Back Online

Did you all think I dropped off the face of the earth?

I kind of did.

We lost our internet. Including our wireless.

*GASP*

We got a temporary setup this morning, and that means it was a total of 6 days without internet at home.

And let me tell you, it wasn't pretty.

I hate to admit it, really I do.

I take care of drug addicts. And alcoholics.
I was with my husband when he withdrew from caffeine.
I mock people who need their coffee.

But those first days of withdrawel were kind of ugly.

No, I didn't have delirium tremors, and no I didn't think I was in a train station.

But I was crabby and a little on edge.

It got better after a few days.

It got worse for Deacon.

"Mom, life without the internet is SO HARD!!!" he proclaimed after being told yet again that we couldn't look such and such up and that he couldn't play any games.

It is not even that I spend that much time on the internet-I just am on here for 5-10 min at a time multiple times a day. It is just that I conduct "business" on email, I renew library books online, we get our news online and it is my encyclopedia, dictionary and phonebook all in one.

I was clueless about the weather, about the world and about how much sun rasberries really need for the whole week.

I didn't have phone numbers for essential people and businesses, I couldn't contact my playgroup or friends I was supposed to be lining up meetings with.

Maybe I am a little too dependent on the internet.

But boy am I glad to have it back.

(stay tuned for more posts about what happened while I was "gone"-things like, "how much am I willing to pay to get back all the photos that were lost when my computer was struck by lightning", "why there is a gigantic blue monkey in my living room", "there is a knot in my babies hair", "Happy 11th Anniversary", and of course more on Baby #5!..and vacation pictures if we can find and restore them...)

No Craft Household

Do you all search for things for your kids to do?

I have one friend who sets up "stations" for her younger children while she does schoolwork with the older ones. Other people I know have boxes of an activity or activities for each day of the week.

I don't have either.

Online there are tons of activities for preschoolers, crafts to make and ways to keep little kids occupied.

I grew up with a creative mom and she planned creative projects for us.

We don't do stuff like that.

Sometimes I feel bad when I read a blog and I see that someone helped their kids make 9 different sheep crafts on the "S" preschool day.

I never do crafts or projects with my kids.

We barely do play-doh.

I read to them, we go places, we play games sometimes or do puzzles. They color or make stuff sometimes on their own, but I don't have "organized" activities for them. We don't cook, we don't sew.

I am not sure if this is good or bad.

But, here is the thing. They do their own thing. There is so many of them and they play well together, that from sun-up to sun-down they are pretty self entertained.

Now, their sister? She is another matter. She loves to stand at the sliding glass door and watch them play. I guess it is like tv. But, when she is not doing that
she is unloading every shelf, basket or bag that she comes across.

Berean is a very busy worker.

Maybe she will need boxes and bins of crafts and activities. And maybe she won't. I guess time will tell. I kind of hope she doesn't. I like creative free-play. Or maybe I don't like free play as much as I dislike table activities.

Catching Up

We got back from Chicago just in time to deal with a melting freezer/fridge. Noah had Monday and Tuesday off, so we have been spending time in the yard and playing catch up in the house. Oh, and preparing and hosting a 4th of July Celebration. We can see fireworks from our front yard, well, those of us who choose to brave the swarming mosquitos can see them from our front yard, anyway.

But, Noah is back to work and I am trying to get back into my routine.

Before I forget,

Deacon has been talking a lot about "when you abandon us". Now, we think it stems from the fact that he has read books about children without parents who are "on their own" etc. As far as we can tell, he doesn't really think we are going to abandon him. Anyway, he says stuff like this, "I suppose when you abandon us I will have to get a job first. And then a house. And insurance. And some toys to keep my brothers occupied. Then I will need some stilts." We asked him why he needed stilts.

"so I can help my brothers cross the street and so that the cars will see us", was the reply.

I guess I do often tell him that they are too short for cars to see well, etc. And we are always telling them that we have to pay for other things before we can spend money on toys. Maybe he is slowly learning.

And, although I have no interest in trying it- I think Deacon could rise to the challenge if needed :)

HOME!

Just got in from a vacation to Chicago. Yep, we took all the kids and yep, it was crazy.

I learned a lot about my children, and really wish I would have brought Lincoln a Camelbak and urinal- as I threatened to do.

I also learned alot about the Penguins of Madagascar and how my daughter looks when she throws herself to the floor in anguish- a tiny little pile of tulle.

More to come, but now, off to start laundry and get some rest before a holiday shift!

In Honor of Cars 2: UPDATE!!! (Finally!)

Thanks for all the ranking! It is interesting to read which ones different people like best. And, it is also interesting to note that different life situations when certain movies come out probably make an impact on the ratings. For example, even though I think that visually "Finding Nemo" is pretty incredible, I don't like it as much as some of the others. Why? It came out when I was pregnant with Deacon and I watched it right after he was born. The mom dying was just too much :)

Most professional movie critics feel that Cars is one of pixar's weaker movies. I love Cars, but I am sure it is mostly because the boys love it so much. It was so fun to watch them fall in love with the characters and to carry around their "friends" wherever they went.

Anyway, here is the link to a professional's opinion, and here is my list:

1. Cars

2.TS 3 (Noah loves TS, so it is partially endearing just because he laughs so much)

3.TS 2

4. Nemo (I love animated water and sea creatures.)

5. TS 1 (SID was creepy, that is why I rank it lower than the other TS's)

6. The Incredibles (too scary for kids?)

7. Monster's Inc. (the boys are obsessed with "little Boo"

8. Ratatouille (too many rats. Ugh)

9. UP (was not impressed. I think I don't like unrealistic things happening to humans. I don't mind cars, super heroes, fish and monsters talking, but I don't like houses being carried away and stuff like that.)

10. Wall E (I shouldn't even rate this, since I was unable to complete a viewing due to FALLING ASLEEP because it was SO BORING.)

A couple days ago I read a "professionals" opinion of how the 11 pixar movies should be rated, #1 being the best all the way down to #11 which was just "good".

Noah and I made our own lists a couple of nights ago.

Now is your turn...anyone want to play? Rate the pixar movies! If you haven't seen them all, just leave off the ones who haven't seen and rate the others.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

1. A Bug's Life
2. Cars
3. Finding Nemo
4. Incredibles
5. Monster's Inc
6. Ratatouille
7.Toy Story 1
8. Toy Story 2
9. Toy Story 3
10. UP
11. Wall E


I will post my list, Noah's list and the professional's list sometime soon- but for now, start rating!

Don't like blood? Don't look.

IF you are the 4th kid, and your dad finds you like this when he goes to take you out of your carseat, THEN you get your picture taken.

(she was fine, just got a bloody nose- it was just a little startling to come across her like this)

What Do You Mean, You Need Your Blanket?

3 little boys.

3 little boys that are all 4 and older.

3 little boys that never clung to pacifiers.

3 little boys that never sucked thumbs.

3 little boys who didn't haul around blankets,

or stuffed animals,

or random "soft" things.

1 little girl.

1 little 15 month girl.

1 little girl that never clung to a pacifier.

1 little girl that never sucked a thumb.

1 little girl who wants to haul around her blanket,

and stuffed animals,

and random "soft" objects.

*sigh*

Do we really need to do this now?

(seriously. I am in a quandry. Do I insist that she keep her "stuff" in her bed, only for naptimes and bedtimes- or should I let her haul it around? I gotta decide soon...)