Wednesday

It’s Wednesday.

We didn’t even get out of our beds and get moving until 10 am this morning. That has got to be some kind of record for us. We are usually up and doing by 6:30, school or no school. We have Anna to thank because after she woke up and snuggled in bed with me for a while, she decided she could use a two hour nap. Being a fat little baby can be so exhausting.

So we finally got up to have scripture study. We didn't want to skip it, because we haven't missed a day since General Conference. What is that? Like 60 days or something? THAT really is a record for us. But lest you think that I'm bragging, the reason we have been successful where we have failed miserably in the past, is because we have stumbled upon the magical element to family scripture study. Wake them up so early they don't have the energy to fight with each other. Try it. I promise it's like a miracle. Unfortunately for me, by 10 am, they were lookin for some action. Somehow we survived, but I'm skeptical about the amount of spiritual nourishment that took place.

After that, we kicked around and did a few chores here and there. The kids watched several episodes of Garfield on Netflix. I felt guilty about it, but really…I didn’t have any better ideas that I was willing to follow through with, so I let them alone.

I microwaved some leftover spaghetti for the kids and I sautéed some onions, zucchini, and tomatoes for me. I realized halfway through the meal that the tomatoes were not nearly as yummy as the zucchini. I was unconsciously forcing myself to eat them anyway until I remembered that I’m in charge and life is too short. Viva la zucchini!

Finally I mustered up the energy to undo my “mom ponytail/bun”, use my straightening iron to make it look like I hadn’t slept in until 10, slapped on some mascara and a bra and we were on our way to the library.

This is so riveting. You’re riveted. Don’t lie.

After that whole fiasco, (5 kids…in the library…individual cards…do the math), we decided we might as well go do the grocery shopping. I held out as long as possible. I don’t know what it is, but I think grocery shopping during the summer months is like exercising. I just don’t really feel like doing it, but then when I get out there, It’s not so bad. Only it is so bad. I tried bribing them and all it did was tick me off even more when they decided that they would really enjoy playing tag in circles around my cart. I thought I might actually crawl right out of my skin and go all alien right there in the cereal aisle, but instead I just swiped those little treats right out of their disobedient little hands and said, “THESE are mine.”

Mercy.

Mercy, mercy, mercy.

Megan cried, Ethan opted for a bitter, “So much for movie night!” and Mathew, in a stunning turn of events, apologized in detail for his role in the evenings shenanigans and asked if he could help unload and put away the groceries.

Is it just me, or did this boy have a breakthrough? I do believe he has unlocked the secret to living in harmony with Mom.

After a few loud and exaggerated statements of praise for his wisdom and helpfulness, the other 3 got the clue and mended their ways. Groceries were put away in record time and the treats were returned. So we settled down for night 3 of our Star Wars Movie Marathon. We are all a little concerned with Anikin’s attitude. He could use a little humility or something bad is going to happen. We’ve got a feeling.

And just in case you have read all this way and are feeling like I didn’t really have much to say about this day, I’ll leave you with a few quotes from my little children, all during the movie:

Meg: “We need to have leesagna. Garfield loves leesagna.”

Meg: “Who farted?” (riotous laughter)

Mathew: “I think Laney farted.”

Mom: “She’s asleep.”

Mathew: “Sleep farting.”

(more riotous laughter)

Memory lane.

I've been going through my files in iphoto. I'm trying to get organized and delete some of the pictures of my thumb. So what if I happen to delete a few unflattering double-chin photos while I'm at it?

Then I came across this:

This was the time Mark made Mathew scrub the fence after he caught him peeing on it.

That was funny.

It was also the front yard.

He definitely learned that if you are going to pee on the fence, do it on the other side in the privacy of the backyard. I mean really...

Bike rides and tornadoes

Today was our first day of Summer.

No school!

We celebrated by going for a morning walk/bike ride. I walked and pushed the little girls and the three oldest rode their bikes. Luckily, it rained last night so we were able to ride through many muddy puddles. It added to the glamour.

I'm sorry to disappoint, but there was no Nature Bingo on this trip. I haven't gotten my ducks in a row. Instead we did a highly elegant and refined "yell out any animal or bird you see" thing. It was very successful and I'm positive the neighbors appreciated the wake up call, it being 7:30 am on the first day of summer and all. We like to serve like that.

We saw lots of bunnies. This one is number 17.

What? You can't see the bunny? REALLY? That's too bad. I guess only highly trained bunny spotters have the skills necessary to hone in on it.

Bummer for you.

We also found many worms.

Many, many worms.


The kids felt compelled to help them to cross the path safely. It was the right thing to do.


Hey....who told you you could sit up? Who do you think you are, FancyPants?


And what's with that casual lean on the arm rest there?

You think you're so big?

What happened to the squishy little baby that used to lay back and take a nice little nap?


Well, even without the Nature Bingo, it was a great start to the summer break.

Then a couple hours later, the tornado sirens started blaring and we grabbed as many electronic devices as possible and ran for the cellar.

We set up an air mattress down there the night before because we live in KANSAS and it's tornado season. So I don't know about you, but if I have to sit in the cellar for lengthy and undetermined amounts of time, I would prefer to do it on a squishy mattress and not the concrete floor that you know full well the dogs have peed upon on more than one occasion. But that's just me.

So we sat down there and listened to the sirens go off 8 times. Each time the kids would pull the blanket up over their heads and concentrate even harder on the episode of "Wonder Pets" they had playing on the ipad. (Three cheers for technology!)


I was busy texting Mark and holding the little pup while she sucked her thumb.

Cuteness knows no fear.


Then I entertained myself by taking pictures with my camera phone and checking the weather updates every couple of minutes. After about an hour of that I decided I'd sneak up and turn of the blaring weather alert alarm. I made my children solemnly swear to stay put while I braved the upper floors. I felt a bit sheepish when I realized the sun was out and shining and the birdies were singing.

I gave the all clear and they all opted to stay in the cellar and play more ipad.


That was fine with me.

I had a Kit Kat hidden in my sock drawer. I could use a few minutes of alone time.

New food.

Does everybody have those 20ish recipes that seem to get stuck on repeat for the better part of a decade?
I’m in a cooking funk.
I can’t eat another bite of Apricot Chicken, Meatloaf, or Pork Chops with cous cous.
I refuse.
So I’ve been scouring recipe blogs and asking friends for recommendations.
We’ve had a couple successes. (link away!)

• Creamy Chicken Taquitos (mmmm.)
• Cashew Sweet and Sour Pork (so good…minus half the vinegar and the snow peas.)
• Cajun Chicken Pasta (drool.)
• Sticky Mango Chicken Skewers (Light, healthy and tasty)
• BBQ Pulled Pork with Memphis Style Coleslaw (So good with the coleslaw in the sandwich. Who knew?)
• Natchitoches Meat Pies (like a Philly Cheesesteak in a pocket.)

Not that success equals our children consuming enough of it to sustain life…because that would be asking too much, mind you. Success is Mark and I enjoying our dinner and nobody else vomiting at the table. If they made it all the way to the bathroom, it’s highly likely I’ll be cooking it up again in the future. It’s all about lowering your expectations and looking for the silver lining through the vomit and over the cries of, “I just can’t put it in my mouth! It smells so….so….wrong!”
We also had some definite duds…

• Black Bean & Pineapple Brown Rice (way too healthy. Made me want to poke my eye out and did actually cause vomiting at the table.)
• Homemade Corndogs (way too greasy.)
• BBQ Chicken legs.

So…here’s what I’d like to know. What do you love to cook? Do you have a recipe that you make when you want to impress dinner guests or that your kids go crazy for? I’m dying to know! Please share a link or email me a recipe or anything! I promise I’ll give it a try.
Cheers!

Meg celebrates Kansas.

Let’s just be glad that Kansas bears an uncanny resemblance to a 9x13.

And the main reason we will never move to West Virginia.

Turning point.

Last night I put my sweet, guileless, infant to bed. She smelled of BabyMagic and fabric softener. Before she fell asleep, she looked up at me with that open, unaffected stare that only babies have.

You know….this look.

The one that says that they aren’t sure what’s going on, but they are just soaking it all up. Just ready to be acted upon.

This morning, she woke up with plans.

Everything had changed.

She got wise.

I turned around for a moment to put something in the oven and…

BAM!

She saw her opportunity and she took it.

Busted.

She tried to regroup. Maybe she could pretend it was all a big misunderstanding….

I’m no sucker. The jig is up.

She tried the old “suck on the toes” routine.

Puh-lease…

I’m on to you.

Look at that knowing smile. She knows it’s just a matter of time before I’ll have to take it out of the oven.

And then….

The Talent Show rears its ugly head.

Remember this?

It happened again. Mathew has a thing for talent shows. For some reason he does not fear them as I do. I tremble at the thought of putting myself on display.

Not Mathew. He insists on doing a bit of “freestyle breakdancing” every year. I don’t understand it at all.

He came home with the flyer calling for auditions and told me with an air of confidence that he wanted to do it and would I help him get the music together. When I asked him what kind of moves he’d be doing and wouldn’t he like to practice a bit, he just informed me quite casually that he’d “make it up as he went along”. This is when I had a mini-stroke.

I promise you I have had countless actual nightmares that I am “making it up as I go along.” His talent is literally the stuff my nightmares are made of.

I hoped he’d forget.

I hoped he’d get distracted by other things.

I hoped the talent show would be cancelled.

Or rained out.

Or maybe a massive lice outbreak would close the school.

But…..

Here he is at the auditions. Moments away from “making it up as he went along”.

Man…I love and admire this kid. He’s got moxy.

He also earned a spot in the talent show.

Go figure?