Road Rash

WARNING: BLOOD.

The girls have this game they love to play.  It involves them tying their bikes or scooters together and then one of them riding and pulling the other along behind (a la ski boat).  Brad and I always feel a bit apprehensive about it, but have let them do it in an effort to not be over protective.  We opt to just urge them to be careful.  Well, last Saturday, their little game had it's first casualty.  And it involved Gwen's face.  As she put it, she hit the ground, "face forward."

Luckily for me, I wasn't around when it all happened.  I came home to BR holding a big wad of paper towels over Gwen's face.  I thought at the time that it was only a REALLY bloody nose.  Which it was.  As I walked in, Gwen pulled the edge of the towels from over her eyes.  Still covering her face, Brad said, "Gwen had an accident, she scraped up her face, but everything is going to be just fine.  Her nose and teeth are fine."  He held her nose for a few more minutes and then I was able to see the whole wound.  Somehow the picture doesn't look nearly as bad as I remember.  The medicine I had put on it stopped a lot of the blood.  Gwen was so sad about it all.  She really didn't want to go anywhere and didn't want anyone to see her face.  By the end of the day she was okay with our plan to go biking because she figured out that if she wore these sunglasses (below) they covered up most of the wound.  She even wore those sunglasses to school on Monday.  (Another thing she REALLY didn't want to do.)  Poor little thing.  I was so sad for her.  I must say, it has been healing SO quickly and looks a TON better.

Random photos from May

Can you see the wood chips flying?  The joy of having a brother =0).  Can you also see the look of joy on his face?  He's playing with them and loving it =0).

Night time in the tree house. More playing boxcar children.  Comfy grass pillows =0).

A week of Mother's Day celebration.  LOTS of dandelion bouquets picked just for me =0).

Sadly this is my only picture from our Mother's Day breakfast with Brads WHOLE family!  It was perfect.  Filled with delicious food and lots of laughter =0).  This picture is of Beckham just after he took a big drink of his smoothy and then said, "MMMM, that was GOOD!"

Fiddle Heads

Last Saturday, we were ready bright and early.  We were out the door before 8:00, ready to pick Fiddle Heads.  We have a generous friend who always welcomes us to pick them in his treasured spot.  Thank You!  Fiddle Heads are specific ferns that grow near streams.  You pick them when they are still curled up and just barely peaking out of the earth.  Then we take them home and clean them, steam them and eat them.  

Ginny's worms

Beckham and I spent last Friday Morning at the park with Bridgette, Ginny, Claire, and Nora (Sister, and cousins.)  I got such a kick out of Ginny and her collection of dried worms.  She was very willing to share  with anyone who would treat them ever so carefully.  And of course her enthusiasm for those crunch little creatures rubbed off onto all of the rest of the kiddos.  Such a funny, adorable girl.  I just love her personality.  I'm sad I didn't get a picture of Nora, Claire and Bridgette.  We love them too!

Sorry if the dried worms are gross.

A ride to school

One of the girls favorite OF ALL TIME activities is biking to school with Brad.  They do it every Friday that Brad has off and it is warm enough.  I am confident that it will be one of their fondest childhood memories.  It is a 3 mile ride to their schools and the process has evolved.  Liv on her own and Gwen on the Tandom.  Brad drops off their bikes and locks them to the rack and then goes off on his own ride.  Here they are starting their ride for the first time earlier this Spring.  

After they left, Beckham decided he was a little low on gas.  He was excited to show me how he can fill himself up all by himself =0).  "I'n fi-o-ing my gas, Omma." {I'm filling my gas, Momma}

Boxcar children

Playing in the hose, Boxcar Children adventures, and coal from the fire pit as face paint.  

Pugga

Brad's Dad had a birthday last week.  I don't know a kinder man.  Thoughtful, loving and sincere. The kind you are always grateful to have around.

One of my fondest memories of my early days with Brad was meeting his parents.  His dad gave me the warmest most welcoming hug like he loved me from the start.  Love you Pugga =0). Happy Birthday!

Hello Beckham. What are you hiding behind your back?

OH, its your hands!  It looks like you drew all over them!

You think that's pretty funny don't you =0).

Well, at least they match your face. . . Cute. Chubby. and Messy.

Bangor Forest |Family Bike Ride|

Last Saturday I realized that our family is entering a new era.  We went on a bike ride through the trails at the Bangor Forest with only ONE child carrying device!  It was so easy I couldn't believe it.  I can not even begin to explain the freeing feeling I felt as I watched the kids all go on without my assistance.  This was Gwen's first experience doing it all by herself without the tandom and even without training wheels.  I have to admit I was skeptical that it would turn out successful.  I was confident we'd end up with a complainer, and me walking both their and my bike back to the car.  BUT it didn't even happen.  Not even close.  Gwen's little legs just kept on going and going.  Half of the time we were trying to catch up to her.  It was one of those days I had to soak in and enjoy. . . a day that ended up easier than I anticipated =0).  Another interesting fact that I keep meaning to mention is that Brad took off her training wheels the first day of the biking season, she started peddling and never looked back.  Way to go girl =0).  It was our first family ride of the year and I wish I could help you smell it somehow.  The forests in Maine smell amazing. . . really. . . amazing.

The Maine Jump

One day when Brad was biking, I took the kids over to the Maine Jump.  It was a welcome excursion and a great way to get the wiggles out.

Shriner's Circus |2012|

The circus was back in town last weekend.  It is one of those things that Brad and I love just as much as the kids.  Either we were really lucky or the clowns loved us because we caught so many balloons. The girls loved it and Beckham loved hitting people in the head with them. . . including a guy that sat next to us.  Every time I turned around Beckham had a balloon again tapping the same guy over the head and laughing.  With that smile I can't imagine they guy cared.  We got that funny wig also.  Everyone took a turn, but in the end, the kids got the biggest kick out of Brad wearing it. He, of course, was a good sport for them.

It was Beckham's first real time seeing clowns (that he can remember).  He was intrigued by their noses and wanted to touch all of them.  He was excited to learn that his nose also squeaked!  I think that is what I love about all of this so much.  The excitement over all of the little details.  Watching these little ones see simple things for the first time and feeling the magic.  I love the circus.