The Challenge

A few weeks ago I came up with the best idea. I told my kids it was their challenge. Who ever won the challenge won the prize, which was a trip to the bookstore and they could pick out any book they wanted. Before I told my kids, I told my sister. She laughed in my face. She said that was the stupidest challenge she had ever heard. The challenge... who ever turned all their socks inside right before they went into the laundry won. She said, "Why not have them keep their rooms clean." Because that's just too opened ended in our house. Clean can mean a lot of things to different people. I think clean is: everything put away where it goes, vacuumed, dusted, and beds made. Katie thinks clean is: everything shoved into corners, in the closet, or in someone else's room. Blankets thrown on her bed and... dusting, what's that? Kyler thinks clean is: everything piled onto shelves in a disheveled mound. Jonas is actually pretty clean when he wants to be.

Anyway, I thought my idea was ingenious. I'm going to start them out small and work it up. Hopefully they'll start doing things without being asked 27 million times. Plus this will actually benefit me. Anyone can turn socks inside right ( I think) why should I have to? One of my biggest annoyances (besides laundry itself) is turning stuff inside right, it takes foooreeever.

It was kind of hard to start the challenge right away, since they were off track and they barely get dressed let alone wear socks. But I told them it had started. Kyler and Katie had a very hard time understanding the challenge. What if everyone missed a couple? It took awhile to explain it (I think they were just trying to catch me in confusion, but I had clearly thought this one out) who ever has the least amount of socks inside out wins. Well, what if the sock is half way inside out? You lose. Ha Ha! They don't like to lose.

It went well. Jonas, however, is the only one who actually turned ALL his socks inside right. I don't think that Kyler and Katie believed I would really pick a winner. Too bad for them. They do NOT get a book.

So why a book? Mostly because my kids think that they deserve the world when they do something good. A book is practical, they don't care where I take them as long as they get something. They weren't that pleased when they found out the prize but it didn't stop them from wanting to win it.

Jonas gets the prize this time. The next challenge... all clothes inside right. Now that Kyler and Katie know they won't get a prize unless they really do it, it's off to a good start. I think this just might work.

1st Grade

Jonas had his 1st grade performance last night. So cute. I must say no matter how many times I hear them sing the Happiness song it always puts a lump in my throat. I think that song is right. Happiness is going to 1st grade, finding your backpack and walking hand in hand. The only problem with first grade is that's when they really start to get big and be independent. My little Jonsie was my baby for so long it's still sad to me that he is in 1st grade. But he sure is an awesome kid. And as long as they have dimples on their hands, they're still babies.
On a side note... first grade teachers are hilarious. I think they could care less how most adults act. They are definitely in their own little 1st grade world.

Pumpkin Time

Yesterday, we went on our annual trip to the pumpkin patch (engh flowers, but for the past 9 years it's the pumpkin patch). I used to tell the kids they could pick out whatever pumpkin they wanted as long as they could carry it. Well that idea is starting to bite me in the ass. Katie's pumpkin alone was $24 dollars. For a pumpkin??? Oh well, it's a tradition. Our other tradition is taking pictures at the pumpkin patch. They have to do the same pictures every year. Standing next to the scarecrow height measurer, the ghosts driving a car and sitting on the cute benches. It's pretty funny. They are getting older so the pictures are getting funnier.

And for the last picture..... my husband in all his glory. Viewer Disgression is advised!

Funny Things Other People's Kids Say

Today Faith was walking up to the door. I was sitting outside.

Me: Hi Faith

Faith: Hi, I just came over to tell Jonas I'm sorry.

Me: Why?

Faith: Because my mom told me to

Me: What happened?

Faith: I don't remember. Everyone was being mean to me.

Me: Why are you saying sorry if everyone was being mean to you?

Faith: I don't know, because my mom told me to.

Later on Katie and Abbi were going over to Abbi's house for a second.

Me: Hurry, we're eating in just a minute. Is Abbi eating here?

Katie: I don't know, Abbi do you want to eat here?

Abbi: Uh, no thanks.

Katie: Are you sure, we're having mashed potatoes and gravy.

Abbi: No that's o.k..... well maybe just a little bit of mashed potatoes and gravy. But just a little I don't want to be a burden.

Oh, sooo cute! I went to tell Myke about the latter one and he said,"Oh, that's sad, you told her she could eat as much as she wanted right." Uh yeah, but that's not the point. It was funny.

9 Months

Wow, 9 months already. It's crazy how fast the time goes. This 9 months went a lot faster than the pregnant 9 months.

Sam does some funny things now. He calls out to his brothers and sister, when they're not paying attention to him or he can't see them. He scoots around on his bum, the kids call it butt scoot. He gives kisses to me and gives head butt kisses to grandma. He also pretends to walk when you hold him up. He can't quite pull himself all the way up (because he weighs a ton) but he did pull a plant and plant stand onto himself the other day. He fake laughs when you fake laugh and does this silly closed mouth smile, like a complimentary smile. He likes to bounce on his bum and plays patty cake. He likes to cause a little trouble some times too, like butt scoots as fast as he can to the plugs and the cats. He's pretty funny. The other kids can't seem to get enough of him. He's the first person they want to see when they wake up. They spend a lot of time with him. It's way easier having a baby when you have three little people who always want to take care of him. How much easier life would have been if I had that when Kyler and Katie were babies. (Yes they were pretty much babies at the same time.)

The other day Katie said, "Mom, I don't even remember not having Sammy." I do, but life wasn't as full. Samuel was our biggest surprise ever, and we are so thankful for that surprise.

Fall Pictures

So much for using my cool camera to take pictures of my kids. I ended up taking them somewhere to get their pictures taken anyway. Oh well, moms obviously can't do everthing. We got these done a couple of days ago. I think they turned out pretty cute. The monkey in one of Sam's pictures is his cuddle monkey. He just loves that guy. p.s. my kids love this song.

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Voila!

I always wondered what's the point of a blog? Besides trying to make your life look cooler than it really is (which I try not to do, obviously). I thought well maybe it will be fun to look back on things in a couple of years. Post some pictures, write about my kids, and I really always thought every one's life needed a soundtrack. That's what I thought the blog was for, but tonight I was delightfully surprised when my neighbor, Trent, came over. He said he was reading the blog and read about our bathroom falling apart. He was telling us about all the tools he has and that he knows how to do all that stuff. I thought that was so cool. A blog can be helpful too. I just post stuff and voila helpful people come out. Anyway, I just thought that was so nice and thoughtful. Thanks neighbors!

p.s. we're also feeling a little poor lately......anyone? anyone?