House full of Helpers!

This morning I asked the boys to help me fold sheets and towels. Often they are great helpers (for a 2 and 4 year old) and they like to do it. Today their imaginations got the best of them and they had "bean-bag races" and then just got all crazy with a couple pillow cases. They were laughing and having a wonderful time!! It was such a fun and happy sound and I still got the towels and sheets folded. We buy all these toys and today, like many days, they dont' get played with...instead it is something simple like a pillow case that provides the most fun and laughs!!!

Front Porch

So the porch is mostly finished. We need to cut one side of the flooring off flush with the posts, clean up, do some flower beds, and stuff like that....but it is done.

This was Shane's first "big" building project and he did a fabulous job. We have been working on it for several days and the first half it was raining or drizzling which was nice (note: sarcasm). The porch is great though and I am gonna LOVE decorating it. I already have a head full of ideas.

I've been tagged!

So I typically don't like to play tag as there is running involved but since this game doesn't require any exercise...I'm game. Aubrey from Just Me & My Boys tagged me.

Here are the rules.
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules to your blog.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on there blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

OK...so rule one and two are already done.

Here are my "6 Random things."

1. If I am not listening to Contemporary Christian Music, my favorite singer is Frank Sinatra by a landslide. I can't even think of a second place.

2. As a teen I never wanted to have children. My life plans were to be a single (maybe married SOMEDAY) business woman living in a city. Or trying to become a country music star and living in a trailer on the road most of the year. Oh how things change.

3. My husband's oldest half-brother is a Staley. I still feel a little weird going to his house and seeing "Welcome to the Staley's" on the door. Just for the record he and Shane have different dads...I did NOT marry my cousin.

4. I would love to live in Europe for a while someday...specifically France.

5. I love to cook but hate to follow recipes. Sometimes things are good and at other times...not so much.

6. I don't want a "real job" if I can avoid it. I love staying home and being with the boys (most days). I love it so much that we intend to homeschool them. I do hope to start selling Usborne Books as soon as the baby stops nursing. Should be in the next couple months...if you want to book a party...let me know!!! I'm sure I'll post about starting when I get to it.

and 7. I don't follow rules very well....

I did an extra thing about myself and will not be tagging 6 people...are they kidding? I will be tagging two. (still did better than you, Aubrey lol). See I don't follow rules well!!

Jace @ Son of Jace and Cherish @ The Edwards Exploits....TAG YOU ARE IT!!

"One upon a Time"

Shane is off work until after Labor Day (except for next Thursday he has to put in his last day at NAL) and we are having a great time. Right now we are building a front porch (post with slide show to come when it is finished). It is going to be a wonderful few weeks.

This morning we were enjoying breakfast all together as a family and Maverick says, "One upon a time there was a bagel monster" I prompted him to finish his story. But he didn't want to so we went around the table and finished it together. It went something like this...

Maverick- "One upon a time there was a bagel monster"
Shane- " and he loved to eat his bagel with"
Aiden- "jelly"
Me- "but one day he decided to try something new so he put"
Maverick- "meatballs on it."
Shane- The bagel monster really"
Aiden and Maverick -"liked it!"

I think we'll be telling stories in this way many times. It was fun!

Impromptu Bath time!!

To start this story I want to send a shout out to the Harris Family for the great green beans. I got 12 quarts out of that batch (although 3 didn't seal....*sigh*). Thank you!!

So while we were visiting with the Harris' when they gave us some green beans, the boys (all 6 of them) were playing in Tristan and Colby's room. Amy and I were sitting in the nearby family room keeping an eye on them. All was going well and then I looked again and Griffin was gone. We knew he hadn't gone far so we started looking for him...Colby (who is 2) found him and I was quickly on Colby's heals. Where was Griffin?

Playing in the toilet that Aiden had just used and not flushed. Thankfully he had only peed. But Griffin was wet to his armpits and his whole front was soaked. Amy and I were totally grossed out and I was kinda screaming "He's playing in the toilet!" Amy asked if I wanted to give him a quick bath and I said "Yes, I do." With 3 boys ages 5 and under I am sure the rim was not quite clean enough to suck on so I tried not to think about that while I was scrubbing his arms and chest. I didn't think he would like having his mouth washed out with soap.

Note to self...Keep all bathroom doors closed and latched!

He's scared of What?!?!?!?!

Maverick is scared of ants, earth worms, hair on his hands, and many other harmless things. He screams like someone is torturing him if any of these things are near him. We have found something he loves.........................................................SNAKES!!

We moved our front steps with the help of pappy's tractor and found a little snake (a garter snake, I believe) under them. Pappy caught him and the boys got used to him and the snake calmed down a little...then maverick wouldn't leave it alone. He would play with it and then put it down to catch it again.


Yes he even held it up against his nose. The head is hanging near his armpit in the above picture.
Griffin thought the snake was cool but we were afraid he would squeeze too hard or worse, try to eat it!
Aiden was a little less sure about playing with the snake. But after a while did hold it all by himself. It was never close to his face though.

I am just thinking "This is great! I am likely gonna have a snake in my house someday as a pet. Why didn't I get a girl?" lol!!!

The Three Little Pigs!

Aiden and Maverick's new favorite story in "The Three Little Pigs." They want to read it ALL the time. They act it out each taking turns being the wolf and getting to chase the "little pig" from "house to house." Recently I found some pieces to use on the flannel board to tell the story and they LOVED it. They retold the story over and over illustrating with the flannel board. It was so sweet.

I have so many flannel figures and shapes and letters and numbers all jumbled together in a box. This weekend at Walmart I am going to get an accordian file thing-y to organize them all in. It is hard to play with them when you can't find things.

Our flannel board will be a part of our schooling this year too...so it needs to be organized so I know what I have (cause I am really not sure about all of it) and can find it when we are learning about the subject or doing the story. Right now it isn't gonna be very useful.