Mother's Day Hike

We had gorgeous weather on Mother's Day, and so we decided to head to the Blue Hills for a family hike.  It was so nice; I really enjoy hiking, especially when the mosquitoes haven't really come out yet.  I could never hike alone though because I have the absolute worst sense of direction EVER, and I often miss the obvious markers on the trails!

Driving to the Blue Hills was interesting.  It is rare for us to all pile into the car with the two dogs; it was a very full minivan!  Kate added to the experience by asking over and over and over and over again, "Where are we going?", "What are we going to do there?", etc.

You can see that Reagan finally has two front teeth!  She lost a front primary tooth when she was only three years old due to injury, and the new tooth is finally growing in; it's weird (but very NICE) to see her with two front teeth after all these years!  Also, doesn't Reagan look so happy in that picture?  It almost looks like she had a great time!!!  Ha ha ha.  Reagan is strong and athletic, but she doesn't like hiking.  She lets everyone know that she is not enjoying it.

This was Kate's very first "hike".  She was carried most of the time, but she did walk a little and I was happy to have her there with us.

 The view from the top; that's Boston in the distance.

I saved this picture for the end so that I could write a little about Kelly.  We weren't going to bring her, even though she LOVES hiking.  Kelly has been limping lately and the vet actually thought she might have had a torn ACL and need surgery.  She was on an anti-inflammatory and the limping went away, but she still appears to have some stiffness in her leg.  As we were packing up to go, Kelly was very excited; she knows what the packs and other hiking items mean, and she was ready to go.  The rest of us piled into the car, ready to leave, but we could hear her crying in the house and we just could not leave without her.  So she came, and she was fine out there, and fortunately, she didn't seem to overdo it because she still seems fine.  She's so funny; I wish I had thought to take a video of her as we approached the exit for the Blue Hills.  She knew exactly where we were and started "screaming" with excitement.  I'm so happy we brought her; it wouldn't be the same without Kelly.

*I was there, really, just the one taking the pictures.  I should have thought to get a picture of myself with the kids since it was Mother's Day.  I never think to make sure I get in pictures.

Here are a few short videos I took during our hike:

This was a great way for us to all spend time together.  I loved it.

N is for Nest - Part Two

The sun was out today (please don't mistake that for warmth because it was windy and not warm at all in the morning, but it wasn't raining) and Kate was finally starting to feel better.  Both of those things worked in our favor as we were able to go for a short walk to look for birds' nests.

I absolutely LOVE that she was looking out of the wrong side of the binoculars.  She is just too cute.

I spotted a few nests, and I tried to point them out to her, but I'm not so sure that she saw any of them.  I pointed them out to her in the pictures later.

We read Two Little Birds by Mary Newell DePalma and revisited our other bird/nest books from last week to finish up our final installment of N is for Nest.

Ice Wreath Update

I was beyond excited this morning when I looked outside and saw a bird pecking away at our ice wreath!  I didn't think the birds would be able to enjoy the goodies until the ice started to melt, but I was wrong!  Birds have strong beaks.

I ran outside in my slippers to get a picture.  This is the best I could do.  I tried to get closer, but the bird flew away.  He/she actually sat in the middle of the wreath at one point; I would have LOVED that picture!!!

A Wreath for the Birds

Kate and Collin put bird seed, oats, cranberries, and water in a bundt pan.

 If you look closely at the above picture, you can see Kate's spoonful of bird seed flying through the air.  Yes, I had to sweep after this!

 I wish she would keep a barrette in her hair; it's always in her eyes!

 We let it freeze, then I ran a little warm water over the back side of the pan until the wreath popped out.

Now it is hanging in our front yard.  It is pretty to look at now, and as it melts, the birds will enjoy it too.

Our Week in Pictures

Collin spent another week (9-3 Monday through Friday) at the Audubon Society for Nature Detectives Camp.  It was similar to the last camp - a lot of hiking, learning about nature and animals, and a few crafts.

Collin made a leaf print tee shirt during his last camp, so he asked the director if he could make one for Katelyn this time - the director was nice enough to let Collin make two shirts.  Collin was so happy!

Collin made another melted crayon wax candle.  I love this one.  

He attached felt handles to the other side of this butterfly.

I made Daphne Oz's coconut milk fudgsicles earlier this week, and I am the only one who likes them!  I have been happily enjoying one each afternoon - they are ALL MINE - ha ha haha ha!

Collin's face says it all - this is gross, Mom!  Reagan said she liked it, but she only had a few licks before she covered it and left it in the freezer where it still sits days later.

 Miranda came over to play with Reagan on Tuesday, and they made melted bead sun catchers.

Reagan gave one of hers to Ellie next door, so she has completed her goal of doing something nice for a neighbor.

Collin and Reagan had a tennis lesson this morning, and Tyler came with us.  I wish we had Tyler there every week - he was a huge help teaching the lesson and a REALLY HUGE help picking up all of the tennis balls at the end of the lesson.  

We weren't even going to go to tennis this morning because Collin had camp at 9 (tennis is at 8), but we started and finished tennis a little early to make it to camp on time.  I am so happy we went.

Tyler has a tennis tournament tomorrow morning and we all plan on going.  I will try to post pictures tomorrow.

This was one of those weeks that I seemed to be driving someone somewhere constantly.  On paper, it doesn't look like I overscheduled any one of the kids this summer, but collectively they have been SO busy that I feel like all I have done is drive all summer.  I am happy that the next few weeks are not as hectic so that we can spend some time relaxing (ha, like I do that) at the pool and enjoying the end of summer.

Camps and a Week in Review

C attended a week long day camp at the Audubon Society.  The theme was Wilderness Skills.

The stairway at the camp is painted to look like the layers of the rainforest.

This is the description from the brochure:  Campers discover how local Native Americans and early colonists lived off the land through hands-on explorations, games, and crafts. Skills may include plant and animal identifications, shelter building, making rope, tools and toys.

They spent most of their time outside, but this is the room where the crafts and other indoor activities took place.

C had a great time hiking, exploring a pond and a bog, learning compass orienteering, learning about and getting to see a real owl,  making crafts, making a candle out of crayon wax, making a leaf print tee shirt, building a shelter in the woods and more.

C really enjoyed the camp.  He had a great time on the hikes and loved building the shelter.  C told me that he wants a compass for his birthday!  I am happy that he enjoyed it so much.  I was a little nervous because this camp was for children between the ages of eight and eleven, and C will not be eight for a few weeks yet (and eleven is so much older than almost eight!), but he fit in just fine.  


T was busy this week too.  He had tennis camp four days, worked out with a trainer at the gym, and worked out with the football team at the high school.  He also went to the movies with friends and is at Dave and Buster's with friends (thanks to Dad who is nice enough to hang out at the mall on a Friday night so the boys can go to the arcade) right now as I type.


R insisted on being busy.  Her friend Karlie came over on Monday, another friend, Allie, came over on Wednesday, and she went to her friend Courtney's house to swim on Thursday.  She also had a tennis lesson this morning and spent some time during the week with Grandma.  


K was a bit under the weather most of the week.  She is much better now.  I took her in to see the pediatrician this afternoon because even though her fever has been gone for two days, she was still very fussy and wasn't eating much.  The doctor we saw thinks she may have had Roseola.  We never noticed a rash, but the doctor said that sometimes the rash comes and goes quickly and is not noticed.  Of course, once we got home from the pediatrician's office, K seemed to be back to herself and ate pasta, half of a plum, and half of a kiwi.  Why does that always happen to me?  I think my kids hear the doctor say they are fine and then they decide it's okay to be fine (even at ten months of age).  


I am happy the weekend is here.  I spent so much time driving this week, that it will be nice to be home.  I am VERY thankful that I had help from my mother-in-law this week!  I would have lived in the car if not for her help!  

Jungle Kids

C and R came up with this on their own this afternoon.  I am so impressed.  I am also totally jealous that I am not a kid.  I don't think this branch would hold my weight.  Ah, kids and summertime, is there anything better?  They have had so much fun outside today.  I love watching them play together.