Dirt Babies

When we were at AGFEST 2010 a couple of weeks ago the kids made Dirt Babies.  Below are the instructions and the results.  I think that kids of all ages might dig this project.

 Things you need :  old stocking legs, dirt, grass seed, jar, various decorative doo-dads

1.  Put large scoop of grass seed in toe of stocking (3 tablespoons or so)
2.  Put about a cup or so of dirt on top of seed
3.  Tie off stocking so you have a ball(trim of excess stocking but leave about  3 inches)
4.  Decorate your dirt baby with face, ears at your whim - hat's not recommended
5.  Put dirt baby in a jar with mouth just small enough for dirt baby to rest on and  tail should be in water (photo should clarify this direction)
6.  watch and be amazed!
7. Then your babies will need haircuts

One week after haircut!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 The garden is beginning to take shape, hooray!   Today we got garlic, onions, peppers and cosmos planted.  The sunflower seeds have sprouted and we still have lettuce, spinach, and tomato starts to get in the ground.  And let's not forget the pumpkin and cucumber seeds still awaiting their earthy new home.  For those of you who have seen our yard, you must be wondering just where all these plants are going... trust me we are too! 

I put the peppers in pots and plan to do the same with the lettuce and spinach.  The garlic and onions have taken over the bed by the front door... mmm won't that be a fragrant greeting for our guests.  tee hee.  At least we'll keep Dracula and all his vampire buddies away.  (Patrick and the children have been reading a delightful series of books featuring a bunny named Bunnicula, so the deterent is particularly timely this year.)

 The kids had a great time this morning assisting with the gardening.  Princess L was busy with the watering can and N dug the holes for the garlic and onions.  When it came time to think about where to put the spinach I discovered that they were much more interested in eating the spinach then planting it.  Finally  I convinced them that we could have endless supplies of spinach for the spring/summer, but only if we actually got it planted.  So the nibbling stopped, for now.  I fully expect to find my children eating lettuce and spinach and peas right out of the garden all summer.  And, you'll hear now complaints from me!

Despite my busy schedule at the theater these days we have managed to have some good family outings.  Our most recent outing was to AG FEST 2010.   It was truly a kids paradise.  They took their first pony rides.  "Mom, the ponies today were kind of mellow, next time I want to ride a fast pony." says my daredevil boy, N.    L did ride the pony despite spending the entire car ride to Salem insisting that, "Little girls do not ride ponies.  Little girls do not like ponies.  I won't ride the pony!"  We told her she didn't have to, and this of course prompted a change in attitude, "Little girls DO like to ride ponies!" 

The kids had a blast checking out all the different animals, there were sheep, goats, rabbits, cows, llamas, and horses.   Everyone was encouraged to pet the animals and ask questions.  N was very excited and just couldn't  decide where to start.  L was a little shy at first and spent the first 10 minutes or so in my arms.  As you can see she warmed up, eventually, and had a grand time petting and visiting with the animals.  At every pen she would pick up a piece of hay or some sawdust and try and feed the animals.  I don't think I was ever able to convince her that most animals don't really like saw dust!

As well as animals to see,  there were plenty of hands on activities to do.  N "milked" a wooden cow (which my friend Darcy says sounds like a euphemism for something not so kid friendly!)

  They dug up potatoes (and then buried them again for others to find) they made dirt babies (look for a photo in a week or so) and had ice cream and fresh air.  And that's how I will remember it.  I won't remember the zillion times I had to say, "Stop" or "Wait"  or the 7 seconds of terror I felt when L got out of my eyesight and she wasn't with Patrick.  I won't remember the ache in the small of my back from carrying a three year old around the fairgrounds or the lingering headache I had all day.  I won't remember how crowded it was or the feeling of claustrophobia I got walking around the exhibit hall.  No, I  really will remember the smiles on the kids faces while they had those first pony rides and when we said, "yes, you CAN have an ice cream bar" (even though you've had nilla wafers and a chocolate chip cookie already).  Because those are the moments that really matter.

Super Snap and Captain Bubble

Today was one of those spring days in Oregon when it rains, and rains, and then it pours for awhile and then goes back to more rain. Days like this are hard enough under normal circumstances, but we are currently in the midst of the rehearsal-going-into-performance cycle in our household. Which translates to child speak into Mommy is never home. So when she is home it's all about how much attention can we get from her and how close can we keep our bodies to her before she'll crack under the pressure. Now, I realize that my children are exactly that - children, and they are not equipped with the same understanding of time that adults are. They cannot comprehend the idea that 7 more weeks does not a life time make. In fact soon enough this will be but a blip on the radar. But to them it is an eternity and they want Mommy home now!

So, instead of a day at the park I daydreamed about on our recent glorious Saturday afternoon (I found myself gazing out the window during at least one of Iago's soliloquies - sorry, T0dd) we had a day trapped inside. Before anyone suggests I should have just decked everyone out in our rainy day gear and gone puddle stomping, I'll say it crossed my mind. But, one has the sniffles and one has the case of the three-year old-itis, it just wasn't happening today.

Now, if you ask my children what we did today, they are liable to tell you nothing. And they way they were begging me to play hide and seek (for the 2nd time) this evening you would have thought I hid from them all day leaving them to their own entertainment. To that I say, oh hohoho n-n-n-no. I was in pretty good form today. There was craft time and stories. There was couch pirate ship sailing across the mighty ocean to the undiscovered territory of Toyland. There was breakfast, lunch and a lovely variety of fruit mid-morning snack. There was trains, paper dolls and bed trampoline races. There were more stories, and chores (Oh, yes I made them each put away one pile of clean laundry and pick up their toys when done -the horror!) I'm telling you it was a full day. I was exhausted.... it was only 1:30. Hooray for "rest time"

Rest time used to be called nap time. But nobody naps anymore. They both could use naps, but have declared themselves too old. So it's rest time, it is. Piles of books and sleepy children head to separate rooms and they read. Some days, if we are lucky, L will still fall asleep. But, I think she's too busy listening for N (who gets to watch the clock and come out at the appointed time on his own) to come bounding out of the room. For usually mere moments after he comes tearing out she's right behind asking oh so coyly, "is N up yet?" as if she doesn't see him standing directly in front of her!

This is the time of day when I usually begin to crack. We try to limit the tv/computer time. But on days like today it's so easy to give in when N turns to me with his sweetest smile and says, "May I have computer time, please?" So, to the computer he goes and Miss L is right there beside him and for 30 blissful minutes I sit on the couch reading cheap magazines or detective novels. (Rest time may be for housework or dinner prep, but computer time is lounging time!)

When all is said and done it wasn't a bad day. Oh L got 3 time outs and N sobbed as if the world would end when he couldn't watch a video tonight. But those things go with the territory.

If you ask me my favorite part of the day was making the masks below for "Super Snap" (N) and "Captain Bubble" or "Bug Girl" (L). But as you see in the above photo, I think their favorite part of the day was pretending to be kitties in the yarn used for the mask making.

Oh, and a giant shout out to Patrick for making the biscuits for dinner with the kids. YUMMM!!

I'm three!

I'm three, I'm three, I'm three! Mommy had planned to write this blog on her own, but the truth is I like to do EVERYTHING myself, so I'm doing it. No, I'm serious if mommy or daddy lift me into my car seat I'm gonna just climb back out and get in it myself. If mommy picks out something for me to wear, I'm gonna just toss it back in the drawer and pick out something else. (and usually something much cuter, I might add) Yep, I am an independent gal.

I am enjoying being three. It's like I woke up one day and suddenly I'm a big girl. Mommy says that sometimes this new found independence can make me a bit of a drama queen. I'm not sure what she's talking about, doesn't everyone cry over the details? I mean it is very important how my carrots are sliced (or not sliced depending upon the day). It is a huge deal if I don't get to have PB&J EVERY DAY. If mommy would just learn this then I wouldn't cry on the days she tries to sneak in ham and cheese.

I really enjoy playing with my magnetic paper dolls. I know it can drive mommy crazy when I want her to dress and undress the dolls with me all afternoon. I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm trying to gas-light her with this little game, but really I just love my dolls. My favorite one is Annie. It's most important that she have just the right outfit on when it's time to go to her dance class, and no, it can't be the blue shoes it must be the pink ones...and again it's very important to the happiness of the entire world.

Speaking of dance class I had a wonderful dance party for my birthday. Did you know that I am really Angelina Ballerina? It's true. I love to spin and twirl and dance around the house in my tutu. I also love to throw in pratfalls from time to time. It's okay, I'm good at pratfalls (l learned them from my big brother N. He's the best) so I never get hurt. I hope I get to take dance classes this summer.

N and I are learning how to play together. Sometimes we fight and I'm not as good as sharing as he is, but hey I've only be three for a couple of months now. There's a lot on my plate these days. Some days I want to do whatever it is that N is doing. I like to play with his trains, I'll eat whatever he's eating, play tag or sit quietly reading on the couch with him. I think that some days I bother N, but it's just because I love him so much and he's my best friend.

Mommy interjects here. N had a bad day a few weeks ago when he and a school chum were having a communication troubles over the term "best friend". This is the conversation that Daddy overheard in the car are the way home:

L "it's okay N you're my best friend, right?"
N "Right, and you're mine."

I enjoy painting and coloring and all kinds of crafts. If I could I would have craft day every day, especially if Mommy would let me use scissors and markers all the time. That would be soooo great. I love being outdoors and picking flowers and digging in the dirt. Well, I liked digging in the dirt until I discovered that is where worms live... I don't like worms, at all. I dislike worms so much that I have myself convinced that every stick we see on the sidewalk is a potential worm waiting just for me. Although mommy thinks I might be moving out of my worm hating phase as today I drew a picture of worms in the dirt. (but, I might just surprise her with a loud screech on our next walk, just to remind her who decides when I'm done with this phase her or ME)

The other big news is that I practically potty trained myself. I just woke up one Sunday and announced I wanted to wear underwear and so I did. And I've been doing it ever since. I haven't had very many accidents (although some times I think boys have it easier in the aiming department. And I am learning that it's hard to watch yourself pee and keep it all in the potty at the same time) I haven't mastered it completly, but I love, love, love wearing underwear almost as much as I love wearing my cherry boots (and I try to do that everyday) so I'm working hard to keep them clean and dry.

I sure am looking forward to being three for awhile, although I still don't understand why I can't just have another birthday party this week so I can turn 4. But, I guess N get to have the next party and then he'll be 5. WOW...that's gonna be great.

Gratitude

For a few years now we've been saying grace at dinner time.

We are grateful for the food on the table
The many hands that helped provide it.
We are grateful for the time we get to spend together as a family
We ask for blessings on those less fortunate then ourselves
And, as always, we pray for Peace. Amen.

This served us well for a few years. It induced some giggles when Mommy would forget the line about family (perhaps, subconsciously after a particularly long day?) or when the kids began to say it and tripped over works like 'less fortunate" . The end is always said with great enthusiasm, and volume.

A couple of weeks ago I felt that, like many routine things, the pray had become...well...routine. So, instead of beginning the prayer I asked what everyone was grateful for. I have been amazed at what has come from the kids. I'm not sure what I expected, but I did not expect them to take the idea and run with it. Oh sure, there are days when they are grateful for a tv show or a toy. But other days we get some thoughtful responses:

L - I am grateful for 'No-No' (what she sometimes calls her brother)

N- I am grateful for going to the library

L - I am grateful that the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, and that the clouds are big so rain can fall from them.

N- I am grateful for my friend Dylan


Me, I'm grateful for those glimpses at the end of a day that show me we are, indeed, doing some things right. Amen

Spring fever bites hard

Spring fever has hit the Wohlmut family. Well, certainly Mommy and the kids have been struck. Today, despite the fact that it is only March 1st, we headed off to Fred Meyer with wagon in tow in search of plants and seeds. We came home with a full wagon of pansies, tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and another bloomer that lost it's little tag so it has no name. In addition to the color spots to put directly into the ground we came home with more seeds then our little plot of land can possibly handle. Sigh... I couldn't help myself, the kids are so enthusiastic about wanting to grow vegetables and dig in the earth, how could I say no?

It was fun to watch the kids study the labels and decide what they wanted to get. N, able read the packages , took his time reading each package. He picked out cucumbers, carrots, Dwarf sunflowers, mini pumpkins and sweet peas. L picked out things based on their photos, Mammoth Sunflowers, Nasturtiums and Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins. (it occurs to me that she might think they grow this way. Ah well, cross that bridge when we come t0 it) They are both very curious and full of anticipation for their garden to begin. I am sure I will be answering the question, "Can we plant our seeds today" daily for the next two months.

I admit I cheated and dug in the dirt and planted the daffodils and pansies all by myself while the kids were napping. I know, I know, how selfish of me! But, I'm about to dive into 6 weeks of rehearsal and another 6 week run of a show, so a little me time in the dirt is just what the doctor ordered. AND since I always get carried away, there's plenty left for them to help me tomorrow (weather permitting) or Sunday.

One of the more delightful moments of the day had nothing to do with gardening. Rather it centered around L's grand forays into the world of "girly" things and Mommy's habit of jumping to well, silly conclusions. Still in FM we were about to leave and L spots the row of barrettes, hair do-dads and other sparkly things. She makes a beeline for the display and is picking out barrettes fast and furiously. I talk her down off the sparkly ledge, as it were, and we agree to one card of barrettes. Then I hear N say, "Can I have some, too?" Well, why not? I'm a modern mom after all. . So after we agree that he'll share them with L after he's done with them he picks out a sparkly pair w/butterflies and we're on our way home. We get home and I get L all decked out - she had to wear all 6 barrettes at once as she just couldn't pick one pair. I turn to N and ask him if he'd like help or can he put the barrettes in himself. He looks at me quizzically and says, "I don't want to wear them. I'm pretending they are geese so they're gonna fly. Honk. Honk." Ah, of course you are...silly mommy....

So, how was your day?

thank you for your patience we'll return soon

Show closes Monday. Working on a new posting. see you soon.