Maybe now my family will stop opening the cookie jar and whining when they see it's empty. (Seriously. Every male in this household did this every day for weeks. )
Finally, some peace! Well, at least for a day or two until the cookies are all eaten.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Obstacle Course
On any given evening in our back yard you are likely to find an homemade obstacle course, complete with boys who are more than willing to show you everything you have to do to get through the course. (Note: one does not just simply walk through a Madsen obstacle course. You must ride scooters and shoot guns and balance on things that one should not be balancing on.)
You might also find half-dressed little girls who have happily escaped from the kitchen. (Although now that the weather is cooler you are probably less likely to find half-dressed little girls. Well, at least not for more than a few seconds.)
You might also find half-dressed little girls who have happily escaped from the kitchen. (Although now that the weather is cooler you are probably less likely to find half-dressed little girls. Well, at least not for more than a few seconds.)
Friday, October 18, 2013
Freezin' at the Pumpkin Patch
On Thursday my friend Deidra set up a little field trip to Throckmorton Farms for a group of us. Throckmorton Farms is a Purdue Research farm. They grow all sorts of things and when they're done researching them they let you come and pick what you want. It's a pretty sweet deal.
It was a stormy-ish morning, but didn't seem that bad, so after Tess and I dropped Cole off at preschool we headed out to the farm. At the last minute I decided to grab my old gardening shoes just in case. Wish I had grabbed more than that - I was woefully unprepared. It turned out to be much colder, much wetter, and much muddier than I imagined it would be!
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you are), I wasn't the only mom who was unprepared. So at least Tess and I weren't alone in our chilliness. As we got onto the trailer we were going to ride I noticed I was the only mom without a bag of some sort. I guess that's what happens when you're out and about with your youngest of four. I'm really regretting it now.
Not that anything bad happened! I just wish we had had some bags for all the free produce we were offered. Oh well. Tess loved riding on the trailer, despite the rain and wind. It made me realize how rarely I get time with just her to do fun things like this - we usually run errands or do housework while Cole is at preschool. I really need to think of more fun things to do with just her.
Tess was pretty excited to pick her first pumpkin!
Then she got muddy. And more muddy. And then she was tired of holding her pumpkin and only wanted to hold the umbrella. So I picked a few more pumpkins and got good and muddy. We got to pick a few gorgeous apples as well, but since I didn't have a bag I didn't get too many. Too bad.
Tess and I cuddled and shivered all the way back - it's rare she lets me hold her for any length of time, so I enjoyed it while I could!
The farm was pretty neat. Lots of different trees and other produce. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been so cold and wet. Oh well - next year. Now - time to think of some other mommy/daughter activities for Tess and I this winter!
It was a stormy-ish morning, but didn't seem that bad, so after Tess and I dropped Cole off at preschool we headed out to the farm. At the last minute I decided to grab my old gardening shoes just in case. Wish I had grabbed more than that - I was woefully unprepared. It turned out to be much colder, much wetter, and much muddier than I imagined it would be!
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you are), I wasn't the only mom who was unprepared. So at least Tess and I weren't alone in our chilliness. As we got onto the trailer we were going to ride I noticed I was the only mom without a bag of some sort. I guess that's what happens when you're out and about with your youngest of four. I'm really regretting it now.
Not that anything bad happened! I just wish we had had some bags for all the free produce we were offered. Oh well. Tess loved riding on the trailer, despite the rain and wind. It made me realize how rarely I get time with just her to do fun things like this - we usually run errands or do housework while Cole is at preschool. I really need to think of more fun things to do with just her.
Tess was pretty excited to pick her first pumpkin!
Then she got muddy. And more muddy. And then she was tired of holding her pumpkin and only wanted to hold the umbrella. So I picked a few more pumpkins and got good and muddy. We got to pick a few gorgeous apples as well, but since I didn't have a bag I didn't get too many. Too bad.
Tess and I cuddled and shivered all the way back - it's rare she lets me hold her for any length of time, so I enjoyed it while I could!
The farm was pretty neat. Lots of different trees and other produce. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been so cold and wet. Oh well - next year. Now - time to think of some other mommy/daughter activities for Tess and I this winter!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
First Lost Tooth!
After weeks of precariously dangling in his mouth, Josh's first tooth finally fell out last night! I'm bummed that I want home for the event because I heard he was VERY excited.
However, I got to see his excitement at 6:30 this morning when he woke up in a a whirl about the $3 the tooth fairy left him. Then I got to hear Cole complain - loudly and quite rudely - about how Josh woke him up early. (No one would listen to me complain about Josh interrupted my scripture study. Just sayin'...) Then I got to hear Spencer complain about how he only got $2 for his first tooth. (And then no one would listen to my explanation about inflation. Just sayin'...)
Anywho, despite the wild outbreak of complaining and impromptu economics lectures, it was an exciting morning.
P.S. The tooth fairy told me she was feeling extra generous since this tooth took so long to come out because Josh was so nervous about it. The next teeth won't be nearly so lucrative.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Weird Al Concert!
Yesterday we confirmed our nominations for Parents of the Year by taking Spencer and Josh to the Weird Al concert up on campus.
Yes, we are that cool.
We had been building up the suspense by keeping the concert a secret. The boys knew we were going somewhere and I had been giving them hints all week. When we were in the car and on our way to dinner we broke the news.
They were less than thrilled.
In fact, I think the general consensus from the back seat was "Aaawwwwwww" with accompanying frowns and scowls.
However, we expected this, because this ain't our first rodeo. We quickly started talking up Weird Al, reminding them of all the songs they knew, and telling them how fun it was going to be. By the time we got to Noodles & Company they were excited. Josh kept jumping around and Spencer kept wandering off, oblivious to oncoming traffic.
It must be said that Noodles & Company was also pretty exciting because 1) they have one of those Coke Freestyle machines and 2) we let the boys buy cookies for dessert (something that never happens). It also must be said that my Japanese pan noodles were a bit more blackened than I like, but I didn't bother complaining about it. I obviously should have, since I'm still complaining about it 24 hours later.
We got to the Elliot Hall of Music and found our seats. We had a good 15 minutes to kill before the show, so we took a few pictures.
I'm not sure why, but these boys seem to be incapable of smiling naturally while taking pictures. (See previous post.)
The obligatory selfie. (And spousey, I suppose.)
I think Spence is a bit self-conscious about his smile because of the most recent tooth he lost. (Can you believe how big he is? Ten in December!!)
This is what happens when you tell these two to just act natural. I guess they are...
Josh was pretty excited. He kept asking every 30 seconds if it was time to start the show. Spencer just sat back and did... nothing. It takes a lot to get Spencer to actually act excited. (Actually, it just takes a computer...)
By 8:00 the show started.
By 8:01 Josh was sobbing in my arms.
Being the wonderfully prepared mother that I am, I totally forgot to bring ear plugs for the boys. The noise, coupled with all the flashing lights that start off any concert, completely freaked poor Joshie out. I felt so bad! Finally we decided to try wadding up some paper and sticking that in his ears. It wasn't great, but it worked and after about 15 minutes he had calmed down and started to enjoy the show.
Now, lest you think you're too good for Al or that his concerts aren't, I don't know, real, let me tell you this: Weird Al knows how to put on a show. That man was born to entertain. From minute one he was out on stage, singing and dancing his heart out.
Oh, and playing his accordion, of course.
There were two really large screens in the background that would show images and stuff during the songs. Between the songs, while Al was changing costumes (Which he did. A lot. Seriously, Gaga has nothing on him.) there were funny skits that he had done or snippets from shows that mentioned him. There were a TON of shows that mentioned him, actually, and I suspect that for every one we saw there were 3-4 more we didn't get to see. If you think about it, Weird Al has been around for a good 30 years and has pretty much made himself prolific.
It was fun to watch the audience during the concert. At any given point a good 50% of the audience was singing along, word for word. And during his most popular songs everyone was singing; you just couldn't help it!
Here he is during "Amish Paradise". Classic.
It was a really fun show, and great for a first concert for kids. I loved that I didn't have to worry about the lyrics or how people behaved on stage. Okay, there was one song where Al tried to act all seductive and sexy, but Weird Al trying to act sexy is waaaaay different than most other rock stars trying to act sexy. Just sayin'.
About halfway through the concert Josh started claiming that he was sleepy and wanted to go home. I told him too bad. Then he wanted a snack. Too bad again. Then he complained that he couldn't fall asleep because it was too noisy. I told him he could just go to be early the next night. Then he claimed he wasn't tired anymore and left me alone. (Perhaps 7 is just a tad too young for concerts, even concerts as cool as Weird Al.)
Weird Al played a lot of his most recent songs, but he also did great montages of his classics; we're talkin' "Eat It", "Lasagna", "My Bologna", "Fat" and the like. It was a pretty great set. (Only songs missing? The Christmas classics "The Night Santa Went Crazy" and "Christmas at Ground Zero", but seeing as how it's October we can forgive him for this oversight.)
The concert finally ended, only of course it didn't really end, we had to clap and cheer for an encore. And encore he did! He ended with "The Saga Begins" and "Yoda". Everyone stood and sang the entire time, while Darth Vader and his storm troopers stood and swayed in the background. It was pretty funny.
I just have to say that Weird Al is 52 years old, but you would never know it. Good heavens, that man danced his heart out all over that stage, even while wearing large and probably very hot costumes. He's a man who loves his job, that's for sure.
Since everyone was standing Lance kindly (and strongly) held Josh the whole time.
Spencer stood on his chair and I stood next to him so he could grab me when he started to wobble.
I really enjoyed the show. More than I thought I would. I mean, I was never a huge fan of Weird Al - that was more my brothers' thing. And when Lance first mentioned going to this concert I was a little skeptical about spending money for it, especially on the kids. But getting to spend time with my big boys? And that look on Spencer's face in the picture above?
Totally worth every penny.
p.s. Lest you feel super jealous about my evening, I've put together a short montage of some of the performance. I wish I had done more, especially during more of the songs I like, but during the songs I like I was too busy singing along and enjoying myself. :)
Yes, we are that cool.
We had been building up the suspense by keeping the concert a secret. The boys knew we were going somewhere and I had been giving them hints all week. When we were in the car and on our way to dinner we broke the news.
They were less than thrilled.
In fact, I think the general consensus from the back seat was "Aaawwwwwww" with accompanying frowns and scowls.
However, we expected this, because this ain't our first rodeo. We quickly started talking up Weird Al, reminding them of all the songs they knew, and telling them how fun it was going to be. By the time we got to Noodles & Company they were excited. Josh kept jumping around and Spencer kept wandering off, oblivious to oncoming traffic.
It must be said that Noodles & Company was also pretty exciting because 1) they have one of those Coke Freestyle machines and 2) we let the boys buy cookies for dessert (something that never happens). It also must be said that my Japanese pan noodles were a bit more blackened than I like, but I didn't bother complaining about it. I obviously should have, since I'm still complaining about it 24 hours later.
We got to the Elliot Hall of Music and found our seats. We had a good 15 minutes to kill before the show, so we took a few pictures.
I'm not sure why, but these boys seem to be incapable of smiling naturally while taking pictures. (See previous post.)
The obligatory selfie. (And spousey, I suppose.)
I think Spence is a bit self-conscious about his smile because of the most recent tooth he lost. (Can you believe how big he is? Ten in December!!)
This is what happens when you tell these two to just act natural. I guess they are...
Josh was pretty excited. He kept asking every 30 seconds if it was time to start the show. Spencer just sat back and did... nothing. It takes a lot to get Spencer to actually act excited. (Actually, it just takes a computer...)
By 8:00 the show started.
By 8:01 Josh was sobbing in my arms.
Being the wonderfully prepared mother that I am, I totally forgot to bring ear plugs for the boys. The noise, coupled with all the flashing lights that start off any concert, completely freaked poor Joshie out. I felt so bad! Finally we decided to try wadding up some paper and sticking that in his ears. It wasn't great, but it worked and after about 15 minutes he had calmed down and started to enjoy the show.
Now, lest you think you're too good for Al or that his concerts aren't, I don't know, real, let me tell you this: Weird Al knows how to put on a show. That man was born to entertain. From minute one he was out on stage, singing and dancing his heart out.
Oh, and playing his accordion, of course.
There were two really large screens in the background that would show images and stuff during the songs. Between the songs, while Al was changing costumes (Which he did. A lot. Seriously, Gaga has nothing on him.) there were funny skits that he had done or snippets from shows that mentioned him. There were a TON of shows that mentioned him, actually, and I suspect that for every one we saw there were 3-4 more we didn't get to see. If you think about it, Weird Al has been around for a good 30 years and has pretty much made himself prolific.
It was fun to watch the audience during the concert. At any given point a good 50% of the audience was singing along, word for word. And during his most popular songs everyone was singing; you just couldn't help it!
Here he is during "Amish Paradise". Classic.
It was a really fun show, and great for a first concert for kids. I loved that I didn't have to worry about the lyrics or how people behaved on stage. Okay, there was one song where Al tried to act all seductive and sexy, but Weird Al trying to act sexy is waaaaay different than most other rock stars trying to act sexy. Just sayin'.
About halfway through the concert Josh started claiming that he was sleepy and wanted to go home. I told him too bad. Then he wanted a snack. Too bad again. Then he complained that he couldn't fall asleep because it was too noisy. I told him he could just go to be early the next night. Then he claimed he wasn't tired anymore and left me alone. (Perhaps 7 is just a tad too young for concerts, even concerts as cool as Weird Al.)
Weird Al played a lot of his most recent songs, but he also did great montages of his classics; we're talkin' "Eat It", "Lasagna", "My Bologna", "Fat" and the like. It was a pretty great set. (Only songs missing? The Christmas classics "The Night Santa Went Crazy" and "Christmas at Ground Zero", but seeing as how it's October we can forgive him for this oversight.)
The concert finally ended, only of course it didn't really end, we had to clap and cheer for an encore. And encore he did! He ended with "The Saga Begins" and "Yoda". Everyone stood and sang the entire time, while Darth Vader and his storm troopers stood and swayed in the background. It was pretty funny.
I just have to say that Weird Al is 52 years old, but you would never know it. Good heavens, that man danced his heart out all over that stage, even while wearing large and probably very hot costumes. He's a man who loves his job, that's for sure.
Since everyone was standing Lance kindly (and strongly) held Josh the whole time.
Spencer stood on his chair and I stood next to him so he could grab me when he started to wobble.
I really enjoyed the show. More than I thought I would. I mean, I was never a huge fan of Weird Al - that was more my brothers' thing. And when Lance first mentioned going to this concert I was a little skeptical about spending money for it, especially on the kids. But getting to spend time with my big boys? And that look on Spencer's face in the picture above?
Totally worth every penny.
p.s. Lest you feel super jealous about my evening, I've put together a short montage of some of the performance. I wish I had done more, especially during more of the songs I like, but during the songs I like I was too busy singing along and enjoying myself. :)
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Two
Sometimes it's really really hard to be the only sister, the youngest of four, and, most of all, two.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Every year the kids ask me why I don't buy school pictures
And every year the give me ammunition like this.
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