This year the boys' school had a fundraiser where the kiddos got pledges and then ran laps to earn money for the school. Tobias and I came to run with David John and cheer him on and then Marc was even able to come to run with the twins for a bit. Elijah ran the most laps of anyone in his class. It was a real scorcher that day so David John pretty much just walked the whole time but for a kid who doesn't love organized physical activity I thought it was pretty great that he participated at all. Good job boys.
Friday, May 6, 2016
Some Pigs
The boys are still very much enjoying the guinea pigs. There are sometimes grumbles and moans about cleaning out litter boxes or cages but mostly they do a good job. Gabe, especially, has taken to making sure they have everything their furry little hearts desire.
David John still loves them even though he does not enjoy the cleaning chores. He's decided to change his middle name to Guinea Pig and spends time reading guinea pig articles online. He even read a National Geographic about the very large ancient ancestors of guinea pigs and then drew pictures of them at school the next day. The teacher didn't even question him when he said they were guinea pig ancestors. She figured he knew what he was talking about. His computer log in is guineapig09. He might be a little obsessed.
Benjamin and Tobias also love the guineas. They love to pet and groom Calvin and Hobbes. Tobias gets discouraged that the piggies run away from his chubby little hands. Sometimes he tells me, dejectedly, "Calvin not want to pet me." He's getting better at being gentle but, unfortunately, he and Benjamin still need supervision to do those things. Recently, the little boys decided to play with the guinea pigs all by themselves. I was up in my office working on school-board related business when Benjamin came upstairs to deliver the following news.
"Mom! We are playing hide-and-seek with the guinea pigs and Hobbes is really good! We can't even find him!"
"You mean, he's hiding in his cage?"
"No, we let them out to play hide and seek."
"You're telling me that Hobbes is lost somewhere in our basement."
"Noooo, he's just hiding and we can't find him."
"I see."
Isn't it great how kids can rebrand things? No, he's not lost, he's just hiding and we haven't found him yet. It's a game! I wish I could tell you that I was completely calm and patient but I was a little freaked out about the idea of Hobbes climbing into the furnace or something so I panicked a little bit. I found him hiding under a couch and was able to coax him back into his cage. I told the boys that hide-and-seek was probably not the best game to play with guinea pigs, even if they are very good at it. Yep, they're some pigs.
David John still loves them even though he does not enjoy the cleaning chores. He's decided to change his middle name to Guinea Pig and spends time reading guinea pig articles online. He even read a National Geographic about the very large ancient ancestors of guinea pigs and then drew pictures of them at school the next day. The teacher didn't even question him when he said they were guinea pig ancestors. She figured he knew what he was talking about. His computer log in is guineapig09. He might be a little obsessed.
Benjamin and Tobias also love the guineas. They love to pet and groom Calvin and Hobbes. Tobias gets discouraged that the piggies run away from his chubby little hands. Sometimes he tells me, dejectedly, "Calvin not want to pet me." He's getting better at being gentle but, unfortunately, he and Benjamin still need supervision to do those things. Recently, the little boys decided to play with the guinea pigs all by themselves. I was up in my office working on school-board related business when Benjamin came upstairs to deliver the following news.
"Mom! We are playing hide-and-seek with the guinea pigs and Hobbes is really good! We can't even find him!"
"You mean, he's hiding in his cage?"
"No, we let them out to play hide and seek."
"You're telling me that Hobbes is lost somewhere in our basement."
"Noooo, he's just hiding and we can't find him."
"I see."
Isn't it great how kids can rebrand things? No, he's not lost, he's just hiding and we haven't found him yet. It's a game! I wish I could tell you that I was completely calm and patient but I was a little freaked out about the idea of Hobbes climbing into the furnace or something so I panicked a little bit. I found him hiding under a couch and was able to coax him back into his cage. I told the boys that hide-and-seek was probably not the best game to play with guinea pigs, even if they are very good at it. Yep, they're some pigs.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Melting My Heart
A while ago I made the boys little hearts with compliments and taped them to their doors. Yesterday, David John made me hearts to tape on my door. It was one of those parenting moments where it's all worth it.
In case you can't read them, here is what they say:
"I like playing games with you."
"You give us what we need even when you're stressed out."
"Mom you take good care of us! I like the food. (well most of it)"
"I like going to restaurants with you and I'll try to be good there."
"I am thankful for you. I love you. <3 David John"
Yep. Heart melted.
In case you can't read them, here is what they say:
"I like playing games with you."
"You give us what we need even when you're stressed out."
"Mom you take good care of us! I like the food. (well most of it)"
"I like going to restaurants with you and I'll try to be good there."
"I am thankful for you. I love you. <3 David John"
Yep. Heart melted.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Derby Boys
We survived our first pinewood derby. This year, I carved Elijah's car body with a handsaw. Yeah, next year I'm planning to borrow power tools. Gabriel, thank goodness, just wanted to sent his down as a block of wood. Thank you, Gabe. Thank you.
The boys were good sports and poor Gabe got out in the first round but he still cheered everyone else on. Elijah actually came in 3rd place which is a miracle considering the sleek, streamlined, professionally-painted pieces of work we were racing against.
Our cars were more authentic. So take that, pinewood derby expert dads. Yeah. Everyone had a good time, which is all that matters. I'm sure all serious scouters will tell you the same thing.
The boys were good sports and poor Gabe got out in the first round but he still cheered everyone else on. Elijah actually came in 3rd place which is a miracle considering the sleek, streamlined, professionally-painted pieces of work we were racing against.
Our cars were more authentic. So take that, pinewood derby expert dads. Yeah. Everyone had a good time, which is all that matters. I'm sure all serious scouters will tell you the same thing.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Popcorn Popper 'Neath the Apricot Tree
Recently, an obituary was accidentally released prematurely for a public figure. This got Marc and I talking about celebrity obituaries and how they have to be written before-hand and constantly updated so that when someone passes away the media can immediately release their tribute. It occurred to us that we have someone in our family who has been living on borrowed time for years now. His name is Poplite. And he is our popcorn popper.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Revisionist History
David John is a creative kid. He's also a boy. Sometimes that combination leads to him creating things that others might find less.... appropriate. So, it was with a mixture of hilarity and horror that I read the little booklet David John brought home in honor of President's Day. (Yes, I know that's in February.) It was about Abraham Lincoln but was more akin to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". For each picture he crossed out the biographical facts and wrote his own narrative. I give you: Abraham Lincoln Goes Crazy
Sunday, April 17, 2016
No Foolin' He's Five
That's right. Our little April Fool baby is now a big five-year-old. When I say big, I mean tall. This kid is one tall skinny guy at 85th percentile for height but only 25th for bmi. We had a birthday party for him with his preschool friends and several friends from the ward as well. Benjamin made these cute invitations to hand out to everyone.
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