Chores

I really like having the kids to more chores. I like that it teaches them responsibillity, working together, caring for others and what they own. But I REALLY like that I get to sit down after dinner. All the kids work on cleaning the kitchen after dinner. They have to clear that table, put dishes in the dishwasher, clean up left overs, wipe off the table, and vacuum under the table. Kevin is old enough where he is in charge of washing the pots and pans.

I LOVE having him wash dishes. Mainly because the next day the dishes are still dirty. You can tell he wiped the middle, but didn't get the edges. It just makes me smile. I feel like a few years ago I would have been frustrated, and would work towards teaching him how to clean. But for now, I am resting after dinner, the kids are talking as they work, and I get to be reminded I have young kids at home when I pick up a dirty pan.

The Boys

I am sitting here typing this, watching the boys. They have not separated since I sat down and started talking to them. At this point in their lives, they wrestle when brushing teeth. They wrestle when cleaning. They are connected at most times. The will sit and talk to each other lying on each other, giggling, play fighting, laughing, and talking. They have been like this as long as Colin has been mobile. At this point, they are no longer together when they sleep. (Colin is now in Gwyn's room.) But every thing else is still the same.

At some point, they will not be like this, not in the same way. I know they may outgrow giving each other kisses on tops of their heads, or walking up and wrapping their arms around each other. Or maybe they won't. But I am positive that these two boys have a very special bond - different than other brothers. I usually describe them as two halves of a whole. I can't think of a better way to explain it. If you have never noticed it, look for it. It won't be hard to find.

Sceince Friday!

I love NPR shows. (And podcasts. I rarely listen to radio unless the kids are in the car.)

Science Friday came to St. Louis this past Tuesday, and I went with my friend (and former co-worker) Dodie. It was so much fun. I forget how much fun it is to hang out with her, since we only see each other once or twice a year.

We started the evening at Fuzzy's Taco. The food was so good, and I have already told my husband about it. Then we headed to the Sheldon for the show. It wasn't taped live like that last time I went, and I liked this one more. There was a biologist from the Missouri Botanical Gardens there talking about near-extinct plants, a geologist talked about earthquakes, and the brew master from 4 Hands Brewing talked about beer, and hosted a quiz at the end. I loved it.


Here are a few pictures.

Look how close I was to Ira!

I don't know how to selfie.

Our free Google glasses. (Plastic version, though)

Beer quiz at the end.

If you want to hear the show we watched, it airs tomorrow, Friday October 28 at 1pm!

Colin's Doodles

How does your kid doodle in class? Mine draws the Deathly Hallows.

Could not love this kid more.

Morning Snuggles

Sometimes, before the kids wake up for school, I like to sneak in and lie down with them. I try not to wake them, and sometimes I don't. But they are only little for so long, and right now all the kids still like me, so I will snuggle while I still can.

This morning I made my way to all three kids, and managed to wake up all three kids. Kevin was in his room. He is so sweet, and didn't mind at all. Colin was in Gwyn's bed, and he didn't seem to move, but was awake when I left. Gwyn was on the floor in her room and pushed me away immediately. It may seem strange but she doesn't always like snuggling. I had to tell her that grunting and pushing are not a good way to comminucate, so she said "I don't want you to touch me." Much better. So I left. But SHOCKINGLY she was the only one in my bed when I got out of the shower. And then she was very ready for snuggling.

(It is kind of a crap shoot on how many kids will be in our beds as we get out of showers. Sometimes the kids make it in there while Kevin is in the shower and I am still in bed. Sometimes Colin scares the crap out of me when I get out of the shower when he jumps out around the corners.)

Saturday Bubbles

 Featuring her new cape and mask from the kids' trip to Silver Dollar City with Pappy and Grandma!

She caught one!

Bus Stop Memories

I was at the bus stop this afternoon, standing in a light drizzle, thinking about how this could be my last year waiting at a bus stop. (Kindergartners are required to have an adult get them off the bus.) I started remembering things and wanted to blog.

I remember when I was waiting with a baby Gwyn for Kevin to get off the bus one October afternoon. Colin didn't want to come out to the bus stop with me. A minute before the bus arrived, I see a little Hulk walking towards me. He had put on his Halloween costume. It was so much fun. He was smiling, I was laughing. And he was still so little.

I remember waiting with Gwyneth for the boys to get off the bus in the winter. I would grab the thickest blanket in my house (usually the quilt made by Aunt Kelly for our wedding) wrap it around us, and try to sing to her to distract her from the cold. Sometimes I also had to hold an umbrella, but I almost always had her in my arms when it was cold. When it was warm, she ran around in our neighbors yard.

I remember all the kids walking up from the corner to our house, crunching the leaves along the side of the street as we walk. (One of my favorite things about fall.)

I remember when the boys were given a key, and left to get into the house by themselves after school. I got a phone call from a neighbor saying they were locked out. I asked Kevin about the key I had just attached to his backpack. He told me he forgot about it. So Colin was given the key, and has gotten the boys into the house after school every time since. (That did not play out the way I expected it to.)

I remember how the boys explained to Gwyn over and over how the bus works, and that she will have to sit in the front with other Kindergartners. But she shouldn't worry, because they will be in the back of the bus. They also told her they would put her on the bus, and they would make sure she got off the bus at the correct stop. And then on the first day of school, both boys walked over to Gwyn when the bus arrived, and Kevin had his arm around her to get her on the bus.

But now I remember Gwyn bouncing off the bus, every single day, yelling "Mommy!" and jumping into my arms. (I have to be ready. That girl jumps and lifts her feet up every time without checking to see if someone is catching her.) The boys say hello and then all three start to talk to me as we stop on leaves and walk to the house.

(I won't mention the minor chaos that homework time is. Two kids doing spelling lists. All three bringing folders and work and permission slips home. All three talking at one time. Someone has someone else spelling notebook. Someone didn't turn forms into their teacher (cough cough Colin). It is not awful but it is stressful.)

Gwyn Writing

I love kindergarten. The kids all start to write and put down thoughts. I kept all the daily writing the from the boys, and have been looking forward to Gwyn's. Here is something she brought home a few weeks ago. She is such a different reader and writer from the boys. She sounds out words more, and she is writing more. Here is one of the first sentences that she has ever written!

Although it looks like murder, she actually wrote "I am a writer." And her book says "This is my book."

Funny conversation: last night Gwyn asked my why her name was not spelled Gwen. I told her that her name was actually pronounced like an i, not and e. So she asked why letter the y is stealing from. (As Gwyn explains it: "The letter y steals from the letter i and e. So make sure when you say "my" you say the letter i put write the letter y.")<- about="" all="" and="" because="" being="" br="" confused="" cute.="" extra="" gwen.="" gwyn="" have="" her="" i="" if="" incorrectly.="" is="" it="" just="" kind="" me="" name="" not="" of="" others="" pretty="" say="" she="" spell="" talk="" that.="" the="" think="" told="" was="" wondered="" would="">