Hmmm???

As a parent, I realize that my kids are going to do some things that I think are a bit out there. Even though I may not understand their actions to begin with, I can usually find a reason for them. OCD rocks? Organization and order. Dressing silly. Sure, creativity in the works. Games like Ghosty Baby and Kitty Kitty? Imagination, even if I have no idea what the point or rules of either of these games are. What I don't understand, and maybe someone can help me out with...

Is why on Earth I opened up the freezer today to find a Santa hat filled with frozen baby wipes?

Treasures

For months, any place that we went to Teigue would find the most amazing leaves, flowers, berries and hold on to them for the time that we were at the place. You remember? His treasures? The most beautiful flower that he found under a pile of dead leaves, or the berries tossed on the side of the trail without a glance from any other person that may walk by, the silly crooked stick stuck in a tree. The treasures were always protected (usually by me) and were usually discarded before we left the place we were visiting. In the last couple months, Teigue has upped his game. Flowers and berries are no longer kept- why would they? They fall apart too easily. Sticks? Pffft..give me a break. The only thing that Teigue cares about now- the most amazing rocks, shells and sea glass you have ever seen. But, do you think that we just take these specimens home and be done with it? No, no, no, there is usually a very lengthy (and slightly OCD) guaranty process.

First, the rocks are placed in one's pockets. This will insure that they are most protected throughout the hunt, and almost surely guarantees that they go through a rigorous washing in the washing machine. This last part is very very important.

If a rock is found in the yard, it is simply placed in a cup of water where it will soak for a good day or so. The water is changed daily and the rock is inspected. Notice the fossil that Teigue found in the yard happily soaking in his Iron Man cup. On a given day, no less that 2 rocks can be found soaking throughout the house. In separate cups, however. No water sharing allowed during this step!

Next, the rocks are placed together in a large jar where they will collectively soak. Again, water is changed daily. Sometimes jars are covered, and a few jars can be used for soaking at once.

Very important rocks, such as Teigue's diamond that he found in the back yard (good job, Teigue! Way to pay for that college!), are then wrapped in colored paper, then tissue and finally placed in their own decorative wrapping.

Finally, all rocks are placed in the final resting place- the glass jar. About 2 times a day, the rocks are inspected and possibly soaked. This makes the sea glass more beautiful, the shells happier, and the train table much more wet. 

This whole process is shorted, however, if I find the initial soaking rock and place that rock in the final jar. This shortened step does not seem to affect the rock, thankfully. Notice the condensation on the side of this jar from the constant moisture. High humidity is key!

So, there you have it. In these easy steps, you too can have a glass jar filled with very wet, shiny gems, fossils and $100 sea glass!

Craft Day

Since Teigue has been in school I haven't really done many crafts with the kids. It's mainly because Teigue does art every single day at school and is a little over it by the time that he gets home. Today, I decided to stop the strike and do a really fun activity- a marble painting.

I read about marble painting on one of my favorite blogs, Ohdeedoh. The painting that they showcased actually looked like real art, something that we could hang on the walls and people would Oooh and ahhh! at and wonder what prominate gallery we bought our showpiece at. So, the kids and I got to work. Teigue decided that instead of just doing a few colors, all the colors must be used, and used we did. I filled a muffin tin with the paint and marbles (thankfully we still had a few marbles from Hungry Hungry Hippos that haven't made their way under the couch, hutch or into the yard) to make things cleaner and easier. 

I bought a canvas at Michael's and stapled some cardboard to the side- so the marbles didn't roll off. The kids had a blast getting as much paint on the marbles and throwing the paint on the canvas. Washable paint came in very handy as much of the paint ended up on me.

The kids love how it turned out- Teigue wants it for his room. I love it and it was fun for all of us to do. The kids got dirty and we got a piece of art that doesn't scream Kid! when you look at it. Tomorrow we will be doing a purple and pink one for Stella's room (as if there was any doubt as to what colors Stella would choose for her canvas...)

Helpers

A few years ago we planted a few bamboo plants on the side yard. The goal was to create a natural screen to give us, and our neighbors, some much needed privacy. The kind that we bought was supposed to grow to 25 feet and have culms that were about 3" in diameter- which was perfect for what we needed. It was also perfect in another way- it was called "Teague's Blue"! How could we not love it, and it love us in return by creating a lovely barrier from the wagon wheels and other kitsch that our neighbors just love love love! Well, unfortunately, it did not love us as much as we loved it and never grew taller than 10 feet. So, today Teigue and I headed on up to the nursery and bought some giant bamboo to replace our sad Teague's Blue. Brady dug out the old and put in the new- fighting with concrete footings and old roots. Thankfully he had Teigue and Stella to help.

How did they help? They took all the dirt and put it in a bucket and added lots and lots and lots of water...

Which created a wonderful mud river on the front patio. Which meant that we then had a wonderful mud trail through the house and into the bathroom and into the sink, because you know, soapy fuzzy mud is much cleaner than just regular old boring regular mud.

It is so nice to have two kids that love to help as much as ours do. 

Ugh.

Before kids I was afraid of: 

Spiders

Getting puked and pooped on

Earwax

Tomato Hornworm caterpillars

After kids:

I kill black and brown window spiders daily

Not even an issue (only if you are under 5)

Only if you are my child

Have them as pets

I would like to introduce the newest members of the family- Teigue...

And Stella Bloblahbo Balbo Mr. Stinky

While looking at the tomato plants, i noticed the tell tale evidence that hornworms were on the plants- giant caterpillar poop. I looked and looked over the plants to find the little buggers in order to destroy them. Being the naive parent that I am, I called Teigue over to show him. What did he do? Made it a house. Of course Stella needed one too, and I found another one on a different plant. Ugh. The kids took to parenting a hornworm right away. They picked loads and loads of leaves off the tomatoes and peppers, carried them around in their shirts, kissed them, let them crawl on my kitchen floor, and finally built them the most wonderful high rises above their plastic container homes. 

Unfortunately for Mr. Stinky, he was loved a tad bit too much by one Jayno Fox and let out a bit of green goo. By 9:00 pm he seemed to be on his last leg (his bright green skin was turning an awful shade of brown), so I threw him outside to burrow in the ground- you know in order for him to build his cocoon in order to become a sphinx moth. When Jayno woke up this morning she instantly asked for Mr. Stinky. When I told her how he turned into a sphinx moth she was, as any mother would be, very very upset. Thankfully we went outside and discovered that Mr. Stinky didn't turn into a moth at all, but a hummingbird! Mr. Stinky was on the patio to say good morning to his mommy early this morning. Teigue's baby Teigue? Still alive and kicking and currently buried under a pile of tomato leaves on the back deck in an open container (his idea, not mine). Hopefully he makes his escape this evening as well.

Just in case you have never seen a hornworm in person (count yourself very lucky, by the way), it is a giant green monster the size of an adult's middle finger. Vile creatures these things are.

Time with Grandma

Last weekend we had a wonderful visit from our lovely Grandma Joanie. It was 4 days worth of mud, beach, coloring, having great stories told to us...basically it just what a weekend with Grandma should be like.

On Friday, we headed on up to Torrey Pines where Grandma was so excited to search the beach for seaglass. Unfortunately she had Teigue along with her. Maybe next time we could drop you off first so you have a better chance of finding the good pieces? Sorry...

We showed off our sweet beach only dance moves. Break it down Jayno!

Grandma tried and tried to get the kids, but they were just too fast for her.

Almost.

On Sunday we brought Daddy along with us, but he didn't bring Grandma any luck in the seaglass department. Sorry...he seemed to be on Teigue's side.

Come back soon Grandma. We can go to the beach while Teigue's in school. 

Big Girl

Guess who took a nap at school today without a night night? Guess who took that nap without fussing and screaming for her night night? Guess who came home and told me that she would go to sleep without it tonight? Guess who fell asleep with only a bit of a fuss for her night night, but was comforted by a back rub?

Guess who are some really happy parents right now. So long pacifiers.