School's Out For Summer ........

Or is it? Yesterday, we were in the truck and somehow A got B to play school. They each had their respective drawing boards and A was getting B to practice writing his letters. As time went on, A was getting more and more frustrated (as she is want to do if things don't go exactly as she has them planned out in her head). She finally reached her boiling point and came out with this classic gem: "B, do you just want to goof around or do you want to try your hardest so that you can get gold stars?"

Several surprises/thoughts/cartoon bubbles immediately popped into Mr. Mom's large cranium:

1) How does A know what gold stars are? Such an antiquated reward system cannot be the Montessori way;

2) A is in for a life of teasing from B;

3) B can push A's buttons like no other;

4) A and B are both very twisted individuals because they both continue to subject themselves to these ongoing battles all day long, everyday; and the most shocking of all

4) B actually replied with "I want gold stars."

Camping Season Kick-off!

We had such a nice time at my parents' land in Wisconsin over Memorial Day weekend. It was Colin's first camping experience, as we did not get the pop-up out once last summer! Does anyone recall why that was? Suffice it to say, we were very glad to get the pop-op popped up and we were off and running with our crazy camping family. Our kids LOVE camping! Colin was mesmerized by the campfire, and insisted on sitting in his own chair like a big boy. The bugs were terrible on Saturday night (our first night), and it probably didn't help that we had the kids take a camp bath in a tub out in the clearing, and exposed all that pretty pink skin ripe for the mosquitoes taking! We went on a nice hike, and all the kids (and mommy) took turns going on an ATV ride with Grandpa. We also went to a nearby beach and enjoyed some swimming and playing in the sand. It was a really nice lake and beach, and it was packed with holiday weekend picnickers! Can't wait for our next camping adventure...

More Memorial Day Pics

Wouldn't you know, we forgot the SLR for our first camping trip, but I did get a few photos with the iPhone. Annalise found a few snails and named the first one Donald, and his partner Evelyn (note the alphabetic progression, picking up right after Colin). We were all set to leave them at the land, but after some fat, rolling tears, decided to bring them home in an empty peanut jar.

Beaver lodge

I mentioned how I like moss, and Bennett proceeded to point it out along our whole hike!

Popcorn snack on the ATV