Stump Removal

The last day of vacation saw the final removal of our mimosa tree.  It has had a slow splitting, cutting down, coming back, and finally has become an eyesore and a danger for children running on our lawn.  Jeff decided that he would remove it over vacation, but it turned out to be an entire vacation project!

This last day of the project became a but Tom Sawyerish when Braeden and his friend Reagan asked to be allowed to fill the hole from the stump in.  They had a great time and we will enjoy more lawn for running!

Play Dates with Allison

Teagan and Allison have been begging for a play date and got two over vacation!  Allison came to our house on Thursday where they spent most of the afternoon outside with a bit of time playing with stuffed animals, trying on Braeden's helmet cover, and a fun game of High School Musical Uno.

On Friday they went to Allison's house.  While there they played outside, played in the hose, and were joined by Allison's friend from across the street, Katie.

A great time was had by all on both days!

Aquarium

This week is school vacation.  Since we are vacationing at home this year (where, presumably, Mom is doing work for her training everyday), we decided to head up to the New England Aquarium in Boston one day.  We picked up discount passes at our library last week and happened to get passes for today which turned out to be beautiful.  

It was 80 degrees in Boston, beautiful and sunny so even standing in line was not bad.  We spent some time exploring the coral reef tank and all the exhibits that surround it, including this beautiful snake statue.  

We went back after a delicious lunch to see the sting rays, some fish, and the sea turtles fed.  We missed  the shark feeding, but still saw a few up close!
There was a jellyfish exhibit.  The problems we are causing with the rest of the marine inhabitants are actually helping the jellyfish!  They are beautiful, but a bit painful to swim with.

Tomato

Did you ever have a tomato that had seeds start growing before the outside rotted?  I could tell this one had (obviously not an organic tomato or it would have worked as nature intended).  Being a flexible mother and a Montessorian, I gave Braeden the tomato, a knife and a cutting board.  I did insist that he go to the outside table to cut the thing open and do his exploring!  

Braeden forgets about the macro setting on the camera, so excuse the out of focus aspect.

Braeden has planted a section of these growths, we'll see what happens!

Earth Day at the farm

Saturday was an Earth Day event at the farm.  Jeff and  the students from school helped with the event, overseeing the craft tables and bringing out the donkeys for people to pet and visit with.  The school is going well, with wonderful interest for next year.  There has been great media interest in the boat the students have been building.  Check out the website, hopefully we have the links up!  MMSCC website

Here is a picture of the boat so far--if it fails as a floating vessel, it does make a wonderful table!

Bringing out the donkey.  Teagan loves these little Bishop's donkeys, they are just the right size for her!  That is James holding on to the donkey while Teagan plays with it.

Teagan's menagerie

Teagan had trouble going to sleep last night, but we told her she needed to stay in bed and try.  When we went up to check on her before bed, we discovered what had occupied her--letting all her stuffed animals share her pillow!

Short hike

This is National Library Week and to celebrate our two closest libraries have a walk from library to library.  Every year something has come up and I have not been able to participate, so this year I put it on my calendar and invited my friend Chrissi and her two kids Taylor and Liam.  

I read that it was a mile and a half, and it was scheduled to take place between 1 and 3.  Jeff told me it could not be that short, but I kept telling him that was what I read.

When Chrissi and I got there there were people with their fancy walking sticks and Camel water packs.  I had a bag of snacks and a water bottle.  Chrissi forgot water.  We also had four kids with us with an age range of 4 to 9.  Then the guide told us it was a 6-7 mile hike and would take three hours, maybe 4.  The hike midpoint was actually within half a mile of our house, so we decided to try, knowing we could call Jeff if we needed to do so.  

The kids ran at the front of the hike, exploring, asking questions, and running back and forth covering twice as much ground as any of us.  Liam was done not too far from the mid point and needed some coaxing, but he did not need to be carried.  The other three were mad when we said we were going to head home!  

So now we know, 3.5 miles (what we ended up doing) is easy for Braeden and Teagan.  

The only down side is that I did not find a tick until the next morning.  I am heading to the doctor with suspicions of Lyme disease.

Picture problems

For some reason I am having trouble uploading pictures right now.  So, I'll add more information as soon as I can get pictures, but a quick overview of our week and weekend.  

On Friday morning Teagan lost her first tooth!  She was so thrilled and thought maybe the tooth fairy would have come while she was at school.  She did not come while Teagan was at school, but did leave a lovely dollar that night.

Friday night we went to Family Bingo at school.  A good time was had by all as usual!

Saturday night Braeden made dinner for us--baked ziti.  He cooks every other week at school and had made baked ziti with Michele one day.  It was delicious!

Jeff had an open house for the Middle School today.  Jeff said it was a success with 9 families stopping by to see the classroom and the farm.

Braeden makes dinner

Braeden made dinner for us tonight.  A delicious baked ziti.  He learned to make it cooking at school with Michele.  I made the salad since that is not something he is likely to add to a meal yet!

It was delicious and the extra sauce on the side was a great idea!

Teagan's lost tooth

Teagan lost her first tooth!  She took a bit of her bagel this morning and her tooth came out with it!  She put it in her tooth fairy box and, although the tooth fairy did not come while she was at school as she hoped she would, she did come at night.