Big brothers are the best!

You'll never know how happy this little girl was to go hunting with her KK.

They didn't have any luck, but she was so excited when they got back. We were already at the table eating supper and she rushed in and told us all about it in the sweetest and most precious way! I wouldn't trade anything for these moments, and for having a 15 yr old son who loves to spend time with his baby sister.


- Posted using my iPhone

The Last Time

"The Last Time"

The above article, posted by one of my Facebook friends, has made me cry and really think about how quickly this season of motherhood truly passes by.  My KK turned 15 this month, and watching him grow into a young man has made me very emotional lately.  I can truly say that I love this stage of his life, just like I have all the others, but the brevity of it all has become such a reality to me!  The article is by a mother who has diligently recorded all the "first" (as I have), but it struggling to remember the "lasts".

When was the last time he wore a toy watch?

When was the last time he had all his baby teeth?

When was the last time he sat in Jason's lap?

When was the last time he wore cute pajamas?

When was the last time I tied a blanket on him for a cape?

When was the last time he gave me a thumb's up?

When was the last time he kissed his sister goodbye?

When was the last time he drank from a sippy cup?

When was the last time he dressed like an Indian?

When was the last time my boy posed in a completely undignified, silly way for me?

I am going to treasure every second of these next few years with my KK

Who knows when I'll wash his clothes and prepare his meals for the last time, before handing him over to a young woman, who will take over my duties?  (pass the Kleenex!)

:-)

Here are some videos of the kids playing at the assisted living home. Lots of fun!

You Want a Knuckle Sandwich?

My Bear of a Blog

Well, it's spring. The bears are coming out of hibernation, and it's time my own blog came out of hibernation too. I've been pretty overwhelmed the past few months from many different angles in life, and I just had to focus on the essentials for a while.

I have truly missed blogging, although I don't think anyone else even noticed I had quit LOL. Here's a little update on what's been going on at the Stringer household:

KK has grown a foot and gets more handsome every day!

My sweet girl turned 12!

Seth is still cutting up dead stuff (see cow eye below)

Bub is still saving the world from Nazis and Muslims

Summer has discovered Dorothy!

And for something pretty funny....I was preparing to send in my older version of Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra that KK did for 8th grade for the newer auto-grading version they just released so I'll have it for my future students. For this exchange, it is required to send in your old, used textbook. As I was getting my package ready, I scanned through the book and noticed the last page. My little comedian tends to doodle all through his school work. I bet poor Greg and Shawn (the Teaching Textbook authors) will be surprised when they see this! :-)

So Much Fun!

My mother-in-law and I took the big kids to 2 assisted living centers yesterday to play piano. One of the centers was an Alzheimer's center. They were scheduled to play for 30 minute sessions, which is the first time they had played for such a long period of time without stopping. We had so much fun, and it was a really good experience in so many ways for the kids. Here are a few clips:

Caleb, Musette in D Major by Bach


Madelyn, Morning Has Broken (they really loved this piano!)


Caleb, Good Morning Blues. The residents really liked this one. They were dancing at the Alzheimer's place, but the piano was so out of tune that the video sounds bad, so I'll post this one instead.


Madelyn, Habanera from Carmen


At the Alzheimer's center, one of them asked if Madelyn could play "God Bless America", and she said she couldn't, but he started singing it anyway while she played something else. They all sang to all of the hymns. I was really proud of how they stayed focused on their playing and still enjoyed the residents as well.

Seth & KK, Heart and Soul

Seth has his first recital this Sunday. He's only been taking lessons for 2 months and is obviously not ready for performing yet, but I love his zeal. He would have been crushed if I'd told him he couldn't go, now that he has joined the ranks of "piano players" in our family. He has raced through his first book already and practices all the time, so KK worked with him to play this little duet. I'm so glad we took him! It was good for him, but also the residents fell in love with his dimples and big brown eyes. One lady walked him around and introduced him to everyone there! He loved every second of it.

Also, there were 2 piano teachers there, 1 retired and 1 still giving lessons at 90 years old! They were very encouraging to the kids.

For Sunday's recital, KK and Sis are playing (separately), 2 of my favorite pieces of music. It's been a joy to hear them practice for the past few months. For my FB friends, I've already posted these on Facebook, but I thought I'd put them here again for those who aren't. I'm so thankful for the hard work and dedication my children have put into piano. It's really paying off now.

Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven


Canon in D, Pachelbel

I love my kids!

(even if they can't spell)

Their latest rivalry has been a rubber band war. I love watching them have fun together! I found this laying on the couch.


- Posted using my iPhone

Score for the Cat Lover

KK got caught with his iPod during school time and had it "repossessed" for a while. Bad mistake when you are playing pranks on your sister! He was shocked to find what Sis posted on his FB when he finally got his iPod back!

No Kitties Were Harmed During the Making of This Blog Post

There is a constant rivalry in our household as to which is the better pet: cat or dog.

In the left corner we have Madelyn, devoted cat lover. She's ready with a shovel in a split second to scrape that dead rat off the carport before her Dad sees it.

In the right corner, we have Caleb, dedicated coon dog breeder. He's been known to trek the woods until dawn, faithfully pursuing the coon dog that got sidetracked by an armadillo.

And now, the devoted cat lover and the dedicated coon dog breeder have reached adolescence. And they are about to drive their longsuffering mother crazy.

Below you will see the latest chapter in the Cat vs. Dog soap opera. (I can already hear it..."Mama, what's a soap opera?")

Caleb and Seth slipped outside today while Madelyn was busy with chores and staged this picture. (disclaimer: it was just for show! below kitty is alive and well!)

KK just tiptoed down the hallway and set this photo as Sis's iPod wallpaper. She'll have a nice little surprise waiting in the morning.

I am absolutely certain that there will be payback. Stay tuned for more Cat vs. Dog!

- Posted using my iPhone

Say Cheez!

Last week, I took the kids to Berry College for pictures. The photographer was LeAnne Acrey, and I think she did a great job. Here's a link to her FB: L.A. Front Porch Photos. I really like how she gave me the edited photos as well as the unedited. Everyone has their individual styles and tastes, not to mention it's nice to be able to rotate and crop for your specific needs like blogging, scrapbooking, printing, etc. I thought the pictures turned out great!

Piano Recital

I probably won't be posting very much in the next few weeks. I've got a class coming up that I'm teaching (www.whiterosegeneration.com), and I'm determined not to get behind in our homeschool while I prepare for this. Hopefully the devil doesn't read my blog and he won't throw any kinks in my plan, but even so I'm sure that won't leave much computer time for me!

The Stringers have been very busy lately with school and church, and Caleb and Madelyn also had a piano recital yesterday. I'm so proud of their hard work and dedication. Way to go, guys!

:-)

My pretty girl got braces!

Poor Summer has had a very hazardous week with the scars to prove it! (That awful bruise on her chin came from falling off the toilet, poor baby!) I tried so hard to picnik these boo-boos out, but I couldn't. I guess it's appropriate that the little stinker is recorded "as is" for history's sake.

New Things

New Friends (Summer has finally decided she likes Junior, the coon dog)

New Garden (Yes, it's big. Jason always thinks BIG, that's just one reason I love him!)

Brocolli already!

New experiences

New pond (hopefully!)

New Life. This is a moth that emerged from a huge cocoon that Bubbie found on an oak tree outside. The cocoon was about 2 inches long and about an inch wide with leaf prints carved into the side (I wish I had taken a picture!). The cocoon itself was beautiful, and the moth has amazed us all. It's about 6 inches wide and absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, it does NOT like having its picture taken, so here are a few lousy shots I was able to get. It's flying free in our house right now.

This is outside the kids' tree house. If you'll look closely on the dog's neck, you can see a cocoon!

I just love spring!