As last week was very busy, I haven't had a chance to post about some things that happened. First, let me start with my crazy 7 year old son. We have been doing a lot of yard work lately, trying to improve the outside of our house, so we have been digging in the dirt a lot. Worms live in the dirt. Adam has been threatening to eat a worm for a couple of weeks now. Thinking that he would never do it, I said it was fine with me. He would pick them up, sort of lick them and then toss them aside. Gross, eh? Well, last week he finally did it. He picked one up, said he was going to eat it, tossed in, and just choked it down. For real. I saw the whole thing, it was not a second hand story. Why? I couldn't tell you. I think he likes to do things that he thinks will shock me. What that means for us when he is a teenager, I don't know, but I am very afraid.
On a different Adam note (no pun intended), I started him with a different piano teacher, than myself. He had his first lesson last week. She is a sharp elderly lady that was recommended by a friend. Already I think it has been great. No more daily battles to practice the piano. I think he will improve much more quickly with her, and I think will even get back to where he enjoys it again. I am so glad that at least this first week has gone so well. It is hard to see the future and how worthwhile this could be when it is such a struggle every day. I do think it is worth it though. Some of you may not.
We also went camping last weekend. We went to Maquoketa Caves, which is 30 to 45 min. away from us. The weather was perfect, and we had a nice, secluded campsite. This did give us a little trouble though. After the kids were tucked away, Greg and I were sitting out in the camp chairs in the dark. The fire had died down so it was dark and quiet. I sort of sensed that something was near me and then I heard this rustling down by my ankle, where I had foolishly left a graham cracker box. I jumped up and screamed. Greg quickly turned on his flashlight and shined it right on a racoon who had now found his way on top of our picnic table and was rummaging through our trash. Greg ran toward him but the racoon quickly grabbed the whole bag of trash and dragged it into the woods, pausing just long enough to look longingly back at the table where we still had food out. We quickly put everything away and I went up to the restroom. While I was gone, he returned 2 more times. Both times he climbed directly onto the table and seemed hardly scared of Greg. Finally Greg took one of the camp chairs and ran after him screaming, shaking the chair at him. He didn't come back after that. I don't know if it was because he was afraid of Greg or because he had been there longe enough to realize there wasn't anything for him. I kept a flashlight on and shining in the direction he had come from the rest of the evening. He might not have been afraid of us, but I sure didn't like him!
The next day we took the family and went down in one of the caves. This particular cave, dancehall cave, seems more like a long tunnel because it is open on both sides. They also have concrete walkways and a little bit of lighting (we still used our flashlights though). It was a fun little walk for the older two. Liz and Ben didn't much like it though. That has been one of the challenges of our family lately. It seems there is now a division, widened since Anna has started school, between the older 2 and the younger 2. They just like to do different things, and their ability to actually do things is different as well. It seems we have a hard time doing much all together that everyone enjoys. Anyway, Adam and Anna loved it while we were there and wanted to stay longer (you know the crying and whining, why do we have to leave), while Lizzy was complaining that she couldn't walk any more and she wanted to go home. It was good to get out of the house and do something out of the ordinary though.
Well that about wraps up the week. I will have to post about this week sometime. For once, I actually have something to post!
4 comments:
Adam, did the worm taste like chicken? That would definitely shock me a bit.
I got a good laugh at the visual I had in my head of Greg running after the racoon with the camp chair, screaming. I don't think I would have come back either! Sounds like it definitely made for an interesting evening.
It's great that you guys went out and had some adventures. Todd and I think that is very important, and try to do it as much as we can. Even though it isn't always enjoyable the entire time you're there (kids), I think it will leave fond memories for everyone later on. Much better memories than thinking back and saying, "hmmm, we never really did anything!"
I'm not sure if Adam has heard of it or not, but there is a movie out right now called "How to Eat Fried Worms" which is based on the book. Maybe he got a little inspiration. Think of it this way, he'll have a real easy time on his mission choking down the wierd things people feed you.
Wow, that's all very exciting stuff! I was very amused by the worm story.
I'm so glad you went camping. My family ALWAYS went camping and I really enjoy it. Shane and I have only been able to go a couple times. We wanted to go this summer, but it was way too hot and now that's it's cooling down... I'm not sure how much I want to go. Sounds like it was mostly fun!
I, like Todd, thought of "How to eat fried worms". Has Adam read the book. I think the kids eats more than a dozen, so be glad you have only had to deal with one. I love the mental pictures of the racoon and you. We had a squirrel come in our tent in the middle of the night (we hadn't closed the zipper completely) and scare the daylights out of Rick as it ran across his chest. Are you gearing up to be a solo mom while Greg is in India?
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