Caleb’s Conclusion

Last month, when Manny and the older boys were out hunting, Caleb asked to wash dishes, and I let him.  He was so proud of himself, for the good job he did, that he requested to be added to the dish-washing rotation.  No one objected, and he did a wonderful job…until the novelty wore off.

This last week he has had to re-due the job several times, as dirty dishes keep ending up in the drainer.  After running new water, for the third time, yesterday, I gave him an ultimatum.

“Caleb, you are going to wash the dishes every day, until they are all clean in a timely manner.  Every time you have more than three dirty dishes in the to re-wash, you will have the job again the next day.”

He sighed, and said, “Okay.”  Blankly, he turned and began to walk away.

I called him back, and asked, “Caleb, what did I say to you?”

“That I have to wash dishes…” looking around sadly.

“Until when?” I prompted.

“Until I move out of the house,” he calmly answered.

“Until when?”  I prompted, again.

“Until I am old enough to move out of the house, then I won’t have to wash dishes anymore.”  He answered, a bit annoyed.

“Is that what I said?” I asked.

“No, you said I had to get them clean.”  He replied, staring off into space.

We will see how long that takes…

Decorating Cookies

For the first time in the history of this family, we made rolled cookies and decorated them.  I don’t know why we have never done this before…  It is not hard, a bit time consuming, but so much fun! 

We started this project last Thursday evening, with mixing the dough.  The next day we rolled and cut.  There was lots of snitching.  I was almost afraid we would not have any cookies.  ;-0

Yesterday, we took time to decorate them.  It was so fun to see the kids creativity and individual personalities come out:  The colors they chose, their skill level, and the cookies they most enjoyed decorating.

Adam was studious, and concentrated hard on his work.  He decorated long after the others had tiered out and gone to play.

He decorated a cookie with each member of the family in mind.  It is fun to see him growing and thinking of others.

Daniel wanted so much to be involved.  I gave him three cookies, and a knife.  He would frost the cookie, say it was ugly, and lick the frosting off.  Then he would frost it again.  He kept himself occupied some time in this manner, until the gingerbread man broke!  He ‘glued’ its leg back on, with frosting, and then put a puddle on it, made of several colors.  he really liked that one, and saved it to show daddy.

After dad had seen his handy work, he fed it to Gideon, who objected not in the least!  We ran out of frosting, before we ran out of cookies.  I am debating  mixing up some more, and enjoying this together time again or just enjoying the unfrosted cookies with guests…as we clearly can’t serve these to others.

Gotta Love ‘em!

<- Daniel, showing me what is left of his last cookie.

Happy Birthday: 34 years and 1 month

Last month Manny celebrated his 34th birthday with Mud Pie and Elk Hunting a long hike.  He had a good time out in the mountains, but got lonely for his family, so came home and took the two oldest boys back out with him.  They all had fun, but came home so dirty, I didn’t even want to talk about it.

So, why are we celebrating again?  Well, it seems old age has some advantages.  He has no idea how old he is.  In the weeks before his birthday he was asked his age several times, and each time he told the person something different.  These false ages ranged from 27-36 years of age.  The funny part is that he had no idea he was lying to anyone.  Of course, the kids always caught him, and informed him of his mistake.

Now, when someone asks him his age, he looks around for one of the children…to find out how old he is.

Happy Birthday, and a month, Honey!  I love you!

Birthdays

This last week Daniel and I both celebrated our birthdays.  He turned three, while I am only one day older than I was the day before.

For his birthday, he got to go to work with Manny for a couple of hours.  He was so proud of himself. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my birthday, I made my favorite cheese cake. 

This weekend, Manny is taking me out for the evening.

The Many Sides Of Daniel

Daniel can be delightful, but tell him something he doesn’t want to hear, and you’ll have a bear on your hands.

 

He can be sweet and loving… ready with a hug,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

silly, sad or rude!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe I’ve been taking pictures too long?

An Interview with Daniel

This morning, I thought I would find out what kind of Birthday Cake Daniel would like to have, since his birthday is coming up next week.  This is how the conversation went:

Me:  Daniel, you have a birthday coming.

Daniel:  That is because I am getting bigger.  Look my hands are big.

Me:  They sure are big.

Daniel:  And I am strong too.

Me:  Yes you are.  Hey, I was wondering what kind of cake you would like to have for your birthday.

Daniel:  Yes.

Me:  What do you mean.

Daniel:  I want cake.

Me:  Okay, but what kind?

Daniel:  The kind we eat.

Me:  What flavor.

Daniel:  Like we had before.  Chocolate, Carmel, yummy.

Me:  Like Daddy’s? [Daddy had an Ice-cream Pie]

Daniel:  Yah, and the other kind!

Me:  What other kind?

Daniel:  Like you made before.  The big one.

Me:  Do you mean Banana Cake, or Chocolate Cake, in layers?

Daniel:  Yah!

Me:  Pick one.

Daniel:  One!

I guess I’ll be making the decision, and evidently, he will enjoy it. 

A Typical Evening

Before I thought Adam was old enough to do more than look at pictures, Manny began reading to him from the Bible each evening.  Now this reading time encompasses all the boys.  Over noise and playing, he reads; stopping at appropriate times, to ask questions or invite discussion.

It amazes me, that a man who always wants to ‘get to bed early’ will spend and forty-five minutes reading to his children, especially, when the text could be read in ten minutes, or less. 

This time is one of the high-lights of our days.  Everyone gathered, and no chores to be done; relaxing yet lively. 

Peek-a-Boo

Gideon had just stacked the little cups, helping to put dishes away, and being very proud of himself, was busy announcing to the world, “I did that (clap, clap), I did that.”  He pointed his work out to everyone who walked by.

When I opened the other side of the cupboard to stack the plates, he saw me, and looked intently for a moment, not sure of what he was seeing.  Then he looked outside the cupboard.  I followed him, and a game of peek-a-boo ensued.  Back and forth we went, smiles broadening with each new “peek.”

Now, he tries to be there, when ever I am putting dishes away, sure that chores are a ton of fun.

Firewood

  

For months now, they have been gathering, cutting, splitting and stacking it.  Today they finished.  All of our firewood for the year is ready to use!

At first it was slow going, but, as they say, “practice makes perfect.”  Manny and the boys soon worked out a system to efficiently handle the work.  They set up two splitting stumps, and Benjamin manned one while Adam manned the other. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manny split one log after another, while the boys gathered the split wood and kept the stumps ready.  They hauled the wood by hand, in wheelbarrows, the tractor bucket, and finally, in their cozy coupes.

Everyone got involved, and it often became a contest.  They loved to see who could haul the most. Daniel and Caleb competed against each other, hauling wood as fast as they could; while Adam and Benjamin also sought to out work each other, and together, out-do Manny.  In the end, everyone won, as the last of the wood was stacked away in the garage this morning.  We will all be warm this winter.

First Snow of the Season

Friday morning it was freezing.  I looked at the garden and knew there was no hope of saving it with the sprinkler.  The leaves had already turned black.  All that day, I waited for it to warm up…then the kids and I would clean up the back yard for winter, but by 6 p.m., it was still cold and only getting colder.

I harvested the last of the squash and gourds, collected the beans and peas, and every sunflower head that was remotely ripe.  Then Manny came home and informed me that it was suppose to snow a foot that night!

The next morning there was only a light dusting, and I thought maybe the worst of it was over…but NO, it snowed all Saturday, and Sunday.

The kids absolutely loved it.  The first time they went out, they dressed to the hilt.  Every bit of snow clothing was drug out and put on:  Hats, gloves, pants, boots and coats; there was even a scarf or two. 

Then, Saturday afternoon, Manny and the three oldest boys helped a friend split and stack firewood.  It was then that they decided it was not that cold, and began venturing out with a bit less clothing.  By Sunday afternoon, they were daring each other:  Who could be out the longest, in the least clothing?

In and out they ran.  Around and around the maple tree they ran. 

Benjamin could stay out the longest, in his bare feet, but Daniel seemed the bravest, with no shirt.  Carrying his balloon with him, he ran as long as Caleb managed to.  The whole time he was running he was instructing his balloon not to be scared of the cold, and promising not to drop it.

As they ran, it continued to snow.  Deeper and deeper it piled up, leaving us with the feeling that it was time to hibernate.  So we all curled up in front of the fireplace to read aloud.  Manny read to us from The Door in the Dragon’s Throat, by Frank Peretti.  It is a children’s book, but exciting enough to keep an adult interested.

Later, Manny joined in the fun.  He was out there “bathing” in the snow, rubbing it all over his body, and telling the boys to get ”tough and smelly.”  Later they had a snow ball fight.

Adam is the only one who insisted on dressing up. He has decided that getting cold is not really worth while.  I tend to agree with him.  No “tough and smelly” for me.

“Through boys through!  Get him!” 

Maybe they will join the Polar Bear Club this year.  Manny would love to, but I think the boys are too young.  Does not the Polar Bear Club have a minimum age?