We've been some hopping PrairieFrogs lately!

We discovered terrible mold under the flooring when toilet in the back bathroom began sinking into the floor, so Ken's been doing an unplanned bathroom remodel.  (We also discovered that our dryer didn't vent to the outside, but rather directly into the floor--no wonder the back laundry area and bath were so humid when I ran the dryer!)  Yikes!  The icky, yucky stuff is gone, and while the bathroom isn't finished, it is no longer a hazard!  Horray!

While Ken was tearing out moldy floorboards, I was driving Keegan to Utah.  He's to have minor yet important surgery soon to enable him to walk on his feet correctly instead of on his toes, and we zipped out for a consultation.  He was a trooper for what turned out to be a seven hour drive each direction.  At a restaurant along the way he captured the attention of an elderly gentleman who whispered a word to the waitress and bought him a free ice-cream cone!  I think it was his highlight from the trip.

Somehow I got roped into a harp ensemble that we were initially planning for just Kaira to be in.  Fortunately it is very informal and there are other beginners, but it is still rather daunting for a non-musician like me.  (Kaira's learning her parts as well as my simplified ones so she can help me though--what a girl!) 

Kaira's also been having fun with a borrowed cross-strung harp.  It is strung from both sides with the strings crossing in the middle.  One side has the "natural" notes, and the other has groups of three and two like the black keys on the piano, and is tuned to the sharps and flats.  (Our own harps have levers to 'sharp' a note, and a pedal harp relies on the pedals for this.)

I mentioned that it's been a zoo, and we did actually visit the zoo yet again on Friday--the second time this spring!  It was literally a zoo!  We attended with our fabulous church family and only lost a handful of the children--one (not a PrairieFrog child) was lost amid a downpour and tornado warning adding significant drama to the day. 

And finally we did manage to fit in Father's day for Ken--a week after the real date, but he enjoyed his kabobs and Home Depot card (and homemade cards from the children) just as much a week later.  We've never been sticklers to the calendar.  (My poor, dear father will be getting his Father's day card on the 4th of July!)

In between happenings we've been gardening, having picnics, and playing outdoors.  This next week as we prepare for Independence Day we are going to try to remember just how to "do school" and enjoy a bit of routine after too long of being off-kilter.  We tend to be a family that thrives on routine, and while being derailed has been good, it will be good to find our rhythm again too.