An End to a Social Summer

Carrie had to work a bridal show, so Shane got to hang out with me all day. Only it wasn't just me.

First, church. Shane reacquainted himself with some school friends from kindergarten. We'll get to see who's in his 1st grade class this week!

Afterwards, Dylan and Eli. There were a ton of Legos on the floor when we arrived.

John and I hung at it longer than the boys. I made an odd looking Mad Cat and John built a suit for Ace McCloud from Centurions (Oh, the nostalgia!).

I don't know which kid started the head (or if it was meant to be a head), but I used it to make another robot....which Eli was ready to smash with a hammer.

Krista got back and showed us the most amazing pillow. One side was full of sequins and you could draw patterns by brushing your hand across them. I'd never sleep.

After a rendezvous with Carrie to deliver something she forgot, Shane and I heard a knock on the front door.

Guess who?

Tay came down while I was checking on the chickens, and asked if we could visit the creek before she moved. Her mom wouldn't let her go unless I was there, so we all went exploring.

They all got wet. Very, very wet. And muddy.

I encouraged them to go up to the playground for a spin cycle. I wanted them to dry off, but it turned into a party. A couple other families had planned a picnic.

Everybody got along, ran, climbed, and begged me to spin them faster.

Tay wanted to go a new way further down the creek when we left.

For a change, Raheem was shouting "Wait up!" Tay and Shane had shoes they could wear in the water (Which I encourage due to glass and rocks). Raheem did not.

My game is to stay dry. I hopped from rock to rock until the rocks ran out. I didn't let Shane wander further out of my sight from there. The older kids went a little further.

Shane started throwing rocks from up on high. The others thought it was a great idea when I called them back.

We caravaned back as a team. Rah tends to run ahead as if it's a competition. Sometimes, Tay takes the bait in the circle, but overall she's more aware of Shane and keeping him in the loop. Regardless of the cause, I make a point to compliment the kids when they stick together or check on one another.

They used the hose to wash off the mud when we got home.

Which turned into a block party when Henry and Sam came out.

I only intended for us to make a quick trip, but somehow it kept evolving. I'm beat. Makes for fun summer memories for the kids, at least.

We're Back + Secondary Fermenter (A Double-Header)

Home again. The street is unchanged. Shane, Tay, and I went down to say, "Hi" to Silas and Monica. Zora ran around with another dog up the street and Raheem came out to play.

And I needed to shift my beer to the secondary fermenter. Ideally, I would have been taking gravity readings this whole time.

I wasn't.

It looks like something went on with the beer at least.

I cleaned and sterilized my pump and transferred everything over. Then I cleaned out the leftover gunk.

It's not quite a gallon. I'm not sure it will turn out, but I'm not sure it will be skunked either.

It should take another couple of weeks in the secondary jug and then I have to bottle it. Bottling will help naturally produce carbonation.......in two to three weeks.

This is a much longer process than I counted on. I may start another round when I move to bottle. All the gear will be sterilized anyway, and it seems smart to layer things.

The Final Days of Summer

The mornings are quiet. Once the afternoon hits, the fun starts and doesn't stop until bedtime. The pattern has held all week.

Shane and Tae rode bikes to start the week.

Here's Shane recounting how "AWESOME" his close encounter with a parked car was. He swerved like "VRREEE!" and it was "COOL!"

And here's Tae holding a bike while riding a bike. Shane was too tired to ride back up the hill.

Tuesday ended with more Tae time. Her mom and I talked for a little bit. Tae's moving at the end of the month and has said she's going to miss hanging out on the circle.

The kids were stalking crickets in this shot.

Wednesday, quiet time ended with a trip to the Discovery Museum. Our chicken coop is not nearly as clean as theirs.

We bumped into a family from NC who is moving to our area.

The kids hit it off and we stayed three hours. That's long enough I had to pay for parking.

I'm glad we stayed though. The mom, Ginger, and I exchanged information. The kids will probably make more friends once they start school, but for now they at least know someone in the area. The older daughter, Lilly, wants to learn more about Pokemon cards.

Raheem was at the door when we got home for lunch. I asked him to wait a second, so I could settle Shane down for some lunch.

He came back five minutes later and sat on the porch. I let him in.

Henry was outside and we played hard until Shane's belt test (Well, the kids did).

Thursday, I told Shane the creek ban was over.

I noticed a black snake inches from my shoe (Those are the good ones). I sent Carrie a text saying, "You don't see these in Ireland!"

Raheem greeted us when we stepped back onto our street. The boys tried to play Monopoly together. I half-pretended to read a book in the other room and listened in. They're a funny pair. Shane is 100% sure of everything he says.....even the made up stuff. Raheem will call him out on it some.

I went ahead and let them use the hose again after a while.

Shane's fascinated with where the water goes. He wants to look down the gutter.

And through the storm drain.

And lay in the street (It was warm).

I like it when the boys push each other's buttons, but not in a mean way. Here, Shane said, "Give me the hose!" and Raheem gave it to him....just not in the way Shane expected.

Next, Shane learned that holding up his arms and making tough noises does not block water.

They worked it out and there were no hard feelings. I didn't say a word.

I took Shane to Pokemon night next. We were early birds. The family we met the other day had wanted to come, but had to return to NC a day early.

Which was fine, because Shane was happy to play anyone his size.

The crowd started to pick up quickly.

Shane won his second match by talking nonstop. I heard the older boy say, "Can you please finish your turn?" as Shane elaborated upon his entire thought process and how his cards worked. The boy eventually forfeit. Oops.

Shane was having a hard time sitting down by his third match. I'd left him on his own most of the time and stayed out of his games. He needs to fly solo to be more independent in the game and socially. The Pokemon League is a very accepting and patient crowd, so it's a good place for that.

I spent a lot of time talking to the grandpa, Dick, of Shane's third opponent, Britt. Dick had thought the cards were more like baseball trading cards and hadn't realized it was a game. We loaned them one of our decks to play with. Dick and I talked and he asked questions about all sorts of things in the store (It turned out he was talking to the right geek: I knew all about everything he asked about...)

Britt turned out to have a lot of cool cards. He just hadn't known how to build a deck or play.

And that's how we spent the final days of summer.

Not pictured: I introduced Shane to X-Men Evolution and The Amazing Spiderman cartoons, because I get sick of Pokemon. He wants to talk about it all day. I can go to the bathroom and he'll run to the door to give me the play by play if he's watching an episode. I usually don't even feign interest, but nevertheless he persists.

Also not pictured: Raheem ran up as we got out of the car to say good-night.

Also also not pictured: Shane went to bed at a decent hour. I stayed up too late and I'm going to pay for it tomorrow.

Waterworks

I let the kids break out the hose Monday. Shane wanted to fill up his new water guns. All I asked was for Shane to ditch his shirt and shoes, and then to share.

The hose became the main attraction.

Shane wanted to make a river, so he could see how it flowed down the street. Have I mentioned that water fascinates Shane?

I stayed back, as usual. Kids are supposed to play. It's fun, healthy, and how they learn. I want the kids interacting as much as possible with each other. If I join in, at least one of the boys will latch on.

I did give them an idea. "Wouldn't it be neat if the hose could hang from the basketball hoop like a shower?"

Then I sat back and waited.

The boys figured out all the rest.

They wanted me to help at one point, but I said, "Have fun!" I wanted them to problem solve and get creative.

The drive-through, hose car wash was all them.

Lifetime Bible Verse for me: "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

John was talking about Jesus when some people asked if John was jealous Jesus was gaining disciples. I believe it applies to teaching and to parenting. It's my job to guide, but in the end kids have to come into their own.

Anyway, I bet the kids remember this for a while.

Shane wanted to see where all the water was going before I shut it down.

In typical fashion, Tae showed up when I was about ready to go in. I want any kid who shows in our circle to feel welcome, so we stayed out (and I want their parents to know that they're in a safe, supervised area when my child is out, at least).

Shane showed off his bike riding skills. Somehow, it became a game to ride bikes past me for a high five.

One of our new neighbors killed a copperhead while we were out. It was pregnant. He showed the kids before he threw it into the foliage behind. I've seen a baby black snake before, but those are good to have around. Copperheads are dangerous.

Henry had long since gone in by that point. The waterguns and hose came out for one last hurrah before I took Shane in for the night.