Video Games

Picture this: two televisions set up with video games, a tableful of sodas, chips, pretzels, Twinkies, and leftover Halloween candy, and 15 tweens hollering and running about, hopped up on sugar. That was the scene at my house this week during our Monthly Video Game Club. It is much like an arcade, but in a more confined space.

Somehow my one-year-old managed to sleep through most of the hullabaloo this time, which is more than I could ask for. And though loud, the kids are amazingly well behaved for all the stimuli. That is why every month through the school year I will continue to open my house for 15 kids to play, though only 15 because I don't think I could squeeze any more in the space!

My Adventurous One

With three boys I have learned that they are all different and present their own challenges. My one-year-old has now shown an aptitude for climbing, so much so that in the last few days he has astounded me with his prowess. It started with the dining room table, then the kitchen table. We even turned two of our couches to face the wall because he was jumping off the top onto the cushions, and after falling off he was more proud of himself than ever. Two days later he figured out how to monkey his way up the back of the couch. I overcame this as well by making him wear socks, which are much too slippery to climb the couch.

Yesterday he started climbing the entertainment center to play with the DVD player and sound system. I have no idea what to do about that one. The toilets are locked to keep him safe, but it doesn't keep him from hurdling himself on top and climbing onto the bathroom countertops.

This morning he was making his way up the ladder of his brothers' bunk bed. Surprisingly, he has not been able to scale the baby gates on the kitchen or office, though it may be soon. It seems that nothing is safe in our house anymore.

Stash Project #5: Kitchen Scrubbers

This has been a long project, ironic for the fact that they only take about ten minutes each to make. Originally I came up with the idea to put cotton yarn on one side of the scrubbers I make so I could do hand dishes, one side to scrub and the other to soap up, because my dishwasher has been doing a lackluster job as of late. So now it is a month later and I can finally put these bad boys to work!

This crochet pattern, from my great grandmother, uses tulle and is great in the kitchen. Because it is passed down in the family, I don't want to display it on the Internet. However, if you would like to learn how, let me know. This is a really easy and cheap project!

It's What We Do

As moms, we do so much for our kids without even thinking. Yesterday, as I sat completely still for 20 minutes so that my oldest could draw my profile for art class (and also while my one-year-old used me as his own personal jungle gym), I reminisced about all the crazy things I have done for them.

I have made goofy faces on numerous occasions in the checkout line at the grocery store to entertain them. Of late, I have gone hungry at the dinner table because they are starving for seconds, thirds, and fourths. I have shaved my legs in the shower, standing with one knee to my chest, while balancing a toddler on my other hip to keep him from having a fit.

As for my portrait above, my younger son said, "Mom, your picture looks like a boy."

Field Trip

I apologize for not writing in so long, but it has been absolutely busy around here! Halloween - check. Three boys to the dentist - check (and only one cavity). Schoolwork - check. Boy scout projects - check. Vote - check.

On top of so many extra things this week I also hosted my first homeschool field trip today. It was a blast for the kids, visiting my grandparents' pecan farm, but the preparation and anxiety over how it would turn out took most of my attention for the last few days. Now that it is over I can relax, get back to knitting, and enjoy myself. And, of course, write my blog regularly.