Yesterday a niece and nephew of mine from Czech Republic both sent me this graphic through Facebook Messenger.
Friday, June 29th was the last day of school in Czech Republic. I enjoyed the kids' enthusiasm for starting summer vacation. The first day of sleeping in. No homework for two whole months. Next week, while we will be celebrating the Independence Day holiday stateside, Czechs get two holidays: Thursday, July 5th is St Cyril and Methodius Day and Friday, July 6th is Jan Hus Day. (And you thought we were going to have a long weekend holiday here in the U.S.) Click on the links about these feast days and you will get your daily dose of irony and a fascinating history lesson. A lot of fun facts here, folks!
Over here in Wannaska region in the US, as you know, we are well into the throes of summer vacation. In fact, it was Week #5 at our house. This week can be summed up in one word: Taskmaster.
I cracked the proverbial whip, as I insisted we get down to this business of organization.
Sure summer is about having fun in the sun, getting outdoors and to the beach. Bike rides, camps and camping, roasting marshmallows over the fire, pitching the tent. It also means attending to those house projects neglected during the school year. With the oldest child already up at Laketrails* camper-working and the second oldest heading up there on Wednesday - it was time to put the pedal to the metal and get things done. I even made To Do lists.
The last time I got into Pitch & Purge mode was during the summer of 2015. I was pregnant with Kid #5 and in order to accommodate the new baby we had to rethink everyone's bedroom logistics. Hubby and I moved downstairs to the guest room, the guest bed got moved to my office. The ping pong table got moved to the garage. #1 and #4 kids (the girls) moved into our old room. The boys luxuriated in the master bedroom with a walk-in closet filled with toys, sans older sister. We, the parents, enjoyed more privacy and a brief respite from sharing a room with a child.
Today, Kid #4 wants to sleep on the top bunk. The oldest wants the dresser out of her closet and we're ready to graduate the Toddler from his crib in mommy and daddy's room to a toddler bed in the boys' room. (The ping pong table still leans, unused, against the wall in the unattached garage.)
After four weeks of play, it's moving time.
Sunday kicked off with a cleaning out and reorganization of the entryway closet. (Anyone need a baseball cap? It turns out we have at least 50. Send style and color preferences to me here.) And laundry. Lots.
Monday meant going to the dump (I mega-heart the Roseau County Transfer Station. All that garbage drop-off goodness for only $5.85!) and running errands over in the next village, Roseau. Afternoon was spent cutting the grass.
Tuesday we tackled the boys' bedroom. I don't know how it is, or was, at your house, but at my house you can't simply say, "Clean your room." Oh no. This seemingly simple task requires handheld guidance from their mother. The kids get whiny in this way that's oddly endearing. "Will you go through my clothes with me, pleeeeease?" The bedroom halfway done, we spent the rest of the day stacking wood - then restacking the portion that fell over. And a load of last-minute, final items laundry.
Wednesday was D-Day for my oldest son, so I had to put on the big squeeze to finish cleaning up his room.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I gave three hair cuts this week.
Thursday, taking advantage of the absence of his older brother, the Middle Child embraced ownership of his temporary kingdom and rearranged the bedroom furniture to his liking. The girls' bedroom was next. Not nearly the disaster as the boys' room - but anyone with a Kindergartner knows all too well the copious amounts of practice papers and coloring sheets parents amass in that one year.
With the clearing of the paper, came the realization that, if we're going to be moving beds around anyway - and with two kids out of the house - now would be the perfect time to rip out the 80's era white carpeting in the girls' room and put in the laminate flooring that's been sitting in the garage for the last three years.
On Friday, we took a break. (I might be a taskmaster, but I'm not a slave driver.) We went to the library, the grand opening of the kids' section of the Corner Closet consignment shop and to the Rainbow Park. In the evening, the Kindergartner graduated from Level 3 swimming lessons. The Middle Child played Cricket in the Prairie Fire Theater production of Pinocchio. We celebrated with mint Cow Tracks ice cream and watching the Science Channel.
Saturday, it's back to work, though. Hubby's out in the garage painting some new patio doors, I'm emptying out the girls' bedroom, giddy with excitement for the new floor. And Lucie is set up at the end of the driveway selling cups of lemonade with frozen berries. (She's got her eye on the Frozen Lego castle.)
Hey, did you know that in some parts of the world monkeys are used to harvest coconuts?
Luke performed this experiment for me before he went up to Laketrails. He balanced a fork and spoon on the edge of a wine glass with a toothpick. When he burned both ends of the match, the whole configuration remained balanced!
He also took up another instrument: water and wine glasses. What started out as light fun with dad, turned into a serious endeavor once he figured out the right moisture-to-pressure ratio when running his finger around the rim. After a half hour, six glasses and a pitcher of water filled a small coffee table as he worked on fine tuning Mary Had a Little Lamb. Sorry, folks, no pictures for that one! (What was I thinking? I know! Maybe about sweeping up the dust bunnies under the beds.) Hopefully I can coax him for an encore performance when he gets back from camp.
1972 - The first leap second is added to UTC
Leap seconds are added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from time to time to account for the Earth's slowing rotation. UTC is the basis for the calculation of local times worldwide.
1971 - The crew of Soviet spacecraft “Soyuz 11” dies after the loss of air supply
The cause of the tragedy was a faulty valve. The three cosmonauts had previously achieved the first docking of a spacecraft to a space station in history.
1936 - The novel “Gone with the Wind” is published
Margaret Mitchell's story set in the American South during the American Civil War became one of the United States' biggest best-sellers. The 1939 movie version starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable was similarly successful.
Note: This is one of the fiction choices for Advanced English 11 in Warroad.
1908 - The Tunguska event leaves 2000 square km of Siberian forest flattened and scorched
The devastation is believed to have been caused by the explosion of an asteroid or comet. It is the largest impact event in recorded history.
1905 - Albert Einstein submits a paper outlining his theory of special relativity
The text “Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper” comprises the currently accepted theory about the relationship between space and time. The theory of special relativity is the basis for his theory of general relativity, which he published in 1916.
1961 - Michael J. Fox, Canadian/American actor, producer, author
1961 - Aaron Sorkin, American screenwriter, producer, playwright
1915 - Les Paul, American guitarist, songwriter, co-designed the Gibson Guitar
1891- Cole Porter, American composer
1985 - Michael Phelps, American swimmer
1985 - Cody Rhodes, American wrestler, actor
1983 - Cheryl Cole, English singer-songwriter, dancer, model
1975 - Ralf Schumacher, German race car driver
1966 - Mike Tyson, American boxer, actor
Whether your industrious or relaxing, make the most of your Saturday and remember to stop out at our house for some nice, cold lemonade!
Kim
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| Send this to everyone you want to wish a beautiful holiday. |
Friday, June 29th was the last day of school in Czech Republic. I enjoyed the kids' enthusiasm for starting summer vacation. The first day of sleeping in. No homework for two whole months. Next week, while we will be celebrating the Independence Day holiday stateside, Czechs get two holidays: Thursday, July 5th is St Cyril and Methodius Day and Friday, July 6th is Jan Hus Day. (And you thought we were going to have a long weekend holiday here in the U.S.) Click on the links about these feast days and you will get your daily dose of irony and a fascinating history lesson. A lot of fun facts here, folks!
Over here in Wannaska region in the US, as you know, we are well into the throes of summer vacation. In fact, it was Week #5 at our house. This week can be summed up in one word: Taskmaster.
I cracked the proverbial whip, as I insisted we get down to this business of organization.
Sure summer is about having fun in the sun, getting outdoors and to the beach. Bike rides, camps and camping, roasting marshmallows over the fire, pitching the tent. It also means attending to those house projects neglected during the school year. With the oldest child already up at Laketrails* camper-working and the second oldest heading up there on Wednesday - it was time to put the pedal to the metal and get things done. I even made To Do lists.
The last time I got into Pitch & Purge mode was during the summer of 2015. I was pregnant with Kid #5 and in order to accommodate the new baby we had to rethink everyone's bedroom logistics. Hubby and I moved downstairs to the guest room, the guest bed got moved to my office. The ping pong table got moved to the garage. #1 and #4 kids (the girls) moved into our old room. The boys luxuriated in the master bedroom with a walk-in closet filled with toys, sans older sister. We, the parents, enjoyed more privacy and a brief respite from sharing a room with a child.
Today, Kid #4 wants to sleep on the top bunk. The oldest wants the dresser out of her closet and we're ready to graduate the Toddler from his crib in mommy and daddy's room to a toddler bed in the boys' room. (The ping pong table still leans, unused, against the wall in the unattached garage.)
After four weeks of play, it's moving time.
Sunday kicked off with a cleaning out and reorganization of the entryway closet. (Anyone need a baseball cap? It turns out we have at least 50. Send style and color preferences to me here.) And laundry. Lots.
Monday meant going to the dump (I mega-heart the Roseau County Transfer Station. All that garbage drop-off goodness for only $5.85!) and running errands over in the next village, Roseau. Afternoon was spent cutting the grass.
Tuesday we tackled the boys' bedroom. I don't know how it is, or was, at your house, but at my house you can't simply say, "Clean your room." Oh no. This seemingly simple task requires handheld guidance from their mother. The kids get whiny in this way that's oddly endearing. "Will you go through my clothes with me, pleeeeease?" The bedroom halfway done, we spent the rest of the day stacking wood - then restacking the portion that fell over. And a load of last-minute, final items laundry.
Wednesday was D-Day for my oldest son, so I had to put on the big squeeze to finish cleaning up his room.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I gave three hair cuts this week.
Thursday, taking advantage of the absence of his older brother, the Middle Child embraced ownership of his temporary kingdom and rearranged the bedroom furniture to his liking. The girls' bedroom was next. Not nearly the disaster as the boys' room - but anyone with a Kindergartner knows all too well the copious amounts of practice papers and coloring sheets parents amass in that one year.
With the clearing of the paper, came the realization that, if we're going to be moving beds around anyway - and with two kids out of the house - now would be the perfect time to rip out the 80's era white carpeting in the girls' room and put in the laminate flooring that's been sitting in the garage for the last three years.
Saturday, it's back to work, though. Hubby's out in the garage painting some new patio doors, I'm emptying out the girls' bedroom, giddy with excitement for the new floor. And Lucie is set up at the end of the driveway selling cups of lemonade with frozen berries. (She's got her eye on the Frozen Lego castle.)
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| Lucie's Lemonade! |
Fun Facts from the Kids
Hey, did you know that in some parts of the world monkeys are used to harvest coconuts?Luke performed this experiment for me before he went up to Laketrails. He balanced a fork and spoon on the edge of a wine glass with a toothpick. When he burned both ends of the match, the whole configuration remained balanced!
He also took up another instrument: water and wine glasses. What started out as light fun with dad, turned into a serious endeavor once he figured out the right moisture-to-pressure ratio when running his finger around the rim. After a half hour, six glasses and a pitcher of water filled a small coffee table as he worked on fine tuning Mary Had a Little Lamb. Sorry, folks, no pictures for that one! (What was I thinking? I know! Maybe about sweeping up the dust bunnies under the beds.) Hopefully I can coax him for an encore performance when he gets back from camp.On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)1972 - The first leap second is added to UTC
Leap seconds are added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from time to time to account for the Earth's slowing rotation. UTC is the basis for the calculation of local times worldwide.
1971 - The crew of Soviet spacecraft “Soyuz 11” dies after the loss of air supply
The cause of the tragedy was a faulty valve. The three cosmonauts had previously achieved the first docking of a spacecraft to a space station in history.
1936 - The novel “Gone with the Wind” is published
Margaret Mitchell's story set in the American South during the American Civil War became one of the United States' biggest best-sellers. The 1939 movie version starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable was similarly successful.
Note: This is one of the fiction choices for Advanced English 11 in Warroad.
1908 - The Tunguska event leaves 2000 square km of Siberian forest flattened and scorched
The devastation is believed to have been caused by the explosion of an asteroid or comet. It is the largest impact event in recorded history.
1905 - Albert Einstein submits a paper outlining his theory of special relativity
The text “Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper” comprises the currently accepted theory about the relationship between space and time. The theory of special relativity is the basis for his theory of general relativity, which he published in 1916.
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
1963 - Johnny Depp, American actor, singer, producer, director1961 - Michael J. Fox, Canadian/American actor, producer, author
1961 - Aaron Sorkin, American screenwriter, producer, playwright
1915 - Les Paul, American guitarist, songwriter, co-designed the Gibson Guitar
1891- Cole Porter, American composer
1985 - Michael Phelps, American swimmer
1985 - Cody Rhodes, American wrestler, actor
1983 - Cheryl Cole, English singer-songwriter, dancer, model
1975 - Ralf Schumacher, German race car driver
1966 - Mike Tyson, American boxer, actor
Whether your industrious or relaxing, make the most of your Saturday and remember to stop out at our house for some nice, cold lemonade!
Kim
* Laketrails Promotional Plug - This is one of the coolest camps ever! Up at the Northwest Angle on little Oak Island, this camp lets kids get out on trail - 5 days of canoeing and roughing it in glorious back country. There are still spots available in the remaining sessions. And if you think this all sounds super awesome - there are even adult trips. If you like the looks of the camp, but not too keen on the camping on trail part, check out the 4th Annual Lake of the Woods Artists Retreat that I host at the camp in September!
Hmmm. . . should I trust that the Czech saying really wishes a "good day," or maybe it says something obscene or insulting. Hey, when you say you have baseball caps to give away, do you really mean we can send you our laundry? Another incredulity: "endearing" when one or more kids ask for your help to clean their rooms? Wow, you really are a super mom! And then there is your blatant plug for L's lemonade. What a booster you are. Your posts are always great for a double-dose of family reality and fun. Cheers - JPSavage
ReplyDeleteYou can always check with Google Translate! Baseball caps giveaway - yes; laundry - no. There's a twisted sweetness when their whine reflects how much they need their mama. I'm not sure the lemonade $houtout helped bring in sales, but fortunately we have super neighbors. Thanks for the read!
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