Princess P is quite fascinated by bubbles at the moment. She has used our Sam's sized bottle of Dove shampoo as a bubble bath. She has used the hand wash soap from the side of the sink as bubble bath. She has used her body wash as bubble bath. So, finally, I've broken down and bought her a bottle of bubble bath. She tries to bathe at least twice a day, not to be clean, but so she can have her bubbles.
How many of us have gone through the motions for the wrong reasons? We don't really want to be healed, be taught, or serve. We just want to see our friends, feel good, and have our bubbles. Nothing is wrong with bubbles. Bubbles are pretty. Bubbles are fun to play with. But spend too much time with the bubbles and your skin gets dried out. You can get a UTI. not much fun. So have fun playing with the bubbles, but remember the reason for a bath is to get clean.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Lemon cream pie
Today I was watching Baby Guy eat lemon cream pie for lunch. He was very methodical about it. First, he ate the crust...yes with his fingers. Then he ate the whipped cream, also with his fingers. Then he poked at the lemon, ate a bit, made a face, ate some more, made a scrunchier face, etc. until it was gone. He then climbed down, toddled his sticky self over to me, and demanded to be picked up. So now I'm wearing pie.
Welcome to life. When we pick it apart trying to get the good parts first, we generally make a huge mess, and that mess spreads to those who care about us.
If we just pick up our fork, and take the sweet with sour, what a symphony life can be.
Welcome to life. When we pick it apart trying to get the good parts first, we generally make a huge mess, and that mess spreads to those who care about us.
If we just pick up our fork, and take the sweet with sour, what a symphony life can be.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Kids only think they want to grow up.
What is it that makes childhood such a race? FREE-DOM cry our little Wallaces. At least they won't die a horrible death for it.
Take Baby Guy. He's a hoot. Lately he won't take a sippy cup from my hand. Oh no. He will bring me the cup demanding "Dink." or "ilk", then run to the fridge to get it out himself. After I fill it and screw on the lid I have to put it back in the fridge. He will then open the door and take it out himself to suck it down in two seconds and demand a refill.
Princess P isn't so sure. She cleans up like a champ, but will run around the house naked for hours, then bring me a pull up when she has to pee. "Don't you want to use the potty?"
"NO! Pull-up."
Then we go to church and she uses the potty with the other kids. See, sometimes the herd mentality is a good thing. After all, she doesn't want to be left behind.
And really that's what it's about. They aren't really sure they want to grow up. They just don't want to be left behind. Kind of like our oldest with his deodorant, and not being the only one. (http://mamamsplace.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-not-only-one.html Edited to add link, thanks K for the help!)
More evidence that it's more the peer thing than the maturity thing shows up at our house every Saturday when it's time for the boys to clean their rooms. Bob, our natural neatnick is done in 15 minutes. Whereas the older two can stretch the job out over half a day, trying to do just enough to say they did their share while still convincing themselves the other brother did more work. All it takes for Abe to finish the job by himself is a phone call from a friend. No clean room? No weekend play dates. The herd comes in handy again. With Chip it's usually the feed trough that motivates him. No clean room? No lunch. I don't care if lunch is at three. He certainly does though, and has only had lunch encroach on dinner once.
And then there are those who just are dying to join the herd. Princess D was so put out when Chip went to Kindergarten this year, without her! Why she's missing out on stories, and art, and homework? And no talking? Well, mom has a whole cabinet of art stuff here, and we can watch Dora! As the year has worn on, she's relished being little just a bit longer after all. Freedom comes with a lot of responsibilty. It can wait a while.
Take Baby Guy. He's a hoot. Lately he won't take a sippy cup from my hand. Oh no. He will bring me the cup demanding "Dink." or "ilk", then run to the fridge to get it out himself. After I fill it and screw on the lid I have to put it back in the fridge. He will then open the door and take it out himself to suck it down in two seconds and demand a refill.
Princess P isn't so sure. She cleans up like a champ, but will run around the house naked for hours, then bring me a pull up when she has to pee. "Don't you want to use the potty?"
"NO! Pull-up."
Then we go to church and she uses the potty with the other kids. See, sometimes the herd mentality is a good thing. After all, she doesn't want to be left behind.
And really that's what it's about. They aren't really sure they want to grow up. They just don't want to be left behind. Kind of like our oldest with his deodorant, and not being the only one. (http://mamamsplace.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-not-only-one.html Edited to add link, thanks K for the help!)
More evidence that it's more the peer thing than the maturity thing shows up at our house every Saturday when it's time for the boys to clean their rooms. Bob, our natural neatnick is done in 15 minutes. Whereas the older two can stretch the job out over half a day, trying to do just enough to say they did their share while still convincing themselves the other brother did more work. All it takes for Abe to finish the job by himself is a phone call from a friend. No clean room? No weekend play dates. The herd comes in handy again. With Chip it's usually the feed trough that motivates him. No clean room? No lunch. I don't care if lunch is at three. He certainly does though, and has only had lunch encroach on dinner once.
And then there are those who just are dying to join the herd. Princess D was so put out when Chip went to Kindergarten this year, without her! Why she's missing out on stories, and art, and homework? And no talking? Well, mom has a whole cabinet of art stuff here, and we can watch Dora! As the year has worn on, she's relished being little just a bit longer after all. Freedom comes with a lot of responsibilty. It can wait a while.
Monday, January 26, 2009
*I think* my last political soapbox for a while
I know most of you read my blog for cute kid stories or to convince yourselves your not bad parents, because well, look at what her kids get away with. We'll get back to that soon, really.
Few things are important enough for me to note both here and on my social networking account, but the Freedom of Choice Act is one issue that definitely deserves such attention.
I know many people who are pro-choice. On another forum I post on, even the active pc posters are against this act because of the ambiguity of it's wording.
Even they understand that informed consent is a fundamental right with ANY medical procedure. That medical facilities have safety regulations for a reason,etc. And the way the Act is currently worded, there is a loop-hole that allows the removal of all regulations, even the ones common sense dictate.
They have compassion enough on those who disagree with them to agree that a specific exemption for religious facilities would be a reasonable safeguard.
That said, all who know me know that I am adamantly pro-life in my personal views. Heck, I even still feel guilty for cooperating with Mr, M's vasectomy. (No, I don't think birth control should be illegal. That personal moral quandary is for another post.)
What I am posting here is information, a link to the act itself, and a link to a petition against it, (even though I am opposed to the scare tactics on the petitions site, I do agree with it's primary intent.)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.2020 :
http://www.fightfoca.com/
Feel free to copy/paste forward this as you see fit.
To all my friends. Peace be with you.
Few things are important enough for me to note both here and on my social networking account, but the Freedom of Choice Act is one issue that definitely deserves such attention.
I know many people who are pro-choice. On another forum I post on, even the active pc posters are against this act because of the ambiguity of it's wording.
Even they understand that informed consent is a fundamental right with ANY medical procedure. That medical facilities have safety regulations for a reason,etc. And the way the Act is currently worded, there is a loop-hole that allows the removal of all regulations, even the ones common sense dictate.
They have compassion enough on those who disagree with them to agree that a specific exemption for religious facilities would be a reasonable safeguard.
That said, all who know me know that I am adamantly pro-life in my personal views. Heck, I even still feel guilty for cooperating with Mr, M's vasectomy. (No, I don't think birth control should be illegal. That personal moral quandary is for another post.)
What I am posting here is information, a link to the act itself, and a link to a petition against it, (even though I am opposed to the scare tactics on the petitions site, I do agree with it's primary intent.)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-
http://www.fightfoca.com/
Feel free to copy/paste forward this as you see fit.
To all my friends. Peace be with you.
Friday, January 23, 2009
How things change
How things change....
With our oldest, he thought graham crackers were cookies until he was 3. Baby Guy had a dum-dum as his bedtime snack last night.
We used to hate, hate, hate single serving prepackaged food. Now I can't imagine a long car trip without juice boxes, and we leave single serve applesauce at the church for our daughter.
I used to vacuum daily so the apartment would look nice. I now vacuum daily so the house isn't a health hazard.
We used to think that a dishwasher was a luxury that we could do without indefinitely. Now if it breaks for a couple of days it's a crisis.
And stay the same...
We used to wish for a washer and dryer. We still do wish for a second washer and dryer.
Our first official home did not have a working oven, so we cooked in a toaster oven we received as a wedding present. Our current home does not have a working oven, so we cook in a toaster oven, albeit a much larger one than the one we received as a wedding present.
When I met Mr. M, I was fascinated by him, wondering what kind of freak would work in fast food with an engineering degree. I am still fascinated by Mr. M, and wonder what kind of freak can stay so calm all the time when he has six kids.
And we should be careful what we wish for....
We wished for smart kids. Our oldest could read by the time he was four. Any coincidence that we could only switch cookies with crackers until he was three?
We wished for our children to be close in age. Six kids in eight and a half years definitely qualifies.
We wished for our children to be close to each other. A one year old and a two year old make a dangerous team, as is evident by the amount of snack food that's raided by flipping a laundry basket, pushing it into the kitchen, then climbing on it. As are 4,6, and 7 year old boys who realize there's no screen or storm in the window outside their bedroom before you do....
And we have learned to be grateful for small successes
Like Princess P and Baby Guy both keeping their clothes and shoes on long enough to load to car.
Our oldest taking out the trash without being told.
Seeing Chip sit still with a book
Watching Bob help Princess D tie her shoes.
Getting through another day, another month, another year, as a family growing in grace through God.
With our oldest, he thought graham crackers were cookies until he was 3. Baby Guy had a dum-dum as his bedtime snack last night.
We used to hate, hate, hate single serving prepackaged food. Now I can't imagine a long car trip without juice boxes, and we leave single serve applesauce at the church for our daughter.
I used to vacuum daily so the apartment would look nice. I now vacuum daily so the house isn't a health hazard.
We used to think that a dishwasher was a luxury that we could do without indefinitely. Now if it breaks for a couple of days it's a crisis.
And stay the same...
We used to wish for a washer and dryer. We still do wish for a second washer and dryer.
Our first official home did not have a working oven, so we cooked in a toaster oven we received as a wedding present. Our current home does not have a working oven, so we cook in a toaster oven, albeit a much larger one than the one we received as a wedding present.
When I met Mr. M, I was fascinated by him, wondering what kind of freak would work in fast food with an engineering degree. I am still fascinated by Mr. M, and wonder what kind of freak can stay so calm all the time when he has six kids.
And we should be careful what we wish for....
We wished for smart kids. Our oldest could read by the time he was four. Any coincidence that we could only switch cookies with crackers until he was three?
We wished for our children to be close in age. Six kids in eight and a half years definitely qualifies.
We wished for our children to be close to each other. A one year old and a two year old make a dangerous team, as is evident by the amount of snack food that's raided by flipping a laundry basket, pushing it into the kitchen, then climbing on it. As are 4,6, and 7 year old boys who realize there's no screen or storm in the window outside their bedroom before you do....
And we have learned to be grateful for small successes
Like Princess P and Baby Guy both keeping their clothes and shoes on long enough to load to car.
Our oldest taking out the trash without being told.
Seeing Chip sit still with a book
Watching Bob help Princess D tie her shoes.
Getting through another day, another month, another year, as a family growing in grace through God.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Acts 16 - how God uses us
Tonight was an amazing night at church. All six kids behaved, and I enjoyed the study too.
What woke me up at 4amish here was Mr. HS Himself, reminding me to share.
Acts 16:25-30 is a story so many of us know well. Paul & Silas were in prison after being beaten, doing nothing but praising God. As if this wasn't remarkable enough, God sent an earthquake that broke all the prisoners chains and threw open the doors. The guard is about to commit suicide, but Paul stops him, saying "Wait. We are all here."
Paul was freed by God from the circumstances, but CHOSE to stay in a horrible situation to minister to that jailer.
Want to see your ministry take off? Leave your comfort zone. Whether it's holding that child you KNOW is going to puke on you again, taking homeless Joe to the Y for a shower and the laundromat to wash his clothes, or traveling across the world to war zones and third world countries, ministries where people voluntarily put themselves beyond their "zone" when they are called are blessed, because it so clearly God.
Furthermore, Paul really didn't "have" to be in that prison in the first place, even under the law of man at that time. He was a Roman citizen. Instead of singing and praising God, he could have been demanding his "rights." But he didn't. He yielded his rights to serve God's purpose.
He did eventually claim his "rights", but it was in the right spirit, and to protect the ministry being born in Philippi. How important was that ministry. Well, there is that little book called Philippians. Eventually, Paul left his own spiritual "son" Timothy, to oversee there. The implications for that in our lives is a whole 'nother post.
Now it's 4:15am, and I am so not a morning person. I'm going back to bed.
What woke me up at 4amish here was Mr. HS Himself, reminding me to share.
Acts 16:25-30 is a story so many of us know well. Paul & Silas were in prison after being beaten, doing nothing but praising God. As if this wasn't remarkable enough, God sent an earthquake that broke all the prisoners chains and threw open the doors. The guard is about to commit suicide, but Paul stops him, saying "Wait. We are all here."
Paul was freed by God from the circumstances, but CHOSE to stay in a horrible situation to minister to that jailer.
Want to see your ministry take off? Leave your comfort zone. Whether it's holding that child you KNOW is going to puke on you again, taking homeless Joe to the Y for a shower and the laundromat to wash his clothes, or traveling across the world to war zones and third world countries, ministries where people voluntarily put themselves beyond their "zone" when they are called are blessed, because it so clearly God.
Furthermore, Paul really didn't "have" to be in that prison in the first place, even under the law of man at that time. He was a Roman citizen. Instead of singing and praising God, he could have been demanding his "rights." But he didn't. He yielded his rights to serve God's purpose.
He did eventually claim his "rights", but it was in the right spirit, and to protect the ministry being born in Philippi. How important was that ministry. Well, there is that little book called Philippians. Eventually, Paul left his own spiritual "son" Timothy, to oversee there. The implications for that in our lives is a whole 'nother post.
Now it's 4:15am, and I am so not a morning person. I'm going back to bed.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Socks are like coathangers
I wrote this a few kids ago. Maybe it shows why I don't home school anymore. Or maybe, it just reflects life. Enjoy.
Socks are like coat hangers.
I've never had any luck keeping track of my kids socks. On laundry day, I'll throw one back into the basket, hopeful that it's mate will turn up in in the next load. By the end of the day it's hosting a "singles celebration" potluck with a live band.
With that many singles floating around, clearly it's craft time! Our comes the yarn, googly eyes and craft glue.
"Come on kids! Let's make sock puppets!"
What a foolish thing to say to three boys in the "superhero" phase.
"Mine's the good guy and YOURS is the bad guy."
"No! Mine good!"
"Mine a monster! Rooooaaar."
"Mommy! Chip's eating the glue."
"It's okay. It says it's non-toxic on the bottle."
Later, I throw away the empty glue bottle, untangle the yarn spiderwebs from the stair railings and door knobs, and pick up felt scraps from the floor. Sure enough, stuck to the towel I pick up for clean up is one of the "mystery mates" to a sock that is now a three googly eyed monster.
Into the laundry basket it goes.
Socks are like coat hangers.
I've never had any luck keeping track of my kids socks. On laundry day, I'll throw one back into the basket, hopeful that it's mate will turn up in in the next load. By the end of the day it's hosting a "singles celebration" potluck with a live band.
With that many singles floating around, clearly it's craft time! Our comes the yarn, googly eyes and craft glue.
"Come on kids! Let's make sock puppets!"
What a foolish thing to say to three boys in the "superhero" phase.
"Mine's the good guy and YOURS is the bad guy."
"No! Mine good!"
"Mine a monster! Rooooaaar."
"Mommy! Chip's eating the glue."
"It's okay. It says it's non-toxic on the bottle."
Later, I throw away the empty glue bottle, untangle the yarn spiderwebs from the stair railings and door knobs, and pick up felt scraps from the floor. Sure enough, stuck to the towel I pick up for clean up is one of the "mystery mates" to a sock that is now a three googly eyed monster.
Into the laundry basket it goes.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tomorrow is a new day, with a new President
It really bugs me how the press pushes this as a "historical" inauguration. Any time a new president is elected it's historic. They all have their pictures in the new edition of Britannica after they're elected. And really, the fact they're making more of a big deal about the color of his skin and his age than the radical changes to our infrastructure implied by his campaign means that we, as a people, really haven't learned how to "treat everyone equally" after all. It is when we can make absolutely no mention of someone's gender, race, age,etc. but discuss and deal with them only by their relative merits that we will have reached that point. Obama's race and McCain's age were not on the table for election debate points in this house.
As one six year old I knew put it some years back, "We're all brown. What difference does the shade make?" I see that our kids "get it" better than we do.
Instead, we should be looking around at what is being proposed. Obama is not walking into a fragrant rose garden in spring, but rather a wintery thorn patch.
Is "All Children Left Behind" going to be overhauled or eliminated?
Will their be a nationwide "early childhood education" mandate?
How is Obama going to implement national health care without reducing quality or eliminating ingenuity at a reasonable cost?
How many countries is Obama seriously "considering" increasing a military presence in?
Where are the soldiers going to come from?
What direction are we really heading in on moral issues? If you read carefully, he is more conservative on some than expected, although extremely liberal on others.
Wall Street does affect Main Street in many ways. How are we going regain our respectability economically, both internally and internationally?
The inauguration is not the important thing for history, the presidency that follows is.
As one six year old I knew put it some years back, "We're all brown. What difference does the shade make?" I see that our kids "get it" better than we do.
Instead, we should be looking around at what is being proposed. Obama is not walking into a fragrant rose garden in spring, but rather a wintery thorn patch.
Is "All Children Left Behind" going to be overhauled or eliminated?
Will their be a nationwide "early childhood education" mandate?
How is Obama going to implement national health care without reducing quality or eliminating ingenuity at a reasonable cost?
How many countries is Obama seriously "considering" increasing a military presence in?
Where are the soldiers going to come from?
What direction are we really heading in on moral issues? If you read carefully, he is more conservative on some than expected, although extremely liberal on others.
Wall Street does affect Main Street in many ways. How are we going regain our respectability economically, both internally and internationally?
The inauguration is not the important thing for history, the presidency that follows is.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Reflecting on how our kids grow in God
I love watching my kids grow into their relationship with God. Whether it's just watching the littles run to the car at the word "Church" or watching our oldest pour over the gospel tract rack like a candy counter, it gives me hope that as they grow up and go out into the world their faith will be firmly rooted in good soil. At that point, keeping the weeds out is between them and God.
But for now the hoe in Mr. M's & my hands. And with prayer and care, we have to decide when our young are ready to face the elements. Indoor plants are pretty, but the trees can never grow to their full height. Put a seedling out in winter and you hand it a death sentence. We want our kids to be aware of the evils out there, but not afraid of them. We want them to be solid in their faith, but flexible in the non-essentials. We want trees that sway in the wind, not brittle branches that break at the slightest resistance.
We know God's in charge of all. After all, Princess D this morning was listing off the thiings God made. "God made oatmeal. God made the ground it grows in. God made ME!" Yes, God made everything.
Yet God entrusted her to us, so there are many issues that we seek wisdom on, activities, school, church choice and attendance. Even when we home schooled we purposely did most of our activities through secular venues so our kids could see the world, and learn how to be in it without being of it, and how to reach out to it. For that is one of the universal commandments. "Go."
Whatever our choices, I'm sure God will be there. And with prayer and care I hope to see our children choose to follow Him while bringing some of their friends along for the ride.
But for now the hoe in Mr. M's & my hands. And with prayer and care, we have to decide when our young are ready to face the elements. Indoor plants are pretty, but the trees can never grow to their full height. Put a seedling out in winter and you hand it a death sentence. We want our kids to be aware of the evils out there, but not afraid of them. We want them to be solid in their faith, but flexible in the non-essentials. We want trees that sway in the wind, not brittle branches that break at the slightest resistance.
We know God's in charge of all. After all, Princess D this morning was listing off the thiings God made. "God made oatmeal. God made the ground it grows in. God made ME!" Yes, God made everything.
Yet God entrusted her to us, so there are many issues that we seek wisdom on, activities, school, church choice and attendance. Even when we home schooled we purposely did most of our activities through secular venues so our kids could see the world, and learn how to be in it without being of it, and how to reach out to it. For that is one of the universal commandments. "Go."
Whatever our choices, I'm sure God will be there. And with prayer and care I hope to see our children choose to follow Him while bringing some of their friends along for the ride.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Poor boy hasn't figured out he can't fly yet.
Our baby guy has figured out how to broad jump. The problem is he also likes to climb before he jumps. Today he jumped off the chair I was sitting in from behind me into the toy box. BONK! WAAAAH. Well, what did you expect?
Well, he didn't really expect anything. He's not even two yet. The problem is that our older kids still act the same way sometimes. Like the week before report cards.
"Uh, mom. I have to tell you something."
"K"
"I might not get that good a grade in Social Studies."
"Why not?"
"Well, I flunked two tests."
"What? I thought we had to sign those."
"Yeah, well...I left them in my desk."
"Well, hopefully your grade won't be too bad. Your DS would get lonely."
"What?!"
"You had to get straight A's to get it. You have to have A's and B's to keep it full time."
"That wasn't in the contract!"
"Oh yes it was. You were told from the start that your DS was tied to your grades. If you had told us this after the first test, we could have helped you get ready for the second one."
"Oh."
I had a ten year old in tears over the thought of losing his video games.
He was especially attentive in school the following week. His teacher even commented on it.
Report cards came home. His grade was a C. He now has extra homework or no weeknight DS. He chose extra homework, wishing he had thought to study more last quarter, but grateful we didn't take away his DS altogether.
Sometimes when we jump off the chair we land on the bed.
Well, he didn't really expect anything. He's not even two yet. The problem is that our older kids still act the same way sometimes. Like the week before report cards.
"Uh, mom. I have to tell you something."
"K"
"I might not get that good a grade in Social Studies."
"Why not?"
"Well, I flunked two tests."
"What? I thought we had to sign those."
"Yeah, well...I left them in my desk."
"Well, hopefully your grade won't be too bad. Your DS would get lonely."
"What?!"
"You had to get straight A's to get it. You have to have A's and B's to keep it full time."
"That wasn't in the contract!"
"Oh yes it was. You were told from the start that your DS was tied to your grades. If you had told us this after the first test, we could have helped you get ready for the second one."
"Oh."
I had a ten year old in tears over the thought of losing his video games.
He was especially attentive in school the following week. His teacher even commented on it.
Report cards came home. His grade was a C. He now has extra homework or no weeknight DS. He chose extra homework, wishing he had thought to study more last quarter, but grateful we didn't take away his DS altogether.
Sometimes when we jump off the chair we land on the bed.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The worst day at church, ever
Call it a cop out, but I love Kids World at church. I have six, eight, and ten year old boys. Grouped together without the second parent present to separate them I won't even set foot in the sanctuary. Instead, we hang out in the library. The kids look at books. I read a magazine or short novel. Chip can crawl under the table. Everyone's happy. Usually. Usually it's only for twenty minutes or so. Today, because of a concert "special" they waited almost an hour into the service to dismiss the kids. If I had known it was going to be that long, we would have gone home, sick Dad or not.
As it is, I'm not a member of the psychic friends network, so we followed our usual routine...and about twenty minutes into it the younger two boys got bored. Our oldest found a fat suspense novel to read. It could have been twice as long and he wouldn't have even noticed.
So they teased each other and wrestled and bugged for about ten more minutes. Then, knowing it was past the usual time, they took off....but no one was there. So we sat outside the youth room, without the benefit of library books, and tried to wait...and wait....I think I turned into the nana-nag.
"Get off the carpet roll!"
"Sit on the pew, no. no. Keep your feet off of it!"
"On is not under."
And so on and so forth for about another twenty minutes.
Finally, relieved they were all in place. I headed back down towards the library, since I didn't want to interrupt in the sanctuary. I can hear the whole service from there anyway. Fifteen minutes later service was done.
Collecting the kids didn't really go much better. First to the nursery. Our two year old wanted to finish her movie. Okay. I go to get the one year old and it takes a while to find his coat. I almost forgot our four year old, but ya know the staff isn't going to let you leave anyone behind. The nana-nag returns.
"Okay, let's get the boys! No Princess P, not downstairs. They're up. It's not AWANA. Hey girls, wait for me."
Sure enough, they charge ahead into where kid's world is held. I get the older kids out faster than the ones who shouldn't have been in there in the first place!
"Okay, do I have six kids? One, two, three, four...Hey! Where are the other two? Get back here. We're not going that way. We'll go out this door."
Yeah, this door that was on the opposite side of the building from where we parked. I forgot that I had parked next to the nursery this morning to it would be "easier" when it was time to go. It's a nice day. We can walk outside right?"
"Stay together"
"Hey! Stay with your herd. Animals that stray from their herd get eaten!"
"Abe, I've unlocked the car. Run and catch up w/ princess D so she can get in. Close the book and RUN!"
K, finally. Everyone loaded. Everyone on the way home. We were there. At least today the music was good.
As it is, I'm not a member of the psychic friends network, so we followed our usual routine...and about twenty minutes into it the younger two boys got bored. Our oldest found a fat suspense novel to read. It could have been twice as long and he wouldn't have even noticed.
So they teased each other and wrestled and bugged for about ten more minutes. Then, knowing it was past the usual time, they took off....but no one was there. So we sat outside the youth room, without the benefit of library books, and tried to wait...and wait....I think I turned into the nana-nag.
"Get off the carpet roll!"
"Sit on the pew, no. no. Keep your feet off of it!"
"On is not under."
And so on and so forth for about another twenty minutes.
Finally, relieved they were all in place. I headed back down towards the library, since I didn't want to interrupt in the sanctuary. I can hear the whole service from there anyway. Fifteen minutes later service was done.
Collecting the kids didn't really go much better. First to the nursery. Our two year old wanted to finish her movie. Okay. I go to get the one year old and it takes a while to find his coat. I almost forgot our four year old, but ya know the staff isn't going to let you leave anyone behind. The nana-nag returns.
"Okay, let's get the boys! No Princess P, not downstairs. They're up. It's not AWANA. Hey girls, wait for me."
Sure enough, they charge ahead into where kid's world is held. I get the older kids out faster than the ones who shouldn't have been in there in the first place!
"Okay, do I have six kids? One, two, three, four...Hey! Where are the other two? Get back here. We're not going that way. We'll go out this door."
Yeah, this door that was on the opposite side of the building from where we parked. I forgot that I had parked next to the nursery this morning to it would be "easier" when it was time to go. It's a nice day. We can walk outside right?"
"Stay together"
"Hey! Stay with your herd. Animals that stray from their herd get eaten!"
"Abe, I've unlocked the car. Run and catch up w/ princess D so she can get in. Close the book and RUN!"
K, finally. Everyone loaded. Everyone on the way home. We were there. At least today the music was good.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Princess and the C
Princess D is going to be in sales or politics when she grows up. I'm almost certain of it. Her favorite book is The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, not because of the environmental message, but because it has a model on how to convince people to buy anything. And if anyone looks like a fresh, gullible customer to her, it would be her brother Chip.
Now Chip is a sociable guy who loves everybody. He sometimes has an Odie complex where he'd run off a table if you told him to. His sister fully aware of this, prepared her plan to lure him into servitude for her purposes.
"Oh, Chi-ip. Look! I fixed this for you."
"Oh, thanks I guess."
"Uh-huh. Well,...."
"Um, Princess D. What was wrong with it?"
See, my lil guy who'll do anything for anyone isn't really the most stuff oriented kid. It's okay if his pillow is a little frayed. It's soft. And if the legos are missing a few pieces you can still build something, even if it's not the picture on the box. Besides, I think that's a question we should all ask more often, before we go out and buy the latest and greatest "fix" for our aging bodies or used belongings, is what's wrong with the way it is now? Why worry about getting the "new and improved" everything? All the same, this question was the one thing his sister was not prepared for. It's just not how she's wired, with her dolls lined up, and her nails polished, she's very much a "just so" kind of gal.
"Well, ah, can't you see how much better it is?!"
"Don't think so, but thanks for thinking of me."
She then rolled her eyes and went off looking for her sister. "Oh princess P......"
Now Chip is a sociable guy who loves everybody. He sometimes has an Odie complex where he'd run off a table if you told him to. His sister fully aware of this, prepared her plan to lure him into servitude for her purposes.
"Oh, Chi-ip. Look! I fixed this for you."
"Oh, thanks I guess."
"Uh-huh. Well,...."
"Um, Princess D. What was wrong with it?"
See, my lil guy who'll do anything for anyone isn't really the most stuff oriented kid. It's okay if his pillow is a little frayed. It's soft. And if the legos are missing a few pieces you can still build something, even if it's not the picture on the box. Besides, I think that's a question we should all ask more often, before we go out and buy the latest and greatest "fix" for our aging bodies or used belongings, is what's wrong with the way it is now? Why worry about getting the "new and improved" everything? All the same, this question was the one thing his sister was not prepared for. It's just not how she's wired, with her dolls lined up, and her nails polished, she's very much a "just so" kind of gal.
"Well, ah, can't you see how much better it is?!"
"Don't think so, but thanks for thinking of me."
She then rolled her eyes and went off looking for her sister. "Oh princess P......"
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Whaddya mean Mr. M isn't perfect?
Every now and then God sends me a reminder that He is God, and my husband is not. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I adore Mr. M, and how perfect we are for each other. That said, his humanity has been rather vexing to me the last couple of days.
You see on Monday, Mr. M ran out of gas on his way home from work. This wouldn't have been quite as vexing if he hadn't stopped at QT for breakfast that morning. He topped his tank, why not put five bucks in the car too?
Not that he didn't do his penance in waiting for me to find my phone when he called. Baby Guy and Princess P had played hide and seek with it that morning. Soooo, around five 'o clock I started getting worried. Mr. M is almost always home by 4:30, and that day he was supposed to be home at four.
So I turned off the t.v. and asked the troops to help me find my phone, assuring their cooperation by informing them until it was found the t.v. would not be turned back on. It was then our oldest so helpfully told me, "Oh yeah. I heard it ringing a while ago."
"WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Uh, I was watching t.v. and just didn't think about it."
Sigh. We need to work on some communication skills.
"Which direction was it coming from?"
He kinda pointed, and three kids dove under the couch by the window and found it...because with the t.v. off they could here it ringing again. Later I asked Mr. M how many times he had tried to call. His reply, "Oh around 30."
So we go rescue Mr. M, buy a gas can because I can't find either one of the two we have in the garage, and put gas in it. We drive to the side of the highway where he ran out of gas, (actually two highways merging together. Nice spot dear.) We put the gas in the car. Then, his old car shows it's age and temperament. No way it's going to start out here in the dark and cold. It had been left alone too long.
Now of course this was the magical day where we were transferring money between two accounts, meaning that almost all of our money was unavailable until "tomorrow." So his car got to spend the night on the side of the highway. We just hoped it would still be there in the morning.
In the morning, after the three musketeers were off to school, we went to Hyperhades to buy a jumper. They had two kinds, about $30 apart. Mr. M bought the cheaper one. Of course it didn't work. So we went back for the other one. By then it was time for him to be at work and for me to be getting home to pick up Chip from kindergarten. So that meant I had the privilege of driving half an hour each way again later in the day, to try and rescue his car again.
Fast forwarding to after school and after homework, I got almost everyone loaded up again. (Our oldest was invited to a friends house. He was yelling & jumping for joy at seeing his friend and getting out of sitting in the car for an hour.) Off we go. We get Mr. M. We get him to his car, apparently in the nick of time. It now had one of those orange stickers on it saying how we had 10 hours to move it or it would be towed. Good thing is took about fifteen hours for the police to mark it in the first place.
The new jumper worked, and in the end all is well. My van will never have to rescue him because the old Jimmy was too cold to get up in the morning again.
You see on Monday, Mr. M ran out of gas on his way home from work. This wouldn't have been quite as vexing if he hadn't stopped at QT for breakfast that morning. He topped his tank, why not put five bucks in the car too?
Not that he didn't do his penance in waiting for me to find my phone when he called. Baby Guy and Princess P had played hide and seek with it that morning. Soooo, around five 'o clock I started getting worried. Mr. M is almost always home by 4:30, and that day he was supposed to be home at four.
So I turned off the t.v. and asked the troops to help me find my phone, assuring their cooperation by informing them until it was found the t.v. would not be turned back on. It was then our oldest so helpfully told me, "Oh yeah. I heard it ringing a while ago."
"WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Uh, I was watching t.v. and just didn't think about it."
Sigh. We need to work on some communication skills.
"Which direction was it coming from?"
He kinda pointed, and three kids dove under the couch by the window and found it...because with the t.v. off they could here it ringing again. Later I asked Mr. M how many times he had tried to call. His reply, "Oh around 30."
So we go rescue Mr. M, buy a gas can because I can't find either one of the two we have in the garage, and put gas in it. We drive to the side of the highway where he ran out of gas, (actually two highways merging together. Nice spot dear.) We put the gas in the car. Then, his old car shows it's age and temperament. No way it's going to start out here in the dark and cold. It had been left alone too long.
Now of course this was the magical day where we were transferring money between two accounts, meaning that almost all of our money was unavailable until "tomorrow." So his car got to spend the night on the side of the highway. We just hoped it would still be there in the morning.
In the morning, after the three musketeers were off to school, we went to Hyperhades to buy a jumper. They had two kinds, about $30 apart. Mr. M bought the cheaper one. Of course it didn't work. So we went back for the other one. By then it was time for him to be at work and for me to be getting home to pick up Chip from kindergarten. So that meant I had the privilege of driving half an hour each way again later in the day, to try and rescue his car again.
Fast forwarding to after school and after homework, I got almost everyone loaded up again. (Our oldest was invited to a friends house. He was yelling & jumping for joy at seeing his friend and getting out of sitting in the car for an hour.) Off we go. We get Mr. M. We get him to his car, apparently in the nick of time. It now had one of those orange stickers on it saying how we had 10 hours to move it or it would be towed. Good thing is took about fifteen hours for the police to mark it in the first place.
The new jumper worked, and in the end all is well. My van will never have to rescue him because the old Jimmy was too cold to get up in the morning again.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Things we like to do around town
What do stay at home mom's do? Well, we certainly don't stay at home. Besides the usual array of school activities, practices, dance classes, and church stuff, there are some things we really like to do as a family throughout the year. So I thought maybe it was time to post some of them here.
1) The zoo! Any zoo! We have a membership, and use it well. The zoo membership pays for itself in less than two trips, and is reciprocal at several other zoos around the nation....and with a membership you don't feel so bad if the kids just want to play in the Discovery Tree for two hours then go home.
2) Wonderscope. We need to renew our membership. They are a preschooler's paradise. They host Theater for Young America, have parenting, science and art classes, and lots of interactive.educational, exhibits. There's even a pair of hamsters, snakes, and a frog. Few places can get both my two year old and ten year old this excited.
3) The library. This was our favorite place in Topeka, but KC is just not quite as little kid friendly, so we don't go as much as we'd like. It's a haven of DVD's, and having to return them helps a parents sanity more than you can believe. It takes off you that they can't watch it for the millionth time. Sorry hon, it was due back so some other little boy/girl can watch it. For older kids, it's a great way to "try on" new types of books and find what they're really into, before you raid Borders. It's great for mom and dad books too, and a place where they HAVE to be quiet to go to....what more could a mom want?
4)Parks. We have a variety of ones we like, from Penguin Park in the northland to the Antioch Park in JoCo. A sunny day, a playground and a picnic are heaven.
5) "Pick your own" orchards. Want kids who love fruit? Let them pick it themselves. Our favorite one is Davenport Winery around Eudora. They have grapes, apples, and some years they have peaches. They sell local honey too.
6) Louisburg Cider mill. Kids love watching the apples being washed, move up the conveyer, and squished. Non-allergic kids like the fresh doughnuts too, both watching them be made and eating them.
7) Community centers: They aren't just a mini gym with a pool table anymore. They have indoor playgrounds & swimming pools, sports courts, art & fitness classes,....like the library we should use ours more.
8) Swimming: So many places have pools that are "water parks" now. We're partial to the one in Lawrence, where there are grandparents around to help!
9)Mini gof and bowling. Any kid over the age of 2 loves these two activities. Wanna really wow them? Play at the "night golf" in the mall. Take the ibuprofin with you though.
10) The plaza. We did a sculpture tour of the plaza when we were homeschooling our oldest for first grade. It was a great way to expose him to art on a kid level, with lots of breaks for food and cool stores like Discovery and Barner & Noble. The plaza art fair is another great exposure w/o pressure opportunity. And who doesn't love the lights at Christmas?
11) Restaurants. My kids think a meal in a restaurant is the epitome of joy. Whether it's the playground at BK or kids eat free night at Denny's, eating out is an adventure. For those with unending budgets and few allergy concerns, the rainforest cafe and the Dino place at the Legends are interactive too!
12) Movies. Yes, a couple times a year, we dare to take our herd to the movie theater. Everyone over the age of two thinks of this as an exotic adventure. Our one year old thinks it's an escape artist exercise. It's not just rare because it's expensive though. It's rare because the movies that appeal to toddlers and ten year olds rarely overlap, but every now and then we strike gold. Bolt was awesome!
So there you go, a dozen things to do that appeal to kids from 2-10, and sometimes older.
1) The zoo! Any zoo! We have a membership, and use it well. The zoo membership pays for itself in less than two trips, and is reciprocal at several other zoos around the nation....and with a membership you don't feel so bad if the kids just want to play in the Discovery Tree for two hours then go home.
2) Wonderscope. We need to renew our membership. They are a preschooler's paradise. They host Theater for Young America, have parenting, science and art classes, and lots of interactive.educational, exhibits. There's even a pair of hamsters, snakes, and a frog. Few places can get both my two year old and ten year old this excited.
3) The library. This was our favorite place in Topeka, but KC is just not quite as little kid friendly, so we don't go as much as we'd like. It's a haven of DVD's, and having to return them helps a parents sanity more than you can believe. It takes off you that they can't watch it for the millionth time. Sorry hon, it was due back so some other little boy/girl can watch it. For older kids, it's a great way to "try on" new types of books and find what they're really into, before you raid Borders. It's great for mom and dad books too, and a place where they HAVE to be quiet to go to....what more could a mom want?
4)Parks. We have a variety of ones we like, from Penguin Park in the northland to the Antioch Park in JoCo. A sunny day, a playground and a picnic are heaven.
5) "Pick your own" orchards. Want kids who love fruit? Let them pick it themselves. Our favorite one is Davenport Winery around Eudora. They have grapes, apples, and some years they have peaches. They sell local honey too.
6) Louisburg Cider mill. Kids love watching the apples being washed, move up the conveyer, and squished. Non-allergic kids like the fresh doughnuts too, both watching them be made and eating them.
7) Community centers: They aren't just a mini gym with a pool table anymore. They have indoor playgrounds & swimming pools, sports courts, art & fitness classes,....like the library we should use ours more.
8) Swimming: So many places have pools that are "water parks" now. We're partial to the one in Lawrence, where there are grandparents around to help!
9)Mini gof and bowling. Any kid over the age of 2 loves these two activities. Wanna really wow them? Play at the "night golf" in the mall. Take the ibuprofin with you though.
10) The plaza. We did a sculpture tour of the plaza when we were homeschooling our oldest for first grade. It was a great way to expose him to art on a kid level, with lots of breaks for food and cool stores like Discovery and Barner & Noble. The plaza art fair is another great exposure w/o pressure opportunity. And who doesn't love the lights at Christmas?
11) Restaurants. My kids think a meal in a restaurant is the epitome of joy. Whether it's the playground at BK or kids eat free night at Denny's, eating out is an adventure. For those with unending budgets and few allergy concerns, the rainforest cafe and the Dino place at the Legends are interactive too!
12) Movies. Yes, a couple times a year, we dare to take our herd to the movie theater. Everyone over the age of two thinks of this as an exotic adventure. Our one year old thinks it's an escape artist exercise. It's not just rare because it's expensive though. It's rare because the movies that appeal to toddlers and ten year olds rarely overlap, but every now and then we strike gold. Bolt was awesome!
So there you go, a dozen things to do that appeal to kids from 2-10, and sometimes older.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Faith, wise men, and veggies
Tonight I had the honor of being the storyteller for the sparkies at AWANA. An honor I totally forgot about until our commander reminded me this morning during Sunday School! Being the great last minute person I am, I found a church's "kid's Sunday program" and scanned for George Meuller. Then I pulled out the Veggietales Gideon DVD and was all set. There was no way I was standing up there talking to twenty kids for twenty minutes. Those kindergarteners might eat me or something. Besides, who doesn't love veggies? My second grader thought it was perfect. It was kind of sad my kindie wasn't there too, but that's what happens when you don't eat your veggies.
When I got home, our Christmas stuff was all put away by the cleaning fairy. The front living room was even vacuumed! It was kind of strange not to see the tree in the corner, or the candle-holder for Advent on the table. Yet we knew the time of advent had passed, and tomorrow is Epiphany. Our house is cleared, but are our hearts ready?
For tomorrow is the day we remember the kings who came to see our KING. Tomorrow is the day to lay down all our treasures before Him, no matter what they are worth to us. Tomorrow is the real beginning of the New Year, with new hearts.
Maybe I should bake a cake or something.
When I got home, our Christmas stuff was all put away by the cleaning fairy. The front living room was even vacuumed! It was kind of strange not to see the tree in the corner, or the candle-holder for Advent on the table. Yet we knew the time of advent had passed, and tomorrow is Epiphany. Our house is cleared, but are our hearts ready?
For tomorrow is the day we remember the kings who came to see our KING. Tomorrow is the day to lay down all our treasures before Him, no matter what they are worth to us. Tomorrow is the real beginning of the New Year, with new hearts.
Maybe I should bake a cake or something.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Welcome to 2009.
Today was blessedly uneventful. It was all about food, family, video games, and football.
Today's highlights.
It cracks me up that on the Wii wannabe, how good our 2yo is at the games. Perhaps the rest of us are trying a little too hard, especially at Golf.
It also amazes me how sneaky a one year old can be when trying to steal his momma's soda, or chocolate. That little hand can just come out of nowhere!
Our four year old is mastering the art of negotiation at a young age. She let her lil sister play with her ballerina barbie in exchange for "borrowing" her doll that really laughs to push in the stroller. She also turned the tables on whose turn it was on the Wii wannabe, without her brother's even noticing. Getting boys away from video games, now that's skill.
Our six year old is definitely a future linebacker. Not only can he leap from the couch to the kitchen in a single bound. He also ate three quarter pound hamburgers for dinner, with four slices of 100% whole wheat bread, chips, and fruit. We think both his legs must be hollow.
Our eight year old was especially gracious about taking turns today. He's getting taller too. My lil men are growing up!
I'm so, so, being outlasted by our ten year old. Mr. M & I are about to crash, and he's up there reading his Star Wars books, and probably will be for a while after we're both asleep. Maybe I should buy him the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe to teach him about reading past bedtime....
May each day of this year continue to get better! Happy 2009.
Today's highlights.
It cracks me up that on the Wii wannabe, how good our 2yo is at the games. Perhaps the rest of us are trying a little too hard, especially at Golf.
It also amazes me how sneaky a one year old can be when trying to steal his momma's soda, or chocolate. That little hand can just come out of nowhere!
Our four year old is mastering the art of negotiation at a young age. She let her lil sister play with her ballerina barbie in exchange for "borrowing" her doll that really laughs to push in the stroller. She also turned the tables on whose turn it was on the Wii wannabe, without her brother's even noticing. Getting boys away from video games, now that's skill.
Our six year old is definitely a future linebacker. Not only can he leap from the couch to the kitchen in a single bound. He also ate three quarter pound hamburgers for dinner, with four slices of 100% whole wheat bread, chips, and fruit. We think both his legs must be hollow.
Our eight year old was especially gracious about taking turns today. He's getting taller too. My lil men are growing up!
I'm so, so, being outlasted by our ten year old. Mr. M & I are about to crash, and he's up there reading his Star Wars books, and probably will be for a while after we're both asleep. Maybe I should buy him the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe to teach him about reading past bedtime....
May each day of this year continue to get better! Happy 2009.
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