Day 26: When breakfast calls...

I was in bed when the phone rang, but only 40 minutes later we were all dressed and mostly presentable (even me!) and sitting down to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I told them we were having a race, and lo and behold they won! 

Look relaxed, Everyone!

Because when Dad's away, you accept any invitation that comes your way.

Day 25: I miss my mind the most

I'm not sure which is worse: the moment of realizing that I don't know where my debit card is, or having the moment occur after spending an hour dragging a toddler around Costco filling my cart. 
But even worse than both of those is the wretched feeling of leaving behind the string cheese that I'd been assuring her she could have in the car "as soon as I've paid for them."

All that work, all those bribes of cheese, for nothing

Day 24: Putting the children to work

The girls decided to sweep the porch and cut vines. I'm not arguing! But an ant with an apparent broken leg got (in my opinion) a disproportionate amount of sympathy.

No one ever said "Aw, poor mom! Take care of her!"

 

Day 23

It's completely cheating to wake me up early and often, then cozy up and take over the bed just when I have to wake up to get the other kids ready for school.

Day 22: Hiding Places

Her older siblings are a little jealous that they never thought of hiding their green beans in the space under the tray insert.

"This will fit right here...."

 

Day 21: Common Core Math isn't Common Sense

Homework should be increasingly independent work after kindergarten. My kids are constantly asking me "Did I do this right?" and "What do I do here?" I remind them that they CAN do the work, they DO know the answer, they have what it takes to do it themselves. Which leaves me feeling really kind of mean when they bring home work like this:

No wonder he thinks he's no good at math.

It's not the French that's troublesome, by the way. He's good with that part. But it reads: 

"Tom is thinking of a number. His number is 10 more than 35. Which number is he thinking of?"

Have 3 weeks on our own stunted our thinking? Or are there no good options, here? 
Which reminds me of a blog that I saw just yesterday called "Common Core is Making me Stupider." And I'm starting to think that might be the truth!

Day 20: An Anniversary

Twelve years ago, a new family was begun, and today my sweet children celebrated with me. My daughter gently sniffed each flower and declared this orange rose to be the nicest. My son, bless his sweet soul, told me "Happy Anniversary" and gave me a clay horse he made in art last year, and a special rock he bought on a recent trip to the zoo.

Fascinated by the scent, and by the sweet little flowers that close up at night

It's a horse, you guys.
And the finest horse ever given by a 6-year-old for an anniversary.