Rock Wall Climbing

In our ever more obsessive (Joke people; that's a joke. I mean, sort of. Maybe.) of helping our children become well-developed citizens, we have moved on from taikwando to another form of physical agility and activity. 

Rock climbing. Because duh, what else produces amazing little people like overdeveloped upper body strength and toes with the agility of monkeys? 

It has been extraordinary to see the children really pursue their fearless side and climb, climb, climb and be okay to fail and fall. If there's anything that I've been happy about, it's been that they have been okay failing (!). They try a "line" (a fancy way of saying "path") up the wall and if that doesn't work, reverse and try something else. I love that! 

Lily especially is good at being persistent and daring and just giving no cares about if she fails. She is loving the journey and I think takes some pride in being the smallest kid on the wall by far, going the highest. 

Making it to the top means "ringing the bell" and both kids have learned how to always ring the bell, even as they fall off the wall, and even as they learn to try again when the first option didn't work. For the summer, they'll be in swim lessons and art camp but come fall, we will give them the option of taekwondo, soccer, basketball, hockey, ruby and climbing. It will be fun and interesting to see what they choose. 

Easter 2018

We had such a lovely Easter this year because we got to spend it with the family. Cousin Alise and Lily remain the best of friends and also the most little mischievious egger-onners. We're going to have to watch out for those two as they get older (or wait; should I not say that? Should I instead hope for the best and speak the best and assume that we'll get the best?! Quick, elders, weigh in!) 

All of the grandkids now have their own motor vehicles and are extremely adept at driving them. Alise has caught on beautifully and can be trusted with a motor vehicle. I, as a terrible parallel parker (hey! Maybe that should be my 2019 goal! Learn how to drive more skillfully?!) can completely get on board with the idea of giving all of our children the maximum amount of time to learn new driving skills so their natural talents at driving at such an early age make me happy. 

This year, we decided (okay, I decided after I saw this idea on Pinterest ... but whatever, "we" decided) to add copious amounts of food coloring to shaving cream and then roll eggs that had been pre-vinegar-softened (just enough so that the color would take) into this concoction. 

Obviously, this was not a clean process but it was a fun process and that's all that mattered. Because, really, creativity is essential and what's not creative about food color + shaving cream + boiled, softened-shell eggs? Obviously, shaving cream Easter eggs for the win (or, as the cool kids say it, #FTW!). 

Our kiddos especially loved the tactile nature of the shaving cream and getting their hands all messy. They were both given (complimentary) food coloring colors so that they didn't inadvertently end up with brown eggs rather than the Pinterest-worthy tie-dyed Easter eggs of art. 

We used good ol' fashioned shaving cream for the base. Only... did not take into account the fact that both children would completely dye their hands the color of the shaving cream. Whoops. Lily had red hands for days. Jamisen's green/blue hands wore off quickly, thankfully. 

The kids loved hunting Easter Eggs (who wouldn't?!) and Grandma Faiola of course did a Golden Egg (three cheers for tradition!). They also all really like candy so that helps with the whole "Easter is one of our favorite holidays of the year!" thing. 

Of course the cousin dogs helped with the Easter Egg hunt. 

We also went to Bellwood Acres where all of the kids enjoyed their pony rides with abandon. 

Easter 2018 was a hit with connections, creativity and animals. We are deeply blessed with family, love and laughter. 

Pasta Fun

We recently went through an entire 'Let's Make Pasta From Scratch' phase. 

The kids were SO into it. We got a beautiful pastamaker from Italy (handcrank, of course) and had such a fun time cranking out all kinds of pastas. 

We made ravioli from scratch and every kind of pasta known to man, including vegetable dyed pastas. The best thing is that pasta dough freezes so we have plenty of frozen pasta dough to get us through summer evenings when we just want a light and easy summer pesto over a beautifully delicate pasta strand with olive oil. Yum!