Easter Confessions and Ean Rides with No Training Wheels!

I have never dyed eggs. There I said it. It seems I may be close to being the only person who has not so when I saw a Ukrainian Egg Dying Kit on sale I grabbed it. Then I asked Brian if he knew how. Silly me of course he did. He is full of surprises. Apparently his mom taught them. So in the last week I learned how to "blow an egg out" (ie: make holes on either end, stick a skinny skewer in to break the yolk and then blow on one end--thus expelling the egg guts). The boys loved it but refused to try (as did I) so kudoes to Brian for blowing out 1/2 dozen eggs for us.

 

Of course being the good homeschooling mom that I am we did get one book out form the library on the Ukraine so we could learn more about the country that "invented" Pysanky. We also watched a few youtube videoes on the history of pysanky as well as an excellent "how to" video. The it was time to dye eggs!  We had a blast and have decided we are going to date these and save them and do more every year....what a great idea (we'll see if it happens or it the eggs survive). Oh and Gabe and Jaden took almost all the egg dying action shots!

the precious yellow egg--Ean loves yellow

     

drying in the sun

all done!

We also enjoyed the few days of spring we had last week. (Now its back to winter with freezing wind chills but really I love the battle of the seasons because Spring does eventually win--and if not then summer does) Ean learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. It was awesome. He asked several weeks ago for us to take off his training wheels. He tried riding a few times got scared and quit. This weekend Ben pulled out Ean's old bike and tried to ride it. Ean tried to teach him how to pedal. The Ean decided the best way to teach Ben was to get on his bike and show him. So he did. And that was that. It was done. He is amazing. Although there was one great classic little kid learns to ride his bike video. I am going to share it here and dedicate it to my brother and the dump truck.

  

Summer's Curtain Call

I know its been a while. We have been busy savoring the last scenes of summer--the wonderful ending and beginning, the in between seasons time--where it seems one day is summer and the next is Fall. This last month we have savored I think more thankfully than prior summers as we spent most of our summer sick. ( Honestly, I do not think we as a family started summer till August)...such a shame where summer is so short. But we are so incredibly thankful...

for awesome farms to play at...

did I mention I want a baby goat? I am so in love with this little one. I want one--silly city of Auburn doesn't allow "hooved" creatures within city limits...ah well a girl can dream...

Oh and this has been our month long project: Monarchs!! The boys started canvassing the milkweed patch down the road about mid-August. They did this everyday for about two weeks and we became the proud parents of 10 monarch caterpillars. We have loved watching them munch and grow and then turn into a chrysalis and then burst open.  We have learned so much---for instance did you know they do not "weave" their chrysalis? In fact their skin splits open and the green chrysalis emerges as the old caterpillar skin is folded in.

the last caterpillar--shortly after this photo she ventured up to the netting and spun her hook, hung herself in a "J" and just this morning finally changed into a chrysalis. 

The monarchs that emerge in the next few weeks will be the ones that make a long trek--they fly to Mexico for the winter and then return to lay eggs in the spring. It blows my mind when I think of these beautiful, fragile butterflies flying thousands of miles. It makes me feel such awe for our Creator.

I adore sunflowers. We grow them every year and I have passed that love to my boys. I love the vibrant color and the amazing seed patterns.

the most recent monarch to emerge...

Christmas in July

So we got to enjoy a little bit o' Christmas this past Monday--yes in July. Thanks to my brother and sis in law (Kevin and Katie) we spent a wonderful day at York's Wild Kingdom--zoo, amusement rides followed by the beach....so here is my Thankful Thursday list in pictures..( I know it was Monday but it takes me a while to write posts and really I am still thankful on Thursday for our wonderful day on Monday) I am thankful for....

soft white ducks

friendly deer

very silly prairie dogs

African Grey Parrots

Pink Parakeets

Owl Moths

that they believed me when I said the tortoises were wrestling...

that Gabe was completely freaking out about my steering abilities
and thought I was going to sink the paddle boat...or worse  -run over a duck

Kiddie bumper boats

Brian having the day off

First carousel rides

bumper cars that make you realize how big your kid has gotten when he can drive himself with an "under 48 inches" passenger..yikes..when did that happen?

karate kicking waves after a long day at the zoo and amusement park

hope of catching a seagull

or maybe just the fun in chasing them

for the rocky outcrop that was fun to explore

New friends at the beach...

crabs!!!!

 So what are you thankful for?

Summer Weekends....