casey-julie-maggie-caleb-bennett: summer fun at home

I keep a rubbermaid drawer set in my closet that the kids know is filled with lovely surprises and activity ideas, but it's off-limits and they've never seen the inside of it. Included inside are books of "homework"- some K5 level workbook sheets that they feel is a requirement for them every day. They just can't wait for me to hand out homework at the dining room table. Awhile back I found some iron-on lettering for t-shirts at Target (on clearance for $1!), so I bought them and tucked them into my secret drawers for a rainy day. Today I pulled them out as part of "craft time" (a varying activity that is promised on days when we don't go anywhere in our car) We decided to add lettering to a "boring" shirt they each already had. They both quickly decided they wanted the lettering to say "Beechwood Farms". We did Maggie's first and she helped me lay all the letters out, sounding out the words. It came out just like we wanted. When we got to Caleb's, I cut the letters out and had them in a pile and he arranged them (with a little help) on the shirt. I obviously wasn't paying close attention, because when we finished ironing and peeling and could take a look at the words, they read: "Beecwood Farms". I was horrified! Caleb and Maggie weren't frustrated or disillusioned a bit. Instantly, each recommended I simply place the "H" above the word "Beecwood". In fact, they were a little shocked at me for not jumping on board with this idea right away. Why not? It's the perfect solution, Mommy. So we added the "H" and each child proudly admired their t-shirt. I think we all like Caleb's shirt the best. :)

Maggie and Caleb occaisonally watch a DVD or a show on Netflix, but have never watched TV at home before, so I can't imagine they've seen very many commercials, and definitely hadn't seen an infomercial that I know about. I remember how much I enjoyed watching commercials at Grandmoma's house and the first time we ever saw an infomerical, it was exciting :) Anyway, yesterday we were at Nana's house and at one point I found them in front of the TV with one of their uncles, watching an infomercial for some kind of aluminum wallet. Today as I was folding laundry, Caleb came up to me and said, "Mommy, the Aluma Wallet is so strong that even if a heavy truck drives over it, it will still be okay!" I said, "Oh, wow!" and he went on: "It holds lots and lots of cards and they WON'T fall out!" Maggie chimed in, "And it doesn't even MATTER if it gets wet, because the Aluma Wallet is WATER PROOF! Caleb then repeated his line about the heavy truck running over the Aluma Wallet and added something about it being really hard to break. Finally, Maggie said, "And it come in four colors! Red, Black, Silver and Blue. Okay. SO? Don't you want one, Mommy?", as if I had no choice but to say, "Yes, of course!" I thought about explaining how advertising works but decided to just tell them I already have a wallet and didn't need to get a new one right now. :)

A few weeks ago I bought each kid their own (small sized) laundry basket and they started helping with the laundry by putting away their basket of clothes a couple times a week. One particular day when I was behind on laundry (pretty much every day), I put clothes in their little baskets and they were filled up before I was even done sorting. I told them to go upstairs and put away what was in their baskets, and then come down for a basket refill. Meanwhile, I got sidetracked with Bennett in the living room. As I was sitting on the couch changing his diaper, Caleb came to the top of the stairs and announced that he had put away all his laundry. I seriously doubted everything was in its correct drawers, but was happy with the progress and planned to check up on it later. A second later I heard the basket start coming down the stairs and I thought, "Dang it, he's thrown the basket down the stairs... I thought we were past the throwing things down the stairs phase.." But then I saw the basket, flying down the stairs at 90 MPH, with Caleb inside! He hit the baby gate with such force that it came undone from its post and its door swung open. As he crashed, Caleb grabbed the poles to the door and swung with the door. The whole thing looked like a stunt that he was incredibly lucky to have pulled off. He stood up and yelled, "That was great! Can we do that again right away?"