Thor's Thunder...Caroline Nails It

Our activities seemed endless this week.  It was a bit exhausting, and Caroline agreed.  A couple of days this week, she just calmly got her blanket, laid down, and fell asleep.  Unfortunately, she decided to do this in the later afternoon hours.  So, she graced us with her presence well into the night.  One night she didn't go to bed until 11 p.m.  Another night I was adamant that she not get out of her bed because it was 10 p.m.  I like my early-to-bed kids!  This evening we had to keep poking her and tickling her so she wouldn't fall asleep.  We have VBS again tomorrow and it is going to be an early morning.  We cannot afford to have her up so late.  We need our sleep, too!

She was a very happy little lady to participate in her first Build & Grow at Lowe's.  Last time we went, when the boys built The Falcon, she asked me if I could sign her up as well.  So, this weekend, she wielded a hammer and built Thor.

Josiah kept telling me beforehand that Thor spoke.  I told him that Lowe's never had projects that speak.  And then he proved me wrong.  There was a little button/speaker thing that we put in the middle of Thor which, when pushed, sounded like thunder.

Henry sat behind Todd as we drove home from the Build & Grow.  He kept pushing the button on Thor, so Todd kept saying, "Do you hear that?  There's a storm coming?"  Henry kept pushing, Todd kept talking about impending storms.  Henry giggled.  Henry pushed the button more.  Then Caroline said something to Henry about Thor making noise, and Henry said to her, "Shhhhh. Don't tell them."

We were fortunate that Josiah made it to the Build & Grow fully clothed, belly full, and teeth brushed.  He had been looking forward to this particular day all week.  He was quite upset to have to live through Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday, etc. to get all the way to Saturday.  Friday evening, he left himself a few notes regarding what he should do the moment he woke up in the morning. This was what he left at the bottom of the stairs.  Note:

He still got "ready" even though the note was left for a kid named Josah.

Clothing, two choices for a hat, Lowes apron, sunglasses etc.

Then he reminded himself to eat.

He had a sign in the bathroom telling him to brush his teeth as well, with his toothbrush and toothpaste.  He was quite thorough.

That same afternoon, I took Henry to the library because he had completed their summer reading program.  Thank goodness we took a picture of him with his trophy because no less than 2 minutes after the picture was taken, he was playing with the trophy, it dropped, and broke.  It has since been superglued back together, so now it sports a big glob of glue at the base of the plastic gold top.

Mid-week our church had a summer blast fun night.  They had blow-up slides that had water sprinkling on them, making them water slides,  There was free popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy, and desserts galore.  The kids got fake tattoos (which I was happy to see disappear from the water slides), ate some free food, and went on some of the smaller bounce house obstacle things.

Then they wanted to ride the biggest slide, so they spent a good 20+ minutes standing in line.

In line.

 After they went down the slide, Henry said he was playing around at the top while he was waiting for his turn, and when it was his time to go, he slipped and didn't go down the way he wanted.  He still smiled and had fun, but man, to wait that long and then not go down the right way is kind of a bummer.

Henry's favorite phrase of late is, "worst day ever!"  When things don't go his way, he quickly resorts to saying that.  Typically, I always chuckle on the inside thinking that this is most definitely not his worst day ever!  Just wait, child.  Caroline has ponied onto this phrase and usually she saves it for dinnertime.  Ever since we got back from Virginia, she has not wanted to eat a single fruit or vegetable.  None.  She used to have favorites, but now all she wants to eat is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  So, when I tell her that she is not getting whatever it is she wants until she eats a carrot or apple or something not bread-y, she says, "This is the worst day ever!"

The beginning of the week did start off a little rough.  Henry had refused to help us clean up the playroom.  Caroline, too.  So, Josiah and I spent a long time in there cleaning it completely.  We cleaned out all the toys and junk from under all the furniture.  Josiah was all-in for the first 20 minutes or so, then he started to get oh-so-tired as the cleaning went on.  It's amazing the exhaustion they feel when it's time to pick up their own things.  Anyway, since Henry and Caroline refused to help clean up, they were not allowed to go in the playroom.  They couldn't play with any of the toys in it.  That was what they were told.  And what Henry told Josiah the next day was, "Can you pull the Lego bucket to the edge of the carpet?"  So this is what the upstairs hallway looked like.

Guess who threw a tantrum when he had to clean it up?  Yep.  Henry!

The boys have spent the last couple of days creating their own Lego kits.  They make them, then show us what they'll look like on the box cover.  Then they precede to explain in detail how they work.  I am happy that they are giving presentations on them, so they are still practicing those skills.  However, I have to make sure I have a good 30 minutes to spare once the presentations start.  Henry is very thorough with explaining how every part works.  Sometimes he'll disassemble his creation, only to reassemble it during his presentation, explaining it as he goes.


Next week starts another VBS (at a different church) and while the kids are mostly excited (Caroline's not crazy to go in her room since I won't be her teacher), I am pretty much a ball of nerves.  Just the title "Lead Teacher" is enough to make me feel slightly nauseous.  I am in a kindergarten room, which helps, because the kids likely won't remember this experience in 10-20 years.  I am in the 11th kindergarten room.  Out of 13 rooms!  Just for kindergarten!  Our class has 32 kids in it and it can reach up to 40!  I have been praying that it all goes smoothly and that we do not lose any kids as we walk from place to place in the church.  I should be much more relaxed at this time next week.  Something to look forward to...