Wide Open Spaces

Decisions, Decisions

After a LONG application process, Adria has finally decided on a college. Next year she will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. My little girl, my little bunnybear will be living across the country. Thank goodness for cell phones, texting and Skype! I miss her already and really don't want to know what the house feels like with out her. But(and this is a big BUT) I know she will be happy. It has been all her choice. She filled out those applications on her own, wrote essays, and most importantly spent a weekend fasting and praying about her decision. I'm glad she was able to visit last Fall, see the campus and attend classes. She is already mapping out courses and study abroad programs she would like to take.
I am excited, nervous, wistful, pleased, and anxious for her new adventure. And ours.

Martin Luther King Tree

As part of the this year's Martin Luther King, celebration the student at Eva and Liam's school made mosaic dream trees. Each student was able to create a leaf out of ceramic. There are two trees displayed on either side of the entrance doors at school. Students were encouraged to write messages capturing Martin Luther King's vision of peace, having dreams and harmony.

Both trees look like this one. This is for students Kindergarten thru 2nd grade.

I love Eva's dove in the upper left hand corner.

How sweet is it that Liam's "I luv mine Mom" will always be on display?

Welcome to the 21st Century!

Watch out world, the Browns have entered the 21st century, and we have multiple phones to prove it. I have been trying to convince Andrew that I NEEDED to be able to text Adria once she is in college. He has been resisting. Are you shocked? The beautiful man who loves technology is also a frugal man. Cell phones with texting isn't something easily covered by a work expense account. I was finally able to wear him down. And you know what? Last night he turned to me and said, "I love my new phone."

Wax Hearts

Originally, I intended this post to be about my favorite Valentine's Day art project. It involves melting crayons with a candle, smearing it on wax paper, and carefully ironing until the colors melt and mix. Adria, however, want this post to be about how much I love my children. Well, those children are trying my patience today. Adria has been asking endless questions about a book. Colin has been in a grumpy mood all day. Eva has been video taping death scenes heavily influenced by The Blair Witch Project. And, Liam has been jumping on the sofa with half of his hair sticking up and identifying everyone's imperfections as only a five year old can. They are now sitting in my room arguing about absolutely ridiculous topics. But I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything. I might be tempted to loan them out for a while though.

They are my Valentines.

One of Liam's best pictures. Smile wise.

Looked out the kitchen window one morning to see a flock of birds in the trees. Made me feel like I was in a Hitchcock movie.

Cookie time

Never let an artist decorate cookies. Nothing is ever perfect.

Midnight is never far from the action. Even when he wants to be.

He was truly puzzled by the packaging.

Contact

I have no idea what I came into contact with, but I now have a rash on the underside of my chin, across my chin, tip of my nose, across one eye and adjacent temple and most distressingly my lips. My lips were puffy, red and now feel like sandpaper. I spent the first three days of this week on major antihistamines in an effort to stop the itching. Did I mention I was itching? I try to keep from scratching. Thank goodness it is only on my face. Did I just write that? (Sigh). It has been a long week.

Whirlwind

Life is just too busy. Too many places to be and too few hours in the day. Adria has been busy with college applications. We, the parents, have officially been banned from discussing which colleges she gets in to and where she might be going. She wants to make her decision without any outside pressure. Colin has been busy composing and playing his guitar. He is excited for the possibility of a new guitar next year. Eva has discovered that math isn't so bad and that she might actually have a talent for it. Liam continues to make strides in his speech therapy and loves kindergarten. Andrew would love to spend all his time researching and writing papers, but his duties at church and work cut into his time. I feel more and more scattered as the children grow older. So many places to be! Here's hoping the next year will be quieter. Shhh! Don't dampen my spirits with trying to break this expectation.

Tales of a Kindergarten Apple Picker

Today I traveled to an apple orchard with Liam and a gaggle of Kindergarteners. The day was hot and sunny and any breeze was welcome.

Liam loved looking for and picking apples. He also loved poking and kicking at all the rotting ones on the ground.

We walked through the corn maze. Reminds me of playing in the corn as a kid.

This is Liam's "stop taking pictures and let me eat my apple" face.

A favorite had to be the pumpkin loader. This oversized, air gun rotated up like a rocket then shot small pumpkins across the field. All of the kids and adult males got a kick out of this one. Thank goodness they launched them into an unoccupied part of the orchard!

Finally, a bus ride home. School buses are just as uncomfortable and disgusting as I remember.

Sunny Saturday

Andrew took the kids down to Laumeier Sculpture Park today. It is beautiful open-air museum in St. Louis County. Oh, did I mention it is free. Lots of free things to do in St. Louis. The camera battery died, but not before they were able to get a few pics.

Eye by Tony Tasset. Kinda creepy eye. Reminds me of Sauron in Lord of the Rings.

Intricate Wall by Sol DeWitt

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen!!


Sweet Adria turned 17 today. She celebrated this morning with a visit to the Creperie with friends. And this evening Andrew and I took her for sushi at Wasabi. We all ate for too much, but not a fork was used only chopsticks and the occasional finger. Then home for a white butter cake with lime curd and a cream cheese frosting. YUM! On a sad note, this time next year Adria will be a freshman somewhere in the world, but not here.

White butter cake with lime curd and cream cheese frosting. YUM!

My beautiful girls.

Can she blow out all the trick candles at once?

I'm so proud of how this cake set up. Nice thick custardy middle.

** A mother can brag, right? After all I have some of the smartest kids in the world, don't you? Adria was accepted into the Dartmouth Bound Program for Native American students. She's visit the campus in October.

Better Late

I should probably post some of Colin's birthday pics before Adria's!! Two weeks isn't too late, huh?

Hasn't he grown into a handsome guy?

 

Our homage to the Doctor who we are all in love with(excuse the poor artistry).

Notice my beautiful Black-eyed Susan? I grew them from seeds!

An Unwelcome Visitor

I am beginning to think we are being invaded. I found a creepy praying mantis in my flower garden on Saturday. I had seen one earlier in the day on a neighbor's car. I was amused to see two in one day even though I find it eerie the way they swivel their heads whenever I move. But this morning, I'm reminded of an X-Files episode. You know the one where Scully and Mulder encounter robotic cockroaches that could really be alien technology aka "War of the Coprophages". While I was packaging the kids' lunches, Liam noticed another one skulking on some candles I have on the dining room table. Eeeewww! I am hoping our visitor came in while we were grilling yesterday thus having the back door open. The thought of these sinister creatures living, nesting, scurrying, cannabalizing each other and monitoring me leaves me with a desire to place an X made of masking tape in the window.

Note: If you don't understand the X in the window, I can only sigh, shake my head and say Mulder and my sister, Laura, would be highly disappointed.

Where did the time go?

My baby boy is 14. Okay, Colin is not my "baby" as in the youngest boy I have, but, still, my baby boy is 14! Where did the time go? Where did that little boy with chubby cheeks go? The one who would dance on the coffee table and carry stones in his pockets. Before you know it, he will be out the door. Thank goodness he still lets me give him hugs and doesn't mind me telling him I love him.

Next week: Adria turns 17!!!

First Day of Senior Year!

First Bus Ride for Liam

Waiting for the Bus

First Day of Kindergarten

One Week

One week from today, I will be readying the kids for the first day of the school year. Adria will be a senior, Eva will be a third grader and my little, baby boy will be starting kindergarten. Will he be ready? Will he miss me? Will he eat his lunch and not go hungry? Will he crawl under the table and do his puppy impression including licking? Only time will tell. At least I know he has a great teacher who will make this a great year.

As for the rest us, Colin and I are eagerly anticipating a quiet house.

Two in One

I know, you just fell off your chair. Two blogs in one day! I just had to rant for a minute about Blogspot. I clicked over to the blog only to find that my background had been deleted. This was the quickest one I could find that didn't make me retch. What do you think?

Bad Blogger

Yes, I will admit it. I am a bad blogger. It has been almost a month since my last post. For those that may be wondering we made it home from Utah. We had a fabulous vacation and were not able to go to all the places we wanted and see all the people we should have (I'm talking to you Angie!). But that seems to be par for the course on our vacations.

The start of the school year is just around the corner. With Liam starting kindergarten, I will only have Colin home with me. So wish me luck as I start a new phase of motherhood.

Utah: Summer Vacation 2010

We are a little over halfway through our vacation. The drive out was uneventful and beautiful. We spent the first few days with my sister and her family. Then we headed to mountains. Andrew's sister-in-law has a family ranch in the Uintahs. No internet, cell phone reception or television, but plenty to keep us occupied. After St. Louis heat and humidity, the cool air is wonderful.

With the Cabreros cousins at Bridal Veil Falls

Beautiful, but cold Bridal Veil Falls

Colin and Bryn hiked to the top. Then Adria and Andrew hiked up thinking

they were taking too long.

Colin and Andrew hiking Inspiration Rock near the Holbrook Ranch.

Adria and Eva at the Holbrook Ranch near a branch of the Provo River

The "Golden Meadow" as named by the kids.

Seen on the hike to Inspiration Rock.

Provo River at the Holbrook Ranch

Provo River with Ranch house

Yet another picture of the river. Can you tell we loved it?

Our "little" cabin in the woods.

"No, I'm not Jewish, but thanks for asking."

Did you know St. Louis has one of the larger populations of Jewish people in the country? Starting in the early 1800s many have settled here. There are areas of St. Louis with higher concentrations. One area where we lived had many orthodox Jews who walked to temple on Saturdays. I always enjoyed seeing families walking together to worship or boys playing in their yards wearing yarmulkes. The school district which the kids attend has a large group of Jewish students. Adria attended many bat mitzvahs the year she turned 13. As a consequence she often hears "Happy Hanukkah" during December. Her response is often, "Happy Hanukkah! You know I'm not Jewish, right?" A puzzled expression often follows and a "Are you sure?". We have decided that with her olivey skin and such she probably looks just as Jewish as the next. So, why am I mentioning this? Adria has a job this with local summer camps through a Jewish center. She has friends who have worked there in the past. I think we'll count how many times she is asked if she is Jewish. Maybe every time she is asked we should buy a loaf of challah bread to celebrate.

**Note: Do not take offense to my breezy attitude. We love all things Jewish except the gefilte fish ; )