Swords and Looms

Today we made swords from PVC pipes, foam insulation, and colored duct tape and/or making portable tapestry looms using wood, screws, and wing nuts. We had 15 kids and 6 mommies (including us and our guys) play, eat, make things, and have fun.


Sawyer and Beckett opted for the basic silver duct tape.


Silver was popular. Chloe, Tessa, and Teo all chose that. Deva went with full-on color.

We did get the adults to participate. Stephanie and Peg had never used power tools before.


Esther showed Peg how to use a saw and the drill! Stephanie learned, too, but I didn't get a photo.


I think Peg likes her loom. Karen has screws and wing nuts. She has a loom, too, if all the holes will ever line up.



Stephanie made a loom, too. She said it's picture perfect.

Ethan and Ryan and the other kids somehow managed to avoid having their photos taken. I'm not sure exactly how that happened. We'll have to photos of them when they take their swords out to battle.

Alphabetize, avalanche, and gardening

Friday is cleaning day in our house. Ryan and Ethan cleaned their rooms, though I have to hand it to Ethan. His room has pretty much been clean since last week. I managed to get all the laundry washed, hung out, and taken in before night fall. That has to be a record.

I got into the garden today. The seedlings are coming along nicely, so I took the time to move around some plants. The back fence now has a nice row of hosta and pother plants. Ryan thought the I had dug up a row of dirt for him personally. He got a few Rescue Heroes and one of their vehicles and created a scenario in which they were stuck in an avalanche. He informed me that I could take all the dirt I wanted as long as I didn't free said vehicle.

Ethan has found that he can battle and trade Pokemon with his friends while talking to them through the DS all via our wireless internet. In order to do this efficiently, he has to be able to locate his Pokemon quickly and easily. This prompted him to learn first letter alphabetization. Score one for the unschooling concept.

Clean rooms, freshly laundered clothing, rearranged plants, alphabetizing, and an avalanche overcome all make this a good day.

Boys' Group

We got to spend the entire glorious sunny afternoon with our friends from northern and eastern Connecticut. Shelley and Lori each have two wonderful boys whose ages just happen to coincide perfectly with our guys. We went to Addison Park and then for a walk in, well actually, I have no idea what the name of the nature preserve was where we went after that, but it was great. Ethan and Ryan had a blast. Ethan taught the other boys his version of rock paper scissors in which you can say any noun after you say shoot and then you figure out who wins. This means that if I say the conventional scissor and Ethan says human, he wins because humans can use scissors. On the other hand, if I say the conventional rock and he says computer, I win because rock smashes computer. All the boys thought this game was big fun. They threw sticks in the water, ran ahead of the mommies, and climbed piles of dirt. Life is good when it's warm out and I don't have to say no or stop.

Here are some photos I took of the day:

I have other photos, but that's all blogger will let me upload. Shelley, Lori, if you want the others, I'll get them to you.

Stitches, Spring, and Sports

To say we've been busy is a bit of an understatement. Along with the regular assortment of play groups, play dates, gymnastics and kung fu classes, we've had house guests, holidays, and even a trip to the emergency room. Ryan fell down and split his lip open. Five stitches, one puzzle, and one dump truck later he is stitch-free and happy.

Spring has found us outside much more often. Ethan and Ryan now get up and run outside to jump on the trampoline. Despite my warnings that they shouldn't flip over in mid-air, I know they are doing exactly that. I could try to work up to being truly upset about it, but I know that I would do the same thing if I could.

Their birthdays are coming up soon, Ethan in May and Ryan and June. Ethan had said that he wanted a Wii, but abruptly changed his mind last week and now wants Pokemon themed gifts. I'm a little surprised by this since he loves to play with his friends' Wiis, but knowing how much he adores all things Pokemon, I'm not completely shocked.

Ryan wants a spy-themed party. No surprise there at all. we're going to assemble a spy briefcase for him with a magnifying glass, a light in the shape of a pen, a flashlight, a lock-picking set, and such. I need to start checking thrift stores to find a second hand briefcase.

In the meantime, the library playgroup has moved into the park, and we'll start running a sports program again this year. This year instead of having baseball every week we'll have different sports like kickball, frisbee, horseshoes, and croquet. That will have to wait until May though when the weather is less soggy and jackets are, more or less, optional. For now, we'll enjoy the sunny days and bounce on the trampoline to keep warm.