Field Trip

We recently took one of our first official field trips since living here.  There is a drive through zoo/animal park nearby, and the kids and I headed out with a homeschool group.  We had a really fun time, especially the reluctant to go 12 year old.  I definitely had my hands full corralling all the kids, but that same 12 year old was very helpful.  It took Sean a bit to warm-up to the idea of feeding animals out of his hand, but he is my cautious one.  After several times of watching mom, he finally gave it a try and then enjoyed himself.  It was wonderful to enjoy a sunny, warm day with friends and some of God's creatures...all except the bee that met Max's forehead.

Water Babies

The three big kids have been swimming on a swim team since this past summer.  They had their first meet a few weekends ago, and I finally got some photos.  I am thankful for this activity for many reasons.  They are having fun, making great friend, exercising, and learning a life long set of skills.  On Thanksgiving, while we were talking about what we were thankful for, they all mentioned their swim coaches.  It is testament to the kindness and dedication of those wonderful coaches who spend endless hours at the pool.  There are meets nearly every weekend, but due to the fact that sitting at a pool all weekend long with little ones and driving all over the state is not something I can fathom doing, we will only swim the local meets for the time being.  The kids seem ok with that.  Turns out my kids love the breast stroke and do well at it.  Sarah placed in both her breast stroke events, and Luke placed in the back stroke.  It is funny to watch Sean swim.  He is nearly the smallest little guy out there and focus can sometimes be lacking.  He swam one race with goggles around his neck....because he forgot to put them on.  Patrick had to run to the bathroom and pull him out of the "potty" moments before another event.  But he has fun and loves to win his heat.  There was a big learning curve at the meet as I tried to read heat sheets, figure out what b times were, and learn the system of "body art" that involves a sharpie, hard to decipher swimming lingo, and arms/legs of children all in order to get them to the blocks at the right time.

Bumpy Dad

Background:  Patrick had a zit on his forehead.  It was a normal, average, ordinary zit...not Mt. St. Helen's.

Max:  "Dad, what is that thing right there that is red and bumpy?  You don't look like normal dad."

Patrick: "Oh, this right here...."

Max: "Yeah, you don't look like normal dad.  You are kind of bumpy...like bumpy dad."

About know...Patrick is smirking and I am doubled-over!

Patrick: "That bump will go away soon."

Max:  "Oh and then you won't be bumpy dad anymore, you'll be normal dad."

Normal dad......OK?!  Nothing in this house is normal....ever....and that is how we like it.

his thesis to dad

Life with an "almost-teenager" is so interesting.  Here I am twelve years after his birth still changing diapers, scheduling naps, and taking care of babies.  And then there is Luke.   It is so very interesting to see his personality develop and his interests in so many things bud. For instance, he loves to follow politics.  What twelve year old asks to watch debates or the McLaughlin group with his parents for fun?  While watching election returns last night he pulled out a section of the Wall Street Journal that he had cut and kept in his pockets.  As results looked less and less favorable for our candidate, he tried to reassure us with different ways Romney could win.  It was all listed on his "WSJ cheat sheet". (Alix, you would have been so proud!) Somedays it is frustrating as I see those eye rolls (that I am not supposed to see), or hear huffing and some sarcasm sneak into his tone.  But most days he is super helpful, full of laughs, and ideas.  This is one of his latest ideas.  He typed up a thesis to give to dad explaining his cause.  I figured out how to scan a document, just so I can remember this years later.  This is just so Luke.  He handed it to me with a smirk and the following comment:  "It is full of charm, wit, and logic."  So....very Luke