Wednesday Letters

Dear Woman @ the Mailbox,
I owe you an apology.  I'm so sorry that my trampoline nearly hit you yesterday.  I saw the surprise and fear on your face.  Now I need to find you and apologize in person.  
Sincerely, 
Me


Dear Trampoline,
Why'd you have to go and blow away like the last guy.  You were staked down.  You made my kids so happy.  Now you're all busted up.  We loved you.  You made me cry and swear yesterday. 
Frustrated Me


Dear Children,
When the forecast says snow, and we have just survived hurricane winds, PLEASE don't argue with me when I tell you to wear pants and not shorts.  please.
Love, 
Mom


Dear Steamer,
I love you.  You make me so happy as I watch gunk and grime fly away.  My laundry room shines, my bathroom is so thankful.  My lamp shades, grout, light fixtures, washing machine, toilets, toothbrushes (i know, right!) shower track, blinds, window tracks, window screens,  and baseboards are so relieved that you arrived.  My forearm is still working towards forgiveness.  
Until next time,
Me

The "Popeye Game"

Last Monday during dinner I decided we'd have the Family Night game right then and there.
My inspiration was the bag of spinach that was on the table.
I have one child in particular who eats absolutely no leafy greens.
They scare him.
He once suggested adding a little sugar would make them more palatable for him. Hmmmm. No.
So here's how the game works.  We simply passed the bag of spinach around quickly, each person taking a leaf out and eating it then passing it on.  When you could eat no more you were out.
Surprisingly everyone wanted to play.
I was pretty sure I'd be the winner.
Half way through- I was out.
Then I grabbed my camera to capture the winner.
Turns out they ate the whole bag gone.

We decided to crown Aidan the winner because he worked the hardest to get through that spinach.

I'm wondering what we could use next week for our game.  Brussels Sprouts?

I had to include a picture of Grace, so here she is after her mother forgot to giver her a nap.  She was having a snack and fell fast asleep . 

Dangerous Indeed

Yesterday, on a whim, I took the kids to the zoo and the library.  I threw caution (and routine) to the wind and headed north. We had a crappy day at the zoo.   The weather was beautiful, there were hardly any people. It was great.  Except it was literally crappy.  We seemed to have a laxative effect on all the animals.  After the 5th episode we were just laughing ourselves silly.  The freedom to run and point and yell was more than Grace could handle.

We lugged home 250 pounds of books from the library.  The kids got right to work at home looking through their favorite picks.  Asher picked out The Dangerous Book for Boys.  It's a book that covers the how-to's of boyhood.  Tonight at dinner he told me he had already learned a few things from it.

"What have you learned?" I questioned.
"Well, I read about girls today."
(*internal dialogue "Play it cool. Too much emotion and he'll shut down) "Oh, what did it say about girls?"
"It just talked about how they're different from us.  Not like physically, but emotionally.  You know their feelings are a lot more sensitive.  It said if you hurt their feelings they can erupt pretty easily."
(*DO NOT LAUGH! DO NOT LAUGH AMY! DON'T DO IT. DO. NOT.)
"Interesting, son.  Anything else?"
"Yeah, I learned how to build a tree fort".

Cole has a canker sore.  Another canker sore.  So he's being really careful about what he eats as most of his favorite things hurt his mouth (i.e. Things with sugar).  This is what his dinner plate looked like tonight.  I'm thinking the occasional canker sore is good for his health.  

New Tricks

Asher has a tie that actually needs tied. In other words it's not a clip on, or a zip up.
Scott has tried to help him tie it before.  It didn't turn out great, so Asher wouldn't wear it.
Once I sent him next door to have our neighbor man tie it for him.
It was the tie of choice today, but I was busy combing hair and told Asher he'd have to wait for my help.
I could hear he was in on the computer.  Just to be clear, I don't know how to tie a tie either, but I can read instructions, and I'd never made a real effort to figure it out.  Sad. I know.

He came up a few short minutes later with a beautifully tied tie!
He did it!
I didn't take a picture. shame.
It looked really good. Really Good.
He watched an instructional video and did a gorgeous Full Windsor knot.
Good work son.

And now on to Pretty Baby.
She too figured something out. And it's going to make life interesting around here.

Nuff said.

Ad-lib

Cole was reading Dot & Sox to me on the couch the other day. 

You see Dot (a dog) and Sox (a cat) had gotten in a bit of trouble.

They had made a large mess in the kitchen while their human owner, Bob, looked on.

We had finally made it to the conclusion.  I was on pins and needles.

And then Cole read "Mom is not freaking out.  Bob mops." 

I think he added some spice to the story. He drew from what he knew and made it better. I wonder if he'll read his version to his teacher next week. 

Boys vs. Girls

I have a question.  But first, this was the setup at our house last Sunday. 

CHLOE: quietly creating a work of art in the sunshine.

ASHER, AIDAN Shirts stuffed with very large balloons having a "battle of the bulge".  Lots of running, yelling, flying around the room ,etc.

COLE: Performing "back flips" and cheering on the competition.  

I sometimes wonder what my house would sound like if the majority was female vs. male.  Quieter? Calmer? Serene(r)? I grew up in a house of girls (and one boy- props to you Johnny) and I think it was WAY quieter than the house I'm raising.  What do you guys think?

Happy Anniversary Scott

Scott,

Five years ago today you had surgery that saved your life.  And changed your life.  I love you. You are a remarkable spirit.  We are lucky to have you. 

Love,

Amy

Happiness Browning Turns 7

The nickname "Happiness Browning" came from Aidan himself.  One day he decided that should be his new name.  

So how about some quirky facts about our Aidan.


1. He has to have his pants pulled up over his belly button.  I try to encourage him to keep them below his nipples at least. This usually results in high waters.  A good look no doubt.

2.  He loves animals. All of them. He likes to read about them, see them at the zoo, and now he studies their tracks (thanks Uncle Shawn R.).

3.  He doesn't like how his upper gums always get dry so he does this thing where he lifts his lip above his teeth over and over and over.  It throws me every time.

4.  He is a positive person.  School is always AWESOME!  He looks at the bright side.

5.  He likes to write down facts and share them.  I find his little notes all over the house.

6.  He sleeps with the yarn on his blanket in his ear (and his thumb in his mouth- shhh).

7.  He loves friends.  He's a very social person.

8.  He loves to try new things.  No fear here.

9.  He can be a bit of a goofball.

10.  He's an excellent speller/reader, and corrects others misspellings.  

Runaway

I saw it coming.
He was having a bad night.
Lots of meltdowns and such.  He woke up at 6 am and has a head cold.
He didn't eat his lunch well.  He laid on the floor writhing and whining while I begged the chicken to cook quicker for his dinner.  I finally directed him to put on his pajamas while he waited for his dinner, and this was the straw that broke Aidan's back.  The wailing stopped and he had a look of determination on his face.  I watched him dump his school stuff out of his bag and load other necessities into it and head for the front door.

"Where are you going son?"
no answer.

I watched him walk slowly across the street to the park.  By this time his siblings had noticed something was afoot and they gathered around the front window.
"What's Aidan doing?" they all asked.
"I believe he's running away", I answered as I headed back to check on that chicken.

I heard the door shut just as the timer beeped on the oven.  Dinner was ready.  When I went to greet Aidan I found no one there. Looking out the window I saw Asher, barefoot, with his arm around Aidan guiding him home to a warm meal.

We all welcomed him back at the dinner table.  With a full belly, clean teeth, and a story read Aidan quickly drifted off to dreamland.

As I tucked Asher in I had to ask, "Son, what did you tell Aidan to get him to come home?"
"I just asked him why he was mad, and he said you guys were mean to him.  Then I told him to just come home and eat dinner and it would be okay."

Brothers are priceless.