We Love Our Books!

Cora (7 yrs) is devouring biographies. I hope her school library is ready! She loves learning "facts" about famous people. She memorizes their birth and death dates (if applicable). Her two pics for the week: Dr. Suess and Elvis Presley! I couldn't be more pleased...again, though I'm pleased, this is self-initiated. A little secret is that I have always loved biographies.

And, we've learned about "figures of speech". We had to clarify that Elvis did not actually "set the world on fire" with his music.  Unfortanately, I also must go back and revisit some facts. She is quizzing me. 

Oberlee (6 yrs) can't get enough of her kids human body books. Her newest fave is "The Human Body Encyclopedia". It's beyond me, but I love it. Her favorite things to learn about are they eyes, bones, and blood! 

August (2yrs) is loving the "Biscuit Books". They have the imbedded flaps with surprises and follows the life and times of the sweet puppy, Biscuit. He's into puppies and can't get enough of them! 

Miss Eliza (7 mo) loves to play with books and try to eat them. But, I enjoy reading to her and she seems to listen attentively. With her brother, we like to read "Haiku BAby". It gives a haiku for each season and the illustrations are wonderful. We are trying to start her early on the journey of reading and hope she will follow in the footsteps of her siblings who all LOVE reading time. Especially when mom and dad read with them. 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."

Dr. Seuss

Leave the Mess! A List...

To all that say "leave the mess, enjoy the kids", I have a list:

1. You must not have to get up at 6 am to get kids ready and had to sift through unfolded laundry to find outfits, accompanied by a seven-year-old fashion melt down.

2. You must like to have toys strewn about the house, then step on a Lego sending your whole body into excruciating pain.

3. You must not like to have a place to sit when company comes over.

4. You must enjoy when your bare feet stick to the floors because your toddler goes on a "spilling frenzy".

5. You must like dirty bathrooms that you never get to clean because you are too busy picking up the mess in front of your eyes.

6. You must enjoy dishes piled in the kitchen because you were playing with your kids after dinner instead of cleaning the kitchen. 

7. You must love dirty glass doors with muddy handprints. It's cute and nostalgic, but what about when you finally get around to wiping them? It's a lot harder. 

8. You must love a messy car that has no bottom to it.

9. You must have a better way of coping with environmental chaos and I would like some pointers on that. 

10. You must have a full-time housekeeper.

Maybe I'm OCD, but is there not a balance? Maybe I'm just the product of a mother who kept an impeccable house. How do you have a clean house and happy kids, and time for yourself...not "time for yourself to clean"? Because the truth is - I DO NOT like to clean but I love a clean house. Lazy, huh? I'm working on it. But I would much rather take the kids somewhere fun, read books with them, and make art projects with them, than clean.

Daily maintenance and giving out responsibilities to kids seems to really work. But you have to start them early and be patient with the mess while you are training them. That's the only solution that seems to work. I must confess...I like a clean house! No judgements to any who have an unclean house, I do not have one either. But I long for the day that everything is in its proper place and clean. Sadly, it will probably be when my children have moved out, into their own houses, that will most likely be just as messy, and I'll smile at them, hug them, and say, "you'll get there"...just like my sweet mama does with me. 

Top Ten Places We've Found Molly

1. Working the front desk of the historic Natchez Eola Hotel in Mississippi.

2. Being held by the man who ran over her. (She was fine).

3. In the back of a police car wearing a Christmas t-shirt.

4. On a "found dog" poster.

5. Memorial Park in Bentoville, Arkansas.

6. #4 Lakeside Dr.

7. Front desk of the animal shelter.

8. Driving by in the back of a Jeep Cherokee.

9. Downtown Bentonville square.

10. Her house.

Our poodle since 2001.

My Son Likes Eggs as a Pizza

Farm Frittata

Some fresh farm eggs
Little milk
Sea Salt
Oregano
Ground pepper
Asiago cheese
(all scrambled)

Chopped bell pepper, onion, tomato
All made in frittata style. Cut it like a pizza and Voila! Happy boy!

Ingredients were traded locally at Red Hat Farms in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Traveling With A Family of Six: 10 Reasons to Always Have Plastic Bags

1. The Catfish King in Mt. Pleasant, Texas doesn't have real Catfish King hushpuppies.

2. Vomit.

3. Splash Parks are easier than baths.

4. Because hotels don't use trash bags anymore.

5. Swimming until check out time.

6. Diapers always happen.

7. Sacks for sacks of empty snacks.

8. You have to have somewhere to hide the toy you just took away.

9. Glass bottles need extra padding. Even in the ice chest.

10. You never know when someone might give you cucumbers.