Jimmy in the Newspaper!

Another post, previously lost in the vaults, this one from the year James was in first grade.

A few days ago, we had a storm blow in to town. It lasted about 40 minutes and it was pretty intense. At the time Jimmy usually gets home from school it started raining hard. I thought I'd be a good mom and pick him up at the bus stop in the van. The wind kept the door from closing properly the first time, so I thought "It's a good thing I'm going to get Jimmy. I don't want Jimmy out in this weather." By the time I was at the van, I was soaked to the skin. I waited at the bus stop (in the van) for about 20 minutes and then turned around to come home. When I got home, I got an automated phone call saying that they kept the kids at school in a tornado drill and would be releasing them when the storm was over. (This was an hour after dismissal)  Information that would have been helpful sooner, don't you think?   So here's how Jimmy and his classmates spent the extra hour at the school, as photographed for a local paper. 

I can no longer tell you which one was James.  Sorry!

Questions

This post was originally written several years ago- better late than never, right?

Sometimes parents get asked hard questions like:

What if the gospel is just made up, like fairy tales? (Jimmy)

I'm glad he asked Daddy that one.

Sometimes they get asked easy ones like:

Why are overalls called overalls? (Amelia)

A heated discussion ensued because they do not really go "over all"- they don't cover your head. Jonny (who was in on the discussion) decided they should be called pants-eralls instead.

Sometimes they get asked weird ones like:

(let me preface this by saying he was on his potty seat that makes music everytime he wets)

Can I borrow your urine for me to put in the potty seat? (Jonny)

4 in 6

Originally written in 2008 and then forgotten about, I thought this musing deserved to be posted after all. 

I was at the doctor's office, for Amelia's cast removal today. She wasn't psychologically ready for it to come off and it turned into an ordeal. Her arm has healed properly. She is just scared for her arm to get hurt again, so she currently has a splint on that we'll take off when she's ready. 

The physician's assistant mentioned that he is the oldest of 4 boys. "4 boys in 6 years," he said as he told me some story. I really don't remember the rest because I was busy thinking: Who in their right mind would have 4 kids in 6 years?! Oh yeah- me.

a good laugh before bed

So here I am at the computer, trying to figure out logistics for various activites this week when I hear lots of yelling from the boy's bedroom.  Amelia is joining them for a sleepover tonight.  I open the door and what do I see?  James, Amelia, and Jonny huddled around a card table they dragged in, playing "Dilbert's Corporate Shuffle"  (It's exactly like Scum, if you ever played that.)  James is wearing a large neck tie.  Amelia is wearing a small neck tie.  Jonny is wearing the Nathaniel Bacon suit I made James for his famous Virginian report this year.  And he is hopping mad.

Question answered

I always wondered why Simon didn't like playground swings.  Sure he would ask to sit on them, but he never lasted more than a minute.  In my mind I wondered if it was fear of heights, motion sickness, or something else.  Tuesday I got my answer.  I went to pick him up from preschool and he was riding a tire swing.  When he got off, he was so dizzy he couldn't walk.  It was kind of silly, kind of sad.  On the way home, he said he needed to throw up, so I pulled over and got him out.  The next time it happened there was no shoulder to pull out.  So he vomitted all over himself and the car. So sad:(
Now I know he takes after his mama.  Swings make me sick too.
The next day, I was driving Mia to a dentist appointment at 7:30 am.  The other kids were eatting alphabits in little baggies.  I said "Sorry for the vomit smell, everyone"  Mia said "Oh- it's okay.  The cheerios smell covers it up."  That's fine for most folks.  But for me, I hate that "cheerios smell."   So now the real question boils down to this: would I rather have a cheerios smell mini van or a vomit smells mini van?  Neither.  That is what Glade Scented Oils are for.

Nice Socks

I wish I had a picture to go with this.  Simon ended up wearing his one piece footie pajamas with his tennis shoes this morning- we were in a hurry to drop off the big kids at school. (I kept them up too late last night so I let them sleep in a little and dropped them off at the last morning bell.)  As he was getting in the van, Simon stopped, stood up straight and said "HEY! my socks go all the way up to my shoulders!"  I never would have thought of that!

Where's My Egg?

We dedicated some time to decorating hard boiled eggs for Easter last month.  Everyone was excited for the project and we quickly got down to business.  Each kid grabbed and egg and chose a color to dip it in- we got a neon kit this year (for future reference: DON'T forget to stir the solutions, as directed.  You'll get funny looking eggs.)  Eggs slid into cups, and then Rachel cried out "Hey- where's my egg?"  I explainned that we put them in the cups to make them pretty, but she wasn't buying it.  Every minute or two she would ask in an increasingly grumpy voice "Where's my egg?"  Finally, I just gave her a plain one to hold.  She quickly scarfed it down.  Apparently, she thought she had signed up for snack time, not an art project. 

Service with a Smile

One of my friends is moving this weekend and I thought it would be great to go help her pack.  So Friday night, the kids and I went over to help box up her kitchen.  I thought this would be a great opportunity for service.  It really was, for me and Amelia that is.  We wrapped bowls and plates for a while.  The boys decided it would be better to go and play in the yard.  That was fine with me because we really were overcrowding the space when they were inside.  Unfortunately, what was outside was an overfriendly black lab by the name of Onyx.  He was having  grand time chasing them around and sniffing their bums, etc.  I could not convince them to stand their ground.  Seriously, he's a nice dog and all he really wanted was a good belly rub.  But the kids insisted: If I hold still he will MAUL me!  At one point, the kids came inside to get away from the dog, but the Onyx followed them in.  So Jonny got the brilliant idea that he could lure the dog into the yard by going outside and then sneaking back in and locking the door.  Unfortunately, when my friend saw the dog in the yard, she was quick to close and lock the door leaving Jonny out in the cold.  We had no idea he was out there and finally some one asked where he was and we looked outside to find a very miserable Jonny and a very happy Onyx.  So we let Jonny back in.  Onyx followed.  So the boys ended  up making a baracade out of boxes to protect themselves from the dog while Amelia and I wrapped dishes.  After about an hour, some men from the church came to help and I decided that the kids had had enough and we headed home. 
The best part of it is the unintended service we received: the kids are no longer asking for a dog.  That's enough to make me smile. 

Oscars Survey

Every year my brother runs a Oscars survey to see who can come the closest to picking the results.  If you are a movie buff, here's his survey- you could win bragging rights. 
http://kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=LHMJMN_611bad15
Since it's s survey designed for people who don't see many movies he does include extra information to help you make educated guesses.
Have fun!

lullaby

Friday night, James attended a lazer tag birthday party that went late (well, late for kids.)  When it was over it was half past 8 and the van was full of cranky kids who really just wanted to go to bed.  Rachel was the exception.  She was full of gusto.  So she decided to sing the big kids to sleep with one of her favorite songs: Good Night, Ladies.  Unfortunately, she only knows one line of the song, the part that goes "good night, ladies!"   So she sang it over and over again, pausing occasionally to shout a self request: "Louder!"   A few verses would have been fine with everyone, but this went on for miles and miles and one of the older kids lost patience and told her to shut up.  She was rightfully offended and hollered her hurt feelings for everyone to hear.  So everyone had to tell her what a great singer she was so that she would quit crying.  As soon as the crying was done, she was back to singing "Good Night, Ladies" in her best one year old way. 

macaroni cheese

Everytime we have a babysitter, I plan for the kids to have macaroni cheese for dinner.  I don't like it at all so I am happy to miss out.  I was at the store with Simon and Rachel on Friday, making preparations for the weekend.  When I started dumping boxes of macaroni cheese in the cart, Rachel cried out in an excited voice "OO babysitter!" and she was right.  We had a sitter scheduled for Saturday night.  Though I am not sure whether she made the connection between macaroni cheese and having a sitter OR if she calls macaroni cheese "babysitter." 

Park Day

Saturday I was looking for something fun to do with the kiddodiddos.  Since the weather was nice, I packed a few snacks and we headed over to a nearby park for some silly time.  Rachel and I did the slides (she is definately not independent at the park yet.)  Jonny and Rachel did the swings.  James and Jonny did kickball, football and basketball.  Amelia ran around doing slides with me and Rachel and invented games for herself and Simon to play.  There are these awesome bushes at this park.  They are about 3 and a half feet high and they look really solid but they are hollow undernearth.  Simon, Rachel and I played under there until I was told it was not for grownups (Simon's idea, but I was okay with it.) 
After eating a snack of bananas, Jonny collected the peels and lined them up on the ground.  Then he repeatedly ran across them, yelling updates as to whether they were slippery or not.  (I didn't slip!  I STILL didn't slip!)   This idea was not a new fascination, he frequently brings home drawings of people slipping on banana peels from school.
At one point, we were all on the teeter totter and James decided to show off his balance by doing that Russian dance on the center piece while we all went up and down.  You know the dance where the guys crouch down low and kick their legs and shout HEY! Maybe it's not Russian, but I associate it with Russia; also large black fuzzy hats.)  
Nice day, I hope for many more this spring!   

first grade musings

Jonny seems to bring home a lot more writing papers than my other children did in first grade.  I always crack up when I go through them.  Here's a recent sampling from my stack (the kids always complained when I recycled their old school work, so this year I am saving it all in a stack.  The stack is now almost 6 inches high.)

My fish can swim.
My fish can fight because he's a bada (betta)
My fish can do trix (tricks)
My fish can be asam (awesome.)

What doz (does) Owen eat?
Owen eats raps (wraps.)
What doz Logan eat?
Logan eats sushy (sushi)
What doz the class eat?
The class eats thar (their) bugers.
What doz Wes eat?
Wes eats bugers.
(this one made me wonder why I home schooled last year)

It was the time of the pie war "Pozon Bary at 3:00" (can't tell if he meant poison berry or boysenberry)
The pie war part 1
Said Jonny "troop fight!"
"I will make pies!" yelled Jacob
troop coming soon.
Pie war part 2
Gard the casl (guard the castle)
Jonny brakoe in the bakerary (jonny broke in the bakery) and flooded it.
(I like this one because it sounds adventurous and it was written in purple and red crayons to look more like berries)

and a book of random musings:
What does dracula eat? (with an illustration of a dracula with long rectangle fangs)
What does bunnicula eat?
Did vikings throw pie?
Does wind blow house tops off?
Do whales use their blow holes when they are next to a house? (picture of a whale squirting water at a house)
Do unicorns live?

things to hold on to

Kids grow fast and I can't freeze time no matter how hard I try.  Here are a few moments I'd like to hang on to, before they slip from memory:
One Sunday a few weeks ago, I was getting ready for church.  As I came out of my room to check on things, I found James in the bathroom where he had lined up his brothers and was carefully combing their hair WITHOUT being asked.  Now that's a treasure!

One day, I fell asleep on the couch while I was reading Simon stories.  I woke up 20 minutes later covered with a blanket and 4 pillow pets.  So nice to look out for me:)

Rachel is at an age where she likes to sing, but doesn't really remember the words to songs.  The other day we asked for a song and she was pleased to combine a few and come up with this: Jesus, Jesus ashes ashes we all fall down.  James said it sounded like the second coming.  I was thinking the same thing.

Amelia spent one after noon decorating hearts (lots of them) for our entry way.  We look so festive now, thanks to her talents. 

Simon is finally using the potty like a pro, thanks to an off comment by the doctor.  (he mentioned that kids poop with in a half hour after eatting- why didn't the 6 potty training books I read say that??!)  So now he does his constitutional after every meal and is clean as a whistle.  It crackes me up when he says he going off to "constaTOOT."

I read in a book a fun game called Memory Lane where you get a large bag of candy and give your kids a piece for every scripture they can recite.  It's so sweet to hear their voices proudly proclaim what they know.  I thought this would be fun for Sunday but the kids are clamoring for it other days too.  I try not to give in too much, I don't want the novelty to wear off.
 
I need to hold on to the sweet times because I know these kiddo diddos will be grown and gone before I know it.  I try not to dwell on that though- it makes me a weepy mess. 

the butter phase

I like to include the kids in the kitchen.  I like to cook and I like it when they join in.  I have a difficult time coming up with jobs for them sometimes though. 
Last week, preparing for Christmas dinner I had plenty of helpers in the kitchen.  I like the bustle.  Anyway, I was mixing something up (i forget what) and Rachel came up to ask for some of what I was making-  or so I thought.  I offered her some and she said no.  She pointed behind me, to Gary who had  unwrapped a stick of butter.  "THAT" she said pointing to the butter.  Funny thing about kids- they aren't embarrassed to tell you they would like to eat a stick of butter. 

I think it was last year, we were on a road trip and stopped at Cracker Barrel.  We ordered food and it was delivered.  I thought everyone had enjoyed their food but as we cleanned up, I realized that Simon had not eatten a bite from his plate.  Instead, he had managed to eat all of the butter packets on the table. 

And several years ago, after a stop at Bob Evans I found a bunch of empty butter cups in someone's bed.  Apparently he or she had taken them home as a doggy bag and enjoyed as a bed time snack. 

Once or twice I have had to throw out whole sticks of butter that showed signs of gnawing.  

I guess it's just one of those phases kids go through.  Then they figure out that butter is not a main course.   

About Whales

Last week, I took the kids to the library.  It's one place all the kids love.  We were there at story time and Rachel insisted we attend.  I was glad she did. I like it when she gets to do little kids things.  Most of the other kids are too big and so they hang out reading or looking for books.   Simon came in at the start of story time, themed about arctic animals.  Jonny came in half way through, with a stack of books.  He listened and read as the Rachel, Simon and I participated in songs and rhymes.  Then the librariam asked the group "What is blubber?"   The children were mystified until Jonny eagerly raised his hand and blurted out this wise knowledge "it is what you use to tell if a whale is pregnant or not."  Wow.  I had no idea blubber could do that:)  

Merry Christmas

The kiddodiddos were cooperative participants in a family nativity show this year.  They were acting their parts well: Amelia was Mary, Simon was Joseph, Jonny was the innkeeper AND the wiseman, James was the shepherd and Rachel was the angel.  Then as all gathered reverently kneeling around "baby Jesus" Rachel decided it looked like the perfect set up for a game of duck, duck, goose.  So she went around the circle ducking and goosing everyone.  The kids were real troopers and did not break character until the end.  Me not so much.  It was funny:)

The Latest Buzz

James has been selected to participate in the school spelling bee.  Wish him luck as he studies over the Christmas break!
Amelia  won the school wide PTA Reflections contest (this years theme: diversity means...) with the following poem:
Peace
Peace has many meanings
Peace will put you to sleep
Peace will give you good feelings
Peace will make you weep
Happy tears of joy is what peace means to me
Peace has many meanings
Look and you will see
Peace is diversity settling together
Peace is calmness no matter the weather
Peace is the soft, crisp snow falling
Peace is the sound of soft whispers calling
Peace is a home silent and still
on top of a dark, pitch black hill
Peace is wonderful.

I am so proud of my Amelia Rose.  Great job!

I Can Follow God's Plan for Me

I think that's the way the Primary song goes.  Simon was singing it to himself as he drove matchbox cars around.  The chorus went like this:
I will work and I will play.  I will walk in ev'ry one's way. And I will be happy on earth and in my home above.

I laughed and asked him to repeat, just to be sure I heard right.  The first time around, he thought those were the words.  The second time around, he wasn't so sure.

Say what?!

Simon and I were playing soccer in the front yard when he yelled out and pointed at the sky:
Hey MOM! I see Jesus coming!
I froze.  What can I do but turn around and look? 
The sun was behind the branches of the tall tree across the street shining brightly through the branches.  There were streams of light pouring through.  It was not Jesus (did I need to say that?)  But it sure was pretty.