the finished product

a rainy Saturday afternoon

Wow – a peaceful moment. These have been few and far between lately. The kids are going through some weird phases lately. They aren’t exactly being bad – although they have their moments – but they are certainly being trying. Kenzie seems like she has the hormones of an adolescent. She is SO sensitive these days - one second she’s happy, the next she’s crying, the next she’s storming off in a huff stamping her feet and slamming her door. I honestly don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s also gone to the office at school and said she was sick so that I’d come pick her up. I don’t know if something is bothering her at school. But if it is, she’s not telling me. It makes it very hard. Sebby is the typical bratty/sweet little brother. He knows exactly which buttons to press to make Kenzie lose her mind. But then he’ll turn around do do something so sweet. He is also very empathetic when it comes to Kenzie – if she’s hurt or sad, often Seb will give her a hug and start crying himself.

Anyhow – today is Saturday. It’s noon. Kenzie, Zoe (who slept over last night) and Seb are downstairs playing and/or watching a movie. To be honest I don`t care what they are doing – they are quiet and not screaming at each other or crying. So whatever it is, I`m okay with it. I spent the morning cleaning our pigsty of a house. Andrea and family are coming over today – so I had to clean but now I`m glad I did. House looks liveable again – (still have to do the floors). It’s a rainy Saturday and CJ is in the garage building a climbing wall for the kids to play on. I bet they will love it when it`s done. The wall is the next step in changing our deck into a playset. Last weekend he attached a slide to the deck. Kids love it.

The climbing wall is going in that spot behind the slide to help block off the garbage bins etc we have stored there:


Kenzie is really enjoying riding lessons. I am so glad. It gives her something that is just hers. Since they are private lessons she has no one to compare herself to and just has herself to make proud. She also loves the horses and is really getting a lot more self confidence. I`ve talked to a few other moms there. I find that the kids who are doing riding lessons fall into one of 3 categories – they either a) come from privileged families where horseback riding is just part of life (those are the kids who show up to the barn in their private school uniforms, who have ponies themselves and who typically have 3-4 lessons a wee – their moms typically arrive in full riding gear with their hair all done up even though they’re not riding themselves), or b) the kids have been obsessed with horses or ponies since they could walk, or c) they are shy, self-conscious kids whose parents thought riding would be a good way to help build their confidence. Regardless – all teh kids seem to love being there – including Kenz so i am happy for her. Here are some pics from last week.



Kenzie learing to trot... still a bit bouncy.