First Saturday of the Month!

We may have a new tradition. Carrie works the first Saturday of every month. Her Saturday co-worker, John, has kids.

John's wife started a weekend college course. He brought the boys in and hoped for a slow day.

No one walked through the door, but the boys moved anything but slow.

If it's not already apparent, I 'volunteered' to bring Shane in and help. The boys ran laps around the showroom, bounced on beds, played hide and seek, and made a mess of things. 

They had a blast. We picked up behind them as they went.

Dylan's little brother, Eli, enjoyed jumping from bed to bed, too!

There was enough business to keep Carrie glued to the phone most of the morning. John and I played a zone defense. One of us tended to stay near the older boys and the other would chase down Eli whenever he peeled off from the group.

John had to answer the phone several times, as well, but it wasn't a problem. We both brought loads and loads of toys and snacks.

There was enough "new" in our stuff to enthrall Dylan and Eli and enough "new" in their stuff to mystify Shane. 

We burned an hour and lots of energy before there was any need for an electronics break (it kept the older boys quiet while John and Carrie were helping customers and I entertained Eli).

If John can't find child care next month, Shane and I would be happy to help out again. Maybe I can even train Shane on the phones in case a third call comes through.

Healthy Squabbles

The house is filled with healthy squabbles tonight. I try to sit on the fringe and feign ignorance most of the time. Kids need to have arguments to learn how to work through them. Raheem and Shane fill that role for each other. Sometimes Shane's the toot. Sometimes Raheem's the toot. Sometimes they're both toots. I try not to be overly involved, but step in for a healthy lesson when the time is right (or needed).

Makes for a loud house, though. Good thing Emily is out of town and Carrie is getting home late.

What's a Bagel?

I offered Raheem bagel bites tonight. He hesitated. He wasn't a fan when I made him try fish sticks or pierogis.

Shane was excited. "I LOVE bagel bites!"

Raheem asked what they were.

"They're little pizzas on a bagel," I said. Raheem looked unsure. "Well, there's cheese and pizza sauce on a mini-bagel. It's a little piece of bread."

"OH! A bagel is bread?" Then Raheem was all about the bagel bites.

Raheem seems to have a very limited diet. The only things he's been a fan of here are chicken nuggets, peanut butter crackers, juice, and water. 

I can't say anything, because I was a famously picky eater. The Jeffers made me try oatmeal for the first time in seventh grade (brown-sugar with maple!). They also introduced me to Pop Tarts. Then there was the time I learned how to drink out of a bottle when I lost in a chugging competition to Bill....

So I'm not judging. I wasn't much different. My palate has grown since. My goal is to stretch Raheem's a little. Bagel bites aren't a huge jump, but anything new is a start.

Almost a year later...

I'm glad someone got a kick out of them. John and I played once almost a year ago.

Twenty minutes of fairly contained children is worth something to me. I think they only broke one.

Shane in Greenville - Summer 2015

Let us not forget Camp Nana Pop Cousins 2015.

Shane spent 6 days in Greenville this summer playing being spoiled by my parents and playing with his cousin. He had so much fun it was hard to bring him back.

I'll let the pictures tell the story for me.

Delivery with a Heart

It's not even Valentine's Day.

I told Shane to wait until Mommy got home. I figured she'd want to see what our little heart-breaker is up to.