i was trimming the little boys' nails this evening.
justin said, "mom, you can't cut my nails!"
"why not?"
"because i am growing them super long so i can reach the things high on grandma's top shelves for her."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Gravel Pit?
We heard the best sledding around is to be enjoyed at the gravel pit. Skeptical but hopeful, we drove out there and we weren't disappointed. Easily accesible in a non-4x4 vehicle, we found a large hill with a limited number of tube-popping cacti and sage brush.
That's Jake pulling the tube, supplied by Rees family--thanks for sharing.
Katie kept going down the hill so fast that I was never able to catch an action shot, just this one pose.
Dave braved the sledding to give John a turn; he's a great dad.
Justin is in the bottom pic heading down the hill.
We had great fun and will definitely head over there again!
That's Jake pulling the tube, supplied by Rees family--thanks for sharing. Katie kept going down the hill so fast that I was never able to catch an action shot, just this one pose.
Dave braved the sledding to give John a turn; he's a great dad.
Justin is in the bottom pic heading down the hill.
We had great fun and will definitely head over there again!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Band/Choir Concert
Living in a small town has it's ups and downs.
Up: the band and choir concert COMBINED lasts only about 1 hour.
Down: the middle school choir is combined with the high school choir and there are only 2 boys in the choir. two middle school boys with voices that aren't deep yet so it might as well be 2 more girls singing alto.
Up: there is always plenty of room to sit down, even at the last minute.
Down: audience manners don't exist, at all, ever. It is an interesting cultural phenomenon in our little town--people will talk all the way through a concert or play and ignore any bad looks thrown their way.
Up: since everyone is noisy I don't get too embarrassed about my toddler making noise.
Down: we have a teeny-tiny high school band with only about 20 people. Almost all are flutes, clarinets and saxophones; there are 2 percussionists and 1 trumpet player. Looks like a weird woodwind ensemble.
Dave asked if we were going to take the video camera to record Jake's beginning band performance. Really? A sixth grade band performance is so pretty, not only do we get to sit through it live, but we want to watch it again later? I forgot the video camera and didn't miss it. I forgot the earplugs...I missed those.
I give thanks to all parents, grandparents and friends that endured my beginning band concerts.
Oh, I almost forgot--my kid had a serious solo all through one song. Go sleigh bells!!
Up: the band and choir concert COMBINED lasts only about 1 hour.
Down: the middle school choir is combined with the high school choir and there are only 2 boys in the choir. two middle school boys with voices that aren't deep yet so it might as well be 2 more girls singing alto.
Up: there is always plenty of room to sit down, even at the last minute.
Down: audience manners don't exist, at all, ever. It is an interesting cultural phenomenon in our little town--people will talk all the way through a concert or play and ignore any bad looks thrown their way.
Up: since everyone is noisy I don't get too embarrassed about my toddler making noise.
Down: we have a teeny-tiny high school band with only about 20 people. Almost all are flutes, clarinets and saxophones; there are 2 percussionists and 1 trumpet player. Looks like a weird woodwind ensemble.
Dave asked if we were going to take the video camera to record Jake's beginning band performance. Really? A sixth grade band performance is so pretty, not only do we get to sit through it live, but we want to watch it again later? I forgot the video camera and didn't miss it. I forgot the earplugs...I missed those.
I give thanks to all parents, grandparents and friends that endured my beginning band concerts.
Oh, I almost forgot--my kid had a serious solo all through one song. Go sleigh bells!!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Slacker Santa Parent
(time for my yearly, unrelated blog entry)
i am a slacker parent. i take the easy way out of discipline at this time of year and i am SO ok with my attitude.
me: please eat your vegetables.
justin: i don't want to!
me: santa will see...
justin:[he says nothing as he is too busy cramming veggies in his mouth]
this is one simple example, but it just shows how i have turned all discipline over to santa for the month. it is quick and easy and always works. santa parenting also works to address this situation:
me: who did this?
kids: not me
me: santa will know
kids: [instant confession from sneaky culprit]
but, as i have older kids...i know it will come back to bite me in january when my child no longer listens to me and santa is gone. maybe this year i could lie to my kids even more; i'll invent a character that will bring a present at the end of each month if the kid is good. it's tempting...
i am a slacker parent. i take the easy way out of discipline at this time of year and i am SO ok with my attitude.
me: please eat your vegetables.
justin: i don't want to!
me: santa will see...
justin:
this is one simple example, but it just shows how i have turned all discipline over to santa for the month. it is quick and easy and always works. santa parenting also works to address this situation:
me: who did this?
kids: not me
me: santa will know
kids: [instant confession from sneaky culprit]
but, as i have older kids...i know it will come back to bite me in january when my child no longer listens to me and santa is gone. maybe this year i could lie to my kids even more; i'll invent a character that will bring a present at the end of each month if the kid is good. it's tempting...
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