30
Mar
Alex decided churros were the answer to a crazy day.
29
Mar
Everybody loves a game night.
28
Mar
I caught this guy hanging out in the kitchen.
27
Mar
After school hang out in our yard.
26
Mar
Sunday lineup – Two have had little sleep from the lock-in last night but otherwise everyone was in good spirits.
25
Mar
The big boys had plans to attend a church lock-in tonight.
24
Mar
These three were back at it again on the trampoline.
23
Mar
Alex was quite agreeable to having his daily picture taken, but he did have a few caveats.
22
Mar
The kids have been begging Wade to put the trampoline up for weeks. Today he agreed to check to see if the ground was hard enough. With the mild winter we have had, the ground was firm enough for a trampoline. Kaitlyn helped bring all the pieces from the barn and the springs. Alex helped with the parts that could be considered a two-man job. Teague helped put up the net. Ben did all of the testing.
22
Mar
Today we put the trampoline back up and it’s one time when all four get along and jump together. Alex was rather proud when he managed to pin all of his siblings at one time.
21
Mar
In other news, Alex can now levitate objects while unloading the dishwasher.
20
Mar
Here’s a little secret: There are some perks to being the oldest. I would never let the other kids have pie for an after school snack. However, Alex gets home before everyone else and while Ben is still napping. He can have it eaten and cleaned up without anyone else knowing. (After all, he did bake the pie…)
19
Mar
Sunday roundup.
18
Mar
Bingo night at church. This guy wasn’t sure he wanted to come, but he had a good time after all.
18
Mar
Our church hosted a potluck and game night. The kids were in various stages of excitement to attend, but we all got there and I brought their favorite Chimichurri sandwiches. As luck would have it, the games were Bingo and trivia. (We haven’t played Bingo since the last time we were in KY and now we have played twice in three days.) The younger kids were very excited by the prize options – candy, toys, etc. Alex was being a teenager but didn’t put up too much fuss and willingly played the games. Kaitlyn even got to call numbers and tell some of her favorite jokes to the crowd.
17
Mar
Some nights this is exactly what game night looks like.
(If you look closely, you will see that Wade now has his own gaming computer.)
16
Mar
The elementary school had a fundraiser tonight for the 6th grade’s trip to Nature’s Classroom. The PTG and the principals worked together to coordinate the event. Parents donated baked goods to sell for dessert and 6th graders donated their time as wait staff. I was there early for setup and to man the cashbox. Wade brought the family to the second seating. Ben was so excited for his “bingo” and Kaitlyn helped him choose a prize. The goal was $1000 and they got pretty close to their goal!
16
Mar
Pasta and Bingo Night at the elementary school.
15
Mar
Everyone wanted to challenge dad to a game tonight.
14
Mar
It’s 3/14, which is Pi Day. Alex took it upon himself to make us a chocolate chip pie.
13
Mar
Alex hunting through the “shoe basket.”
12
Mar
Sunday lineup.
(Just for you Gram the big boys are not wearing red plaid shirts.)
11
Mar
Alex is rationing the bread his MKE friends brought and has found his favored method of toasting it.
10
Mar
Kaitlyn was cooking, Alex was unloading the dishwasher, and Teague was playing with Ben. Then Alex asked Teague to come in and talk to him about their latest video game. Brother bonding and a plus that Teague helped him with some of the unloading.
09
Mar
Alex does this multiple, multiple times a day. I used to really wish he would get a glass. Then I look at the number of glasses Teague uses a day. There is no win here.
07
Mar
Alex is patiently waiting for me to finish all my things so that we can watch Hamilton together. He saw a few clips in class and now wants to watch the entire play.
06
Mar
Morning chores.
05
Mar
Our church used to have quite a thriving Sunday School program. Then COVID happened. It has been a slow struggle to find teachers and get kids back to church. Some Sundays my four have been the entire kids’ program. Thankfully that is not the case currently, but we are still struggling to find teachers. Wade recently offered to teach the middle/high school. His plan is to make pancakes and then throw a little learning in there too. I deliver my younger two and then teach where needed, which is often Ben’s age group.
05
Mar
Sunday roundup.
04
Mar
Lazy Saturday.
03
Mar
Ben walks around asking for help on his Minecraft till somebody takes pity on him.
02
Mar
Alex made chocolate crepe batter and has been making two crepes for breakfast each morning.
01
Mar
Alex has taught me new acronyms lately. He leaves his computer “farming” and tells me he is leaving it AFK (Away From Computer). This is fine overnight but it has proven a little too tempting for Ben. He can’t help but press buttons which then messes up Alex’s plans.
28
Feb
Snow day lunch.
27
Feb
All four in the kitchen at breakfast time? This never happens anymore.
26
Feb
25
Feb
Saturday = chore day.
24
Feb
Wade treated the boys to lunch at Ben’s favorite place. His favorite lady even gave them all tootsie pops.
23
Feb
Evidently Alex didn’t leave his room without a lot of persuasion.
22
Feb
Alex is flying through his electronics time so I am letting him earn some extra time with chores that help me out. Tonight that meant cooking dinner.
21
Feb
Teague is one lucky kid. Every year his birthday falls on February break (which I had never heard of before moving to Massachusetts). We started the day with a surprise snowfall, birthday donuts, and hot chocolate. Then we opened a few gifts before everyone started getting ready for the day. Lunch was Teague’s choice of Chick-fil-a. Then we split up for a few errands. Wade took Teague on a surprise visit to see some high end cars and I did some last minute birthday shopping. Dinner was everyone’s favorite Papa John’s pizza and then Alex’s cake. Teague finished the night with his presents and some extra gaming time.
21
Feb
Birthday donuts!
20
Feb
When I was planning out Teague’s birthday tomorrow, I asked him about meals and his birthday cake. He requested Alex’s cake, which Alex first created with Gram several years ago. Alex was happy to help and told me exactly what he needed. Alex took over from there and I offered minimal assistance.
20
Feb
Alex learned a new skill today. When you have friends over and you make a mess, you learn to clean carpets.
19
Feb
It was a busy night at our house with multiple sleepovers (and Teague had a playdate earlier in the day). I’m hoping tomorrow everyone is very chill.
18
Feb
Sometimes after everyone else is in bed, Alex and I sneak in some cheese dip and chips.
17
Feb
Some evenings I feel like this child never goes to sleep. He joins Wade and I in the living room and is capable of staying up later than me.
16
Feb
New bedding for his birthday and hanging out in his favorite spot.
15
Feb
Wade brought a working Ms. Pac-Man home after a year of it sitting in a workshop waiting to be fixed. It works! Now we just need to find a home for it in our house.
14
Feb
Alex and his friends often walk up to the town Common and visit the gas station for snacks and then hang out at the Library. Alex almost always stops by home and drops off his backpack and waits till his friends walk by our house before he runs to catch up with them. Having a house between the Middle School and the local hang out isn’t a bad thing.