Category Archives: Family

P365 – Day 99 (Little Buddies)

David and Sarah found themselves alone this evening. Joshua was off at a sleepover. Daniel and Rachel were invited to a friend’s house for dinner and a movie. It was just the two little ones (oh and Mom and Dad but I’m not sure we really count when we’re looking for fun playmates).

david and sarah

The little rascals (as Rachel sometimes calls them) had such a great time playing together. They are good friends who are very companionable. They had rows of Playmobil figures lined up on the stairs with a big dump truck on the landing next to them. Ready to transport the figures? Run them over? Cover them in a landslide of dirt? Good times!

I’m so thankful that the children enjoy each other and are friends. David and Sarah are close in age but different in temperament and interest. Still, they play together beautifully when the older crew is occupied. They were overjoyed when I said they could have a “sleepover” in David’s room.

“Good, Mom, because I was going to be lonely tonight,” David told me.

How did he know he was going to be lonely? Sometimes you just need a brother or sister nearby to keep you company.

Kathy

Share or follow

Related posts:

P365 – Day 97 (Cowgirl)

The sheriff is here and she’s ready for any trouble that might be brewing.

Sheriff Sarah

Of course, with that mask you might wonder if she’s helping or stirring up trouble herself. Either way I’d be sure to stay out of her path. She doesn’t look like she will put up with any shenanigans.

sarah

This here sheriff is weary – it was obviously a long day on the ranch (plus the mask gets hot after a while).

Kathy

Share or follow

Related posts:

P365 – Day 96 (MOGL)

We have at our house a MOGL – it’s not a dreaded disease, a new cookbook, or a large bump on a ski slope. No, it’s a Mower Of Great Laziness! We’ve had this visitor here before. Last year the lawnmower would run for a minute or two before shutting off. You basically had time to get around the yard once. At that point you were pretty much forced to sit on the porch swing with your book, waiting until the mower was ‘rested’ enough to continue. A half an hour mowing job could be parlayed into a whole day’s work (with time for smoothie breaks).

the boys

Here David and Joshua check out the dandelion collection.

To my great joy, and Tim’s disgust, a visiting elf (no doubt kin to the shoemakers crew) came by while we were on vacation and had our mower repaired. Ah, the lawnmower was back in business. No more lazying around. The front AND back lawn could both be mowed in ONE day.

look at them dandelions

Boy, look at this beautiful dandelion garden.

It’s spring here in the beautiful northwest and we are very overdue in taking care of our lawn. We live in a lovely neighborhood. It isn’t fancy or pretentious but the homeowners do take care of their lawns. Driving up and down the street you are treated to sights of Japanese rock gardens, stunning roses, perfectly manicured lawns, and the House O’ Dandelions. Uh, that would be our place. I should say – The House O’ Dandelions and Other Weeds.

blackberries

This is on the OTHER side of the backyard fence. The owner of this piece of property must use some pretty mighty Weed and Feed. Maybe it’s called Blackberry Miracle Gro.

Despite having skilled gardeners on both sides of our family, Tim and I do not have a single green thumb (or even a pinkie) between us. It wasn’t too long after we were married that we realized we were both waiting for the other person to take on the landscaping job. In my family it’s my father who is the gardener, in Tim’s family, it is his mother. It’s been almost 15 years (next month!!!) and neither one of us has risen to the task yet. I’m afraid we are doomed.

sarah points

Even Sarah can’t help but point out the intense growth of dandelions raging around the yard.

Thankfully, this fact wasn’t known by the cul-de-sac police when we rented and eventually bought this home. Of course, with three boys (and one a teenager) you would think our lawn maintenance troubles were solved. Isn’t it practically a rite of passage that a young boy mows the family’s lawn? And with five children, there is surely always someone in trouble who needs a job (oh, weeding comes to mind).

weed and feed

Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll take care of these nasty, old weeds.

Joshua went out and used up an old bag of weed and feed last week. Is that really what it’s called? It does beg the question – are you feeding the weeds? That’s what it sounds like to me. Scary. It’s certainly working in our yard. I think the dandelions are multiplying on a daily basis. Joshua decided he had better mow before spreading out any more weed killer (smart boy, that one, and useful too). This was when we discovered the tragic news.

The MOGL was back and it might, in fact, be a dead MOGL (mostly dead, we’re not sure). This does not look good for our lawn and the hope I had for some kind of damage control on the dandelion explosion. Joshua isn’t taking the news very well.

no good lawn

taking it out

I’m not sure that’s really a very effective way to get rid of the weeds, Joshua.

Kathy

Share or follow

Related posts:

P365 – Day 94 (Grandma Honey Writes!)

Our excitement for the day – Sarah and David got letters today from Grandma Honey!!! Grandma Honey (I’m pretty sure that’s her real name) teaches a class at our homeschooling co-op. She is beloved by children and parents alike. She leads the kids in songs, talks to them about the months of the year, colors with them and, at the end of semester, puts on a wonderful tea for the mothers and fathers complete with juice and treats.

sarah and her brothers

Sarah’s brothers gather to see her exciting mail.

One family I know changed their schedule to insure their middle son could be in Grandma Honey’s class. She inspires love and devotion, doesn’t put up with any nonsense, and loves the children back with sincerity.

David has gotten mail before, so he was a bit jaded about it all. Sarah, however was enthralled with her letter. She spent some time trying to open it.

sarah's lettercan't open it

There was a moment of panic when Sarah couldn’t get her letters out of the envelope. “Help!! Is there a trick to this?” she cried.

One thing Grandma Honey included in her package of letters was a copy of the songs they sing in class. Tim came by at this point and read/sang the songs to David and Sarah (much to Joshua’s chagrin – some of those tunes stick in your head all day!). Sarah spent the next hour working carefully on the beautiful coloring page.

It’s such a blessing to have people in your children’s lives that encourage and love them. Who wouldn’t like a Grandma Honey?

Kathy

Share or follow

Related posts:

P365 – Day 93 (Visiting Toddler)

We had the privilege of babysitting a friend’s little one this afternoon. The kids were so excited! Several days ago I asked Rachel to remind me that we had C. coming over (I’ve been known to forget important things like this in the past).

The children took me serious and started reminding me several times a day. Sarah was the worst, I mean, most helpful. She would tell me over and over that C. was coming over and then proceed to ask me what time would he be here. I’m not sure she really understood the concept of 3 pm. It’s after lunch but not evening. Afternoon? Snack time? Those are interesting but not very descriptive words.

Finally the day and hour and toddler arrived. Daniel and Sarah were his most solicitous fans. Oh, they gathered toys and blankets (in case he might fall over). They brought him books and more toys. They set up an elaborate game with a container full of balls. Basically Daniel would stand behind C. (making sure he didn’t fall) while Sarah handed him super balls. C. would throw them at the chair and the wall and occasionally Sarah. I over heard Daniel say, “Sarah, give him the ball then run out of the way fast!”

sarah ballC. throws ballmore ball time

Later on it was time to feed the little guy. Again, Daniel and Sarah practically fell over themselves to be helpful. They got him buckled into Sarah’s chair, made sure he had a bib, heated up his food, and then fed him a tasty dinner. It made me realize how big Sarah is and how long it has been since we’ve had a baby in the house. For so long it seemed I was always HAVING babies. The first three are close in age and then came along the younger two. Daniel was a little younger than Sarah is now when David was born. Sarah, however, is the baby of the family and hasn’t ever been the Big Sister, with a little one in her charge. She certainly worked hard today, caring for C.

feeding C.sarah helpssarah and Daniel feed c.

Notice Sarah’s open mouth. She’s helping, all right. What a good little babysitter.

The kids were a bit chagrined at C.’s insistence that I hold him. They would have been content to take care of him all by themselves. He seemed to realize this and made sure I was nearby at all times. Smart fella.

Thanks for letting us watch him, J. It was a fun afternoon.

Kathy

Share or follow

Related posts: