Snippets From Today

Today was parent-teacher conferences so the kids had off school. I met with Luke's teacher this morning and she gave such a glowing report of his reading progress. He started out reading this year at the first grade level (he's in first grade), and within two months he's now at a second grade level. I'm super impressed. I'm also super proud.
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I took the kids for family pictures this afternoon. They were all incredibly good and well behaved for the photo session and the pictures are so good. I chose the one of Micah squinting up his face to hang on our wall. It's so incredibly cute, just like him. Here's a photograph of the picture because we don't have a scanner.

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At Old Navy I strapped Micah into a cart (because I forgot the stroller) and he resigned himself to his fate. If he cannot run through the store, jump out of the cart, or climb on me he does the bored drone. He puts his thumb in his mouth and just hums loudly. It's cute for the first few hours but it got old several years ago. Some kids suck their thumb, some have binkies. Micah drones. Trust me, we've tried stopping it, and have since learned that it beats him screaming or throwing a tantrum. So anyway, I'm pushing the beacon through the store (the kids can always locate me by the noise) and a man stopped to stare at us. I stared back and he didn't turn away. The look on his face was not one of annoyance (thank goodness) but more like how on earth can that kind of noise come out of something that small. I answered his unspoken question with "yeh, it gets old fast." We both laughed. That's our boy, and we're so proud.
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Josh spent some of his cash on a collar for his dog. He came home and proudly put it on her. We ran in to see daddy at work and show him the pictures taken this afternoon. Upon returning home Josh was horrified to find that Spaniel #2 had eaten the collar off Spaniel #1. UGH! If it's not kids, it's the dogs. Everything gets destroyed.
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I saw a rat in the horse stable today and let me tell you I'm not happy. They are one of the most hated animals in my little world. I was going to break out the poison but God intervened. My mom was just telling me that as they were eating breakfast this morning someone stopped in their driveway and dropped off a cat. (I can say so much about this, but we'll let that slide for now.) Said cat was trying desperately to get into our house tonight so I told Luke to go feed it in the horse stable. If he can prove himself as a ratter, he'll have a permanent home. Well, if he decides that life with 8 dogs is worth all that. He's a pretty orange tabby, and I feel so bad for him.
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I have had an overwhelming desire to learn to knit lately. I don't know why. And it isn't like I have the time to learn right now, either. But I picked up a starter kit and some yarn today and am hoping that I can self-teach. I learn much better by watching than reading. If anyone has any suggestions for me I'd appreciate it. You know, like a beginner project to start with or yarn types or anything. Because quite frankly I'm clueless.
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We ate at Panera Bread when we were out and about. Luke prayed for us and thanked God for letting us eat at Banana Bread. I love Luke-isms. The kid is so incredibly real he cracks me up. He was a bit out of control at one point and I said "who's being loud and annoying?" He so proudly piped up "oooh, oooh, that'd be me!"
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And then there's Josh. We were playing Simon Says in the van to make the hour trip to the mall seem quicker.
Becky: Simon says touch your nose.
Everyone: EWWWWWWW!!!!
Me: Simon says no more farting in the van.
Josh: But we just passed a blasting zone.
Don't you just love boys?

17 comments:

Leanne said...

I love the picture. Your family is BEAUTIFUL.

and WOW! It must be the colder weather, as I was looking for a knitting class today too. Maybe we could cyber-knit...in our spare time of course. Lol.

Poor kitty. Who ARE these kind of people anyway?

Deanne said...

Nice pic of the kids! Glad they cooperated and that you got at least one great shot! I see Christmas cards pics in your future! :)

Looking for knitting tips eh? My friend over at Alaskan Mom from California (listed on my blog) is a new knitter too (knitting for a bout a year or so) and has links and such. Maybe you can check her out?

Valarie said...

That is such a great family picture!
Banana Bread...CUTE!

Madame Queen said...

Awww, poor little orange tabby. Thanks for trying to give it a home. Maybe it'll be like our Rusty (also an orange tabby) -- we call him the moleinator, although lately he's been the chipmunkinator.

Let me know how the knitting goes. I've always wanted to learn, too, but was afraid to by a starter kit.

Zoe said...

love the picture. peyton drones when colors. and he does it loud. his teacher sayd he whistles while he colors at school...maybe the other kids won't think he is a total freak???

Unknown said...

Love the banana bread. Cute pic of the kids. I have boys who find way to sneak in a bodily function joke at least 2x a day. Aaahh the joy of raising boys.

Christina

Jennifer said...

What a beautiful picture!! I want to get a family picture, (or at least a picture of all the kids) but just the thought of finding clothes for eeryone so they at least match eachother, then actually loading them up and going to the photo place and trying to get 14 eyes looking in the same general direction etc. etc. UGH it just wears me out thinking about it. LOL.

teacher conferences - ok I am a horrible parent, I hate them. I don't go to them. I am lucky that something is always going on during that time that I can get away with a phone conference, and I don't have to come in. It isn't that I am not interested in my kids work and how they are doing, I already know how they are doing. Jordan gets notes home all the time about how awesome she is (I wish she was the same child at home, LOL), Mickey is advanced for her age, so I get to hear about that from her teacher in the notes that are sent home - but her teacher has some issues, and I can't handle talking to her, not even on the phone or via notes without me wanting to smack her (long story, LOL) and Isa, I love her teachers and we talk once a week or so just because. So I already talk to these people more than I want to, I just want to be left alone for an hour, hehe. (I think this sounds worse than I mean it to)
~Jennifer

The Sports Mama said...

As a mother of two boys, I can certainly relate to the fart jokes! :) The really amusing part is that we all laugh at them, which kinda takes the sting out of any reprimands that may be forthcoming! :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting! :)

Kellan said...

Hi Karen - so much going on with you today. Glad to hear your boys school report went well. The picture of your kids is so cute - they are a great looking bunch of kids!!! I used to knit, years ago - funny the way you just threw it in there with all the other stuff going on - that and the rat. Cute post - see ya.

Karen said...

Leanne - my parents live on a farm, and people just seem to think that it's a great "dump" for unwanted cats. It is sad.

Madame Queen - if/when I ever get a knitting project done I'll be sure to post results.

utmomof5 & the sports mama - bodily function jokes are definitely part of a boys' day. And with 3 boys here we're doomed to many more years of this. You've gotta laugh, because it is really funny.

Jennifer - you don't need to go to conferences, you've said yourself that you're an in-touch kind of mama. Good for you!

Kellan - you're always such a dear. That rat threw itself in there, and I'm not happy about it's appearance. I. Hate. Rats.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful family! The look on Micah's face is priceless - I love it when they capture the kids being themselves. I am with you on knitting - I don't know why, but I have the urge, and am at a point where it is not really a feasible hobby for me to take up. Let me know how the self-teaching goes, as I would one day like to give it a try.

Jennifer said...

(re: the comment you left me) you know if i was there things probably would have gone MUCH easier, LOL. I wouldn't have passed the person I was following, I would expect to have to wait, after all you are dealing with the government in a 3rd world country, so there are bound to be crazy things that happen, LOL.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed visiting your blog today. We had four children, also, but they are now grown and flown. Those were happy days when they were all home.

If you have any great Family Home Evening experiences you might like to share (or not-so-great--like most of us :-)), please do hop on over to my blog and let me know as I have a second blog just started, the aim of which is to encourage others in their Home Evening endeavors.

Shellie said...

I'm not just flattering you, that is a good-looking bunch of kids! how amazing to get them all together and looking great at the same time. As for the radar, I used to have my little one scream like the cheap screaming flashing fireworks. people would say how cute when they saw him and then he'd start screaming and they changed their minds:( As for knitting, I only know how to knit in Spanish, but I'm not actually very good at it in Spanish either. I did manage to make a few things before that career ended though, maybe someday I'll post them. In the meantime, suburbancorrespondent recommends the book Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-Mc Phee. Maybe that will help?

Burgh Baby said...

Since I just recently taught myself to knit, may I suggest the website www.knittinghelp.com. There are tons of videos and you can learn just the step you need at that moment, then move to the next when you are ready. The sweater I started a few weeks ago is over half way done, so I must have learned something from the videos!

Your kids are absolutely gorgeous. You did a perfect job of getting them to wear coordinating but not matching clothes and they did a perfect job of showing their personalities in the photos!

As for the rat, I hope the cat is able to earn its keep. Anytime I get annoyed with our cats, I remember that I have not seen a single mouse or rat in the house the entire time we've had them (over 10 years). They earn their keep, that's for sure. (Can't say the same for the dogs most days.)

More Luke-isms, please! That's one funny kid!

Cecily R said...

Yay for Luke!

I LOVE that picture!!!!!! Love it love it love it!!

Love that you called Micah the beacon.

Love the blasting zone story.

Love the Snippets.

You should do this more often. It makes me smile.

Anonymous said...

Burgh Baby's mom is right about knittinghelp.com...that's where I started teaching myself too!!!

The kids' photo did turn out wonderful!