Eric

Since Eric was born late September, he hasn't had a chance to see green grass or even stay outdoors for very long. Since the weather kinda cooperated (it was windy) yesterday, I took him out to get his first taste of grass. Thankfully, that wasn't meant literally. I think he was more interested in pulling the cats' fur. Eric has a fetish for hair. It doesn't matter to whom or what it belongs really.

It Made Me Smile

Yesterday was miserable. I had chills. I had a fever. I had a pounding headache. I was miserable. To add woe to my misery Eric was feeling better and not using me as his comfort so I was a tad uncomfortable too.

Yet in all this misery of mine (I am feeling better now. Thanks for asking!) I was able to smile. I smiled when I saw my 13 yo's detention slip. It wasn't at the slip itself but who signed the parent's signature line. Joanna (4 yo) gave her permission for Oren to stay after school. The teacher got a kick out of it too.

I smiled at Eric's baby laughs (even 3 a.m. ones like this morning). There is a reason why we call Eric "Chuckles". He is even more hilarious when he is tired. Everything strikes him as funny and worthy of a laugh.

I smiled when my oldest came home telling me she was able to arrange class work with her teachers if I needed her to stay home. I was that miserable. Hubby would be travelling and was worried about me. I guess so was my oldest. That was really sweet of her being willing to stay home and care for me. Alas I am feeling better, and she is bummed she has to go to school.

I smiled because I didn't clean house and had a good excuse. Actually I wasn't smiling as I crawled back in bed, but I was relieved I had a card to play on why my chores weren't done. In my experience the being-sick-card works better than the playing-on-the-computer-all-day-card.

I smiled because the kids eventually all went to sleep. The house was peaceful. I crashed before hubby could start snoring too loudly. That was definitely worthy of a smile.

National Library Week Fun

Next week is National Library Week (April 13-19). In celebration the kiddos' school is re-naming their school lunches after books. Running with that idea, we are celebrating in our household too. It will make the week go faster at least especially the couple of days hubby travels. It also annoys my hormonal 15 yo. I have earned quite a few eye-rollings from her.

We are actually going to kick off the week the day prior with a story-teller featured at our local library that day. On the way home, I'll pick up some strawberries. That will be for Sunday's feature. Each day that week features a book or author we enjoy.

Sunday: Angelfood cake with strawberries and cream in honor of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big, Hungry Bear (a favorite of Joanna's). We can even make funny disguises to hide ourselves too. I don't think the older hoppers will go for it, but it will amuse the younger set.

Monday: Dinner will be alphabet soup and bread shaped into letters. After dinner we are going to our library. The older hoppers can get books while the younger ones can listen to storytime.

Tuesday: We are honoring the author Laura Numeroff. For breakfast, we are having Cookie Crisp cereal (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). For snack, we are having muffins (If You Give a Moose a Muffin). Dinner will be a pancake meal (If You Give a Pig a Pancake).

Wednesday: This is our busy day, but we will make time for some Teddy Grahams snacks. My oldest remembers a book she enjoyed at bedtime called Bears in the Night by the Berenstains. We love the Berestain Bears. I have used them to teach many a lesson about picky eating, too much TV, gimmees and such.

Thursday: This will be our dog party night. We will make silly party hats and have hot dogs and cake for dinner. This is all in honor of one of the all time favorites in our house, Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman.

Friday: We have a school carnival this night. Perhaps just an extended dog party? LOL!

Saturday: Dinner will be in honor of How to Eat Fried Worms. All day long I will be using gummy worms added to our meals. They will be swimming in the syrup for our waffles. In our sandwiches or soup for lunch. They will even be coming out our meatloaf for dinner (added after cooking). Of course, you have to finish the day with dirt cake for dessert. We will be watching the movie too.

Turnabout is Fair Play

Do you know what a pain it is to write sentences? Maybe that is why it is used to punish children for misdeeds. Parents too.

This past September 11th we took the kids to deliver some goodies & thank yous to a police officer and returned soldier we know. We made a stop at a ice cream place on the way home for treats. It was raining when we returned home. Grasshopper #2 was standing in the rain refusing to go in the house. What do I do? I picked up a rock and tossed it against the back of his leg and told him to get moving. He did but not before stopping and whipping around.

"Mom, did you just throw rocks?" Uh-oh! This is the kid who had to write sentences for throwing rocks at his little sister to annoy her. He also received a gash and trip to the ER for a couple of staples courtesy of an older sister defending a little sister. "I think you need to write sentences." Dang punishment! It was such a good idea when I enforced it.

So at 8:30 that night I was writing "I will not throw rocks at people" 25 times. I gave the sentences to #2 who promptly declared that they were his most prized possession and wanted it laminated. Whatever, kid. Don't push your luck. Fair play is just grand.

Cheap Entertainment ...

Unless they drop my camera, of course. It wouldn't be too cheap then to repair or replace it. I mentioned in my food blog, Cornbread & Cookies, that we are easily entertained in this household. My 13 yo decided to have fun with my camera and entertain himself.



Note: No cameras or 13 yo boys were harmed (for harming the camera) in the making of this video.

Linguistic Intelligence ...

Heck, I am just glad to have some intelligence. I am really doubting the functioning of any remaining brain cells lately. I did always want to be a teacher (actually teach children music at the church I attend). I do like to write too and even learned a new language, ASL, to help translate a few years back. Now if I could just convince my hoppers that clean rooms are best.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well. An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly. You are also good at remembering information and convincing someone of your point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary. You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

A Child's Prayer

We raise rabbits and do so for selling them or meat. We also say family prayers each morning together before each heading off our separate ways (hubby to work, kids to school and me back to bed).

This past winter all three of our does gave birth. There were 17 bunnies born but due to a cold snap we lost all of them. We held off mating our rabbits until it warmed up a bit so not to repeat the sad misfortune. My 11 yo was heartbroken as she takes care of the rabbits and has a soft spot for all the baby bunnies.

Minnie, one of our does, had a litter yesterday. It is windy and chilly (at least it isn't freezing or below zero) so we have been careful to keep the nest box well insulated. The new litter made it through the night. We hope they continue to make it. It doesn't hurt to ask for help either.

This morning my 11 yo offered the family prayer. She prayed that Minnie's babies could live and grow old ... pause ... "at least until Dad gets a hold of them." There a few irreverent snickers around the table (myself included and hubby was trying hard not to laugh).