Harlem Globe Trotters

Jackson's scout troop got some discounted tickets to the Harlem globetrotters at a college nearby so we decided that we would all go. I had seen them a long time ago in Spokane. It was pretty entertaining. Definitely more a show than basketball :) I hear that they do play regular games every once in awhile. The kids loved it. Lots of action and jokes. Well, the bigger kids loved it but the little two were a little wired. That's what happens when we take them to something that starts at bedtime. Caleb was all over the place. Matt or I just followed him around as he went up and down the bleachers and all around. We had to stay close to stop him from running out onto the court every once in awhile. Hailey was all over the area where we were sitting. Gram and Papa were here visiting and came with us to the game. It was nice to have an extra pair of hands around. We enjoyed it but with tired kids it ran a little long :)

Because the cubscout troop had such a large group they got to go down at halftime to get a picture with the team. They thought that was pretty cool. I thought it was pretty crazy. You had about a minute to get them all out there and take a pic before the team got ready for the next half. Can you spot our 4? Caleb wasn't sure if he should go with the big kids or not so he stayed a few steps in front of me towards the group until the player in the front held out his hands..... Caleb ran right to him. That is odd for my momma's boy! He doesn't really go to anyone very easily - even Matt. He is getting a little better recently. He goes to the babysitter ok - as long as it's the same one as always, and he always screams for a little while. He starts to whine as soon as we pull in to their driveway. He does not go to nursery at church - unless Matt stays with him and that doesn't always work either. He did stay really well with Gram a couple of times while they were here. That was really nice. Thanks Gram.

apron

 After making aprons for Maggie and Hailey last year I decided that they would make good presents for some of their closer friends. This is one I made for our neighbor - they are reversible. She and Hailey play together A LOT. Sometimes hours each day - especially now as the weather is getting nicer. I think the apron turned out pretty cute :) I am planning on making another one soon for Maggie's best friend. They take about 2 hours to make so I don't think I will make them too often. Although sometimes it takes me that long to make it to the store to buy something for a party........ and really, I think these only cost me about $8 to make (plus the 2 hrs). I have thought about making them for nieces and nephews...... maybe someday :) Although the longer I wait the more nieces and nephews there are. I think we are up to 12 now - so minus my 4 - I would have to make 8 aprons. 

Big kids

 

Recently we have tried a few more older games with the bigger kids. They LOVE Monopoly, Life, Settlers of Catan and Solitaire of all things. Matt was playing a lot of Solitaire for a week or so and both the older kids were fascinated. So we taught them some games...... It led to some nice, peaceful evenings :) Of course, these games can only happen when Caleb is asleep - it helps A LOT if Hailey is asleep too! That's frustrating for the bigger kids who want to play them more often but it's fun to have them hit these milestones that once seemed so very, very far away.

Adventure

 

Where we live now has nearby access to the C&O canal. Jackson needed to visit a historic site to finish up a cub scout requirement so we went to see the locks along the canal.  The kids had such a great time being outside and exploring somewhere new. It makes me wish we hiked and camped more..... I think we are getting there. We both want to which is an improvement :) We have been out of school a little longer now and some of the kids are getting older that it seems like a real possibility. We will have to keep working on visiting historic sites around the area. There are a lot within a few hours drive. If only we didn't have so many house projects.....

More Caleb...

Yesterday I gave the kids popcorn for a snack.... Caleb was sitting at the table with his bowl and I took a little bit out and ate it. He looks at me and goes "HEY, my!"
I love it when they really start to verbalize and understand what is going on around them. He is such a funny little boy. I should get a video of him walking around - he has this funny little swagger to his walk. He's a little macho man already :)

No wonder......

 

This is what happened as I started to make our bed the other day. Almost immediately after I get it made it fills up with kids. They started playing "put the baby to bed". Hailey is rolled up in the top quilt at the foot of the bed after tugging it off because she wanted to sleep on the floor..... No wonder I don't get anything done - well, that's not true - no wonder it LOOKS like I never get anything done :) They love to be where I am, be part of what I am doing, yet be kids at the same time. So everything usually turns into playtime..... and I let it.
I try not to complain about the house being a mess because for the most part it's my fault. I could stop them from playing "put the baby to bed" in my bed immediately after I make it but they were having fun and it was pretty cute to see Caleb playing with them. They help with dishes and water gets everywhere...... they help mop the floor and leave puddles here and dirt there....... they help with laundry and put crazy folded things in the piles....... I know they are helping but it sure doesn't look like it!! But I also know that this time in my life / our lives doesn't last forever. They will get older - the dishes will get done - the floor will get mopped - the laundry will look like it was folded....... and the kids WON'T look little the way they do now. I love them for their willingness to help and work hard at something that comes so easily to a grown up. I want them to remember playing - they will have so many more years of cleaning ahead of them than they ever will of playing.
Sometimes we clean together but often that ends badly :) Usually Hailey and I start something but then I have to go find/check on Caleb and Hailey finds interesting things to do when left to her own devices.... the other day she pulled a stool over to the fridge to clean the fingerprints off - she got the top 2 feet - where there are no fingerprints! I can try to clean alone ...... that results in more messes other places from unsupervised kids.
However, when it's all said and done the house FEELS BETTER when it's clean so I need some balance..... and I hear that having some responsibility is good for kids :)

Good Cheap Fun

 

For Valentine's Day each of the kids picked out a balloon at the dollar store..... balloons have somehow become a Vday tradition for us - maybe because the kids LOVE them :) Anyway, the balloons last forever so one day we tied Caleb's down lower and gave him a fly swatter. He had a great time whacking his balloon. It was pretty entertaining for me too. I have a feeling kids of all ages could enjoy this one.