Mother's Day and Squirrels?

We went to my dad's house for Mother's Day yesterday. We had a fun time with family. My Grandma and Grandpa were there, my younger brother Mark, my Uncle Bob and Aunt Jeanne and two of their kids, and a fiance. My mom and Barry also stopped by a little bit later in the afternoon.

The funniest part of the afternoon was the squirrels. My dad, crazy person that he is, has started feeding the squirrels peanuts. There are about 3-5 squirrels in his back yard. There is one squirrel that will even come up to his slider and beg for food. My dad will open the slider just a crack and the squirrel will take a peanut right out of his hand. My kids thought this was great. They even got to feed the squirrel.

After lunch, they went outside and started chasing the squirrels around the fenced backyard. At our house they roar at the squirrels to chase them away. But at my dad's house the squirrels thought they were playing with them. The kids would chase them up on to the fence and the squirrels would sit up there and squawk at them. As soon as the kids would walk away, the squirrels would come right back down into the yard. Pretty soon they were running all over the yard with the kids chasing them. It looked just like two squirrels chasing each other around and playing, except that there were two squirrels and two boys running around the backyard. The boys were exhausted by the time we came home. The squirrels probably were too. And now the boys are asking if they can feed the squirrels at our house. Most definately not!!!

Weekend with friends

We had a wonderful weekend with our friends, Scott and Karen, at their home near Birmingham, AL. Another friend, Rachael, flew in from VA. It was a short trip, but so good to spend some time with them. I also got to fly on an airplane, the first time in 8 years! The girls spent time doing some things around their house for them, a little shopping, and lots of laughing. Mike and Scott and Caleb, Scott's son, went hiking at a state park. They came back hot and sweaty. Mike and Caleb played lots of games together - card games, checkers, Mario 3. They were good buds.

Scott and Karen are adjusting to their life after the death of their daughter, Cassi. It is just amazing to see their faith in God through all that they have been through. And though the days are not easy, the joy and hope that they have in Christ is very evident.

Mike and I had a fun time together too. It is fun to travel without kids and be able to get treats and snacks that you wouldn't normally get if the kids were along. We had DQ peanut butter cup blizzards for supper on our way home from Chicago. That was it, except for the Mike and Ikes and Good-n-Plenties we also ate. You could never do that with kids.

It was good to get home last night. The house was picked up, the laundry was done (even the ironing from the last month), clothes were mended and the kids were in bed. Thanks so much, Mom. You are wonderful. Ian and John were still awake so we were able to get some hugs and kisses. I have been hearing stories all day of what they did with all the people who watched them while we were away. We feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who are willing to take care of them, so we can enjoy some time together.

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. :)