Conversations with a 5 year old

After being told to do yet another task, Chad announced his candidacy for Oregon president. His first item of business: create a law where I would be subject to his every whim. I gave this serious thought (he very well could have a political future), then tried to distract him by telling him that when he is a parent, he will get to tell his kids what to do. That idea spurred a ten minute brainstorm of what we could make Chad's children do. Here are a few ideas we came up with:

1. Make them go to Disneyland even if they want to go someplace else, like Ohio.
2. Play UNO all day long.
3. Brush their teeth.
4. Clean the entire house.
5. Make them visit their grandparents, even when they are teenagers and refuse to go (I added that one).
6. Deny them all vegetables.

I'm thinking I should probably exercise my parental rights more often, while I still have them.

Little Dancer

Aubrey just had her first dance recital! It took her about half the program to warm up to the idea that the audience wasn't going anywhere and she may as well dance if the music is on. Thanks Heidi! That was an amazing program! And someday, if I can ever figure out how to convert my video files, I will post a video of Aubrey dancing.

Weekend Roundup

It just so happened to be the highly anticipated weekend where we brought home the class pet, Pumpkin the hamster. Chad had tried to make a deal with us: If we fall in love with the hamster, we will buy one for our very own. Something Chad did not anticipate: it's very hard for adults to fall in love with rodents. Something we did not anticipate: it's very easy for kids to fall in love with rodents. Something the rodent did not anticipate: babies think hamster run-about balls are to be played with just as other balls. Poor hamster, probably looking forward to a little peace and quiet back in the kindergarten classroom. I think it's best that we hold off on the hamster purchase for a bit.


Mother's Day had a rough start. Unbeknown to all supervising adults, Chad got into the licorice and ate about a pound. Causing sickness in the middle of the night, sickness that went from the top bunk all the way to the bottom (hitting everything in between). This event was not discovered until the next morning. James volunteered to clean it up alone, but seeing as we had 9 am church, it was a two person job. After church, it got much better: homemade gifts, a foot rub, a nap, a delicious dinner. Although it didn't start with breakfast in bed, it ended with Tillamook ice cream in bed (far more enjoyable, in my opinion).

Playing in the Gutters

Cloudy with the occasional showers, the perfect day for racing popsicle sticks in the gutters. Normally, I discourage my children from playing in the street, but who could deny such joy?

Oregon Benefits

Ah, this is why we live in Oregon (and the whole employment thing):



(I finally got around to Sam's 1 year photos, just a few weeks late)



Aubrey was a bit emotional last night, wailing: "But, I don't want the sun to go to bed!" I know how you feel, kid. I know how you feel.

Easter Portraits

I had every intention of getting a family portrait on Easter...


but I had to settle for individual portraits.



Happy Easter!

More Blogging

As of lately, I have felt a bit uninspired. I tend to check off all the tasks that I need to do, but very little of what I want to do. I'm hoping to change all of that. I started a new blog because: 1. I like to spend quality time with my kids; 2. I like to blog; 3. I like preschool crafts (not so good at the adult crafts).

So if you would like to check it out, head on over this way: A Child at Play. I just posted a fun Easter craft, transparent eggs. Feast your eyes on these beauties! If you must know, Chad did those (I'm just the photographer).