Rain Gutter Regatta

Tonight was the final summer cub scout activity- the rain gutter regatta. Fuller has been so into soccer the last few weeks that until a few days ago he wasn't even sure he wanted to go. We've had the boat kit for over a month, but he didn't get it made until Saturday(with Grandpa's help) and he painted it just this morning. I guess that a lot of kids must be busy or out of town. They had their smallest ever turn out for scouts- only five boys showed up. Fuller's boat had problems during the first few heats, but did much better once we got some tape and adjusted his sail. He finished 4th- out of 5. His good buddy Ian came in 5th and thought it was so funny that the two of them, the two oldest kids there, did the worst. Fuller said he had fun though, and was glad he came.




On another note- this is what Grayson decided to do with the bucket of lizards I bought him at the zoo.

"The Stench of Discovery"

Our quote for the day! (You Spongebob fans will catch the reference!) I realized the other day that Summer is almost over, and we still have things we haven't done- Like going to the zoo. We had quite a funny time at the zoo. This was my first attempt at going to the zoo with no stroller or wagon, and to my surprise Rowan walked the entire time with no complaints about being tired. I guess they are growing up! I also got quite a dose of their boyish humor- all day long. The zoo was a little stinky today, especially the penguins and the elephant area, but any time they smelled something the littlest bit stinky they had to relive their favorite Spongebob moment. Also, we had major giggles over the monkey's rear ends( some of them are quite colorful and hard to ignore!). Grayson started the silliness, and the others just couldn't stop. We rounded out our day with a ride on the zoo train, ice cream cones for everyone, and a little treat from the gift shop.

Blackberries

Yesterday afternoon the boys and I went blackberry picking. They had lots of enthusiasm- for about the first 15 minutes. Rowan actually stayed with me and picked the longest, but he also ate most of what he picked. In the end we had enough berries for one delicious blackberry cobbler, and a small batch of freezer jam. Not bad for an afternoon's work.

a minute with rowan

Guess who's coming to our house tonight

That's right! The Tooth Fairy! After hours of work and a little blood Grayson's tooth finally came out. He still has two other loose ones, and Fuller has three loose teeth. So, I guess the tooth fairy will be coming to our house a lot.

That good feeling

A while back we were driving in the car and Fuller said "Mom, know what my favorite feeling is?" "No Fuller, what's your favorite feeling?" "That feeling when it's cold and rainy outside and we're inside snuggled under a blanket watching a movie."
Yesterday as we were leaving the grocery store we got caught in a major downpour, and I was grumping about being cold and wet. Grayson looked at me and said "At least we get to go home now and get that Good feeling!" Such a glass in half full way of looking at life! With this mid 60's and rainy forecast I think we're going to be getting lots of that good feeling.

reality check

Today has been an especially trying day at our house. Between soccer starting, swimming lessons and a summer with a lot of time spent together, the boys were tired and at each others throats (literally) all day. So much whining, yelling, arguing, and complaining about everything! Also, the neighbor kids who are a pretty much permanent fixture at our house have more than out worn their welcome. I decided that a trip to the park was just the thing we needed, a change of scenery and a break from our constant companions. Unfortunately our trip to the park was marred by a group of Jr. juvenile delinquints. I'm guessing this group of boys to be in the 11-13 age range. Language so foul you'd think they were sailors, and bad behavior on top of it. I'm usually one to mind my own business, but I yelled at them to knock off what they were doing not once, but twice. When it became clear that they obviously don't care that some random grown up is calling them on their behavior I decided it was time to go. As luck would have it a car pulled into the park's parking lot just as we were leaving, and one of the kids in this group ran to get in. I drove my car back over to where it was and talked to the woman driving. She happened to be this boys mother, and lets just say she was none too happy to get my report of what he and his friends were up to. I have a feeling this kids evening wasn't going to be very pleasant. So much for me minding my own business. I hope she knows the parents of those other kids and spreads the word of their misdeeds. When we got home the neighbor kids who had previously been driving me nuts looked nice and sweet, and as for my own boys, the best kids you could ever hope for!

Backpacks and pencils and glue sticks,oh my!

This is what it now takes to outfit a fifth grader and a first grader for school! Holy cow! And this doesn't even include shoes and clothes!

Nature's bounty

This weekend Paul and the boys stopped and picked some blackberries on their way back from taking Buster for a swim. These were great just plain, but then Paul baked them into the most delicious pie! Then this morning the boys and I found some real treasures in the garden; zuccini, yellow squash, tomatoes, beans, and even a cute little green frog! Now if only it would get above 70 degrees it would be a perfect summer day.
And of course they couldn't resist trying to make the vegetables into weapons!

Also, I have told some people this story, but thought it was cute. The other day I was talking with Rowan and I asked him what my name was. He said "Mommy". I said what's my other name? He said our last name. So I said "what does daddy call me? " He thought for a quick second and then said "Sir".

I can't believe he's 7

My little Grayson is growing up. He is still full of mischief and silliness, but he's starting to seem a bit older. When I look at those sparkly blue eyes and that impish grin, I just know that that marvelous brain of his is working overtime. In an attempt to capture a bit of who he is right now, I asked him a series of questions this morning. Here is a glimpse into Grayson at 7.

-Favorite food- homemade macaroni and cheese
-Favorite restaurant- El Burrito Loco
-Favorite TV show- Spongebob
-Favorite movie- Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets
-Favorite thing to do- Go to the park/ swim
-Best friend- Jillise and Buster
-Favorite game- chess
-Favorite toy- game cube
-What makes you laugh- being tickled by Fuller
-Favorite color - dark blue
-What is the most important thing you learned when you were 6: How to do
different swimming strokes
-What do you hate- having to clean my room
- What do you hope to get for your birthday? GI joe guys, pokemon game for gameboy









In honor of Grayson's birthday we started our day off with Cookie Crisp cereal. I pretty much never buy sugar cereal, but last year Grayson talked me into letting the birthday kid pick whatever they wanted for breakfast, and so now this has become a tradition. Then we had a full day of swimming lessons, going to the store to get his cake (he told 3 perfect strangers that it was his birthday- I wish I was still that excited about my birthdays!), playing with friends, and then off to CHUCK E CHEESE.




After what seemed like an eternity at CHUCK E CHEESE Grayson pronounced it his best birthday ever, and we went home for cake and presents. Grayson had such a hard time falling asleep after all of that birthday excitement. He had lined all his presents up next to his bed and when I would check on him he quickly pointed out that he wasn't playing with them, just looking.

I was thinking during the day about what I want to remember about Grayson at this age, and being the kid that he is, he provided me with a perfect example of his personality. We were out playing in the backyard when Grayson noticed that Buster was doing something funny. He went to investigate and discovered that Buster had a BIG grasshopper in his mouth, that was still alive. Grayson instantly stuck his hand in Buster's mouth to save the poor bug. He carefully checked it out and sadly noted that it's leg was broken. But ever hopeful for it's well being he set it free in a safe place. Then looking at Buster he apparently felt bad for having taken something away from Buster, so he went off to find him a treat. His love an compassion for the animal kingdom just keeps growing! He is quite a wonderful boy!

Great Oregon Steam Up

Yesterday my parents treated the boys and I to a fun day at the Great Oregon Steam Up( poor Paul had to work). I had been to this event years ago with Fuller, but the little boys had never been. It is an amazing display of old steam powered vehicles and machines. The boys were most impressed with the one that was cranking out ice cream and the huge bubble blower. They also thoroughly enjoyed the miniature train ride, which was free, but had a long line. The only real draw back to this event is that it is quite loud. But if you enjoy the sound of loud steam whistles, I guess this wouldn't be a drawback at all. In the afternoon they have a big parade of the machines all the way through the event. Grayson said this was his favorite part, even though it got really long and we ended up leaving before it was over. You can tell that the guys who own and maintain these big beasts really love their hobby, which makes it so neat for the rest of us to watch.

The best $150 we ever spent

Half way there

Today the boys reached the half way mark on the library's summer reading program, so we had to make a trip there for them to pick up their T shirts. Taking all three of them to the Library is thankfully becoming much less of a spectacle. Fuller and Grayson pretty much just quietly look for books, but Rowan still seems to feel some kind of need to fill the silence. As people who know Rowan will attest, loud is his permanent volume setting. Fuller has been dragging his feet on reading this summer, but I think seeing many of his friends' names up on the "finished" wall may have given him the kick he needed. Now if I could only convince him to read something other than SPORTS ILLUSTRATED or his STAR WARS encyclopedia. I guess that I should just be happy that he's reading, but I foolishly bought several of the books off of the recommended summer reading list that his school sent home, and I'd like it if he read at least one or two of them.