Ya gotta watch'em close!

Cindy and I drove out to look at the house after I got off work today, and it was a good thing we did!

They had all the cabinets unpacked in all their beauty....



(for the cost, you would have thought they were diamond-encrusted and ruby-studded!), but their pre-installation arrangement wasn't quite right.

As there was a blueprint handy, I took a gander and quickly ascertained that it wasn't correct--it just showed the standard layout, not the one we had finally decided upon.

We made a quick trip home to get the final drawing and made sure it was put in the house for the carpenter who starts installing them tomorrow.

But still, overall we've been very pleased with the job that's been done, and with our eagle-eyes we have caught both mistakes before they resulted in rework!

Minding your p's and q's

We are so very pleased to announce that we now have a child for whom the 'Time Out' child discipline strategy works--she sits there with an air of remorse until we come and get her (about a minute), and after such time-outs she is a much better behaved child.



Pity it didn't take on the boy!

On her last flippers....

Cindy called me at work today to report the sad news.

Beauty, the goldfish that has shared our home for the past 15 months, appears that she is about to shuffle off this mortal coil.

All day she has been like this....



Cindy was kinda sad (she formed an attachment to the poor creature over the course of time as she changed the water and saw the look of love in Beauty's eyes.

Coldhearted me, I'm not too concerned. I have a quiet assurance that Beauty fulfilled the measure of her creation. Besides, we can always get another one for a quarter!

After school Cindy told Makenna. Makenna began jumping up and down in expectant excitement, clenching her hand and pumping it up and down, shrieking, 'YES!! YES!! I finally get to flush one down the toilet! Life is GOOD!' (OK, maybe I added that last bit....)

In anticipation of the flushing...errr, I mean 'funeral'....I found Monty Python's 'Dead Parrot Sketch' on YouTube, which contains perhaps the most touching eulogy to a 'bleedin' demised' pet e'er soliloquied in the English tongue. (It starts at about 2 min. 20 secs into the video.)
And coincidentally, the very beginning of the sketch even has a cameo of one of Beauty's (presumably) English kinfolk!

God Bless the leaf removers!

Here in Huber Heights we have a leaf removal/collection by the city. This is to keep leaves from clogging up the drains etc. What usually happens is each fall if you want your leaves collected you need merely rake them to the gutter or parking strip. When it is your neighborhoods turn for the collection a hugemongous (pronounced "hue-gee-mon-gus") truck with a long hose (think of snuffle-upagus' trunk) attached will drive up and down the streets sucking up the leaves. This is followed by two dumptrucks. One of them to put the leaves in and another to put them in when the first one is full. They will usually make 3 passes through each neighborhood to get all the leaves. This year the leaf collection was slowed a bit, only 2 passes, because of some early snow storms. In last weeks paper it was announced that the final collection would still take place.
Today as I was taking the kids to school I was met or rather blocked from going up the street because of the leaf collection. Mind you the leaves are wet and have been sitting for several months now but does it really require 3 tractors, 1 dump truck and a utility truck?

Tender moments

As Cameron bounced around the room, as he is wont to do, he hit the couch armrest with great force with his posterior. Having a bony butt (it hurts when he sits on your leg!), there was not enough padding to prevent pain, and he began squirming about to alleviate the butt sprain.

After about 10 seconds, he slowed down his thrashing about and moaned, 'My butt hurrrrrrrts!'

Continuing, with a slightly different, even intriguing different tone, he plaintively asked me (I was sitting nearby),

'My butt hurrrrrts!' [Sniffle] 'Will you kiss it?'

Skipping around the room, he kindly asked everyone else the same question.

Funny, he didn't act like he was hurt!

Master of Disguises

Allyson was applying her spycraft today, appearing both like this....



Is she Phyllis Diller, Puck (the mischievous fairy in Shakespeare's MSD), The Joker, or just having a bad hair day?

and like this.....



Stevie Wonder? Ray Charles? Ralphie after having his mouth washed out with Lifebuoy soap?

Hill Cumorah in Ohio?

There is an oblong artificial hill behind our new home about 25 feet high, and on Thursday the ground was dry and firm, and the kids decided to climb to the top while Cindy, Ally, and I were enjoying the warmth inside.

After they came back down, they said that they had named it the 'Hill Cumorah.' We can only hope they find some gold in it--though gold that COULD be used for self-enrichment!



I can envision a lot of new footpaths on that hill by summertime....

....but I don't think I'll see many angels there.....

What will be next?

Last week in Erin's science class her teacher taught them to make "bridges" from rolled up pieces of paper and then see how many books they could stack on it without it collapsing. Cameron is always up for a challenge so this is his tower. I am not sure how many books he really got but it is a pretty big stack.

Another project he has last weekend was making his own skateboard. He took the wheels off his "real" board so he could turn it into a snowboard.

When I suggested we throw away the wheels etc. because they were just "junk" he without a doubt informed me that they indeed were NOT junk and although he didn't know what he was going to do with them he would one day need them. I am glad "one day" came along sooner than... 2 years from now. He got Louis to help him put them on another board with is much smaller than a regular skateboard and easier to use in the house. (I wonder when he will find out where I hid it?)

Pinewood Derby

The Pinewood Derby. The Olympics of Cub Scouting!

This was a night Cameron had been anticipating for nearly 2 months. The car had been "displayed" on top of the refrigerator since its finish 1 month ago. We got to the church early and found good seats. Last week at den meeting the boys had a practice run and Cameron's car came away nicknamed "The Bullet". I had heard that several kids (and dads) were determined to juice up their cars just to beat Cameron's. Would it work? Could it be done?

There were 13 boys all hoping their car would be the fastest and then be awarded "First Place".
After several heats only one would emerge--triumphant! (Cameron's car is on the left.)

Cameron did well. He came away with two awards-- 2nd place and "coolest shape". The best part was seeing all the fun he had. The most important question after all this is, "Will Josh be back home next Christmas for Derby car #2?"

A Book Never Written

A couple of nights ago while Louis had taken Erin to basketball practice and the other girls were in the bath, Cameron and I spent some time cleaning his room. When finished we began to look at one of his Boy's Life magazines. They have a whole page of jokes at the back. One type of joke is the "Book Never Written". It is a made up book title and the "author" is supposed to be the "joke". Here are some Cameron and I made up that night.


How to Catch Flies.
By: Cal M. Newer

How to Chase Cars
By: Golden R. Treever

How to Have Fun Cleaning Your Room
By: Em Possible

Beginning Shaving
By: Nixon Kuts

How to Fly a Rocket
By: Bern N. Fuel

I’m Bored
By: Minnie Termites

These last two are courtesy of Louis

How to Ruin a Picnic
By: Aunt Coloni

How to Get Rid of Company
By: Pass N. Gas

He wants to send them in to Boy's Life and hopefully have one of the printed.

The passing of the prophet

Last night Mom and Dad called me to tell me that they had just heard that President Hinckley had passed away. He was 97 yrs old and the prophet for nearly 13 years. My initial reaction was that of sadness but quickly changed to peace and thankfulness. He had lived such a great life and was such a great man. It was time for him to be reunited with loved ones. I can only imagine the welcome home he has received in the spirit world. It is comforting to have a testimony and know how the church will function until a new prophet is called.

This morning I was preparing to tell the kids that he had died. I was at the computer reading about President Hinckley when Cameron came down. I called him over to me and solemnly told him that the prophet had died. He gave me a look and then said, "I'm hungry. What's for breakfast."
Erin got up a little later. She came down and poured herself some cereal. As she was eating I said, "Erin, Last night the prophet died." Without saying anything she looked back to her cereal bowl and kept eating.
Makenna...the more sensitive one....I called her into the kitchen...still looking/hoping for that teaching moment. "Makenna, President Hinckley died last night." I said. She looked deep into my eyes and asked, "Where are my pancakes?"
What can a mother do? Hopefully FHE will go over better than my attempt this morning. They will have a lesson on succession in the presidency.

Sided and Trimmed

This is how the house looked yesterday afternoon, with all but some of the decorative trim up.

The driveway and sidewalks are also done.

And the sheetrockers started this afternoon too.

Two Reality Checks

As I was making crepes this morning, Makenna and I had a nice conversation.

She began things by stating that she was smarter than me.

Spotting a true teaching moment, I proceeded to explain to her the meaning of the word 'deluded.' Specifically, 'You must be deluded if you think you are smarter than me.'

I continued, 'Now, someday you may become smarter than me, but today is not that day.'

She pertly replied, 'I'll be smarter than you when you are dead!'

Who can argue with that!??

Fluffies

Cameron came into our room this AM while we were still in bed, and decided to lay down next to me. He soon shifted position and laid his head on my stomach as his pillow.

"Hmmm, kinda lumpy!" he said. "And fat!" he added for good measure.

Ever the innovator of mayhem, he then sang out, "Fluff the pillow! Fluff the pillow!" and raised his head up and slammed it back down on my stomach a number of times.

Naturally, I began feeling unwell, so I said that maybe I should stay home from church, keeping Allyson home with me.

Cindy mused, 'Yes, you, Allyson and Cameron probably should stay home from church.'

Suddenly regaining my health, I promptly jumped up out of bed and went downstairs to make some crepes.

OSU SOSO RIP*

*Rest in peace, or rest in pieces--whichever....

Reason #783 that we don't need a dog.

Tonight as I was sitting at the computer, Cameron came through the room with Allyson following behind. "Mom, I am taking Allyson for a walk. See?" This is what I saw...

You see... he walked in front pulling the silky pajamas. When she got close to them he would yank them quickly away. She erupted in laughter and the whole thing started again.

Hope springs eternal

So... picture this. The kids all went back to school from Christmas break on Thursday, by Friday afternoon it was time to tackle Cameron's room (best when he is not at home---don't check the trash!). While I am sorting through all the tinfoil pieces, rocks, nails, screws, memorabilia from the Air Show 2 years ago, broken erasers, little tiny bits of old pencils, Lego pieces, etc. etc. I found a nicely folded paper. It was folded and shaped into a sort of funnel with a note inside it. Having gotten the same thing from Erin just before Christmas with a note inside gushing about what a great mom I am, I figured it was probably a nice note from Erin gushing over Cameron. "I love you and am so glad you are my brother." etc. etc..
I had all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings being so grateful for how loving my children are and I would be sure to save that wonderful note. This is what it really said,

"Cameron,
I am soooooo mad at Mom right now. Aren't you too?
Write back,
Erin"

Needless to say....out went the fuzzy feelings and into file 13 went the note. Not the first and I am sure not the last. Oh well...one can hope.

Another brick in the wall (yeah, that's Pink Floyd)

Some of our family wanted to see the house with all the brick (at least all that we could afford....!)

Offering a toast....

Cindy, domestic goddess that she is, prepared a tasty breakfast of french bread french toast this morning.

Reactions among the kids varied.

Cameron ate one bite and then ran into the bathroom. His face wan, he emerged a minute later, faintly asking, 'Does the toast have egg on it?' Receiving an answer in the affirmative, he then went on, 'I choked on the hard brown stuff [that would be the browned egg mixture] and threw up.'

Note: Cameron has a hair-trigger gag reflex--anything that he even thinks (and I stress thinks) will stick in his throat is rebuffed. As such, he hasn't eaten a nut since he choked and threw up at age 1.5. Nor will he deign to eat eggs--scrambled or fried--if there are any browned sections.

When Makenna came down, Cindy fixed her a plate with 2 big pieces of french toast, Makenna smiled, began walking to the microwave to warm it up, then stopped, turned around, smiled again, and announced to Cindy, 'I love this [french toast] even more than you!'

Allyson ate 2 bites and called it a day.

Erin and I showed our appreciation by eating it down with gusto. (Did we dare do anything else?!)

UPDATE: Later this morning as I was sitting in the frontroom Makenna came over to snuggle. As she settled into my lap, she said, 'I told Mommy that I love french toast more than her!.......And I love YOU more than I love french toast!'

Should I be flattered?!

Christmas day 2007

Lucky for us our kids don't wake up too early. Cameron and Erin were up first at 7:30. By the time we went downstairs it was 8:00 (they had to wake Makenna up---and I made them wait for me to take a shower!) This is the first year we have let them open a present on Christmas eve. Of course they all got new p.j.'s.


Allyson loved the entire day. She is a good gift opener. Probably because she has 3 older siblings to follow. Her favorite gift was this baby doll and stroller to push it in. She promptly found the little silky ribbon tied underneath its chin.

Cameron has become our little Buckeye. Since Christmas he has only taken these clothes off to sleep (that is 3 days worth of wearing.) I am washing them tonight while he sleeps. The football is from Aunt Kim and Uncle Ryan and tops his list of favorite Christmas gifts. Some other favorites of his are, MP3 player, eyeclops, Harry Potter scene it game, and rubiks cube.

One of the hightlights for Makenna was having "Cousin Josh" come. She loves him. He came home from his mission in October and she still says in her evening prayers, "We thank thee that Josh came home from his mission." She got several Polly Pocket toys, a Barbie head that has all kinds of hair clips and even a braid that grows "magically", and even her own little MP3 player.

Erin also got another MP3 player as she lost hers last year. She loves music and carried it with her all over the place so it is worth it for her to have another one. She also got an American Idol Karaoke Revolution game for the Playstation. This is Erin and her friend Kirsten doing what they did for most of the day today......singing with the game. It is a fun game---unless you are me (see previous post). She also got a manicure set, High School Musical 2 movie, cd, I love Troy heart pillow and Troy necklace (shown here). Tonight she told me that she is never going to take her necklace off. We will see if she changes her mind when her neck turns green.

We had Louis' sister Denna, and her family (Quinn, Josh, Caleb, Ben, and Jordan) along with Louis and Denna's nephew, Carlton and his family (Liz and Hunter). We feel very fortunate that for being so far away from "family" we have this much family close by. Our numbers are growing and we love it. We had a very relaxing day that involved eating, singing Karaoke, visiting the new house, and hanging out. All in all I think it was a perfect day.