Nutt House: Let Our Summer Begin!

Well, summer is definitely here at the Nutt House. It’s funny, as I think about our days now compared to our days this past year when we’ve had preschool I can easily say that we are busier now than we were with preschool. Doesn’t that seem backwards? It does to me. I think part of it is that we are trying to do something every day, take advantage of the time we have together, create memories and have fun together. Our days are now filled with dance, swim, museum visits, summer movies, friends, and other activities that may sound intriguing. Don’t get me wrong, we are busy, but the fact the little Nutts are 3 and 4 and it is summer has not escaped us. We do have slower mornings, days of play at home, and times of vegging out in front of the television. All that we, we try to balance and do within moderation.

This week Kara started a new swim class, a level up where she now has lessons 4 days a week. This coupled with Brent taking both Kara and Kaden swimming in the evenings is a welcome pleasure for the Nutt House during the triple digit days of summer. As Kaden has started swimming with Brent this week it’s been a pleasant surprise to see how eager he is to be in the water, to plunge down to the bottom of the pool, and generally strive to become a fish.

Kara and Kaden tried out a summer time science class this week where we learned about seeds and germination. Our little Nutts were able to crack open a seed to view the leaves and root system that were starting to grow. After that, they planted a few seeds in a baggie to hang in a window so they can more easily see how the seed changes as the tiny plant inside starts to develop. The most surprising element of the class came when the kiddos were challenged to make a seed salad with beans, corn, tomatoes, and bell peppers. The salad did taste good, the surprising aspect was that both Kara and Kaden thought so as well and are now excited to make this salad themselves.

Love the hearts she drew herself in her name

Kaden's seeds - he insisted I added his age along with his name
He currently thinks this is a must each time he sees his name

Delish Seed Salad

As we pondered what museum we should visit this past week we decided upon a visit out to Butterfly Wonderland. We always enjoy the butterflies and learning more about them. As Kara and Kaden are growing and developing I find that along with enjoying the butterfly movie that walks us through three generations of a monarch butterfly’s family and observing the butterflies themselves that nuggets of information we read or are shared with us at Butterfly Wonderland are starting to sink in. I know for myself, I would not have known what a chrysalis was at the age of 4 let alone 3. However, Kara knows what one is and Kaden isn’t too far behind. Moments like these make for proud parenting moments! While we go for and always enjoy the butterflies it was the Rivers of the Amazon gallery, particularly the sting ray exhibit that was the family favorite this day. Kaden so much wanted to touch the sting ray. He waiting ever so patiently with his little fingers draped over the side of the sting ray pool eagerly waiting for a sting ray to come up and touch his hand (Butterfly Wonderland does not let you reach out to the sting rays rather you wait for them to come to you). Finally, after no less than 10 minutes a black sting ray briefly and gently brushed by Kaden’s fingers. Now, before another extended period of time passed, we called this a success for the day and continued to explore the Wonderland.

I spy, I spy, a little butterfly!

LOVE! This

Fly, fly, fly away

Her look personifies her tenderness

Lady killer eyes

Icky, icky scorpion

Watching the sting rays

Patiently waiting

Finally!

On our way home from Butterfly Wonderland, the little Nutts and myself investigated a new to us candy store. Sweeties of Arizona. Now, I like sweets… a lot. However, Kaden was the proverbial kid in a candy store. Touching everything, wanting to eat everything in sight. After carefully examining the entire store we ended up selecting a bit of bulk candy for each little Nutt and a bonus treat of M&M filled light sabers for the two little Nutts and their dad. While the candy was a hit, the light saber fights have been enjoyed more than anything else.

Where does he get this pose?

So many options as big as them

Choices, choices

Light saber fights!

My success for the week came in the form of a puzzle. On some crazy whim a couple weeks ago I decided to start a 1000 piece puzzle. This should not have been too much of a challenge and should have been relaxing. This experience was not. It quickly became a task to accomplish that I did not want to give up on, where the mantra “Never give up, never surrender” repeated fairly frequently in my mind. I did not want to be that person, that example to my kiddos that when something was hard to just give up and put it back in the box. So, I stuck at it, mostly late at night, occasionally with assistance from the other Nutts. With great relief I am happy to report I finished the puzzle this week! I was so proud it was done that I of course had to post about it on Facebook. After leaving my accomplishment up for a couple days the puzzle was disassembled and is now in a box awaiting a donation run. While I do enjoy puzzles I now have a complete disdain toward this particular puzzle and hope to never see it again.

Finished project

This week the little Nutts and I journeyed to “As You Wish” a local ceramic painting location. I have fond memories of watching my own mom create ceramic projects and enjoyed painting ceramics myself back a couple of lifetimes ago. Kara selected a heart shaped dish that she painted to give to her dance teacher and Kaden selected a shark figurine to paint. In their own ways they went about painting their projects and had fun doing so. Kaden would choose a color, after I’d dip his brush in the paint he’d touch it against the shark then put the brush into the water. Several seconds up to a couple minutes later he’d once again choose a color and repeat this process. Kara, on the other hand, carefully selected which color went where, ignored many suggestions on how to complete a brush stoke but painted the entire piece slowly and carefully. Watching Kara, you could tell she put her heart into the heart she painted. Makes me somewhat sad that she is giving it away though I am always impressed by and proud of her big heart.

Note the concentration on her face

Our Friday brought us our first summer movie outing, with snacks in hand we were ready to enjoy the movie “Boxtrolls” that no one in the Nutt House had yet seen. The movie was cute and a tagline I saw on a poster is a new reminder for me in my own life: “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent”. This is a mantra I need to remember and strive to apply in my own life. While a cute movie, Kara ended up cuddling on my lap as she was frightened partially through the movie and with the waiting time prior to the movie starting Kaden was done sitting with about 15 minutes left to go. Overall though, it was so much fun and we look forward to next week’s movie.

Friday also brought us an outing to the library where we were mesmerized by a talent show. Kara kept an eye on the magician, raising her little hand as high as she could each time he asked for a volunteer, going so far as to cross her fingers when she was raising her hand. Unfortunately, she was not selected to be a volunteer... That did not affect her enjoyment of the show though, as she watched with a very keen eye. On our way home as I asked her about the tricks she informed me that they weren’t tricks and proceeded to tell me how they were done. And with that, a skeptic was born. :( Kaden, while he glanced at the magician a few times spent more time playing with a friend that was there than caring about what the magician was doing. To each their own, right? At least they both had fun.

Kaden is in the grey shirt, totally facing the wrong way

Watching with a friend

A rare moment where Kaden was watching

It was National Donut Day on Friday so after dinner Friday the Nutt House chose to celebrate the day with a trip to Fractured Prune where after about a 20 minute wait from the time we entered the building we were able to relax and enjoy our donuts.

Watching the donuts being made

Super chocolate-y for Kaden, Strawberry Princess for Kara
Key Lime for Stephanie, and Lemon for Brent

Brent was recently called to be the Cub Master for our Cub Scout Pack at church. A calling I think he is made for. The enthusiasm he is displaying toward this calling is unlike any other calling I’ve seen him hold thus far. I am so excited for him and proud of him. He started off his calling with a Pack trip to the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Museum. Kara, Kaden and myself ended up tagging along and are so glad that we did! This gave us a chance to explore a new museum, something we always enjoy and exposed our little Nutts to things they have not had much exposure to thus far. What an amazing place this was!!! All of the airplanes and helicopters that we could see along with what war they were used in. Every time I am exposed to the sacrifices of our military a deep sense of gratitude and pride swell within me. There is a part of me that fears that too many people nowadays do not appreciate all that those that have served in the military have done for us. I hope that through many different avenues we can help Kara and Kaden to know of all the sacrifices that have been made for us and to have a love and appreciation for all that serve and have served in the military.