How Can I Help You Today?

I was standing in the doorway of the laundry room/pantry and in the beginning stages of making dinner last night when one of the kids came to find me. I stopped what I was doing to listen. Suddenly all four of the older kids were standing in front of me, vying for my undivided attention. Because of where I was standing in the house, they were all in the hallway and thus standing in a line. They usually all talk at once, this was no exception. Amidst the din, I heard this exchange.

Sophie: Why are we all lined up like this?

Cooper: (gestures at me) We're waiting to talk to the information center.

Brotherly Love

These two are ten years apart in age, but that gap disappears when they play together, especially when Legos are involved.

Splash About

It has been so hot this week. There were a few days when we didn't even open the blinds in an effort to keep the heat out and the cool in. Of course, there were a few days when we took a different approach and ran through the sprinklers in that heat and set up the pool.

In related news, we're trying out a new sunscreen because our time in the water this week taught us that what we had was not effective enough.

I'm Shrinking

I now have two children that have surpassed me in height.

When There's Love at Home

As we count down to the end of our Sundays doing church at home (nine left!), I am trying to savor them. Yes, I definitely am ready to be back in person, but there have been many blessings to doing church at home.

Photo Op

Me: Hmm. I wonder where my phone is.

Cooper and Topher:

Fruits and Veggies

On Saturday morning the girls were snuggled up together under a blanket, watching cartoons. Topher was sitting with me on the other side of the room, also watching TV. Peter walked in and the following conversation took place.

Sophie: Look! We're couch potatoes!

Peter: Topher, are you a couch potato too?

Topher: No, I'm an ottoman banana.

Homebodies

Remember last Friday when I wrote about all the parks we'd been to? Want to know how many parks we visited this week?

Zero.

None.

Zip.

On Tuesday we drove to a friend's house to pick up some extra produce she had. When I pulled out of our garage the van felt like it was driving a little funny. I even got out of the car to check the tires. On the way home from our errand the van began to feel less responsive, then the check engine light came on. I pulled over to check the manual to make sure I was okay to keep driving, then prayed and willed us home as the van became more and more unresponsive. It was an exciting six minute trip.

So now the van isn't working and the shop can't get us in until the week after next. Bryan's car is fine, but it only fits five. It's tricky to get to the park when we can't all fit in the available vehicle. So we stayed at home. We played in the backyard and went on walks, so we still got outside, just not to any parks.

If we had realized we would be stuck at home for the foreseeable future, we probably would have found even more parks to visit last week.

Spoilers

We were on our way to the park recently when Phoebe realized she didn't have her Kindle. Convinced she had brought it out to the car, she began searching around her seat. With a hint of panic in her voice she asked if any of us had done anything with her Kindle. Topher responded:

Topher: Phoebe, we murdered your Kindle.

Everyone else in the van: (in total shock) What?! Topher! Gasp!`

Topher: (chuckling to himself) Oh right, sorry, no spoilers.

I can happily report that the Kindle was discovered at home. And no, I have no idea where his answer came from.

On the Nose

"Mom, aren't these good noses? It's a mom and her daughter." -Sophie, after experimenting with a new drawing style.