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Dangerous Wonder
Jul. 16, 2009
Mid Summer Madness and How Graham Crackers Saved the Day
It happens every year! The kids turn into crazy people sometime after the 4th of July. You see, before the 4th, the kids are content to be outside without food, shelter or rest for days on end it seems. Their black bottomed feet a sign of gleeful shoeless fun paired with shrieks and squeals of joy echoing through the neighborhood. They are content to eat rocks and sand and drink water from the hose or birdbath, whatever is closest. The objective is play and play hard. They have no duties in sight and they are free to run wild and pretend.
The girls play things like "animal hospital" or "puppies" or the ever popular princess scenarios.
The boys act out battle scenarios they've been conjuring up all winter long. Episodes of Star Wars reenacted over and over again.
Bicycles, scooters, skateboards...anything with wheels tumbling out of the garages and rolling and zooming up and down the cul-de-sac. The activity is so intense you can't imagine it'll ever stop!
You start thinking, "I will never be able to get my child to want to do chores, eat dinner or do schoolwork again!" And then WHAMO! Right in the middle of this amazing thing called summer the madness begins.
They start to say things like, "I'm bored, what should I do?" every 5 minutes
You retort with, "Go outside and play!"
They answer back, "There's nothing to do outside."
You stand there for a moment amazed at this answer because you just watched them pretend, explore and run around non-stop for weeks on end outside! Really!? Nothing? You sigh in frustration and begin to wrack that super Mommy drive for fun things to do.
It starts ticking down the list:
ride your bike
swing on a swing
play tag
run through the sprinkler
help Mommy do laundry
pretend you're secret agents
cops and robbers
hopscotch
jump rope
....
They stand there looking at you as if you're speaking a foreign language. The hauntingly blank stare greets you with the next phrase all mothers dread, "I don't want to do that, what should I do?"
So the madness continues...
At this point, I am more than ready to start school up again to unearth my highly intelligent, creative children that are lost somewhere behind the mind numbed child standing before me. I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of structure summer brings. I believe it's also connected with the lack of sleep they are operating with. They are tired and needing direction! Perhaps something organized...this is when super Mommy steps in and starts doing "cool mom" things.
You bring out yummy snacks and water mid afternoon not just for your angels, but the whole neighborhood! Then you organize events and games for the kids to participate in to reboot their minds. Ding! Round 1 and you start to see some progress. The kids start talking to each other and coming up with fun solutions after they finish their snack. Who knew a little graham cracker with peanut butter and chocolate chips could be so amazing!?
I don't know why I don't plan for these things better each year. I think it's because I'm on vacation too. My creative brain I've been utilizing all school year needs to reboot for the next. I always feel like I need post-it notes on my mind this time of year to remind me what's next and what my responsibilities are. Somedays I am walking around in a fog of "what's next?" Structure is good. Breaks are good, but I think my mind stays on the ball far better when we have structure throughout the day. These are things I need to think about for next year. How can we have a super fun summer without the madness!? A little structure might go a long way! A little structure like afternoon snack time...
I better go make some cookies and get ready for tomorrows afternoon of "what should I do?"
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Jun. 17, 2009
Mother's Day and My Dad's Birthday
Well blogging friends, I have much to report, as the last month has been full of fun! We went to my parents house in Kansas to visit for Mother's Day and my Dad's 60th Birthday.
What started as a 5-6 day visit ended up being 12! It was a wonderful time of relaxing on the farm and being with my family.
The things I remember thinking was how quiet it was on the farm. The low hum of traffic in the distance that I tend to block out in suburbia was noticeably gone in the middle of the country! What a blessing! I hadn't been home in the spring for a long time and everything was beautiful and green.
One morning, there was an amazing amount of mist and fog due to very cool temperatures overnight. I looked outside and saw this:
It was a beautiful gray/green sea of wheat. It looked like I was walking in an almost black and white picture! It was just amazing!
My dad's favorite dessert is apple pie, so I wanted to make him one for his special day. I just started using organic flour before I left for Kansas and was thrilled with the results in my pie crust, so I had to pick some up for this one. I think he enjoyed it!
My grandma lives right down the road from my parents, so we spent a lot of time with her. She is 92 years old and still living on her own! I hope to be that spry when I'm her age! I love my grandma!
I had been wanting to help her with her garden beds around her house, so my mission while we were there was to plant some perennials to liven it up.
I had to do some weeding and hoeing to get it all ready, but in the end we had some nice flowers planted for her.
The kids love playing outside and finding forts, making forts etc. The old one between two trees was no longer there, so they found a new spot to claim as their own.
They were clearing old wood out and Papa even broke out the chain saw and helped them clear some more of the dead wood.
They were sweeping and raking the floor like it was a sod house on the prairie!
This entertained them for hours! Then they checked out the junk shed and found all sorts of treasures to use in their tree fort/home.
It was pure treasure for them! Old frying pans, wheels to an old lawn mower, boards, old garden fencing...etc.! I remember my brothers and I doing the same thing at our grandparents house. It was so much fun!
Here's my son relaxing on their "porch."
One night we had a bonfire to burn all the deadwood from their fort. It was wonderful! Fire, bubbles, hotdogs and s'mores!
This was a very productive vacation because of all the projects we completed! I helped my grandma with her garden, the kids made their fort, I helped my mom clean out some cupboards and part of her storage in the basement and we even did 2 full weeks of school while we were there. It's hard to believe, but I think we got more done in Kansas than we had in quite a while! The kids were so motivated to do their work and be finished for the day. It was wonderful!
I also started making a dishcloth using an actual pattern while I was there. I had failed many times before in attempting this, but low and behold...it was working! I'm almost done with it. It's a real cute heart pattern.
The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can't wait to go back for another visit!
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Oct. 7, 2008
Fetch With Ruff Ruffman!
Our family has found a show that we all love! Even Dad loves this one! It's on PBS and is called Fetch with Ruff Ruffman! This show is a reality tv game show for kids from the Boston area and it's educational! The whole show is about competing for points during their challenge of the day. It's full of problem solving, using math and science skills and loads of creativity! The host is a dog(animated) and is super silly! He chooses 2-4 people to "Go Fetch" the challenge and sometimes uses all 6 kids for challenges. We all learn something everytime we watch and we most definitely laugh out loud at Ruff.
We had a chance to meet 2 of the Season 3 "Fetchers" here in Minneapolis in September. Macy's was sponsoring a meet and greet in one of their stores here. The kids were so excited! So we had to go! Here are the photos of our experience.
DD9 with Ruff Ruffman!
DS7 looking very excited!
DD5 too cute!
DD5 building a dog house out of index cards. Just like the show, using thinking and problem solving skills to do a mission.
Both girls making frames for their new photos of themselves with Ruff.
Meeting New Season 3 Fetcher Sam. He was super friendly and very excited to talk to us about his experience.
Meeting New Season 3 Fetcher Sammy. She was super sweet and gave us an insider scoop on Ruff's new assistant! You'll have to watch to find that out!
The season has already started, but don't dispair, go to PBSKIDSGO! To find out all the details and join in on the fun! You won't be disappointed!
If you're going to watch television, we believe it should be more than entertainment and mindless dribble. We believe it should be fun and educational!
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Jun. 23, 2008
Puppet Stage
Several years ago, I made some simple curtains out of inexpensive fabric for a puppet stage. The kids weren't really into putting on puppet shows at the time and preferred mommy putting on the show. While I enjoyed doing it for the kids, I was hoping for more participation. I put them away for another time and kinda forgot about the cool curtain puppet stage!
I was cleaning things out in our school room a couple of weeks ago and ran across them . So I put them in a doorway and the kids had great fun for 30-45 minutes! They were laughing most of the time and nothing said was understandable, but the beginning of creative performing with puppets was started. I know we'll have loads more fun this school year creating dramas from our history lessons, creative writing assignments, spelling tests and maybe even our math lessons...hey, I can hope! 
If you want to make a simple puppet stage, all you need to do is make a simple casing in a piece of fabric and slide a tension rod through. Place the tension rod in a doorway and voila! Instant puppet stage! Of course when I was little, I remember using my mom's sewing cutting board to hide behind with my brother. You know, the accordian folded cardboard with lines on it!? I think we put her's through the mill...but we had fun and loads of memories!
Oh yes...those would be original Land Before Time hand puppets from Pizza Hut circa 1980 something...My kids love em! LOL!!!
My DS in all his glory! Interacting with his puppet and the audience! What a nut! I love my kids!!!
Have a funny day!
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Nov. 9, 2007
Ear Photo
This is what my son's ear now looks like after his stage 2 outer ear reconstruction! Absolutely unbelievable! We praise God for all the good things He has done and is continuing to do in our little man's life! 
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Oct. 30, 2007
Healing Up Great!
Oct. 23, 2007
Another Ear Surgery
My ds6 is having another ear surgery on Wed. morning. We would love to have your prayers as he is having the 2nd phase of his outer ear reconstruction. We know the Lord is watching over him and are so thankful for everyone's prayers. The surgery will last 3-5 hours.
I will update you on the procedure and all that happened for this surgery after it is done. Thanks for your prayers and support!
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Sep. 25, 2007
Jacks
I don't know about you, but lately I have been craving things from a simpler time. Things that are calming and nostalgic. Bread baking for example or piles of muffins on a cake stand. Things that don't require lots of major decisions in seconds. Things that are methodical and easy on the mind. Something repetitious and allow you to think and ponder instead of panic. Like ironing or playing Jacks.
I love playing jacks! The kids pulled out a set from our game cupboard today that I had bought them a couple of years ago. 2 bright red shiny bouncy balls that smell like they did when I was a kid. Slick to touch and comfortable in my hand. Silver gleaming metal jacks just waiting to be scooped up.
As I sat on our kitchen floor with my chillin's teaching them how to play, I was reminded of how my grandma sat on the sidewalk with me oh so long ago on her farm one summer. She sat there with a great big smile on her face and taught me the wonderful game of Jacks. I remember how awesome she was at it and how she giggled with delight when she did really well. I remember how encouraging and warm I felt experiencing this new and exciting game that my grandma played as a kid. I will never forget how youthful she became as we played together.
I know now that day was a special moment in time forever imprinted on my mind from my childhood. I hope today is something special imprinted on my kids minds....the day Mommy taught them how to play Jacks, just like their Great Grandma did for her oh so long ago.
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Aug. 20, 2007
Wedding Week
This week my sister-in-law is getting married. My whole family is in the wedding! We are really excited for this glorious event to take place, but we will be just as excited when it is over... Lots of work, lots of events, lots of late nights and early mornings!
You can be praying for us this Friday. My youngest, DD4, is the flower girl, my middle, DS6, is the ring bearer and my oldest, DD8 is a junior bridesmaid. I have the honor of holding the Matron of Honor position and my hubby is a groomsmen. One thing I know for sure...it will be loads of fun and my Christmas card picture for this year is a clincher! Perhaps I'll have our Christmas newsletter out by Thanksgiving...Anyway, the wedding is a Scottish themed wedding. I will be more than happy to share photos of this grand occasion next week!
For now...I am in the middle of making a video for the wedding of my SIL and future BIL when they were young and now together. Ahhhh....I will survive!
Wishing you all a marvelous week!
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Aug. 6, 2007
Losing A Tooth 101
My DS6 had his first lose tooth this summer. He had been wiggling it for a few weeks and then finally one day after trying to open something with his teeth (ahem...I know...I wasn't happy either...) he started screaming because he saw and tasted blood! So after he calmed down we promptly assesed the situation and realized that tooth was coming out that day!
With our DD8 we had all sorts of adventures with dental floss, string, and finally being kicked out by brothers foot on accident of course. So I wasn't sure I was ready to approach all this madness like we had before. My husband had been chief tooth extractor for our first born. I thought surely there is a more humane and methodical way to approach this right of passage for our second born. My wheels began to turn and the lightbulb went on! Let's use the kid flossers! They are perfect for wiggling, tugging and yanking that bad boy out of there! So my DS promptly went to the bathroom and began his ordeal of getting the tooth out.
It was just hanging there, but he was determined!
Look at all that leverage with this wonderful tool!
So after it was hanging there by a thread and we had twisted and turned it...good ole' mom did the final twist. You know, that sensation of the tooth breaking free is the same wether it is coming from your mouth or your sons! Crazy! It took me back a few years to my tooth pulling days!
Look at that!
I have one happy 6 year old and I am loving that fun toothless lisp! Too cute!
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