I blame Rob.
About 2 months ago, on a day that I worked, Rob and the boys took a long walk on the bike path. They came across a squished baby racoon (roadkill), an the boys became obsessed with this smashed up racoon. To the point when I’d tell David and Goliath, when I got to the part about Goliath falling down dead one or both would respond, “like the smashed up racoon” And every time we drove past the bike trail we’d have to hear the story of the baby racoon who was out looking for food at night, and the car was driving too fast, and crash! The baby racoon was smashed up.
Yesterday on a family walk/bike ride, they discovered a smashed up bunny. We weren’t sure if it was a bunny or a squirrel and there’s been quite a bit of discussion about if the culprit was a hawk or a fox. Today, we had to go get a picture (totally Noah’s idea). Harrison contributed by bringing a tracing thingy that had both a bunny and a squirrel on it. He thought of this himself, and explained that it was so we could compare and figure it out. He’s 2! He’s brilliant!
Here’s the photographic evidence.
Filed under: Kids
Swimming was awesome today. Harry has a new teacher. Mr. Rick found a new job, or at least we hope he has, but Ms. Sarah rocks! She’ll even go down the slide with Harry, and that makes him beam.
When I was a little girl, my aunt bought me a durndel. A Drundel is traditional German dress (lederhosen for little boys; I believe Russ has a pair) I was so upset when I grew out of my little durndel, that she bought me a second larger one. I remember those durndels being my favorite thing to wear. I found them recently when I was cleaning out the basement store room and making room for the clothes Harrison has outgrown and Joey is too small yet to wear.
I couldn’t resist asking the boys to try on my durndels, and they agreed. It was short-lived. They couldn’t body slam each other as well, and their father protested.
Here they are: My durndel boys.
Since there are 9 great-grandsons on the Grothus side, I don’t think there will be any girls wearing my beloved durndels anytime soon. And I’m quite certain my boys will never put them on again.
Filed under: Kids
We spent the morning at river bend “fishing” in the swamp, the river, the rain-filled canoe.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Noah and Harrison have been taking swim lessons since September. The first lesson they both screamed for 30 minutes. That day was most certainly one of the top 10 embarassing moments as a mom. The next week it was all different. No screaming, no fear. Now we’ve got 2 new swimmers in the family.
I couldn’t figure out how to take a decent photo through glass, and I didn’t think about video until Noah’s class. I’ll have to take some video of Harry next week. Oh how I enjoy my little fishes!
Noah can swim a couple of feet on his own. He just beams in his new goggles, and is starting to learn to dive for objects at the bottom of the pool. Noah has a good kick and stroke, and can float on his back all by himself. He has more muscle than fat, so he has to bend his legs slightly when back floating to keep balanced!
Harrison enjoys the water, will jump in at any time. He has great kick and is able to keep his legs together and not bend his knees. He’s working on the back float. He is not a fan of the slide.
Noah and Harrison have been asking questions about money. A few weeks ago Harry offered to clean out my car and requested to keep all the loose change he found. The new chruch we’re attending has a great Sunday school program, and the kids voted to buy a goat for a family in a foreign country wiht the offerings. Noah was asking me the difference between selling something and giving it away; and, of course, they ask for EVERYTHING cool they see when at the store. So, the time is right to start a money management program.
We’ve done sticker charts for potty training and chores, but now we’ll switch to money. I have fond memories of my parents using stacks of pennies at dinner to teach us table manners. Plus Rob supplies me with a never-ending source of loose change found in the washing machine, so we’re already set.
I used old play-dough containers and sprayed them with chalkboard paint. That way the boys can personalize and re-docorate or we can draw a picture of the object they are saving for right on the little bank.
Hopefully the boys will like this idea and it can be both a positive motivator and a life lesson in money management with an emphasis on giving and saving before spending!
The banks are a hit. We’re saving for the goats and chickens at church, and for new clothes for the kids who we donated toys to last month!
Filed under: Kids
Harrison yawns, “Mom, I’m just tired in my mouth”
Noah breaks wind, “I just toot from my boot (short pause) eeee”
Harrison, when asked to do something not unpleasant, but maybe not the same caliber as eating ice cream or going to gymnastics, “I’m busy, in two minutes”
Noah all day long, “You want to play hide the spoons”
Harry at 5ish every morning in a clearly outdoor voice (as opposed to indoor voice) , “Want to go downstairs mama”
Noah whenever we get close to the bike trail, “Where’s the squished raccoon?”
Hands down, best carved pumpkin we've ever seen!
