Doo-doo-doo-doo-doot-doo...
One of Cecily's current piano songs that is stuck in my head.... including the piccolo trill. woot. Hooray for marching band and patriotic songs.
Technically, I am a millennial. However, I'm an elder millennial and prefer the term "Oregon Trail Generation." Not only does it fit- I definitely had an analog childhood and digital young adulthood, but it is the very first computer game I remember playing in school. My fourth grade teacher had two apple computers in her classroom and I loved it when I got to play Oregon Trail. Nowadays, you can find anything on the internets including good old OT! So we introduced the girls. They liked it, which I love. Although, I forgot how completely traumatic it is when you name the people in your wagon and then it pops up on screen "Cadence has been bitten by a snake." "Cecily has dysentery." "Emmy has died." hehe. Cadence was crying real tears every time somebody on our virtual wagon had a mishap. :P
They were intrigued/horrified by the stack of corncobs in the outhouse.
The blacksmith was working- I told Dad I found his retirement volunteer opportunity!! If he ever retires.... may I direct you to this fine piece of literature written by none other than my brother...
Horses!
Miriel did great- although she kept trying to climb out of the stroller while it was still moving.
Playing with pioneer toys.
Signing our names with quill and ink in Mr. Lincoln's store.
We had a great time.
Cadence is a nichtsnutz. She would run ahead of us into buildings, ducked under a barrier and was halfway up the ladder to a loft we weren't supposed to go in... sigh... but then she cozies up to the statue so sweetly. :P
New boxes of chalk call for lots of new pictures on the driveway.
Unicorns...
Titanics...
There were leftover craft kits at the library and we brought home three to make calm down jars and a fish catching game.
We celebrated Cadence and Logan's birthdays at the farm before Kandace and Carli's testimonies. There were presents!
And a cake!
Then we left 8 kids with two neighbor girls for the evening. haha. I don't think they were too crazy.
Sunday we went to w-ton for church for the first time in years I think. I mean, I know we didn't go at all in 2020 so.... eesh. It was good. I forget that some places take a summer break from Sunday school so that was a lot of church for the girls and they were having a hard time sharing Grandma. But we made it, and they're baptized.
Cadence wanted an Octonauts cake for her birthday, so we started with a cute sea creature cake...
...and added Octonauts!
She was pleased.
More presents!
And a trip to the pool. :)
How is she five already!?
So, third grade usually does a big pioneer unit and they have a special Pioneer Day and it's a big deal and lots of fun.... and they didn't get to do it this year. Sad news. So I asked her teacher for some ideas to do over the summer, hence the New Salem trip, etc. Anyway. I taped out the dimensions of a typical covered wagon, and then we packed the toy chest trunk for Oregon.
They did remember important things like clothes, and the Bible, and cooking utensils.... but they tried to sneak in a few lot of toys too. :) (I stuck in Gma Beutel's tea service, and my Grandma's embroidered tablecloth... it's kind of crazy to look around the house and think about what I would take if I only had a 4'x18'x2' space to pack it all in.)
Then of course they had to take it a step farther and build a covered wagon. *sigh* At least they had to clean it up in time for supper so we could sit on those chairs. :D
Story time at the park one Friday evening.
We heard lots of sirens... so of course we checked facebook. We could see smoke and here loud pops.
Ambulance chasers.... hehe. We really couldn't see much better than from our yard. A storage unit full of vehicles caught fire- lots of black smoke and explosions.
We served lunch on the 4th of July. Huzzah. haha. We knew it would be a small Sunday, but that doesn't really help with knowing how much and what to serve. Poor Bob put up with much dithering. But we made it and we had plenty of leftovers. (I am Lydiann's grand-daughter: if you have leftovers, everyone got enough of what they wanted. If you don't have leftovers, then somebody didn't get enough of what they wanted and that would be devastating. I am not, however, enough Lydiann to tell the sandwich makers not to put so many in a box so they don't get delivered with the bottom sandwiches smooshed.) It is slightly gratifying when older people thank you for lunch and tell you that "you set a good table." (Pride, says my mother. hehe.) So I was exhausted and came home and took a nap.
Then the girls have been talking about going to Ron and Kary's for fireworks for weeks... I was not super enthused since it had been a big day already, buuuut.... fireworks, bathrooms, and a place to escape if Miri got scared.
Just chatting with Aunt Pearline. :)
Miriel was not super impressed with the fireworks. The first few booms and she said "GO HOME!" But if I covered her ears she was ok sitting on my lap watching the "balls!" It was a late night, but I'm glad we went.
To further our pioneer studies we learned how to wash clothes with a washboard! woot woot!
It was hot and they picked the sunniest spot in the yard instead of the shade, but whatever.
We washed a couple of pair of socks and some washcloths and hung them on the line.
This is fun! Can we do all our laundry like this? hahahaha. Um. No. No we can not. :P
Some of my California cousins came out for a visit, so we spent Saturday with them at the farm. It was raining. Again. But the hay mow was dry, so we kids went out to play. This entrance doesn't get used much these days... haha.
Unicorn dresses are not what I would have chosen to play in the straw, but whatever.
Dad built a straw bale igloo and a tunnel for the kids.
There was rope swinging and beam sitting.
I haven't moved straw bales in a very long time so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they weren't quite as heavy as I remember. That or lifting kids constantly has made me stronger.... ha. I also don't think I've ever been in the hay mow in a skirt. :P
After supper there were games and perusal of vintage farm aerials... or genealogies?
The girls learned how to play marbles one afternoon. Sort of. I'm a little unsure of the rules, and someone doesn't like to follow rules, and someone was having trouble getting her shooter to shoot. haha.
Everyone needs to get themselves an Emmy. "I want to make brownies and I don't need your help!" And she didn't. Other than the oven part.
Tuesday we headed out to meet Mom and my aunts and California cousins at Braker's Market. The girls wanted one of everything. Cecily: is this why you don't want to take us shopping, mom? Yes, yes it is. There was ice cream.
We like ice cream.
Then I left them to their shopping/ Faire Coffee adventures and took the girls to play with Caleb and Joshua at the farm until supper time since they were leaving the next day.
Lake day got cancelled due to mud, so on Wednesday it was sunnyish and I took them to Dragonland. Cecily took off for the slides right away, and "I made a new friend!" Of course she did. Emmy: "I talked to her and she has a fake leg." Um.... ok..... hahaha. It took Emmy a while, but we did convince her to try the slide once with Cecily. "Mom, I loved it!!" So she and Cecily were up and down the slides the rest of the time we were there.
And then I had them check to see if Cadence was tall enough- she was and she was so excited and she loved it!
I never knew who Cecily would come down the slide with next...usually strangers. haha. (This happens to be a girl they know from school and who goes to our neighbors daycare.)
Miriel and I hung out in the shallow end of the pool and watched all the kids come down the slide. "Splash!" A good time was had by all. :D
Marci got a cat recently and now the girls are stalking her. *sigh* They watch for her car... "Mom, Marci's home, can I go talk to her?" "Mom, Marci's in her front yard can I say hi??" Poor Marci. And poor Luna. They are overly enthusiastic when they get to play with her.
Summer seems to be flying by and school is fast approaching. mur. We have a few more fun things coming up though. And lots of produce. The green beans are starting and Bob's picking peppers and there are peas. And I'm feeling very unmotivated to do anything with any of it. Huzzah.
Blessings.
