First Day of School

They are so thrilled.

Meet Marigold

Another first for our family -- a pet!

We finally bit the bullet and committed to another family member. G has been wanting a kitten for ages, and so, for an early birthday present, she adopted Marigold today. She is about nine weeks old, and so far, seems to be adjusting well. 

G is just beside herself with happiness. 

BD is not as thrilled. He has been repeatedly telling us that he wants nothing to do with a cat. He announced to Win (as though ratting us out), that "Susan and Gwyn are planning on getting a cat." 

But, he might be coming around. He still hasn't touched her once, but he likes watching her play, and he even volunteered to feed her in the mornings. 

As we were all sitting in the bathroom this afternoon watching Marigold sniff her new surroundings, BD whispered to me, "I hope she doesn't attack my dangly bits." 

I told him, "As long as you keep your pants on, I think you'll be fine."

Oh, the possibilities ...

The reward for school supply shopping? Checking out the LEGO section in Target.

"My strongest power is my true potential ability."

    July has been slowly drifting by. Today we sweated it out at the farmer's market to buy some honey. It was so hot, ice cream was necessary at 10:30 a.m.


    The rest of the day we stayed home, the kids are always happy playing LEGOs. Today, it was a mash-up of Arctic ones vs. Frozen ones. While they played, I picked veggies from our little garden.

Friday Night Movie Night

Camp Invention

This week, Lem attended Camp Invention. It was a week-long day camp sponsored by the school system. It is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program, and with an only $20 registration fee, I had immediately signed him up.

On Friday, there was an "open house" so the families could see what the children had been up to all week. It was great, because although Lem had been telling us all about it all week, it was hard to visualize exactly what he had been doing.

So, there were four classes that they attended each day, taught by local teachers. The kids were divided into groups led by high school interns. So, in the first class, the object was to invent a device that will make everyday life easier, build a prototype, and then "pitch" the idea to their parents. So Lem came up with a hoverboard. He said it would help you get around faster, wouldn't pollute the earth, and cost only $500.

Hoverboard prototype

The next class was all about taking apart their Take-Apart Item, which they were required to bring from home. Lem brought in an old stereo. Once they took it apart, they were supposed to design a video game called Mazeworld, using those parts. They each got a cardboard board on which to build their games. They also came up with a player, and a villian.

In the third class, they learned about different inventors, and then in groups, built some of those inventions. They included rockets, defibrillators (a word Lem cannot say, hahaha), tower buildings, and deep sea data collectors.

The last class was called Cartwheels, and that was everyone's favorite. Small groups built gokarts, and then they got to race them through an obstacle course that included water balloons and wet sponges. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the gokarts, as they had had to take them apart, but it clearly was a lot of fun.

Lem loved it. He was talking a mile a minute when we got there yesterday, trying to tell us everything in one breath. And at full volume, as well. He already wants to attend next year. He's realized how much fun summer camps can be.

For more information: Camp Invention

Yesterday, we attended a FRG pool party. A FRG member hosted it at her house, and we had a blast. The kids swam nearly the entire time, until their lips turned blue and their teeth chattered from the cold. Both of them went off the diving board, too, for the first time. Gwyn was the first. She came up to me and said, "I'm going to jump off that thing." And she did, with no fear, as you can see above. She yelled, "Cannonball!" and leaped off. With her floaties on, she popped right back up and was ready to do it again.
And Lem, he did it without much fanfare, but without much hesitation either. And no floaties for him. There was one boy at the party his age, and they played the whole time. Gwyn was the only girl that wasn't an infant, and she gravitated toward the big girls -- the hostess's teenage daughter and her friend who helped keep an eye on all the little ones in the water.
The food was great, and the day ended with snocones for the kids. A great way to kick off the summer.

Lem finished up British Soccer Camp yesterday. It ran all week, from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. The weather on Friday was the complete opposite from what it was on Monday -- Monday we were all in sweatshirts and rain jackets, and Friday, we were slathering on sunscreen and seeking shade under umbrellas.

Lem had a blast. He is already talking about attending next year. He got a great evaluation from his coach, who said he has great skills and great character. He praised him that he never had to tell Lem something twice, and he he always played hard. Lem was named MVP of his team several days. And his team represented Italy in the week's "World Cup." And the best part, Italy won the World Cup.

Lem took on a leadership role in his team, as well. He said, "Everyone seems to think I'm the captain. If I tell them to play a position, they do it." He seemed OK with it, though, and would spend the car ride home each day strategizing how to make his team play better -- who should play goalie, etc. And it sure seemed to work, since they ended up being champions.

Gwyn and I didn't stay to watch all the camp. We ran various errands and met up with friends. But Friday, we stayed. We came prepared to camp out with backpacks full of snacks and entertainment, chairs, and umbrellas for shade. We had a pretty good time hanging out.

And perfect timing -- the Women's World Cup kicks off today. We will be watching and cheering -- Gwyn and I for team USA, Lem for Italy.

It's no secret that Lem talks a lot. Tonight at dinner, he got on a roll and just would. not. shut. up. Gwyn and I were both finished eating, and he was still talking and talking. And it was all non-related facts. Such as, "Did you know that the continents were all connected?" to, "You know that myth that if you eat a watermelon seed it will grow in your stomach? Well, that's not true, because plants need light to grow." And on, and on, and on.

I finally said to him, "Hey Lem, why are you spouting all these random facts?"

And he said, "I don't know. I have to spout them to somebody, or my head will explode."

Well, alright, kid. We can't have that. But what about my head, that's going to explode from the nonstop talking?

Today at lunch ...

"Lem, are you finished eating?"

"No. I'm having a staring contest with a beheaded sardine."

We came home to a garden that had exploded in our absence. The cucumbers are taking over, the lettuce had bolted, and the potatoes are flowering. And the lilies! These were here when we moved, I am beyond excited to see them blooming. They are gorgeous. Everything else is blooming as well. I am loving all the color, this is what I wanted in a flower garden. Now, to mow, weed, clip, and clean up everything.

Lantern Festival

Friday night, we headed to the big city to attend the Lantern Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis. Aunt Kiki had invited us, and it was an amazing experience.

It was a little stressful leaving the farm. Lem hadn't been anywhere all week. The skies opened up and dumped rain the hours before we were supposed to leave, and we were worried about flooding on the roads, and the creek was really high. But luckily, it stopped, and after we waited about 30 minutes, everything was fine.

Mike met us for dinner at the Thai House in Columbia, and we got to the gardens later than we planned, but it worked out perfectly. We arrived about 10 minutes before 8 p.m. when they turned on the lights.

It truly was magical. Amazing lit up exhibits showing Chinese culture were placed around the garden. It wasn't crowded at all, not at all like the Garden Glow at Christmas, so we could move at our own pace and not worry about losing each other. And it smelled so good! All the flowers were giving off their best scent for the night. Everyone attending seemed so happy and calm.

I didn't bring my camera, because of the potential rain, so all my pictures are from my phone. I think they turned out all right.

Information:
Lantern Festival
Thai House

We have been spending long, lazy summer days at the farm. Tonight after dinner, we headed down to the lake for a swim. Lem and Gwyn were so excited to go -- they would have eaten dinner in their life jackets if I had let them. They had planned an epic water fight.
Well, of course it started with tears. I got in the water with them, Oma and Grandpamp stayed on the dock. Lem immediately shot Gwyn right in the face,and then Lem cried because he got his water gun taken away. But they all got over it when I started shooting Grandpamp. He had a bucket he kept filling with water and throwing it on us. The kids really got a kick out of it.
Lem is so funny, he is only happy if he is on the raft not touching the water. And he won't paddle himself, either. So he kept floating off toward the corner of the lake, and Gwyn and I would have to go rescue him. He'd just sit there crying until we caught him, then he'd be back to water fun fighting.

This morning, the first thing the kids wanted to do was go fishing. After the excitment of last night, they couldn't wait to get out there. They finally got going around mid morning, and unfortunately, the fish weren't biting too much. It was getting hot, so it was time to give swimming a try.
Gwyn was super excited to go, she and Oma hopped in first. I came down a little later, and then Lem came skipping down. We spent a long time floating a splashing around, it doesn't get much better than this.

Tonight, I made dinner for everyone -- tacos with bean and corn salad, and green salad. After dinner, we decided to do a little fishing. Grandpamp, Lem and I headed down first. We all started catching some right away. Then Gwyn came down, and Grandpamp set her up with a worm and bobber. She started catching fish as well, and then she hooked a BIG one.
She and Grandpamp battled it for a good 15 minutes. They slowly worked it over to the bank. Lem was lying on the dock watching it, and said, "that's a huge fish!" Unfortunately, it broke the line right as they got to the bank. Grandpamp said it was a huge bass, maybe a 5 pounder.
Gwyn was so, so exited about it. She kept saying, I have to go fishing again and get that bass. She wrote about it in her journal, sang a song about it, and emailed Win.
The kids helped Grandpamp clean the fish as well, they weren't the least bit squeamish about it.

Earlier today, Oma, Gwyn and I went to town for a little shopping and groceries. Lem refused to go. He went over to Mabel's and hung out with Uncle Mike for the afternoon. Lem is just happy being at the farm and not going anywhere.

On Saturday, we had a party with all the Fuhrmans. Dad grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, and it was a beautiful day. All the cousins played -- they loved the hammock and the sandbox. Lem got a game of poker going. Uncle Jack got into it and he and Lem played for a while. Lem wanted to play for money, but wisely, they stuck to just poker chips.

Before everyone came, we got a little fishing in.

Oliver!

First day of summer, and we zoomed up to the Farm to see Oliver, Paul, and Lindsay. They were visiting, on their way back to Minnesota from their epic sailing adventure.

The cousins took to each other immediately, particularly Gwyn and Oliver. It was great to see Paul and Lindsay, too. Lem, of course, immediately challenged Uncle Paul to a game of chess, once he heard Paul claim that he could beat him in four moves.

Mike and Johnna came over in the evening, and Dad grilled pork steaks. We all sat out on the porch for dinner, Lem monopolizing the conversation from the head of the table.

The only person missing was Win. 

This is our first "harvest"! I think the soil in my first bed is lacking ... it has taken a while for my greens to come up. I mixed this in with our salad tonight and sliced up the radish. Delicious!

Spring Soccer '15

Soccer is in full swing, and the kids are doing great. Bean Dip had games Friday night and Saturday morning. This year, his age bracket is now on a bigger field, and they have referees for the games. It is really fun to watch them play, because not only is his team really good, they actually play positions, pass and have good runs at the goal. BD has found his spot as a defender. It's a natural position for him, and he loves it. And because he always wants to be a defender, he has played 100% of all the games so far. He has also decided he loves soccer and is already talking about playing next season. A big change from last fall, when he didn't want to play at all.

Saturday's game was our day to bring the snacks. I was so proud of Lem. After all his teammates got a snack, he actually went around and found the younger siblings of his teammates and offered them a snack as well. It was so sweet. And after his other games, he always asks if he can grab an extra snack for his sister. And on Friday, as we were walking back to the car after his game, he realized he had forgotten to thank the mom who had brought the snack. They happened to be parked next to us, and he walked right up and said, "Thank you for bringing the snack." 

(I would totally recommend bringing extra snacks along, if you can, to share with the siblings. Even the older ones always want a snack, too.)

G is doing great as well. She loves practices, games not as much. With the exception of last week, she gets out there and sometimes actually attempts to kick the ball. I think she is just not aggressive enough for the games, but that is totally fine. She got a throw-in ball right to the face on Saturday. It smashed her nose pretty good. But after I helped her calm down, she perked back up and even when back out to play. She even got to do a throw-in. I don't know if soccer will be her sport, but she is happy playing and that is all that matters.

Spring Field Trips

Both kids had field trips this week. I wasn't allowed to tag along on Lem's, because they went to see a show at the Cybersphere (I think it is an Omnimax theater near Nashville), and there was limited seating. He said it was "not good at all," which is a disappointment. He said they watched Zula Patrol, a PBS cartoon. I am sure it was educational in some way, but why wouldn't they show the kids something more amazing? Like pictures from Hubble? Or a Planet Earth episode?

I did go to Gwyn's. They went to the Nashville Zoo. She really wanted to ride in the car with me, not the bus, so she did. It worked out great because we were able to stay at the zoo a little be longer. It was a good field trip, but totally chaotic and stressful keeping track of 19 kids that continually scattered like rabbits. Luckily, there were plenty of parents along to help Mrs. McKinney keep track.

Mrs. McKinney had red shirts for all the kids to wear, and she had them bring their backpacks with a change of clothes and their lunch. I thought that was a great idea. We had lunch first, a picnic on the green in the center of the zoo. Then we just wandered around, seeing the meerkats, the birds, elephants, giraffes, and the reptile house. The kids loved the reptile house, but it was dark and crowded and hard to keep track of all the kids. But they were so interested in seeing all the exhibits that it was worth it.

After that, the class headed for the bus. All Gwyn wanted to see were the flamingos, so after a quick break of cotton candy to revive both of us, we went to see them, She was so happy. We watched them for a while. They were pretty entertaining because clearly there was a squabble going on, and they were really loud. When Gwyn was done watching them, we headed home. She was asleep before we were out of Nashville.

Earth Day

A little horticulture therapy on Earth Day.

Snowmaggedon, part deux

We are expecting another bout of winter weather, even though it is March and should be warm and springy. A few years ago, it was 80 degrees, and we were under tornado warnings. Today, we have cold rain and a winter storm warning.

On Monday, Win was off, so we had an impromptu day date. In true Tennessee fashion, we spent it gun shopping. Throughout the day, while Win looked at guns at various stores, I picked up flower seed packets, a snow shovel and sleds, and homemade spicy pickled okra. Only in Tennessee ...

So we'll see this afternoon how much ice, sleet, and snow we actually get. The kids are already on a half day schedule for it. Will we be using the sleds tomorrow, or will I be planting seeds later this week? Or both?

And ... we are now on snow day #7 for the kids. The last time they were in school was Feb. 13.

It seems so long ago.

They aren't even excited anymore when I tell them they are off again.

This has been the longest winter ever.

Eat One, Chop One

Snowmaggedon '15, day 5

I totally wiped out today on the sheet of ice that is the commissary parking lot. Apparently, the one place on post most used by senior citizens and people with small children is not a high priority on the snow removal list.

Snow: 2 Susan: 0

(I may have also wiped out trying to snowboard on a cookie sheet.)

Snowmaggedon '15, day 4

The deep chill arrived this morning ...

Snowmaggedon '15, Day 3

Win ventured out today, finally, to get a few supplies. He came home with this water heater drain pan. That's what they were selling at Lowe's for sleds. The guy told Win it worked, like Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation.

And guess what, it does. We found a nice little hill at the end of our street. It ends in a chainlink fence and thorn bushes so it was perfect. Lem named it Nosebreak Hill.

Also, while Win was gone, the mail lady came. She got ended up getting stuck at our mailbox. I ran out to invite her in while she waited for help, but one of our neighbors came out and dug her out. Very exciting!