All-American Fun

I have great memories of these simple, All-American fun items known as Tin Can Stilts... both making them and reading of them.  Beverly Cleary wrote these childhood entertainment staples into one of her books, when her character, Ramona Quimby and Ramona's friend Howie pound around their small town sidewalks with their new stilts, enthusiastically yelling, "Pieface!" at passersby.

 

We had to try it.  They were on our Summer Fun List, which we're slowly working through. 

- Make Homemade Ice Cream...

CHECK.

- Make Homemade Bubbles...

Check.

- Make Tin Can Stilts...

Hmmmm.... let's get to it!



Mommy pounded the nails to make the holes.  The Blossoms threaded the string and climbed on.

Even Skipper could master them on her little tuna can stilts.  Daddy was just glad to have the cans out of the cupboard that also houses the trash bags.  They'd been falling on him every time he gets a trash bag.  I have to admit, I didn't teach them to yell "Pieface!" as they clang around on their brand new stilts.  Good Blossom Time Fun here in our 'appy lil 'ome!

Beautiful Belle

Scooter was setting the table.  Her job is plates and the Blossoms' favorite plates are the Princess and Hello Kitty plates given to them at Christmastime by their Aunt (also known as the Sprout Mommy).  And each Blossom knows which plate belongs to them.  In any case, Scooter was carefully arranging the plates to go to the appropriate Blossom, when she commented, "Mama, this plate gets it right."  Mommy looked up to hear the explanation and was rewarded with, "Belle is the BEST and this plate has her the biggest!"  :)

Chore List Fear & Trembling!

Daddy was going to Walmart to pick up a few things.  Mommy noted that Daddy seemed to be repeating the things to himself and, as any of us knows, when one thinks of something to pick up at Walmart, one will always think of five MORE things that need to be picked up at Walmart.  So, Mommy promptly grabbed an index card and a pen and sat down to make a little Walmart list for Daddy's over-taxed brain.  Skeeter piped up, "Mommy, what are you doing?"  No answer from Mommy who happened to be searching her brain and picking Daddy's for all the items that belong on the now-growing Walmart list.  More persistently this time, "Mommy, what ARE you doing?"  Silence again.  Skeeter and Scooter look even more concerned now.  By this time, Mommy and Daddy have noticed their urgency.  Mommy gives a blank look and says, "Writing a Walmart list for Daddy."  Sighs of relief escape from the mouths of Skeeter and Scooter.  Mommy and Daddy burst into laughter as they realize the cause.  Mommy uses index cards and a pen to write extra chore lists on Saturdays and summer days.  All those little chores, like hosing off the deck and carrying recycling to the basement and whatnot are written on the index card, given to the Blossoms and they must complete the tasks before playing.  This time, the list was for Daddy, not them.  Oodles of Blossom Relief!!

Perhaps Jake has changed his mind...

We've always had a standing family joke - all dogs want to be a part of our family.  If you were a dog, you'd want to be.  A family friend once said that we treat our dogs like they're people.  In truth, our dogs actually think they're people.  Life is good in our household - plenty of room to run, good handouts (ie, STEAK fat), loads of attention, stimulating conversation and for Jake, the occasional new bandana for around his neck.  Currently, he's stylin' a bright yellow bandana in the traditional bandana pattern.  We can't help it.  It's what a family chock-full of Blossoms does to a male dog - dress him up!  Anyway, I looked outside today and wondered if Jake changed his mind - about being a dog in this family, I mean.  Lately, Skeeter has decided that Jake needs to be trained, trained to pull a sled, that is.  You see, Scooter, Skeeter and Skipper are supposed to clean up all the bark that falls in the process of cutting and stacking wood.  They then transport it to the compost pile across the yard.  That entails loading it onto a bright red sled that most normal people use for winter time fun.  Not us.  It's a kids' version of haulin' thangs (translation: "hauling things").  And Skeeter is all about efficiency.  This does not surprise me, as she is her father's daughter.  So, this morning, Jake had to undergo another session of sled-training.  Surprisingly, he's taken to her homemade won-in-Sunday-School Winnie-the-Pooh jump-rope harness quite well.  He's been pulling bark to and fro.  I wonder if he's having second thoughts though.  At least his tail is still wagging. 

Who's on you shoulder?

Way back in the early days with only one Blossom, our church family gave us a copy of Dare to Discipline, by Dr. James Dobson.  My husband and I read this child-rearing classic together.  It helped to shape and solidify our views on child-rearing.  I distinctly remember something about teaching children to work.  Mothers often take the quick and easy route and just pick up the messy kid clutter themselves.  Dr. Dobson said something to this effect - You're NOT DOING them any favors by doing that.  And so, just like in the old cartoon where there's an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, I think I have Dr. Dobson on my shoulder.  When I get tired of walking past the messes, I reach down to pick it up instead of calling them to tidy up something.  Dr. Dobson's voice rings out loud and clear, "Mommy, you're NOT DOING them any favors!!!!!"  Inevitably, I'm re-energized to make the time investment necessary to teach them to work.  :)