Riley and I had our turn for a little downtown Greenville field trip excitement.

We headed to the Peace Center for a production of CSI:Live, an interactive mystery-science-forensics theatre experience. All the schools were seated together and since our "school" is so small (hehe) we had stellar box seats in our own private balcony, as if we were royalty. It was cool! The play was interesting and informative and we got a big kick out of it.

Next we shopped around a while in Mast General Store, you know, calculating sales and percentages and doing general math in our heads. We figured that there was a great deal on Keen sandals for all size 7 people - which is unfortunately NOT either of us. So sad! But I did find a crazy good sale on Columbia shirts and used my special craigslist sales money to purchase two shirts and a great bag. (I bet Emma will want it when she sees it.)

Lunch was Riley's choice and she chose Sticky Fingers. I was happy to oblige because Kevin never chooses barbecue places and any meat product slathered in barbecue sauce is a good meat product. Riley actually ate ribs and covered herself in a towel, provided by the restaurant. Turns out, she needed that towel - man, she was a mess!!! (I wish we had pictures of that!)

We found ourselves with time on our hands before our afternoon museum destination opened so we sauntered down Main Street to the Beaded Frog, the grooviest bead bar hidden under the street almost. We both made necklaces and the clasps were these tiny magnets - very clever!

After our beading we drove to Bob Jones University (can anyone believe I drove there on purpose??) and we toured their famous Museum & Gallery. It holds the largest collection of religious art in the United States. Who knew? The art was magnificent actually, with pieces by some very famous names, although Rembrandt is the only name I an recall right now. Riley tried her hand at imitating some of the art work and I choose to write poetry about it instead. I know my limitations. We both decided the early artists really saw everything holy as also sad because every piece just reeked of loneliness or despair or rejection. It was not a joyous collection. Seems ironic, I think.

The day could not have been a better way to spend time with my beautiful eldest daughter.

"A day well spent brings happy sleep." (-DaVinci)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Since moving to Travelers Rest, South Carolina I have enjoyed the privilege of being included in a little something called LOLUNO. Mmmm Hmmmm. LOLUNO. Ladies Of Look Up Night Out.

And it's a good time.

Admittedly, my standards may be low -- any night where a ketchup-y hand does not caress my shoulder at meal time is a Night Out. (No offense meant to the small wonders with whom I live.)

But even if I had highly developed expectations, these LOLUNO experiences would be ranked at the top! Our recent outing involved a trip to Patton Avenue (I think that means something to local residents!) to visit a delectable little place called a CHOCOLATE LOUNGE!!! Who even knew there were such eateries? The French Broad Chocolate Lounge was quaint and aromatic. We sipped liquid truffles - think warm, spicy, rich pudding in a cup - and grazed on various chocolate options. I chose chocolate creme brulee - a word I cannot even spell correctly. What a magnificent combination of fudge-like caramelized goodness. Delicious!!

Apparently, everyone takes a turn at planning these monthly adventures. I don't know where we are going next or what we will be doing ---but I know I will be there and I know it will be a good time!! When my month comes along I think I will feel some heavy pressure to make a great evening - so I welcome all suggestions.

My Daddy is a Giant

This is Piper Finnian's expression every time Daddy comes home. She climbs up in this chair when she hears the dogs bark. She calls Bosco "Bah". She peers out the window, recognizes Kevin's Tahoe, and begins screaming "DAH DAH DAH DAH!" She is his biggest fan.

Lately she has an opinion about everything that is put on her plate and she has decided that green is not a color she would like for her food to be. I always thought I was doing such a nice job of raising such basically unpicky children. And then along comes the Little Willow. Oh my.

She loves her new pink Chuck Taylors. When she greets a new person and she is wearing the Chucks, she stretches her foot out and points at her feet so you will notice her little pink kicks. Riley takes credit for that obsession since Riley makes such a big deal over how cute Piper looks wearing the shoes.

Finn is also in the process of getting a new room because she is going to give her space up for baby Superman. (That's Bergen's nickname for the newest guy.)

Everyone at our house is a big fan of this Piper kid. Riley spoils her with too much attention and sympathy for every fall, sigh, complaint or request. London leads her around all day, chatting with her and asking her questions. Bergen points out life's little details to her and Mosely is in the background saying, "Awww, isn't she so cute?"

Aesop's Fables

Recently two little students who are enrolled in the School of Keigley attended a cultural experience in nearby Greenville.

First, we traveled to the Peace Center and watched Jim West's Aesop's Fables, a fun and interactive puppet/theatre performance that the girls loved - laughing out loud at many scenes. "I liked everything, especially the silly guy who pretended to be Super Puppet," London said. "I liked the giraffe puppet and the dog puppet best," Mosely said.

After the show we headed to Mellow Mushroom to eat pizza slices larger than London and Mosely's heads. And it was some good pizza. We even got to sit on the tall stools since no babies went with us. (Thanks for babysitting, Riley!!)

With full bellies we made our way to the Greenville Museum of Art. We toured the exhibits. London stood amazed before such large works of art. After gazing at the pieces for a while we gathered our clipboards and colored pencils and sat down on the floor to imitate the works we were studying. The girls drew and drew and even wrote some poems about the artwork.

We had such fun experiencing what Greenville culture has to offer us. We enjoyed it so much, in fact, that Riley and I have a similar outing planned for tomorrow and all of the kids have several more plays to attend this season!

The Great Gatsby

Riley and Kevin recently ran in a 5K race in downtown Greenville. They both did great and they both received some cool tech-t-shirts for their efforts. (Plus some cola flavored shot blocks......yuck!)

Riley's photo even made it to the Greenville newspaper's online photo section!

The Bible For Little Eyes

One day I heard some interesting playing taking place. In my most stealthy manner, I tiptoed over to the door and listened without being noticed. Bergen was wrapped up in a towel and his long three year old body was condensed into a picnic basket.

(Of course, that picnic basket had formerly been holding a plethora of toys in Mosely's bedroom which I assumed must now be strewn across her floor, but that doesn't aid my story here......or my life......)

At any rate, Bergen was swaddled in the basket and London was bowing down before the basket over and over again. And then she was bringing the towel baby gifts while he lay in said basket.

London saw me and explained, "This is baby Jesus. We are worshipping him and bringing him gifts," she offered, as she handed the new born babe his greatest gift yet - a monster truck!

(Their other favorite Bible stories to reenact are baby Moses - they really like fitting Bergen in a basket - and the story of King Solomon offering to slice a child in half for two arguing mothers. They love that one!)

The Snowy Day

I should really name this post The Snowy Three Hours That Quickly Melted. For that is the truth. But for three glorious hours we touched snow. We tried to collect enough for snow cream, delicious snow cream, but it was all leaves and dirt.

Hands On Science

Bergen likes planes. Bergen likes trucks. He likes to throw things. He likes to jump and to climb and to slide and to be really, really loud.

Bergen likes rockets and spaceships and jets and he turns everything he touches into a flying object in some form.

Recently, Kevin purchased one of those Styrofoam planes for Berg. You know, the kind every boy has at least once in his life. The kind that seems so cool because it is larger than any toy you have ever owned. The kind that usually shreds as soon as it hits the pavement or the frozen ground. The kind that you are sure will really take off and fly far if just the wind could catch it right.

The kids had a wonderful time in the sub-freezing weather tossing that plane toward the ground and chasing it all over the yard.

Get a Haircut

Mosely and London each received a new hairstyle from our in-house Hair Designer.

Great work Daddy!!!

Katy and the Big Snow

It's back-to-school time. And some Keigley kids greet the new school week with joy and anticipation and some with sighs and moans.

The wee ones and I are reading Katy and the Big Snow this week (wishful thinking, on my part, with 60 degree weather here and nothing but rain, rain, rain). Yesterday we made a giant map of a town we created - Popperville. Popperville features Mosely's Ballerina Studio, Daddy's Coffee Shop, Lacey's Library, Bergen's Chocolate Dipping Factory, Riley's soccer field and the house where London lives. Oh and I think Piper has a crib factory somewhere on the edge of town as well.

Riley began guitar lessons today and is currently almost done with a 700 plus page book about Abraham Lincoln! (Written by our "relative" Carl Sandburg - have I mentioned that I am sort of related to Mr. Sandburg?) She is on the sixth book in the Anne of Green Gable series and the fifth book in the Narnia series. Plus, she is pretty excited because the word on the street is that soccer try outs are upcoming.

So go the days at the School of Keigley. By the way, South Carolina homeschool law actually requires a name for your homeschool - so if you guys have any fun suggestions, just let us know.

A Room With A View

Just some more house photos...... The kids' bedrooms are all finished so if you come visit now you needn't sleep on a camp mattress on the floor in the living room. Nope, instead you can sleep in a loft bed in a little kid's room. Moving on up!

Berg's room has a cowboy theme. (I like to state the obvious.) It's kind of like a tribute to my Wyoming brothers - hehe.

You Are My I Love You

Mosely is FIVE YEARS OLD!!!!

We had an early birthday party to celebrate Mosely's special day. A lot of summer staffers came over to help us celebrate (we don't know many five year olds!). They really made the party so sweet - they showered Mosely with gifts, beads and dress up clothes for her dress up chest. She loved the glittery dress in the photo best. (I just can't let her wear this one in public!)

Mosely also got a beautiful pink and purple doll house with the cutest little folksy people who live inside the house. For dinner she asked for spaghetti with gigantic meatballs. This is the fifth year Mosely has requested spaghetti for her birthday meal. Quite a pattern. For dessert her birthday cake was pink (as usual) with Cinderella drawn on top.

She received a TON of balloons, one which played a rap song every time it was touched. (It was not a very popular balloon with the grown-ups.)

Happy Number Five Mo-Town!!!

A Room With A View

Have you seen Mosely's new princess corner? It's adorable.

(Funny, Mosely isn't even in this photo!)

(And if you look closely, you may notice that Bergen dressed himself that morning - camo with camo.)

Good Housekeeping Recipes

Christmas cookie time ----- our friend Jamal came over and we made Christmas cut-out cookies galore. We rolled and we rolled and we cut and we cut and then we frosted and sprinkled and decorated until

we could hardly stand it anymore.

Little Miss Manners

London loves to play with Piper. I think she sees her as a human doll.

After they had been playing quietly for a while I decided it was time to check things out.

When I entered the room Piper Finnian was wearing a costume Kevin had made for Riley years ago - and it seems she was quite fond of it. When I tried to take the dress off for nap, she wailed and shook her head "no" vehemently.

Forever Young

Our house is a funny house. (Well, not the literal structure of our home - it's pretty normal, not very amusing.)

The people who live inside of our house are what makes this such a funny place to live.

In the normal course of one day, let alone one week, the most random, adorable, humiliating, precious, frustrating events occur. Without ever leaving through the front door.

Too cute moment.....One morning we were getting ready to leave for Gaffney to meet Emma and her boys to get Riley back after a pretty long sabbatical from us in Florida and Charlotte. I told the kids we all needed to help to leave on time. (Leaving by 9:30 a.m. seems like more of a challenge than it should.) London asked if she could make everyone breakfast. I was changing Piper Finn's diaper and directing Bergen on the proper way to wear one's underwear so I apparently said yes. When I entered the kitchen, every place was set with a bagel spread with cream cheese and Piper's bagel was even already torn into tiny bite-size pieces on her tray. It was breakfast. It was good. And a five-year-old made it. Amazing.

Next morning....London knocked over a very full glass of water onto my bed, drenching my pillow, the wall, the bookshelf beside the bed and the nearest guitar. Nice. I pulled out the bed from the wall and ice cubes were flying everywhere. Not so fun.

Piper regularly poops so much poop that it drips from her diaper and down her right leg. (Yes, she favors the right leg.) That's gross.

At a restaurant lunch yesterday during a Christmas shopping trip, a gentleman gave each of the kids a quarter to get candy from a gumball machine. Without prompting, every Keigley kid said "thank you". I was so proud. And when we got into the car, London said, "Mom, we should thank God for that man tonight when we pray." And so we did.

Bergen Hawke insists on announcing his every bowel movement in loud and clear yells from the toilet.

On their own, without being asked, Mosely, London and Bergen brought me breakfast in bed recently. On my plate were two cookies, a bag of fruit snacks, an orange, an apple and a pear. (Berg ate the apple, London requested the orange, Mosely devoured the fruit snacks and I think some little boy took the cookies as well.)

Bergen climbs into Piper's crib every chance he can and pretends to be a baby - stuffing her prized Eagle into the most curious of places for future discovery.

Okay, that is just a glimpse of what you would see if you stepped into our house on any day. It's a funny house...but it's a good house. And I do like its small inhabitants.

Cranberry Thanksgiving

I don't even know where to begin.

The drive to Florida was ..... long. Me, "alone" with five kids. (Kevin came the next day with Austin and Jon.) But it was a good drive overall, thanks in large part to a great lunch at Five Guys and an audio tape version of the The Princess Bride.

The times were great at the Wickstrum house - Florida-side. The kids all played together really well. Piper Finn loved pushing everyone around on their cars - we need more of those! Cooking was fun, eating was great, everything was delicious. It was really fantastic - what a fun way to spend a holiday! I do not have enough good adjectives or phrases to give the day justice. "A day well-spent brings happy sleep." (DaVinci)

Rehearsal day was fun for me ---nails done while Kevin stayed at the hotel with kids. I think they actually watched Jeremiah Johnson. Seriously. The dinner after the rehearsal was so tasty! And the kids are all big enough to sit at their own table - such an odd experience. Following the rehearsal, back at the hotel, hanging out in Terry's room may have been my favorite part of the day!

The wedding day seemed normal and on schedule until a naked Bergen, on his way to the bathtub, slipped on the wet floor and cracked his chin on the edge of the toilet. Yes, he did. Thankfully, marching down the hall like some super medical team, came our own army of professional men -- doctor, paramedics, x-ray guy and Austin. With some gear from their cars (!) they fixed up Berg's chin with strips of stuff and he was good to go. Although Pappa Dale did say he would take him to a "plastics" guy on Monday. Do we have a plastics guy yet? We probably need one! (Maybe Riley should train in the medical field to save us a few dollars in our future!)

The wedding was lovely - I will never promote boring black tuxedos again.....brown is the new black! Sarah was beautiful and she Erik looked wonderful together. The dance floor was a success and Piper was a tiny Dancing Queen.

All in all, the long drive there and the even longer drive home was more than worth it. What a great way to spend a week!!

Curious George Visits the Museum

Asheville's Pack Place featured a traveling Curious George exhibit. We live in a house almost completely overrun by Curious George stuffed monkeys - some with clothes, some without. Naturally, we couldn't resist the lure of a museum featuring George.

We spent Saturday exploring the museum (after turning the wrong way down every one way street in Asheville's crowded downtown area). The kids loved George. Finn walked over to a stranger her same height, and after giggling and pointing, began poking this poor child in the eyes. Uh-oh. Bergen found Chippy, a chipmunk from the Curious George shows, and carried him throughout the rest of the non-George museum until we realized the stuffed chipmunk was not ours and forced our young, thieving son to return said chipmunk from whence it came.

For a lunch break we walked a few blocks down to the coolest pizza place in the world. (Yes, it really is.) The Mellow Mushroom was so funky and fun. The pizza was the best pizza I have had in recent memory. Delicious. And they are all about local and natural so that was really fun. Plus, the waitress said our family was beautiful and who doesn't like to hear that when you are eating at a restuarant with five kids who you know will leave the floor much messier than how they found it and all you can really think about that is, "Hey, at least it's not in my kitchen!"

A Pair of Red Clogs

This week we have been reading A Pair of Red Clogs for kindergarten. The wee ones really wanted to make their own wooden clogs, which I am not crafty enough to pull off.

I am, however, crafty enough to cut "wooden" clogs out of cereal boxes and weave yarn through them - which seemed to satisfy their clog desires.

Then we created "kimonos" and they felt like the real deal. They put on a show for Kevin when he came home for lunch. Midway through the show though Bergen ditched the kimono for a Batman cape and insisted that Batman become part of the Red Clogs tale.

Ring Around the Rosy

The following blog was written by London Eli Scout, age 5.

That picture is when we were doing Ring Around the Rosy. And we liked it. We liked Piper with us.

I just holded out my hands and she holded onto my hands and we went around in circles. She likes playing Ring Around the Rosy.

I try to hold Piper.