whatever

i have lost my mind.

i decided on vacation that i was SICK of tv and video games.
while on vacation i loved the kids' relaxing morning tv time while i slowly woke up.
but then it was just hard to get it OFF again.

so i decided that until school starts....no more tv or computer.
 

the sign is just a reminder for them.
  
it has been very different.
we have NEVER done this.
my kids are so confused.  disoriented.  lost.  zombie-like.  

they have no idea WHAT to do.

i have entertained them all that i know how.
i need some ideas.

WHAT do you do with your kids?!
what do they play?
my kids don't know how to play?!!!

it's 100 degrees outside.....they won't go out except for a short bit to swim.

help me ladies.
i have crafted my heart out and they need something to do ON THEIR OWN.
 
*******************************************************

conversation overheard yesterday with annie and her friend:

annie:  let's make cards!

friend:  yeah, let's make a card to give to your mom that says "you're mean"
            for not letting you watch tv.

annie:  i don't know how to write.
      
*******************************************************
ps....this no computer and tv rule does not apply to me.

all my work is on my computer.  
and i don't watch much tv except at night when they are all in bed.

wednesday.

ok...today is better than the past two have been.
i feel relieved by that.
the pool is filling up.
the rain is gone.
the boys' nerf guns have been confiscated.
i think we are going to make it.

i received a shirt in the mail....and i love it.

you can get them here at DOTS.
it is so soft and light.
i really really like it.
and i want to make cupcakes when i wear it.
i thought this one was cute too.

the porch is my favorite spot in the summer.
yesterday i set up memory on the bench/coffee table.
it took the entire top...and was hard to remember with such a long line of cards.





guess which set of matches is mine?  
i told you it was hard for me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
some questions were asked about the summer list yesterday...i will clarify.
 
*WORLDS OF FUN is an amusement park with roller coasters in kansas city.
*PEPPERNUTS are little spice cookies...we love to eat them but i have never made them.
 here is a website about them.  
 they are a mennonite thing...craig has mennonite roots and so does our hometown.
*a BLOCK PARTY is a street party with our neighborhood (our block).
*the FROGGIE POOL is our public pool...it has a frog shaped slide.
*DEMO DERBY is the mud pit where cars crash into each other...that we pay money to watch!

we bought journals yesterday and the three youngest were so pumped about it.
they filled up the front already with stories and stickers.  
very sweet.

my man sean

my boys usually don't hang around where i am...which is where my camera is...which is why annie
is usually in so many pictures...she's right beside me all the time.

but i got sean this week.
caught on film...or cf card? whatever.

his best friend let him borrow his RipStik.
i had no idea what it was until he brought it home.
it's a skateboard...with only two wheels.  
It's all about balance.
it took him about 2 (very frustrated) hours to really get it...

and he hasn't quit since.

     
could you do this?

i know that i couldn't.
none of my other kids can do it.

i think he looooooves that part.

it's something only he can do.



then...he even let me take some pictures of just him.

the only other person with green eyes in our family besides me.  :)
 



he does this with his arm all the time...glad i caught it.
 

oh man...you have got to love the braces.

sean is growing so fast.  
his shoes are 9.5. a size and half bigger than me!
he is VERY into reading now...a different chapter book everyday.
i know that he turns on his lamp & reads after we say to go to bed but how do you get mad about that?
he also loves club penguin.com. 

i love that boy.
i may not always understand him...but i try my best.  
i am his biggest cheerleader.
i want him to succeed so badly.

i love that boy. 
   
did i mention that already?