Moon Plant

Thom's mom grew up in upstate New York. A few years ago, after her mom passed away, she and her siblings went back to clean out the farm house and tie up loose ends. While out there on this trip, Chris visited an old Amish friend, who shared with Chris a start from her moon plant. Chris' children and grandchildren have enjoyed many-a-Sunday night sitting in her front yard watching this beautiful little weed looking plant perform it's magic. Chris had offered me a start of this unique plant right from the very beginning. I wanted one of my own, but not knowing the right place to put it, and not wanting to fail at my chance to care for this plant that had traveled all the way from New York, I never took a start.
While up visiting his family one night, early in the summer, Thom asked about taking a start to have for our own. He came right home and planted it in the perfect spot. He told me about his recent gardening endeavors and showed me what he had done. I was excited, but still a little nervous that we might not do it right. Well, I think that little plant likes it here, because after a few weeks it started sending up little buds. We were so excited! We have loved watching it this summer. This is how it works:
Right around dusk, the mature buds on this plant will split right up the side and you will start to see a little yellow pushing out.....

Over the course of about 2 minutes this bud will completely open up into a delicate yellow flower. It stays bloomed all night and by morning, it dies. It is incredible and a thrill for my kids to watch. The other night we had 4 blooms. We felt so darn proud of our little plant. What a joy it's been!

Hasn't been this quiet in a long time!

Everyone seemed to have something to do and someplace to go, so

we pulled out a little craft we had picked up for the two left behind.

Jacob and Kathryn must have spent an hour or more painting. All I could hear

were the sound of little people focusing all their creative genes (which, by the way, they clearly got from me :)) on this little project.

Happy Birthday Marissa!

While Thom and I were out of town, my sister Becky made the birthday thing happen! She made her a yummy cake! Also making sure she had some great presents to unwrap, including the super cute bag she gave her. She hung birthday banners and everything! The other kids may be hoping I'm out of town for their birthdays too!

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY MARISSA!!!

End of School Fun...

We all remember from our own childhood, the last week of school is not a big part of making grades...but a great time! Our school had a theme for each day, including field day. On this day the big 6th graders have games and relays set up on the field and rotate kindergarten through 5th grade to each event. I went to help (watch really) and it was a great time. Maybe the most fun was watching Kathryn make her way to each event on her own schedule and seeing these 6th graders not sure what to do with this 5 year old who seemed to be running her own show. At one point she located the balloon toss and was helping herself to the water balloons, that these guys had spent a whole lot of time and hard work filling up. She was breaking them in a pretty quick fashion, and wasn't too concerned about these not so big 6th graders...finally the poor fellow just closed the lid on the water balloon box and sat on it. I should have been more help, but by the time I figured out what was happening it was too late, plus I was laughing so hard and I wasn't sure I wanted to place a claim on the 5 year old bully.

VOTE

CHRIS

...and so they did. Christopher won a spot on Student Council for next year. Wah Who for Chris!

Memorial Day

...is a special day at our house. We always make a drive to Larkin Cemetary with flowers in hand and the supplies to trim and clean Mommy Kerri's headstone. We usually have to remind the little ones that it's not a great place for jumping from one square block with words on it, to the next. Sometimes they seem a little less impressed with this place that starts to seem too much like church, but for others in our family, it is holy ground. Christopher often takes on the job of cleaning up and trimming the grass, since he has made a talent of that at home. Marissa usually cleans and shines the stone that bares her mothers name. For her, this is something she can do for her mom and she takes it very seriously. Allison will often watch and sometimes helps but always wants to have flowers to add to the pretty display. We usually have family with us on this day and we love to spend this time with them. This year Grandma Hall's sister, Nancy and her husband, Jerry were here from California and joined up with us. It was a beautiful day.

What's more American than Corn Flakes?

I am, I am, I am

(who didn't sing that song in elementary school?)

Jacob had his kindergarten program today! So darn cute!

(Okay, so I just realized I never finished this post...oops)

(And now I remember why! I wanted to crop this picture and I don't know how..isn't that just like life. Some little thing that doesn't really matter stops you from finishing something that does matter.)

Here you can see Jacob on the back row all the way to the left. I think he has already picked up on that Johnson boy trick of trying to be the tallest by thinking taller, which always pushes you up on the tips of your toes!

Jacob and his best kindergarten friend Ben. Don't they look like the sweet and ever obedient choir boys....ha ha! This cute little guy's dad is serving in Afghanistan right now...we keep him in our prayers.

Here is Jacob with Mrs. Tyler...the teacher of the year, as far as I'm concerned. Honestly, she was so wonderful with the little guy who would have rather spent his kindergarten year at home drawing pictures of Indiana Jones and hanging out with mom.