Apple picking

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One of the benefits of having no kids at home is I can volunteer to chaperone more often. Today I had the good fortune to go apple picking with Eve’s class. It’s actually the same place I went with her pre-k class last year. :)

This year a friend (another mother to one of Eve’s classmates) and I drove together and got to do some chatting and catching up with one another. It’s amazing how fast the days go by when everyone has kids and activities and whatnot. Not like the old playgroup days where naps were the only deciding factors. We met the class at the orchard and each parent was assigned a few kids to watch. Eve was THRILLED that she was assigned to me. :)

We followed the owner around, stopping to pick some raspberries, learn about the trees, see a fake apple that’s designed to attract bad bugs (Eve even remembered that from last year) and finally, finally, they got to pick some apples! They were very patient and very eager for that part.

raspberries

The kids were allowed to sample a few golden raspberries. They were so delicious we had to pull the kids away. :)

eve

Eve picking raspberries.

apples

I got some good back-of-head shots today. :) It was a beautiful afternoon.

Each kid got a bag to fill. Eve filled hers with Honey Crisps, which are delicious! She wanted to make a pie this afternoon, but when the time came we ended up wrestling and playing with trains and just being silly for the afternoon. No baking happened. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe we’ll just eat the delicious apples!

Eye update

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Just a quick update for my own purposes. We went to the eye doctor yesterday for Eve’s checkup. She is doing great! She has 20/20 with the glasses on. The doctor said her prescription changed a smidgen, but recommended we not bother getting new glasses until it changes more or until they break or something. Eve chews on the ear pieces sometimes, but otherwise she’s doing great with them and the glasses are holding up well. Lex came with us and had his first experience at the eye doctors. He didn’t get his eyes checked though. The doctor recommended he get them checked next year when I bring her back in. He was pretty interested in the equipment and I was tempted to ask if she could just do it right then, but I didn’t ask and I doubt he would have cooperated. Maybe next year. Maybe not. At least I know Eve is a rockstar at the eye doctor now! :)

Open house

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The kids had open house at school last night. It was pouring rain outside and crowded inside, but we had fun. We started in Eve’s classroom where she showed me all the options for “choice time” and showed me the play kitchen. Lex plopped right down to read a few books. They both ended up playing with these shape pieces and I had to drag them away so we could get to Lex’s room before the end of the night.

In Lex’s room he showed me some projects his class is working on, including raising mealworms as part of the life-cycle unit. He has his own mealworm named Squirmy.

Lex’s hopes and dreams involve learning more about mealworms. He cracks me up! :)

On the way out we stopped at the school counselors table to make emotion faces. Lex actually chose to run around in the gym for awhile, but Eve wanted to make a face. She decided to make a sad face. They were supposed to leave them at school, but she asked if she could take hers home and of course the counselor said ok.

Do you know why he’s sad? (picture Eve with her authoritative way of saying things and her little head bop) Because he’s sick and because he has staples in his head! She cracks me up! :) Her counselors got a good laugh too.

Then we read a fun book in the art room and headed home after the principal announced over the loudspeakers that it was getting late and the teachers were all tired and needed to go home and go to bed.

Spaced out

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I am so spaced out lately. So tired! Alan has been working in the garage until late every night which means we’ve been going to bed past 11pm for over a week now. Not that I couldn’t go to bed without him, but I don’t. I could also go out and help him, but I’m so spaced out lately that I end up just puttering around, mindlessly checking email and tidying. Sigh. I wasted away the entire weekend and was looking forward to have time/energy to get things done during the week but suddenly my week is packed as well. So much for lots of free time with the kids in school! I manage to fill it fast. :)

Superstitious

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It’s a good thing I’m not superstitious! There is a black cat in the neighborhood that regularly crosses my path while I’m out running or driving. Maybe not the smartest cat. And the other day I let the kids do this. :)

Sorry for the sideways video again. Someday I’ll figure out how to rotate video!

Last day of swim lessons

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We survived our busy week! Pancakes for dinner and an empty weekend ahead. Yay!

This week Lex worked on side breathing with his crawl stroke. He also learned the breast stroke. They both practiced diving off the side and Lex learned something along the lines of race diving. Kind of diving in at an angle. It’s cool.

On the last day of swim lessons the kids get a chance to jump off the diving board if they want to. Lex has yet to try, but Eve gave it a shot this past spring and she decided to do it again this time. Lex chose not to again. I signed them both up for lessons again next spring, at the same level. When they came up with their report cards though Lex surprised me by moving up a level! He was super excited! I’m so happy for them both.

line

There’s a long line at the diving board. Most of them are lined up for the low board, not the high board!

in the pool

Last year Lex’s teacher ended his lesson when the kids lined up for the diving board, but this year’s teacher kept in the pool until the end. I appreciated that. He kept swimming and they played a silly game while the other kids went off the diving board. He was almost the last kid out of the pool.

Eve Quotes

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“I can see Virginia with these spectacles on,” said Eve, quite randomly, as we were walking down the street.

Me: “We survived our crazy busy week!”
Eve: “Of course we did! We had air and water and food. That’s all we need!”
(I personally would add a few other items to the “basics” list, like clothes, shelter, and family.)

Pausing mid-story Eve says: “What are those trucks with the hole in the back?”
Me: “Uhh….”
Lex: “Do you mean pick-up trucks?”
Eve: “Oh yes, pick-up trucks!” and she continues on with her story.
That’s what siblings are for!