Forts

Hello! It's October that means new picks for book clubs on http://www.bookclub4boys.com/!

Okay- there's my plug for that!

I know in some parts of the country people are enjoying the changing of the seasons. Growing up in Maryland I enjoyed the beautiful Fall trees in all their splendor. There are many perks to living on a tropical island. I wont even try to feel sorry for myself- but besides family I really miss that the most- I love the crisp air in Autumn, I love the colors, I love the smells, I love wearing jeans and sweaters. Mostly I loved walking/running the trails that were near my house.

FORTS. That use to be a favorite past time of my boys when the weather was changing. When bad weather would hit the kids would take out blankets, sheets, couch cushions, tables, nothing was off limits- and build a fort.

A favorite game of preschoolers is to set up a fort and then play "Three Little Pigs" I'm the big bad wolf and threaten to blow their house down. They squeal & race out of the fort- run around a bit while I pretended to try and catch them... then run back into the fort for me to knock again.

There are a few perks to having boys. One is - things don't have to be cute. They like things regardless...and actually when I try to make things cute, it kinda ruins it for them. I "mom-afide" something that was cool.. but I tinkered with it too much and now it's no fun.

I found this fort/playhouse on a blog named: Nothing Fancy . I beg to disagree. This is the cutest- fanciest little fort/playhouse I've seen. I love it! I think if you have a girl- you should seriously consider making this for a birthday party/present or Christmas present. What little girl wouldn't LOVE to play inside this darling little house? Jamie uses a card table for the structure and sheets etc.. for the house. Wouldn't that make an adorable birthday party activity. (Not making the house- but playing in it.) You could have a little t-party/birthday party with finger foods, etc..And how wonderful that it's not some HUGE plastic contraption you have to store somewhere when not in use? LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

He's OFF!

Heath is in heaven.

We borrowed our little neighbors bike. Did you know not all toddler bikes are equal? Some tike bikes are break less! At first I thought that sounded really strange/dangerous. What kind of person would place their precious tike on a bike without breaks?

We were outside socializing with the other 2 year olds and Heath was able to try both. My son started on the break bike and was so frustrated and crying within the first minute. He kept stopping himself inadvertently.

Then he threw a tantrum. ( I know- hard to believe- sweet Heath!) And stomped over to his friends break less bike and took off around the parking lot. And surprisingly- they don't seem to need breaks. They manage to coast to stops or bump into curbs to stop. I was soooooo glad we tried the two out before we bought a bike for Heath! Knowing me- I would have bought the wrong one.

 

Hockey Saturday

Just another Hockey Saturday. I was able to catch one of Hugh's goals. (He's in the red and black jersey on the right- "shooting".) They move so fast- it's hard to get a good picture.

Especially- because I have to wedge my camera in between the fence lattice to get a picture without the fence lines-- so I patiently sit with my camera in position and then wait for them to skate in view to snap a shot. I just happened to be in the right spot.


Hunter- he splits his time as goalie and forward. (Meaning some games he plays one position or the other...) So he was forward this game- and it is fun to see his personality.
He kinda stands off and is patient... he waits for the puck to pop out of a glob of kids and then skates hard to get it and score. (We nicknamed him 'Sniper'.)



Hugh is more aggressive- all the time. He attacks the puck or player with the puck. So he is always on fire mixing things up. (His nickname is " The Jet".)


The boys take turns entertaining Heath. They tied a shoe lace to his little scooter- so they could drag him around. What nice brothers!









Hatricks turn to be pony. Poor Hatrick- he's feeling the pressure of living up to older brothers and his name. He's been saying lately he doesn't want to play hockey- and we couldn't figure it out -- WHY? He is sooooo good. (He plays up a league even-the 8yr old division... he's 5 yrs old.) Today he said he wants to go by his middle name instead of Hatrick. I think he feels it's a burden to try and always score a Hat trick in every game.
(Which we tell him- that's not realistic!)

So today we talked to the coaches and asked if he could play with his age group. (We didn't place him on the 8 year old team- the coaches put him there. They are more "intense" about Hockey than we are, if you can imagine....Their thinking is, "It would be better for him to be challenged by the older boys than dominate his age group.") We said we'd prefer he dominate his age group. :0) That's fun too, no? And he did.. he scored three goals in his first shift.. . so the other coach asked that he not shoot the rest of the game. He had to pass off to teammates. We'll see which team he wants to play. Now that he realizes he is good at hockey maybe he'll want to play with the older boys. Who knows? I just felt bad- he didn't want to play because he felt like he wasn't good at it. And have I permanently scared him? Is the name Hatrick a burden? I was the third child in my family. I know the challenge of not being the "baby" but not being a "big kid" either. I know the challenge of trying to live up to older siblings. Then on top of it- being the third boy.. I didn't want him to feel like "he was suppose to be a girl". (My dad is the third boy in his family. I've heard him say that.) So I thought Hatrick would be a great name for him. He would always feel secure knowing we were thrilled to be having a third boy... my Hat trick. I didn't think he would feel like he had to constantly make Hat tricks himself. (I will say though- the first time he did... EVERYONE at the rink was SO excited for him. It's kinda a novel name- so most people know him at the rink- even if we don't know them personally. ) So I'm nicknaming him the "Dominator". :0)... okay truths out- no one really calls them these nicknames.. except me. To tease them. I have to live up to the "embarrassing mom" role. They say I embarrass them when I am just being normal- so sometimes I really try to ham it up- so they can know what real embarrassment feels like. ( I mean, standing next to them when one of their friends walks by- is soo embarrassing! Saying bye to them when I drop them off to school--- soo embarrassing!)
Okay- I've got to go... Saturday chores are calling.

Laura

MONEY game

This is Hatrick's all time favorite game. He learned it last year at preschool. The teacher called it "The Quarter Game". The things you need are a handful of pennies, a couple of nickles, a few dimes and a couple of quarters along with two dice.

Take turns rolling the dice. Whatever number you roll- take that many pennies. Pennies can be traded in for nickles, nickles into dimes and on up to a quarter.


We played the game one time- and it went by so fast- that we changed it to "Dollar Game".

Like I said- we learned this game a year ago! He was just a preschooler. It's funny how money motivates boys to do math.

My older boys like to play it too- except they always try to add the rule, "you keep whatever money you earn". :0) I have to give them credit for trying..

But no- we don't play that way.

I just keep the change in the bag with the dice so it's all together ready to play. It a fun game. Fast paced.

My Tip for Family Pictures

Here is my best tip for Family Pictures.


Mom's Birthday Present Trick


Traditionally- we take our family picture on my birthday, as a present for mommy. This really helps motivate my children (& husband) to be a patient and smiling participant. Because pictures are tedious.





But willing participants often get "cheese" results.









Co-ordinating Colors for Clothes


I pull the "Birthday Card" to even get them to wear what I want them to wear. My kids don't like to "match" each other. I'm okay if we aren't wearing the exact thing, this is my most matching photo, normally they are just complimenting colors.

For me- personally- just my preference- I'm able to really focus on the faces if the clothes aren't competiting for attention. I like it. Too Matching though is distracting too. For example- if all my kids were wearing the striped shirt- that would have been crazy.

We've had a picture every year on my birthday- as long as I can remember. This year we did our family picture in April. (my birthday is in November) I wanted a family beach picture but the last 3 years it has been raining or super windy on my birthday. So I told the gang we were going to do it early. OF COURSE the day I planned... it's super windy!

Here Hugh is complaining about sand in his mouth. Poor guy.

Heath- a not so willing participant....

My friend Debbie took our pictures and it helps having a patient photographer. One who understands kids... and who is willing to wait for a good shot. I mean- this is a nice pose- everyones looking.. .but HELLO- my hair! This was not going to be our Christmas card photo.

We've gone to the beach with a impatient friend to snap some pictures. CLICK-CLICK-CLICK okay.. there you go...

She suggested we turn around and take some shots in the other direction.. What a difference THAT made! This is one of the pictures we liked best. Debbie took over 100 pictures! Now that is a patient friend- with a super fast camera.

Thanks Debbie!

Off to hockey!

Laura

Frindle Book Club

Here are the pictures of our book club yesterday.
As boys slowly arrived, I sent them to the T-shirt table.
We were making our Book Club T-shirt for the year and the design is basically all their faces.
( I had prepared the shirts by washing and stamping circles using a cut potato for the shape of the face a few days ago. So they were dried and ready to have eyes, hair etc.. added.)

The time consuming part was... they had to paint on each other boys shirts too... so it was set up like an assembly line. To keep all the boys busy. I had about four boys painting shirts while four others were playing chess.
Boys like Chess. All the boys really liked learning and playing Chess. Some already knew the rules so that was helpful because I was bouncing back and forth between the two tables.

( A bonus for those of you who have boys in Cub Scouts too.... explaining the game of chess, learning all the pieces and how they move and then playing a game qualifies for a Cub Scout Academic belt loop!) Pretty cool.

So as the T-shirt boys finished up... they switched places with a Chess boy.

After everyone had finished painting the T-shirts and everyone had a chance to learn and play chess we chatted about the book. (check out http://www.bookclub4boys.com/ for the details. )

But then we talked about this author. Did they like the book? Would they want to read another book by the same author?

They liked the book. But wanted to try a new book/author for next month.
Oh- another confession. We have 8 kids in the book club and one is a girl! She really wanted to be in the club and she's friends with all the boys.. my son was okay with that. (It felt cruel to exclude her just because she's a girl. And she would prefer to be in a boys book club than a girls one anyway.) So here's Nan... our honorary Tomboy in the boys book club. (Actually Hunter is such a sweet kid. He asked if he could changed the name of his book club from Boys book club to "Book Friends". What a compassionate and kind son I have!)

okay
got to run
Laura

Monday Mornings

You know... I probably like Monday Mornings more than most people. Because I don't just like them- I love them. I love the start of a new week. I always feel so refreshed after a weekend of fun with my family. I'm ready to start the week off strong- get laundry done, pick up after a weekend of playing and resting. (I think most families work on the weekend 'Saturday chores' or something. We don't. We try to get our work done during the week so we can enjoy the weekend together. And I know working together is important but we live in Hawaii and sometimes you have to take advantage of that on weekends. We are too busy during the week.) Anyway- I am not sure why I felt I had to justify our playing on weekends. :0) It's fun.

But that leaves my job cut out for me on Mondays. Lots of rooms need to be re-claimed.

This Monday was no exception. I woke up early- started my day off right- reading scriptures, made breakfast for the fellas. I even ironed my husbands shirt for him! I mean- really. I was on a roll!

Then my oldest reminds me he is suppose to bring his "invention" to school today. He invented "cheese bacon" and of course we don't have any bacon. So I agree to run to the store while everyone has breakfast so we can make his cheese bacon to take to school.

When I get back- the house STINKS, my husband is hacking and baby is in the bathtub. (I hear the water running).

That can mean only one thing.....

HEATH- How can someone so cute cause so much mischief!

My suspicions are correct. Heath woke up with a poopy diaper- and while the boys & my husband were downstairs eating breakfast, he took care of the problem himself.

I figure- it is better if I don't even look. I don't want to ruin a good morning send off- by seeing the work that lies ahead of me once my family is off to school. So I hurry- make the cheese bacon, my husband who is already late- apologizes and gives me a peck on the cheek while he runs out the door. I drive the kids to school so they won't be late and I am left with a scavenger hunt of poop on my hands.

 

 

Poopy footprints lead me up the stairs to his bedroom

 

 

Poopy finger prints on his door.

 

 

 

To a plop of poop on his pillow.

After following my nose- I found more prints in the playroom, poop on our futon, in the living room, on our couch.... what a mess!

Guess whose renting the Carpet Doctor from the grocery store today.

Have you ever read this poem?

"Sometimes you get discouraged because I am so small...

and always leave my fingerprints on furniture and walls

But every day I'm growing

I'll be all grown some day

and all those tiny hand prints will surely fade away

so here's a little hand print

just so you can recall

Exactly how my fingers looked

when I was very small."

The first time I read that poem as a new mother- I didn't know the footprints and hand prints were going to be poop.

Laura

 

Can you tell?

Just some Hockey pictures... I've been trying to write.. trying to explain... describe what hockey means to my family... my sons... my husband. I can't seem to find the words. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here's some pictures.

Do you decorate with hockey equipment?

This is how we spend our Saturdays..( and our week day afternoons 4x a week.)

Relaxing in the shade... our home away from home.

My three older boys all play. Unfortunately- didn't get an action shot at Hatrick's game. I was chasing Heath around.

Heath can't wait until he's old enough.

We like hockey- just a little.

Laura

Al Capone Does My Shirts Book Club

So today was our first book club meeting for this school year. Here is the line-up. The boys had a great time.

You'll notice I'm following my own book club advice and limited the size to 6. (The number of boys who can sit at my table.) It's sometimes hard to stay within the limit. When parents hear about book club they are eager to have their son join. That is why I started sharing my ideas on www.bookclub4boys.com. It is a great idea.

Baby Steps

The first time I ever mentioned my idea of a book club to my eldest son- he just gave me that "look". You know the "look". In a single glance he clearly communicates that he thinks that's a lame idea, that I am the most "un-cool" mom, that I must be a real DORK to even think that THAT could possibly be fun. Then the protests. "None of my friends will come".
Oooooooooohhhh.... one thing he hasn't figured out yet is the power of a mother! I know perfectly well- his friends will come.(Because it is not up to "his friends". It is up to "his friends- MOM's!)

My point is... don't wait for your son to show interest in having a book club. (I doubt the day will come- on it's own. ) This is something that slowly g-r-o-w-s on them. My son was VERY skeptical....down to the few minutes after all the boys arrived. He was giving apologetic glances at his friends like, "Sorry guys- I know this is going to be painful- my Mom's a dork- what can I say?" And then I pulled out the SUPER Soaker and started asking them questions about the book. If they answered wrong- they got a big BLAST. If they answered right- they were spared.. for the moment.
We then played a game. (This is from the Alligator Free Book Outline). They were hot and sweaty and tired and we enjoyed pizza and drinks while I introduced the next book. The boys were so excited when I told them we were going to have book club every month. (I even heard in hushed whispers while the boys were leaving, "Hugh- your mom is so cool!")
Really- after that. No one has ever complained about book club. And even better is- they read the book. Those "incentive" games really help. They know they better read the book or suffer the consequence!
So don't make this complicated. Take a breath. It's not as hard as you might make it seem. (Especially if you are a perfectionist type of mom.) It doesn't have to be cute and color coordinated. Boys really are low maintenance that way.
So get started. Jump off the fence and start a book club!
I would love to hear any comments, questions and suggestions on how you are enjoying my website. Please email me at bookclub4boys@yahoo.com
Laura
(previously posted on Sept 2007)

Supervision needed for the SUPER NAUGHTY

You know, ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a mom. (Along with being an artist, a writer, a sign language interpreter, a peacemaker, a nurse, a teacher, a ballerina, etc...)

In college I majored in most of these areas at one point or another but I settled down in the major of Early Childhood Education. I wanted to learn how to work with kids, nurture kids, be a kid and still play with kids and get paid. And I thought this would help me be a "good mom". I took child development classes, parenting classes, first aid, etc.. And I promised myself somethings I would NEVER never ever do as a mom.

"I'm not going to be one of those moms whose kid is on a leash." You know... those type of phrases.

Just when I thought, "I've got this parenting down"... I've had three boys. I'm a seasoned mom. I know what to expect. I can handle anything this baby is going to throw at me... let me introduce you to my youngest sporting his doggy/backpack leash.





He is a RASCAL! If I put him down anywhere- there is a 99.9% chance he is going to RUN... and not in the direction of other kids. He likes to explore, wander, go off by himself... down dark corridors, places where other kids would never venture without someone else. It's scary- so we bought a leash. Here we are at a Pinewood derby.





This is so typical of him. We are trying to take a picture of "All the Boys"- But he's off! No time for this.



Here is the picture we have hanging in our home. I am sure he will one day wonder- why he is standing off to the side....

We even bought him an ID tag with our home phone and cell phone numbers on it- in case he ever escapes from us. He's just so unpredictably predictable.



I mean... this is what they taught me in school.....



"The stages of development".. "the capricious nature of children"... I thought, "oh how sweet, what fun."


This is what my son looks like right now as I sit on the computer. He's tired! He's had a busy morning..

Earlier today, I was sitting on the couch- pulling pictures out of a magazine, preparing a lesson for church about places you can pray... ( I want to point out you can pray anywhere and anytime..) and Heath is playing on the floor with some Lego's, some cars, just random items.

Then he says, "uh oh".

That is never good from him. Because he's very independent. If he's spilled something- he'll get a towel and try to clean it up. If he's got a "poopy" he just pulls it out himself and keeps playing (adorable, no?) .. I mean... there isn't much in his small world that makes him think, 'uh oh'.

I look- he's found some rouge BB's and has stuck them in his ears. I can see one in each ear- but it turns out there was 2 in one ear and 1 in the other.

So we are off to the Health Center to get those removed.

We get those out and while I'm on campus I think- "Oh now is the perfect time to mail a package to my nephew Connor who wanted a shark tooth necklace and reserve the Game Room for Hunters Birthday next week...."

I thought Heath might be a little mellow- after having his ears scrapped out- maybe he would be content to run these few errands and just stay in the stroller.

No

I was mistaken.

He was in full- mischief mode.

So much so, that the lady helping me with the Game Room Reservation gave him a Hawaiian name. "Kalohe" . It means rascal. She said she has a grandson that just moved here from the mainland and they call him Kalohe too. (The woman helping me - was the Birthday girl from the luau- small world!)

By the time we walked home- he was all tuckered out- poor little guy!

What a sweet sleeping angel.