Welcome Summer Fun!

The weather this week has been absolutely perfect!

Cool mornings, not too hot, extra time.  We made it a tour de parks.  Each day we spent time at a different park playing and playing and playing.  I finished reading most of Les Miserables.  Monday we went to Fowler.  Tuesday we went to Jonny Appleseed Park and Northside Park.  Wednesday we went to Franke park.  

Fowler Park was a new one for us.  I had some interesting observations of the kids while there, especially of Viv's extra observant flirtatious manners.  Oh my, gotta keep watching that one.

 Thursday we mixed it up a little, thanks to a suggestion from a friend, and went strawberry picking!  A little farm in Leo lets you pick your own strawberries for $1.29 a pound.  The kids each had a bucket and a friends and a whole field of strawberries.  I tried to stay close to them and had to keep jumping up my rows.  I filled two buckets of very red strawberries; I was very picky realizing I would probably have to balance out the flavor of the mostly red but partially white strawberries from the kids' buckets.  They all did fantastic!  We then spent the afternoon making strawberry jam with our friends and went home with 26 jars!  We found the best pectin ever (Pomona's Universal Pectin) which allows you to use as much or as little sweetener as you want.  I was grateful for the low sugar content on Friday morning when the kids smeared one whole jar on their toasts!  It was just like giving them fresh strawberries.  So delicious. I am so excited for a new canning season and having my own produce on my shelves and in the kids bellies.

Faith, Danny, and Viv were through the field with their buddies bending and picking and playing.

Tara is s super mom who takes her kids picking every year, this year she has a 6 mo old and he sat and tried eating the strawberries and kept getting frustrated that he couldn't quite eat them yet.

 Friday I planned to stay at home to catch up on everything we had been avoiding for the whole week, but we couldn't resist the fine weather and ended up joining more friends at Rockhill park for the morning.  When we got home we got most of the house tidy and then spent the afternoon again in the yard, weeding and watering the garden and playing some more.  With such fine weather we had friends over again to play in the backyard before dinner.

Rockhill Park Faith enjoyed finding a moth as a pet for the last part of the playing.

What a fine introduction to Summer fun!  I hope that I can maintain the carefree attitude that makes us all so happy and exhausted.  I have all winter to clean out the corners of my home, but only one summer to just enjoy playing all day long!  We live a charmed life and this has been a fine start to the summer!

Piano Recitals

This may be more time than you are wanting to waste looking at the internet, but here are the videos of the kids' first piano recital.  Only a parent can really be excited about these pieces because they represent so much progress.  Everyone else in the room is really just waiting for the kid to do something silly, or get too nervous, or otherwise be entertained by the kid itself and not the performance.  A parent also appreciates the value of a kid having to practice and follow through with performing a piece in front of other people, and that is why parents attend these things, so that their kid will get the same nervous fear and hopefully overcome it because like minded parents are doing the same thing.  It is a harmless version of group think.

Danny was first to play his pieces.  He crutched with his teacher in the moment of nervousness, which is his default to completing many tedious tasks.  He had played his pieces at home quite well, as you can tell, they were memorized.  It is cute to see how much concentration it takes to make his fingers move independently. I was really surprised to see Viv be nervous.  As much as her bravado shows that she loves being in the spotlight, it was extremely difficult for her to get through the introduction of her songs.  I was shocked.  Of course my heart went out to her and I was immensely proud that she swallowed down the fear and tears and played her songs magnificently.  She really loves practicing the piano and feeling masterful of her own fingers.  She is the only child that does not groan a bit when asked to practice the piano as part of her morning routine.  Most of the time she practices the piano to get out of doing the rest of her chores.Faith is undoubtedly a natural.  She doesn't have to try hard to succeed at piano.  For her, piano lessons is more about learning to try hard to be better than what is already easy.  While she as playing I could hear her counting quietly to herself.  Playing rythms is the newest part of their learning and she did want to do her ultimate best.  I mentioned to her after that I had heard her counting and was proud that she was being meticulous.  A sly smile slid over her face as she giggled slightly, "You could hear me?  But I was saying it very very quietly."  Mothers will notice everything in the heightened anticipation of their children's success.  She ended her songs and you will see made a quick ballerina curtsey, the exact gesture that the crowd was waiting for. 

I am really proud of my bunch.  They were the youngest and have progressed a great deal in just the four months they have been going to lessons.  I am not the best at keeping them praticing regularly, perhaps that is why we all started young to get better with time.  Originally the idea of piano lessons was an added benefit to having a friend babysit them while I was in class on Thursday, now it is an extremely beautiful blessing for us all.  I am grateful for Jenna's gifts of music and patience that she has shared with us all.  The kids did terrific in their very first piano recital!

Days to Remember

It only takes moments for children to create something which may be deemed disastrous by adults, but to children it is just play.  I am grateful for the mental clarity to remember that I was once a child too and remember doing the very mischievous and creative things that my children are doing now.  They make mud.  They pick forbidden flowers. They build forts all over the house.  They wear five outfits in one day.  They take perfectly organized things and reorganize them.  They play and play and play.  I love them.  Each proud mama moment that is accompanied by a shake of a head and the adage, well, I am sure I did the same thing when I was a kid, brings joy to my days.  These three are more than the 'Three Amigos,' they are perfect partners through every day.  

To accompany their physical shenanigans, there has been a slew of new sayings that have stopped me in my tracks to recognize how far we have come and what amazing individuals they all are:

- While Danny was taking his sweet time to pick out a pair of new underwear from the two packages I had bought for him, and I impatiently requested he move the process along, without moving from his lounging position inspecting the patterns of the briefs he responded "I was just considering which pair I should pick Mom."  Ah. It is something to be considered.

-The latest fad at the Button home as been knock-knock jokes.  I have heard and read more knock-knock jokes over the last month than I had known in a lifetime.  Having tired with the library book versions of the joke format, the kids began experimenting and embellishing their own versions.  Some were nonsense.  Others were variations.  Some had their own sort of satirical humor, such as Viv's favorite for herself, which is a variation on the interrupting cow:  Knock-Knock.  Who's there?  Viv?  Viv who...?  La la la la la.  The satire is in the play on Viv's actually personality - she really does loose interest when asking you a question and diverges into her own singing world before reaching the resolution of the question she first asked you.  Oh my sweet Viv.

- Faith's ballet instructor gave her a mixed CD of music as a gift at completion of the course year.  It contained many of the major ballet music.  Faith was excited to have it played and we popped it into the car immediately.  As she sat listening to the music, poised and relaxed at the same time, she said "Mama.  Certain music makes me have different feelings."  I looked gently in the rearview mirror at my pondering princess and asked how she felt listening to that music.  "Perfectly at peace,"  she responded.   I was happy for the next few moments of the car ride to explore with the children different genres of music and how they made us feel.  How perceptive they are.

-  On a bright afternoon I was doing yard work in the front yard.  Any time I am working in the front yard it is an invitation to the kids to ride scooters or bikes.  This day Danny had tired from riding his bike (he had finally figured out how to get himself started on his own which may have exhausted the mental capacities earlier than usual but I was might proud) and commenced kicking limbs around nearby me as I was trying to de-beard my tree.  Generally my best helper, I asked Danny to please retrieve my pruning shears from the porch.  He casually kicked his legs and said half committed "You've got legs Mom, you get them yourself."  A bit of indignant pride flashed over my nerves a moment before I recognized the phrase, my phrase, as it was repeated verbatim to me.  It was well deserved and I chuckled at my boy for having caught on to my own lazy schemes.  He ended up getting the shears eventually, after we laughed together. 

First Performance

 Spring brings new beginnings and lots of recitals.  For our family, recitals are a new thing.  Faith had her first recital with the Fort Wayne Ballet company.  As we discussed what was coming up, her eyes glowed and she bounced slightly with excitement.  She whispered in hushed exuberance "Mama, this will be my first performance!"  I was likewise thrilled to watch her develop into a very poised ballerina.  In the quiet moments of observation she was precisely as she should be, a ballerina.

 During the dress rehearsal on Wednesday night they allowed the parents to take as many photos as they liked because all electronics were banned on performance night (as they should be).  During rehearsal Faith was focused and lovely.  I worried a little to see that her concentration tongue was still sneaking out from time to time.  However, by Thursday night she had mastered her mouth and preformed perfectly.  We had lovely seats and enjoyed seeing the showcase of all the students from age 3 to 17.  It is a very exciting future for Faith, if she chooses to continue (which I think she will).

 Her class was larger during the year but only 4 girls could participate for the recital.  The ballet company does a wonderful job of keeping things professional and cost effective.  They have the girls be in leotards and tights and then supply the tutus at the performance.  They slide tutus from one group of kids to the next and clip flowers in their hair as they are ready to go out.  No costly costumes or extravagant sequins.  It was simple, and simply lovely

 Faiths sense of importance was heightened by the fact that she was to dance on the very same stage that I had just finished performing on.  We had several conversations throughout the week about what 'wings' and 'flys' and 'green room' all meant as them became more of a reality for her.

My mommy and Me

What a happy coincidence it was that Mother's Day weekend held such wonderful fun.  It was the opening weekend of Cinderella so my folks and my sister came into town and I had my Mother with me on Mother's Day!  I was reminded of everything wonderful about my mom as I came home from a disappointing call back audition for Les Mis on Wenesday when she was still with us and found her in the kitchen cleaning up, waiting up.  Just as she had done all those many years when I was a girl.  A mother never really rests until she knows all her little ones (or bigger ones) are home safe and happy.  My husband had even gone to bed and wandered out sleepy eyed as he heard me talking with my Mom.  My lil sis put together a lovely memories album for Mom from all the kids and it arrived at my house so I could see it. 

Having Grammie and Grampie in town always helps us to get out and about and really enjoy or city.  We had regular excursions as well as the funderful times at home working on projects.  Grampie was a super helper and finished out the kids' playhouse, which we call "the roost."  They play in it every day.

We visited the Science Center and the Zoo.

 We finally went to the coveted "Putt Putt" minature golf that is on the route to gymnastics.  The kids have been begging to go there for months but we timed it just right to go with the Grands.

 For Mother's Day Josh got me a Troy Bilt rototiller and a truck load of peat moss that we put to good use creating and planting a garden during the best planting days.  It has been just a week and already I have sprouts popping happily out of my lovely garden.  We did edible landscaping around the front parts of the house since I need more food for the family and can't afford landscaping this year.  We cut out a side bed along the house for corn and sunflowers and Grammie transplanted the grass back along some of the tromping grounds in the back yard.  I am thrilled with all of it.

 I loved watching the kids plant alongside my parents.  That is how I learned my love for dirt, seeds, things that grow, and the hard work of my parents.  It was the first love of industrious fun.  And my parents have passed it on to another generation.

Impossible things are happening every day

Greetings from Her Royal Highness Queen Constantina Charlotte Ermintrude Gwinyvere Maisie Marguerite Anne...

also known as Nancy.

 Yesterday I got done with my first theatrical production in Fort Wayne with the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre.  Back to acting!  I really can't stay away from it long.  It is not only my passion, but my profession.  When asked 'what do you do?' everyone has a profession that helps define them, mine is actress (because unfortunately no one includes homemaker as an occupation anymore, I say that first and then they ask 'no what do you do?').

We did Rogers and Hammerstien's version of 'Cinderella' which has beautiful lyrical music and not the best book.  Some lines are downright awkward.  We made the best of it with a lot of lovely direction from Doug King who knows how to juice a script.

Yes, the Prince, my son, is black and the King was white as well as myself.  You can imagine the creative back stories that emerged within a mixed cast.  I stick to the story that a fairy placed him in an empty crib in the royal chambers after one sad night of realizing we would never have children.  Some of the other stories were decidedly more colorful.  The king was also ten years younger than me and the prince and I were the same age.....impossible you say?  It was a fanciful production and lots of laughs. 

 Best of all, I got a whole new group of friends in Fort Wayne!  During tech Sunday we had the whole cast over for barbeque and enjoyed having them in our home and be part of our family.  I love them all.

Last day of production one of our cast, who is also a professional clown, created balloon gifts for us all.  I, of course, got a crown.  I couldn't figure out how to place it on my wig without popping it so had to wear it around while striking the set to maintain queen status.

As for the next...well....I am in consideration right now for a part in Les Miserables....we shall see what the future holds here in Fort Wayne.

Monday Mutiny

This is only the remains after I had cleared a walking path.

Today I am not so excited to be a parent.  Before I even got out of bed (mind you I am out of bed at 6:10am every morning now)  the kids had already demolished one National Geographic magazine and left all the cut pieces in the direct walking path to the kitchen.  I ignored that so I could go running.

 After a very unfocused breakfast during which the kids continually sprung out of their seated position to smear their breakfast hands all over the window to scream at the birds in the backyard despite me multiple protests, I sent them to the bath.  First, Danny brought the air pump into the tub and made the plastic horse gallop so vigorously around the tub that water had splashed completely out of the tub.  He told me he had washed his hair, yet when he got out there were bubbles in the water and a dry head.  I had to ignore that so I could be prepared for the RS presidency to come over for a meeting.

Then Faith was in the tub - add in tea set and ponies.  She washed all the ponies hair with more than half of the shampoo bottle.  She then complained she had no soap to wash her hair with.  Lay down in the tub since that is where all the soap is apparently. Once out of the tub she and Danny began dancing around like crazies instead of continuing any morning routine.

Then Viv was in the tub.  She stayed in there for the whole hour of my presidency meeting despite being told to get out multiple times.  I don't mind that she soaks and gets clean, but she also emptied out all of Josh's shampoo into the tub as well and her siblings began throwing stuffed animals in at her in order to get her out of the tub.

After bath carnage- none of these things are bath toys.

 Meanwhile Danny and Faith were being distracted from making their bed for 45 minutes because the apparently needed to shred all of their fine clothes from their closet.  I was excited that I had modified their closet to reach their own clothes and dress themselves, until this morning.

It is now 10am and nearly nothing has been accomplished.  I have had a meeting and thrown off my regular reign of order and routine and I don't think I can get it back.  The mutiny has began and nothing can dissuade them from their current course.  They are banding together and all I can see in the future to stop this course is some old fashioned belt whips.  Too bad I don't hit my children.  They have forgotten all the rules I have taught them over six years and I am powerless.  I suppose I shall just pretend this day doesn't exist and eat the full double batch of cookies I made yesterday to pretend that I am not failing as a parent today.