Never a dull moment

We are well into summer without too many blog updates.  We haven't been up to much but our days have not been boring.  Here's a report:

I've packed up most the toys so the kids have become creative with what is out.  Pictured above is the tricycle and wagon trailer the boys rigged up.  When things are really quiet I know they're up to something and in most cases it is just good creative play, but not all the time.

I just posted about the hair cutting episode but I have to say the girls have not been the only trouble makers these past couple of weeks.

Peter has really taken to the spirit of adventure this summer by first putting all his suction cup arrows through the pencil sharpener.  Luckily no one was injured with them, not even when a couple boys were caught climbing all over the roof retrieving arrows.

Peter keeps his bow and arrows ready in the back of his pants but the front of his pants are usually bulging at the pockets.  I knew something smelled fishy one day so I ordered a pocket check and discovered he emptied a can of sardines, wrapped them in a paper towel and stuffed them in his pockets just in case he got hungry on his adventure.

That was the same day he dialed 911.  He tried to cover his tracks by unplugging the phones from their jacks.  This isn't the first time a child dialed 911 but usually they call right back to confirm all is well.  In this case they could not get through so the police were sent to the house.  By the time the police arrived Paul had kindly offered to take all the kids to the playground so I could take a nap.  I was about 5 minutes into my nap when I heard the doorbell ring and thinking it was the kids goofing off I ignored it.  But I couldn't sleep through the dog's barking so I headed down to see what was going on.  There was a police man walking around the back of the house communicating on a very loud walkie talkie.  I asked him if there was a problem and he informed me he was responding to a 911 call from our address.  He came in to check things out and we discovered the disconnected phones.  The house was a mess with stuff pulled of shelves for packing and piles of dirty dishes only because I was lazy.  I apologized for both the mess and the call then immediately called Paul and the kids home from the playground.  It only took a few minutes for Peter to admit his doings and even less for him to promise not to do it again.

But I'm glad he knows how to dial 911 because on another day James discovered Peter and William trying to build a fire in the backyard.  It was actually a rainy day but they found some dry grass clippings and piled them high under a huge golf umbrella.  They were successful in building a fire but so was James in putting it out when he discovered it only few minutes later.  

The trouble does not stop there.  On another day I spotted a suspicious garbage bag beyond the backyard and into the woods.  I couldn't imagine how or why it was back there, it actually kind of creeped me out.    Then as I was staring at it out the window I catch Peter creeping out from the neighbors bushes and into the woods towards the garbage bag.  Again it didn't take long for Peter to admit his doings, that he hauled the bag out of the garbage bin and into the woods because he was looking for a toy I may have thrown away.  It was a his solar power windmill that George had got a hold of and busted.  He never did find it but he lit up in describing to me how heavy the bag was and how it took him all morning to drag it into the woods. I guess I see all these happenings as normal kid stuff but I'll also take them as a cry for more attention.  

In other news, we've been visiting the neighborhood pool frequently but the kids have also found other ways to stay cool right outside our door.

During quiet time the kids have taken to Scratch and Khan Academy (our homeschool friends introduced us to them).  Thank goodness it keeps them quiet because George needs his rest as he is recovering from walking pneumonia.....and I need my rest after days of boxing and caring for a sick baby.

But mostly we are all getting anxious to get this move over with but frustrated we are stuck working out a little wrinkle before we can close.  Trying to stay calm, trying to stay patient and trying to simply walk through these moments, even the dull and painful ones.  It is not easy for me.  But I'm learning to do it and I think that is what life is all about.