Good Practice!

A few weeks ago the 7th graders participated in a "Parenting Preparation" experiment.  Each students drew a slip of paper that told them if they were assigned a "boy" or a "girl" or  even if they were getting twins!  If they drew "twins" then they drew twice more to see if they were getting boys, girls or one of each.  Lyndsie was assigned a boy.  Then each student  was to bring a hard-boiled egg (which the teacher signed the bottom of) and something to carry it in.  Lyndsie made this cute little carrier out of card board and duct tape.  Then she made little "clothes" for her baby "Timothy" to wear.  Some of the rules they needed to follow for the entire week were:

1. Rock the baby every hour for 2 minutes
2. Feed the baby for 1 min every 4 hours
3. They had to sleep in the same room as you
4. Needed to be 'changed' 3 times a day
5. Baby could not got to bed before 7:30pm
6. Baby needed to wake up at the same time as you
7. 'Bathe' baby each day
8. Sing the baby to sleep each night
9. Keep the baby 'clothed' (make simple clothing)
10. Keep baby with you-or have a responsible babysitter

For extra points you could apply for "adoption" or "foster care" which Lyndsie wanted to do immediately!  She wanted a "girl" and so after the very first day she came home with a little foster child.  Apparently, if you left your baby in any classroom, it was taken away and given to the "State" to care for.  Within the first day quite a few students had already forgotten their responsibility as a "parent" so Lyndsie came home with a little girl to care for as well.  I felt bad for the student who had forgotten but Lyndsie took the responsibility seriously and was a great foster parent.  After 3 days the forgetful student could go to "court" and petition for their child back.  After Lyndsie returned the first foster child she claimed a second one (another girl).  She made a crib for the little girls as well.  When she had an all day volleyball tournament, she asked Emily to babysit and left her with a long list of things to do to make sure the "babies" were taken care of.  Emily proceeded to make a double crib out of duct tape for both babies.

Lyndsie showing off her "babies" she took care of.  

Close up of the baby cribs and outfits.

Double baby crib made by Emily, complete with cover!

I do think this was a great experiment for the week.  However, I was just as glad when it was over as she was....no more stressing over dropping eggs, having the Littles knock them off the counter, making sure they were "fed" for a whole minute, etc.  (Lyndsie is my perfectionist when it comes to rules.)   Lyndsie was an incredible parent!  Glad it will be a few years until the real thing, though.  :)

Happy 6th Birthday Camryn!!!

Camryn is officially a year older.  She got just about everything on that list of hers that she so thoughtfully had me write out.  We had her open a couple of presents in the morning (celebrating with sticky-buns for breakfast) and then saved the rest for later that evening.  

In the morning waiting to open presents

Precious Moment statue from Gma and Gpa A.

We waited until Sunday (when family could be there) to blow out candles and eat cake and ice cream.

Some things to remember about Camy:

• There is no pecking order for her.  She does not care who is the oldest...SHE is in charge.
• She has the most beautiful blonde hair.  I love it.
• She has loved Kindergarten and Mrs. Wyatt as her teacher.  
• Camryn's future occupation should probably be as an Attorney.  That girl can argue her point!
• She loves playing with the cats and is great at chasing chickens.
• She struggles closing her eyes at night and is generally grumpy in the morning because of it.
• Camryn has always had two volumes...Loud and Louder
• She is in gymnastics and loving it
• She is extremely good at math (they were already on 1st grade math by the end of the year).
• We call Camryn our "Spit-fire" for all her energy she exudes 

Camryn is an awesome, energetic, little girl who requires lots of attention (and patience.)   :)   We love having her in our home as she keeps us on our toes and fully awake!

Un-Usable BBQ

Emily went outside to put the chickens back in the coop and collect eggs for the day.  She had been noticing a small bird that had been flying in and out of the BBQ grill this afternoon.  

Let's take a look-see shall we?

The BBQ

Let's open the lid and see what's inside...

Ummm, who put all this straw/hay/grass in here?!?!

WHAT????

Emily and her "find".  I don't think we will collect these eggs.  :)

The eggs are such a beautiful blue.  Last year we found a nest with eggs in it on top of our propane tank.  However, the tank was metal and in full-sun so the little birds did not make it.  The BBQ grill is in the shade on the porch.  BUT it is NOT a hotel!!

What to do?

The Countdown Has Begun!

On Tuesday, one of the older girls mentioned that she could not believe it was already May.

 "May? It's May! That means only 10 more days until my Birthday!!!" --was Camryn's response.

That evening, when she heard me come into my room, she climbed out of her bed and came into visit me.  She had retrieved a pencil and a paper and proceeded to tell me that she would like me to make a list of the things that she wanted for her birthday.  I obliged.  Here is the list as it now stands:

CAMRYN'S BIRTHDAY LIST: (all the things she is hoping for--fingers crossed!!!)

*Little Horse
*Real Money
*Play Money
*Mary Engelbreit letters that spell out her name (Big Sis Emily has a set on her dresser)
*Pez Dispenser
*Beads (that you can iron together)
*Beads for Necklaces
*3 or 4 Baby Chicks
*Bracelets
*Elephant Trunk from the dollar store
*Peacock Costume

This list has only had one thing added to it in the last 4 days...A trip to the dump.  Yep.  She came in and told me she would like to go to the dump!  

"I have been there before with Dad, Mom. It's not that dirty.  There are all sorts of things there to find. I want to go and look for "Twinkie". (Our old, broken, 'Roomba' vacuum cleaner that you could turn on and walk away from--the girls named it "Twinkie".  It was long ago hauled off to the dump.)  

Hmmmmm.  I'm gonna have to mull that one over for awhile.