Mariannes Motifs

Ben's Second Grade School Picture

It's just not enough for me to have one handsome son, no, I get to have two handsome sons.  :-)  Here's Ben looking fine in his second grade school picture.  I love the cute leaning against the tree shot. 

Again, Mom and Dad can click on the picture to open Flickr where you can get a full resolution version of the picture.  Internet stalkers can please look at sensa reviews instead.

Adam's Kindergarten School Picture

The boys school pictures came out SO GOOD this year!  I bought the whole package in order to get the CD digital versions too.  (Great marketing on their part - I always fall for it to get the full resolution digital files)

Here is Adam:  (Full res version on Flickr if you click it.  This is for you Mom and Dad)  Creepy Internet stalkers this does not apply to you - go check out epiduo reviews instead.

Bubbles and Plants

The kids got bubble guns in their bunny baskets this morning, so here are two obligatory bubble blowing pictures.

I also did some gardening today.  James brought me tomato plants and also zukes and yellow squash plants that he started in his greenhouse.  Hubster dug up part of the raised bed that we made last year to protect the Air Conditioner unit from water erosion to plant them in.  I hope they grow!

Craft Alert - Yarn Baskets

yarn baskets kids craft

I realized in the middle of the night last night that I have something I have to get in for work before Monday morning. So in a fit of procrastination, I decided that we needed to do YARN CRAFTS.

This one was easy - cut lengths of yarn, soak in watery glue, and lay over a yogurt container an a chinese soup container until they look sort of like birds nests. They are drying out on the front steps, I will post pics after they dry.

The kids know I am making them little knitted amigarumi birds - Chubby Chirps by Rebecca Danger. http://www.rebeccadanger.typepad.com/ so these are going to be nests for their birds.

Just Those Cute Kids Swinging in the Park

For all of those Marianne's Motifs family and fans who want to see the kids - here you go.  I love that they are old enough to swing themselves.   No extra charge for the song.

To the Jumpy House!

We're about to go take the kids to Monkey Joes, the place with all the inflatable slides, and bouncy houses.  They've been stuck inside so much this week, because of the snow and ice, they really need to get all that energy out.

I will bring the sock I am knitting, Jin will be reading his Kindle.  And the jumpies and such good exercise with no diet pills side effects!  Just kidding, kids don't need diet pills, just lots of play and excercise.

 

DSi Games 5 and 7 year old Boys Might Like for Hanukkah

Just in case you were wondering.  Cough Cough Stefanie Cough Cough

 

BEN

 

Pokemon Soul Silver

 

 

 

Super Scribblenauts

 

 

ADAM

 

LEGO Rock Band for DS

 

Kug Zhu Hansters - Comes out next week though...

 

First Day of School

Most of my pictures came out blurry - too early for this photographer!  But the kids are on the bus and safely on their way to second grade and kindergarten.

Here's one silly picture.

Musing about People Who Don't Like Kids

I've noticed that on the knitting forum Ravelry, a lot of people seem to feel very free to post denigrating comments about kids, and parents.  I will be the first person to admit that kids are disgusting little barbaric creatures.  I have two of them, and they are sometimes behave poorly, although I do try to make sure they are not running around annoying people.

When we take them to restaurants, we pick family friendly spots, fancy quiet places where they will stand out.  I keep them from running around knocking into people, and if they start making a loud fuss,  I take them outside. 

That being said, what's up with people hating on kids?  Everyone was a kid once - its kind of how people start out.  I can certainly understand that some people don't want to have kids, and that's great.  Believe me -they are hard enough to deal with when you want them - if you aren't really into it you should skip it.  But don't call them names, call parents breeders and rude stuff like that.

Kids are keeping our species alive, ok?  Aren't we all supposed to have an instinct to protect the babies of the species?  Why hate them?  Seems weird to me.

And someone said they were annoyed by parents whose whole lives revolved around their kids.  Isn't that the way its supposed to be?  As a parent my life revolves around my kids and I feel that that is exactly what my role is supposed to be.  (I work, love my husband, have hobbies, its not like the kids are my WHOLE life, but they are the most important job I have)  They can't take care of themselves yet so hubster and I have a SACRED duty to take care of them.

My parents STILL feel that way about me and my brother - and the 4 grandchildren.  This is what family is about.  I in turn love, respect, and worry about my parents when they have problems.  This is what is real and important in life.

Kids are just people who are are still growing up.  Some are likable, and others not so much.  But they are people and deserve to be given a chance to be liked on their own individual merits.  If you don't have experience with kids, maybe give it a try.  They are actually a lot of fun.  They have a funny way of looking at things and can help jar you out of the grown up "rut" of thinking.  Plus, when you hang out with kids you get to play with toys!

Kids Today!

Some quotes on the phenomenon of "kids today!" and how the generation gap has been the same since time immemorial.

“When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint”. Hesiod, 8th century BC

“What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?” Plato, 4th Century BC

“The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint… As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress.” Attributed to Peter the Hermit, AD 1274