Kids and Caterpillars

After driving back from Lex's dance class today, the girls pleaded to stay outside and play.  The thought of having to go inside to referee fights, listen to whining and hungry kids, and prepare dinner was making me cranky so I thought about it.  Since the stupid heat was no longer burning my eyelids, I agreed.  When I was getting Sayer out of the car, some movement by my foot caught my eye.  It was the furriest, fastest caterpillar I've seen in our yard since we moved in.  Of course I called the girls over to investigate.

The two littles spent a good amount of time squealing and pointing while Lex tried to coax the caterpillar onto a leaf.  Sayer was particularly interested in where the bug went and followed his sister everywhere, trying to see. 

At one point, it fell into the garden and I truly thought he was going to go headfirst in after it.

After awhile, Lex got brave... sort of.  She'd let the caterpillar crawl on her hand or arm and then she'd start giggling uncontrollably.

And every time she giggled, the caterpillar would slip off onto the ground again, she'd squeal, and Sayer and Caly would crack up. 

They did it over and over and over, cracking up every. single. time. 

Lex was pretty proud of herself for finally picking up the caterpillar and by the end of the day, she was letting it crawl all over her arm, still giggling, but not flailing anymore. 

I just loved watching my three play together without fighting, arguing, crying, whining, and best of all?   Watching their faces light up like this:

I'm a blessed Mama... no doubt. 

Sometimes It Is All Rainbows

Two days ago, the girls and I perched on the couch and looked out of our picture window at some crazy rainstorms.  I spent half of the time pulling C out of the window sill and half of the time answering Bean's countless questions about where thunder came from.  Eventually, the girls lost interest in the drenching downpour and galloped off to find something new to get into entertain themselves.

I happened to glance up a few minutes later, surprised to see bright sunshine where just moments before there were pouring sheets of rain.  The rain had tapered off, but I was delighted to see this:

 

I called Bean and C back to the window and needless to say, Bean was enthralled.

"Mama?  Did God make that rainbow just for ME?!" 

He might have made the rainbow for her, but He made her for me. 

Summer Rule #1

Life is ever so much more fun if you're outside barefoot and (almost) naked.

If you ask her, I think she'd agree.

 
Hey, she can get away with it.  I, however much I might like to, can't.  So we do what we can.

(Pictured in a Rumparooz one-size diaper in the "Lil' Monster" print... we're pretty in love with these)

Caterpillars

At three and a half, my oldest girl is decidedly girly.  And despite our best efforts, she hates bugs.  HATES 'em.

But apparently, if they have fur, they're alright.

And you know, so long as she doesn't start bringing home hairy spiders and asking if they can stay in her room as a pet, I think we're ok there.

 

(Because Mama is brave and doesn't really mind an occasional spider,  but hairy ones?  Um, they can stay outside, mmmkthanks).

She's Going To Have To Get Over It

C's my little dare devil.  If she needs to get down off of the couch and I'm not fast enough?  She gets down on her own, falls, and wants to do it over again. 

Even before she started taking steps, she was a climber.  Yesterday, she climbed up the side of a small play set on our front deck and managed to slide herself down.  I'm not sure Bean did that until she was two.

But the girl hates grass.

She has grass-phobia. 

 We're trying to get her acclimated through the immersion method.

She's not amused.

I never realized how powerful a 1 year old's ticked off face could be.  Hers is a good one.  Look at that disdain.

And despite our best efforts...

She still hates grass.  Loves the outside, but hates grass.  Hey, we're working on it.

A Walk Through Our Garden

When we moved, we inherited a lovely set of flowering bushes and plants all over our property.  Considering that neither Shaun nor I are master gardeners, it's been an adventure in discovery as things randomly bloom throughout the spring and the summer.

 

The first to bloom in our yard have been the Bleeding Hearts.  I know they have a different name, but I haven't bothered to look it up.  These are probably my favorite.  I love the delicate drop off of the flower.  And if you catch them after it rains, the waxy leaves bead the water into crystal clear drops that fall off in every direction at the slightest touch.

 

We also have a huge lilac bush that our other neighbor claims is blooming for the first time in years.  Apparently, they hacked the crud out of this one and never let it get big enough to bloom.  The flowers aren't much to look at, but they smell absolutely heavenly.  Funny, too.. right before they bloomed, I told Shaun that I wanted a lilac bush for my birthday.  The smell!  Oh, my. YUM.

  

Azaleas have been in every yard I've ever lived in for as long as I can remember.  My grandparents had lovely azaleas in every color and we'd spend lazy spring days charming the blooms into makeshift flower crowns and dancing around the backyard.  Our yard has pink and red so far.  Bean was delighted with the pink tones and I offered to cut her a few sprigs for her room.  Unfortunately, her delight was short lived when she discovered the ants that they need to help them open.  I'm working on her, but she is hugely disgusted with bugs.

 

And of course, every yard has their share of dandelions.  The scourge of a fastidious lawn keeper, these are magic to the three year old.  Every year I wonder if the fascination with the little balls of puff with fade and every year I'm pleasantly surprised with the captivated expression on my girl's face as she dances around the blowing seeds.

For awhile, our yard was carpeted in tiny purple flowers.  I think they're violets, but the neighbors all call them Johnny-Jump-Ups.  To Bean, the yard was decorated just for her.  We couldn't come into the house or head out without her picking at least a few for me.  I can't deny that I was really sad when we finally cut the lawn and they disappeared.  Until next year.  Thankfully, a few rogue flowers popped up in our side beds and I'll be enjoying their rich color for awhile longer. 

 And these aren't in our yard, but tulips are my favorite, so I couldn't resist going across the street to take a few pictures.  The color in the inside of these flowers are astounding.  It's amazing to me that a flower with such a short life can be so filled with finely painted details.  The outside of the leaves remind me of fingerprints.

 

 

They make me happy, every one.