The Quiet Game

A few weeks ago as I was trying to read a book the kids were bugging me to play a game with them. Since I am a parent now I get to do the same mean things that my parents did, so I suggested “the quiet game”. Oh how I hated it when my parents suggested we play that game. I knew it wouldn’t really work; I was just being annoying like my kids were annoying me. Well the kids had never played the quiet game before so they quickly agreed to play it this time.

“Whoever can stay quiet the longest wins! Ready . . . Go!” I said. I then turned my head back to my book and started reading again. A few pages later I realized that it was really quiet in my house. The kids were sitting there smiling and . . . being quiet. Why did I not think of this when we were on our road trips this summer? In fact this “game” was such a big hit that when it is Alan’s turn to pick the game for family home evening he picks . . . the quiet game. What kind of crazy kid chooses to play the quiet game? Now I just need to teach the kids about the blanket show.

I feel a little bit naked

Hyrum started preschool last week. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to put him in preschool, but with Alan in school all day Hyrum get’s a little bored at home. So that means I have some alone time 3 days a week.


It’s kind of weird to not have any kids with me. I thought at first that this would be a great time to get my shopping done. Well, I learned something new. Shopping with kids saves me money. Everyone else talks about how they spend more when they have kids with them, but I always spend less. I went to Target last week while Hyrum was in preschool and as I was walking past the clothing section I saw a dress and thought “that’s really cute”. I kept walking a few feet and then stopped dead in my tracks as another thought occurred to me “I could go try that on”. I would NEVER take kids with me to try on clothes; it’s like a suicide mission. That’s why I normally only go clothes shopping twice a year. But without kids I can try on everything in the store if I want to. I also have time to browse isles that I would normally zip right on by because I would be to afraid that my kids would break something.


When I had kids with me, my goal was always to spend as little time in the store as possible. But now that I have the time, I find myself buying things that I never had time to get before that I would instead just “do without”. So to be on the safe side I didn’t go to the store today. Unfortunately I am not spending my “alone time” cleaning my house. Instead I am sitting on my bum blogging. Oh well, I guess there is always room for improvement.

Just say NO

We were at a party last weekend and Alan had asked one of the adults for a drink. "Sure" she said "what would you like? Water, soda, . . . " To this Alan replied "Well, you should know, I don't drink beer."

A fantastic waste of time

What a good looking couple!

This is what I did instead of making dinner tonight.

If you have some time (or not so much) check out this website. http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

And please share how cool you look through the decades.

You know John has always wanted a mullet (and an afro).

I'm glad I never got a perm.

Wow I never expected that.

I've actually had all of these hairstyles (or something close).

I didn't even cry

Alan after his first day of school.

My little boy started kindergarten today. I was afraid I would be weeping at the school, but Alan is so relaxed about these things, it was like any other day to him. He ran off to the playground with the other kids as soon as we got there. We had to track him down to get our hug and kiss. That’s our Alan.

oh. . . . Alan was most excited to tell us that the cafeteria has a stage AND a disco ball.

Kids Books

We have done a bit of driving this summer and the portable DVD player has been a life saver. But sometimes we need a little break from movies so we also listened to a lot of books on tape (or CD but I still call it books on tape). It is difficult finding chapter books that will keep 2 active 3 and 5 year old attention but we did find some. The first chapter books I read when I was a kid were the Betsy Books by Carolyn Haywood. They were written in the 1940's and they the epitome of innocence. The books kept both the kids attention and the adults. Simple innocent stories about going to school and making friends. If you have kids that are just starting to read chapter books these are great ones to start on. I plan on reading the rest of the books to Alan this year.

The other books that we listened to were not quite as innocent. In fact if you worry about you kids picking up not so great ideas, theses might not be the books for you. So why did we let Alan listen to them, you ask? Well, truthfully, John and I couldn't stop listening to them. They were way too funny! They are the Clementine Books by Sara Pennypacker. It is about a third grader named Clementine who is perhaps very innocent but is constantly getting in trouble. They are meant for a slightly older age group than the Betsy books so they didn't quite hold Hyrum's attention, but Alan enjoyed them and John and I couldn't wait to put the next one in. So if you are looking for some good books these are some great ones to get.