Brotherly love

Overheard from two boys playing.

Ian: Aaargh. John, I am so mad at you.
John: Do you still love me, Ian?
Ian: Yes, I still love you. I will always love you. I love you almost as much as I love God.

Doesn't that just make your heart melt?

Heard over the weekend

John: Daddy, you got a haircut! You are very pretty.
Dad: Thanks, John.
Ian: Dad, you are handsomer than a frog!
Dad: Oh, I'm handsomer than a frog?
Ian: Yeah, well aren't frogs about the handsomest things in the world?
Dad: Well, I guess so.

Spring Break: Meijer Gardens

Wednesday morning we met our friends, the Hermens, at Frederick Meijer Gardens. Every year they do a wonderful butterfly exhibit. Chrysali and cocoons are imported from all over the world. When the butterflies and moths emerge, they are then released into the large tropical exhibit. It is really fun to try to find all the different species and the kids love to go to the gardens. We knew that it is usually extra busy over spring break, but we were not prepared for the crowds there. We parked in the back lot - beyond the bus parking. Then we had to wait about 20 minutes just to get in the door. The exhibit was packed. This can make it hard to find butterflies, and children.

Fortunately, it was actually warm enough to spend some time outside. There is a wonderful children's garden outside with a huge tree house, log cabin, sense garden and Great Lakes water exhibit (which thankfully was closed because the kids always end up soaked.) We spent some time with the kids running around, playing checkers in the log cabin and even dressing up in a little hut.

Then it was Wendy's for lunch. That was crazy. Hungry kids, tons of people and a long line.

We made it home and it was nap time. :) I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Spring Break: Part 2

We have managed to make it to the middle of Spring Break, and everyone is still alive. The weather here hasn't been great: cold and windy, but no real snow. Today it is sunny, windy and almost 50. The hounds were finally released to the outdoors.

Monday.
Celebration Cinemas, our local movie theatres, has what used to be called the Dove Family Film Festival, (and now has been renamed, but I don't know the new name). Anyway, each year they pick some family friendly movies, show each one for a week and reduce rates. This week is The Tale of Desperaux. Kids under 12 are free and adults are $2.50. What a deal!!
Three other friends decided to meet there with our 11 kids and see the movie.
The movie started at 12:05, so we ate a light lunch with the promise of pop and popcorn during the movie. We got there, got the big bag of popcorn and two large drinks - we should be able to share right? Wrong. The bigger kids sat in one row and the moms and younger kids sat right behind them. That can make sharing pop a problem. The kids each got a small bag to put their popcorn in, they just had to wait until I dispersed it. Patience has not been our strong suit this week. The movie started and things were going well, for about the first five minutes.
Then John started to get antsy. And yelling for the pop. We passed it up. Ian was thirsty, we passed it back. John needed his own. I gave Clara and Ian mine. We were finally settled and the first half of the movie went by. John needed more popcorn, Ian needed more popcorn, Clara needed more popcorn.
Now John needs more pop - more pop?!? How in the world did he just down at least 20 oz of pop? No problem mom, I'll just eat the ice. Not a good idea, we are now sitting in ice. Is the movie over yet?
"Mom, I have to go potty!!"
"OK Ian, lets go. John, you sit nicely until I get back." Oh, dear, the bathroom is closed for cleaning. OK family bathroom. "Ian, do not open the door until I am done!!!!!" Back into the theatre.
"Mom, I have to go potty!!"
"OK Clara, lets go. John sit nice, OK, you can come too."
Alright, is the movie almost done yet?
"Mom, we're out of popcorn and pop."
"Everything is gone, and we aren't getting anymore."
"Mom, I need to go potty!!"
"Again, Ian? Unbelievable. John, sit nice."
Oh, I think the movie may be reaching a climax, not exactly sure since I didn't see the last twenty minutes.
Suddenly, cries erupt from John. He spilled melted ice down his shirts, and is trying to get them off. Hysterical screams now because mom won't let him strip in the movie theatre and he wants to go home. I am holding him on my lap, my hand muffling his screams, whispering through gritted teeth for him to be quiet, or else. Suddenly, warm wetness on my leg. Ahhh. This can't be happening.
John is now standing on the floor, the rats and mice are finishing their last battle, and John is worried about all the popcorn on the floor.
Let's go, let's go, let's, go. "I don't want to go home!!!!" John screamed this all the way out to the car and all the way home.
In the house, change all the clothes, and into bed. Go to sleep. Ahh, sweet silence. And only four more weekdays left this week.

Start of spring break

We are now officially on Spring Break. Yesterday was our first day and we started off well. First we took our time getting breakfast and baths. Yes, morning baths because we just didn't feel like it the night before :). Then we went to Michael's to stock up on some Easter crafts. Then we stopped at Krispy Kreme. It was actually pretty busy. Lots of kids, just like us, getting Spring Break off to a great start. The funniest part at KK was watching the donuts being made. We always have liked that, but yesterday something must have been just a little bit off in the timing of the conveyor belts the dough goes up and down to rise before frying in the oil. We kept seeing donuts fall off the little step like things. They would fall off and then hit more steps and take more donuts down with them. It was pretty hilarious. The kids were laughing and pointing out more that would fall soon. There were just piles of fallen dough balls on the floor. But at least some of them made it through. Nobody went hungry. :)

Soccer and ballet

Finally, March 31 arrived. Ian has been talking about playing soccer for about a year. So, when we got the sign up sheet for the GR Parks and Rec spring soccer, he was very excited. Unfortunately, the sign up was in February. His first practice was last night. This made for a very long month and a half. At first we told him he would start practicing after the snow melted. This made a lot of sense when there was 2 feet of snow on the ground. But the snow melted by the end of February. Then we told him the practices were in March. Everyday he would ask if it was March yet. Then it was March. He was ready to practice. Then we had to tell him his first practice was March 31. A whole long month of waiting. Well, that is about all we have heard about for the last month. Over the weekend we got his shin guards and socks. Yesterday that is all he could talk about. Until 5:00. Suddenly his tummy hurt very bad, and he didn't want to go to practice. He was actually crying very loud because it hurt so bad. So, what is a mom to do? Does he really have a tummy ache, or is he just nervous and excited? I went with the second option. I told him he at least had to go to practice, meet his coach, and try. Mike came home and told him the same thing. So they left, in the rain and wind. And they didn't come home until practice was done. And it was great. No more tummy aches, only smiles and excitement about next week's practice. And really wet clothes and hair.