It's Wild Here

December update

Earlier in the month, we attended the annual Santa/Pancake/Craft breakfast at the Methodist Church.  It's a sweet tradition.

I've spared you the alternative photo, in which Kellen makes his favorite new face (nostrils sucked in with power vacuum force --  he looks very odd).  

It was one of those years when Santa could make a long-time wish happen. Ryan has been asking to play violin for several years. I really love his expression in the very first seconds of the video.

The boys' school went roller skating during the week before break.  Kellen was quite daring on wheels, and had a great time with his pals (below the video).

 

Jeremiah's Christmas looked like this: 

Before the break, Jeremiah also joined the Mock Trial/Debate club at school, and has been enjoying that a lot. Some cruel fellow assigned homework over their vacation, so he'll be working on that soon, and these games will get a break.

Next quarter at Sinclair, I'll be teaching three sections of SOC 112, and Kellen will be switching to full day kindergarten twice/week.  I think he'll enjoy the extra time at school, as he'd been complaining of a lot of boredom in the mornings.

Christmas miracle: all 5 of them looking at the camera with smile-like expressions, probably earlier than 8am.

HEX BUGS with Uncle Troy!

Uncle Bill is a cruel, cruel ear-lifter.

Jamie has enjoyed a very long break from classes at Sinclair.  He's taken the time to write songs, bond with the cat, look for jobs, do a little work for a local builder, and play some shows.

W heels and S port F ishing USA (not really wanting fans of the bands to find this blog on google)

As it turns out, Ryan can play basketball very well. He's having a blast with it. Here is a very short clip of his awesome.

Ryan

 

Ryan, Kellen, and I were at my mom’s on Saturday. Ryan said, “I’m strong enough to crack open a 5 year olds head.”

“What?” I say. “How about talking about splitting a log with an axe?”

“That’s easy,” he said. “I bet I could chop down one of these walls.” (looking around the kitchen area)

Grammy said, “But you wouldn’t do that, right?”

“Why would I do that? Besides, you don’t have an axe,” he said.

“Actually, we do,” said Grammy.

“Well, its a good thing I don’t know where it is.”

July

Fourth of July at Uncle Doug and Aunt Barb's house has been a tradition for several years. Before that, we had decades of Fourths at my grandma's.  Marshmallow topped brownies, balloon toss, cooking out. 

 

All summer, we've been attending the summer reading programs at the library. This one was really wonderful, engaging all the children completely.

Hanging out downtown at the first (annual?) Cirque Carnival

Ryan is finishing up a clay class - they are creating an under-the-sea scene.

 Ryan attended Bulldog Basketball Camp and had the best time.  They were long, hot days and he wanted to be there every minute. He says it's more fun than swimming or soccer.  I'm thinking, wait until he can get the ball into the net - how fun will it be then?

 

 

4-H Camp Clifton - Jeremiah's first week away from home. He did the high ropes course, a zip line at night, and a few activities that he described as "do it yourself..."  They weren't terribly prepared. Think ice cream eating contest with no bowls, spoons or cones.  Just kids and a tub of ice cream. 

Ryan was better just in time for soccer camp, although he was definitely not fully recovered until the second day. During the first day of camp, he came walking over looking incredibly pale and flopped down into the grass.  It took some peanut butter and rest in the shade, but he was back at it before long.

Next week, he wants to try out swim team. 

He seems to be making some strides in reading and writing - practicing a little each day through summer.  He has one lost tooth and another couple of loose teeth.

He wants to play violin.  We're looking into it.

 

Jeremiah is teaching himself ukulele. Thank you, youtube.  I imagine we'll get some real lessons after fall soccer.  Right now, he's busy with Brasilian Jiu-jitsu and summer. 

 

Uncle Doug, Uncle Gavin, Dad.  Memorial Day/Dad's birthday.

  

 

 

mom's birthday

We met in Cincinnati to celebrate Mom's birthday.

 

 

 

cousins and uncles and auntie, oh my!

We had a great visit with cousins, etc, in July.

 

 

 

 

summer swimming

Over the summer, Ryan had so much fun swimming.  He took several weeks of daily lessons with Jan Gooodwin, and made steady and enthusiastic progress. He often continued kicking along with his kickboard back and forth, long after class was over.  Kellen was able to touch the bottom in the shallow end of the regular pool, so we didn't have much back-and-forth with the baby pool.  It was relaxing to be at the pool with the boys this summer, which was a fabulous and shocking development.  We went almost daily, sometimes twice a day, because this was the one place in the world where Ryan had some caution and serious focus.  It was really wonderful.

The week the cousins came, Porter joined into the swim lesson fun!

pi day socks

I finished these socks on pi day, March 14.  They're knit in worsted weight yarn so they're nice and warm, but not too heavy to go with clogs.  When Grandma was dying and I was visiting often, I brought these, and she wore them for her last couple of days. 

April

I hope this doesn't become a monthly-post type thing.  Between family crises and the effects of facebook and twitter, the blog has been neglected.

Last month, my grandmother passed away. I'm waiting on a CD with some nice photos from my father, and I'll make a post about her.

HAPPY 8th, Fynn!

Earlier this month, we went to see F's soccer game and had a birthday party for him at the playground. It was a beautiful day. Ryan and Kelly super-hero-ed around the track while F played his game.  The bigs kicked the soccer ball around.

Katie's friend's baby found her way into Jamie's arms - he looked very comfortable with her.  

catch up

Gram was here in February. She and Ryan did these mosaic hearts - very crafty, those two. 

This is the big rock at a nearby park where the kids play soccer. Ryan always climbs and often asks me to take a picture.  Last time I only had my phone, which takes crummy pictures. 

Playing in the curtains.  Not allowed, and somehow I think he didn't get that message when we chose to admire his cuteness and photograph him doing it.