Random questions...

Me again. A few random questions for you:

1. As little boys become bigger, where do you (clothes) shop for them? To date, I've generally been hitting our local gently used shop and places like Gymboree, Gap Kids and the like. But. For boys at least, they appear only to go up to size 8 or so with any regularity. Where do you go once the boy is past size 8? (Note: Having the three boys, we tend to mainly buy clothes for Noah and pass them down. Fortunately, this appears to go over well with the other two who can't wait to wear particular clothes they've seen on their brother. Given all this, though, we also tend to try to buy higher quality clothes when we can so they'll last longer...for instance, the clothes I buy at Target don't tend to make it past one boy.)

2. If you participate in scrapbooking challenges (where the challenge is to create a layout), do you prefer month long challenges or shorter (like 2 weeks perhaps)? Why?

3. What good books have you read lately? I'm in need of some more ideas to get through the summer...trying to institute some silent reading time for everyone this summer that will carry over into the school year once I get it established better. (To clarify...I'm looking for book suggestions for me, not the boys. :) Thanks!)

So. It's rainy here...which fostered a lovely lazy day attitude today. We picked up the ice cream the boys helped make yesterday during our homeschool field trip to a local ice cream place and then took the boys to see "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" in the theater (which they loved). No other big plans and it feels nice. ;)

FYI, I feel like we're in a transitionary stage right now...winding down from the school year (though our homeschooling will officially continue through the end of June) and activities and trying to start up our summer routines. As I get more situated, I'm sure I'll have more to post. For instance, I expect to have 13 layouts due for assignments...and more that I hope to finish for my own sake...in the next few weeks...so hope to have work to share soon. :) In the meantime, I'd really, really appreciate any and all replies to my questions above! Thanks!!

A photo recap of May thus far...

Me again. Sorry I've not been the best blogger this month. :) Here's a look at what I've been up to...

The month started off with a visit from Grandma Nancy and bike rides and sprinkler play (this is the first time we'd used this one and the boys were delighted):

The older two, obviously, were having a blast. Micah, on the other hand, was rather apprehensive to start with but gradually warmed up to it all (notice, btw, the pudge on him compared to the ribs you can see on the other two, LOL!):

That weekend, we had Noah's First Communion. He was disinclined to smile (since he was missing a soccer game for it). We made an agreement whereby it was okay to not smile, so long as he didn't frown. This is him not frowning:

After the ceremony (which went nicely), the sun came out and moods improved. Managed to take a few shots outside (though Nathan and Noah were quick to ditch the ties):

Grandma Nancy had to head home on Mother's Day but the boys couldn't wallow too long, since Nathan's cousin Theresa showed up the next day. :) She works for Ringling Bros. Circus (she's the seamstress with this particular show...they have three shows that travel around the country) and managed to get us tickets for the show in Loveland (not far away):

Beyond the show, itself, which was a hit with the boys (who have seen two other Ringling Bros. circuses in the last few years since Theresa began working with them), the boys always love the motorcycle globe. They take this cool metal globe and somehow manage to fit numerous riders on bikes inside at the same time...the riders circle the globe and a brave, brave woman stands in the middle (in this case, the head rider's wife):

Knowing people came in handy, as the boys were actually able to go inside the globe with the head rider after the show:

Sadly, though, all good things must come to an end, and we said our goodbyes to Theresa the next day. :( The day after that, we had our final soccer games of the official season (still have the tournament at the end of the month). The day started off overcast (perfect end to our Saturday weather luck for the season, LOL) but Asher didn't mind:

Nor did Micah, who capitalized on his little brother status pretty much after every game of both big brothers all season long to weasel a treat. ;) Have to admire his donut eating technique:

Yes. He just eats off the top layer. The few times we buy donuts, I find these poor bottom halves all over the place, LOL! Anyhow, by afternoon and Noah's game, the sun had come out and it was a good game:

We had our last day of Options on Monday then enjoyed a fabulously un-busy day yesterday:

Technically, we'd been scheduled to attend the local Water Festival with our homeschool group, but when it came to it, I just couldn't muster the energy. :) So. We stayed home and played in the front yard instead...filled up this little pool (that we'd bought last year for the bubble birthday party we had) with water so the boys could load their own water guns and miscellaneous squirty things on their own (and at the same time). Lots of laughter and a great way to spend the afternoon! No. I don't have any clue why they felt it necessary to "pose" for the camera, LOL!

Whew. So. That's what's been going on in a nutshell. Plenty more to come, I'm sure. In the meantime, I'm catching up on stuff and have at least a few big projects in mind that I'm totally excited about and hope to share this summer...stay tuned. :)

Two things...

First. We didn't raise caterpillars into butterflies this spring (have more than enough going on already, LOL!) but check out my post at the Prism blog today for a cool new layout I just finished about our last butterfly experience! Here's a sneak:

Second. It's the middle of May. I have no clue how that happened. Just to illustrate how my month's been going, here's what we've had so far:

1 First Communion (and the last religious ed class and communion rehearsal), 5 soccer games (and 7 soccer practices and the preparation of all the soccer pictures, trophies and coach gifts for the two teams), 1 Spring Show-with a performance by each Noah and Asher-at Options (and the two days of Options so far this month along with making and delivering the year end gifts for the 6 teachers), 1 book fair (another later today), 1 field trip to see the Little Shop of Physics at the local college (boys love this), 2 houseguests (Grandma Nancy was here the first week and Nathan's cousin Theresa is here this week), 1 trip to the circus (Theresa works for Ringling Bros. and got us tickets!), 3 layout assignments due and completed, 1 Mother's Day quietly celebrated, 2 days of music/piano classes (and the daily practices that go along with that for the oldest two), 1 afternoon spent initiating the new front yard sprinkler, and all the homeschooling and housework that goes along with two weeks. Oy.

And here's what I know is coming still before the month is over:

2 more soccer games (and the end of season stuff that I'm in charge of), 1 soccer tournament (with 3 guaranteed games), 3 or 4 more soccer practices, last day of Options for this year, 1 local homeschool group monthly planning meeting (and the resulting newsletter that I'll then put out), 1 Water Festival field trip with our homeschool group, 1 tour of a local ice cream company (again with our homeschool group), 2 more music classes, 2 Lego robotics practice sessions, 1 end of year picnic with our homeschool group, more layouts due, 1 Memorial Day weekend, registration for swim lessons and, incredibly, the fall soccer season, and...again...all the homeschooling and housework that goes with those two weeks. Yeah. Really.

Whew. So, happy middle of May to you! Hope your month is going well. I need to go finish editing soccer pictures and will hopefully be back this weekend to catch you up on some pictures...

It must be fate...

Odd. I've had two completely separate sources point out this awesome new kit club/concept to me in the past 24 hours, so it must mean that I'm meant to share it with you! :) If you'd like to win one of the kits I'm talking about, check out the Prism blog for a giveaway...but hurry, it ends Thursday! (If you'd like a bit of the behind the scenes story, check out this post...very cool!)

Whew. Still busy with lots to catch up on...will work on that...later. ;)

Free tags!

Yes, I'm still here. :) Yesterday, I took some awesome shots of the boys running through the sprinkler in the front yard for the first time this year...will work on posting some of those soon. (Yup, 178 more pics to sort through, LOL!) Between that and the bike ride we took just before that (Grandma Nancy borrowed Nathan's bike Wednesday on our ride but walked yesterday due to technical difficulties), I, by the way, got a bit more sun than I should have. ;) Not horrible, but definitely more than I'd gotten in a long time. (Gotta find some sunscreen today, LOL!) In any case, Grandma Nancy's visit is going nicely, soccer continues, Noah's first communion is this weekend and the sun continues to shine. :)

And, because I'm a sucker for journaling tags, I'll share with you some free ones that were posted today. I love the teacher appreciation book she managed to pull together in a week!

Okay, back to everything here...happy Friday to all!