What I Love This Week - Clicky Markers

The item that I love this week is seemingly impossible to find. I bought these a long time ago, and have no idea where. Staples? Target? Dollar Tree? I think they've been discontinued, because I can't find them online anywhere.



These are retractable markers by Foohy. I've had these stashed away with our art supplies for a long time and got them out this week to keep on hand with our summer reading chart materials. One by one, Clark has brought them all over to his drawing table.



He's never been very interested in drawing or coloring. He doesn't like using regular markers, and now I think it's the caps that have been holding him back (can't get them off, can't get them back on, they fall on the floor and roll away), because he's drawing like crazy this week. The pens are easy for him to click open and closed and did I mention, WASHABLE! Hot dog!

I bought this easel pad by accident - I thought it was better quality paper, but it's just newsprint. However, it fits perfectly on our little drawing table and Clark can easily flip to the next page when he fills one up. I love happy accidents!

Teddy Bear

I've been feeling a lot of love for the middle kid lately.



He's the one who will most likely flop on my lap if I sit on the couch with my arms stretched out. I love that he still lets me scoop him all up in my arms.

In Kindergarten, he made a magazine all about Mom. Three times he noted "snuggling" as our favorite thing to do.

I love his inventive mind, and how seemingly simple all his ideas would be to execute, if only he had the right materials. I love his desire to collect, even when it makes me crazy (his newest collection: broken things.) He still loves to dress up and imagine himself as a spy or a pirate or a superhero.



He's been on a kick with the spontaneous hugs lately. While Dora was at camp last week, we got to play baseball and he ran up and gave me a hug in between pitches. "Just because I love you," he said.

And I woke up to this note the other morning:



I love that Dad is an afterthought, especially since Clark is all about Dad, Dad, Dad, all day long.



His sister is a big fan, too!

Pigtails

Always my favorite hairstyle, but I'm not allowed to do pigtails as often as I used to. But today ... well, I think giant pigtails are in order on Flag Day.

The kids' school has a Flag Day ceremony every year. All the kids gather outside by the flag and each class sings a patriotic song. For some reason, this is kept secret from parents ... during our first year at school, I found out about it when it was on the news. The second year, I was prepared, and hung out in the parking lot after drop off to watch with a handful of other parents in the know.

Dora and Theo had both been practicing their class songs for this year (Grand Old Flag and Yankee Doodle, respectively) and made Uncle Sam hats and flags to wave. Unfortunately, Theo was under the weather this morning, so I didn't get to see today's program. But I'm imagining that giant pigtails totally rocked.

Baking Friday - PB Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I found this recipe here, but apparently it's originally from Martha ... and it's a good one. I made these for pool team practice yesterday. They are quick to make as promised - from mix to cooling rack in 45 minutes.



Oh, boy, is this a good recipe. I used my small scoop which made just over 50 cookies. I sampled one before guests arrived and guess how many were left over? Two. Two lonely cookies. I ate one more and saved the other for Dora. I was hoping to have some left over for our babysitter tonight, but no luck. Back to the kitchen ...

Off to Camp

Dora's gone to her first Girl Scout campout this weekend!



Is it strange that I'm more excited than sad? Jeff gets emotional about milestones (Wahh! They're not babies any more!) but I've always been just the opposite (See what they can do NOW? That's awesome!) I wasn't sad when they went off to preschool, because I knew they had excellent care and they would have a wonderful time.



And I wasn't sad to see her off tonight, but so excited, because I remember how much I loved Girl Scout campouts. Songs by the fire, walking in the dark with a flashlight, waking up to the quiet early morning. Hanging out with friends for the weekend. Feeling the freedom of being on my own. (And yes, I'm sure that these are fuzzy memories, and I'm overlooking things like spiders and the fear of having my underwear stolen and hung out on the porch and many other horrible things.)

Good and bad, I'm looking forward to hearing all about it tomorrow!

Blast Off

Jeff insisted on stopping at the Air & Space museum before we left the city on Sunday.



"I have a SON! I can teach him about SPACE!"



Really, I don't know who was the bigger kid here.



What is it with boys and rockets? Oh yeah, now I get it.

DC Weekend Part 2

We had a great time wandering around the American History museum on Sunday. The Hall of Presidents is still my favorite part.



America on the Move was a close second. Here's Jeff and Dora lamenting the inclusion of a PA Turnpike landmarker.



Kids' best part of the day? That would be the giant rocks.