keeping busy (life of a little boy)

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Shanda

He has places to go and things to do.

***

I would like to take a few minutes to tell some Seth stories. Seth is five years old and as smart as a whip. Unfortunately, his brilliance is not tempered with common sense quite yet, so we have adventures with him on a regular basis. Over the last week, I have had several close calls with him that I want to record.

Tale Number One: Sock Monkey

Last week, I was upstairs giving Sarah a bath and Seth was playing like an angel downstairs (or, so I thought). As Sarah was playing in the water, I came to the realization that I had heard the downstairs bathroom flush. It flushed, and flushed again. After about five or six consecutive flushes I ran down to see what the matter was. I found Seth in there, intent on flushing – with the water in the sink running, too. I looked down into the toilet and realized that he was trying to flush down a stuffed animal.

“Seth! What are you doing?”

“It’s my sock monkey. I don’t like it anymore so I want it to go to the ocean, and drown.” he explained.

“Whaaaaaa? What do you mean you don’t like your sock monkey?” I was astounded. He doesn’t normally flush the things he doesn’t like down the toilet. I turned the water off in the sink but I wasn’t about to put my hand in the toilet.

“Seth, you put it in there, you reach your hand in and get it out!” I demanded.

“Whaaaaaaa?” He complained.

“The water is clean enough, go ahead, pull it out!”

He reached his hand down into the water and pulled out…….just an arm! I quickly realized that the arm was charred!

I screamed. “Seth! Did you burn your monkey? You DID! You tried to BURN YOUR MONKEY!”

As I was exclaiming, he reached down and pulled out the rest of it. I screamed again. His monkey was all burned up and he had tried to flush it down the toilet so I would never know. Apparently he had gotten it in the fire (we don’t know why, I don’t know why, and Seth doesn’t know why either) and when it was in flames, he carried it to the bathroom with the fireplace tongs and threw it in the toilet. We had a talk about fire safety but I could tell that he really wasn’t that bothered by the experience. He was mostly upset because I was upset with him, not because he could have burned himself or the house down.

To make things even more interesting, the entire time I was dealing with him, Sarah was up in the tub calling, “MOM!!! I’M READY TO GET OUT!” over and over………..

*****

Tale Number Two: The non-Emergency Call

This morning I came out of my room and heard Seth upstairs in his bed talking away, having a good old conversation. “Who in the world is Seth talking to?” I asked Sarah. “He has Caleb’s phone.” she answered. Okay. I walked on into the kitchen, believing that he was just having a pretend conversation. Rich had thrilled Caleb’s heart by giving him his old disconnected but still working blackberry. Caleb could play the ringtones and push the buttons. I think he could even play a little game on it.

After a minute or so, Seth came down and said, “Here, he wants to talk to you.”

“Whaaaaaa?” I was thinking.

Guess what? When a blackberry is disconnected you can STILL CALL 911! Yep, all that time Seth was upstairs having an animated heart to heart with an emergency phone service worker. The man asked Seth if he could help him and Seth said “no”. (He didn’t need help, he just needed someone to talk to.) He asked Seth if there was an emergency. “No”. Seth replied. They hung up. Seth wasn’t done, so he called him back. He wanted to tell the nice man (Seth knew he was nice, after all-he had *offered to help*) that he got a new calendar and that he had a birthday and mom’s birthday was tomorrow. He wanted to tell the man some stories. He wanted to know if he could go to his house sometime. At this point, the man asked if he could speak to a grown up.

“Yes, we received several phone calls from this number. I guess your son got a hold of your phone. It’s good that he gave it back to you so we knew there wasn’t an emergency.”

I got off the phone and marched it back to my husband. It’s not going to be a toy anymore.

Seth getting into cookies.

Seth’s self photography

Me and Seth (truly, for all his mischief, he’s the apple of my eye)

If the mother doesn’t keep the little boy busy, he will find something to do.

home

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Shanda

Sunday: After a big, gooey pizza, we had birthday cake.

I know, the cake was tiny! I bought it at a bake shop and I knew he would love the football and decide that it would slice into 10 pieces just fine. We each had one piece and then the cake was gone.

Monday: I knew we were about to get some snow so I took Seth and Sarah downtown to get some groceries. There is nothing like that “prepared” feeling.

After I got the groceries in the house Sarah and I ran down to the chicken coop.

We asked them to come out and play but they said they were barefoot.

Parker is always ready for some playtime.

Actually, I think this face is saying, “Do you have an egg in your pocket for me?”

Here is a laundry tip for mothers with a large family: KEEP DOING IT. No matter what, do your laundry every day, even weekends. Go around the house in the morning and pick up any dirty clothes, take sheets off a bed or two, pick up towels in the bathroom and gather up the kitchen laundry, too. Remember to wash coats and jackets every once in a while, too. If I keep up with the laundry I only have to do, at the most, three loads a day, and sometimes only two. I wait until they are all washed and dried and then I stand at the couch and fold everything (or, I have a child do the folding). As soon as they are folded they are put away in the proper place. I’m usually all done with laundry by 1 o’clock every day.

Snowflake photography next to the open door of a snowy day.

Quiet moments during Seth and Sarah’s nap time.

My latest thrift store book: Things to Make and Do, full of doable, cute crafts for little ones. We made puffets!

The living room toy basket.

Our stack of reading by the armchair.

The fire is so delightful.

And since we’ve no place to go,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

More snow pictures from the front porch.

When Seth woke up we played his sock monkey game from Grandma.

Someone hides the monkey while the other one covers their eyes. Then, we read the questions in the game for clues to where it could be. Then, we GO LOOK.

Once, I hid the sock monkey in my plant.

Seth looked and looked.

And looked. Finally, he found it!

He was so happy. Then, it was his turn to hide it.

But when it’s my turn to look he cannot stand the suspense and usually tells me where it is before I can find it.

The boys came home in the snow.

Caleb spent the evening reading his book and finally finished it. The smile.

Tuesday: This was the view this morning from the porch, at about 7:30am. Fog was drifting toward me from over the trees, as the sun rose. And the trees were heavy with snow.

The children had school at the regular time but there are rumors of a snow storm tonight and a possible snow day, tomorrow.

I’m writing this in the bathroom while Seth splashes and sings in the bathtub.

Happy Tuesday!

Oh, I almost forgot to show you the puffets!

(They are really puppets but Seth and Sarah don’t say it right).

{this moment}

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Shanda

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. inspired by soulemama

This one needs a story. It happened today. David stayed home from school because he was sick so we went to Costco. He was a big help to me and when I was in line with Seth and Sarah, I sent him with money to buy the hotdogs. He did it successfully and even assisted Seth in getting some ketchup. We were heading out the door with full cart and hot dogs when I noticed he was looking longingly back at the vending machines. He can’t stay away from them; they are a boy’s dream come true- with food, slots for money, a door that lets out good stuff, and maybe money got left in it or rolled under it.. “Mom, can I go get something from the vending machine with the change from the hotdogs?” I looked at him. He asked so nicely, and since he was such a help, I said yes.

While he was busy with that, I went out to the car to start loading in Seth and Sarah and about 350 pounds of bulk foods. Dave arrived, hopped in, and away we went. “What did you get from the vending machine”? I asked politely. He proceeded to pull out FIVE CANDY BARS FROM HIS POCKET, surprise. He had used ALL the money leftover from the hotdogs to buy FIVE full sized candy bars!!! One entire dollar each. I was not happy and I lectured him. In conclusion (to the lecture), I told him he could have one, and that he could give the rest to his siblings for Christmas stocking stuffers.

Looking at the picture, it hurts my heart that I had to make him give up four. But one must learn moderation.

One candy bar is enough and enough is as good as a feast.

all on a birthday

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Shanda

The morning of Grace’s 14th birthday dawned bright, cold, and clear.

I gave her a gift before school, and made her a breakfast of fried eggs and homemade toasted bread.

We took a few pictures; she’s 14 now.

I gave her this sweatshirt, because she is a big Sherlock Holmes fan.

Grace loves nail polish and keeps her nails painted prettily.

Grace and her best friend, Jenna.

Grace colored with the little ones the other day; and copied out these verses. (( love ))

Scissors and yarn make a good quiet activity for a four year old. This kept him busy for about 15 minutes yesterday morning. He cut little pieces and practiced tying knots.

After seeing the birthday girl, David, and Caleb, off to school, the preschoolers and I got ready to go to a brunch. The brunch was held at Sandi’s house for all the core leaders in Community Bible Study. We each took a dish to share. The decorated table held chicken salad, zucchini muffins, Greek yogurt with berry sauce, pumpkin mousse served with ginger cookies and graham crackers, banana bread with chocolate chips, pumpkin muffins, and a fresh baked quiche. With coffee and tea, it was a delightful meal. We sat in the living room, chatted about the crazy things our kids have done, (which would come back to haunt me) and shared easy recipes. Paula wrote all the recipes down, we have plans to make up our own cookbook of 2-5 ingredient recipes. Seth and Sarah were supplied with toys and they had a great time exploring a place we had never visited before. Seth had the best time with the automatic water and ice on the door of the fridge and he drank a LOT of water. I left with a smile on my face and a bounce in my step, after getting to know the ladies better and sharing a good time.

One mile down the road Seth was absolutely desperate for a bathroom. Thankfully we came across a McDonald’s and we ran in, the three of us together and holding hands; he made it!

Grace requested tacos for her birthday meal and I had to stop at Big Y. By this time Seth needed another bathroom break and I took him down by the deli department to use the restroom.

On the way home from the store, Seth began sneezing and sneezing. Next, his nose began to bleed. It bled all the way home and I asked him, “Did you put something up there, Seth?”

“Only paper.”

“WHEN?”

“A long time ago.”

(I found out later that “a long time ago” only meant “half an hour ago” but at the time I was thinking the worse; infection, mold, etc.)

(but I guess half an hour is a long time to have something up the nose)

I got home and spent some time with a flashlight, peering up my son’s tiny nostril. There was nothing I could do.

I had him lay down and called the pediatrician.

To make a long story short (and, I might add, I was exhausted at this point=headache) I was advised to just go to the ER (we live near a small, quiet hospital that doesn’t get much action). Caroline came over to help me with the other children. Seth and I left for the ER where he was put right into a room. The doctors were so nice to him but Seth hated the HurriCaine (the name!) numbing spray that they put up his nose and accidently sprayed in his eye and face. We had to hold him down (he didn’t scream at all, just wriggled) as the doctor “went retrieving”.

Eventually, out came: a deli ticket from the grocery store.

It was the doctor’s idea to take pictures. He even told me to get in the picture while Seth tried on the cool flashlight helmet. You see my strained smile. He gave me the deli ticket to put in my scrapbook. (HOW did he know?LOL) Seth was given an orange popsicle, and a dancing Snoopy. Really, he was treated so kindly that I’m afraid he will want to go back soon.

After that two hour adventure, I got home in time to start dinner, say goodbye to Caroline and then load the kids back up to go get Grace from school.

OH, I also dropped the jar of special cheesy taco sauce out the back of the vehicle. I get to clean up cheese glass today!

We came home and ate tacos and had an ice cream cake.

Everyone loves this girl! Happy Birthday, Grace.

Today is another bright day, and I’m drinking a lot of chamomile tea to soothe my nerves.

what David did with his hour

Image

“Every child is entitled to one happy, care-free hour every day. We, in our anxiety to surround him with every safeguard, inspire him to greater effort, and lead him into habits of industry and righteousness, are likely to leave him no time for leisure. That is a great mistake. Provide for his hour of freedom and let him do as he likes. Even when he does things that you wish he wouldn’t. Let him.”

Child Training by Angelo Patri, 1922

David, age 11, is a cartoonist now. He read this book, by Betsy Byars, and is now excitedly forming a new group at school. Last year was an origami club, and now it’s a drawing comic strips club. He says he has all of his friends doing it.

(“When the boy organizes a club, encourage it. It is the sign of leadership. The clutter of boys about the place annoys you. Their noise bothers you. You have troubles enough with your own sons without gathering the neighbors’ as well. Be patient. Be glad that it is your son that is doing the gathering. He is leading. He is learning to carry responsibilities. Help him along.” Angelo Patri)

As soon as he arrived home from school yesterday, David set to work. He cleared off the small table upstairs and then hunted down all the colored pencils in the house he could find. He chose his Dad’s coffee mug to put them in. That done, he set out to find a lamp. He found one in his sister’s room and took it to his table to plug it in. Now he had light to work by. He got some pure white paper, sat in his chair…..and worked for such a long time. His brother Caleb had to beg him to go out to jump on the trampoline with him. Then right back to his table he went, until it was nighttime.

The evenings are so busy, I wasn’t paying much attention to his pursuits. But when he came and showed me his finished comic strip, I thank the Lord that I took the time to really study it and talk to him about it, and I was impressed.

This morning while he was busy making his lunch, he said this:

“For once I understand how to draw good comics. You have to put all your life’s skill into it.”

It was after writing that one down that I began to realize just how interested he was in drawing comics.

All on his own:

He read a book.

He gather up supplies.

He formed a club at school.

He set up his own work station.

After he was gone, I went upstairs to look at what David did with his hour yesterday.

He kept asking me where a tan was. He needed TAN. I didn’t know. This morning I saw his practice paper, where he was trying to figure out what to do. (He ended up using a tan crayon.)

He hung up pictures of his club from last year. He loves these pictures. His teacher took them, and gave them to him.

(By the way, a couple weeks ago I found David weeping over his memory book from 2nd grade. He put it away and wrote his 2nd grade teacher a note, made a homemade envelope, and mailed it to her. She wrote him back!) He has such a tender heart and so wise beyond his years.

With David’s example, Seth and Caleb are busy making cartoons now, too.

Complete with shocking boy humor. (Caleb)

cookies

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Shanda

It’s a beautiful, cloudy, cool morning outside. There is a heap of laundry to fold and some sloshing around in the washer getting washed, as I type. It’s a soothing sound. Seth and Sarah are playing with the kittens. The dog is at my feet.

Awake at 6, I spent half an hour with my older ones before their bus came. They talked to me about things that were important to them. Jacob had a field trip yesterday to Salem, MA. Grace and I sat together on the couch. Ethan was busy getting ready for school. I have come to enjoy the early morning visits together. Sometimes Grace asks me to braid her hair.

Rich has been gone on a business trip and will be home later tonight. He’s still parenting, though, and I had to laugh when Jacob told me that last night at 10:30 he got a text from him, “Jacob, are you behaving yourself? It’s time for you to get to sleep.” Jacob and Ethan were in the middle of playing a computer game together so it was a good thing they got the instruction from their Dad, I was sound asleep at that time. They felt like he was watching them and I’m thankful for my husband.

I had a frightening experience this morning but now I’m laughing about it. Caleb was ready for school early enough to play with Seth and they were downstairs in his room when I heard screams to stop my heart. Caleb was screaming for help in the most terrifying manner. I ran down expecting glass? blood? broken bones? a wild animal attack? electrocution? These screams said the worst was happening to my precious boy. I got down there and found him: upside down. head first and completely inside not one, but two sleeping bags. on the floor. with his pant leg caught up on the dresser knob, with the dresser about to fall on him, and Seth just standing there. Apparently Caleb was originally on the bed when Seth pushed him off. I was more upset with him for being so dramatic than anything else, so the lesson learned (one hopes) was “Do not Scream and Cry for Help so Terrifyingly Unless Things are Truly That Bad.”

My son David has been reading nonstop, that new Percy Jackson book. I stopped by Barnes and Noble yesterday to get it for him. Ethan wants it next, than Grace.

David’s remarks when reading:

“I love reading a new book. Because there is suspense.”

“I love home.” (getting curled up with book on the couch and smiling)

“Mom? Isn’t it funny when you’re reading a book- you can’t wait to get to the next page but then when it’s at the end you wish there was more?”

**********

The fall colors have peaked at our place. Most of them have dropped off the trees but there are still some steadfastly hanging on.

This is the red tree I was sitting under just last week…..now it’s mostly bare branches.

The pines by the pond have been dropping their old yellow needles.

Carpeting the ground beneath with them. They smell so good I think about making a pillow.

pine needles and leaves on the pond

I find it so fascinating that this bee’s nest was being built and was hanging up in the trees and we never saw it until the leaves started coming down. (down by the other pond)

Old Sunflower; I waited for so long to bloom that I can’t bear to pull it up just yet.

Leaves in the stream

vine in the trees

I took these a few weeks ago when Rich took the boys out into the woods to collect fire wood.

He is blessed with a fine crew of sons.

It’s no wonder I’m always making cookies to fill these hard working stomachs.

Oh that reminds me. On Saturday Rich was gone at Jacob’s football game and I had a hair appointment so Grace and Ethan were watching the little ones for us. When I was in the chair my phone rang and it was David, wanting to know if he could make cookies. He is eleven and has some experience with baking so I said “yes”.

When I arrived back home, I was greeted with the sight of the ugliest cookies I’ve ever seen. They were caramel colored, spread out over the entire cookie sheet, and glued to the pan. There were three pans of them, a big, deserted bowl of dough, and no one around in the kitchen. Poor David! He did perfectly fine except for the fact that he put powdered sugar in the dough instead of flour. These particular chocolate chip cookies were made with three kinds of sugar only, and no flour whatsoever. It took a long time to get them off the pan. They practically WERE caramel.

I made some on Monday with Seth. I love making cookies and have perfected chocolate chip, if I may say so.

I share my tips:

the recipe off the bag of chips

pure butter; no shortening ever

an extra teaspoon of vanilla

plenty of extra flour to make a softly stiff dough (I added two and a half more cups for a double batch on M. but it was a rainy day)

add only half the amount of chips called for in recipe; I always double the recipe and add just one bag of chips

no cookie scoop, chocolate chip cookies that are all the exact same shape and size are boring (just like people)

I always enjoy eating raw dough and give spoonfuls out to the children, too, raw eggs be darned!

bake ONLY until very slightly brown around the edges, take them out when still half done and leave them on the tray for about five minutes, (they will continue baking) then remove to cooling racks.

this is the way to chocolate chip cookie perfection; tender, soft and not too sweet

Ahead of me is an entire day of staying at home. Later on this evening I will go out to gather up the older children from school, but for now I can putter around in my pajamas, care for my little ones and do some home-making. I have a big pork roast in the fridge to figure out for dinner and perhaps I will make more cookies, since the ones I made on Monday are gone.
“Only the heart, with love afire,
can satisfy the soul’s desire.”

~James Terry White