FIELD DAY!

Aaron had a wonderful Field Day at school last week! (Although it might have been more appropriate to call it WATER DAY, since most of the activities involved getting wet.) In the morning Aaron's class walked the two blocks from the school to the local swimming pool. It was a bit chilly when they got there, but wasn't too bad by the time they left. Aaron loved it!

For one of the events the kids took turns sitting in the chair. another child would try to throw a wet sponge into the bulls eye on the wall. If they made in into the bulls eye they got to dump a bucket of water on the kid sitting in the chair, but then they had to take their place!

During this event the kids had to fill a can with holes in it and then run it across the field to the bucket and dump it in before all the water escaped through the holes!

This game was really fun to watch. The kids lined up in several lines. The first kid in line picked a sponge up out of the bucket and had to pass it to the kid standing behind them. They relayed the sponge and tried to get through the whole line. The last person in line then ran to the front of the line and started the process over. The first group to get through all the kids wins!

In this game the kids were throwing little wet sponges at targets...

Thank you for coming Grandma! It was fun!

Childbirth According to Caleb

Every time it comes closer to adding a new baby to the family the kids inevitably start asking about HOW the baby gets out of my tummy. Our stock response is "All you need to know is that when it is time Mommy will go to the hospital and there is a special way that the doctors help Mommy to get the baby out. That's all you need to know right now..." Clearly, that is not a detailed description, and the kids occasionally try to come up with their own theories...

Which brings us to yesterday, IN PUBLIC, at Sam's Club. Caleb was sitting in the cart patting my stomach as we walked through the aisles... (Keep in mind that the lady in the same aisle was trying so hard not to die of laughter, and was pretending that she wasn't eavesdropping, which is dumb, because it was pretty obvious by her stifled laughter that she was.)

CALEB: So when our baby comes out you will get to go the hospital, right Mom?

ME: Right Caleb.

CALEB: And the doctor will take our baby out of your tummy?

ME: Something like that, Caleb. I don't think you need to worry about that right now...

CALEB: I know how they do it, Mom.

ME: You do? I really don't think you need to worry about that right now though, Caleb. We'll talk about it later...

CALEB: (ignoring me...) First you go into the hospital. Then all the doctors HUG and SQUEEZE your tummy really tight mom.

(At this point he hugged his arms around my tummy really tight to show me how tight you'd have to squeeze)

ME: Really?

CALEB: Yes, and they SQUEEZE so hard that a special trap door opens up to let the baby out.

(he motions this by taking his two hands together and opens them like a set of double doors)

ME: (Speechless...)

CALEB: That 's how they do it, right Mom?

ME: (all I could say was...) I really don't think you need to be worrying about that right now Caleb...

CALEB: It's okay, Mom. I'm not worried. I know about the trap door...

So that my friends is "Childbirth according to my 4 year old."(I guess in theory he's essentially correct... What can I possibly say to that? Sigh.) :)

Caleb's Conversation with his Nuggets...

Last night we overheard the following conversation between Caleb and his Chicken Nuggets... (in case you're wondering, he was the voice for his nuggets...)

CALEB(looking at his nuggets): What's that? What did you say? It's okay, don't cry...

NUGGETS (in Caleb's "other" voice): We want to go to the party in your tummy!

CALEB: You do?

NUGGETS: YES!

CALEB: Don't worry, I'll help you...

CALEB (after eating one): SO yummy!

(This is funny in and of itself, but will probably be even funnier if you have ever heard the song "Party in My Tummy" on that irritating kids show, Yo Gabba Gabba)

Somebody is Getting Older... (a bit belated...)

Last month on April 16th, Matt turned 32. We did celebrate. We even took pictures. I have just been so preoccupied with other concerns that I didn't post anything. I am such a slacker!
Birthday posts are some of my favorites, because I really get a chance to stop and think about why I love that person so very much. So, even though it is a bit belated (sorry, honey!) I still want to talk a moment to reflect on all things Matt. Here goes...

1. Matt is a good father to his kids. Every day the kids watch for and listen for their dad to come home from work. At the first sound of the front door opening the kids pile into the living room to see who gets to give Daddy the first welcome home hug of the day. (Sometimes someone gets trampled in the process...) I love the smile on his face as he greets the kiddos.

2. Matt is horrible at Monopoly and Battleship. I used to think he was just being gentlemanly by letting me win, but it turns out he really is that bad. He is so conservative with his finances that he isn't aggressive enough to build up his properties quickly, whereas I take a big gamble and buy everything. I buy the cheapo properties and build them up very quickly, whereas Matt waits for the "perfect" buy, but then can't afford to improve them. He usually ends up paying exorbitant amounts of rent to me instead of building up his own. Also, being a Math Guy, he has such a methodical mind that he always lines up his ships in Battleship in predictable patterns. Locate one or two, and the pattern becomes obvious, and so I usually beat him. I think he gets flustered by my randomness sometimes.

3. I love that he continues to try to "talk math" to me, even though I really haven't the foggiest idea what he is talking about most of the time. I love that he still gets frustrated trying to explain that half of 1/2 is 1/4. (Whereas I know that half of 1/2 is really 1/4, I love to argue that half of 1/2 is really one half, because if you split anything in half, what have you got left? Half!)

4. Matt loves pork chops.

5. Matt is very ticklish. He probably won't appreciate me sharing this, but you don't even have to touch him to make him laugh. Just the power of suggestion and waving your fingers at him, pretending to tickle him, makes him squirm with laughter.

6. He plays the guitar. Lately, he serenades the kids while they are taking a bath. You should hear his rendition of "Rubber Ducky"... priceless.

7. Matt has a great sense of humor. He loves subtle jokes and dry humor. I think sometimes he married me just because he is so amused by the things that come out of my mouth. (I love to joke and tease with him, mainly because he blushes so easily!)

8. Matt loves to read. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot of time to read, since he works full time and comes home to a crazy house full of kids. We do read to our kids every night though, and I know he enjoys this. You should really hear his take of "Dooby Dooby Moo." (It's in the same series as "Click Clack MOO. Cows That Type.")

9. Matt is always singing. When we first got married he used to sing show tunes to me all day. I finally broke him of loudly singing "Oklahoma!" every time their was a lull in the conversation.

10. Matt is a great husband. He tries so very hard to be a little bit better all the time. He changes diapers, snuggles babies, does laundry, humors his wife, loves the kids, and wrestles the dog. Meanwhile, he faithfully serves in his callings and provides for his family. (and he rarely complains...) We are so blessed to have him.

We love you, Matt!