Mark LOVES to read, especially adventurous books.
He likes to make up his own adventure stories, as well as jokes and riddles.
He also spent many hours working on Saturday building a TMBG car out of cardboard.
Sarah loves to sew! She has wanted to get at my sewing machine for a long time! I required that she finish her knitting project first (mitten strings on a mushroom loom- she was super excited to do that until she got into it and figured out knitting is very repetitive. Mark helped her finish a bit.)
I had to re-learn how to use the sewing machine myself (nasty creatures), and show her how to do it, and then let her go. She came to me several times saying she had broken it, but was just having issues with not holding onto the threads when she first started. THEN she said she had REALLY broken it, and I did not take her seriously, and sat down to do some sewing myself (we are making doll diapers for her friend), and ended up wanting to swear. It seemed that EVERYTHING was doing something different than what it was supposed to. The foot fell off (figured that out), there was some weird thread in the bobbin area (got that out with tweasers and lots of maneuvering), and then the knobs were turned to things that were making it too loose or something, and I had to figure that out. SIGH! And then my time for sewing was up.
But now, with a few stipulations (don't touch THIS or THIS or THIS unless you ask me) she can use the sewing machine by herself!
That lovely organized sewing kit is her work ( a gift from my mom. The sewing machine was, also.). With me, it was all jumbled up. Everytime she uses it, she puts it into gorgeous order.
Joan is growing up! She is anxious for some things to do that feel BIG. She enjoyed this activity (filling the pepper grinder).
I said to Joan, as I
swung her around cradled in my arms- “Are you my baby? Are you my big girl?” She said “I NOT a baby. I NOT a big girl. I LIKE my diaper.” Hey, sister! I wasn't even trying to go there!
I came downstairs in my long silky nightgown yesterday. It is a frumpy grandma type nightgown, but Joan was impressed and insisted that I twirl and "Sing. SING!" I scooped her up and complied.
Joan has a pair of frog boots that she loves. She likes to wear them everywhere. This Sunday, Kate plead on bended knee that she would wear her sparkly diamond dress shoes. Joan replied "No, thanks. I like my boots."
John and Nathan on a campfire date.
Mark and Sarah built their own campfire and spit, even punctured holes in a food storage can (with permission) to dangle over it.
John made pool noodle swords for the boys. We have enjoyed SPECTACULAR weather this winter, off and on (note the bare feet).
This is what the boys spend most of their free time doing. They have invented various baseball time games with names like "Phoenix ball". But most of it is down and dirty sword fighting. Nathan gets the brunt of Mark's energy, comes and tattles, then runs right back into the fray to pay Mark back. I have fought with them, and they are getting really good! They 'cut' my arms off before I can do anything.
Ammon was in heaven here- his fav toys AND the stairs. We sing songs every morning in devotional while John plays the piano. Ammon likes to 'sing' and play the piano.
Sarah peels a lot of carrots. This isn't fun for her, but it is fun for me! She doesn't mind it as much when she gets to listen to books on tape. She likes to listen to conference (!!), John Bytheway, hymns, the Book of Mormon, and plenty of classic fiction.
She asked me to braid her hair like Laura Ingalls, one of her favorite books.
John loves me A LOT! He took me and Mark and Sarah contra dancing in Chapel Hill this Saturday. In his words "I had a lot more fun than I thought I would, dancing with other guys." Life is sweet with John!
It was a family dance- there were a lot of little kids and their parents. We had a lot of fun, but it was a bit awkward since the partners were not boy-girl. It was fine swinging around the circle with little kids, but with other adults? Smile...don't smile TOO much...??? I hope we will get to go to a grown- up dance sometime, and then John won't get cooties. :)
