School's out.

I always have so many plans and intentions for the summer, I can hardly wait for the kids to be home again. We started out strong, with a visit to their favorite museum at BYU: the Bean Museum (which is actually the Monte L. Bean Museum, but which Matthew used to think was a museum of beans). I think they tout it as a life science museum, but it's a little more like a taxidermy exhibit. Very interesting, full of wild, exotic, rare animals, extremely child-friendly and educational...smells a little like formaldehyde. I'll tell you what, though; my children can hardly get enough of the place.

We've also gone to the BYU Museum of Art (have I mentioned how much I love living next to a university?) on a very exciting, very crowded family event day. The kids absolutely loved all the activities for the Walter Wick Exhibit--face painting, cookie decorating, building castles, creating bubble-blowers, playing musical instruments, and of course, the actual art pieces. Honestly, I prefer going to the museum on a regular, non-carnival day, but there is no denying that even Nate will remember this particular day more than our usual, quiet visits. I'm glad we went.

(After I took pictures of Matthew and Nate with their favorite exhibits, I learned that even non-flash photography of art pieces was not allowed.)

We've started swim lessons. Matthew, Jamie Beth, and Dallin have their lessons this week; Nate has his crazy-kid survival skills in a couple weeks, and is very disappointed every day when I strap him snugly into his stroller so he won't jump right into the pool. Here is a summary of each kid's reaction to swim lessons.

Matthew: "I don't need swim lessons; I know how to swim; I'm already good at this...I love swim lessons! Watch this, mom!"

Jamie Beth: "No, no, no, I'm cold, no, no, whimper, I can't, NO." Bless her nervous, timid heart. The gentle, patient teacher is able to get her underwater only by holding Jamie Beth in her arms and dunking together. Her backfloat is a study of frantic clinging and tense muscles.
Dallin: "Wow! I stayed underwater up to 16! Wow! I can fwoat on my back!" (Dallin's teacher--"My favorite part is the way he smiles...Dallin, come back here...Dallin, stay by the stairs until it's your turn."
Nathaniel: "Nate's turn for swim-swim! Nate's turn! I touch wa-wa! Mama, no stroller!"

It's funny everyday. And I think my legs are possibly turning a darker shade of white as I sit poolside for an hour daily.

And the kids' favorite activity, or maybe it's my favorite: A few days after real school ended, I reminded them that we would be having our fun! family! summer! school! a bit each day. (We actually do this during the school year as well, but they seem to think it's a less natural part of our routine as soon as the calendar turns to June. I don't know why. I'm sure it's fun, and it's certainly educational. After all, I enjoy our family school time.) So, they, led by Matthew, wanted to dub this learning time with a better name than school. After several suggestions, they decided on "Brainstorm" time. We try to have a half-hour every day of individual assignments--workbooks, journal-writing, puzzles, games, flashcards, and other activities. I know I sound like an uptight weirdo, but I swear they do have fun just as soon as they stop whining. And I know in my heart that if I were creative enough to just incorporate educational activities into the day, the kids would learn without complaining or even noticing. But, until I've reached that ideal, I know I can count on myself spending time teaching and learning with the kids much more regularly when I have it formally planned. They'll survive me, I hope.

And more summer, summer, summer. We watch our new, square-foot garden slowly grow. We take more frequent, longer walks. We stop at our neighbor's house--they are avid bird watchers and are teaching my children to sit quietly and watch the finches, quail, mourning doves, and occasional hummingbirds. We eat lunches on the back porch. I say, "Go play outside" a dozen times a day...and they go happily. We have more time for chores. More time for playing Zelda (umm...that does not include me, in case you're wondering). We eat Otter Pops and watch movies and sleep in sometimes (not Nate or Dallin). We read. We let other kids drop by to play, unannounced, unplanned. We love summertime.

(Now I feel more caught up, and possibly inspired to write shorter posts more frequently, rather than these long, rambling pieces once a month.)