Jason likes to match

One of Jason's favorite things is to dress matchy-matchy with Adam. He even bought himself these Vans so that they could look even more similar. Lately, he tries to pick matching outfits every Sunday for church. I think this last picture is so adorable I think I'll print this one out. 

Swim Coma

We've been swimming a lot this summer. (A lot means every day.) I may not like having a $220 association fee but I like having an easy activity to do with the kids.

Swimming also has the bonus of being a sleeping pill for children.

"Life Force gone. Cannot go on."

She's what, maybe 10 minutes out of the water?

A child's perspective on the house

Frannie said to me the other day, "Mom, I hope we never move."
"Why?"
"Because our house is so cozy!"
"Our house is cozy? Really? Which room is your favorite?
"Your room."
"My room? (I was really surprised to hear this.) Why?"
"Because it is just so cozy!"

I really thought she'd say her room or the living room or basically any place that she plays the most or reads the most.

But her favorite room is our room. And her response reminded me of this post from Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2010/03/reasonably-clean-house-did-you-guess.html

She writes, " Your home has many areas that express family life, but your bedroom expresses the foundational relationship between you and your spouse -- the inner sanctum where the sacrament of your marriage is consecrated and continually renewed with the conjugal gift.

If it weren't for the intimate aspect of your commitment, your family would not be. ...Once you make it a priority to keep your bedroom reasonably neat, clean, and tidy, you will notice that besides gaining your husband's gratitude, your children respect it more as they grow older.

Do you see how that contributes, however humbly, to their understanding of the preciousness of marriage and the home -- and the reverence that both you and your husband have for your relationship? Do you see how this lesson, an unspoken one, will carry its message to a new generation? Who knew that you were expressing so much by cleaning a room?"

Chow Mein

I thought it would be fun to have the kids try new foods so I brought home a can of sardines from TJs.

When I popped and peeled back the lid the kids said EEEWWW when they saw the fish in olive oil with the head and tail cut off.

But I forged ahead and speared one with my fork, flaked it up, and got a nice little heap to go on a cracker.

"There! Try it."

And so they did. And they liked it! They kept asking for more until all three fish in the can were gone.

Later in the day we were in the car and Adam says, "Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have some of that chow mein?"

"Chow mein? We don't have chow mein. What are you talking about?"

"You know, that chow mein. With the crackers."

"Do you mean SAR-DINES!?"

"Oh, yeah, that."

And he still couldn't remember the name and all day long he's been asking me to go to the store to get chow mein.

Answers: 212, 122, 3 1/2, 7?8?9?10?

Questions:
1. How many squats did Francesca do yesterday?
2. How many did you (mom) do?
3. How many hours did Natalie "nap" today?
4. Number of days since your children last received a bath?

Sub-Questions
1. Why did she do this?
2. Why did you do this?
3. Why is this a big deal?
4. Why are you not bathing your children?

Sub-Answers
1. Because she's competitive- although I didn't quite realize how much!
2. Because I'm competitive too and Jason has been having squat competitions at work. I thought I could do between 60-100.
3. Because she's been a major grumpy-pants stinker for 2 days. I'm the only one in this house who's allowed to act like she's on her period.
4. Because they've had swim lessons every day for 2 weeks.

Sub-sub-Questions
1. Is she sore?
2. Are you sore?
3. Is Natalie being nicer?
4. Will you ever bathe the children?

Sub-sub Answers
1. Yes. Now she is. Took 24 hours to creep up on her. (Ben-Gay to the rescue!)
2. Yes. I wish I lived in a one-story.
3. Actually yes. She cleaned up the living room nicely. I'm glad she's feeling better.
4. Actually yes. They finally got shampoo/conditioner/ears-face-feet-booty scrubbed tonight. Francesca even got a coconut oil treatment in her hair. She says she smells like popcorn.