The ratio is always the same: One Popsicle Equals One Bath.
being the fun aunt and the little sister
My sister had her 15 year reunion at St. Olaf this weekend, so I got to have her girls for two nights. It was awesome and also reminded me once again how hard it has been to transition from Aunt Bec with no kids to Aunt Bec with kids of my own. This is a warning to all of you readers who are aunties without kids of your own yet: LIVE IT UP! Before I had kids of my own, I was able to be all things to my nieces (especially my sister's kids...we lived in Montana for a season with them, and I made TONS of trips to visit even when we lived a 22 hour train ride away.)
The moment I had my own kids my ability to be all thing to these little girls shifted, and I'm still adjusting. I think they are too. Instead of being Super-Fun Aunt Bec, I have to do all sorts of things that tend to my own kids. Which makes me Not-Quite-As-Fun Aunt Bec.
This is just a shift I'm still trying to come to grips with. But again, if you are an auntie without kids of your own, savor this time. And know that things change a bit when you have your own.
This is unrelated, but a funny thing to recognize. My sister was with her college friends all weekend. And I adore her college friends. They're great people who I have gotten to know through weddings and parties and stories. And at age 33, I realized I totally fell into the little sister role again, pining for stories from Annika when she got back, asking for updates.
It's just funny to still be the little sister. Made me laugh a bit. I've been pining for stories and updates about Annika's friends since she was in the 5th grade. Wanting to know what they were doing, what they were talking about, what they're interested in etc..
Hilarious. I will always be the little sister. And I will always try super hard to be Super Fun Aunt Bec.
summertime things to do at home
-Paint on the driveway with big paint brushes and a bucket of water
-Wash things with a bucket of water and soap (the stroller, the cars, toys from the sand box)
-Get out the sprinkler and baby pools. Make an obstacle course.
-Make up plays, dances: Oak Tree Theater.
-Set up a tent and pretend camp.
-Pick flowers, make dandelion necklaces and crowns.
-Blow Bubbles: make huge bubbles with hoola hoops and kid swimming pools.
-Decorate bikes for a neighborhood parade.
-Use sidewalk chalk. Make race tracks, hopscotch, big art.
-Catch bugs in a jar.
-Make a terrarium.
-Wash the car.
-Paint the house with water buckets.
-Have a water balloon toss.
-Go fishing (for real or pretend over a sheet with clothespins attached)
-Go bird watching with a bird book.
-Build a fort over a clothesline. (my personal favorite)
-Have lunch over a campfire: hotdogs and smores.
-Make a frisbee golf course.
-Play croquet, bocce ball or badmitton.
-Target practice with water guns.
-Slide into a baby pool.
-Make forts out of big appliance boxes.
-Have a lemonade stand.
-Put a blanket down under the trees with a big bin of books and read.
-Have a picnic in a new location in your yard each week.
-Make cookies.
-Play in the rain with rain boots and umbrellas.
-Play board games outside on picnic table.
-Make a collage out of nature objects.
-Make cards for relatives.
-Have an indoor picnic on a rainy day.
-Give the kids the water hose in the sandbox.
-Fly a kite.
-Make paper airplanes and fly them.
-Throw a "very merry unbirthday" party.
And one of my very favorite websites to get lost in (careful, you'll be sucked in for hours!) is: Modern Parents Messy Kids. You'll find all sorts of fun ideas on this site like ideas for outdoor play spaces or this list of outdoor playtime ideas.
summertime things to do
I'm not sure what I mark as the official start of summer. Is it Memorial Day, June first, or the last day of school (ecfe)? Or is it the first picnic, the first popsicle, first boat ride, first ripe watermelon? I'm just not sure. But whatever it is that officially marks the start of summer, I believe it is here! Which is a little confusing because our peonies have yet to bloom, but based on all I listed above, SUMMER IS HERE!
My ecfe teacher made a gigantic list of things to do with kids during the summer. The list is awesome and at first I was going to make it into my summer bucket list. But then I typed it out below and decided this can be my "at some point while the kids are under 18 we'll do these things..." list. Because it's pretty huge.
I thought I'd share it as an awesome resource for those of you in the twin cities/south metro looking for something to do this summer. And Sunday afternoon as the kids napped for three hours (!!!) I spent some time creating some links for the list. Happy Summertime!
PARKS
Murphy's Landing in Shokopee (we love this place!)
Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater (can't wait to go here)
Antler's Park in Lakeville
Carleton College Arboretum in Northfield
St. Olaf College picnic on campus in Northfield
Centennial Lakes in Edina
Chutes and Ladders, Hyland Park Preserve in Bloomington
Lutz Railroad Garden in Eagan (3rd Sunday of the month, 1-4pm. Mark it down, Dad!)
Minihaha Falls
Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis
Zumbrota Covered Bridge, log cabin and playground (looks so fun for a day picnic)
STATE PARKS AND OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS
Afton State Park
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Sakatah State Park in Morristown
Whitewater State Park in St. Charles
William O'Brian tate Park in Osceola
Rice Lake State Park
Fort Snelling State Park
Lake City/Lake Pepin
NATURE CENTERS
Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington
Hyland Park Nature Center in Bloomington
Woodlake Nature Center in Richfield
River Bend Nature Center in Faribault
Thorncrest Farm in Dundas
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen
MUSIC AND SPORTS AND FOOD AND ZOOS AND FAIRS
Minneapolis Outdoor Music
St. Paul Saints Game (so excited to get to a game this summer)
Twins Game
Red Barn Pizza Farm in Northfield (great pizza, sort of spendy)
Farmer's Markets
Dundas Ball Park
Minnesota Zoo
Como Zoo
County Fairs
Valley Fair
MOVIES
Minneapolis Outdoor Movies
Centennial Lakes Outdoor Music and Movies
Lakeville Theatre (free kids movies on Wednesdays)
Elko Speedway Drive In (I'm so excited about this!!!)
Outdoor Movies and Concerts at Burnsville Civic Center
SWIMMING AREAS
Outdoor pools in Kenyon and Farmington
Northfield Swimming Pool
Faribault zero entry pool, fountains, playground, slides
Crystal Beach in Burnsville
Apple Valley Water Park (Ivar talks about the AV Water Park nearly every day...)
Cascade Bay in Eagan
Lake Minnetonka Swimming Pond
Lake Harriet (trolley rides, rose garden, music, beach. My favorite place in the summertime.)
Lac Lavon Park in Brunsville
SPLASH PADS
Kelley Park in Apple Valley
Civic Center Fountain Park in Burnsville
Minnesota Zoo
BIKE TRAILS
Cannon Falls to Redwing- 20 miles
Faribault Bike Trail- starts at DQ along hwy 60, trail goes to Sakatah State Park to Mankato
INDOOR
Mill City Museum
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Wild Rumpus Bookstore in Linden Hills, Minneapolis
Science Museum and Omni Theatre (museum closed Mondays)
Gymnastics open gym in Northfield
ABC Toy Store In Burnsville
Pump it Up in Burnsville
Red Balloon Books Store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul
Serengetti indoor water park in Owattona
Skateville in Burnsville
Nerstrand Meat Locker
Brunswick Zone in Lakeville
Edinborough Park in Edina
Good Times park in Eagan
Local Library
Water Park of America in Bloomington
Bowling
So what did we miss? Any glaring omissions that I forgot?!!
this week...
+ We finished all of the planting this week. Ivar put the corn kernels in each hole that Rory dug with the end of a pvc pipe. Rory planted the strawberries, pumpkins, squash, melons and lettuce. Have you seen Rory's logbook of what he is planting each day? And we put a bunch of sunflowers in front of the barn. I'm really excited about the sunflowers.
+ Rory and I hung my christmas present this week in a tree that overlooks our field and apple trees. This is just another victory in my goal to have a swing of some sort hanging from every tree on our property.
+ The kittens and cats continue to show off their mousing skills. Rory and I decided we would not want to die by the hand of a kitten. They really drag it out. I think the picture above was a chip monk. And perhaps most impressively was the day Velma, the mom, carried a bat into the garage with the wings flapped around her face. Gives me the shivers.
+ I've always been against double wide running strollers for their obnoxious size. Annika gave me hers a year ago and I thought we'd just store it for a while. Well. I am eating my words this week. We pulled it out and it is my favorite. The wheels are so big I can push it through the alfalfa out to the little orchard. It is awesome. It is so easy to maneuver. There are a whole lot of words to eat once you have kids of your own reaching each milestone. Lots and lots of words to eat.
+ Other than that, we've been holding our own sort of Honey Bee School each night after the kids go to bed. We've watched lots of youtube videos, read articles and watched a few movies. More on all that next week. I have so much to excitedly pass along.
what I know about you, elsie
I know you have left the house when I hear the kitchen door slam behind you. I know you are fearless when I find you standing on top of the kitchen table. I know you are up to something when I cannot hear you at all.
I know you are happy when you are singing sweet songs. I know you are witty from your clever naa naa joke. I know you are opinionated from the outfits you determinedly pick out to wear each day. I know you adore your brother from how hard you laugh with him. I know you two are going to be close by how little personal space you give each other. I know you will both be team players by how often I tell you to "work it out" each day.
I know you're going to challenge me all summer long to keep your hat on. I know your sweet skin is going to be a top concern of mine every single day. I know your enthusiasm based on your happy "yeah!" or "no!" I know you adore our farm life and all the animals and outside time that comes with it.
I know you are tender and strong, sassy and caring. I know you are full of personality and full of sweetness. I know you love me as much as I love you. You are my favorite little girl on the planet and I am so glad you're mine. And that's what I want you to know: how thankful I am that you are mine.
my dad is 70. SEVENTY!
A few days before his birthday my mom mentioned casually that this was dad's seventieth birthday. What in the world?!! How had I missed the memo? And how in the world could my dad be turning 70? Seven Zero! It actually did quite the deal on my own psyche. If my father is 70, the I must be sort of old too...
Mom and I talked and we decided to go low key. We'd invite the Anderson's over for a picnic. It sounded great. And then the day before the birthday she kept calling me and telling me who else she'd invited. And soon we had a legit party on our hands. Ivar was thrilled to be planning a birthday party for Grandpa Paul. He knew just what to get Grandpa for his birthday, "A Thomas Train from Target!" So the theme was set. And even better, my dad went to Party City before they came over and bought every Thomas plate, napkin, table cloth, bubble set, bucket and party blower the store had. Ivar had nailed it on the theme. Turns out, Grandpa Paul loves Thomas the Train!
Uncle Carl sat with Ivar at the kids table and they had a smashing time. Those two are quite the pals.
We made Grandpa Paul a cake with a 70 train track on it with a train car filled with skittles. I think Ivar may have eaten 70 skittles by the end of the night...
My whole life I've asked Dad what he wants for his birthday. He always replies, "world peace." Which was followed by a groaning, "daaaaaad, I can't get you that!" To which he'd say, "eh, just get me some whoppers and duct tape. You can never have enough duct tape." Which actually makes him the easiest guy to shop for.
It was a fun night celebrating a great guy. I told the story of when Mom and Dad dropped me off at the airport before I left for a semester in India. Dad leaned in and said, "Becca, when you're there, never forget..." And I thought he'd say something super spiritual here but instead he finished, "wherever you are, that's where you're at."
I was baffled by that comment. But days later, when I found myself beginning to feel a bit homesick, I remembered those words, "wherever you are, that's where you're at." And I honestly think I bypassed homesickness because I was able to be fully present right where I was. And I loved my semester in India and all of the experiences I had there because of it.
It's still some of my very favorite advice. I still think of it, remembering not to wish a moment away, a predicament, a obligation or a season of life. There's no room for escapism in those words. Enjoy where you're at. Because that's right where you are.
So Happy Birthday Dad! You are a wise seventy-year-old man!
this week at the grovestead
+ It is finally springtime in Minnesota. We really earned this one and I am celebrating every single leaf. Rory planted tulip bulbs in the four raised beds and they are stunning. All winter long I looked out at the snow piled on top of those beds eager for the day they'd be full of color. That day is here!
+ At breakfast I told Ivar about a plant that has "perfect little heart-shaped flowers." He was so interested and curious and then absolutely delighted when he saw it by the chicken coop. And watching him so excited about such amazing pink hearts on a bush made me so delighted. Wonders are all around. Ivar helps me see them anew.
+ The kids love to pick dandelions and we've got a lot of them. Which, just so you know, is so important for honey bees! Dandelions are some of the first springtime food for bees, and spraying them eliminates this food source. Consider yourself off the hook on the fight against dandelions.
+ The road grader went by while on a walk with the kids. This is always cause for much celebration and thrill. We waved to the driver and he waved back at us...all four times he went back and forth on our road.
+ We're giving the honey bees a week to get settled into their new home. In the meantime, I have been online ordering all of my gear. And reading up on varroa mites and colony collapse.
+ Twelve apple trees will be delivered this week. We have spent lots of time out in the far corner of our field marking off exactly where we want the holes dug for each tree. This little orchard will be a labor of love, and I have a feeling we're going to love it. That part of our property has always been my very favorite spot on our land. From the start I felt something special was to go out there.
+And finally, Elsie is a woman of very few words, so you can imagine my surprise when she made up her own knock knock joke today. Ivar had been making up silly knock knock jokes for a while in the car and then Elsie gave it a whirl. "Naa Naa," she said. Who's there? "Mama!" mama who? "MamaDada MamaDada!!!" And then she laughed at her wit and told her clever joke over and over and over again.
becca the bee keeper
There has been a very exciting development around here. Our bee keeper who housed some of his bees on our land last year had too many paying clients and not enough bees. So he didn't have bees to put on our property. But we really want bees. And we want honey. And we want honeycomb for candles and soap. And even last year I had told Rory I wanted to learn how to care for our own bees. I'm sincerely interested.
And when we met Andrew Peterson after a concert he told us he had bees and that we "really had to do it on our own." And the way he said it made me think, we had really better do it on our own.
So we talked to Adam, our bee keeper over burgers at our favorite burger place and he actually offered to take this year to teach us and get us up and running with our own bees. He is the nicest guy, seemingly excited to pass on what he knows and I have vowed in my heart to be his number one student. I am going to try so hard.
And that's the fun thing. This is my thing. The bees are my deal on this farm. Rory seems to have a enough going with the garden, the orchard, the maple syrup, the animals and his actual job that he wasn't as game to take on a whole new trade.
But I was. Because at age 33, the thought of picking up an entire new trade is exhilarating to me. Just as I found absolute peace with being a stay-at-home mom, I have now added another title: bee keeper. And that feels good. Like adding a new title at a job you already enjoy.
So I spent the weekend in California reading a book on organic bee keeping cover to cover. And what I learned is that I have a whole lot to learn. And how glad I am to have Adam, ready to mentor me all season, passing along everything he has learned throughout his years of bee keeping.
Bees don't make me nervous. They never have. Which is good, because they can sense a persons anxiety, and may feel threatened by that anxiety and sting that anxious person. The goal is to be completely calm, relaxed, using smoke just enough...not too much, not too little.
I had on a jacket with hood and long gloves and didn't get stung. And today was a big day. They were moved from their nuc box into their new boxes. Rory will probably do a step-by-step (or maybe I will...) over on the grovestead sometime. It was really amazing. Loud and fascinating.
Perhaps the most story-worthy of the whole experience was that just before Adam showed up I was pushing Elsie in the swing. And I was thinking about how calm and peaceful I needed to be before I went near the bees. Ivar was walking towards our peonies and I saw an s,n,a,k,e right in front of him. I can hardly even type the letters without getting the chills. In college I had to put post it notes in my biology books whenever there was a picture of a, you know.
I have a life goal not to pass my fear of those things onto my children. So I tried to act really casual, pointed it out to Ivar like it was super fun. Got Elsie out of her chair and told Ivar we could go watch a show. I got in the house with a screaming Elsie who was not done swinging (she never is) and felt adrenaline pulsing through my body. I was completely pitted out and had the shivers every time I thought of the thing.
And then I had to go charm some bees.
Thankfully our neighbor girls came over and assured me that they had never seen an animal of that kind in this area before. So I decided to claim that as truth. That this little guy was an abnormality and just as soon as he meets my husband, he will meet the end of the shovel. For all of our sakes, I hope we never see him again.
And in the meantime, you'll find me standing in a swarm of honey bees.
To each his own.
unplugged
On Friday I flew to San Francisco by myself to see our friends John and Shannon. I didn't bring my laptop. And my phone had no coverage at their house. I was completely unplugged. Shannon and I went for a few walks, shared a lot of great meals and mostly talked about everything. I had told her I was ready for some good soulful conversation, and that is exactly what we had.
When she first picked me up we went and had lunch and then walked around a little lake on the dirt path that took us through the redwoods. It was really stunning. And then we went back to her house and each took a nap. She had scheduled it into our plans. Nap time. It felt so luxurious. Followed by a drive to a great town for an incredible dinner.
Being unplugged for that long, away from my email, facebook, instagram, blogs, my blog, was so awesome. I read so much. I sat out in she sunshine overlooking the glorious hills in their backyard. I wrote with a pen on paper and got a few thoughts worked out.
It was a sweet time with a very dear friend. I came home with a full heart, grateful and glad. And I think that's what Rory was feeling too, when I drove back up the lane: grateful and glad to see me and ready for a nap time of his own.
mother's day
This family picture above is a new favorite of mine. Look at all that love for the mama! We had a great mother's day. Except that I didn't get to see my own mom! The Harrington's had last minute plans to get to Jedd's grandpa's funeral so we got to join the Groves for some sweet family time and one amazing buffet.
These pictures make me so happy. Kirby was three when I worked for Sara and Troy. And now I have my own three year old who wears stripes and adores his big cousins.
Rory brought tomato plants for all of the mama's. A fun tradition he has started. Here is Sara and Mike Wozowski. We typically bring big lilac bouquets for everyone but everything is so late in Minnesota...they aren't even budding!
And in a crazy twist, I woke up on Sunday morning with absolutely no voice. Even a whisper was hard to hear. So I sat next to Lisa and whispered into her ear when I wanted to say something. Which proved to be a lot like a game of telephone with lots lost in translation. Many a laugh at our end of the table...
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