Archive for the ‘Punky’ Category
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Meeting Karla For the First Time
When he was little, Punky used to watch Hi-5,
a show that starred my friend, Karla!

Karla is no longer on the show, but she hasn’t stopped performing.

It was so nice to see Karla and to finally introduce her to the kiddos.
Bunky even fell asleep on her shoulder.
They all loved her! -
Wordless Wednesday: Getting Ready…
Punky needed a nap mat for pre-school at the Latin School. I searched etsy, and found this one. He loves it, and I love that it is gender-neutral, so all our kiddos will be able to use it when they go to the school. It even has our last name embroidered on the corner. It rolls up and has a strap to carry over your shoulder.
Less than a week…….
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In The Sunshine at the Nursing Home
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They Really Do Love Each Other
As most parents do, I spent a great deal of my time breaking up fights and settling arguments. Even with all that, I think my children get along very well. They have their moments, but they truly enjoy each other’s company. They play well together. They share even their favorite toys. I am always touched when Spunky gives one of her “babies” to Bunky. Punky has always been very willing to share anything he has with almost anyone, and that certainly applies to his siblings.
Bunky and Punky have a very special bond that was evident the day that we brought Bunky home from the hospital. Bunky would literally light up when Punky came near him. One of his first words was a form of his brother’s name. Punky is incredibly protective of his little brother. I’ve said many times that I think Punky is Bunky’s favorite person in the world.Spunky and Bunky have a different type of relationship. When Bunky was born, Spunky struggled with the fact that my attention was more focused on the baby. Even now, she tends to live by the phrase “any attention is good attention.” She constantly tells me or Bunky how much she loves him, but she is very rough. Even when she is showing him affection, she ends up hurting him. As a result, Bunky is a lot more tentative around his sister than his brother. Even though she is rough, she truly does care for him and wants to mother him as much as she is able.

Now Punky and Spunky have an incredible bond. Spunky looks up to her brother and copies everything that he does. Punky takes care of his sister on a regular basis. He tried to help her use the potty, he teaches her how to write her “names”, and loves to show her how to do just about anything. They spend most of the day playing together and many nights they ask if they can sleep together. (We tried that once… it didn’t work out.) It will be hard for Spunky when her big bro goes to pre-k in just a week and a half, but it will be good for her to play independently and to work on being gentle with her baby brother.
When I count my blessings,
the greatest of my joys,
our parents gave us siblings,
instead of rooms of toys. -
Fruit From Our Own Backyard
Earlier this year, we bought two pears trees and a cherry tree. Unfortunately, the fruit of the cherry tree was completely eaten by birds- we have a better plan for next year. Our pear trees gave us a lot of fruit for being new trees. We were very pleased.
Punky enjoyed helping us spray the trees with organic, plant-based bug spray and watering the trees with our hole-ridden hose. But I think his favorite part was picking the fruit from the tree. I showed him how to do it, and he did a great job.
When we took the first bites of pear, we were in shock! They were incredible! So sweet and juicy. Immediately, my husband said that I needed to bake a pie with them. I made a Pear Berry Pie with an Oatmeal Crumble on top. It ended up being more of a crumble than anything, but it was really tasty!
I didn’t use a recipe or take a photo, so you’ll just have to imagine a sweet and tart crumbly pie.
I can’t wait to see the crop we’ll have next summer! -
Two Double Birthday Parties
While we were visiting my family, we had a small party for Spunky and Bunky.
In attendance were my family and my cousin’s wife and her daughter.
My mom went out of her way and made a dairy-free cake with dairy-free icing for Spunky.

Bunky really enjoyed his birthday cupcake!

Everyone had presents to open.
And how could I leave out Emme…
Isn’t she adorable!

I was really excited when I found this for Spunky:
A child-sized baby sling~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back home, we had another birthday party ON Bunky’s birthday.
We had around forty people at our home for cake and opening presents.
I made Bunky a frog cake because Punky said to me,
“Bunky told me he wants a frog cake for his birthday.”Spunky requested a marshmallow princess cake, so that is what she got!
I also made my Pink Party Punch.

I set up a table with cookies for the kids to decorate.
I think Spunky made three cookies– and ate them all!
This is one of my favorite photos from the party!
Spunky’s Polly Pocket from her cousins was her favorite gift of the day.

Bunky enjoyed opening his presents as much as a sick little boy could.
He was such a sweetheart even with his high fevers.We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family, near and far.
Thank you all for sharing these milestones in our children’s lives! -
New Beginnings
I just posted, and when I looked back at my blog, I realized that I haven’t really posted in weeks. In all honesty, I’ve been in a bit of a funk. Most of which relates to personal things that I am choosing not to share publicly. For several weeks I was struggling a lot, but I am starting to feel better. It is a process, as all things are in life.
In just a short while, Punky will begin Pre-School. This will change much in our home. We will no longer be able to “sleep in” in the mornings because I will need to be loading up all the kids into the car by 7:45am to get him to school on time. This also means that our Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be wide open from 8:00 until 3:00pm– and I will have two kids on my watch. I plan to use this time to focus on Spunky and Bunky. My goal is to prepare Spunky for pre-school. We will take the time while Punky is at school to have “school” of our own for a little while during those days.
Since the curricula for each class at the Latin School is accelerated by a year, Spunky will need to be ready for kindergarten-level work only a month after her fourth birthday. Whereas Punky is two months shy of his fifth birthday as he is about to begin school. I feel like he has been educationally prepared for pre-school for a long time now, but Spunky still has a lot to learn since she has just turned three years old. I am looking forward to spending that one on one time with her.
It is going to be nice to have a quiet home at least for a little while each week. Punky is certainly the noisiest and most energetic of our brood, but when Spunky joins him, she has no trouble keeping up with him, which adds to the choas. However, when Punky is not around, Spunky is much calmer and quiet. It will also be interesting to see Bunky’s personality begin to show through. So far, it is easy to tell that he is an intelligent, curious, stubborn kid (more to come in his one year post- can you believe he will be ONE on Sunday?!).
I am looking forward to seeing how school will shape Punky. I hope he is able to learn how to channel his energy into his work and into positive interaction with the children in his class. I am thankful for the opportunity to send our children to this school. It is going to be the catalyst for many big changes in our home, big changes we are all excited to see.
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Who Has a Mustache?
When both Punky and Spunky were little, whenever they would see a picture of a man with a mustache
in the book, they would point and say, “Papa!”Then a few days ago, we were talking about how Punky will grow a mustache when he grows up.
We asked him, “who do you know that has a mustache?”
And his answer?MOMMY!
Oh boy….. Fortunately, I do not have a mustache,
but why would he think of me?! -
When It Is Too Hot To Play Outside…
Spunky and Punky made several popsicle stick frames yesterday.
Punky was very creative and made his in square, triangle and diamond shapes.My children are starting become very tired of this terrible heat!
We set up their new bubbles (the no-spill type) and they went outside for a little while and
then came back in because it was “too warm” outside.The thermometer attached to my kitchen window keeps reading 100 degrees or higher.
It is in direct sunlight, but is a big factor, but, regardless, it is hot, hot, hot! -
Wordless Wednesday: Brothers, Buddies












































