The Toothpaste analogy

I recently found a Heritage Builders Family Night Toolchest Activity Book at our local library sale table for 25 cents. (That library has supplied me with the best Christian reading material lately!) I planned our first object lesson, and Megan reminded me for three nights in a row, until the evening came when we had time to do it together.

First the kids each squeezed a (small) tube of toothpaste onto a paper plate. Next I offered $5.00 to the one who could put it all back in the tube in three minutes. I laid out the five dollar bill and set the timer. Robb, having not read the lesson, was astonished, and hid his grin. Here they are trying to complete the task.

Of course, the task is impossible. Which is the point of the lesson. Once we speak unkind words, we cannot take them back.

Camping - Memorial Day Weekend

Robb with Jeff and Lisa
Megan, Drew, Mitchell, Maddie

UFDA! Sorry I've not blogged in two whole months! I'll try to fill in the blanks.

Joni and I share some tunes on the drive to Chicago and Willow Creek's Children's Ministry Conference.

Me thinks Kyrsten is ADHD! :)
Kyrsten and Allen show off their Chicago Style Pizza.
At the very first ever premier of the American Girl movie Kit Kittredge.

Kristina's 4 things

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Florist
2. Driver’s Ed. Teacher
3. Homeschooling Mom
4. Blog Book Designer

Four Movies I would watch over & over:
1. Anne of Green Gables / Anne of Avonlea
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Sweet Home Alabama
4. Calendar Girls

Four things I could live without, but would rather not:
1. Bath and Body Works hand soap
2. double computer monitors
3. Clorox wipes
4. Swiffer wet mopping clothes

Four small appliances I could NOT live without:
1. sewing machine
2. food processor
3. mixer
4. blender -(I'm only allowed 4?)

Four countries I have visited
1. Germany
2. Russia
3. Taiwan
4. Mexico

People who e-mail me (regularly)
1. Robb
2. Facebook
3. Lisa
4. Carrie

Four of my favorite foods
1. a Mocha
2. Bourbon Street Tilapia from Bubba Gumps
3. Wild Rice soup
4. Pastries

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. a coffee shop
2. Mexico on vacation with my Husband
3.at the beach with friends
4. Mementos

Four things I am looking forward to in the next year:
1. My sister's baby's birth
2. Entertaining
3. Cupcake '10
4. Trip to WI Dells

Spring Mud on the Farm - Again

Spring!

I love winter in Minnesota, really, I do. Until March. Then, even those of us born here are quite tired of the cold and snow. I relish spring, rain, and grass: green, lush grass to tickle my toes. So when spring really does come, and the mud comes along with it, I am not quite satisfied. Somehow in the year since the last spring, I've forgotten that mud must come before spring.
So, spring came (if only for a couple of days. We had a snowstorm on Easter weekend that left us right where we had started in the snow coverage department). The kids went out to play and like true children, made a beeline for the mud puddles. I didn't watch them. Maybe if I had, I could have stopped them, but I doubt it. Maybe if I had, I'd appreciate how much they enjoyed themselves.

But as it was, all I saw was the result. The mess. The mud. They know the rule about coming in from playing in the mud. They strip down to their undies outside, and come in shivering and laughing. (Our nearest neighbor is a mile away, my modest friends!) Thankfully they followed my rule. Somehow, though, they still came in with their naked bodies smeared in mud! ACKKK! Here is part of the result:

I bagged the mud caked coats and clothes and carried them gingerly upstairs to the washer. The whole load had to be washed twice. The kids had to stay in the kitchen, on the lynoleum, until they cleaned up themselves and their trail of mud. Now for the boots. What do I do with mud caked boots when I don't have a utility sink and it is too cold to use a hose? Well, I just left them there, and I'm waiting for the mud to dry so it will come off in chunks of dried dirt! The key is to time it just right so the boots can come in before it starts to rain and the boots become muddy again. Then the rain will wash the muddy sidewalk and we'll start all over again. --Never mind relishing spring. I just want summer!

Thanks, dear.

Robb decided to move the office home recently. He requested that I clean out my office this week to make room for him, so on Monday, though I was feeling under the weather, I began re-organizing. I like to make Robb happy, so I plunged forward. I cleaned out a bookshelf, found homes for decorative shoeboxes filled with sewing supplies, and relocated some scrapbooking stuff and old yearbooks. I emptied a small file cabinet and found a nook in a nearby closet for it to fit. I boxed the assorted papers on my desk, threw away old phone books, and took apart a piano keyboard to be relocated as well.
When Robb came home, I eagerly showed him the office and the progress I had made. He smiled and said, "Well at least it's clean...."
Um, what?
He continued, "Well, I was thinking today, and I don't think it's a good idea to have the office at home."
Thanks, dear.
Now, it's Thursday, we've all been sick all week, and I haven't finished returning my office to its previous state of slightly random order. Oh, well. If I wait long enough maybe he'll change his mind again.

Random Recent Pics

Creative measures to get Mitchell to stay at the table and finish his schoolwork.

Proof for those of you who doubt I ever fix my kids' hair! I do...sometimes!

Proof that Madison eats healthy snacks.

This is a carrot....evidently it was cold, so she wrapped it in a paper towel.

It's hard to tell sometimes,

but Mitchell and Megan really do love each other.

Megan's Birthday

We had a informal birthday gathering for Megs birthday...
She REALLY wanted to go to Chucky Cheese, so the fam went there on Saturday. UFDA! I hadn't been there in a long time, and certainly not on a Saturday. Let's just say we won't be going there any time soon again. At least not until the memory fades and we forget what hell on earth that place is for parents! We had to wait in line to even get a table and the place was full of what I will call people of questionable character! The so-called games ate our tokens while spitting out a hundred or so tickets to other children. Mitchell was so excited to buy a toy with his tickets, but of course, our $10.00 spent on tokens won him 30 tickets, which bought him a very small sucker and a one inch long rubber lizard. The girls got equally exciting rewards for their efforts. Woop-de-doo. Happy Birthday Megan...

WARNING: Girl Talk Below!

Have you ever NOT hung up on a research marketing phone survey? The other day, I took one such call, and thought she was going to ask me a series of questions about my movie viewing. After all, the woman's first question was, "Do you have a dvd player?" But, then again, her accent was severe, so maybe I misunderstood her.
Her next question was, "Do you use pantyliners?" OK, what does THAT have to do with me owning a dvd player!?!
For the next 20 minutes I was subjected to such questions as,
"How many Panty Liners do you use? 3-7, 7-14, or 14-30 a month? Do you used pantyliners at the beginning of your period? Do you use pantyliners during low flow days? Do you use pantyliners as a backup for heavy flow days? Do you use pantyliners with tampons? Do you use pantyliners with maxipads?"
OK, I am VERY open about these things with my close girlfriends, but I have to admit, I think I was blushing. How dare she ask me such personal questions! But she continued, and for some reason, I didn't hang up!
"What brand of Pantyliners have you bought in the last month." (5 choices are given, including store brand) Me: "Ummmm. I don't remember." Researcher: "Which choice would you like me to record, ma'am?" Me: "Oh for heaven's sake, just put store brand!"
"Do you agree or disagree that the word, 'sexy' describes Carefree Panty Liners? Do you agree or disagree that the word 'flirty' describes Carefree Panty Liners? Would you agree or disagree that Carefree Panty Liners give you freedom to do whatever you want to do? Is that strongly disagree, mostly disagree or somewhat disagree?"
Really now, do they expect ANYONE to say that a pantyliner makes them feel sexy or flirty? I'm just wondering.