Dem Boys are Gettin' SMART!

Half day of school, so mama and the sprouts hit the ski hill.  Cold and hungry afterwards, little miss was crabby and whiny as all get out in the back seat of the car.

Reagan: "MOOOOOOMMMMM.  I'm HUNGRY!  Can we go to a restaurant????"
Mom: "Let's go home and I'll make some dinner."
Reagan: "But I'm hungry NOWWWWW.  WAAAAHHHHHH.  This is the worst day of my entire life!!"
Quinn: "Reagan, stop it."
Colby: "Yeah, Mom doesn't have to take us out to dinner.  It's her money.  She can spend it how she wants to."
Mom: "Thanks, boys."
Reagan: "But then we'll STARVE!"
Quinn: "No, we can eat at home."
Colby: "Mom doesn't even have to cook for us, did you know that Reagan?  We can make our own dinner."
Mom: "WOW!  You boys are on a roll, there!"
Reagan: "I can't cook for myself!"
Quinn: "Can you believe that?  A five year old that can't make her own dinner?  What's wrong with you?"
Colby: "Mom just does that stuff to be nice to us, Reagan.  And you act like you expect it.  She shares with us and cooks for us."

Picture Mom in the front seat, in stunned silence.  But then.... there was the kicker.....

Quinn: "But Mom, you really do look tired.  Stopping by Little Caesars for a $5 pizza would save you a whole lot of work when we get home."

ANNNNNNDDDDD.... there it was.  I fell for it.  Dang boys. 

Pizza for dinner, anyone?

For The Record

I would just like to report that, as of January 2014, at 9 years 6 months years of age, my boys....

• have not lost their gloves
• have not lost or destroyed a pair of winter boots this year
• still own and have not outgrown the shoes I bought them at the beginning of the year
• have not ripped or lost their snow pants
• have not lost a single jacket
• have not melted their winter coats by sitting too close to the woodstove
• still have the original homework folder that was given to them on the first day of school
• have worn shoes in class every single day

These are all FIRSTS for my boys.  And I am amazed.  More than amazed.  Does it mean they're growing up?  Or that they have a really good teacher who is instilling good organizational habits???  I don't care.  Either way, it's awesome.  I had even bought a second pair of school shoes for each boy  back in July, anticipating that they would destroy their first pair by December, as is their habit.  But, nope.  We're still on the ORIGINAL pair.  Unheard of.

Yippee!!

Eye Rolling in the Morning

Science fair time, and the dad and I are ridiculously excited about this.  We have been dreaming of our future offspring participating in a science fair since well before we had children (Rob used to judge the local science fair when we were first married).  Well, 4th grade is finally here, and the notice has come home to pick a project.  YEAH!!!

There are ALOT of possibilities out there.  In order to narrow down the options, I found an online survey that will suggest projects based on a child's interest.  This morning, I began asking Quinn questions.

Mom: "Do you enjoy gardening and working with plants?"
Quinn: "No."
Mom: " Do you enjoy thinking about solutions to society's problems?"
Quinn; "No."
Mom: " Do you enjoy learning about lakes, rivers, the oceans and beaches?"
Quinn: "No."
Mom: "Do you enjoy studying about memory and how people learn?"
Quinn: "SERIOUSLY MOM??  Do I want to learn about LEARNING?  Seriously??"

OK, then.  Psychology is not his area.  Now to find what is.

Faith formation

The boys' religious ed teacher found me after class with a serious look on his face.     "So, we were discussing the 10 Commandments and sin today."

Oh no. I didn't like where this was heading. 

"We were going over the commandments and got to number four, honor your father and mother, and Colby says 'WHAT?!?!  That's a sin????  Thank goodness we don't get graded on that stuff!'"

Uh huh. 

(Picture mom cringing here.)

The teacher continued. 

"So then I told him he kind of WILL be graded on it, on judgement day. 'Oh, like heavenly homework'.   Kinda. Then Quinn pipes up. 'Dang. I'm in for one wild ride. "

Oh yes, boys. You are. One wild ride.