Little Minds

I love to watch how the little minds of our kids work. The other day Isaac took a water bottle out of the case. I told him to put it back. He walked over to the case and tried to put it back. But, it was not fitting the way he was trying. He looked at it for a minute and then tried several different angles until he got it back in. It never ceases to amaze me (even with the fifth kid) how well they comprehend, can follow commands, and problem solve before they can say a word.

Grant and I were also witness to something pretty amazing in Asher's thinking (at least we thought.) He was playing a game with Jamison and Caleb. Caleb was on one side of a wall throwing a football over it to Asher and James. Whoever got to the ball first got to throw it back over. Asher was a tad slower than James and rarely got the ball. He was getting frustrated and a little upset. We just told him to try to get to the ball faster. After several times of James getting the ball first, he finally got it. Instead of throwing it over the wall he walked over to Jamison, extended the ball to her and asked, "Are you going to be nice to me now." She answered yes, took the ball, and threw it over. From then on out, no matter who got the ball first, they took turns alternating who got to throw it.

Seriously, what four year old thinks to himself, "You know what, I think I will give up an instant satisfaction for a greater return in the end. If I share with my sister after finally getting it, she just might share with me." The answer to that is our dear Asher. This kid's mind is AMAZING. My mom thinks the kids in these days need to be sharp for what they have ahead of them. I would agree, but there is just something about the way he works...it is something else!

So that Means...

After Mikael's reception we were heading out to the car to get the kids home. I lagged behind a bit and when I got in the car Grant told me a little story. He said that he was in the parking lot and looked all around to make sure the coast was clear. After he confirmed they were alone he relieved himself of the stomach pressure he was experiencing. Asher asked, "Who was that." Grant answered, "Ummmm, I think it was Isaac." To which Asher replied, "Ok, so that means it was you." Enough said.

This Boy of Ours...

Yesterday we were at the park, crazy I know withe 95ish degree weather, but we were there with family. I got to be time to go and I was getting all the kids loaded up. Caleb was the remaining body to enter the car. He was putting his shoes on, and I kept telling him to just put them on in the car. He finally looked at me and told me he was going to run home. I was not comfortable with that considering how hot it was and how long he had already been in the sun. I told him he could not, that I did not think it was safe since it was so hot. He melted, cried and sobbed. I tried to tell him I was so sorry he was so upset, but it was not a good day to run outside. We got home and he was still crying and upset. I finally asked him if he would feel better if I let him run on the treadmill, to which he quickly replied, "YES!"

So, he got his shoes on, changed his clothes and was as happy as a lark. I put him on the treadmill at about a 13:20 pace and he ran a mile...our 6 year old very happily ran a mile. He would have run longer and faster had I let him. This kids just screams ATHLETE! It is so much of who he is. He impresses me constantly!

2 things that made me laugh yesterday

Asher and I were talking about Grant's birthday. He asked me if he was going to have a cake. I told him no, Dad does not really like cake. To which Asher said, "Then we better make sure he has presents."

Grant is doing the special olympics with Scott again. While Grant was getting the golf cart I was talking to Scott. He was doing his stretches while he told me he just got back from a family reniun with his cousins. I asked him if it was his mom's family that had the reunion. He stopped dead in his tracks, looked at me and said, "It's my family too Brittani."

Photo Contest

My SIL entered a photo contest of a picture she took, so I thought I might as well follow suit. I love this pic of James, someone even asked me if I would try and duplicate it when she gets married...I am so not thinking that far ahead. Let's just keep her at eight right now! This is the raw image, no editing...and I love it!

Humanity

I love it when humanity surprises me....for the better that is.

Let me explain:
Our kids love to go to the driving range and hit golf balls. It is good for them to do this together and also to learn respect and etiquette of golf. The other week Grant went into work a little late, so that morning we took them to the driving range. Grant took the older four down while I went into the pro shop with the baby to buy the bucket of balls. As I walked down I saw the four sitting nicely and quietly on the bench. As I got close to the kids an older gentleman looked at us (our circus show as I call us, you know the act when clowns just keep coming and coming out of the car...that is how I feel). He asked if they were always this well behaved, to which I quickly replied NO....but for the most part they are good kids. He made a few other kind comments and then we were on our way. We took the kids all the way to the other end of the range in hopes to not bother any of the other golfers. It is an adventure keeping them contained, quiet and respectful, but we try. About half way through the bucket of balls, that same gentleman approached us with another large bucket of balls. He set them down and said, "You guys have five kids, the last thing you need to worry spending money on is a bucket of balls, here these are for you. Besides you can never have too many balls to hit."

Considering all the bad we see on the news and in the world, moments like this make me smile, happy and want to be a better person to all around me, even strangers. He made my day, and probably did not even really realize it.

Back to the pool

It is that time of year again when swimming is what we do. Last year the weather did not cooperate until mid June, and even then it was not all that warm. This year is proving to be a little better, so we took advantage and headed to the pool. When Grant got home from work he was asking the kids how it went and what pool they were in. I gave him the low down, who went in the big pool, who went under water, who was scared of the floaty and who did not want floaties on her arms. Asher piped in saying, "Well I met two girls." I do not even have any words for this!!!!!