Be free, have fun, ask why">

Riesling slept in again this morning.  I think both the kids are fighting off something because Riesling’s been been remarking that she’s tired and sleeping in a lot and Cashel has been taking mega naps or passing out around 7 and his breath smells snotty.  But other than that, they are a couple of healthy kids.  I’ll chalk this up to great genes and a fantastic diet which provides complete nutrition for super immune systems!

After Riesling finished her smoothie, they watched Bob The Builder Knights of Fix-A-Lot video and then My Little Pony Lady Bug Jamboree twice.

Then it was off to the computer to look for a great toy(s) to spend their collective $86 on.  The search continued for what seemed like ever.  Finally they settled on a Little Tikes Fire Station for $69.99, plus shipping the total was nearly $90.  I helped them figure out that they needed $4 to order the Fire Station.  I walked them through how one of them could save for 4 days or they could both save for 2 days and the fantastic toy would be on it’s way.  They both said that they wouldn’t spend their dollars for the next 2 days.  I’ll show them the photo of the Fire Station tomorrow when they begin asking to spend their $1, so that they can think about what they’re choosing between and we’ll see how it goes.

I looked online for more toys at Target, since Riesling has a couple of gift cards there.  The kids set up a hide out under the desk, make believing something or another and kept my feet roasty toasty with the pillows and blankets.

They began playing with their trains and tracks and I hopped into the shower.  We ate a quick lunch and then I got out construction paper for them to make festive pinwheels and a star banner in honor of Veteran’s Day.  I talked a little bit about who Veterans are and why we are honoring them and how the day started off dedicated to the cause of world peace and was now a day for honoring people in the military who served our country.

They continued playing with their trains (Cashel even made sure all the little people were lined up in a straight even row next to the tracks) as well as lots of make believe of various sorts.  After a bit, I read to them from the Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Incredible Cross Sections, The Definitive Guide to the Craft From Star Wars: Episode II by Curtis Saxton.  They were both very interested in all sorts of parts on the fabricated transportation vehicles and asked lots of questions as to what that was and what this did.  Then I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Baby Bill and Little Lil by Sue Heap and Clifford at the Circus by Norman Bridwell.  I also read the complete Whisper A Song by Farr and Strickland, which is a compilation of poems and stories, including Silly Sally by Audrey Wood.

For part of our snack we had whole grain pretzel sticks with mustard and horseradish to dip.  We practiced no double dipping, but instead “flip and dip” and then the break and dip.  The children decided that they would like to saw their pretzels to provide clean ends for dipping, instead of breaking them.

Joe was home shortly after snack.  He played lots of sword fighting with them and even got out the illustrated fencing book from the library.  Then they did flips and tumbling in their pink attire.

Directly after dinner, it was time for bed.  Riesling decided to bring her rocking chair into Cashel’s room and set it up next to the big rocker, instead of sitting on my lap like she usually does.  I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke.  Both exhausted, they were asleep by 7:15. Cashel was exhausted and fell asleep by 7:15.  Joe let me know later that he was walking down the hall and encountered Riesling coming out of Cashel’s room.  She explained that she was looking for something and went back into her room.  I checked on her at about 8 and she was sound asleep (or at least doing a fantastic job of faking it!)

Cashel was up and Riesling slept in this morning.  When Riesling emerged from the bedroom, I snuggled with her on the couch for a bit and Cashel chose the Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson to listen to.  As (IMHO) the greatest and most influential blues guitarists, singers and songwriters of all time played, I read from the accompanying insert about Robert Johnson’s life and music.  We talked a little bit about what slavery was, since his grandparents were slaves.  (At dinner Joe asked her what she remembered about Robert Johnson.  She remembered that he played the guitar.)  After a while Riesling decided that she wanted to listen to some flamenco music.  As I tried to get some going via the internet, she got impatient and opted for Beats Antique for some belly button dancing.

They danced and played “traveling” together for an hour and a half or so.  Then they decided that they wanted to go outside.  Cashel got dressed super fast and was quickly out front trying to cut down the remnants of our dead flowers with a key.  Riesling was having issues with her coat’s zipper and threw herself onto the floor twice while I was getting Cashel ready.  I chalked this up to still being tired and calmly zipped up her coat and gave her a hug.

I watched the kids from the front windows.  After a bit, Riesling came in and asked for a little tiny spreading knife that they use at meals to take outside so that she could assist her brother with operation Cut Down the Dead Flowers.  They soon tired of this insurmountable task and decided to just pull them out, roots and all.  Lots of dirt ended up on the steps and in front of the door.  I brought out a broom and gave it to Riesling to sweep off the dirt, which she did.  Soon after they came back inside.

They wanted bean dip (Recipe: 1. Dump one can black beans into food processor 2. Puree 3. Divide evenly into 2 bowls 4. Serve) with the thyme that Riesling had cut off the bushy plant that is near the dead flower garden.  I happily obliged.  The began to eat them with the crackers that I made yesterday since we didn’t have any corn chips.  They seemed to be enjoying them just fine, but I was inspired to make my own tortillas and then to crisp them into chips.  They turned out fantastic and the kids were really interested in the whole process.

They played “traveling” some more, but Cashel seemed really tired.  So I got them settled down and read Silly Sally by Audrey Wood and The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke.  Cashel passed out and slept for 3 hours.  Riesling puttered around the house and cared for her babies for a while.  Then she decided that she wanted to play Operation.  I got down the game and we set it up.  She was interested in playing with money this time and wanted to be the banker.  I read the cards and performed operations and was paid adequately.  It was a great exercise for recognizing digits into the thousands, as well as for developing small motor skills (darn buzzer and light up nose!).  We stopped the game after a while because she wanted to be tickled.

By this time, Joe was home so we went out into the dining room where there was a 50 piece puzzle of the world out on the floor since it’s suitcase like container was being utilized as luggage.  Riesling made quick work of the puzzle.  She then slid it across the floor into Cashel’s room to show him.  I had already opened the door and pulled the shade since he needed to wake up.  Joe went in with her while I finished folding laundry.  Shortly there after Joe came out and said that our children were gone and wondered if I could help find them.  So I cautiously went into Cashel’s room where I saw suspicious looking lumpy blankets on his bed.  I pulled them off to find……a pillow!  They tricked me!  I pretended that somehow, Riesling had turned into a pillow and Cashel had turned onto the blankets.  They soon came out from under the chair with giant grins on their little faces.

Cashel still wanted to lay down, so I put him in the Mommy warmer (my robe) on the couch.  I’m sure that he didn’t feel well.  Finally he couldn’t resist not getting up and chasing Riesling around with the foam sword that had been the main contention all day.  Cashel whacks Riesling with it.  She says stop.  He whacks her again…and again.  I ask them what we should do.  Cashel doesn’t say anything and Riesling says to take the sword away.  I give Cashel another chance for an alternative solution.  He doesn’t say anything and I take the sword away.  Cashel gets upset.  After a while he tells me he’s not going to hit “DD” (what he insists on calling Riesling, even though we never have) and I give the sword back.  Repeat, beginning with Cashel whacks Riesling.

Riesling got out the play dough and made some molds and Cashel rolled the play dough with a cylinder while I got dinner ready.   Cashel said that he was hungry a couple times, but then he took a couple bites and asked to get down.  I sat him on my lap and he ate and drank a bit more while Joe did “Dinner Science Theater”.  I think that he was illustrating convection and the how and why of it.  After they were done eating, he brought his little aluminum foil spinner close to a light to show that the candle isn’t the only thing radiating heat.

They really wanted to play “traveling” lots more, but it was time for tired little ones to rest.  After getting ready for bed, we looked at a Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Incredible Cross Sections, The Definitive Guide to the Craft From Star Wars: Episode II by Curtis Saxton and I read Silly Sally by Audrey Wood.  Riesling went into her room and Joe sang her a song.  After a drink of water Cashel was quiet, but restless.  I snuck out and checked on Riesling.  She was deep in dream land catching up on some much needed sleep.

Cashel woke me up with his usual plea for his “moothie” at about 7:15.  We headed toward the kitchen and were intercepted by Riesling and Austin in the living room.  They had the trains out and were setting up some tracks.  I began smoothies and Joe started on Wonderful Waffles with blueberries from my beloved Superbaby Food book by Ruth Yaron.

Stefano appeared around 7:45 or so and joined in the fun.  Sometime before waffles were served, Riesling, Stefano and Austin began doing some “crafts” with construction paper, tape, old envelopes and a small box.  As some point, Cashel had gotten out his Halloween candy and it was all over the table, though no one was eating it.  I received 2 nicely wrapped gifts, both were secured with tons of tape and contained candy.  After the tape was gone, they played some more with the toys on the floor.

Austin seemed to really miss his parents.  He got himself dressed and at 8:30 offered to put on his boots.  He kept looking out the window to see if they had arrived.

Finally, the waffles were ready.  I set them all up at the coffee table with milk or water and a quarter of a waffle to start.  Austin and Aiden looked at the waffle and then at me and asked me where the syrup was.  I let them know that we didn’t have any syrup.  (My kids had devoured their portions by now and Stefano seemed to be waiting to see what the A’s would do.)  They looked back down at their waffle strips and just sat there for a moment.  I didn’t say anything.  Finally they took a bite.  Stefano quickly ate his piece.  Austin announced that he didn’t like blueberries so I went back to the kitchen to find a piece without the offending fruit.  I gave Austin a blueberry free piece and he cautiously ate it.  Stefano had eaten Austin’s other piece and by this time another batch was done and they all ate them quite quickly.  It was hard for Aiden and Cashel to stay still at the table and Austin bounced up and down the hall on the blue hopper ball in between bites.  Austin soon quite eating all together as did Aiden, while the other 3 kept eating and eating and eating.  Though later I saw Austin consuming a bag of mini pretzels that the kids had gotten at Halloween.

Then they played and played.  Stefano’s parents arrived promptly at 10:30.  Poor little guy was so exhausted, he broke down sobbing when Aiden took something from him.  His Mom hugged him and insisted Aiden give it back and provide a full apology followed by a hug.  In my opinion, how genuine can an apology be if it’s forced?

Katie and Renzo hung out and talked for a bit about how Stefano made it through the night ok.  Somehow we got on the subject of punishment.  Renzo said that they use time outs with Stefano and have threatened to spank him while Austin and Aiden are spanked.  I explained that we tried our best to work with our children (though sometimes it is the hardest task I have ever attempted) and that we haven’t punished them with timeouts for the last year and have never hit them.  I told him about Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn and how the focus is on long term goals for the children, not immediate compliance to get them to do what we think is important, with the obvious exception of a life threatening situation.

Soon after they headed out, Merinda and Andrew arrived.  Austin was very glad to see them and gave lots of hugs.  Little happy-go-lucky Aiden kept right on playing.  I let them know that I thought that Austin might still be hungry since I didn’t think that he was used to “our kind of food”.  His parents explained what picky eaters their boys were and how they go in feeding spurts and today just must not have been a day that they were hungry.  They also mentioned that donuts were an acceptable option for their thin young children for breakfast.

About an hour after they left, Riesling downed one more waffle and called it lunch.  Cashel wanted no part of any sort of food.

We cleaned up the aftermath of the party while the kids played some more.

After snack Riesling mentioned that she wanted to go roller blading with Joe and that he should wear his roller blades too.  Riesling’s knee and wrist guards were no where to be found so Joe decide to make her knee pads out of thick foam tubing, a bicycle inner tube and 32 oz yogurt containers.  Sunset is at 5PM now so they had an hour before it was dark.  The pads were ready at 4:50. They threw on their skates and Riesling borrowed my wrist guards and they glided down the sidewalk toward the stop sign 3 blocks away.

Upon returning a couple minutes after 5, Joe reported that Riesling had fallen a couple of times, but seemed to really get the hang of it and had lots of fun.  I did notice a big bruise on her knee at bath time though.

The kids were in bed and asleep by 6:45.  I’m sure it will take a couple days for them to catch up.

Today Riesling was with her friend and ballet classmate, Hannah, from 8:45 until about 3:30.  Before she left she decided to try to tie the laces on her ballet slippers into bows.  I helped when she asked and ended up getting her a larger lace to practice with.

After she left, Joe decided to build a cardboard box car for Cashel, complete with yogurt lid head lights, tail lights and wheels.  While he was constructing, Cashel zoomed about the house using his yogurt lid steering wheel accompanied by lots of vrooming sounds.  Finally, the car was complete, but since Cashel did not want to let go of the steering wheel and Joe didn’t have time to attach it, Joe quickly put some straps on the car so that Cashel could use his steering wheel.  Cashel was still disappointed because he wanted the steering wheel attached.

Cashel and I left Joe at home with the housework to go shopping.

He passed out on the way there.  Of course I hadn’t put the stroller back in the van so now I was at the Mall with a sleeping 2-year-old.  I spotted a Target shopping cart and hauled it back to the van.  I lined it with a beach blanket that we keep in the car, put Cashel in it and covered him up with his sweatshirt.  I was off to old Navy to get Halloween shirts for next year.  You can’t beat 99 cents, even if it does have to sit in the closet for a year.  Next stop, the shoe store.

Cashel needed black shoes, which they didn’t have in my price range.  What they did have was 3 pairs of shoes for me! Cashel woke up and laid in the cart for a while.  After a bit, he was ready to get out and reek some havoc!  He found a shoe horn and carried it around with him while I looked for shoes, occasionally knocking things off the shelves.

Post shoe purchases, Cashel decided to spend his dollar on a horsey ride.  Then to the potty.  When we were coming back out, Cashel spotted the pizza place that Joe had eaten at a few weeks ago and began to get upset because he wanted to have some.  I pushed the Target cart through the Mall as fast as I could while holding crying Cashel up on the handle bar.  We got to the van and I expedited the jam sandwich I had brought for his lunch.

Then we went to Kohl’s.  They were out of complementary store strollers, so Cashel and I were on foot with a push basket.  I found a couple of Halloween costumes for the kids while Cashel played with the toys and put a few things in the basket.  I gave the items back upon checking out.  As we headed out of the store Cashel got upset because he wanted to know where one of the toys was that he had put in the basket.  He calmed down rather quickly and was ok by the time we got to Martin’s.

We pulled in right next to Stefano and his Grandmother and Mom.  Cashel was really excited because Stefano was coming to our house later for Riesling’s sleep over.  We chatted for a bit and then headed into the store where the beginning of the end happened at the entrance where the candy machines are.  Cashel didn’t have any money so he couldn’t get anything so he got upset.  Finally he followed me into the store.  We got to the organic bulk section and he spotted the gummy bears that he typically chooses to spend some of his money on.  I tried to explain that he didn’t have any money, but he could have a couple for a “freebee”.  He kept holding up his hands with his 10 fingers splayed and tears trucking down his cheeks insisting that he wanted “2, this many”.  I got him 2 bears and he pushed them away telling me that he wanted “this many”.  Finally I picked up my sobbing child and carried him along.  At one point, he got down and headed on back to the gummy bears while I stood there for a few seconds watching all the people stop to watch him.  One lady finally asked if he was looking for his Mommy.  Cashel was undetered, ignored the lady and kept on his route.  When I got to him, I scooped him up and let him know again how sorry I was that he was sad that he didn’t have any money.  When we got back to the cart, I wiped his chubby little cheeks and his nose and offered the 2 gummy bears again.  He accepted and calmed down…for a couple minutes.  At the end of our grocery shopping trips, the kids always make a bee line for the bakery to see if there is a treat (sample).  Most of the times, there is.  This time there was not.  Cue meltdown in Martin’s, number 3.  Somehow we made it to the checkout line.  He picked up some Rolos and put them on the conveyor belt.  I put them back and he picked them up again, holding them tightly.  I asked him to put them back and he threw them on the floor.  I hurredly paid and headed out the door, past the frickin candy machines and was done with one of the worst shopping trips in history.  So, was the “you don’t have any money” lesson worth it?  I’m not so sure.

We got home and Riesling and Joe had the house all tidied up for the party.  We ate an early dinner and got Cashel into his PJs.  Our guests (Stefano (4), Austin (4) and Aiden (2)) arrived and began tearing up the house exploring every toy that we had.  They dressed up and played with dolls and doll houses and every train possible.

There was also a performance by the hostess with the mostest and her sparkly side kick.

The kids were all excited when I got out the air popper and made up some popcorn for a bedtime snack.  Joe entertained them while I salted and buttered it with our air mattress inflation device that spun furiously on the coffee table when turned on.

Then the robot did a show while they all munched.  After snack I washed 5 faces, brushed their teeth, reminded them to go potty and washed their hands.

Riesling put the finishing touches on everyone’s sleeping arrangements.  Finally it was story time.  Joe read them Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Don’t let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems and Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown.

I began to turn off the lights in living room.  At one point they said it was too dark, so I turned back on and then turned it off again when their eyes had adjusted.  Not one child ended up falling asleep in the place where they had first laid down.  It was like musical bed rolls.  Joe supplied the music.  Actually first Austin sang the Alphabet song and then Joe sang American Pie by Don McLean, Redemption Song by Bob Marley, Wooden Ships by Jefferson Airplane, Desperado by The Eagles, Pinball Wizard by The Who and Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.  He stopped because Riesling told him that she and Stefano were trying to talk and she couldn’t hear!

Around 9:30 or so they settled down and most of them fell asleep.   Stefano sat up on the edge of the couch and announced that he missed his mother and “I knew I should have stayed home.” I picked up my kids and put them in their beds.  I put little Aiden in Cashel’s room and when Stefano finally fell asleep at around 10:30 or so, I put him and Austin in Riesling’s room.

It wasn’t long after that Cashel woke up crying.  I tried all sorts of old tricks, but he just wouldn’t calm down.  Finally I laid him down next to me and I nodded off between shushes.  While the other 4 children slept, Cashel woke up intermediately through out the night.

Riesling and Cashel were up sooooo early this morning.  I tried to hide under my pillow until wake up time at 7, but we do have a persistent pair of kids, so I got up and made their smoothies during the 6 O’Clock hour.

They played some sort of Star Wars game and more “Chugga chugga choo choo” while I showered.  Riesling got herself completely dressed in a cute little brown corduroy jumper with tights and Cashel was even semi-cooperative this morning as I dressed him in his cords, polo and sweater.  Finally we were all decked out and ready to go see The Gruffalo

Riesling began to get ancy on the way there.  I asked her what Exit we were passing.  She said, “One hundred and seven.”  I let her know that we needed to get off at Exit 120.  Keeping track of the Exits kept her occupied for the rest of the way.

We found a parking spot and hurried along the street looking for the Paramount Theater.  On the way I realized that I forgot to put money in the meter, but wasn’t sure if we had time to go back, so we went on.  At The Paramount, a helpful usher let us know that we had plenty of time.  So back out we went 4 or so blocks to the parking area.  I dug in my purse for quarters and found NONE….Arghhh!!!!  I began canvasing the parking lot asking every person in sight if they had any change.  And quickly followed that up with the fact that I had bills to actually exchange.  The first three people said, “No.”  Even though I saw one of them putting change in a meter.  Finally a nice man actually offered to give me change before I could make my follow up comment.  I hurried my kids back through the parking lot to the meter, fed it the required amount and went on back to The Paramount.

We found our seats and admired the beautiful architecture of the theater while we waited for The Gruffalo to start.  The kids really liked the play.  There were lots of songs and it was interactive….just wonderful!

We headed back out into the beautiful bright sunshiney day.  Not too much can beat 75 degrees in November.  We strolled through the pedestrian mall to an organic cafe/grocer called Feast.  After making sure we hit every sample they had out, we ordered a sandwich and some fruit salad.  The kids thought it was ok, but that the flowers next to our patio table were much more interesting.

Then we went next door to the Albemarle Baking Company where I purchased a loaf and the kids got some treats.  While they were eating, we noticed that the free trolley stopped across the street.  We made sure we caught the next one and went on a sliding bouncing ride back to our car.  The trolley driver had constant comments and a lead foot.  The kids thought it was a blast

Cashel passed out hard on the way home.  After I laid him in his bed and Riesling changed into a tank top and summer skirt, we headed outside for some scooter/bike riding.  I’m really glad that I’m under the weight limit for her scooter: It’s loads of fun!  She’s slowly getting the hang of balancing on the scooter and is almost ready for the training wheels to come off her bike.

Cashel woke up and just wanted to be held.  I snuggled up with him and Riesling on the couch and read Tonka Mighty Crane by Lori Froeb twice.

Then they decided that they really wanted to go on the neighbor’s trampoline.  Riesling put Cashel’s shoes on him and we headed over.  Cashel was extremely frustrated that Riesling would not work with him to take turns and instead just kept jumping, which meant that Cashel was bounced uncontrollably all over the place.  It got dark and really started to cool off.  I let them know that I was getting cold and that I really wanted to go home.  Riesling got really upset and prostrated herself on the trampoline and howled.  Joe came on the scene and I suggested he attend to Riesling since I was going home with Cashel.

I began dinner while Riesling and Joe looked at Jupiter and its moons through our telescope.  Riesling was really excited about the extraterrestrial bodies and I was dragged outside for a must see viewing.

After Riesling was done watching the stars, Joe came in and began clearing the floor so that we could shampoo the carpet.  The slumber party is tomorrow, after all.  This proved to be very difficult.  Cashel wanted to mess up more and Riesling just wanted to complain about Cashel.  Then Cashel and Riesling played a monster game that entailed Cashel running into the kitchen to cling to my leg while screeching with Riesling close behind, roaring loudly.  Joe and I started discussing how we might handle the next request for a slumber party, beginning with the house being readied with Riesling’s help before we send out invitations.  Coercion at it’s worst.  I’m sure this set us back quite a bit from the time Riesling will clean willingly on her own, all for immediate compliance.

Post dinner, I read the Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke.  Riesling was exhausted and went right to bed.  Cashel just couldn’t go to sleep.  He asked for water and talked and called my name while I tried to stay awake.  I wonder who finally nodded off first.  I’ll bet it was me!

Typical morning…made smoothies and headed out to Shenandoah Valley Community School.  Before leaving and while getting ready, the kids played “Chugga chugga choo choo” with a long piece of thin ribbon that Cashel had requested.  This game entails one of them pulling and the other being pulled rapidly all through out the house.  There are usually less injuries when Cashel is the “engine”.

As we drove to school, Riesling noticed that a dentist’s office, which was under construction for quite some time, was nearing completion.  She suddenly said that at the meeting she would ask everyone if they would like to take a trip to the dentist’s office.  I encouraged her to write it on the board when we got to school and I would call their pediatric dentist, Dr. Greene and arrange a trip if everyone agreed.

When we arrived at SVCS, Solomon was getting his video game fix since he is limited by his parents to 30 minutes of play a day at school.  Interestingly, I don’t think that any of the other kids who attend on Thursday morning are limited to any amount of screen time and they are hardly ever on the computer.  Makes me wonder a few things….  When his time was running out he desperately asked Sarah if he could keep playing and she just wouldn’t tell his parents.  Sarah would not agree to this.  When Lilith arrived she watched Solomon until the morning meeting.

Leyland and Riesling played castle building.  Cashel played castle destroying.  This frustrated Leyland and he started hollering at Cashel.  Sarah stepped in and explained to Cashel how Leyland was feeling and some alternatives to his path of destruction.

For the morning meeting, items on the agenda were that the everyone would be cleaning the Harrisonburg Universal Unitarian church that afternoon and that the Body Snatchers video (an old Discovery Channel show about how a virus takes over a person’s body) would be aired immediately after the meeting.  Riesling had written “DENTiST TRiP” under items for discussion.  Solomon discovered this and began loudly protesting and carrying on that he was not going on a stupid boring trip to the dentist and who would ever think that was a good idea anyway!

Everyone came to the meeting.  Sarah read the agenda and then asked Riesling if she would like to tell everyone about her idea.  Riesling outlined what she thought going on a field trip to the dentist would be like.  Solomon repeated his protest and carried on some more.  He also added that his brother, Joziah, would think it was stupid too.  I asked Solomon why he thought it was a stupid boring idea.  He said that he would only be able to stand around and there would be nothing to do.  Riesling piped up with a description of the kids play area inside the dental office and that maybe he could get some fake teeth like she did.  I also described how we would be visiting the dentist’s to get his point of view, instead of that of the patient.  This would include finding out how things work and why the dentist does certain procedures.  Solomon tentatively agreed to go on the field trip, especially if he could get some fake teeth.  Sarah confirmed that his opinion was being heard and asked if he had any more input.  He didn’t.  She asked Lilith if she had anything to say and she didn’t.  The meeting ended.

Sarah tried to help me get the darn Body Snatchers video to play.  She downloaded some software and got the video to work, but there was no audio.  Leyland, Riesling, Nevaeh and Cashel were playing “Chugga chugga choo choo” with a really long string of tiny beads.  They tore around the school, winding around the tables in the computer room and were just being LOUD, especially when Cashel would let out an ear piercing shriek.  Sarah asked them to please be quiet when they were in the computer room.  Finally I shut the door and reminded them to stay out unless they planned to be quiet.

In the mean time I called Dr. Greene’s and set up the field trip.

Finally, Sarah and I called our husbands to help with the technology issues.  We left messages since neither were available.

Leyland went outside and Riesling, Cashel and Nevaeh played dress up and played with the little plastic people.  Sarah read Calvin and Hobbes to Solomon and Lilith.  Lilith was kind of glued to Sarah most of the day.

After some time, I went to check on Leyland and talked to him for a bit.  He thought that Cashel was going to come out and play with him, but when I went back inside, the girls and Cashel had just taken out a fresh set of costumes.  I reported back to Leyland.  I let him know that I thought Cashel had changed his mind, so I would come hang out with him if he would like.  He wanted me to go over to where his club house was.  Near the clubhouse was a good size log that was burned on all it’s surfaces.  Leyland hit it with his foot and his shoe was blackened.  He asked me why the ash made his foot black.  I explained that it was charcoal and not ash.  I also said that charcoal could be used to write with and he equated what I meant with ink.  I told him that it was more like a pencil because they were both hard.  I picked up the log and drew a line and wrote a letter on a board.  Leyland’s eyes lit right up.  He hugged the log and tried to write with it as well.  I suggested that maybe we could make some charcoal pencils.

Leyland and I quickly headed inside for some supplies.  I asked Leyland how long the charcoal pencils should be and he showed me a standard pencil.  I remarked that the pencil would be our model.  He really liked the term “model”.  I asked him for some ideas on how we could keep the charcoal from turning our hands black.  He suggested that we wrap it with paper.  I said that maybe we could tape the paper to keep it tightly wrapped.  Then I asked how we were going to get the charcoal off the log.  He suggested a pointy pair of scissors.  I let him know that would probably damage the scissors and suggested a chisel or screwdriver from the woodworking box.  Leyland remarked that a saw might work best.  I whole heartedly agreed.  I went to get the saw and let everyone know that we were going to try to make charcoal pencils and that they were welcome to come along.  Everyone jumped up and came outside in their costumes.  I asked Sarah what the rules were for wearing the costumes outside.  She said that there weren’t any.  At that point, the kids spontaneously decided to come back in and take off their costumes.

During all this, Sarah’s husband called her back with some advice on how to get the audio working on the video.

We all tried our hand at sawing the charcoal off the log in a long strip, but it just didn’t work.  Nevaeh and Riesling took some bits and wrote their names on a board.  Leyland climbed the red bud tree twice.  Then Sarah came out and let us know that the audio was working.  After some more sawing we all decided to go and watch the video.  Solomon was on his way out to the dirt pile and I asked him if he wanted to watch the video and he said, “No.” The kids all formed a line in one of the two bathrooms to wash the charcoal off their hands.  Then they decided that they were hungry and wanted to eat before the video.

When they were ready, Sarah started arranging all the chairs into 2 little rows so that everyone could see.  We all helped her finish.  The kids all loved the video and everyone, except Lilith, made lots of comments and asked all kinds of questions.  Solomon also joined us after a couple minutes.  When the video was done I remarked that the same thing happens when hands don’t get washed after someone touches their nose or if they eat with out cleaning up first.  They all seemed really inspired.  Solomon and Lilith watched the video again.

I went to clean up the bathrooms and to try to corral my kids toward the door.  During this, Sarah and I had a brief discussion about how we could better communicate with each other.  Definitely a step in the right direction.  I hope that we can continue the dialogue.

Riesling and Cashel said goodbye to everyone and we headed to one of Riesling’s JMU Young Children’s Program classmate’s house.  Nicholas was in school, but his two siblings, Jacob and Sophia were home.  Their Mom (Erin) and I needed to do the great kids clothing swap.  Riesling and Cashel really enjoyed playing with them.  Unfortunately, it was time for Sophia’s nap so we had to leave soon after.  Riesling had begun to set up a whole entire meal and she got upset when I announced that we had to go.  I thought about why she was getting upset and asked her how long it would be until the meal was ready. She said it would only be a minute.  Jacob and I cleaned up and then we all had a little picnic.

When we arrived home, Riesling and Cashel decided to watch movie The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  It was an epic film.  It lasted through snack and nearly to dinner.  I made some sticky popcorn concoction  with peanut butter, butter, molasses and honey and set off the smoke alarm when I tried to bake it in a too hot oven.  As soon as I opened the oven door, I warned the kids that the alarm would be going off and they were unphased when it did.

Joe got home and they got their second wind and began playing and running amok.  I heated up the leftover Runzas from last night for the kids and Joe.  I went to try to clean up Cashel’s clothes in his room while they ate and Joe did magic tricks, while he was supposed to be eating.

Then it was bath and onto bed.  I read Meet Lofty (Bob the Builder) by Krisha McCune and The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke and the exhausted sweeties were out.