroft you pulled out the harmonica and started playing all the way there! You Ravenscroft Buddy was so impressed that he took you to each of the classrooms through Ravenscroft so that they too could enjoy a personl Bently Concert! You are quite good at playing the harmonica and even wave your hand as if you know how to bend the sound. Ahhhh - we love you Bently! More than once I have been asked if you take harmonica lessons. I guess your a natural!

For Christmas you decided to give Mr. Lawrence his very own matching harmonica. He ws thrilled! I will never forget the warmth I feel when I come to pick you up from school and I hear you and Mr. Lawrence playing from the front doors. I follow those sweet sounds all the way to the back of the scool and there you are with your favorite teacher - both playing your harmonicas.

I am so grateful to the teachers at Learning Together. They are good people and really do love you Bently. They have held you in their arms on numerous occasions to rock you to sleep in your oversized froggy blanket. They have given you the love that I thought you would be void of if you were to leave home and go to preschool. No one can ever replace the love we have for our little Boo - but we are so grateful for those who take such excellent care of you and who patiently teach you.

Love, Mommy