Watcher in the Woods

As a child I steered into scary stories (not movies they were to vivid afterwards). I enjoyed making them up, the scarier the better. I even won young authors in 5th grade for one of my ghost stories. I liked the thrill, the adrenaline rush. But I am over that now. I am an adult that likes the safety of safety. Halloween is cool, but like my daughters I choose princess witch over hag any day.

So you know that creepy feeling that you get when you are being watched? The hair on the back of your neck stands on end, you get goose bumps, you scan the room for all exits and grab the nearest thing that could do some damage. My weapon of choice is usually the pen from my journal and my 20 Questions hand held game, a pair of scissors is also nice if available. I figure if it came down to it I could huck the game and gouge out the predator's eyes...never mind that for athletic as I grew up, hitting the broadside of a barn was never in my repertoire.

Any way, this is a feeling I have been getting a lot lately. It is especially nerve killing when JP is not around. I am a night owl in every sense of the word - though I don't do mice (I miss you Gilwell!). I enjoy that peaceful time when the kids are dreaming, the house is finally clean and I get to think about grown up things like NOTHING. So it is quite discombobulating when I get that creepy feeling...

So I grab the pen and the game, ears alive and stealthily roll over...only to be met by this:Once I have eye contact with my assailant instead of gagging and torturing me, he giggles, he coos, and he blows raspberry kisses. Frightening, I know. It is 3 in the morning! It is becoming a habit of JD's. I am getting better at not letting my gargantuan imagination ahead of me, but still I may already be out of like, ten years of life for it.

I guess it could always be worse he could be awake and crying or it could actually be the scary one legged man from Thump, Drag.

Dibs

EEP just came up to me and called dibs on her photo albums. Now I don't have a problem if she takes her things with her when she goes but seriously, why does it have to be attached to my impending death?! Should I tell her about the estate sale and foundation for blind snails now or just let her find out at the reading of the will?

Like Mike

It has been warm recently and we have been taking advantage of the weather to get our yard ready for winter. The kids have loved all the outdoor time. EEP seems to be less and less effected by the sun this summer. Hopefully her photosensitivity will soon be a thing of the past.No, JD is not just blinking. He actually fell asleep with his tongue out. Apparently it takes some effort to get to sleep in the Packer household. He certainly isn't doing any slam dunks, but twenty minutes of shut eye is just about as exciting. JD has had such a tough time teething that he really doesn't sleep longer than 30 minutes. It is almost creepy how you can set your watch to it. Between him and BK the stock in sleep has skyrocketed.

Perspective

So Sunday I was subbing in the Valiant 10 class. These are nine and ten year old boys. I walked in and the class was empty and the lights were out (no windows). So I promptly went looking - no way could that many boys be gone on the same day right?

I talked to the primary secretary again and we started peeking into classrooms and restrooms (not me a male teacher). I ran into the parents of one of the boys and they assured me that their boy was ... somewhere. I checked the room again, still no kids, no lights.

Ten minutes into class I decide to go set up any way. I found four boys strategically hiding behind chairs and tables, absolutely still and quiet. I recognized their prowess and named them king of the hill and proceeded to teach them the gospel. They are good kids and followed along and asked and answered questions.

The lesson was on Jesus Visiting the Nephites. At one point we were talking about how the Nephites were so happy that they cried. The boys so did not relate to this. They could not fathom how the two reactions could happen together. We discussed it some and then one of the boys remembered a time when something "exactly like that" happened to him - he had laughed so hard he had wet his pants. Since it was the closest to what we were talking about the perspective stuck and suddenly all the boys understood. The Nephites must have been really happy.

I do believe that a gentleman out in the foyer had a coughing fit at this point (I had the door wide open). I don't have all the answers and it is good when they can relate the world around them to themselves. I do believe that they will remember 3rd Nephi for awhile at least. We left it at that.

What's for Dinner

Million Dollar Question right? A fellow blogger and I want to start a new blog that anyone can author. Each day we add on what we are making for dinner or can come and steal ideas from other kitchens. Give me a buzz if you want to take part. It will be fun to break outside of Monday Night Meatloaf routine.

http://mothersfordinner.blogspot.com/

body parts

So we were playing the name that body part game with JD the other day. It is a game that all the kids really get into. We stand around him with goofy smiles on our faces and name and point to each of our noses, ears, eyes, etc, etc. It is fun for the kids because we say their name and they get to be the spotlight and the center of JD's little world for two seconds. After going through a lot of parts and some two or three times, EEP got a very concerned look on her face and asked where JD's neck was. Just one more endearing sign that JP is their daddy. We love you Grandma P!

Hair cuts

Here is a picture of one of JD's first hair cuts. Because he is his father's son I know that we have many ahead of us. He was really pretty good about it. BK even got into it. BK loves to see others get hair cuts, but suggesting that he is next sends him into hysterics.

Toe Touching

We have moved mountains this week. JD has learned to roll over from his tummy to his back and back again (the back again makes him angry!). Now he has moved on to toe touching. It has been so much fun to not only watch him move through the stages but see his siblings reactions to them. B is positive she taught him everything he knows and EEP is pretty sure that he is saying her name. Today they all "wrestled together". BK is finally showing more interst in JD. He gives me the blow by blow while I am washing the dishes, sorting laundry, or powdering my nose. I love being a MOM!!

Family Date Night

Family Date Night is our favorite night. It is not a specific night like Family Home Evening, but randomly selected by the King and Queen of Packerville. Our favorite pass times have been playing Sorry, Easy-Bake Oven (5 cakes in just 1 hour), orange julius and popcorn and a movie (or football game if it is in season and thumps like a good one). We find that we love each other more and learn about each other more when we spend this quality time together. There is only one draw back to the system. The aftermath.

I know that it looks overwhelming. But all of my stories have a happy ending and the room gets clean in the end. For all those other kingdoms that are looking to add this to their list of activities I would strongly suggest it. It will build a sense community and self-worth and don't forget the happy endings.

Too Tired

This summer has been a whirlwind of a summer. It just feels like we need at least two more weeks to get everything done. I have started to be one of those moms that actually give my kids chores. This is a two sided bomb. I do "less work" now but the same jobs take so much longer. I do recommend it for anyone who has trouble getting their kids to bed at night. Mine are always exhausted after a good days work. Good thing I buy the good stuff...