When you're rushing to get things ready for an early evening baseball game and 2 yo nonchalantly dumps a teensy container of bubbles into the turtle tank.

You know it's one of those days when you lightly dismiss the bubbles, given the size of the tank in proportion to the teensy size of the bubble container...even though there is bubble foam beginning to adorn the top of the water.  As you quickly grab some paper towels and skim the foam off, vigorously washing hands to avoid turtle germs, you firmly admonish 2 yo...no more bubbles in the turtle tank.

You know it's one of those days when the coach benches a player for the rest of the game due to his not hustling in from the field in the top of the first.  And you definitely know it's one of those days when the ump is informed that the player has left and will not be in the batting lineup, and when the ump's response is that the player will be considered out every time he should be at bat because he did not leave due to injury.  You know it's one of those years when no parent can get a copy of the rulebook to study in order to better understand/explain/teach the rules to their children.  And you know it's one of those days when the ump is unnecessarily harsh with coach, who asks for explanation.  "Not one word," snaps the ump.  You really know it's one of those days when dh, knowing that the ump attends a Christian church, exhorts from the dugout, "Hey, let's be Christians!" only to be told by the ump that this is not the place  for religion.  Ump is correct...religion is about rules, and the religion of baseball rules here.  Relationship, on the other hand?  This is the place for Christians to represent relationship with Christ in how they behave toward others on the ball field. 

Yep, it was one of THOSE days.  Coach let the ump know in no uncertain terms that the game was being played under protest.  And again when the missing player was called out...reiterated the protest.  DH  held his tongue through the remainder of the game, as he didn't want to get coach suspended.  Afterward, off the field, he was able to address things with ump...and another Christian official in the league.  No comment on how that exactly went.  As for the game, our team was ahead 8-6 at the end of the fifth.  In the final inning, the teams are not limited to 5 runs maximum as they are in preceding innings.  The opponents let loose and scored a bunch.  With only 7 minutes or so left, we were up with a long way to go to even catch them.  There were only 2 out, we hadn't scored any runs, but the time on the game ran out.  Since we didn't complete the inning, the score reverted to that of last completed inning, meaning we won.  Another obscure rule, this one working in our favor. 

You know it's one of those days when the next game is running a half hour late because ours started late, and the next team is literally taking over the space before your kids can clear the dugout.  Did I mention the reason for the late start?  NO UMP.  The Ump didn't know he was officiating.  Whether or not he had been informed or checked is questionable, but this has been a year of poor organization and antics when it comes to schedules and the Umps have had their share of difficulties.  As it turns out, the rule that caused the ill will was incorrectly applied.  It the player never came up to bat, he should not be considered a part of the batting lineup, even if he played on the field.  Again, parents can't learn because nobody can get their hands on a rulebook of their own to study.  We've asked.  Aren't you glad that God isn't like that with us, his word is available in ample supply and format?  Can you imagine how much more challenging the life of the Christian in a persecuted land where it may be difficult and dangerous to posess even a portion of God's precious word?

You know it's one of those days when you arrive home from the game to find this:

7 yo's baseball level emphasizes rules and basics.  Nothing fancy.  Just learning to throw, bat, field.  Lots of practice and coaching on where to stand, how to stand, where to throw.  During yesterday's practice, ds was in left field, and the ball came his way.  It rolled past him a little, he got it, and both coaches yelled for him to throw it to second.  The girl playing third base yelled for him to throw it to her.  He looked for a moment, and threw it to third.  Both coaches responded by asking him where second base was.  He got a mildly annoyed look on his face, and did a humorous point at second base.  Coaches reminded him again, when you get the ball out there, throw to second. 

A moment later, coach's wife, who was helping in left field, was listening.  She came over during a quick break to tell me what ds had explained to her.  He had looked and seen that the person going to second was already on base, but not the person running to third, so he threw it there.  She let one of the coaches know about it.  Later in the practice, it was kind of funny, because the same coach was now telling other kids to throw it to third at times.  LOL! 

Baseball is a great way to allow the kids to learn some problem solving, as they make decisions, learn when it is better to wait a moment before throwing the ball, and such.  11 yo has learned that he has to stop and think from home plate...if he doesn't take time to make a good throw, there's a cost in lost bases and maybe scored runs. 


Although I hated PE as a kid, I can really see the value of sports in this respect.  It's a great venue for learning many cooperative skills, as well as leadership skills, thinking skills, and of course, for getting good exercise.  It's an unfortunate thing that some kids miss the opportunity to grow because of an overly competetive environment. 

Can you say, "Chaos"?!  Most people had to arrive and get their uniforms, no particular designated meeting place just look for your coach and hope to find them before everything gets going.  Try finding 3 scattered coaches/teams while 8 darling children drag behind you through the mass of people, some with attitudes!  Finally, kids were dressed and ready, on the field with their teams, and things proceeded.  The speaker system wasn't adequate, so we didn't hear much of the event.  And it was panick for a few moments afterward when 5 yo couldn't be located. 

Sister found him with coach, and everyone gathered for 11 yo's game.  He did nicely at catching, but had to be moved after 3 innings or so, as he tired out.  Up and down from a squatting position will give that boy some strong legs by the end of the season.  They made a really nice play at home plate.  Runner came on a wild pitch, and they got him out!  Yeah!  He got on base 1 of the 2 times at bat with a walk, struck out the other.  Everyone but dad had to leave at the start of the 4th, as it was time for tee ball. 

Tee ball was lots of fun to watch.  We only had 6 players, due to the organizational difficulties I've mentioned.  The night before, I verified with coach, no game tomorrow.  We get to opening ceremonies, and not until after the event is he informed and making phone calls...twelve o'clock noon gametime?  Yikes.  The kids still had a blast. 

Minor Machine pitch in the same area at 1 for one of the boys.  Much more organized, with a set rotation for batting and position.  Each inning, the players do a different position, and they always bat in the same order, starting batter rotates by game.  Everyone gets a chance to try everything, very fair, very fun.  7 yo got to catch!  He and 11 yo ended up both getting the same Jersey number, so it was very fun for them to both catch on opening day!  Talk about being worn out!

Like I mentioned before, it's a very full schedule for the next couple of months.  However, as during soccer season, I believe that this is where you would find Jesus spending more of His time as opposed to attending all kinds of Bible studies and churchy events.  We've met some fellow Christians through different teams, and it's in these places we also get the opportunity to interact more with people who are not Christians.  It's in these environments that God opens doors for us that we may not recognize immediately, but will find all too "coincidental" later.  He's always faithful!

WATCH that ball, Son!

Molly Puppy Rose Bud...

One of the younger kiddos added the "Rose Bud" on, but it's really Molly!  We picked her up at the feed store a few weeks back, before we realized that puppies were on the way!

More springy activity:  much construction on the fort...11 yo is doing his thing!

On our recent trip to Death Valley, youngest was dealing with the first days of chicken "pops"...a good sport, nonetheless!




Some of the plantlife we saw....

Movie Reviews

The Boys of Spring...er, Summer?  They're in full swing...pun intended.  Yep, Baseball!

5 yo is playing tee-ball.  He's a lefty, and trying to work with righty equipment is a challenge...especially when you realize AFTER the start of the season that he's probably only throwing right handed because of the glove he's using and that he really should throw left handed.  We figured we'd see what was more comfortable, but we're realizing that he is much stronger and better coordinated with that left hand...off to look for a glove, and the lefty gloves were scarce in his small size.  Nevertheless, we found a couple of options, not too expensive, so he's set for at least the next 4 years! 

His practice last night was a little tense, as we have a special needs student playing.  There are behavioral issues, and the child is physically doing things to other kids, tackling, teasing, etc.  The coaches can't really do a good job with the rest of the team while this child constantly distracts.  The worst was the boy swinging at another child, aiming for her head...could have been very bad.  The league officials were made aware, and hopefully, they'll intervene.  It was nerve wracking.

11 yo has a wonderful pair of coaches, we're very impressed with how involved ALL of the kids are.  There is constant movement and activity, not enough time to get bored and fool around, but for those who choose to goof off, there are laps to run!    The kids seem to have good attitudes, and ds seems like he's really having a lot of fun!  He tried catching last night, and enjoyed it. 

7 yo has a good coach, as well.  Their first practice involved some good drills, and I had an enjoyable chat with coach's wife, who is the team mom.  She took her son out of practice early in order to get him to AWANA at a local church.  It's a blessing to know that baseball isn't the be all and end all, and that there is precedence on more important things.  Coach expressed a priority on fairness, everyone playing, everyone having their turns.  Also, very thrilled with this! 

Of course, it makes for a busy springtime, but there are things that the young men will learn through their involvement...and it's nice as a homeschool mom to realize the blessing of flexibility, and further to realize that there are great lessons that don't need to be learned in the 4 walled surroundings of a school!

There comes that point when parents trade small (?) expenses for big ones.  For example, I'm potty training the 2 youngest, trying to get rid of the expense of diapers.  However, we are now set for 2 years of appointments with the orthodontist.  Two trips into Vegas and back, and oldest DD is now sporting a nice set.  Gas, payments, thankfully a good dental insurance, and a great big God who goes before us and provides as He sees such expenses coming!  Less than a year, and it will be driving permits, driver's ed., and car insurance.  Yikes!  Do they REALLY have to grow up THAT much?

Needless to say, it's been busy, and we have a couple of homeschool outings as well as a family outing in the near future, so I'm still not caught up with Proverbs 31 Acadamy or Teacups in my Garden on their thoughtful awards, and Momof5, I'll get to your tag *someday*. 

Blessings from the ranch!

Although it hasn't yet become an every year tradition, my Mom's siblings have had a couple of really great holiday get-togethers in recent years which culminate in a white elephant gift exchange.  Everyone sits in a semi-circle, and the first person picks and unwraps a gift.  The next person can either steal an opened gift, or choose an unopened gift from the pile.  A gift can be stolen for a maximum of 3 times, and the person who has been stolen from may not immediately steal back the gift they just lost. 


A couple of years ago, I recall an air compressor being a highly desired gift.  My parents had it, and my strategy was just a bit off...I was the second to steal it (from my Mom), thinking they couldn't take it back from me.  However, Mom stole Dad's gift, and Dad then stole the air compressor from me...I may have the details a little confused, but that's sort of how it went.  It was fun. 

We were able to all get together again this year, and somehow I ended up first in the order.  The person who goes first has the luxury at the end of stealing any other gift if they so choose, with the exclusion of those that have thrice been swiped.  My original pick, a lovely gift bag, and the contents, a luxurious burgundy shawl...very nice, just the thing for chilly nights with wakeful tots.  As the game proceeded, there were some fun things, but nothing much caught my eye...until the next to the last...my cousin's hubby opened up what appeared to be a very heavy duty vacuum cleaner.  Mine was having problems the couple of days before, and we were faced with a potential purchase, so I could hardly contain my excitement.  "Yes!"  I started to nicely fold up the shawl, replacing it in the bag.  And I stole the vacuum!

Other fun little things happened in the exchange, including another cousin's wife trying to talk others into stealing the stereo receiver and speakers she had gotten...my hubby is tonight enjoying near surround sound quality football, thanks to his astute trade.  My Dad swapped out his gift, a bath and beauty sort of set, for the shawl.  Guess what I opened up on Christmas night at my parents' house?  The perfect shawl for wakeful nights with restless tots.  And it's come in handy, let me tell you.  It's NOT going into the pool of gifts next time, no siree, it's staying here!

As for my vacuum...I should have examined a little more carefully...the name inside the box?  Bissell.  Not a vacuum.  A carpet cleaner.  Still, a very useful gift in a house of messies, but, it was definitely not what I thought.  Fortunately, hubby discovered where our vacuum was shorting out and replaced the cord, so we can keep things semi-tidy.  I just have to figure out storage. 

I was much too busy to take pictures, dd took a few of the construction, but we didn't get any of the decorating. If I get a chance, I'll take a few photos of the completed houses before the kids eat them. 

I thought I'd offer a few ideas, our process for mass producing gingerbread houses.

By the time all of the walls had been assembled, the first house had set enough to do the roof.  Using a butter knife or spatula, I spread icing on the tops of the walls and the backs of the roof pieces, holding in place until it seemed they were stable, not going to slip.  This also went well, only the one cave in.  I did run short on icing, having to beat a couple more egg whites and add sugar.  Pretty close, though.  All in all, we spent between an hour and an hour and a half on this.

 

Day 3:  Decorations
I purchased assorted goodies ahead of time, and this is where imagination can be fun!  Some essentials:  M&M's, Kissables, Necco Wafers, Fruit Stripe Gum, mini marshmallows, pretzels (both sticks and the traditionally shaped ones), small gum drops, gummy bears, chocolate bar miniatures...and so on!  Candy canes and licorice, as well. 

I used about 16 egg whites, 4 lbs of powdered sugar, and the icing was a tinge looser, as it went into ziploc bags (quart sized) with a small piece of the corner cut off.  This way, kids could pipe their icing easily enough, and everyone had their own to work with.  There was a bit more icing than necessary, but it worked out well. 

The most fun for me in watching the kids decorate is seeing their personalities and giftings show as they decorate.  The toddlers...well, candies go anywhere, and things don't get all the way complete.  It was funny to watch the youngest lick her lollipop and try to make it stick to the roof.  Saliva just didn't quite work as well as the icing.  My more organized kids had much more organized decor.  Some had a whimsical creative look.  One of the boys had a mass of candies along the seam of the roof, though not much on the main surface of the roof. 

Two dd's had giant Hersheys Kisses from a Christmas exchange last week, and used these on their creations as big hills.  Big hills with gummy bear mountain climbers.  Youngest ds managed to make a huge pile of gumdrops and gummy bears in his yard.  Eldest ds created an awesome mini-marshmallow fence, about 3 marshmallows height, held together with that yummy icing. 

It's not food network quality, and as I watched a gingerbread challenge the other night, I laughed as the judge told one of the competitors that she had a problem with a visible seam.  You can see all the seams on our structures!  But it's fun to see what can be accomplished when you give your kids some materials to work with and the freedom to create!   It's also a fun way to include someone else in your holiday.  Not a Jesus activity, just a time of fun and fellowship!  One that the kids will remember for a long time, and around September of next year, again, I'm sure to hear, "Mom, are we doing gingerbread houses this year?"

 

Okay...I have a confession to make!  I love High School Musical...yes, I've watched it as many times as my adolescent girls, if not more.  I have High School Musical songs on my workout cd for the pool.  High School Musical 2 premiers tomorrow night, and I'm looking forward to it as much as they are.  And boy, have the stores sure taken advantage of this one with all their gear, promos, giveaways and such.

Living in a rural community has its advantages, especially one that has a large older population.  We have one high school, one middle school.  With so many dc in our family, entering the Wal-Mart giveaway wasn't a hopeless venture.  That's what I reminded the kids of as they collected their entry pieces at the store and hopefully keyed in their codes on the Disney website.  They day-dreamed of how they might spend the shopping spree money if they won the grand prize, or who they'd invite if they won the party pack.  The fact that every store was giving a party pack away meant a reasonable chance, though not guaranteed, for our household. 

"Mom, do you think we can win?" 

"Sure...there are enough of you."

When the UPS truck pulled up this afternoon, I was puzzled.  We'd long since given up hope of winning anything, as the premier is...tomorrow.  I haven't ordered anything worthy of a large box lately.  I was more puzzled as I surveyed the label.  It was addressed to oldest dd.  "Have you been using my credit card?" I teased. 

Excitement mounted as we watched the box open to reveal a box with Troy and Gabriella pictured, as well as other characters.  An "All-Access" Party Pack!  Everyone else tried not to be too disappointed that it wasn't them, and they were greatly excited that someone in our family won.  The wonderful package included:  a t-shirt (too small for dd, she passed it on to a sibling); a box of Lorna Doone snack packs; a box of Triscuits; a cd of the single and movie preview ("What Time Is It?"); a Party Planning book; plates, cups and napkins with the cast pictured; and a $25 gift card for Wal-Mart.  Not a bad deal! 

For those of you who love sappy musicals, hope you enjoy this one...it might not be as intriguing as "Cats" or "Phantom of the Opera", but I think it will be fun.  Something the kids and I can enjoy together.  Leave me a comment if you're a closet High School Musical Fan.  And if you hate it, that's okay...you can always leave a little comment congratulating dd!


PS  Would you believe I enjoy "Hannah Montanna" as well?  I have a Hannah ring tone on my cell phone, "If you could see the other side of me"...thought it was a fun and appropriate way to identify unknown callers!  LOL!

***Please forgive typos...the youngest two decided to forego sleep last night in order to fight, thrash, and frazzle their Mommy!

Out of Soccer Season!


Soccer was not a forte in my early years.  I don't think I even knew it existed, until  junior high.  I have vivid memories of 9th grade P.E. class, in which the kids on my team determined that I should be goalie.  A tall lanky kid who did know soccer quite well managed to cause the ball to connect with my face.  Glasses flew, nose bled, need I say more?  Hated it from that point forward.  I was only mildly interested as my children learned a little of the sport in Mexico.  Fútbol rápido looked pretty scary to me, and in the streets, it could be brutal.  The kids enjoyed it, but I didn't get absorbed in it. 

Last year, ds played.  Knowing very little about the rules and the official play of the game, he learned a lot.  I learned some, but mostly, I just enjoyed watching him grow and improve.  It was lots of fun for all of us.  Then came the night of closing ceremonies.  The night in which all players in the league received...a trophy.  I left that ceremony with all but the oldest and youngest begging to sign up next time.

Four of the dc are now signed up, all in different age ranges, different practice times, different fields...welcome to my new life as a soccer mom!  We were holding out hope that the practice nights would all be the same, but such was not our fortune.  Four nights a week of practice, game play starting in early September, and we're in it all the way.  Fees, equipment, excitement, snacks, planning for meals on the go...all of it! 

12 yo dd got a little carried away this weekend.  Kicking a basketball full force, she didn't plan to connect with the back of my head.  Don't worry, the pain subsided after a half hour or so.  I didn't lose my memory, either!  5 yo ds woke up excited this morning.  He's had his shin guards and cleats on since before breakfast.  3 yo is begging for his own set of cleats.  I wonder if I can get tennies and convince him that they are cleats.  Are cleats acceptable apparel for Sunday school class?  Guess I'll cross that bridge when and if I get to it!  Needless to say, it's a far cry from my life as a soccer hater. 

Hey, all, one of the sites I enjoy is 5 Minutes For Mom.  They have a listing of moms who blog, and my interview page is now up.  Swing by and enjoy their site, check out one of their home-based businesses, participate in Wordless Wednesday or Tackle-It Tuesday.

I awoke to a 5 yo voice copying something he heard on a TV show; either he mispronounced, or I misheard...


(In a very exaggerated deep voice)


The President of the United States of a Miracle!

Too funny!

Remember my kinesthetic kid who wanted real tools?  During our Memorial Day outing he found a "real tool"...a pair of needle nose pliers abandoned alongside the creek.  He even caught a fish with them!

(Well, it was a dead fish floating close to the bank, but still...he was thrilled!)

The boys didn't pull it off last night.  They started out with a great time at bat the first inning, scoring 5.  They left 3 runners on base.  Ds walked after being hit by a pitch...thank goodness for batting helmets!  The opponents came back strong when they got up to bat, going through their entire batting order.  We had some fielding errors as well, and they scored 6.

We had one run the next inning, and that was it.  The other team blew us away from that point on, pretty much going through the entire batting order every up.  We lost 24 to 6.  Wow. 

Closing ceremonies are Sat. morning.  The top 2 teams still meet at least once more, perhaps twice depending on the outcome.  It's been a busy time, and lots of fun.  But it will be nice not to have to run into town so much for a while, too.  At least not until soccer season!  5 of the 8 have expressed interest in playing...gotta get that garden in gear so I can save on groceries and save up for all the fees and gear!  Yikes.

What a blast!  Really!

The first inning wasn't too bad.  Two of the first three batters struck out, the other got on base.  Ds' buddy hit a really high fly ball, which was fielded, and we were out.  The opponents scored two points in the inning, no major damage, but it wasn't the big inning our boys probably hoped for...the previous game, almost all of their scoring was in that first inning.

In the second, ds was up, and walked.  He stole second and third, and another of his buddies smacked a solid single toward center.  The batter made first, and ds scored.  Ds has his very own signature slide...the "Kangaroo Slide"!  It was hilarious!  He ran like mad for home, and just a little ways away, should have slid.  His slide was a big hop, leaning back as he rose and landing on his rear with feet on the plate!  My friend coined the phrase, and all I could do was laugh.  The baseman stole second, and third, but no one else scored in our half of the inning. 

Bottom of the second,  the other team got 3 more runs, the score now 5 to 1 in their favor.  When our team got back up to bat, the previous pitcher for the opponents faced a couple of batters, then the coach made a change.  Pitch counts matter in the minors, and apparently the boys pitching have a limit of how many pitches in a given number of days.  In order to keep their best pitchers available for future games, coaches must pay attention to the pitch counts and not exceed the limit.  This was the reason, most likely, for the change...keeping their best pitcher ready and useable for Wednesday's game. 

Back to the action.  The boy who was last in the batting order got a solid hit.  Our boys rallied big time that inning, and when the smoke cleared, we'd been through the entire batting order with a current score of 8 to 5.  WOW!  The details are foggy, but I'm pretty sure ds struck out this inning.  The opponents scored 2 more, the inning finished 8 to 7.

 The same youngster led off the fourth inning with another hit, this time, a home run!  Way out there, JUST inside the first base line.  WAYYYY out there!  The homerun is really what deflated the other team.  Their crowd quieted, and their team's faces said it all.  We scored two runs this inning, and the other team did not score.  We had a pitcher substitution (this was our third pitcher of the game), a less experienced pitcher.  Coach's wife held her breath.  I prayed throughout the next two innings, "Jesus, let him shine!"  HE DID!  They didn't score on him, and though there were some tense moments, that youngster shined!  It was great!

We were at bat in the 5th, and ds got on base, stole 2nd and 3rd, and took off like a shot when a team mate sent the ball sailing into center field.  Who would have expected the centerfielder to catch that one.  He did.  Nice job!  But ds had already crossed home plate, headed for the dugout.  Uh, oh, everyone was yelling, "GO BACK!"  The centerfielder was apparently so shocked from his big play, that he didn't throw the ball.  This Mommy was on her feet, jumping up and down, yelling, "GO BACK!"  Amazingly, he made it!  Oh, my nerves!  He would have been the third out, but scored shortly thereafter, again with his signature slide.    11 to 7, the other team got up to bat.  One on base and one at bat, the game was called at the 2 hour and 15 minute time limit.  We beat the number 3 team!

The next game is Wednesday, and the boys go up against the season's top team.  The number 2 team defeated them Saturday!  It's so fun!  Whoever wins that game will face off on Friday, and possibly Saturday to determine the league champs.  We shall see how it turns out!

We're in playoffs, and it's exciting.  I should say, the boys are in the playoffs.  They finished 5th out of 8 teams for the season, and in double elimination playoffs, they played the #4 team first, and lost.  In the losing bracket, they beat the last place team, while the #4 team lost to the #1 team in their next game.  That brought the #4 and #5 teams back together last Saturday morning at 8:00 A.M.  Our team has not done well most Saturdays this season, especially not at early games.  This Saturday was different.

Our boys did most of their damage in the first inning; the opposing pitcher was having a very off day, and had given up four runs.  The coach decided to make a change.  Bases were loaded, and our 10 yo was up to bat.  While the new pitcher warmed up, ds was loosening up.  Then, it was time.  He swung hard at the first pitch and missed, just barely.  Determination upon his face, he stepped out of the box, took a couple more practice swings, and stepped back in.  This time, he connected, sending the ball out to right field, just a little ways inside the line.  Way out there.  If he'd have run just a little harder, he could have made home, but you can imagine just how thrilled EVERYONE was (except the opposing team and their fans, of course)!  A three-run triple!  You should have heard this Mom cheer!  You should have seen that boy smile from ear to ear!  I shouldn't have forgotten my camera!

The next batter got a hit, and ds scored, the team continued through their lineup, finishing the top of the first.  After that inning, the other team slowly began to come back.  In the second inning, one runner walked, and after a couple of outs, ds' best friend hit a triple, sending in one more run.  That was it for their scoring in this game.  The opposing pitcher found his rhythm, and a number of our batters went down swinging.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were looking for a reapeat of that big first inning hit.  What baseball loving boy doesn't want that kind of excitement? 

They held the other team at bay, winning 9-7.  And thus, we continue in the playoffs, facing the #3 team tonight.  We beat this team last time we played, but they are a team to watch.  There was questionable record keeping last time, as this team's scorekeeper failed to count at least one run, and the ump made some obviously incorrect calls.  In spite of this poor example, the boys won that one.  We'll be a bit more vigilant tonight.  Win or lose, ds has had the opportunity to really improve, from knowing NOTHING about baseball, to being able to do some key hitting!  He got the gameball, and last night, dh told me he was sleeping with it.  What a season!  What a thrilled boy!  What a proud Mom!

P.S.  I'll get to that real tools story as SOON as I can get dh to leave his camera with me...need to download the pic that tells it all!