/ch/

Once there were chronicles
about a chunky Chinese chinchilla
he ate too much cholesterol
so he had to chop
and churn chlorine
he ate chocolate for Christmas
instead of cholesterol


This is one of Caitlin's assignments from the school year. She was attempting to use alliteration. SUCCESS!!!

(We are going through school papers today and have a very full recycling bin). Trying to find our kitchen island again.

Caitlin's Harvest

Each of the 3rd graders were given a plant in the spring from Bonnie Plants, a national company. They sponsor a cabbage contest. Caitlin was the only one who contacted her teacher about it, so her teacher said she "won." That meant we got to enter. All the Colorado entries will be place in a hat and someone from the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture will choose a winner in December. The prize is a $1000 scholarship.

I know I am partial, but I guarantee no one loved their cabbage plant like Caitlin. She wanted to check on it in the morning both before and after breakfast. She watered it, cried over it (bugs or bunnies eating the leaves), worried about it, planted a pinwheel next to it, and nurtured it. If she had any water left over at mealtime, she would go out and give it to her plant to drink.

In the end it weighed 8 lbs, 14 ozs. If it's based on size, she will probably not win. If they could only measure her heart.

So far we've eaten coleslaw & won ton soup with cabbage from its leaves. We still have half a cabbage left. My favorite is stuffed cabbage rolls, but pretty much only one other person in the fam agrees with me.

September Highlights

"Super Hunts"

The girls had a superhero themed activity night. They were to wear a modest superhero costume. We don't have any of those, so I bought cheap-ish t-shirts and white paint to make a stencil for the "Super Hunts." Nathan spent hours working on the stencils and the girls got to paint their own shirts. The white paint ended up being "Diamond" which turned out clear with lots of glitter in it. Nathan was a good sport about it, even though I am sure he'd have preferred white.

Churchill spends the day

Diana had her turn to bring Churchill, the kindergarten mascot home for the day. We took him on our morning walk/ride with us. I walk and Diana and Ed ride. Diana is on a bike and Eddie in the stroller.
Churchill got a ride with Diana the whole way, but only wore the sunglasses for this photo.

We taught our UT cousins how to play Hungry, Hungry Hippos. I think they loved it, but may have loved electronic games even more.

Sept. 22

Caitlin was baptized on a lovely afternoon in September. She sang "When I am Baptized" with Bryn as a special musical number. Her friend and her mom were able to come, as well as cousins and aunts from near and far. Both sets of grandparents made it for Caitlin's special day, too. We changed into play clothes when we got home and enjoyed the lovely fall weather outside. It was a great day.

Sept. 22

After the baptism was over, these "twin" cousins were ordained deacons. Both of them helped pass the sacrament the following day. A great day for our family to receive ordinances together. We had 25 family members for dinner that day--good thing we have lots of chairs!

View from our home--Longs Peak in the distance

This view shows one of the reasons we love where we live. That lawn out there is playground central most afternoons at our home. The kids ride scooters, rollerblades, and bikes around and around. They raked cut grass in the summer before the lawn crews could come back for it. This week they took out all the snow-shovels and piled up leaves. That photo does not do justice--my camera can't capture how pretty the view really is.
Life is good.

Counting candles

She requested Cinnamon Rolls again . . . don't think she likes cake

I keep asking her to stop growing up, but it's not working. Baptism coming later this month.

Santa the Veterinarian

Caitlin's assignment was to give Santa another job that he could do to "moonlight." Caitlin picked a veterinarian. She was assigned to dress him as a vet, explain his duties to him in a letter, and to give him veterinary tools.

Lessons learned:
1) Start earlier. Perhaps the night the project comes home, and not after it's already due. Hiding the project from herself and yourself isn't a good option, either. You will have to ask the teacher for another one.
2) When your daughter has an opinion about her project that is different from yours, back off. Leave the room if you have to for awhile, and come back to check on her later. It's her Moonlighting Santa after all, and it will turn out just perfect. Or at least better than expected, as this Santa's beard did.

Twofer

Or, tooth-fer.
On Saturday, July 16, at the beginning of scripture study, Caitlin informed us she had a loose tooth. At the end of scripture study she had two loose teeth.
She went to bed at 8:45 pm.
She wiggled in bed, and wiggled the tooth in her bed for awhile. By 9:30pm the tooth was out.
The second loose tooth.

We snapped a picture, because this is the first tooth she has pulled out by herself. Then, we sent her to bed.

But she and the tooth were still wiggling, and she came down again, asking us to pull out her tooth. We declined, and told her to work on it while we turned away--she didn't want an audience. In less than 10 seconds of our turning away, the first loose tooth was out as well.

9:45pm back to bed

Five for Five

I am not quite sure why anyone would choose the floor over a bed, but . . .

In the past 6 or 7 weeks, each child in our household has had a fever. Bryn's was the shortest, and only lasted 18 hours. Ed's was the longest, and was 5 days. I took him to the doctor on day 4--they told me to wait a little longer.
Now they've all had it, we are done. I will take a virus that is fever and fatigue.

The funniest part of the sickness was watching Caitlin, overcome it. She had it on TH and FR. She did not want to miss a birthday party on Saturday, so Friday afternoon she said, "I'm going to be like Colin from the Secret Garden. I CHOOSE to get better!"

Well, she got better, and went to the party. CHOOSING works.

Field Trip

This week I attended my first field trip as a parent. It was GREAT!

I went with Caitlin's class to the Gardens at Spring Creek, a public garden.

I'm not sure how much "learning" took place on the field trip, but here are three factoids for your reading pleasure:

1) Humans eat the seeds (and or grains) of plants more than any other part of plants.

2)Espalier (pronounced /ɨˈspælɪər/ or /ɨˈspæli.eɪ/) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth by pruning and tying branches so that they grow in relatively flat planes, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.^{[1]
As seen in this tree apple tree below:}

 
^{The Chicago botanic garden has lots of fruit trees like this, but I never knew the term. I love it!}


3) The Garden donated over 2000 lbs of fresh produce to the community food bank this summer.

Yes, mom this one is for you.

My favorite feature: playing in the water feature with chattering teeth.

Kids do all the same things on buses we used to do, including writing in the foggy windows with their fingers. It seems much more unsanitary now than it did then.

Made to order

Today was Caitlin's made to order day.
Her wish for her birthday was to go on a bike ride alone with Dad.
Wish granted.

She also wanted blueberries and blueberry yogurt for breakfast. DONE.
School lunch for lunch. DONE.
(It was pizza-which I didn't know when I agreed to it).


Dinner was pizza, which was decided months ago.
She surprised me by eating supreme.

Instead of cake, cinnamon rolls.

We had these two along for dinner, opening presents, and dessert.

They were happy about hand-delivering the card instead of mailing.

A great day!

One last shot of her (albeit blurry) in her "lucky" shirt.

Why we love humidity

Curlies!

A few weeks ago while I was driving home from dropping kids off at school, a thought came to me . . . .
"I should go to the track in the mornings."
I have been twice--it works pretty well. It is an asphalt paved track at the end of the school property. A & B use it during gym class. Caitlin and Diana liked playing there--Caitlin runs almost the whole time. So far so good. I don't always go the pace I want, but sometimes I do. Diana and I sang "Once there was a snowman" and other songs as we walked together.
I took these photos on Friday after we got home from the track. It was very humid.

Other random tidbits:
Yesterday Andrew went to a birthday party at the Waco Zoo. Since Nathan didn't go with us last year, he took everyone but little E and I. They had fun and ran into our neighbors from around the corner. I enjoyed a couple hours of distraction free sewing. No finished skirt, but I do have half of this blouse made, (view A if you were wondering). I am hopeful it's wearable and photo worthy! If it is, will you vote for me in the contest I am going to enter? (More details on that when I enter).

The mama bird who built a nest in our tree in the front yard hatched her eggs this week.

Ed wins for first teeth at the youngest age. Both bottom middle teeth poked out through the gum this week. It's too early!

I substitute taught R. S. today and titled my lesson "Persist in Doing," which comes from this quote:
"That which we persist in doing becomes easy to do; not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do has increased."
It's true.

On Monday, I helped can 14 pints of beans. 9 kidney and 5 pintos. Beautiful.

Fall Favorites

Flag football
Fall colors on the trees in Chicago
September weather there
Butternut Squash Soup
Baking
Hot cereal on a cold morning--if I wake up in time to make it.
Harvest time: My neighbor brought me green peppers, fresh salad greens, fresh herbs, and lemongrass. She promised more to come. Yum.
Fall fabric centerpiece. Bought the fabrics on my only Black Friday early morning shopping trip EVER. In Ohio, with Sarah.
Halloween Pumpkin shirts (matching hand me downs in two sizes from two sources).
How I love those cheeks! So kissable.

Time is ticking.
Soon it will be Thanksgiving, my Favorite Fall Favorite.
What pies are you baking?
We are having:
Two Pumpkin
Rhubarb
Apple Cranberry

A new favorite: FALL WALL "Blank Slate"

I read (too many) blogs with great design and great photos. One of them featured a wall covered in scrapbook paper and it got me thinking. Since we don't have fall colors here, why not make my own? The first photo is the "blank slate," including the helper who helped me put it up. It is in our kitchen, right behind Nathan's spot at the table. The second photo contains our fall artwork. I hope my kids remember me coloring with them.
It's one of the best parenting duties.


Did I mention my kids don't have art class at school?
Can you imagine elementary school without art?

Diana this morning at breakfast: "My pumpkin is weird."

The best made plans . . . . (Fish week)

If you were to title this week's menu, it would be "Fish week."

Monday night we ate frozen fish sticks because it was a busy day and Nathan wasn't going to make it in time for dinner.

Tuesday night: Refried beans and rice.

Today I discovered that my kitchen helpers put the frozen fish into the fridge, not the freezer. They were so efficient that I didn't even notice them or give them a second thought, until I found 3 dinners worth of fish in the fridge, (plus 3 lunches worth for N to take to work).
OOPS. When I found the first package, I thought "Great! I didn't have a plan for dinner tonight and since they are already thawed, it will be perfect."

Then, hiding behind package one, I found packages 2 and 3. I laughed because what else could I do? It was too late to re-freeze them.

We ate Tilapia Fish Sticks tonight. This is a favorite Tara gave me when we were neighbors in Chicago. Tilapia was always on sale at one of our favorite stores, and it has become a family favorite (for some of the family, that is).

Tomorrow will be LOTS of salmon, are you coming for dinner?

My helpers begged to have their picture taken after their baths and combing their own hair. I love my helpers and their working hands.


Friday will probably be fish, too.

Now, I wonder, "Was it my helpers? Or was it me?"

Sunshine

When Caitlin hums me a song and wants me to guess what it is, it is always "You are my Sunshine."
She is my sunshine, and is 5 years old.
She enjoyed the chance to pick the menu for her birthday, from sunup to sundown. We talked to grandparents on both sides for their well wishes, and at her request had apple pie instead of birthday cake.
The most interesting gift she asked for this year was for "12 pieces of chocolate." Diana kindly filled that request, and is hoping she will get a piece.
During the school year, she and I enjoy a few minutes of story time together on my bed while Diana naps. I will miss that special time next year when she goes to school. She is a joyful companion to me--she'd rather be home than anywhere else.
Last week when I talked about her being my friend, she seemed confused by the idea that a mom could be a friend. Hopefully that will make more sense as time passes--what a great gift she is to me!

While I am waiting . . . .

Monday I was not prepared for a long wait and was very frustrated having to "wait" without having something for my two hands to do. (What brought about my wait is a long story I don't want to share, I will just tell you what I am doing to cope with what would be an otherwise frustrating half hour of my life every weekday for the next two weeks).

Tuesday morning I prepared myself by getting one of my favorite "waiting" projects, more dishcloth yarn, and set to work on some new dishcloths. My friend in Chicago taught me the pattern, I played with it until I found the right size for my hand, and now I am hooked. On the dishcloths, and on knitting while I wait. (I should be sewing, cleaning off the top of my desk, or planning the year for Cub Scouts, but knitting is my favorite portable project). I feel glad that I have to "wait."

Waiting is an interesting thing to observe. I am not good at it. My impatience kicks in, and I have to DO something--so I knit. When I am surrounded by other waiters, I wonder what they are thinking while the world passes by, and I sit knitting quietly by myself. Not really by myself, because I am rarely waiting alone. Some read, some listen to Ipods, others send text messages, or just watch other waiters.

Sometimes I want to offer, "Do you want to learn to knit while you are waiting?"

Earlier this year, while stuck on a plane waiting for a storm in Chicago to pass, I did ask someone. She was the stewardess, who, because of my seat in the last row, got to sit beside me when we finally took off from Austin. She politely declined, but said it was interesting to watch because her mom used to knit, too. [Sidenote: both Nathan and I have been stranded on planes in Austin waiting to fly to Chicago this year. So fun to have so much in common, isn't it? Mine was bad weather in Chicago, his was bad weather in Austin. Different days, different flights, but we shared the same waiting experience . . . I wonder what he did while he waited?]

About this waiting situation, Caitlin said, "At least I have a toy to play with. You don't have a toy, but at least you have your knitting."
I replied, "My knitting is like a toy."

She waits with her dog, and I wait with my knitting. She's used to hearing, "Just let me finish this row."

I secretly hope that one day Caitlin will reflect on our "waiting" together and think, "My mom couldn't sit still. She always knit while she waited, in the car, at the doctor's office, at the park."

Here's the pattern for my favorite dishcloths:

Cast on 4.
Row 1: Knit 4
Row 2: *Knit 1, Increase 1, knit rest of row*
Row 2: Repeat ** until 34 stitches.
Middle Row: Knit 34
1st decrease Row: *Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Knit rest of row*
Repeat** until decreased to 4 stitches.
Bind off. Weave in ends and hit your kitchen sink.

The name of this yarn is Fiesta: we party every time we wash dishes or wipe sticky fingers. It is festive yarn to me, I feel happy every time I touch it.



How do you wait?

Attack of the killer mosquitos

You know by now that I am not fond of bugs. Let me tell you how you can save $--- on them.

Tuesday night we went fishing in WY. I left out all the details about our car ride . . . I don't know that I will ever go back to fill in, there aren't so many to tell. It was long and the air conditioner did work the whole way.

Anyway, we went to a reservoir about 30 minutes from Cheyenne. It was great. It rained on and off, but other than that, it was beautiful. Nathan kept commenting about how pretty it was--I think he's gone through severe mountain withdrawal for the past 8 years. The fish weren't biting very much, Caitlin had the only significant bite. She was fishing with Nathan and had a fish on the line all the way in to shore, but didn't get to pull it out of the water. We enjoyed being outside anyway spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Parks.

Wednesday morning, Caitlin had 2 giant mosquito bites on her forehead that appeared to grow larger in size as the day went on. I took a nap and thought her face and eyes looked more swollen when I woke up than they did before I laid down.

Thursday morning, I was supposed to go to Ft. Collins with N, but by this time her eyes had swollen, too, and one of them was almost completely swollen shut. I quickly made plans to take her to the doctor and meet Nathan later during the day.

We went to the doctor and he said, "Yep, they are mosquito bites."
And a lot of other things, Caitlin said about him:
"He talked a lot."
Turns out that the skin close to eyes swells more dramatically because it is so thin. If the bites had been full of puss, or if she developed conjunctivitis, we should have called him back. Also, swelling in the face is more prominent in the morning because of laying down all night. This was true, because a lot of swelling went down in the first couple hours after she'd been awake. Because she was breathing normally and didn't have other symptoms (fever, nausea, etc.), he collected his cash, and sent us on our way.

So the next time your child has a severe reaction to mosquito bites on the face, keep your $ in your pocket and wait until the swelling goes down. Unless you have any of the other symptoms described above or want the medical judgement of a physician and not the advice of a mom who's seen it. The worst of the swelling for her was TH morning, and it was completely gone by Friday afternoon.

"And it came to pass"

You don't have to read very much of the Book of Mormon to become familiar with this phrase. This week, Caitlin learned how to read these words all together. As a result, it is her turn whenever "And it came to pass," comes up.

Last night she read Alma 19:11-12
"And it came to pass that she . . ." followed by
"And it came to pass that he . . ."

So exciting to see her reading progress. She's very excited to be "becoming a reader."
I'm hoping to engage her older siblings in teaching her a few new words in their spare time this summer.

DeJa Two

Today's birthday girl.


Guess who the birthday girl was two and a half years ago?

This year we were smart enough to remove the cups from the photo before taking it, but if you look closely, you will find the same pink and green sippy cup hiding above. It was a gift from Great Grandma Dove when her hands were worn out from making baby quilts, so it is special to us, too. Time goes so quickly when you're with the Hunts!

The end of "Water, Wooter, Water, Wooter"

Tonight for the dessert part of Family Home Evening, we had a pretzel party to celebrate the end of "Help turning on the Water, Wooter, Water, Wooter."

This is the phrase that Caitlin's been yelling at the top of her lungs from the bathroom 4-5 times a day since we moved in July. 3 weeks ago she asked if we could buy pretzels. I agreed, but told her she couldn't have any until she was able to turn on the water 5 times by herself.

We thought our pretzel party was last week, but we discovered she figured out how to clean her hands without water. She knew how to squeeze out the foamy soap by herself, scrub, and wipe it all off on the towel. But last night for the first time, she turned on the water wooter alone. And today with more opportunities to practice, she worked her way to up to 5 successes with the faucet.

Congratulations, Cait! Now she will be turning on the Water, Wooter for Diana . . . who, as you can see in the photo, is anxious to learn.
(photo courtesy of Bryn)

Little drummer girls

Each photo that turns out well is a reason to celebrate! Before dinner as I was washing dishes, I was serenaded by these two little ladies, sitting on the table playing drums for me. (Isn't that where you sit when you play the drums, too?) Diana got up and handed me the camera, which I think was a cue she wanted me to use it. This is the action shot Cait requested, and their photo debut on the blog.

How can a face be more precious than these? Yes, that is a giant road rash on D's nose. She took a nosedive into the driveway a couple of days ago.

That table is in the living room, and the counter to the left is the kitchen counter Diana is so famous for climbing on. It is our dining table from the Oldroyds, we move it out from the wall when company is over. When it is just us, we fit at the kitchen table. The hallway to the right leads to the kids bedrooms, ours is through the living room on the other end of the house. What to do with that empty wall behind them . . . . .