Skip to main content

The Ways They Play



 The boys had to take in their handsaws Friday to get sharpened.  They were as dull as cardboard, and I felt bad seeing them working so hard to get results.  They have put some miles on those things.  We went to a local chainsaw shop and Sawyer made the transaction at the counter.  He was all business.  He handed over the saws and asked to have them sharpened then waited for the paperwork to be completed, and said "Mexcuse me?" (He knows it's "excuse me" but he likes how "mexcuse me" sounds better, so he says it that way - his words.)

"What else can I do for you?" The man asked him.  

"Do you have any Razor tooth saws?" 

I didn't even know that was a thing.  Apparently, it is because the man pointed him right to what he was looking for.  He examined each one, but they were far out of his budget of $1, so he was forced to put his purchase on hold.  

We went home and the boys settled into riding loops around a little track they have made with their bikes.  Each loop ends with the longest J shaped skid out they can manage without actually falling over.  Unfortunately, they've done so many of these loops and skid outs that their tires are wearing down and Sawyer wound up with a flat.  But you can't keep the boys down for long.  

They were climbing trees then playing chicken chase, which is literally chasing a chicken and trying to catch it.  I love their creativity, but I'm not sure the chickens are as thrilled.  The hens tolerate it because the boys reward them with fresh grass, worms, and lizards - their newest occupation.  They have been practicing their hunting skills on the many lizards around the property.  It's not going so well for the lizards, but the chickens are huge fans.  

Another favorite for the boys is riding their Tonka dump truck down all the hills around our house...except the hill by the shed.  It took one sudden stop and a face plant directly into the side of the shed to put an end to that one.   

By the end of the day they are bruised, scratched up, sweaty, tired and happy.  Just the way we like it.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tough Love

 We were on our way home from a birthday party not long ago, and Fischer began complaining from the backseat that one of the kids had tripped him and laughed about it.   Ross looked at him in the rearview mirror and responded, "Life's hard, Buddy.  You're going to have to toughen up."  To which his brother responded, "Yeah.  You have no idea.  Just wait until you're eight."  At that, they both sat back in their booster seats and contemplated their life situation for the remainder of the drive home.    Evidently, life is smooth sailing in those early single digits, but once you reach the ripe old age of, "I can mostly tie my own shoes and reach the kitchen faucet," it's all hard knocks and rough living.   I know this must be true because Sawyer also told his aunt the other day, "It's time to get on it and get myself a car.  I'm going to get a Cord Tacoma."  I think what he wanted to say, but didn't have the words  was,

All I Want For Christmas...

  Christmas time is such a fun season.  I love focusing on the birth of Jesus with the kids and recognizing the true reason for celebrating.  I also relish the magical part of the season that gives so much life to our kids' imaginations and innocents.  They are always precious, but I feel it even more so this time of year.   Even our oldest hasn't completely given up on Santa, although he has a lot more questions having been around classmates and friends who coolly deny the existence of Santa or Christmas magic.  We know it can't last forever, but I'm going to milk it for at least one more season.  He is still more or less on board.  I think he wants it to be real, so he doesn't dig too deep.  Consequently, he and his siblings were all excited for a trip to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus last weekend.  I was excited too.  I love their reactions, and last year Carter was too sick to go, so this was her first opportunity to meet Santa face to face.   The trip didn't di

Christmas Miracle

 For better or worse, I don't have a lot of pride.  I used to have some, but after the third and fourth child, what little I had vanished.  I'd like to be put together.  I would like my kids to be put together.  I have come to terms with the fact that, 99% of the time, that's not going to happen.  When we leave the house, I consider it a win if everybody has on an appropriate amount of clothing and two shoes that match.   The first time we visited the orthodontist in preparation for Sawyer's braces, I showed up with four kids in dirty play clothes and one child with mismatched shoes.  It just so happens that the orthodontist's wife is the mom of some of my former students, and she was working that day.  Luckily, I also hadn't brushed anyone's hair before we left the house, so we made quite an impression.  I've been trying to raise the bar ever since, but I seem to keep failing.  The next appointment we came straight from the barn and smelled like it, but