Fun and Games

Tonight Miriam made up a game called Cloud Jumping.  It was intense.  It was mostly follow the leader with lots of sounds and full body moves that were pretty crazy, especially when Eli was the leader because he can twist his little body in ways that gangly Miriam just can't manage--or anyone else, for that matter.  Obviously, there was a lot of jumping over clouds as well.

Then we played the game where Mom sits on the couch and says, "Dance!" and the kids dance like maniacs and then Mom yells, "Freeze!" and everyone freezes.  I'm pretty sure you've heard of the game.  Seriously hilarious to watch their facial expressions as they tip over.

Then there was that moment when Timothy decided he was a zombie tickler and attacked me.  The children came to my rescue but were surprisingly ineffective.  Their hearts were in the right place.

Some of my favorite things right now:

1) When Harriet says, "That was hilarious!"

2) The other day when Harriet saw Timothy come in the door after work and went running over to him to hug his legs and say, "I just love you so much!"

3) Miriam's piano recital piece.  It is gorgeous and hard and she hates that I stand there and count (we really need a metronome) but, oh, I love to hear her practice it.  We've definitely gotten to the point where I enjoy the songs she practices.  Except The Hunt so pass her on it already, Lindsay.  :)

4) That tonight we had a big discussion at supper about what everyone's two instruments are going to be.  I require my kids to take piano for awhile to learn the notes and then I require that they learn a second instrument because it is good for their brains.  Miriam is still desperate to study the harp, Cowen  said he wanted the drums and the kazoo.  We vetoed the kazoo, but laughed while we did.  Then Timothy made the bass guitar sound super exciting (he needs one for his rock band) and Cowen volunteered for that.  Miriam wanted to be the bass guitarist as well but Timothy told her she had to be on the keyboard.  She only pouted for a little while.  Then Eli said drums and harmonica and Emeline wanted drums and banjo.  I was overjoyed.  I'm still angling for a folk group instead of a rock band.  I love banjo and harmonica music!

5) When I asked Timothy where his pipe was and he said, "I gave it up; bad for the lungs, you know."  I stared at him completely puzzled and he smiled and said, "You know, lung cancer."  It still took me a minute.  I'm excessively tired (stayed up reading a book--no sympathy necessary).  I did eventually get it.  When I did Timothy said, "It's a tin whistle."  Whatever it is--I miss hearing him play Danny Boy for me as my goodnight song.  He said he'd find it for me.  Yay!

6) That Harriet, who decided two weeks ago to never again wear a diaper, didn't have an accident at church today!!  I tried to get her to wear a diaper and she threw a fit, so I gave up and then fretted all church.  She has been doing really well and only had one smeared poo all over hands, legs, and carpet incident.  That was because I sent her to sit on her bed for coloring on my newly painted kitchen cupboards.  I still haven't got all the crayon off and might just have to paint.  Again.  As a small sidenote--I was vehemently opposed to her potty-training decision.  I was outvoted.

7) When one of the kids said the word "frozen" tonight in a way entirely unrelated to the movie and Timothy and I both simultaneously started singing "Let it Go" quite loudly.  I thought the kids were going to die laughing.

8) That I was able to attend the Women's General Meeting with my daughter.  It was a huge bonus to also be there with two sisters and three nieces.  It was awesome.