There's a fungus [gnat] amungus.

Reuel has noticed little black spots on the inside of grocery store red peppers for years, and not thought much of it.  (Me, I am not so frugal, and black spots go to the trash.)  Tonight, why I am not sure, he decided to investigate a little closer.  I took a picture and pursued the ID and the closest I can get is 'fungus gnat', Mycomya sp., family Mycetophilidae.

Reuel says he's been eating them for years.

I asked if he would continue...he says NO.  Ignorance is bliss!  All that extra protein going to waste, for shame!

Blech.

Love these three!

Can't say that turning 40 is that thrilling.  But getting the cutest present of my life from my sweet children has made my year :)  If a local resident was wondering why there was a middle-aged woman riding around her yard on a bicycle in her bathrobe and morning hair this morning, well here's the answer.

I was treated to this treasure map upon awakening (graciously, after drinking my coffee):

A skillful representation of our entire property including yard, house, garage, swingset, maple trees, roof shingles, and a 'where you are' label.  And, behold!  It is covered with clues on the back!

clue 1 go to the place with the washing machine

clue 2 go to the Door

clue 3 go to our bigist swing

clue 4 go to your bike ride it around the house once you will see wy I made you Do that.

clue 5 go to the Door agin.

clue 6 go to the Boys room

clue 7 open the Box under my Bed.

Done

At once I began my pursuit of the trail of clues!  (...suspend for a moment your thought that you need merely go to the last clue.  Shame on you for even thinking it and spoiling this terrifically fun experience!)  After a brisk ride in 37 degrees in my bathrobe and flip flops (along with the kids on their bikes and scooters too!), I made it to the finish and found an incredible duct-tape envelope creation containing the object of my hunt.  

This was no small treasure...not one, not two, but THREE valuable coupons!

Redeemable for 1 hour of free time on a Friday, 1 hour of free time on a Monday and 5+ house jobs from each kid!  These children know my number!!  ("That's more than FIFTEEN jobs, mom!  And one job is like, "cleaning your room"!)

And this was not all.  No, check out this beauty:

'this one has an inside.  ---> on back'

'how will you get in.  you can stabb it.'

The edges were all sealed with clear packing tape, so I followed advice and stabbed away.  Aha!  

$1.25 from my sweet kiddos to buy my own colored pencils for coloring in my spectacular new grown-up coloring books from Megan! 

And then, a final taped-up envelope containing a special item:

Says Owen, "Now you know why you had to ride your bike around the house."  Ha ha!  I shared promptly.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have arrived.  It just doesn't get better than this!   The kids have been most interested in how and why this present could be the best a Mom could receive, better than a diamond.  Perhaps someday they will understand!

Rain

A little fun on a warm rainy day before the pj's get changed.  Owen is pleased with his recent 'bubble' umbrella acquisition.  Then, boys ready to gaze at the eclipse of the moon.

Eden art

Eden is on a people theme...a prolific artiste!  And there are pages and pages of letters, usually E's, D's, M's, O's, i's, A's, N's and Y's.  Eden will say, "Mom will you sound out these letters?"  I will make up some real words and she'll say, "No, that's not what it says!  Sound out the letters."  So I will sound them out as written.  Then she'll give a frustrated sigh (as in, Mom, you just don't get it!) and then she will read to me what it *actually* says.  She's got her name down, and is now practicing Asher's name, too.

I LOVE the hands with fingers :)

Quotables

Asher: [gazing into a sunbeam]  I am eating dust mites.  Aaaampf. [Opens mouth wide to take in as many motes as he can.]

Owen:  But aren't those coupons inspiring?
Me:  What??
Owen:  They're inspiring, you can't use them.
Me:  OH.  I do believe you mean EX-piring.

Me:  I love you all the time Eden.  Every minute of every day, forever, no matter if we're having a good day or a bad day.
Eden:  Me too, I love you too all the time Mommy. [pause]  [under breath] Except sometimes not.  Sometimes I don't.
Me:  Like when I got you in trouble for not listening to me earlier?  You got mad at me and didn't feel like you loved me anymore?
Eden:  Mmm-hmm.
Me:  Well that's the good thing about mommies. Even when we are mad, we still love our kids because love doesn't happen just when you feel happy.
Eden:  Hmm. [not sure at all about this.  sounds very fishy.]

Asher:  Mom, you would LOVE Magic Treehouse books.  I am absolutely sure you would love them a lot.  You should read them, really!

Owen:  Why do so many people write movies and books that give kids bad dreams.  That makes no sense!

Eden, the marker years

Eden and her markers are fast friends.  There have been a WHOLE LOT of pictures of cats from the internet that have been colored in.  Rainbow cats, gray cats, cats with spots added, cats with stripes and extra hats and tongues licking up food, and anything else you can draw on a cat.  Eden is branching out into more drawing now at 3.5.  She was pleased as punch to show this one off today.

"That is me, Eden.  And I am on the beach.  And that is a crab I am holding.  And there is another crab on a sandcastle."  I think there are a couple of trees, and a sun and a sky there too :)  She was SOOOO proud.  The neck was a new addition after asking, "Mommy, what comes next after a belly?"  She always draws from the shoes up.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon and evening at the beach and found handfuls of hermit crabs.  Great fun!  If you have never been to the beach on a hot day in September in New England you are missing out.  Absolutely perfect, and the water is finally warm.  It was bliss!

Tomorrow is Eden's 2nd day of preschool and she is staying for lunch.  She is going to the same preschool that Asher attended.  Asher was giving her a hug goodnight after day 1 and I overheard their conversation from the hallway.  Asher said, "Eden, you are SUPER lucky.  You don't even know how lucky you are!  Mom only let me stay for lunch one or two times and it is so much fun and you get to do it every time.  You are gonna LOVE it.  That is super, super lucky!"  Asher has been detailing all the fun she is going to have, and let me tell you this smoothed the transition of my reluctant separator by an enormous amount.  Siblings are just fantastic.  Eden is indeed one lucky little girl with two very loving (to her, anyway!) big brothers who regularly roll out the red carpet for her.

Magnets

Asher:  Mom, I found these from science, where should I put them? [little steel scraps that are fun for picking up with magnets]
Eden:  Asher found the magnacks!
Asher:  Eden, you mean Mag-NETS.
Eden:  No, Mag-NACKS.  Those are the magnacks!
Asher:  Mag-NETS.
Eden:  Mag-NACKS.  Magnets pick up Magnacks.

I'm sure that'll sort itself out in a few years ;)  The things she thinks up!

p.s.  If you order a 4"x.05"x.05" neodymium magnet from Amazon, expect to have to sign for it and remove a whole bunch of safety warning before you get to the magnet.  Also, don't have a pacemaker.  Or credit cards.  And don't get too close to your fridge or anything else iron-containing with your fingers in the way.  And don't get iron filings on it!  But short of that, have super-fun.