Jacob crafted this thing out of a leftover packing bubble, a couple of pencils, and an enormous amount of tape a couple of weeks ago. And named it Kevin.
The kids think Kevin is hilarious and have been secretly placing him in random places around the house, like on the stove or above my bed. Creepy.
Speaking of creepy... Camryn’s new sleeping mask.
Because all pre-schoolers who are afraid of the dark need to have a sleeping mask.
He has no problem letting me carry him around Menard’s slung on my hip like a toddler, but the second I try to smooch his cheek he gets a mortified look on his face because I am embarrassing him. The same kid now won’t let me hold his hand in the parking lot walking up to a birthday party because, embarrassing. And so it begins. But, really, age 7?
{I stole this smooch in our house where the threat of being spotted by other judg-y second graders was minimal.}
The scene: Show and tell at school. The kiddos were asked to bring a trophy or medal in honor of the Olympics.
Camryn brought her one and only award: a soccer medal that she earned for merely looking like a soccer player this past fall.
Her teacher asked Camryn wear she hangs her medal, probably assuming she would say “around my neck.” But, oh no, Camryn was quick to respond with “on the hooker in my bedroom.” And this is how rumors get started, people...
{Exhibit A: The “hooker” in Camryn’s room.}
Jacob is hands down the most responsible, trustworthy, funny, hardworking, structured, and loving third grader I have ever known. But... he is an incredibly impulsive child. And while I appreciate his ability to jump in to something without overthinking, it boggles my mind and makes my eye twitch when he continually acts without any thought process. At all. So after he accidentally, but carelessly, slam dunked his brother on the hard floor last night, I decided to put his third-grade skills to the test and had him write an expository paper on why he might want to stop and think before he acts.
A quick couple more inches of snow came down yesterday, and the kids were just as quick to get out there and cash in on the fresh powder.
Introducing Hillbilly the Snowman.
And Trixie. Yes. Trixie.
Mason is learning about that in school, and was having a hard time understanding that as soon as something happens it is in the past. To demonstrate the lesson, I hopped and told him that was now in the past. Then Jacob and Camryn followed suit with an action that is now in the past. Mason seemed to be getting the hang of it. And then he farted. Still in lesson mode, I said, “That’s already in the past, too.” And then Jacob chimes in with, “But the smell sure isn’t.” Five points go to Jacob for being a quick thinker and making us all belly laugh. I couldn’t have scripted a funnier comeback!
We gave the kids each a Valentine card complete with a hand-drawn heart person—a Caleb original if you will.
And while Camryn liked that her heart person was wearing a skirt, she felt the shoes were a little blah. So she added some high heels to complete the look she was hoping for. And this is the exact moment when we realize that the teen years could be long and challenging. As if we were oblivious before.
Mason brought me home this sweet note from school yesterday.
Telling me to “have a rock’n Valentine’s Day.” And to “be pretty.” I’m not sure if that is a request or a compliment. Probably a request. Mason has no problem speaking his mind. Either way, enjoying my one and only love letter from one of my four favorite Valentines.
Our world has been spinning fast over here! Some of the details of our days...
Jacob. Somehow, somewhere Jacob managed to singe his hair. Caleb discovered it this morning as he was taming Jacob’s bed head with a washcloth. He thought it was a serious case of split ends on the crown of Jacob’s head. So in true Caleb fashion, he investigated further with a sniff test. And, eww, burnt hair smell. How that happened remains a mystery...
Camryn. She has been my constant companion this past week. We have played school, trains, airport, dolls, and colored a zillion pictures. I find out Friday if she won a space in our district’s full-day Kindergarten program. Fingers crossed that she gets in. My sanity might depend on it.
Sledding. Lots of it. Though today’s outing was a bit of a bust. I have now noted that you can’t sled in 40 degree weather. Though said weather makes for excellent snowballs and snowmen!
With the big snow behind us, it was time to get the unofficial total. Drumroll, please...
This girl may or may not have been standing waist deep in the snow. Either way, it really is that deep.
It wouldn’t be a snow storm without an icy trek up the steepest hill we can find. Over and over and over. So we did.
{This girl LOVES herself a sledding hill, and wastes no time going down as fast as she can on her belly!}
{And I LOVE that this boy isn’t too cool to go down the hill with his mom screaming on the back end! Or maybe he tolerates me because he knows the extra weight speeds up the ride.}
Not pictured: Mason. Because when you decide to wear snow pants that fit like shorts, your boots quickly fill up with snow and the fear of frostbite sets in. He spent the majority of our outing in the car warming up his tootsies, and realizing that his mom might actually be on to something when she tells him that he needs to wear snow pants that fit him. Lesson learned the hard way per usual, and hoping this will keep him from raiding the hand-me-down pile in the future.
And when they call off school the afternoon before, you know the impending storm is no joke. And it lived up to expectations!
But when you have good, cheap labor it’s no problem! I should have known that when Jacob had to show me how to start the snowblower that he would be more qualified to run that operation. So he did.
I snapped this photo at noon. Since then we have gotten a few more inches, but the snow has finally tapered off for now. Next storm is expected to slam us tomorrow night. Total snowfall is 10.3 inches on top of the 3-4 inches we already had on the ground.
These two made themselves a snow couch. Best way to take in a snow storm?
When I got flagged at airport security because something was amiss with my left ankle. While wearing these ankle length leggings with no socks and no shoes.
Landing a plane in a snow storm is stressful. And I was just the passenger. The release of tension was confirmed as the flight attendant breathed a loud “PHEW” over the loudspeaker upon touchdown into snowy Chicago last night causing a roar of applause from all on board. Not happy to ditch the warm Florida weather. But very happy to be on the ground safe and sound!
Yesterday. And when your parents spend the winter in Florida, you must fly to Florida if you care to spend your mom’s birthday with her. So I did. A great view of the oceanside sunset at a great restaurant sounds like a great way to cap off a birthday!
My dad was there, too. On the other side of the camera, and with a full arsenal of bad jokes for the waitress. Wouldn’t be a dinner out without that! Happy to escape my winter and join my parents for a few days!
