Off Duty in the Mess Hall

The Sentinels

The view every evening as we return from various outings.  They are the guard cats.  It seems they are very effective.  We couldn't pull in the driveway since they wouldn't budge.  Of course once we unlocked the door they were officially off duty and came inside to resume their perches on the children's beds.  They have a very challenging, demanding, and scheduled life. 

Not Us!

What makes you think we drank all the berry smoothie while you were on the phone?  We're just sitting here enjoying each others company... honest.

We're All Ears

Singing time at church is always fun.  Add some enormous ears to remind them to sing louder and it's a riot.  And then when Duncan began to wiggle his ears with his arms folded, we were all goners! 

We are NOT obsessed

So what if it's the third year we've dressed as Star Wars characters.  This does not make it an obsession!    They're considered classics and one of the very few science fiction films that I will tolerate.  Some of my children haven't even seen the movies yet and they're completely hooked as Star Wars fans. 

So, once again, so we're all clear on the matter, we are not obsessed.  (Please disregard the eldest child's bedroom decorated in complete Star Wars decor.  Please disregard the fact that each of the boys including the toddler own their own light saber.  Please don't mention the ring tones on the multiple cell phones that play assorted Star Wars songs when a call or text comes.  These are not signs of obsession!)

 A back up x-wing fighter costume does not signify obsession, it is a sign of preparedness!

Han Solo costume, complete with frozen carbonite for other events is creativity, not obsession.

I just hope I'm making myself clear!

I've got my eye on you!

There are times when an incessantly runny nose can come in handy.  All natural glue for googly eyes. 

Beam me up

Go with the flow..

I think of myself as a fairly laid back individual.  I can go with the flow, be flexible, impromptu.  I'm beginning to rethink if this is a good trait or not.  I have this new visiting teacher.  I've had great ladies who come visit me every month and we had fun visits.  I've always tried to be available to suit their schedule.  I'm essentially always home, I can accommodate.  Because I'm typically home I don't even  remember to write it down on the calendar when they are coming.  Many a time the door bell rings and voila they are here and that's when I remember they're coming.  It's all good.  Well.. it was.  Today as I debated mid morning if seizing the opportunity while Whittaker was napping to whip through some house cleaning or to have a shower,  I decided on shower.  As I stepped into the shower, the doorbell rang.  I didn't know that until the knock on the bathroom door and the voice said... take your time.

I did not take my time.  This is the same lady who came for the first time just last month and while visiting with me, caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of a little gift in the cats mouth.  The cat became startled and dropped the little critter, who was dazed for only a moment and then took it's moment of escape.  This lady, without missing a beat, grabbed my broom and began giving commands.  "Get a bowl or a bucket."  "Open the back door"  Within minutes... the mouse was outside again and the cat was sent out after it.  The doggie door was shut permanently after that.

I'm fairly certain, after next weeks visiting teaching interviews... she'll be requesting a new route.  Too much drama with this one.... She's already dealing with me too much as it is.  She's Duncan's Sunday school teacher and now Sarah's flute teacher also.   


Who says you don't get a second chance to make a first impression....

New Skills

 One of the requirements in the scout book is to have the boys learn the names and uses of about a dozen different tools.  Being in charge for the month of October and November I called on a tool expert to come in and assist.  The boys each got to hammer a nail, screw in a screw, tighten a bolt, and saw a piece of wood.  Once they can recognize tools and their uses the den is to use their new skills to make something. 

I haven't much experience building things with young boys, so I drew upon what experience I did have and put my assistant to work once again.  We made heart foot, duck marionettes.  I was a tad concerned the boys would think it silly, but they love the project.  It took 4 den meetings to complete our tools and building requirement but the boys were very pleased to show off their work.  For pack meeting they put on a show.  Well, they told 'duck' jokes.  They really 'quacked' us all up!

New Museum

The local Natural History Museum decided that they had outgrown their location and began construction on a new facility.  We received tickets to the grand opening of the new facility.  What a HUGE new museum!  New, interactive displays, classroom areas with activities for further learning.  We visited for over 3 hours and could have stayed longer if I didn't have to get home in time to pick up Caleb from school.  There were a few areas we simply walked through and didn't examine too closely since it was opening day and the museum was rather crowded. 

One of the kids favourite displays was the displays under the floor.  There were areas where the floor was glass and you walked over the displays underneath.  I personally found it a tad disconcerting. 

Since it was opening day, they had different areas set up with post it notes and pencils for comments and suggestions.  In the 'study of the great salt lake' area I noticed a particularly interesting post it note left by another museum visitor. 

I had to admit, it made me wonder if perhaps Jim had visited the museum before us.  This struck me as the type of limerick he would write. 

Just at the end of the visit we noticed a line of people waiting to go in the area marked, staff only.  Then we saw the sign.  "Special collections.  Open to the public today only!"  We joined the line.  They could have opened another museum just as large with all the display items in the special collections that were not out on the museum floor.  The boys and I have different tastes.  We appreciate different displays.  I thought the old Mayan ruins displays were so detailed and interesting.  The boys were enamored by the biology display of creatures and animal parts preserved and displayed in jars with formaldehyde.  I let them go in and look around and I waited by the door.  The smell didn't invite me in.  (it actually made me gag!)

Another exciting part of a grand opening of a new museum is that because of the crowds, the museum had planned ahead for the parking to be mayhem.  So there were multiple parking areas designated for opening day a few blocks away and then we were bussed to the museum in greyhound buses.  The kids were excited as we left to wait for our bus to take us back to our van.  It was fun, from beginning to end. 

My Knights in Shining Armor

They may be in their scout shirts, but this actually has nothing to do with scouts.  After our monthly pack meeting we stopped at the library to pick up some books we had on hold.  Surprise for us, there was a Knights class in session in the activity room at the library.  The boys could barely move in only a few pieces of armor, there was no chance of them remaining standing if they had tried on the entire armor.  It was a great way to end their day and somehow once we were back in the van, I got all the credit for the impromptu armor class.  As if I had somehow known or arranged it. 

A Little Culture

The month of November found us with three invitations to see plays in one week!  First we received tickets through the kids online school to see a local high school presentation of 'Bye Bye Birdie'. 

The kids were thoroughly impressed by the moving orchestra pit, the trap door in the stage and the theater seats with balcony.  The play they were only so so impressed by. 

The second play was Mackenzie's 5th grade presentation of a play entitled, "Frankly Franklin".  A tribute to the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin.  Mackenzie was one of the main storyteller/dancers. Although there weren't any fancy stage props and we had hard plastic chairs or the gymnasium floor as our seating option, we did enjoy the play.  I appreciated that the music was actually played on the piano instead of piped over a load speaker as I've noticed is the norm in elementary school performances around here. 

The third play was our most anticipated event.  Caleb has been missing from our lives from 6am until 10pm almost 5 days a week for many weeks.  From seminary to school to play practice he had long long days.  Finally the long hours were to come to an end with a grand performance of "Joseph and the Amazing, Technicolor Dream Coat".  Again, not a fancy stage, although Patrick and Caleb did assist in the construction of the stage and the ramps.  The orchestra was incredible even without a proper pit.  They were housed in the room adjoining the gymnasium with the double doors opened wide.  The long hours of practice definitely paid off with a fabulous performance, excellent singing and a wonderful evening.  I did not remember my camera and they asked that all cell phones be turned off so they wouldn't interfere with their wireless microphones.  I only snatched one photo of our camel leading Ishmaelite.  He actually played multiple roles and had some great costumes. 

Pals

Out of this World

This is my crafty, engineer minded child.  He lives for stuff like this.  He received this kit for his birthday....  and I put him off creating it since I thought it would require a day of focus to have all the painting and drying and putting it together.  He was so excited when we finally took the time to make it.  It took all of an hour.  He was thrilled. 

Here's where the guilt sinks in.   Or the reality check... This is the birthday that he received the solar system kit; 2007.  We had lived in this house for one month.  I was working full time and trying to move into the house, while overseeing the addition of the dining room, and Patrick was working out of town.  His birthday was kept quite simple.  He helped make a cake.  He received a solar system kit, a rocket launcher and some dragon and knights books.  The rocket launcher barely lasted the weekend before it was broken.  He could not yet read and the books were out of his level, but he loved the pictures (He enjoys reading them now.).  I asked him to wait until we had finished settling in to the new house before we started his solar system project.  He sweetly agreed to wait.  Here's where the reality check kicks in.  I think, had we tackled the project 5 years ago, it would have been the mess that I envisioned.  I think his abilities and understanding level then and now have improved. 

I guess we're officially 'settled' in to our house; 5 years later.  I suppose this year I should give him something he can use when he's 16.  I'll just give him the Driver's Education manual so he can be prepared. 

Born to Scout

Not just handsome, clever and too cool for words, but he's 'prepared'... to be a scout that is!

We had to hide his shirt from him for a while because he wouldn't wear any other shirts.  If we mention scouts or one of the older boys gets out their shirt he is 'prepared'.  He runs to get his shirt so he doesn't miss out on any of the fun.  He is the official mascot!  He stands and mumbles his way through the oath and promise.  He even has his own scout handbook which he 'reads' regularly.

Hand me Down Dilemmas

It meets all the dress code requirements.  I suppose they never considered listing, shimmery fabrics as a no no, or listing buttons with pictures of women in swimsuits as a no no, or shirts with a top button half way to the navel as a no no, or how about the collar size. 

What's that White Stuff?

We've read books about it.  He's had lessons at his toddler class about it.  Now, finally some snow has truly fallen and he can explore the wonders of a winter wonderland.  So far he loves it.  He also loves that it just naturally comes with some hot cocoa and/or hot apple cider when he finally acquiesces to return inside.

Bubba Gump Apples

The best part of Apple Canning is this moment.  The shelves are full and the apple trees are bare.  I can stand in the doorway of the cold storage room and admire the shelves (which I put together myself!) filled with jars of apple preserves and act like Bubba from Forest Gump.. only about apples instead of shrimp. 

"We have apple slices, apple sauce, apple juice, apple jelly, apple butter, apple pie filling.  Now we'll have apple pie, apple cobbler, apple cider, apple butter on toast, apple pancakes, apple butter on waffles, apple muffins, apple spice bread, applesauce with pork chops, apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple strudel, apple tarts....."

My ladies react to a different display that apple canning time is over....

Their run is approximately 50' long and between the apples that we picked up from the ground to give them and the apple peelings and cores, they had between a 4" to 18" apple base all over their run.  They love a good apple harvest.