It's not fair

Johnny and Ruth play a lot of games together. Ruth has always been very competitive, and Johnny has usually taken defeat with grace until now. Last week Johnny punched Ruth in the stomach because she told him to have his computer game guy jump, he jumped the guy and the guy died. A few days later Johnny punched Ruth during a game of memory. When we asked him why he explained that it was not fair because Ruth is just too smart. Ruth was getting lots and lots of matches because she is smart and that is just not fair. Okay, well I understand I am sure I have wanted to punch some one for being smart sometime too.

John read this and said, "Why does Johnny sound so terrible? He is such a good kid. Those are Johnny's isolated incidents in a sea of calmness while some of our other kids have isolated calmness in a sea of violence." That is true. Johnny is really really good and mild. In fact he was the first start student in his kindergarten class for showing compassion. Good Job, Johnny, er, at least, Good Job (Mostly) Johnny.

Family Game

No one would confess to how this started. I thought that it was Ruth, but she said that is was Johnny. Johnny denied that it was him and thought that it might be Kate. Kate suggested that maybe Adam started it after all. Well, here is what happened. We were going to play Old Maid for a Family Home Evening Game, which we have successfully done in the past. Johnny shuffled and dealt the cards and we were ready to play. Just as we were arguing who was to go first a card flew past Adam and I. (Adam was on my team.) I picked up the card. It was the old maid card. Adam took it out of my hand, looked at it and threw it toward the Dad and Rachel team. Dad looked at the card and threw it toward Ruth. Ruth threw it at Johnny. Johnny threw it at Kate. Kate threw it at Adam, and Adam just started throwing all of his cards. Johnny then started throwing all of his cards and Ruth and Kate eagerly started to collect matches while the old maid flew around some more. Rachel started to fuss because she always fusses during Old Maid because she wants all of the cards. John and I decided this must be the Christmas jitters version of Old Maid. I guess we are just too excited to attempt anything with any real organization. It was fun and short and ended in chocolate pie.

Johnny Tales

A few days ago I realized that Johnny does not get much space in my blog. I think that it is because he is rather mild mannered and a very well behaved boy. But today, he gave me two cute things that I must write about.

When Johnny got home from school he told John that there was a birthday party in his class today and that they got to choose between two drinks. Johnny said one was apple juice and the other one was hic. John was a bit confused and asked Johnny what the other drink was again. Johnny said that it was hic. He said, "You know, Hic. We have had it before." It took John a moment, but then he realized that hic was Hi-C punch.

Tonight Johnny said his prayers before bed and then said, "oh, I forgot the storm." I asked if he wanted to pray that the storm would be bad so we wouldn't have school tomorrow. Johnny looked a bit alarmed at that suggestion and then said, "no." He then knelt down and prayed that the storm would not be bad and asked for our family to be protected. That was very sweet. Johnny is such a good boy.

Piece Meal

This is how Ruth ate her ham italian sandwich that we had for dinner tonight.

1. First she ate out the lettuce. ( I am guessing that this is the part that she likes the least since she usually eats in order of things she least likes to things that she most likes.)
2. Next she ate up all of the bread.
3. Then she picked up her plate and ate the meat and the cheese directly from her plate at the same time. (I think she used this method, because Ruth does not like getting her hands messy.
4. Fourth she ate the tomatoes. (This must be the part that she likes the best.)
5. Yes, there was one more part. Ruth then licked the plate clean. (Now I think that she did this because she was hungry and because she actually liked the sandwich, although not together.)

Now I have to mention one more thing. We had some mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups around. (I like to keep candy in the candy dishes during the holidays, but nothing never lasts longer than 24 hours unless it is hard candy that no one wants) Well, in those 16 hours that we had Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Ruth came to John and I several times to tell us the best way to eat a Reeses. Apparently that is to eat the chocolate off the bottom first. Then eat the peanut butter inside, and then you have the thicker top piece of chocolate left for the end.

Blonds Get All the Attention

Recently I was looking at some old photos of Kate and realized that I had forgotten that Kate had very blond hair until she was about 4 1/2. That reminded me of a time when Ruth was 5 1/2 and Kate was 4 and they were taking a bath together. Ruth must have been pretty jealous of Kate's blond hair, because when I came into the bathroom I saw Ruth splashing water on Kate's hair saying, "turn brown, turn brown, turn brown..." When I asked Ruth what she was doing she told me that when she put water on Kate's hair then Kate's hair looked brown like her hair. Within six months Kate's hair did turn brown, and very close to the same shade as Ruth's hair. Then I forgot that Kate was ever a blond at all. Last night I recounted this little tale to Ruth and Kate (which they enjoyed immensely). When I finished telling the story, Ruth said, "It must be because blonds get all the attention."

Family Christmas Craft

I like to make crafts with my kids a lot during the Christmas seasons and the kids love to do it too. We use their little home made creations to decorate the house. I know that it does not make our house beautifully decorated, but the kids love having their art work displayed and I love my kids. So it works. Last week we made paper Christmas stockings to hang up between our dining room and living room entry way. John decided to join us and sat down and asked what we were making. We all chimed in "Christmas Stockings!" John said hmmm.. and this is what he came up with. I Love it!!!! I always thought that song "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake" was a bit creepy anyway. I laughed a lot over this drawing. We thought that it could make a great Christmas card, if it was sent to the right people.

I think that John has the best sense of humor. I can always count on John to find humor in everything-- however odd it may be. He makes our lives funner and more interesting, and sometimes annoying because you can't say something without a pun being made from it. But we could not do without our great Husband and Father and our own personal comic book.

Sweet Ruth

I found this list in a notebook alongside some spelling words that Ruth had written out.




Ruth is cute.
Kate is very beautiful.
Adam is funny.
Johnny is nice.
Rachel is sweet.
Mom is a good cook.
Dad is great at math.




I do agree with Ruth that she is cute. I thought that this list of family traits by Ruthy is just adorable. She is a very sweet girl. The other night during family scripture study Ruth held Rachel on her lap and they gently rubbed each other's cheeks. It is times that I find things written like this and see my children so sweetly playing that I know families are a blessing and worth all the work.

Compassion and Faith

This weekend Johnny got very sick in the middle of the night. When our kids are sick we move their mattresses to the family room so they can lay in their beds and watch movies while they are ill. But on Saturday mornings, Ruth and Kate wake up early to watch cartoons. This Saturday I intercepted Ruth and Kate from going down to the TV too early so Johnny could get a little sleep. Later, when I went into Ruth and Kate's bedroom to tell them that it was okay to go and watch cartoons they both looked worried and declared that they had prayed and decided that they should fast for Johnny. I talked to them a little about their decision and we decided that it was a very nice idea for them to fast breakfast that morning to help Johnny. I felt very impressed and humbled by the compassion and genuine concern Ruth and Kate had for their brother, and also for their trust and faith in the Lord. Johnny spent all Saturday very ill and with a high fever, but awoke Sunday morning with no fever and feeling well again. I believe that his sister's devotion and faith helped him to get better quickly. I also know that I have very good children. They are a delight and a blessing to my husband and me.