More unstructured time

For a few weeks I've been carrying this book around with me in my diaper bag, sipping it in a couple pages at a time. This particular book has turned out to be perfect for sipping--I've been reflecting on the subject daily, more consistently making efforts to apply the reading.

Mr. Louv's most pressing concern is that kids (and all of us, really) are missing out on the benefits of unstructured time spent in natural places. I'm convinced that we are! So I've been trying to be better about taking the wooded route home from school,
or bringing the kids down to the creek,or encouraging them to get dirty in the mud,

or letting them have time to play in nature. (Here they are "fishing." "What are you catching?" I asked. "Salmon...salmon and trout.")
The book has also helped me think about how I can be a little less structured at home, which does nothing for tidiness but good things for their happiness. Here's fort #1:
fort #2, and

fort #3 (with a friend and a flashlight, double bonus!).

Have I ever mentioned before how I love boys? Boys, fall, creeks, forts...what more could a girl want?

Halloween haunters

I didn't sew a single stitch this Halloween season!

Instead, we chose something old,

something new,

something borrowed,

some things…BOO!

Winners of the week

1. A re-vamped chore system!

After they complete a daily or Saturday chore (completed Saturday chores go in the "done" envelope),

they can stamp the poster to build up to a Dunkin' Donuts treat.

Ever since my sisters and I helped my mother transport about 500 donuts for a PTA activity (and made ourselves sick sampling them), I have not been that into donuts. So we're not big donut eaters. In fact, when Jacob went to his first Primary Activity Day, he asked his friend why the bagels had frosting on them! So DD is a great incentive.

I used to think that 2- and 3-year-olds couldn't do these kinds of chores. Not so! I was especially proud of Zach for cleaning the bathroom with very little help:

2. A festive basket!

I can't believe that I haven't done this before: holiday-themed books in a spooky little basket. The kids visit it throughout the day.

3. A family tree!

Family relationships are confusing for these little guys, and so we heard a lot of newly-enlightened exclamations during this activity. (For some reason they've picked up the charming phrase "I see!") When it's finished I'll have some art for my walls, which are the same exact color throughout the house: Bone White.

4. A dinner ballot!

The kids got a kick out of this, plus they ate all their food!

5. A TV spot!

Ok, so it was about five seconds on the ten o'clock news, but it was still a little exciting. My favorite part is that I'm representing the t-ball mom. Plus, the interviewer was none other than the star of the Glitterator commercial of my childhood. Fun.

Eric is thirty!

On Friday we all went to Eric's hospital for a curbside birthday party celebrating his 30th!

I let the kids do the streamers this time, which was much more endearing than anything I could have done:

We celebrated at home on Eric's day off. I'd say that 30 looks pretty good on him, wouldn't you?

He doesn't have a lot of free time, but he spends every spare moment supporting me and these precious boys. What a guy! We love you, Eric. Happy, happy birthday!

Sick day

We watched: rainy windows

We ate: homemade bread, chicken noodle soup, and hot cocoa

We read: Beverly Cleary's Runaway Ralph, Steve Jenkins's nature books

We played: "school" and chess

We listened: to Mo Tab Christmas albums

We wore: pajamas for the kids, scrubs for mom

Things to remember

1. Autumn time

Every day the boys and I walk about half a mile up the road to get Jacob from school. The street, like the streets in this part of Maryland, winds through jungly forests on both sides. We come home most days with a stroller basket full of natural treasures and at least two larger sticks. When I remember autumn here, I will remember these boys, with smiles like this, poking around in nature:

2. Precious Michael

When I remember this sweet boy as a two-year-old, I will think of his excitement at his second birthday party, which was actually the first time that he's been the center of attention for such a length of time and for so many people (bless those third children!). I hope that I don't forget his "tactile stage," when he has slyly managed to paint most of his body in 1) softened butter, 2) peanut butter, 3) applesauce, 4) caramel dip, 5) pancake syrup, and 6) red paint, all in two weeks' time.

And of course I hope that I can always recall his cheery confidence when he has exclaimed, "I'm strong!":

3. Family fun

When my sister came up for a week, we went to see Fort McHenry, Arlington, and D.C.

My favorite picture of her visit, though, is from a soccer game. After I saw what she was wearing, I knew exactly what I would put on! I laugh every time I remember her surprise. What fun we had!

4. Growing lads

I won't soon forget the adorable line-up of five-year-olds who play tee ball with Jacob. I hope that I can remember him blossoming with all these new skills.We even decided that he was old enough to go on a Daddy date to New York City, which I hope that they both remember well.

Zachary's growing up too, serving as the "boy of the house" while Jacob is at school. Today we went to the B & O Railroad Museum, a young boy's paradise! His and Michael's enthusiasm made my day.

This darling is developing so quickly that I almost feel like I've missed his infancy. He's a baby now, smiling and "talking" with us.

It helps me to reflect on what we've done and to think about our happy sons. It makes me feel less overwhelmed and more adequate, which is also a good thing to remember.

Toothpaste in my hair and men's cologne on my neck

It seems, my dears, that the exhaustion is adding up. Yesterday, while rushing out the door to take one child to school and three to the pediatrician's, I managed to smear kids' Aquafresh in my newly flat-ironed hair. Classy! And since we were running justexactlyontime, most of the paste stayed in my hair throughout the office visit (read: until the next morning when I showered).

Later on while I was stumbling out to take out the recycling, I noticed a Macy's catalog. Macy's! And there was a fragrance sample inside--doubly wonderful! So I smeared the sample all over myself only to realize that the woman on the advertisement wasn't actually a woman who would wear the fragrance; she was the girl that a fellow could attract if he were wearing the cologne.

It gets even better, folks. I also neglected to add my young son to our insurance policy in the 30-day grace period, which apparently was also not enough time for me to pay our electric bill:

Seriously?

The other day as I was pushing the crew through the grocery store, Incredulous Store Worker informed me that my oldest and brightest had secured a plastic bag over his head. She looked at me with an expression that I've come to expect: it's the one that says, "Lady, are you out of your mind?"

And for the first time, I wondered, "Maybe she's right?"