Good Medicine

They say that laughter is the best medicine. I don't know about it being the best, but it is good. A day spent with friends and enjoying God's gifts is good medicine, too. That's just what the kids and I did yesterday. Although I felt a bit guilty at first for taking a day just for fun, I think we needed it. We really enjoyed it, also. We, along with other moms & kids, headed to a friend's house for a day of playing in the sand, kiddie pool, slip & slide, and a picnic lunch--complete with ice cream cones! Typically when I tell Samuel what we have on the agenda for the day (work! Work! WORK!) he goes along good naturedly. Yesterday, his face lit up like it was his birthday! That's precious. He enjoyed playing with the bigger kids and doing something new. In fact, on the way home he told me that we should have the same thing at our house and invite lots of people to come for it! Such hospitality that young man has!

Solomon and Shiphrah cried at having to don their swim gear. They stayed clear of the water and spent the day in the sand box. I suppose if nothing else, swimming lessons are giving them a healthy respect for water! Or maybe it's fear. Either way, their chances of ever drowning are significantly lower, which was the whole goal.

Today, we had music lessons. Samuel gets to learn the middle part of Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Shiphrah is almost ready to learn her first Twinkle variation. This is really good training for her to listen, focus, and follow directions. She's a bit of a free spirited gal, and reining her in a bit should make schooling her far less frustrating! I think music lessons have really helped with Samuel's abilty to be diligent in a task, so I'm pleased with not just what they're learning musically, but how it's molding their character. To be honest, it's molding mine, too. I'm thankful that we have a very patient music instructor!

After that, we visited the goats at Standing Stone Nubians. It looks as if we are going to be able to purchase another buckling, Tripoli, to come home with Jarlath in July. Tripoli and Jack were sired by the same buck, Nevada Joe. I look forward to getting to know the new bucklings more. This, of course, spoils my "J" theme, but I think I could just as easily have a "battle locations" theme with his offspring--and David should enjoy helping to pick out those names! Tripoli and Jarlath are much closer in age, which makes me think they'll get along quite nicely.

When we got home, of course we spent time with our little herd of 2 doelings and 2 puppies. They are such a delight! I think the goats are actually beginning to like our hugs and cuddles, and not just tolerate them! Solomon enjoys kissing the puppies and they enjoy kissing him back. (I'm going to suspend any thoughts of him catching a tape worm, and focus on the cuteness factor... Think the doctor will look at me funny if I ask him to do a fecal exam at Solmon's two year well visit? ) We also took the wagon up to Grandma's (Solomon & Shiphrah rode; I pulled; Samuel pushed) to see her new freezer! She's buying a pig and needs a place to put it! On the way home we picked a wildflower (weed) bouquet. Samuel started it by handing me a sprig of mini daisies and telling me he loves me. (Awwwww!) We decided to take a detour and pick more. Solomon and Shiphrah hopped out of the wagon and picked too. I think a few bug bites were worth the fun--and the bouquet! A sweet bouquet picked by your children is really good medicine, too.