Malls Aren't Just for Shopping

They're also for little boys who need something to do after five, count them F-I-V-E straight days of rain. Pure genius. And there's a food court at the mall with a lovely assortment of greasy food ... and ice cream.

A Proud Moment

A proud moment for Jacob last week as he earned his Bobcat badge for learning the cub scout pledge and assorted other cub scout mottoes and skills. This picture is so telling of how this cub scout thing works in our family. There's Gavin in the background, looking on at Jacob, one day dreaming of such glory. He loves the scouts as much and possibly even more than Jacob. First grade can't come fast enough so he can be a Tiger Scout. He talks about it to anyone who will listen. Next time you see him, ask him about it... when you have an hour to spare.

Jacob and Brad are going on a "Revolutionary War" style camping trip this weekend. I love, love that they're going to get to do something so special together. And I am so, so glad it won't be me sleeping out in 30 degree weather tomorrow night! I don't do cold camping or very hot camping. I'm a Goldilocks camper - it has to be just right ( toilets, showers, real food and beverages). They've been reading The Magic Tree House: Revolutionary War on Wednesday and learning about George Washington and the Declaration of Independence. I know, we're so uncharacteristically prepared for something. Well, except for the fact that we have no batteries in the flashlights... and the flashlights would be ???? Anyway, we're leaving out all the bits about Revolutionary War heroes obliterating and enslaving the Native Americans. This worries me, as a mother. Are we glorifying war for the sake of sparing our children the ugly details? I'm thinking we might be. Our next discussion: let's get real. Oh well, after the camping trip. Reality can wait till then.

Do I Know You Lady?

Balloons really are a boys best friend.

Snow Day, Take II

The view from our kitchen table. We like watching the birds and squirrels eat seed and Jacob likes taking pictures of them. When we ran out of seed, we HAD to go to the store pronto to replenish our supply.


The hill on our cul-de-sac makes for great sledding. The kids on our cul-de-sac make great memories with us. We really love living here.


School is out, kids are up, and mom is down .... on the ground covered in dirty, wet clothes that they need back "right away!!!" so they can go back out and make them dirty and wet again. It's their job. On this day mine was to remember to breathe .... snow days are fun. Well, like, for the first 30 minutes outside and then they're just cold, dirty, and wet.

The Cleaning Ladies Came!

I think I'll remember this classic Gavin face till the day they cart me off to the nursing home. But what I REALLY, REALLY need a picture of for the blog is his " Eeww, who farted?" face that he makes when he's being seriously talked to, feeling embarassed, or when looked at by a stranger for more than 1 second. In fact, Gav is full of funny little phrases and looks that I'll wish I could remember one day. Maybe next blog....



Jacob came to me the other morning with the notion to earn some extra pocket money by doing "above and beyond" chores. We sat down and made out a list of said chores, attaching a price to each. Emptying garbage cans from bathrooms and the kitchen was a quarter but window cleaning was $.75. Dusting was also a big ticket item - I hate doing it and therefore don't. It was on. That boy cleaned and cleaned well. Every once in a while he stopped to comment on what a spectacular job he was doing and who was I to disagree? He really did a nice job - even inspired me to clean. Well, anyone who knows me may be laughing at this last sentences, I clean often, but this morning I was NOT in the cleaning mood. I made my small children do it instead. Gavin got into the game in short order. He did an extra super job in their room and washed the heck out of the kitchen table. He's has been known to scrub the kitchen sink to a shine when the entertainment around here wears thin. I'm raising them right!

My last direction to Jacob before going upstairs was to get the dust bunnies down in the downstairs bathroom. I even provided him with a chair ( notice he was armed with a duster and a bottle of vinegar.... you see where this is going). When I came down he was gone and the bathroom floor and walls were soaked. He had turned the vinegar sprayer to sharp shot and "killed" the bunnies. Dust bunny vinegar ran down the walls and puddled to the floor. My formerly clean bathroom was aghast and the bunnies previously described as "dusty" were now "cementy". Curses! The cutest part was that he really, really thought this to be a perfectly reasonable cleaning method. And yes, I had my little "Freak out in your head for a minute before you freak out in front of the kids who already think you're crazy" moment before bringing the offending cleaning lady back into the bathroom for a little reteach. I love that boy. I think I'll ask him back.

More Sources of Fur

Here's Saki. The children love him, particularly Jacob who regularly asks if I've made sure Saki has a blanket on him at night. I can die happy now. Gavin likes him too but he doesn't like when he breathes his stinky breath near him or his food. Pictured above is Saki waiting at the front door A-G-A-I-N. Diarrhea-5, upstairs carpet-0. Round two of diarrhea wasn't as bad as round one, the carpet was lost in round one at which time I gave up any hope of ever bringing guests upstairs. Ever. After several days of chicken and rice (my kids should be so lucky), he's over the second bout. Now if I can just so something about his devil possession ( reference eyes).

Bingo, son of Maya and brother to Mango, thinks he is a clever kitty. He knocked open the doors to the arts and crafts cabinet (yes, I have one!), grabbed this ball of craft yarn up in his mouth and then eventually brought it to the couch to shred. Bingo also tops the Clode/Bannister charts in the affectionate category. He's very snugly and warm these days. This is his protective trait because he has also never, ever, not even once pooped inside the litter box. That's right, never. The cat room floor is full of his intestinal donations each day. Good thing he's clever and snugly.