glow in the dark incentives

This summer Jack has been going to a weekly program at the library. I didn't think he would be interested at all in something so passive. He reads really well, but doesn't LOVE to do it. We couldn't figure out why he was so pumped about this reading program. I mean, yeah, they did fun activities and stuff-- but still?

Then it became clear. The sent home a chart, and for every hour you read you would mark the chart and earn a library dollar. And the BIG DRAW for Jack? Glow in the dark slime for a mere $12 in library dollars-- or 12 hours of reading.

He did it!

Pool Boy(s)

Just some pictures of our pool boys. They aren't very good at mixing drinks and timely service, but they put on a good show.

My Precious

Our church just installed a new building sprinkler system to bring it up to code. This project has been going on for months-- but!... this week, they actually installed the HUGE pipes and valves and levers and knobs and gauges at the control point where the water enters the building.

Brit walked into the back garage where this is all located, stopped dead in his tracks and said "Whooooooa!". He kept glancing at me as his hand hovered over the multitude of levers and knobs. I kept thinking that they surely will build something around this "mission control" before they are done? This is a Brit-magnet for sure.

After repeated attempts to touch everything were met with countless No's, Brit was completely crestfallen. He just stood planted in that spot and gazed longingly at this little bit of heaven. Finally, one little hand reached out and began stroking a lever with pure adoration. "It's so soft," he whispered. This is the 5-year-old's way of saying "this is the most wonderful thing I have ever laid my eyes on!".

For a minute I thought I heard Schmegal (Lord of the Rings) saying, "Precious. Myyyy Precious".

mosquitoes, campfires and smores-- Oh My!

For those of you who said it wouldn't happen--Hah! We finally camped in our camper that we have had for 3 years. We were telling the gentleman next to us our saga, and he commented that it isn't all bad to wait until the boys are this age so you can say, "Stay out of the campfire. Don't lean over the dam, etc." We responded, "Really? We said that and it didn't work?"

Actually, we had a very, very good time. Now, our "camper" is a term we use loosely. It is a 1976 hard-side, pop-up. It is huge, old, cumbersome and was practically free. It really suits us, though. We made the trip as easy as possible. I cooked up some food ahead of time and we pretty much had snacks and drinks, and that was it.

For those of you who know me... I brought a fan, okay two, and a pretty string of lights to hang outside the camper, and a huge bouquet of wildflowers that a friend had given me for my birthday. If we were going to camp, it was going to be easy-- and charming. Later on, we realized that in the State Park we were at, you are not allowed to pick wild flowers. So then I felt a little nervous that I had adorned our picnic table with a huge batch of wild flowers that I'm sure everyone thought I had gathered "in-park".

So, now that we have one camping trip under our belt, I've decided I want a motor home that is all packed and ready to go. That would make me even more-- a happy camper!

Dance like no one's watching...

Cook like no one's eating!

Those who know me are aware that I do not enjoy cooking. It is a necessary job that I endure for the love of my family. I do happen to make 10 things really well... but not with much joy.

Needless to say, in the kitchen I am adequate. Cameron, on the other hand, is a fantastic cook- and quite tasty, um!... I mean savvy, yes, savvy in the kitchen.

So the other day he walks in while I'm making supper. He has put in a long day at work, and I am valiantly trying to make supper for him and the boys to relax over. Multi-tasking in the kitchen is also a talent I don't have, and I am taking a long time, and not really doing a stunning job. I jokingly remark that very intelligent people are often useless in commonsense tasks, and quite often not useful in day to day life. We (I casually named myself as one of the "gifted" ones) tend to do better at conquering difficult, complex struggles in life and the world.

Cameron just grinned, and I could tell he was very amused at my attempt to pass of my inability by claiming a better one. Well, a few minutes later I screwed something up and he happened to walk in at that moment. That is when I heard, "don't you have a country to save or something?!" I didn't even have to turn around to see the glee in his eyes and the smirk on his face!

He's lucky he is cute!

Chick Trickery

Cameron had gone to the local farm supply store to get a part for something. It is that time of year when they have all the baby chicks and ducklings in large, galvanized tubs - ready to purchase for livestock.

Brit had gone with Daddy, because he loves any kind of outing. In the store they go, and as Cameron is walking down one of the isles, he hears the chicks suddenly "peeping" with intense fervor. He turns around to see Brit, head first, in the tub. We think he leaned a little too far and went over the edge - but Brit told Cameron that the he was just looking at the chicks, when they grabbed his shirt and pulled him right into the tub!

Don't mess with chicks!