June 13, 2014
Van Gogh
I occasionally have proud parenting moments. Sam was looking at a picture book when he excitedly announced, "The pig...the pig...the pig painted Starry Night." I looked at the book and sure enough there was a pig painting Starry Night by Van Gogh. Oh yeah, my three year old can recognize the masters (or at least one painting, let me have my glory).
June 12, 2014
Today
I have so many things I need to post on this blog. I need to post about Grace's fifth birthday, Ethan's first violin concert, family outings, and family squabbles. Maybe someday I will get all of those things posted. Today I will post about today, because the evils of today sufficieth me.
Everyone woke up a little early but I was ready to roll with it. I hadn't arisen early to work on school work, as is my routine. Instead I woke up to Sam, who had spent the night stealing my covers and pushing me off the bed, anouncing. "Mom the sun is up, it's time to get up." I struggled out of bed and made my kids a nutritious breakfast of cold cereal. Sam, for reasons know only to Sam, decided to spit some of his cereal into Grace's bowl. There were tears and shouts mixed in with "I told Grace sorry Mama, I told her sorry". Grace got a new bowl of cereal, the dogs got a slightly used bowl of cereal and Sam went to time out. I decided that I would feel better after a quick shower. While showering Libby came in and announced, "Mom, someone is on the phone." Who is calling me this early? I asked if she would take a message and I would call the early bird back. Libby announced, "That was Sister Smith, she was asking about day camp." That's when alarms went off. It was currently 8:15 and Ethan was supposed to be at the church at 8:00 sharp to go to scout day camp. My shower changed from a nice leisurely process to a frantic whirlwind of soap and shampoo. I hopped out of the shower, wrapped my dripping self in a towel, and called Sister Smith back tripping over apologies. She (being the world's nicest person, she really is) offered to pick Ethan up in ten minutes. I ran to get dressed, Ethan ran to get dressed, and Libby began packing him a lunch. In ten minutes we all got dressed, we got Ethan a lunch and water bottle, got him sun-blocked and sent him out the door, with me mumbling more apologies. Crisis averted, mostly.
The three younger kids and I came back into the house to do our morning chores. One child yelled at me that her jobs where too hard, while the other ones fought over who got to mop. It's more of a testament to how dirty my floors are then their cleaning prowess, but my kitchen floor is cleaner now. Then Grace wanted to vacuum. I had already vacuumed but I let her go over the floor again. Then she decided to empty the dirt canister. She pushed the wrong button. She did manage to empty the canister, she just did it all over the previously vacuumed carpet. After cleaning up that mess we all decided we were done cleaning for the day.
Sam then helped himself to the entire bunch of bananas and sat down on the carpet for a picnic. I managed to stop that event before I was scrubbing bananas out of the floor.
It's only 9:30 but I think I am done for the day. Forget my homework, forget we are having guest for dinner, forget it all. I'm crawling back into bed with a book.
Everyone woke up a little early but I was ready to roll with it. I hadn't arisen early to work on school work, as is my routine. Instead I woke up to Sam, who had spent the night stealing my covers and pushing me off the bed, anouncing. "Mom the sun is up, it's time to get up." I struggled out of bed and made my kids a nutritious breakfast of cold cereal. Sam, for reasons know only to Sam, decided to spit some of his cereal into Grace's bowl. There were tears and shouts mixed in with "I told Grace sorry Mama, I told her sorry". Grace got a new bowl of cereal, the dogs got a slightly used bowl of cereal and Sam went to time out. I decided that I would feel better after a quick shower. While showering Libby came in and announced, "Mom, someone is on the phone." Who is calling me this early? I asked if she would take a message and I would call the early bird back. Libby announced, "That was Sister Smith, she was asking about day camp." That's when alarms went off. It was currently 8:15 and Ethan was supposed to be at the church at 8:00 sharp to go to scout day camp. My shower changed from a nice leisurely process to a frantic whirlwind of soap and shampoo. I hopped out of the shower, wrapped my dripping self in a towel, and called Sister Smith back tripping over apologies. She (being the world's nicest person, she really is) offered to pick Ethan up in ten minutes. I ran to get dressed, Ethan ran to get dressed, and Libby began packing him a lunch. In ten minutes we all got dressed, we got Ethan a lunch and water bottle, got him sun-blocked and sent him out the door, with me mumbling more apologies. Crisis averted, mostly.
The three younger kids and I came back into the house to do our morning chores. One child yelled at me that her jobs where too hard, while the other ones fought over who got to mop. It's more of a testament to how dirty my floors are then their cleaning prowess, but my kitchen floor is cleaner now. Then Grace wanted to vacuum. I had already vacuumed but I let her go over the floor again. Then she decided to empty the dirt canister. She pushed the wrong button. She did manage to empty the canister, she just did it all over the previously vacuumed carpet. After cleaning up that mess we all decided we were done cleaning for the day.
Sam then helped himself to the entire bunch of bananas and sat down on the carpet for a picnic. I managed to stop that event before I was scrubbing bananas out of the floor.
It's only 9:30 but I think I am done for the day. Forget my homework, forget we are having guest for dinner, forget it all. I'm crawling back into bed with a book.
May 4, 2014
Why Not?
This has been a crazy year. In the last year we adopted a naughty dog, I started back to school, and I continue to homeschool the kids. Most days I don't even know what the date is but I do usually know what month we are in. Life is crazy. So, when a friend asked if we wanted another dog I kind of laughed. I think my exact words were "Michael will never go for it." I mentioned to Michael that I had a friend who was trying to re-home a miniature schnauzer and had offered her to us. I expected a vehement reply instead he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "I like schnauzers."
A couple days later he asked if I had called about possibly adopting the dog. I made a phone call and we brought the dog to our house to "babysit" her for a week. After a week we told the kids that we could adopt her if they wanted. Big surprise, they all said yes.
We would like to introduce Pita the newest (and definitely last) member of our crazy household. She is six years old, very friendly and hasn't even bit Sam yet. I've been tempted to bite him as he drags her around but she has more patience than me.
A couple days later he asked if I had called about possibly adopting the dog. I made a phone call and we brought the dog to our house to "babysit" her for a week. After a week we told the kids that we could adopt her if they wanted. Big surprise, they all said yes.
Fit of Insanity
After spending a week on the couch I decided to spend some time with the kids. Michael took Friday off work and we planned to spend the day playing.
The day started with sugar cookie dough. It seemed a good idea to make and decorate sugar cookies and then share them with neighbors. I couldn't find my old recipe so we tried a new one. It was a sticky gloppy mess. It stuck to our hands, to the table, and to the cookie cutters. We persevered and managed to get some cookies in the oven. What started out as chicks and eggs quickly melted down into amoebas. So, we started over. I made a second batch and put in the freezer to cool quickly. After 30 minutes I pulled it out and it was pretty solid. I decided to mix it a little before rolling it out. My Bosch decided my plan was a bad, bad one. Do not try to beat frozen cookie dough. You may end up with a broken spindle and bits of plastic everywhere, including in your dough. Thankfully I had noticed a lot of wear on my spindle years ago and purchased a couple back ups. One finally is in use.
We rolled out and baked the cookies and they turned out much yummier and held their shape. They even had the occasional bit of plastic to wake you right up.
Cookies!
Our redneck egg cookie cutter.
"I'll get that for you (after I shove another handful of cookie dough in my mouth)."
While the cookies cooled we dyed our eggs. Our first attempt involved eggs, food dye, and shaving cream. It didn't work very well but the kids loved playing with the shaving cream.
After the shaving cream failed I mixed up some more traditional dye and lets the kids have at it.
The finished masterpieces. The one shaving cream success is on top.
After dying the eggs, the cookies were ready for copious amounts of frosting. After the cookies were done we were all feeling sugar shock. To combat this we set off on a bike ride.
Michael and I led the kids on a grand adventure that ended at Camel's Back Park. We haven't been there since Ethan and Libby were little. The kids saw the steep hill stretching in front of them and started off at a run. Half way up they were holding on to the rope railing and hosting themselves up. Everyone made in to the top under their own power, even the littles.
It was a good day, but crazy. I don't think cookies are going to be made again next year. I respect my sanity too much and I don't really like sugar cookies, anyway.
The day started with sugar cookie dough. It seemed a good idea to make and decorate sugar cookies and then share them with neighbors. I couldn't find my old recipe so we tried a new one. It was a sticky gloppy mess. It stuck to our hands, to the table, and to the cookie cutters. We persevered and managed to get some cookies in the oven. What started out as chicks and eggs quickly melted down into amoebas. So, we started over. I made a second batch and put in the freezer to cool quickly. After 30 minutes I pulled it out and it was pretty solid. I decided to mix it a little before rolling it out. My Bosch decided my plan was a bad, bad one. Do not try to beat frozen cookie dough. You may end up with a broken spindle and bits of plastic everywhere, including in your dough. Thankfully I had noticed a lot of wear on my spindle years ago and purchased a couple back ups. One finally is in use.
We rolled out and baked the cookies and they turned out much yummier and held their shape. They even had the occasional bit of plastic to wake you right up.
Michael and I led the kids on a grand adventure that ended at Camel's Back Park. We haven't been there since Ethan and Libby were little. The kids saw the steep hill stretching in front of them and started off at a run. Half way up they were holding on to the rope railing and hosting themselves up. Everyone made in to the top under their own power, even the littles.
Easter Break
I finished my second semester of college a week before Easter. I exited math with a huge sigh of relief. Unfortunately, I knew my next semester started the day after Easter. I had big plans to make the most of the week. We were going to do all sorts of school-related activities, I was going to clean the fingerprints off every surface in the house, I was going to scrape the chili off the ceiling (your guess is as good as mine), we were going to bike everywhere and have great adventures. I think I spent six of the seven days of my break sitting on the couch staring off into space while making low motorboat sounds. I'm not sure we are all going to survive the college experience. I did manage to pry myself off the couch for an activity or two.
We started celebrating a week before Easter with an egg hunt. The Spencers, a family in our ward has hosted an egg hunt every year for decades. We've had a conflict for the last four years but we were able to go this year. Best. Easter. Egg hunt. Ever.
Before the hunt even began my kids were in heaven. There was a teeter totter, a merry go round, a trampoline, swings, everything a kid could desire. Plus there were lots of friends, including people who have moved but came back for the egg hunt. It couldn't have gotten any better.
Those red spots on Sam's face are from when he tripped on our front steps and received a bit of concrete rash.
After playing for a time the kids were all herded into the house. The adults were handed Rubbermaid totes and giant mixing bowls full of Easter eggs and told to hide them. Here is the field, ready to harvest.
Here are the harvesters.
Everybody emptying their eggs and counting their haul. And, yes, I have taken to stealing other peoples babies. It's my newest hobby.
"Touch my jelly beans, I dare you!"
We started celebrating a week before Easter with an egg hunt. The Spencers, a family in our ward has hosted an egg hunt every year for decades. We've had a conflict for the last four years but we were able to go this year. Best. Easter. Egg hunt. Ever.
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