I allowed the kids to skip their nap… on the condition that they must spend nap time outside.

Everyone happily took advantage of my offer.

David demonstrated his delight by standing up, grunting happily, then lowering himself back down. Although he wasn’t holding onto me when he did this, he did want to be close, which made it challenging to get a picture.

I quickly ran out of memory on my Nikon camera, then took a few more shots with my phone, including each of the older children forming their version of “I love you” in American Sign Language.

(The bottom shelf is empty in the last picture because the kids have the three bins holding miscellaneous plastic containers out for pretend picnic purposes.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Her job was to collect money (small smooth stones) from the Pharisees (me), kiss Jesus, be sad, and give the money back to the Pharisees. She talked a lot about how it wasn’t nice that Judas betrayed Jesus.

Nikki got to join her younger siblings for more card-making this morning before breakfast while Ben talked to his mom on the phone. Then we all enjoyed our traditional biscuits and gravy together. Yum yum!

If you’d like to see a four-minute video of the three older kids talking about the cards they made, you can click this link: Mother’s Day cards 2012 video

May all you mothers of young ones receive some handmade goodness and hugs, and may those of you with children grown and off on their own enjoy those phone calls today.

Happy Mother’s Day!

— 1 —

The weather has turned rainy and cooler here and I have had a cold most of the week. The nice thing is that I’m using the down time to re-read and take notes on how to actually implement the Perfect Health Diet. (I wonder if it works on colds as well as cancer and diabetes…)

— 2 —

Along with re-reading Perfect Health Diet, I also took a moment to count the number of projects I have started but not finished. Fifteen. Could explain the feeling I have that I’m constantly working but never accomplishing anything (well, that and the endless laundry). However, I feel more at ease now that I’ve written all the projects down. That simple act should keep me from adding more to the list, at least until I’ve crossed some of them off.

— 3 —

Here’s a good autumn picture for you:

Ben decided that the butternut squash (aka butternut pumpkin) needed to recline in style while it was waiting to be eaten.

Now I have four more takes to write, a head cold, and four kids. How about one random picture per kid to close things out?

— 4 —

Nikki building a Duplo structure:

— 5 —

Michael pretending he has facial hair:

— 6 —

Vi loving her favourite colour: ‘lello:

— 7 —

David joyfully making lots of noise:

Enjoy your weekend! You can find more Quick Takes at Betty Beguiles.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

He’s happy to pretend to be Joseph to Nikki’s Mary, but Joseph has got to do cool things, like journey to Bethlehem, build a birthing pool (!!) and escape from Herod. Often these adventures involve boats, LOUD airplanes, lots of running, and plenty of jokes!

Nikki: Mama, that flower is a gift for you for taking care of the family. And the other flower is for you for giving numnums to the children when they need it.

[assigning roles in Peter and the Wolf.]
Michael [to Baba]: You’re the wolf. I’m swift and clever [like the bird].

Michael: [indicating David] His name is “Tumple-bum.” [indicating Nikki with a gentle arm around the waist] This is “Mee-Moo.” And I am “Casserole!”

[while I am making yogurt]
Nikki: Yogurt is kind of like cement.
Mama: Hm…
Nikki: With cement you add sand and water, and with yogurt you add yogurt [starter] and milk.

Michael [sitting on the toilet]: Mama, there’s a mosquito! He’s on my scrape. He’s making a mosquito bite!
Mama: Just hit him, Michael.
Michael: Oh! I made him dead.

Vi [using the outdoor toilet]: I step on the spiders so Michael can’t be scared.