A Trip to Space with Boa Constrictors

On the most beautiful day of the year - or so it felt, my boys wanted to go to the Science Center.  And, since it's air conditioned, I said yes.

We got late start, but by noon we were filled full with lunch and then launched into outer space.  The boys typically go to the space exhibit first.  And then the bugs.  There are so many creepy, yet fascinating bugs on this planet.  I'm glad they are in cages when I see them.

The boys got a serious kick out of feeding time for the naked mole rats.  In their series of tubes to travel, there were carrots, what looked like potatoes, and a toilet paper roll.  The rats were determined to pull the toilet paper roll through their tube.  The pulling rat get trampled by the others as they hustled by and over straight through the toilet paper roll to get some more carrots.  Then trampled again as the carrots traveled back to the preferred eating spots.  It was quite comical.  They probably could've watched it all day.

We missed the feeding time of the boa constrictor, which I thought would be seriously cool.  (If a little grotesque.)  The boys love snakes, bugs, strange creatures of all sorts.  Of course they do.  Luckily, I don't mind them either if they are, in fact, in heavily guarded and locked cages.

I will not, for the record, never go camping in Australia.  They have the freakiest, most massive bugs there I've ever seen.  The science museum there was filled with bugs the size of my head.  No thanks.  I'm sure it's beautiful, but I'll stay in a hotel.

The boys do always want to go see the butterflies.  They are so effortless and fascinating.  (That is, of course, after they go through what must be a strange and uncomfortable metamorphosis... analogy for our lives too... but anyway.)  The butterflies WOW!  And so do the koi.

We did all the puzzles and played a game of big chess.  I still don't know how to get a farmer, his chicken, a fox, and corn across a river without each thing eating the other.  Google didn't even help me with that one.  I found other versions of the game, but no answers.  If YOU know the answer to the "Crossing the River" game, please enlighten me.  The boys, the other random kids who tried it, and I am stumped.

Worth 1000 words

Here are just a few pictures of our summer!  

First, the garden, which is now much more out of control.  

We have lots of lettuce, peas, raspberries, and strawberries. 

Very fun to feel like I don't have to go to the store when I need something.

Lego contraptions: this is a clock.  These legos have been THE best!  

Graeme's getting big!  He tried BMX practice on Wednesday... enough to get suited up and go to the start line.  Then it was a little too intimidating and he decided to try it another day.

This is Graeme at the Field Day at Gavin's school.  It was really cute because this 4th grader behind him adopted him to show him around for the first few activities.  Pretty fun!

Gavin came out one morning stating: I made my Halloween costume!  

Awesome!  Looks good!  I'm not sure what it is, but if I don't have to make it... it's perfect.

The boys on a recent hike at the lake.  

A wonderful thinking spot!

A picture of our mornings

The sky was SO beautiful this morning when I went to the studio for my yoga class.  It never looks as good in a picture, but this comes close.  It's great to have a cool, sunny morning after a few days of rain.  

Today my goal is to run the boys and find a workout for myself (among other business-y goals for myself).  We are checking out a new place (new to us) that's a trampoline jumping deal for kids.  I'm guessing they will LOVE it!  But, since it's gorgeous out too, we'll go to a park and bike a bit.  

Thus far, summer has been pretty lazy.  We've had lots of mornings where the boys stay in jammies, playing trains, legos, and reading stories.  (I tend to get some work done those mornings, so it's easy for me to just let them play.)  I recently checked out Pippi Longstocking from the library - it's a pretty big book.  Gavin grabbed it and read it in one sitting.  Now he's reading it again.  

The problem with this, though, is that he's now silent reading.  He doesn't like reading out loud much, so Graeme doesn't get the benefit of the story.  I'll have to read it again with him... but the point is the reading doesn't entertain both boys at once like it used to.  We may have to just institute summer reading time where all of us get to read for 30 minutes on our own.  Hmmm... sounds good.

We've also done some "clean water science" from a kit we got for Christmas.  The boys enjoyed it, though I think they were hoping for something more exciting than clean water. I did try to explain the importance of clean water and that not everyone in the world has that, so we need to appreciate it.  But my explanation was a little lost on them.  They love science though and, as long as there's not too much effort involved, I love to play along and orchestrate their experiments.

Jewels in our backyard!!

Yesterday the boys found "jewels" in one of the bigger rocks in our backyard.  They noticed the shiny bits and were determined to dig up the rock, drill out the jewels and make me a necklace.  I thought I'd share a bit of the conversation.

Gavin and Graeme (running up stairs): Mummy!  We found jewels in the backyard!!  Real jewels!  They are shining in the sun!  Come see!  Come see!

Me: Awesome!  I'm coming!  (I go down to look.  And, yes, there are sparkly flecks in a rock.)

Boys: We have to dig them out!

Graeme: I'll wash them off to see them better.  (Gets hose.)

Gavin: Mummy, we need to dig up this rock.  I need the shovel.  Then, when I get my tool box from Santa (he's asked for a tool box for Christmas already), I can drill out the jewels and make you a necklace!

Me: Well, this rock is part of the bike track, so I don't know if Daddy will want you to dig it up.  How about we just enjoy the jewels inside the rock?  It'll be like our backyard is a treasure hunt.

Gavin: Well, Mummy, we really need to dig out the jewels.  If we don't dig them out, then no jewels for you.  Which would you rather have, a rock in the backyard or beautiful jewels?  What if they are diamonds?  Then we wouldn't need to go to Diamond State Park in Arizona because we have jewels right here!

(He read somewhere about Diamond State Park in Arizona somewhere where "for a small fee" you can keep any diamonds you find. He's been asking to go for a few months.)

Me: Maybe buddy, but I still think you should ask daddy.

(Meanwhile, Graeme is diligently hosing off rock.)

Gavin: Well, Mummy, don't you want the jewels?  Which would you choose, going to Arizona where its probably WAY too hot, or just, like, digging up this rock in your backyard?  (Astonished at the ease of having jewels so close!)  Which do you want?  I'm mean if we have to go to Arizona, then it'll be really hot and, you know, take a long time.  When we have jewels right in our backyard!  So, I really need to get the shovel and dig up the rock.

Graeme (running up the stairs): I'm gonna start the letter to Santa, so we can get the tool box.  Then we can drill out the jewels.

Gavin: We could call the news station and tell them!  Then the newspeople would come and take pictures and put it on TV and everyone would know that we found jewels!  So, really, Mummy.  What's your choice?  Go to somewhere really too hot or just dig out this rock?  It's such a great discovery!

And then it continued... for about a half hour until I convinced them to wait till Craig got home to ask about digging up the rock.  So they waited in the front yard for him to get home.  For another half hour.


And we had a very similar conversation again.

I LOVE their enthusiasm!

(And Gavin just read part of this post.  So he's talking about it again.  Maybe I should call the news.)

Father's Day Fun

Is it really almost summer?  Tomorrow is the last day of Kindergarten for Gavin.  He'll be a first grader.  That's crazy.  He's quite excited for the lazy days of summer.  Mostly because he thinks he'll be able to play with his electric train the whole time.  We might mix in some other stuff too... like actually being outside!

This Father's Day we did a little train time with grandparents at Stewart Farm, White Rock, BC.  The boys loved it!  The G scale trains mesmerize, and give them too many ideas for train tracks and rails in our backyard.  Seriously, they could watch trains go round and round forever.  It is kind of fun and the steam engines are particularly impressive.

We also spent some time exploring Crescent Beach.  A great way to welcome better weather, though I realize I need to invest in new beach toys.  The cracked bucket I have from last year isn't going to cut it.  

"There's someone in there!"

Checking out the beached hermit crabs moving slowly in the sand.  

Graeme insisted on taking a few home.  

I'm afraid they didn't fair so well.

I think everyone is ready for a little more sunshine and beach time.  We'll have to clear out some space to hold the boys' collections of beach finds.  They are all, of course, "precious"!

Guess what we found!

Well, Graeme, actually.  He's the finder.  The finder of all things interesting and potentially gooey.  On the walk to school today, he informed me that he had a "wet" side and a "dry" side.  Each hand, that is.

In the "wet" hand,  lived two snails (one large, one small) and an earthworm rescued from the middle of the street.  The "dry" hand held two rolly polly bugs and a baby maple tree sprout.

Once we got home he plated the tree in a pot and transferred all the bugs into his bug catcher.  (Best couple bucks I've spent!)  Both boys have been obsessed with bugs (well, forever), but since I got them new bug kits with catching tools!  Hours of mummy-free entertainment.  Wonderful independence!

We also had a  different friend, Ted, come visit us this morning.  Apparently, he's fond of bird seed.

Next up... Broadway!

Last night, we all watched Gavin's debut on stage... a "Bugs Life" musical with his kindergarten class.  He was a firefly, which was the most fun part apparently because they got two glow sticks to keep.

The first time his teacher mentioned the play, Gavin was less than excited.  He may have even hid under a table when we tried to get his to initially practice his lines.  (There were four.)  We went a little old school and made him write them out ten times.  But he learned them... and did a great job last night.

Though he was nervous and said he didn't want to go, once we got to school he raced off to his classroom to get in costume.  We're not really expecting Broadway in his future... unless of course there's a musical about trains.  (Little does he realize that they do a play every year.)

Just for the record...

Gavin says tonight: "Mummy, I'm a very calm kid.  I'm done with all the fussiness and stuff.  My trains are really calming."  Maybe the train obsession is helping mellow out my spirited kiddo.  But, you all heard it too!  He's done with the fussiness.  That is fantastic to hear.

Graeme's quote for the evening?  "We have two pockets in our cheeks that hold the love for blowing kisses!"  (Followed by blown kiss, of course.)

I know every mum thinks her kids are the greatest, but seriously.  So cute.  I'm glad they have a balance of go-go-go and stopping to smell the flowers.  (Though, some days that makes the walks to school really slow.)

That's all I've got for now... in effort to write more regularly.  And record all the cute comments that would otherwise be forgotten.

is any body out there?

Man, I can't believe that its been half a year since I posted any pictures of my gorgeous children.  I mean, really, how are you all surviving??  (Oh, right, you have lives of your own.  ;)  I think once a task becomes too big - like, how can I recap 6 months in a cute, witty post? - then, I just don't want to do it at all.  Ever feel like that?

So, here goes.  I'll post pictures and use the excuse that I've been doing my best to just soak up the boys' sweetness, the sunshine when it arrives, and enjoy the moment.  The moments look like this... oh, and if you didn't get a holiday card from us, that's because none went out.  Hopefully next year I'll plan ahead.

Gavin's class pet, Bobo, went biking with us.  

Graeme has perfected his "cheese" smile.

Hike complete with walking stick and Jr. Ranger collecting vest.

Ice skating at Christmas... closest we got to a Christmas picture...

and then fun in Mexico, even though we got scolded for missing too much school.

And Gavin turns SIX!! 

I attempted a cupcake train cake, 

which looked great until Craig noted that the train was actually backward.  

Oh well, it still tasted good.

If you've made it this far, we love you.  You must really care about us!  

Other notable moments, Graeme started riding a pedal bike. Awesome! 

Both boys are still obsessed with trains.  A little less awesome, but manageable.

Craig's riding to work now most days.  And I'm still teaching yoga every morning.  

That's been our life for the last 6 months. 

We've enjoyed it, hope you did too.

Moving on to what's ahead... and he's running which is why you can't see his leg.

What's up my sleeves?

You are busy, especially this time of year.  So you may not have noticed my absence.  But I notice.  And here's the reason: I've been cheating on my blog.  Lately I've been devoting my extra brain space to developing my yoga and life coaching business.  My mission is to bring wellness, joy, and radiance to women who want to enjoy their beautiful lives, but who - right now - haven't got the space to catch their breath.  Creating space in your life for YOU can take a little work, and I want to help. 

If you haven't seen it already, I've created a Facebook page for Cara Maclean Yoga:

http://www.facebook.com/caramacleanyoga

It would be lovely (and I would really appreciate it) if you would "like" my page and share it with women who you think might like it as well.  So far I've been posting links to useful articles on yoga and wellness.  In the future, hopefully soon, I'll have some yoga videos too, so you can get your move on too!

So, get in on the biz side of my life while I'm just starting out, then you'll be helping me immensely and getting some zen for yourself.  My goal is to launch a proper website in January, so please send me good technology vibes too!  I'll need them.  Thank you for your support!

(And, yes, I do realize I don't have any "sleeves" in this picture, but you get what I mean.)

I'm Thankful For...

Well, this is a first.  Listening to the boys play together this afternoon, I'm hearing the words "Star Wars, rocket ship, and war."  Hmmm... (insert grumpy face)... still fairly benign, thankfully, but it might be a sign that they are, in fact, little boys who may not always be content learning names of plants and flowers.  In any case, we've had a lovely last few months even though I've neglected (yet again) to post anything.

If you're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you a day (and a lifetime) full of gratitude for who you are, what you bring to the world, and everything that graces your life.  Here's a peek into what I'm grateful for this year.

Creative kiddos in cozy jams.

That Gavin is beginning to smile like a normal human in pictures.

That one day I will get a picture of the front of Graeme's face.  Someday.

My lovely sister and our family.  Kids rockin' it out in the tube.

Getting cousins together.  And, again, almost the front of Graeme's face.

Train diversions on our long road trip home from Utah.  (Thank you to Mom and Dad for hosting all of us!!)  And that the boys were SO excite by two little train erasers, below, that it bought us an hour or so of content quiet time in the car while they played.

Overall, Fall has been wonderful.  Gavin's enjoying school and I've got the boys in swimming and ice skating again.  (Pictures coming.)  There are so many things and people and lessons to be grateful for... so much so that I bought myself a new gratitude journal today.  This, however, begs the question: when does one retire a journal?  I've got a few and can never seem to let them go unless they are complete.  Not a bad addiction I suppose.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy!

It takes some time...

The first few days of Kindergarten were challenging.  Gavin didn't quite realize the importance of actually doing what the teacher is asking you to do. 

He didn't feel like counting to 100... until the teacher said it was the last day before the glittery letters went up on the wall for the "100 Club".  Suddenly, it was easy. 

He didn't feel like playing in PE (freeze tag isn't his favorite apparently), so he hid under the table.  Then he realized he wouldn't get picked for teams from that station.  Now he's more engaging.

He didn't feel like coming in for recess - there were still construction trucks to watch after all.  (As they were doing finishing touches to the school and field.)  Now he's first in line.

He didn't feel like participating in Music, so he just laid down.  The teacher let him "nap" off to the side.

And this was just the first two days!  Craig and I were worried.

Luckily, after a few weeks, he's acclimated.  He follows the rules now.  The other kids seem to like him as a few yell, "Gavin!" as he arrives in the morning.  He gets hugs from one of the girls, and one little boy even gave him a hug and then turned to me and said, "I love this guy!"  He earned the class pet, BoBo the Monkey, to take home for the night.

Turns out, he IS a pretty sweet kid.   And he is just 5 after all.

Gavin's First Day!

Today was the first day of Kindergarten for Gavin.  

A little delayed because the school is brand new, rebuilt this summer, and just getting finished.  

Overall, I think he liked it! 

 As we were leaving for school, he showed me (as he does pretty much every time we leave the house) the little baby tree sprouts that we have in our yard.  When we met the teacher on Tuesday, she asked Gavin if he was excited for Kindergarten.  That got a smile and nod.  Then she asked how he was going to go home everyday, to which he responded, "Really excited!"

Here is the enormous backpack he picked out.  The first one he saw.  I wasn't going to argue if he liked it!  It is really cute to see all the kids lined up.  And, Gavin just got right in line and, of course, told the teacher right away that he had an electric train.  Cause, you know, that is the information most needed on the first day of school. 

In his class, there are 14 boys and 8 girls.  

A veteran teacher, thank goodness.

When he saw Graeme and me after school, he ran up to us with a big smile!  He was a little tired, but not exhausted and he seemed in pretty good spirits.  He said he had "a little fun".  And that is enough for me on the first day!  No major drama and as long as he learns when to sit and listen... which we knew would be an issue to start... he'll do quite well.  We're pretty happy parents. 

And it continues...

The train track.  Really.  It's all over the house (via Gavin and Graeme's paper, electric, AND wooden train tracks), and now it's expanded  out the front door, down the stairs, and into the driveway.  They even tried to continue the line into the gravel, but that didn't work so well.  We had a little help from some friends, but the boys drew most of this while I picked the endless supply of weeds in our front yard.  Thought you'd enjoy!  It should last a few days as the rain might stay away for the week.

year of the sunflowers!

After a whole week without the boys, I'm ready for a little more noise and chaos.  They have been at grandma's house, and Craig and I have had the week to ourselves to go out to dinner, go biking, and get a little break.  I vowed not to do any cooking or cleaning.  And, it turns out, I didn't do much gardening either.  

This year the theme for the garden is the Year of the Sunflower.  

They are massive.  Some I think are volunteers and others I planted, but they've never really done all that well in previous years.  I wasn't expecting this.  I think the sunflowers were so established before everything else arrived, they ended up sucking away the nutrients first.  As a result, I have very small tomato plants with tiny tomatoes, and little smatterings of other veggies here and there.  Although, that said, I still think we've had a fair amount to eat from the garden.  And that is always very cool. 

One of the smaller sunflowers.

Happy little cucumber blossom... they are trying their hardest to get some sun and attention from the bees!

      

Tiny beans.  I bet they'll be ready to munch after the weekend.

Here is a picture of the sunflowers.
You can see that they almost reach the height of our deck.  

And there are more to the left of this picture. Seriously crazy.  

I hope the bees don't forget the veggies down below all those flashy flowers.

One thing new this year... potatoes!  This is the first potato I unearthed.  

I felt a little bit like a raccoon looking for dinner, but I found four of these little guys pretty quick. 

They are weird plants though, as it doesn't even seem like the potatoes are connected to the plant.  

They just appear.  It's odd to not be able to see the growth at all.

And then chopped for dinner.  Yum!

As I watered the plants today, I noticed a little brown shuffling something in the strawberry patch.  It got away before I could see what it was... and I'm hoping it wasn't a rat.  Could be, but that would be gross.  There was, however, a very cute furry bird that was perched on the fence close by a few minutes later.  He looked young and not very quick... well, he actually looked like a furry grandpa bird with hair coming out of his ears, but I'm pretty sure he was learning how to fly.  I hoping he was my mystery guest.