Were Bikes Invented...

I took the kids out for a bike ride this afternoon and as were were tying shoes, finding helmets and trying to get out the door we had a little conversation about biking. This comes on the heels of Archer receiving a new tire for his bike because the old one was about to pop, it was so worn from skidding when he stops.

Arch     Mom, did you ever have your bike tire replaced when you were a kid?
Me       Maybe, I don't know.
Arch     So you didn't skid?
Me       No, not as much as you. But that's ok, its what boys do. You can't help it.
Arch     Did Dad skid on his bike?
Me       I don't know, you'll have to ask him.
Arch     Wait, did Dad even have a bike? Were bikes invented when Dad was a kid?
Me       (Laughing) YES bikes were invented!
Arch     They were invented in 1983 when Dad was a kid?
Shelly    Yeah, back in the olden days, did they have bikes?
Me       (Laughing lots) 1983 is the olden days??
Arch     You know, way back when? They had bikes then?

I was laughing too hard to continue the conversation, Shelly's shoes were on and I wrestled my bike out of the garage and we took off. At the end of the ride Archer and I had a race, with Shelly as the judge at the finish line to pronounce the winner. It was close, with Archer leading for moments and me ahead at other moments but the end was too close to call... Shelly announced a tie and we all came in for supper.

As I recounted the story to David later, Archer changed his story and said that he meant 1938, not 1983. Either way, I'm pretty sure they had bikes back then, when ever it was.

Picture Overload

Last weekend I went to visit the great-grandparents, I took my boys with me and Shelly chose to visit Grandma Sue instead. We started out at Great-Grandma's/Nana's new apartment, what a great place! Archer said he felt like he was at home. Nana was happy to hear that Arch was comfortable there.

After a fun sleepover with Nana, we went to visit Great-Grandpa. I took a picture of the boys with Great-Grandpa and then Archer took a picture of us, while Grandpa gave advice (mostly just told him to hurry up and take the picture before he dropped the camera).

This weekend I tried to organize the hall closet but it was pretty slow going. For one thing, Archer distracted me by asking me to teach him how to finger-knit. I was so happy that he was interested that I completely forgot about the closet and immediately sat down with him and Shelly and two balls of yarn. Several hours later (and a long multi-colored chain that Archer knit himself)...

I finally got back to the closet. And how do you keep a seven month old baby occupied while you organize coloring books, craft supplies and other miscellaneous stuff? Give him the phone book. To tear apart, eat, shred, whatever. So when the closet is done you have little scraps of paper everywhere, including in the baby's mouth. Oh well. The job got done, mostly. And I made Archer and Shelly pick up the soggy paper scraps. ;-)

Playground Fun

Today we spent an hour or so at a playground where I saw Shelly raining sand down on her head. I didn't bother to be the bad guy and tell her to quit. I didn't feel like being the enforcer. While we were there some other boys came and an interesting little scenario played out while I sat on a park bench with E. The boy named Tame (that's what he said. really.), younger than Arch by a year, carried out little stunts on the swings and play set and then challenged Arch to do it too. He kept up pretty well and as he climbed over things that were not meant to be climbed on I couldn't help but smile at his long gangly legs, they're so skinny and pale and long, he just looks funny. He's so tall. He told the other boys that his sister is a scardey cat and she'll scream if he growls at her. They other boys decided to test this out on poor scared Shelly and started making growling noises across the playground at her. She ignored them, having no idea that they'd been talking about her. One boy walked around behind where she was swinging and growled at her and she responded by turning around and growling back at him. "ROAR!" she shouted, not to be out-done. Once the boys realized she wasn't so easily scared they moved on to other games. Like standing on the swings instead of sitting. Tame told Arch he could punch him really hard. "No you can't," Archer said. "My mom won't let you." I'm glad Archer knows I'll defend him, but I hope he finds some less violent friends by the time they all get bigger. In reality they were all just having their little spitting contests and I'm pretty sure the kid wouldn't really hit Arch, it was fun to watch it all play out.

Elijah had his first ride on a swing today and it was so fun to see his face light up as Archer, Shelly and I took turns pushing him. We all laughed and had a great time.

I just finished washing the sand out of Shelly's hair and hopefully she's learned what a hassle it creates when she rains down sand on her head. Archer's taken his shower and the only one left now with sand between her toes is me. But who has time for showers? Its time for supper, I've got to answer the constant call of "I'm hungry!"

Walks and Wipeouts

I can't believe we're well into our second week of summer vacation and the kids still haven't logged any serious pool time. Pool opening day doesn't count, it was too cold. Not that it stopped the kids from getting wet, but still, we've gotta get on track here! Pool time!

Yesterday we walked to McDonald's and back (two and a half miles round trip!), and despite the pit stop at McD's for ice cream, Shelly nearly expired before we made it home. We must have been quite a sight. Me carrying Shelly's little wooden bike and also pushing Eli in his stroller, Shelly lagging behind and Archer racing ahead. We finally found some new energy a few blocks from home when I proposed a race and Shelly couldn't resist the challenge. She hopped back on her bike and SHE'S OFF!

After supper Archer went for a ride on his scooter by himself and when he got back he came in the house looking really unhappy. What's wrong? I asked and he showed me his elbow and knee, bloody and full of gravel and dirt. He'd wiped out. Bad. On the other side of the block, far from home. He had to suck it up, stand up and walk home alone with blood running down his leg and arm. I asked him if he cried and he said no, and I was really proud of him. Maybe its dumb, but I was proud that he was man enough to get up and get home without having a big fit. I mean, really, when that happens don't we just want to lay there and get some sympathy? But there was no one, he would have laid on the side of the road getting pretty lonely and he knew it. So he came home. We washed him up and he's good as new now, with scabs forming nicely over the scabs that were there from the last time he fell.

They sure slept good last night! Summer is off to a GREAT start!

Out For a Stroll

Yesterday and today we ventured out for a bike ride/walk around the neighborhood. Five kids, ranging from seven months up to eight years, plus me. Today only the boys rode (Arch and Brock on bikes, E in his stroller of course) while the girls walked. It was beautiful weather and I was really looking forward to the conversation with the two girls. But just as I was about to point out a butterfly flitting across our path, I realized Shell was busy talking on the phone and I didn't want to rudely interrupt her. Ahh, technology, it keeps us so connected. Shelly spent the entire walk, about a half hour, talking to her sister, friends, and sister again on the phone. I couldn't talk to Annika either because she had a different phone and was busy listening to music. I just tagged along behind, the lonely old mom with nothing interesting to say to the girls. Shelly would occasionally glance back and mention, "She just hanged up on me!" or "I hanged up on her." And so I watched my little girl, getting so grown up, chat away with everyone else, staying connected with the rest of the world and completely disconnected from me. Arch was racing on ahead the entire time so I didn't speak much with him either, except to ask which way he wanted to go next. Oh well, E is still pretty connected to me, he doesn't let other people hold him for long before he searches me out.

Did I mention that Shelly's phone was actually the garage door opener? She's got a great imagination!

"Do you think this is an appropriate shirt?" says my four year old daughter to me. I'm glad she's learning modesty right from the start!

Last Day, Finally!

Today is Archer's last day of school. Usually they have Olympics Day outside with games for most of the morning. Not sure what they're doing instead, but whatever it is, it won't be outside. Cold and rain have cancelled the best laid plans. Yesterday our prayers were answered with dry weather so the first graders were able to walk to the park, have McDonald's happy meals for lunch and play all afternoon, so they haven't been completely deprived. Over the past week he's been cleaning out his desk and bringing home used-up glue sticks, worn out folders and little stubs of pencils. And this afternoon, at 4:00 SUMMER VACATION BEGINS!

Now for the bigger story. Mom is retiring! Today's her last day E.V.E.R. My mom is one of the hardest working people I know. I can't even tell you the number of times each day I think to myself, "How did Mom do it?" The kitchen counter was never full of dirty dishes, she was never a week behind on laundry, the closets stayed organized and shoes weren't just strewn all over the place, they were always where they were supposed to be. When we were young she was faithfully home from school at 4:30 every day to cook for us and make sure homework was done. When we were older and cuts were made and she didn't have as much help at school she stayed late to get the work done. She works so hard. She was a full time mom and full time teacher and does both jobs so well that I still haven't really figured out HOW she did it. I think its a Super Power. But I can't even define what the Super Power is, is it perseverance? Energy? Constant vigilance? She never left an unfolded blanket laying on the couch, she folded it within minutes of the user leaving and going off to something else. She anticipates what problems she's going to have with the kids in the next class coming to her library and prepares for them. She goes above and beyond to decorate her library to make an inviting space, she has treats for the good kids and sweatshirts for the cold kids and ways to keep the bad kids in line. How does she do it? I'm in complete awe, have been in awe since I've been old enough to appreciate all she does. And today she closes this chapter to start another. Today she'll walk out of that library, her library, and it will be over. She's been there long enough to teach students who now have kids of their own at her school, and then grand kids at her school. Three generations have come to Mrs. Gruenberg's library for books and snacks and time on the computer. And today its over, she's done, and I am so proud that she is MY mom, so proud of her hard work and joyful spirit through it all. Good work, Mom! I love you, CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement!!!

RIP Gold

Gold died last night. Goodbye little friend. The fish experiment lasted a whole week. Now the question is, do we get another? Probably. The kids say the next fish will be named Bubbles. Or Jack.

Flying Coupons

Sometime last year, or maybe the year before, the kids started calling the banners behind planes "coupons." I'm not really sure how it started but its a cute kid thing so I haven't bothered to correct it. We saw our first airplane with a banner of the season when we were in the car and Shelly started screaming in excitement, "Look!! Its a coupon!! On an airplane!!" She hadn't forgotten. I guess somehow they do look a little like coupons, huge flying coupons. As the summer progresses I look forward to hearing their excitement as they spot more of these flying coupons, its those little things in life that keep us smiling!

Archer used to call the power plant the "cloud factory" until I finally decided he was old enough to know the truth, all clouds are not manufactured by the factory up the road from us. Now there's some confusion, however, as Shelly truly believes that the purpose of those stacks is to produce clouds, and she can't understand what we're talking about when we tell her its really all about producing electricity. So the cloud factory lives on. And the "Ginormous flying coupons!"

Windmill Challenge

Trying to feed Eli baby food is similar to trying to putt a golf ball past a windmill. Only harder, because at least the windmill is predictable. E's arms flapping around are completely unpredictable, and add to that the moving target (his mouth) and its a recipe for a mess. Considering it was her first attempt at this challenge, Shelly did surprisingly well at getting most of the squash into his mouth. No clothes on the baby made for a quick clean up, now we're on to graham crackers and bath time!
(As I type this Elijah is leaning forward and trying to suck on my knee. I'm really nervous that his one little tooth is going to get hold of something and do some damage, look out, world, we've got a carnivore on our hands!)

And now for some GOOD news

My baby has his first tooth! Everyone that I tell wants to see it, but of course E doesn't just open up and show off his tooth. You've gotta stick your finger in there to feel it. Well, just take my word for it, because we don't need everyone sticking their fingers inside the baby's mouth, right?

On another note, the older boy's two missing teeth are being quickly replaced by the grown-up teeth, there won't be a hole there for too much longer!

Ticks Here, Ticks There...

Ticks in my backyard.

#1 Last weekend, after a day spent working in the yard we were all enjoying pizza or something for supper. I looked across the table and saw what I thought was a spider crawling on Shelly's head. When I got closer to brush it off I realized it was a TICK. Yuck! I started hitting her head to get it off and then scooped it up in a napkin and told David to get rid of it. Yuck. But it doesn't end there.

#2 Our neighbor kindly mowed our grass for us a couple days after the first incident and I got a phone call later informing me that she'd found a TICK on her ankle. *Shiver* (Have I ever told you about my awesome neighbors? I'll have to fill you in sometime. They're a true blessing from God. Wonderful family.)

#3 Yesterday I went out to water our new garden and when I picked up the sprayer handle attached to the hose I saw three or four TICKS just hanging out on the handle. Eww. I put it down and walked away. Surely they weren't really TICKS? I must be mistaken. They're just some other kind of ugly bug. Right? I'm wrong about them being TICKS? I left it at that, I didn't bother to look up anything about ticks to find out if I was right or wrong because I really didn't want to know. I sort of wanted it to be not true just by my denial to be informed. Well, it didn't work.

#4 Today I took the kids for a walk to the park for a picnic lunch. When we got back I discovered something on Shelly's waist. Tried to brush it off. It was stuck. It was attached. ATTACHED to my little girl's skin. AARRAGHHAA YUCKK!!! Another TICK!

So now what? Every time the tag on my pants brushes my skin I'm convinced its a tick. My hair brushes my neck. I feel a little tickle or itch or twinge. Its a tick. Another tick? Is it a tick?

Here's the plan. Put a big bubble over our yard. Seal it up so no pests can get in or out. Go on vacation for a few days somewhere else while we fog the bubble. Come home and live in the bug-free bubble for the rest of the summer. Or the rest of our lives. Think it will work? No? Pesticides for the kids then, I'll start the bug spray now.