At dinner a few nights ago, Amelia said "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. There are too many things to choose from. I need your help."
So I asked her which things she was trying to choose from.
"Pirate, mom or cheerleader. But a good pirate, not a bad one."
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Bananas and Bandaids
The other day I was getting the kids ready for the pool and the big kids ran to hide because they don't like sunscreen. Not Jonathan. He came running for "nanas." The sunscreen in banana scented and he loves the smell. As I put the sunscreen on him, he said over and over "tickled, nanas!" meaning he felt like he was being tickled by bananas!
He tripped and scraped his knee yesterday (twice, so the scab was scraped off this time) and Gary put a bandaid over it. Jonny pointed to his knee "see bandaid" he told anyone who would listen. This morning, he has been going around, holding his pants leg up and telling everyone again "see bandaid!" I know this isn't his first bandaid, but he sure is proud of it anyway.
He tripped and scraped his knee yesterday (twice, so the scab was scraped off this time) and Gary put a bandaid over it. Jonny pointed to his knee "see bandaid" he told anyone who would listen. This morning, he has been going around, holding his pants leg up and telling everyone again "see bandaid!" I know this isn't his first bandaid, but he sure is proud of it anyway.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Slumber Party
For the last two weeks, Jimmy had been trying to talk Jonathan into a sleep over in his bunk bed. At first, I resisted, using the "but it's a school night" excuse. But school's out now and once again, Jimmy invited Jonathan over for a slumber party. (they share a room already, the bunk bed and crib aren't that far apart) Jonathan agreed to try sleeping in the big kid bed. I put up a safety rail (thanks freecycle!) and tucked the kids in bed. If Jonathan is still in the bed by the time I've finished typing this, I'll be really surprised!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
First Day of Summer Vacation
School vacation started today, technically. It was Jimmy's last day of school.
Upon arrival at home, he encouraged Jonathan and Amelia to act like they did when he was at school.
He kind of moped around a lot, but other than that it was a very normal day. Right before dinner, he said, truly concerned "Mom? Why are you so busy?"
The kids made some summer goals, as a family night activity. They want to go running in the morning and exercise like Rocky (Gary showed them the interesting parts of Rocky before he left on his trip.) And they want to learn karate.
Upon arrival at home, he encouraged Jonathan and Amelia to act like they did when he was at school.
He kind of moped around a lot, but other than that it was a very normal day. Right before dinner, he said, truly concerned "Mom? Why are you so busy?"
The kids made some summer goals, as a family night activity. They want to go running in the morning and exercise like Rocky (Gary showed them the interesting parts of Rocky before he left on his trip.) And they want to learn karate.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Family Fishing at Frankin Park
Last weekend, Gary and I took the kids of a fun, family fishing day hosted by Loudoun County Parks. It was my very first fishing trip. It was the kids first day of fishing as well. I have always thought that I would enjoy fishing.
When we arrived at Franklin Park, there were representatives from the fish and game department. They had rows fishing poles just waiting for families like ours to show up. They had a cooler full of nightcrawlers in neat little plastic containers. We helped ourselves and chose a spot to begin our adventure.
As we walked around the lake, we were greeted by a man in a shirt that had sponsors all over it. He had his photographer take our pictures and gave us each a do- rag and an autographed card. It wasn't until later that I realized that he was the one on the autographed card. I guess I am not so observant.
When we got to our chosen location, we opened up our container of worms and looked at each other. "this is why I used Power Bait." Gary muttered. I did not think I would be squeamish about worms.
(I never was, until we lived in State College, the Wormiest City in the World. Every time it rains, the worms come out. Not cute little garden worms like I remember growing up. Foot- long, wriggling, slimy, gross- looking worms. They cover the pavement. Since it rains A LOT there are always worms on the sidewalks and especially in parking lots. I lived in fear that I would get a flat tire and have to lie down in the worms to change the tire.)
Back to fishing... Gary bravely reached into the container of nightcrawlers and ripped off a one inch piece of worm for each pole, (as we had been instructed) and showed us how to put it on the hook. Then we practiced casting. This is particularly hazardous with 6 year olds who think they know what they are doing.
We got the hang of casting and watched other kids walking by with their catch, taking it to the scales for the fishing contest. The our kids didn't like the idea of waiting for the fish to bite. The kept reeling in seaweed. And we kept breaking off one inch pieces of worms to reload the hooks. I didn't get brave enough to touch them with my hands. I threaded them on to the hook in the container and then used a rock to chop them off.
I wasn't so good at casting and once smashed the floating ball thing. Jimmy and I took the pole back to the area where we picked it up, to see what could be done. The man in charge said "Just put it over there." and pointed to a pile of rods with tangled line, smashed floating things and assorted other problems. We selected a new rod and returned to the rest of the family. When we got back, Amelia told us about a fish she had seen swimming in the water.
Gary got a bite on his hook. This was very exciting! It got away. I'm sure he could give you the dramatic details of that experience.
About this time, the Amelia's fish came back. It was brown and about 5 inches long. I watched it for a few minutes and realized it was sick or something. It would have been easy to catch it with a soda cup or even bear hands, but we were fishing. We were going to do it "right." We dangled hookes with worms in front of it. I think I even touched it with a worm. It just hovered there in the water, trying to ignore us, or maybe just trying to stay alive.
We decided to turn in our poles and head over to the free lunch. We enjoyed hot dogs/hamburgers, beans, and chips (between bathroom breaks, Thank you Gary for taking care of that) and then rushed home to clean up and head over to cousin Betsy's wedding reception. (We got there in time to say hello, watch them drive off in a "tastefully decorated" car, throw rice and help clean up. It was nice to see relatives, even briefly.)
When we arrived at Franklin Park, there were representatives from the fish and game department. They had rows fishing poles just waiting for families like ours to show up. They had a cooler full of nightcrawlers in neat little plastic containers. We helped ourselves and chose a spot to begin our adventure.
As we walked around the lake, we were greeted by a man in a shirt that had sponsors all over it. He had his photographer take our pictures and gave us each a do- rag and an autographed card. It wasn't until later that I realized that he was the one on the autographed card. I guess I am not so observant.
When we got to our chosen location, we opened up our container of worms and looked at each other. "this is why I used Power Bait." Gary muttered. I did not think I would be squeamish about worms.
(I never was, until we lived in State College, the Wormiest City in the World. Every time it rains, the worms come out. Not cute little garden worms like I remember growing up. Foot- long, wriggling, slimy, gross- looking worms. They cover the pavement. Since it rains A LOT there are always worms on the sidewalks and especially in parking lots. I lived in fear that I would get a flat tire and have to lie down in the worms to change the tire.)
Back to fishing... Gary bravely reached into the container of nightcrawlers and ripped off a one inch piece of worm for each pole, (as we had been instructed) and showed us how to put it on the hook. Then we practiced casting. This is particularly hazardous with 6 year olds who think they know what they are doing.
We got the hang of casting and watched other kids walking by with their catch, taking it to the scales for the fishing contest. The our kids didn't like the idea of waiting for the fish to bite. The kept reeling in seaweed. And we kept breaking off one inch pieces of worms to reload the hooks. I didn't get brave enough to touch them with my hands. I threaded them on to the hook in the container and then used a rock to chop them off.
I wasn't so good at casting and once smashed the floating ball thing. Jimmy and I took the pole back to the area where we picked it up, to see what could be done. The man in charge said "Just put it over there." and pointed to a pile of rods with tangled line, smashed floating things and assorted other problems. We selected a new rod and returned to the rest of the family. When we got back, Amelia told us about a fish she had seen swimming in the water.
Gary got a bite on his hook. This was very exciting! It got away. I'm sure he could give you the dramatic details of that experience.
About this time, the Amelia's fish came back. It was brown and about 5 inches long. I watched it for a few minutes and realized it was sick or something. It would have been easy to catch it with a soda cup or even bear hands, but we were fishing. We were going to do it "right." We dangled hookes with worms in front of it. I think I even touched it with a worm. It just hovered there in the water, trying to ignore us, or maybe just trying to stay alive.
We decided to turn in our poles and head over to the free lunch. We enjoyed hot dogs/hamburgers, beans, and chips (between bathroom breaks, Thank you Gary for taking care of that) and then rushed home to clean up and head over to cousin Betsy's wedding reception. (We got there in time to say hello, watch them drive off in a "tastefully decorated" car, throw rice and help clean up. It was nice to see relatives, even briefly.)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Beans! Yum Yum!
Yesterday, Jimmy and I noticed green beans growing on his bean plant that he sprouted from a seed. We picked 2 and threw them in with some beans I was planning to serve with dinner. Suddenly, everyone loved green beans!
Hopefully, the same magic will work when the zucchini and summer squash are ready for harvest. (the kids asked for those, although Jimmy likes zucchini for the zucchini bread and Amelia likes summer squash for its color)
Hopefully, the same magic will work when the zucchini and summer squash are ready for harvest. (the kids asked for those, although Jimmy likes zucchini for the zucchini bread and Amelia likes summer squash for its color)
How old are you?
In the last few days, Jonathan has been telling a little joke. Every time I ask him "How are you?" he thinks I am asking "How old are you?" He responds "6!"
(Just like his big brother.)
(Just like his big brother.)
Monday, June 04, 2007
Hmmm
Well it's been a while since I posted anything and I guess I'd better update you all on the kiddodiddos!
Jimmy's soccer season ended on Saturday. He learned the game well and aggressively attacks the ball. He learned to jump up after he is knocked down and even took a ball to the stomach in stride (something that unnerved him earlier in the season.) It fun to watch him play, but even more fun to listen. If things are going well, you can hear him laughing as he runs.
As the school year winds down (12 days) he looks forward to calling himself a 1st grader! He learned the kindergarten skills well and improved his handwriting by leaps and bounds.
Last month, he sprouted beans in a plastic bag when they studied the plant cycle and he brought them home. We planted the beans under our tomato plant- I didn't think they'd do well enough for their own pot. Boy was I wrong. Two days ago, Jimmy and I carefully repotted the beans into a pot of their own. They love the extra room. While we don't know what kind of beans they are, Jimmy says they were white. We should find out soon- they have pretty white blossoms on them.
Amelia has been maturing over the last week or two. She has been tending a miniature rose bush (purchased with the intent of teaching her a little responsibility) and is a very attentive gardener. She checks the dirt every day and looks for bugs on it and carries it to sunny locations. She has managed to stay in sacrament meeting for the last 2 weeks with out any behavior issues, which considerably eases family stress at church. (Apparently the single sisters in the ward were getting great entertainment counting the number of trips she makes to the foyer.) She gets a lot of laughs (unintentionally) in primary, particularly during sharing time. One day the primary president asked the kids if they saw general conference. She raised her hand, bouncing in her chair. "I did. I saw general conference! It was BORING!!!!" Another week, Jimmy was chosen to be in a demonstration and Amelia clapped and jumped up and down, so excited to see her brother up in the front. Imagine her reaction when her name was called too! (the names for volunteers are randomly selected from a jar) She ran to the front and hugged Jimmy, jumping up and down. She looked like someone who just won a huge prize on the Price is Right! (I don't think she has seen the show) She sings loud when she knows the words. "The Sunbeams may sing loud but they don't sound good," he commented loudly after practicing the Father's Day song. Her enthusiasm for life is fun.
Jonathan loves Nursery and his teachers. Yesterday, I asked him to point them out in sacrament meeting, hoping to distract him for a bit. He knew immediately where they were. They are grandmas who really enjoy the kids and the kids love them back.
He is excited about airplanes and helicopters, lady bugs, and swimming. He likes to use his musical potty chair. He used to use it more, because it was fun. Then he figured out that grown ups like it when kids use the potty and he stopped using it. It was only fun when it was his choice. So I just ignore the potty now and he uses it when it suits his whim, usually once or twice a day. He loves collecting rocks and sticks and flowers. It is fun to see which he prefers. Based on his collecting style, he holds on to rocks until he finds a flower. Then he drops one rock to pick a flower and he carries both around until he finds a good stick. He drops everything for a good stick. He enjoys finding the same sticks over and over because I have a firm rule- no sticks in the house. We have a jar on the counter for all of the weeds and flowers the kids pick for me. I will miss the crazy bouquets when the kids are older. I know they won't treat me to them forever.
Jimmy's soccer season ended on Saturday. He learned the game well and aggressively attacks the ball. He learned to jump up after he is knocked down and even took a ball to the stomach in stride (something that unnerved him earlier in the season.) It fun to watch him play, but even more fun to listen. If things are going well, you can hear him laughing as he runs.
As the school year winds down (12 days) he looks forward to calling himself a 1st grader! He learned the kindergarten skills well and improved his handwriting by leaps and bounds.
Last month, he sprouted beans in a plastic bag when they studied the plant cycle and he brought them home. We planted the beans under our tomato plant- I didn't think they'd do well enough for their own pot. Boy was I wrong. Two days ago, Jimmy and I carefully repotted the beans into a pot of their own. They love the extra room. While we don't know what kind of beans they are, Jimmy says they were white. We should find out soon- they have pretty white blossoms on them.
Amelia has been maturing over the last week or two. She has been tending a miniature rose bush (purchased with the intent of teaching her a little responsibility) and is a very attentive gardener. She checks the dirt every day and looks for bugs on it and carries it to sunny locations. She has managed to stay in sacrament meeting for the last 2 weeks with out any behavior issues, which considerably eases family stress at church. (Apparently the single sisters in the ward were getting great entertainment counting the number of trips she makes to the foyer.) She gets a lot of laughs (unintentionally) in primary, particularly during sharing time. One day the primary president asked the kids if they saw general conference. She raised her hand, bouncing in her chair. "I did. I saw general conference! It was BORING!!!!" Another week, Jimmy was chosen to be in a demonstration and Amelia clapped and jumped up and down, so excited to see her brother up in the front. Imagine her reaction when her name was called too! (the names for volunteers are randomly selected from a jar) She ran to the front and hugged Jimmy, jumping up and down. She looked like someone who just won a huge prize on the Price is Right! (I don't think she has seen the show) She sings loud when she knows the words. "The Sunbeams may sing loud but they don't sound good," he commented loudly after practicing the Father's Day song. Her enthusiasm for life is fun.
Jonathan loves Nursery and his teachers. Yesterday, I asked him to point them out in sacrament meeting, hoping to distract him for a bit. He knew immediately where they were. They are grandmas who really enjoy the kids and the kids love them back.
He is excited about airplanes and helicopters, lady bugs, and swimming. He likes to use his musical potty chair. He used to use it more, because it was fun. Then he figured out that grown ups like it when kids use the potty and he stopped using it. It was only fun when it was his choice. So I just ignore the potty now and he uses it when it suits his whim, usually once or twice a day. He loves collecting rocks and sticks and flowers. It is fun to see which he prefers. Based on his collecting style, he holds on to rocks until he finds a flower. Then he drops one rock to pick a flower and he carries both around until he finds a good stick. He drops everything for a good stick. He enjoys finding the same sticks over and over because I have a firm rule- no sticks in the house. We have a jar on the counter for all of the weeds and flowers the kids pick for me. I will miss the crazy bouquets when the kids are older. I know they won't treat me to them forever.
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