We were discussing a show on monster trucks that Camden watched and loved. "It's like a kid's documentary," I explained. Jacob: "So it's okay for kids to watch it but they won't get it?"
It was time to clean all the leftovers out of the refrigerator and my boys were sitting at the bar eating the lunch I had imposed upon them. Drew and Jacob were being forced to eat soft tacos. "Camden," says Drew in the middle of the meal, "Mom is making us eat`the yuckiest food!" Jacob agreed.
We had a season of death among the animals at our house, losing a couple of rabbits and a chicken. I guess all that Camden got out of it was that after they die we don't see them anymore. Aunt Mary came to help out after the birth of Emilie, and a few days after she left Camden stood up on his chair at the dinner table, threw out his arms, and announced, "Everybody - Aunt Mary DIED."
Upon burying one rabbit, Camden said, "Aw, Mom! Why did you put the bunny in a mud pie?"
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
For when I need to laugh
Ever played Balderdash? Each player comes up with a fake definition for a word, and then listens to those definitions mixed in with the correct one - you try to guess which one is right. To have the choicest experience with this game you need to play in the same circles in which I play. Tyler plays not to win but to maximize laughter, and this is his definition. Brilliant.
We have a job pockets on our refrigerator during the summertime. I was out running errands the other day and called home. Jacob answered, "Mom, why do I have the most jobs of anyone else? You gave me three. One says 'weed', another one says, 'brush Daisy', and another one says, 'weed the whole garden'. Mom, the whole entire garden!?! Are you serious? It's huge!" He's right. Jacob did make one smart observation. I always put a little smiley face on the end of their job slips and this smiley face looked a little different. Apparently a job fairy visited the pockets while I was away. These were some of the other ideas the fairy had.
The job fairy and I laughed and laughed over the "weed the whole garden" bit. Oh, I appreciate those moments of laughter.
Here's one more. Bummer there aren't pictures for it. On the way to church this last week Drew grabbed a water bottle and started to drink it in the car. I heard him muttering to himself, "I got myself wet". Indeed. He hopped out of the car to show me and I couldn't hold back. He could not have aimed any better - it did look like he in fact did wet himself. I couldn't even think about it without laughing. Combine that with the fire engine red crocs that I discovered Camden was wearing as we walked into the building (his dressy shoes were missing and I charged a daughter to find something for his feet) and I was a little amused.
We have a job pockets on our refrigerator during the summertime. I was out running errands the other day and called home. Jacob answered, "Mom, why do I have the most jobs of anyone else? You gave me three. One says 'weed', another one says, 'brush Daisy', and another one says, 'weed the whole garden'. Mom, the whole entire garden!?! Are you serious? It's huge!" He's right. Jacob did make one smart observation. I always put a little smiley face on the end of their job slips and this smiley face looked a little different. Apparently a job fairy visited the pockets while I was away. These were some of the other ideas the fairy had.
Here's one more. Bummer there aren't pictures for it. On the way to church this last week Drew grabbed a water bottle and started to drink it in the car. I heard him muttering to himself, "I got myself wet". Indeed. He hopped out of the car to show me and I couldn't hold back. He could not have aimed any better - it did look like he in fact did wet himself. I couldn't even think about it without laughing. Combine that with the fire engine red crocs that I discovered Camden was wearing as we walked into the building (his dressy shoes were missing and I charged a daughter to find something for his feet) and I was a little amused.
Summer means...
Summer means...
more bodies in the house - ALL DAY LONG
cleaning more things in the house more often since there are more helpers - a dirtier and more cluttered house because there are more people to mess it up
hours of weeding in the garden
relaxing & having daytime movies
having lots more dirty dishes and running the dishwasher twice a day
more visitors from out of town
eating watermelon and berries
night games with the neighbors
several family birthdays
kids coming and going at various times - both mine and others who are over here to play (it is not unusual to have 9 minors under my charge at a given time)
having time to do the things that can't be fit in throughout the year: playdates, learning new skills, bonding time with siblings and Mom
having a hard time fitting in doing the dishes and laundry
I am grateful for...
two girls who are amazingly good workers and how willing they are to do so much
the inspired ideas that come to my mind to help me manage this altered state of our lives
direction from prophets and evidence from social sciences that say it is so important to teach children to work - because that is what helps me to keep trying to train the little resistant people (seeing how great the big sisters turned out sure helps, too!)
a baby that is such a great sleeper and very content
neighborhood children that help us pass the time and keep everyone from getting bored staying at home all the time
Tyler who spends his evenings taking care of children when I am ready for a break
I am realizing...
it is a struggle to fit in quiet time - or a nap - on a daily or even weekly basis
whatever schedule that I choose to enforce is the only thing that separates our lives from chaos
I am like the conductor in an orchestra - I have to keep everyone at the same place in the song (on the same eating/sleeping/working/playing schedule) or else there isn't much harmony
Wow, I've learned a lot already this summer! We're still working out the kinks but our simple summer at home without activities has been full of hard work, lots of play, and some GREAT learning experiences. I'm lovin' it - most of the time;). School will be here again before we know it!
more bodies in the house - ALL DAY LONG
cleaning more things in the house more often since there are more helpers - a dirtier and more cluttered house because there are more people to mess it up
hours of weeding in the garden
relaxing & having daytime movies
having lots more dirty dishes and running the dishwasher twice a day
more visitors from out of town
eating watermelon and berries
night games with the neighbors
several family birthdays
kids coming and going at various times - both mine and others who are over here to play (it is not unusual to have 9 minors under my charge at a given time)
having time to do the things that can't be fit in throughout the year: playdates, learning new skills, bonding time with siblings and Mom
having a hard time fitting in doing the dishes and laundry
I am grateful for...
two girls who are amazingly good workers and how willing they are to do so much
the inspired ideas that come to my mind to help me manage this altered state of our lives
direction from prophets and evidence from social sciences that say it is so important to teach children to work - because that is what helps me to keep trying to train the little resistant people (seeing how great the big sisters turned out sure helps, too!)
a baby that is such a great sleeper and very content
neighborhood children that help us pass the time and keep everyone from getting bored staying at home all the time
Tyler who spends his evenings taking care of children when I am ready for a break
I am realizing...
it is a struggle to fit in quiet time - or a nap - on a daily or even weekly basis
whatever schedule that I choose to enforce is the only thing that separates our lives from chaos
I am like the conductor in an orchestra - I have to keep everyone at the same place in the song (on the same eating/sleeping/working/playing schedule) or else there isn't much harmony
Wow, I've learned a lot already this summer! We're still working out the kinks but our simple summer at home without activities has been full of hard work, lots of play, and some GREAT learning experiences. I'm lovin' it - most of the time;). School will be here again before we know it!
Summer bonding time - silly Hawaiian sisters
The big sisters lead in lots of crazy dress-up schemes
Drew's birthday
the requested Batman cake decorated by Callie
Yikes! Camden saw the watermelon on our counter in the morning and couldn't wait for Mom to serve it up - I found him thus; he had gotten a knife out all by himself and started to dig in. Angels are definitely attentive and active around our home!
Grandpa R. with his little clone
Story time with Grandma
Emmie's Blessing Day!
Our handsome daddy with his littlest princess
Jacob spends a lot of time creating things
Hannah jumps at any chance to care for Emmie
Emmie the beautiful
