We were driving through Louisiana's capital on the way to a family reunion this weekend. Our family lived in the great city of Baton Rouge for many years, since we have moved away the city has erected cement sound baffles along the interstate. When Cade saw them, he matter of factly told Geoffrey that it was the Great Wall of China!

We did set him straight after having a chuckle, really, what other kids but homeschoolers discuss geography in the summertime?

I overheard the strangest thing the other morning...

But first some background. Cuyler is our third child, he is 19mos younger than our only daughter and 6yrs younger than our oldest. When he was born I began dressing him and Catherine (and sometimes Preston - esp for pictures) in similar outfits of the same color.

Two years later, Cade arrived. Preston was 8, I let him wear what he wanted - mostly! But the three babies (3.5yrs,22ms and newborn) still needed mom to help dress them. So if I was in a blue mood, everyone wore blue. Or an orange mood, you get the idea. Then I began searching for outfits that were the same for the boys and got Cici a dress in the same color. They looked so adorable.

Two years later Geoffrey arrived. Preston was 10 - he was NOT going for this wear the same as the little guys thing - I actually only tried a couple of times, plus his clothes were in a different dept and kinda hard to match to the little ones. BUT those cute little stairstep guys! I bought a newborn, 12mos (Cade was always little) and 3T in the same outfit. Actually the only clothes they had that did not match each other were hand me downs from friends!

And life continued in this happy little way. At about 7 Catherine began to fuss about matching the boys and I let her alone (mostly! If we are going on field trips we are ALL matching!) But the little guys did not protest, just accepted it as par for the course. These are our clothes, no biggie.

Cuyler is almost 10. He is not a little guy anymore. He is actually not a big boy, he is (gulp) a tweenager. No can't be he is still my little boy right please! Ok so he is growing up and has asked me - very respectfully- if he could not dress like his brothers.

So we came to a little agreement. If there are pictures, dress similar, fieldtrips or family outings, dress the same. Day to day stuff (deep breath mom) ok, you can dress differently. And life is happy again.

It was Co-op day, ya know the day you see all your friends. I picked out weather appropriate, stain free, hole free clothing. (Purposley did not match them to eachother). From their room I hear Cuyler telling Cade, "No dude, put back that shirt mom got you, we need to wear our red shirts today."

WHAT! (slighlty grinning to myself - they do look so cute!) Next thing I saw, Cuyler and Cade in matching shirts and shorts. and Geoffrey - jeans and a green tshirt - different drummer kinda guy!

This evening on the way to church we heard the following conversation in the back seat...

Cade: What did people drink out of before glass was invented?

Geoff: Plastic cups, duh!

No not you, them. Those boys. I have fed you, you have all visited the facilities at least three times each, you have had the board of education applied to your seat of learning, you have lost computer time and free time for tomorrow. Next noise you make you will lose sugar also.

Please, please, please get under your blanket, stop talking to your brothers, do not play with the cats, close your eyes, close your MOUTH, be still for just five minutes. Stop telling me you can't fall asleep, he is keeping me awake, its too cold, its too hot, its too loud (yes my typing is too loud apparently), its too quiet, its too dark, its too bright. Just. be. still. You will fall asleep, I promise.

Please fall asleep, I am out of Benadryl (kidding!).

It is quiet down the hall, perhaps they heard my plea, perhaps the fear of no sugar has inspired them to obey? Where are the obedient ones who say yes maam, give you a kiss and scurry off to dreamland without a fight? Perhaps they need to run, alot, burn off some of their boundless energy. We will try that tomorrow. Or the no sugar...

Ahhh Mondays - dontcha just love em! Let me share MY Monday with you! We spent the morning catching up on the housework that we avoided over the weekend. And thankfully the house was pretty orderly by about noon. Which is when it happened.

I was fixing the pillows on my couch when I glance out the front window and see THREE police cars pull into my driveway. Oh no, have the neighbors reported us for truancy, I really need to get my yearly letter in to the state. Oh jeez what is wrong. I open the door and step on to the porch and ask the rapidly approaching officers what I can do to help them. "Are you ok maam?" umm yeah, except for you scaring the bejeebers out of me! "Maam someone called 911 from this address." No we did not. I glance around the living room, there is Geoff sorting little plastic men at the table, Catherine reading her science, Cuyler is washing the dishes.... where is Cade - oh he is cleaning the bathroom. Cade walks up the hall looking guilty and the officer asks if anyone has called 911. "No sir" their sweet voices promise.

Oh boy am I embarrassed. The officer assures me that they only come if they are called and checks my liscence. He looks to his partner and says "kids" and they chuckle and leave after admonishing me to have a chat with my kids about when to call 911 and when not to. Oh boy, um thanks officer.

After they leave I confront Cade who assures me he was cleaning the bathroom and maybe one of the kittens dialed, ya know mom, maybe they just hit the wrong numbers. Mmmmhmmm sure kid. After a bit of pressure he finally admits it was him - he just wanted to see what would happen! Sheesh, the cops rush out and your mother nearly has a heart attack!

I gave all the kids a lesson on when to call and when not to call. then we role played what constitutes an actual emergency - the beauty of homeschool! After the lesson Geoff tells me when he grows up he wants his number to be 911!

Geoffrey (5): Mommy, I want to go to Walmart and buy you some new eyelids. I like when you have the purple ones on.

 ohh - eyeSHADOW! Cute ain't he!

We had this conversation over dinner a few nights ago and I am still giggling...

Me: (wincing in pain)

Preston (15): Mom, do you have gas?

Me: NO! Just a cramp.

Preston: Umm, Mom, an abdominal cramp is gas! (oh he thinks he is so funny)

Me: Sweetie, it is a uterine cramp.

Cade (7): Oh yeah, I get those all the time!

The tv is off, the computer has been sleeping all day and the kids have been being well, kids. I was working on the Grocery Checklist and reading the Sonlight forums when Cade asked me if they could have a camp out. It was 3pm. I said sure and he verified that they could indeed get the tents out of the attic and have a REAL campout. Sure, why not, thinking to myself - you will be outside, in the sunshine, adventure, fresh air etc and peace and quiet for me! He was so excited! "SHE SAID YES" he shouted to the others who were around the corner awaiting the answer. Catherine pulled the attic down and they all clambered up the stairs to get the tents. While they were up there they found the folding chairs... and the bag of toys I confiscated about a year or so ago.

"Mom, look what we found in the attic, I thought you threw this away!" Cade and Geoffrey were so excited to see their long gone (and forgotten about) guns and swords. Mind you they have an entire box in their room dedicated to 'weapons' - they have not been without their weapons at any time - the arsenal was just trimmed a bit! They also found the marble works - what fun!!! It was like Christmas!

About 4pm they decided they could not put the tents up without help, so sweet mom that I am (remembering the peace and quiet this will get me and what an adventure it is to set up a tent in the backyard) I went out to set up the tents for them. They had set up the chairs in a circle and were sitting in them waiting patiently for me to get the tents up. With Cuyler's help I was able to put both tents up and boy were they happy. After being declared the best mommy ever, I return to my quiet surfing. Dinner is bubbling in the crock pot and all is peaceful on this Sunday afternoon.

The kids ate their dinner outside at 6:30pm, in the dwindling daylight. At 8 I went outside to make sure they were going to bed - they were sitting in their chairs with flashlights in the middle (simulated campfire - so glad they did not start a real fire!) and they were telling stories. At 8:30 it was really time to get to bed, I went out to tell them to get in the tents no more talking. But mom, Catherine protests, we were praying  So I joined them. It was so sweet to see what they will do with no plug to rule their day!