What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Jarrod often takes the boys on adventures I just don't feel like going on.

Sawyer and Miller went to his science museum on Marshall Campus during one of my appointments.

They see a lot of stuff like this, which made everyone really excited.

They obviously have way too much fun together. But.

Finding stuff like this on my camera makes me glad I didn't go! What is that thing?

Hello? This shouldn't even be in the museum!

But, I do like getting cold treats afterwards!

Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails, and all that stuff in science museums, that's what little boys are made of.

Let's Play Catch

The common childhood phrase of "Let's play catch!" has taken on new meaning this baseball season. (This is Sawyer dressed and ready to go!)

Cooper and Sawyer are on the same team, thankfully!, and have been asked and have volunteered many times to play the position of catcher (Cooper).

This is Jarrod putting a ball into the pitching machine. It spits out 40 mile per hour pitches.

And thus far, this cute boy, and his cute brother, are the only boys

that can catch the ball!

Every game the ball hits the would-be excited catcher, and he leaves the field crying, never to return. Cooper and Sawyer catch the balls. They've been pegged here and there, but go on with the game. So I ask, why can they catch?

I could surmise that they have a great coach, which they do. I could also venture on and say they're talented, which also may be true. As well, Cooper is on the older side, but Sawyer is definitely on the younger side (Cooper).

This is my theory. We have no video games, no cable, no digital television. So playing baseball is something they can do to have fun, and get out of the house. Others aren't so lucky, and their attention span behind the plate is so minimal that they don't pay attention. And can't play catch.

Possessions

I never wear my ring.

It's too nice to wear around the house, and by then, I forget to put it on if I go out.

I really miss wearing it, so I found it and wore it to church last Sunday.

While I was playing the organ I remembered why I don't like to wear it on Sundays!

I took it off. Between songs.

I didn't want to put it in my lap, forget, and then stand up.

I put it on the organ. And forgot.

I remembered mid-week.

This morning we checked: It was gone.

There is another ward after us, so we checked. Nothing.

As I was taking the sacrament today, and feeling really sad, I had a thought.

Jarrod bought my ring by selling his car. There was never any hesitation.

He gave up his only possession that could pay for the ring.

Heavenly Father gave up his most prized possession: His Son.

The Savior gave us the only thing He possessed to save us: His life.

Of course I'm sad, but having that perspective has helped.

I'm grateful for tender mercies.

Wild About You

Porter brought these little wild onions home from scouts the other night. Hunter picked some out in our field, and transplanted them in our onion garden. Seems this tri-state area has an affinity for these little wild onions. Imagine my surprise yesterday when the local paper, with a weekly article by a local chef, devoted the page space to this onion/garlic little greenery known locally as ramp. It is actually quite nutritious and "offers an abundance of flavor to any dish that calls for garlic or onion." It is a relative of the leek family. She used it in a white bean, sausage slow cooked stew. Honey, guess what's for dinner!

Reading and Remembering

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these two books, quite different perspectives on World War II. Both of these books were recommended to me by my sister. She actually just listed a third book yesterday, HERE, that I'm sure is just as teaching.

This book was absolutely delightful, and although just as serious, offers a more lighter view of the war. How excited I was, then, to find a scholarship related to the holocaust. You can find it in the contests for kids link at the top right. Tanner's going to try. Go ahead, encourage somebody else to remember what happened.

Earth Day

When I think of beautiful places in our world, I think of the temple.

The grounds are always so beautiful and tended with love.

Because of this nurturing, flowers especially thrive there.

It's an interesting analogy on how children should be grown.

Sadly, my own yard and gardens are slightly neglected.

I have onions planted in the garden.

I'm sure they'll go a long way in feeding a family of eight.
Today is the day! Plant seeds, seedlings, and love.

What are you doing to celebrate earth day?

If We Cheer for the Yankees, Will You Still Love Us?

Coming from Red Sox country, it's hard to swallow your pride when your son is drafted by the Yankees. Proctorville/Fairland Little League has never allowed a coach to be a Yankee, until this year, and Porter was put on that team. Because this is the only time a Schenewark will be wearing a Yankee uniform, here it is: He plays first base, and we just happened to get his only hit recorded. Go Porter ! Go Yankees (ouch).

Mighty Fine

This is a guest post. I found these pictures on the camera, and thought it would be a shame if I didn't comment on them.

Sawyer caught Amy Jo vacuuming. In her pilot jumper suit.

She told me later Sawyer thought she was enlisting to be a soldier.

She told him she was just doing dirty work, including mower oil and mowing.

She's mighty fine.

Pearly Whites

We've been going through the semi-annual check-ups at the dentist office. Let's just say this time around we've had lots of surprises. Like Sawyer's first cavity. So we went back to get it filled. I gave him no prep talk. Just waved goodbye. "Mom, what just happened back there?" is what he asked me when he was done. He was numb, drooling, and mumbling about the "small pinch."

Cooper apparently had a cavity from six months ago, which no body told me about. So he went back to get it filled. Only they found it had gone so deep into his root it killed the tooth. So they pulled it out. "Mom, I told Sawyer we got to watch t.v. while they put our fillings in and they pulled my tooth out instead!" He was not a happy camper. Because his permanent tooth isn't near to coming in the roots haven't been reabsorbed.

We have never had the privilege of leaving this kind of tooth for the tooth fairy. And I won't even go into detail about my experience. I use to think dentists weren't that bad, and couldn't understand all the fuss. Now I know why my father and my twin curl their toes just thinking about those appointments!

Family Friendly Job

One of the boys' favorite things to do during spring break was to visit Dad on the Marshall campus.

Every year on assessment day, they serve the faculty and staff free lunch, usually outside on the commons, with different Marshall musical bands and singers entertaining. It's their way of saying thanks, and "Please give us a good rating."

Barbequed beef, coleslaw, beans, potato salad and chips go a long way in filling six empty tummies. I'm always up for a free lunch. Does your employer have fun perks that are family friendly?

Trying to be Calm

I had this cute, calm, sleeping baby yesterday. I wish I could have been as calm.

I opened a bottom cupboard to get rice out for my husband, and my rice bag was full of holes.

Rice poured out in the cupboard, all over the floor...mice.

It's a deep cupboard, old, goes way back with only a small door.

Everything came out.

Lots of vases, smaller appliances, and my cans of grain.

Thankfully my only casualty was rice, and time, and pocket expense for foam.

I hate mice. I feel very violated. I'm glad it isn't my house.

I'm much calmer, now, thank you for listening!

Love the Locals!

I love my grocery store! The managers mark down food with expiring 'sell by' dates with these yellow/orange stickers. This is a box of spring mix lettuce usually $3.99.

This is pepperoni. I was paying $2 in Texas, so $3.99 was hard to swallow. I'm glad it freezes well because we LOVE homemade pizza.

This is a nice, hearty wheat bread. I've found out where and what the products are that get marked down. The organic dairy section is my favorite, especially the eggs and cheese. Don't get the milk - it's already spoiled! Sometimes I'll see what I can find before I make a menu. Combined with their weekly specials, my bill's not too bad.

Sawyer loves going in after holidays as balloons are given away to kids. Yesterday, in Sawyer's words, "I worked really hard putting the groceries into the bags so the man told me to pick out a balloon." He picked out the largest, of course. The rest of the story? Sawyer pulled a bag of flour off the bottom of the grocery cart and it ripped. The man was too busy sweeping five pounds of flour from the flour to bag the groceries. And when this man still winks at Mom, you know you'll keep going back. What's your favorite local business you like to support?

Monday Morning

Nothing like walking into the washroom on a Monday morning,

when you've been gone all weekend,

to find a hanger tree hanging from your second floor laundry shoot!

And, on my camera, after finding some funny pictures,

I believe I've found the culprit.

Did I mention socks on top of the fan blades?
He's looking for humor in flying socks.

Perhaps spring break wasn't exciting enough!

But having reason to smile on Monday morning is all I need.

An Important Easter Message

"At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend."

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Breakin'

It's spring break for the kids. They only get three days instead of a whole week, due to make-up snow days. I'm finding that having six kids home totally alters my way of life. You might think I'm use to six kids, but having everybody home on other days than the weekend puts a kink into my routines. I forget what summers are like until spring break. Then I panic.

Take shopping at SAMS, for instance. Instead of two little guys in a buggy, I have four boys on a large cart, and two meandering everywhere. Everybody stares and does the head bob (I think they're counting).

These two guys are playing broom ball in aisle 13. Hunter always has a ball in his pocket.

Do you have any sugestions to keep boys busy on spring break? To help return some sense of normalcy to my schedule? What makes you happy in your spring break? I know to one son all it took was a pair of colorful shorts.

Of Moms, Boys, and Love

This is made by Mothers Pride for displaying Cub Scout pins on the left, and Boy Scout pins on the right. This is very practical if you only have one or two boys in scouts.

This is also made by Mothers-Pride, and is for displaying Boy Scout pins (you're viewing Tanner's from Scout to Eagle Scout). Having six boys, I liked this one so much better. I hope to squeeze them all on.

But what to do with all those Cub Scout pins? So I made this. I don't think it's wrong to copy a good idea, and just tweak it a little, do you? My spools of ribbon made two more. Who else would like one? Nominations are fine!

The Colors of Spring

We decided to color Easter eggs for our Family Home Evening activity last night (thanks Mom!).

With the house up for sale last year we forgot to enjoy this time honored tradition.

It never ceases to amaze me how much planning can go into decorating four eggs!

Tanner exuded great patience while waiting for deeper colors to set in, and brought a book along to pass the time.

Sawyer was full of questions. "How do I do two colors? How do they do dots and stripes? Why is Cooper doing that? What are the rubber bands for? What does mixing these two colors do?..."

Miller thoroughly enjoyed the process, and had several redo's to lengthen his enjoyment.

And of course don't throw out that dye when you're done, throw it into the bathtub for a fun way to clean everybody off! (Visit the contest link at the top of the blog if your kids like to color!)