Five things that taste good

Root beer floats after a hot afternoon
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
Cool cherries from the cooler when you are at the beach
Desert my husband brought home for me
Hot food

Good (attitude) morning

Good morning, again. No really. I have been systematically woken up since 12:30 pm last night. You may think this makes for a grumpy mama. This makes for a mama struggling against grumpiness. Did you catch that? I am making a conscious choice to fight against the grumpiness that accompanies my yawns, my tired eyes, my achy limbs. I feel like a parent of a newborn.

How did I come to this revelation? The twins have been sick for three nights. They wake up every couple hours, having to “go potty”, “need water”, “sing to me” “I tired” “I lost my Lukey!!” “I need medsin!” This is usually accompanied by crying of some sort. Now you take that couple hours and divide it by two boys, it’s more like once an hour. Then throw in a crying little girl with wet sheets at 3:00 in the morning and a leaky sippy cup in the twins’ bed at 4:30 requiring removing and replacing bedding. Then Ryan has this new window fan. It is supposed to maintain temperature so you don’t freeze. It shuts off and turns on automatically. Sounds great. Not so great. Imagine a fan going on/off on/off on/off for a minute every hour or so. Between clothing changes, bedding arrangements, songs, trips to the bathroom, and the intermittent noise of the fan, I found myself almost in tears by 5:00am.

Hence, the revelation. Have you noticed that if you love Christ and read the Bible, those verses come back to you? So, it’s 5:OMGIE in the morning and I am sitting on the boys floor, singing a barely recognizable version of “Jesuslovelittlchillen” when this verse pops into my mind.

“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole heart, as though working for God and not man.” Colossians 3:23. WHAT! Now? I use that verse to inspire students to put forth their best effort, but NOW? I’m so weary, so tired, so half-hearted toward these children…Then it hit me (again). I don’t have to do this alone. I have Christ. I have fruit of the Spirit. I do have patience, and kindness, and gentleness, even at 5 OMGIE (OMYGOODNESSITSEARLY) time. My whole God-renewed heart needs to be working hard at WHATEVER I do, including this 24 hour mom thing. So for all you moms out there, keep working with your whole hearts!

And have a GOOD Morning. (I recommend coffee+scripture)

Things Kids Say

“I wish we had gas for blood,” Tim announced today. “Why’s that Tim?” “Then the mosquitoes wouldn’t want our blood.”

“This is only writing that I can read. Would you like to hear it?” Sarah.

“Soccer sucks up all my energy, just like a black hole sucks up everything.” Tim

“I like donuts with sprinklers.” –Mark

“It’s bedtime,” says Mama.
“I don’t want to go to bed,” answers Luke, crossing his arms.
“You need to improve your attitude, young man.” Mama frowns.
Luke smiles a huge smiles, spreads his arms and announces, “I love to go to bed!”

Camping

The Westphal family arrived tired but happy at our campsite (a minimal amount of fidgeting in the car, and a few potty stops) in Orchard Beach State Park, on Lake Michigan, near Manistee. (Check it out, if you like. Back arrow to return to blog. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=480&type=SPRK ). My parents were already there, setting up. The best part was watching my husband’s stress level decrease as he settled in to life as a camper. We unpacked, set up camp, made a campfire, watched the sun set into the lake (Yes, “into”, we even listened for the sizzle.), watched the stars come out, and just plain relaxed. A few moments to share:

1. Very cold nights. I woke up hearing a child cry. The sound was OUTSIDE the tent, a little ways away. “Ryan, Lucas is OUTSIDE the tent!”. I grab the flashlight and shine it where Lucas is supposed to be. Just an empty pillow. Ryan is now putting on jeans. “Oh, I found him.” He is off the mattress, on the floor, under a sleeping bag and some dirty clothes. He is sound asleep. However his parents are not.

2. Ryan and Tim toured a ship in the harbor that used to ferry rail cars. This Daddy-son time was fun for both.

3. We went letterboxing and successfully found TWO letterboxes in the Manistee area (Check it out sometime. Use back arrow to return to blog http://www.atlasquest.com/). We took my parents on our second trip, and stopped for ice cream on the way back. Discovered an old friend running the ice cream shop, and I went out to breakfast with just her the next morning! No kids.

4. Kids biked like maniacs. (Do maniacs bike? Where does this expression, “like a maniac” come from? Why do I keep using it?). They loved it and we increased their boundaries as time went by. Tim and Sarah both have training wheels so you could hear them coming as they zoomed by. They both made friends with other campers, and we enjoyed playing at the playground.

5. Ryan and I spontaneously joined our neighbors one evening before sunset when we saw that they were playing Bocce. That was fun, even if the guys won.

6. We had a beach day with my parents and I at the big lake. They all loved it. The water started out very calm but within two hours, a breeze was blowing in and we headed back for the campsite. We still had great fun. Ryan hates the beach so he skipped out and went to a coffeeshop with his computer. Very happy man.

7. During my breakfast with my friend (and no kids), a couple came to our table. It was my inlaws! What a surprise! They were traveling through the area and happened to stop for breakfast in the same restaurant. They called Ryan to verify it was me before they said Hi! They stopped by the campsite to say Hi to all before continuing on their way.

8. Told stories by the campfire and sang silly songs. We ate smores and popcorn popped over the fire! Plus licorice, peanuts, Pringles, and cookies.

9. Marc and Luc cried when we told them we were headed home.

10. A good time had by all, and we are planning on going again next year.

Five things I love about camping

1. Telling stories in the round by the campfire.
2. Biking to use the "porcelain potties".
3. Hearing the waves of Lake Michigan at night.
4. No TV, no radio, no washing machine, no telephone....
5. Spending time as a family.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabinche/424078457/

Three–the age of independence….Are you familiar with John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids? It’s a wonderful zoo with a wonderful aquarium building. They have a window with a sign that says “octopus”, but usually, you never see him. My son recently discovered how to get the octopus to come out. When the zoo is really busy, there’s a line for the restroom in the hallway of the aquarium. There is also a fire alarm in the hallway of the aquarium. You see where this is going…If your son pulls the fire alarm and your daughter (and many other children) begin crying because it is so loud and scary, and the building clears out and you finally exit the restroom with your children, you will actually see the eye of the octopus and all eight arms moving around right next to the glass as if to say, “What is going on out there?”

Five wonderful smells
1. Baby shampoo
2. Freshly made no-bake cookies cooling on wax paper
3. The perfume that came on the honeymoon
4. Candles
5. Fresh summer morning

Thank you, Lord, for the sense of smell. This blog finds me at home once again. My wonderful husband (with outside assistance from a good friend, thank-you!) has provided me with a working computer. (No more blogging at the library). The whole gang is in bed, and I have finished much laundry and many dishes this evening. No idle hands tonight. God Bless you all and good night.

Greetings friends, neighbors, and anonymous blogsurfers (you know who you are.)
If you are unable to reach me via my regular email, I apologize. We are still without a home computer. Yes, I am still blogging at the library. Even now, strange sounds are emanating from the children's corner where a rather unique flying puppet show is being performed by two small unruly twins. (I wonder where their mother is. probably blogging at the computers...)
So, without further ado, five things.
Five children's books I adore. (I am at the library, after all.)
1. Diary of a wombat.
2. The library lion by Michelle knudson
3. A rooster named BOB! by Tracey Pearson
4. Mary had a little lamb -HOberman
5. 10 Fat Frogs --read this one really fast, in a dimly lit child's room while you are have asleep...very funny...

Those are my preschool/picture book favorites. My older kids list is much longer but I must go. The kids are holding two kids and a librarian hostage.

Five things

Five Things to be grateful for:
1. Summertime
2. Thunderstorms
3. Gardens
4. Patience
5. Children's books

The virtue of Patience

I have just realized something I should have known a long time ago.
Patience is a gift. I mean, truly, a gift from God. It's an actual FRUIT of the Spirit. Because, and only because Christ lives in me, I have the fruit of patience growing in my life. (I have recently prayed for some miracle-gro to accomplish this process faster but I have been reassured that God's timing is indeed perfect.)
We are still without our computer, so I ask for your patience. :-) For more on this topic, check out the Word of God, especially Galations 5.

Out of Context 101

My mother discovered she really does have rain sensing wipers!

Hero

Perhaps you have seen the preschool cartoon show "Little Bear"on Noggin tv. If not, you need to watch one episode, just one and you will meet one of my role models. It's Mother Bear. Here's what I love about Mother Bear.
1. She talks in the same, patient, loving manner as Mr. Rogers (always).
2. She always looks on the bright side or has something "positive" to say.
3. She loves to bake and always has muffins or cookies ready for Baby Bear or Father Bear.
4. She never wears make-up.
5. She is not thin.
6. She smiles alot.
7. She wears frumpy clothes, including aprons. If she has to go out, she puts on a hat.
8. She patiently teaches Little Bear a valuable life lesson in every fifteen minute episode.

Poetry in Octanes

When I am surrounded by these four beautiful, wonderful, inquisitive children, it can become hard to find a moment to complete a thought. The mental sentence always ends mid-thought. I have to: wipe a nose, zip a coat, find a shoe, clean a shoe, find a sock, tie a shoe, brush some hair, straighten glasses, help someone go potty, look at a cool rock, put a dandelion behind an ear, give a hug, give a kiss, give a stern look....I recently read that during a typical day, a three year old child will have a need once every three minutes...times that by twins, add an almost-five-year-old and a six-year-old who loves to play monopoly. I realize this paragraph has been interrupted sixteen times, thus far. Henceforth, I usually "think" in those groggy, exhausted moments between nine and ten, when the children are asleep and the husband has important things to remind me about. By 10:30, I am asleep and all thinking is relegated to dreamland. However, I have said all this to say, that the body has accomodated, or acclimated, or adapted by thinking deep thoughts at very strange alone times.
For instance, while pumping gas, I discovered a deep thought. Yes, the prices are outrageous, but for a few precious moments, I am alone. Seperated from the chldren by the frame of the car, watching the numbers roll, glancing around at the weather, smiling at strangers, feeling the wind, wondering why the octane numbers seem so familiar. Yes, the octane numbers. Those yellow squares with the black numbers. 87 89 93. Did you know I can measure my life in octanes?
I mentioned this to a friend. Puzzled, she asked, "Is that poetry?" I realized I had spoken out of context again. I come by this naturally. My mother does it all the time, leaving you to wonder what she's talking about. We recently watched a World War 2 documentary with her and she suddenly says, "I don't have rain sensing wipers and I thought I would!" We all just stared at her. We had no idea.
Ah, the octanes. 87... That's1987 for me. The year my life began. No, I wasn't born then. I was fifteen. I took driver's training. I had my first real haircut. I got my braces off. I traded in the coke-bottom bottle glasses for contact lenses. It was a Cinderella year. I met my best friend ever, I met the man I would marry. All in one life changing octane..I mean, year.
89...I spent most of 1989 grounded. It was my senior year of high school. I crashed and totalled my car. Ryan and I broke up and got back together at least four times in 1989. His younger brother died of leukemia in January of that year and it wa my cancer-ridden grandparents last journey to Michigan for my graduation. (they died in 90 and 91). In 1989, I turned 18 and I started college in a different state. At last I was an adult, I had arrived.
And 1993. The year of the weddings. While Ryan and I dated on again off again for six years, he proposed in 92 (I did say yes), our friends got engaged and married before us Finally, on OCt. 2, 1993, we stated our vows before God, pledged our lives to one another and to God's glory and on we moved into wedded bliss. I mean, we committed to the hard work, diligent communication, mutual frustrations and joys we were certain the journey of marriage would entail. We'll be married 15 years this October. Wow that was fast.
So there's my life in octanes. Perhaps an eight line form of poetry containing reference to one's life journey would be better. I'll have to work on that one.

Our Computer is Down and Out

Yes, I am typing this at the library while my children are hopefully playing. I can't see them good from here so if I leave suddenly, you'll know why. (Hee, hee). According to our local and extraordinarily talented computer guru, our computer is in need of a mother. You know, everybody needs a mother. Someone to love, comfort, guide...wait a minute! I didn't mean mother, I meant motherboard. Sheesh!
Anyway, here are my five things. (thank you God, for...)
1. Library internet access.
2. Children who come when called. (Hallelujah!)
3. A sleeping child.
4. A good friend to cry with. ( she makes great coffee, too.)
5. Puppets at the library

Five Things to be Grateful for

1. The sound of your grandma laughing.
2. The sweet smell of chocolate no-bake cookies Grandma makes.
3. All the old photos you can look through with Grandma and find out who people were.
4. The sight of my children hugging Grandma.
5. The taste of hot coffee while sitting at Grandma's table.
(Guess where I went today).

The Perfect Mother's Day

It all began with breakfast. Yes, breakfast. But not breakfast in bed. I wanted some solitude. So I went to IHOP. (IHOP?) yes, that's right. The International House of Pancakes. I adore pancakes and their chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream on top are my favorite.

There was a 45 minute wait. At 9:30 in the morning. I put in my request for a table for one. That stopped the hostess for a moment. The room was filled with mothers and various family members, and I wanted a table for one? She flatly told me "45 minutes". I smiled, "That would be great." She did not smile back.

Not to be daunted, I purchased the actual Sunday paper. I rarely read anything beyond children's books, the Bible, and parenting books, so it was a real treat for me. I read for over an hour before they called my table for one. Mothers with small, hungry, bored children stared on with envy as I settled in to my lone booth. I took my time, I got comfortable. I spread out the paper. My waiter apologized for taking so long to get to me. I smiled, "No problem," and I ordered. He brought coffee back. (my very own pot! I love IHOP!) I read for another 40 minutes or so. He came and apologized. They got my order wrong. "That's fine, " I smiled, "I'm in no hurry." He did not smile back.

Not to be daunted, I kept reading and enjoying myself. He brought my pancakes. I ate them slowly, enjoying each bite. Do you know pancakes are actually served hot? I had more coffee, I read more articles, I relaxed. I headed out a little while later, leaving a nice tip for my waiter. I was shocked when I turned on the car and the clock said 11:55. I had been to breakfast since 9:15. Wow.

I made my way home, driving carefully as the rain came down. We need the rain anyway. It refreshes the grass. It cleanses the land and makes us appreciate the next day's rain-washed brilliance. Some days as a mom can be quite rainy. Some days are quite thunderstormy (if I can turn that into an adjective), but I am not alone in the storm. He who calms the storm calms my beating heart as well. I am a believer in Jesus. Christ in me, the hope of glory. While some days may be wet and dark and cold, that rain-washed brilliance will come. Could we truly appreciate the sunshine without the rain? As a friend pointed out, beautiful windchimes would have no song if not for the blowing wind.

Arriving home, I found a quiet house so I crawled under the covers for about 10 minutes until I heard little voices and little feet coming up the stairs. "We got you something mom! Guess." this from my six-year-old detective. "It's purple!" added my little girl, "That's a HINT," she explained to the detective. "It's POWERS!" declared Mark the moment he entered the room.

"Are they special?" Everyone nodded. "I could use some special powers." "No, they're flowers!" the older two explained as Ryan entered with these beautiful flowers.

I hope all you moms reading this had a WONDERFUL mother's day. (Also, my heart goes out to all those would-be moms. Ryan and I struggled with infertility for 6 years and mother's day was a sad, hard day for me. A day when those who meant well felt sorry for me and those who knew my heart prayed for me. So if you know a would-be mom, keep praying for her heart, especially on Mother's Day.)

NIght sounds

Are you a fan sleeper? I mean, do you HAVE to have a fan to sleep? I am a fan sleeper by marriage only, and occasionally, I miss those night sounds. A train's whistle from far away, the whoosh of cars on wet pavement, crickets, or the "who-cooks-for-you?" of the owl. Instead, I get "hmmmmmmmmmmm...." But my husband's rest is important. Ryan is an early riser and is out of bed before 5:30. That's when the fan goes off. He opens the window a bit and every morning this week, I have heard the joyous cacophony of the birds welcoming the sunrise. It's been so nice...

Five things

Five Things to Be Grateful For:

1. Children who love to play outside.
2. Little boy kisses. (Lucas likes to kiss first one cheek and then the other. He will manually turn my head to do this. It's quite entertaining.)
3. The patience the Holy Spirit provides me.
4. Going to the bank with Tim to look at an actual $100.00 bill to check if Ben Franklin is really on it. ("Mom, why don't we have $100.00 bills?" Hee, hee.)
5. A husband who ministers to others.

Everybody has a name

Oh for the innocence of childhood. For the unaltered friendliness and complete lack of self-consciousness. Did you know everyone has a name? Everyone cries. Every single one of us has a mother. God made us and designed us. He designed that guy who is always standing in his yard whenever we drive by. He designed the shirtless skateboarder, resting on a bench, absorbed in his ipod. He has plans for those individuals…

We walked to the park in Grandville. It’s a little bit of a trek from our home, but Tim and Sarah had bikes and the boys sometimes rode in the burley and sometimes walked. Plus Ryan was meeting us at the park. It was 82 degrees according to the church clock on the corner of Canal Street and 36th. when we strolled by. A beautiful summer day in the midst of April. Lovely. We crossed the street.

We passed the occasional biker, or walker. We all do the polite smile or nod and move on in our lives, don’t we? My three year old gave me pause. We passed a man standing in his yard. He wasn’t doing anything. Just standing there, looking around. Mark stopped and stared at him for a moment. Then he said, “Hi, what’s your name?” with a huge smile. The man smiled, “My name is Harry.” “Hello, Harry. I’m Mark. We are going to the park today.”

Now, it may be that since the van crash, we haven’t really seen too many new people, but I think it was more than that. My heart was warmed by my son’s words and as we walked away from Harry, I realized I would have never known that man’s name if Mark had not asked.

I know it’s typical three year old stuff, but I couldn’t help but think how we don’t want to involve ourselves with ‘strangers.’ We don’t really want to know their names. We just want to move on our way. I pondered this as we walked on. It was a long walk and at last, we were on the trail by the creek. Mark saw the shirtless young man from a distance. He was sitting on the bench, listening to an ipod, with a skateboard near his feet. “Who’s that?” “Oh, it’s no one we know, just some one enjoying the day…” Well, Mark stopped right in front of him, sized him up and smiled. “Hi, what’s your name?” “Jacob, “ replied the man, removing an earplug and smiling a pleasant grin I did not expect, “What’s your name?” “I am Marcus.” “That’s a nice name.” “Yup. I am going to the playground now. Goodbye.” I did the polite smile thing and we walked on.

I think I wasn’t just humoring a small child, I was learning that we need to care about what other people’s names are. We need to have and make room in our neatly ordered lives for new conversations, even new relationships with other people God made. God created Harry and Jacob. Their parents gave them names. They have souls inside. Now, I probably won’t be introducing myself to everyone I see, but I hope to listen to God’s voice, and obey, and remember, everybody has a name.

When Science comes to you (IV)

"Tim, look at this branch I found in the yard. What made these holes?"

"A woodpecker did that, mom!"

"See how it's hollow inside? What was the woodpecker trying to get?"

"Bugs."

"Yes, let's set the branch aside to show Dad tonight."

Later, I heard Tim showing it to Sarah, "Sarah, what made these holes?"

"A woodpecker?"

"Yes. See how it's hollow inside? What was the woodpecker trying to get?"

"Bugs?"

"Yes. Let's set it aside to show Dad later." It made me smile to hear my lesson repeated. I love to hear my kids teaching each other.

From a few sightings last year, we think it was a downy woodpecker, but it was very high up in the tree, and hard to see. If you hear a woodpecker in your trees, it means there's a dead branch. If there's a dead branch in your tree, it's going to come down eventually. :-) For more on Michigan's woodpeckers, look here for a video from Channel 9 and 10 in northern Michigan

http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=131279

Five things

Five favorite moments of today (okay, yesterday)

1. Taking a walk with the boys in the burley and Tim and Sarah on bikes. The sun is shining and the grass is actually green.

2. We have lunch outside. Classic PBJ and some cut up oranges. Sarah tells me I am the best mom ever. I remind her that no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. But Mommy prays to God and God helps mommy be a good mommy. Don’t we have a great God?

3. Washing two pairs of dirty hands coming in from outside play. What tiny little hands that will do so many things in two lifetimes. Oh Lord, bless those little hands.

4. Losing the parking ticket and having the husband find it in two seconds of looking after Tim and I looked for a half-hour with the flashlight and everything. Losing the checkbook (needed to pay the parking ticket). and becoming so upset I could cry. Calling the husband and being shocked by his laughter at the situation. It made me smile too and stopped the tears. Still need to find checkbook before I lose the parking ticket again.

5. Having a friend minister to us with grocery shopping this week. Her two daughters watched the kids while she took me shopping. It was a nice getaway and wonderful to talk to a grownup one on one. Oh, and it was nice to get the shopping done.

Spring is coming

Reading Lesson by Elizabeth B. Rooney

What shall I write, my Lord?
Write about me.
What shall I tell them, Lord?
Tell them how beautiful I am.

But that's been written already, Lord.
In the sky.
In the pine needles under my feet,
In granite and sand,
In all of the sparkle and shine
Of your world.

I know, Child,
I wrote the book.
Tell them to look.

Thank-you Lord for Safety

Smash-bam

I got into a car accident, on April Fools’ Day…No Foolin’.. Wednesday morning was gray, wet, cold, and rainy; a perfect day for the mall. I had all four kids with me and we were on our way to meet a friend and her kids at Centerpointe Mall. We never made it. . For those of you familiar with the old Rogers Department Store on 28th. street in Wyoming, you know there is a blinking yellow light there. Why it is there remains a mystery as Rogers Department Store has been closed for quite some time and there really is no extra traffic.
The young lady in the white car in front of me was a little confused and slowed for the yellow light, coming to a complete stop to wait for it to turn red, then green. I did not see her brakelights in time to come to a stop. I braked and slid smash-bam right into her. We both pulled off the road. Kids were all okay. She was very apologetic, very shaken, but physically okay. It was her first accident and I felt bad for her. I instructed her to use her phone to call 911 and report the accident and the police department would send someone. We went back to our cars and waited. Tim wanted to get out and check out the damage so I let him do that, and Sarah began to cry so I held her on my lap, and we sang and prayed together, “I just want to go home, Mom.”
“I know, sweetie, we have to wait for the police officer.”
Fresh tears, “Is he going to take us to jail?”
“No, not at all.” The boys just wanted out and Lucas kept trying to squirm out of his buckles. I found some toys for them to play with while we waited. I was much more calm, cool, and relaxed than I thought I would be. I have never been in an accident as a mom before and I think it’s a little bit of the mother-bear thing to stay calm for your kids. After I received my traffic ticket and began the drive home, I noticed my hands were a little shaky. By the time we arrived home, my voice was shaky. I got the kids busy with other things and by the time I called Ryan, I was in tears. Thank you God for keeping me calm, cool, and collected when I needed to be.
It's not that I hit someone stopped at a red light. More than just the damage, more than the ticket, more than "yeah, everyone's okay," lies a deeper issue. A vision issue. Should I be driving?
It was a wet, dark, rainy day on a road I don't drive all the time. I was calm during and after the accident. I only got shook up and crying when I reached home. Ryan was grateful no one was hurt, but his biggest concern is the same as mine and the one question he asked is keeping me thinking. He asked, "Do you think I would've had that accident?" Absolutely not. Do I think some other licensed drivers would have hit her. Absolutely yes. So, I am really struggling with my vision issues.

Concerns:
If I crash on 28th. st., what about the drive to the gardens or the zoo or the children’s museum? There is a blinking yellow by the zoo.
Should I limit myself to Jenison? Grocery shopping and the bank. What about the library? No driving on rainy mornings?
What about dental appointments? I’m not super-familiar with the trek to the kids’ dentist office?
These questions fill up my mind. How do I make this judgement call?
Do we look for housing on the bus line? How soon? Can I be within walking distance to the library, park, and grocery?
What about help? Who has the time, patience, and vehicle to haul four kids and their mom to the dentist, or the zoo for the afternoon?
In three years, we can all bike, which is good for my present location, at least part of the year.
In 6 years, Tim can be in charge, and I can go for short treks alone. Will I be driving then? Eleven years until Tim is driving... will I be driving then?
All these questions and no answers. Please pray for Ryan and I when you think of us.

As you know, the twins celebrated their third birthday in February. Age three has arrived. It’s the age of independence, ingenuity, creativity, interesting sentences, and the use of tools.

My boys are finally getting to an age where they can do things for themselves. They invent scenarios for their toys and they take their cars on trips to the library, the farm, and all kinds of places in their little imaginations. They are great play mates for each other and I can leave them unattended while Tim and Sarah and I have school…or so I thought.

Oh, no, tearing off the wallpaper wasn’t good enough….that’s two-year-old stuff, old-school tripe. Holes in the wall…now that’s three year old genius. Ah, but if there is now a hole in the wall, it should be fixed. Maybe they asked themselves, “What Would Daddy Do?” If there are plastic tools available, logic dictates that they should be used. I actually found this little scene after the boys had been tucked in bed. They were sound asleep and I reached for a book to read to Sarah and…there it was…there was nothing to be done tonight…., but take a picture… (Don’t worry, we had a serious “mom to little guys, ‘yes mom’” talk the next day.)