All three kids have been taking swimming lessons again this summer, something we believe is not a matter of sport or fitness as much as it is a matter of safety. Luckily, none of our three have ever had a fear of water, preferring to spend more time under it than above it listening to their instructors.
During one class last week, the instructor had the long rescue hook in the water, the pole touching the bottom of the pool. The kids were supposed to hold on to the pole and swim down as far as they could. At the end of class, Milo approached me on the pool deck, a suspiciously huge smile on his face. The kind of look that almost screams, "guess what's different about me!"
"What?" I asked.
"Do you notice I'm extra wet today? That's because I had to swim to the bottom of the pool!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Stuck ...
I find myself wondering sometimes whether kids forget to plug their brains back in when they wake up in the morning. After a good night's sleep, my 7 year-old son Milo was getting dressed when from his room, I heard him calling for help. It wasn't a pained cry but more of a "what have I gotten myself into?" one.
We met halfway between my office and the bedroom and I was struck dumbfounded by his predicament. It seems that he had pulled up his pants as high as he could get them without having unbuttoned and unzipped. They were stuck around his thighs. Laughing, I suggested he undo the button, but to no avail. They were too tight. Okay then, how about you try to pull them down, I offered. Still too tight.
As I was busily trying to explain to a very frustrated Milo that we weren't laughing at him but rather at his predicament, I just couldn't find the right words. Meanwhile, there he stood, pants stuck halfway up forced to listen to me toss out nothing more than "word salad".
It wasn't until my wife Kathleen came to his rescue -- and pulled his pants down for him -- that his suffering ended. Turns out that maybe my kids aren't the only ones whose brains are not up and running first thing in the morning.
Now, where's my coffee?
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
We met halfway between my office and the bedroom and I was struck dumbfounded by his predicament. It seems that he had pulled up his pants as high as he could get them without having unbuttoned and unzipped. They were stuck around his thighs. Laughing, I suggested he undo the button, but to no avail. They were too tight. Okay then, how about you try to pull them down, I offered. Still too tight.
As I was busily trying to explain to a very frustrated Milo that we weren't laughing at him but rather at his predicament, I just couldn't find the right words. Meanwhile, there he stood, pants stuck halfway up forced to listen to me toss out nothing more than "word salad".
It wasn't until my wife Kathleen came to his rescue -- and pulled his pants down for him -- that his suffering ended. Turns out that maybe my kids aren't the only ones whose brains are not up and running first thing in the morning.
Now, where's my coffee?
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Innocent Until Presumed Guilty ...
Bob was taking apart the old computer to retrieve any reusable parts. He thought it might interest the kids to see what a computer looked like inside so he called them all to come see.
Milo took one look at all the parts all over the floor, some of them (deliberately) bent out of shape, and said, "I did NOT do that!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Milo took one look at all the parts all over the floor, some of them (deliberately) bent out of shape, and said, "I did NOT do that!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Teacher's Jar ...
I don't know if it is customary where you live but here, we give our children's teachers a little gift to thank them for putting up with our children and not running away in a mad frenzy months earlier. Some parents give gifts that can be used in class next year, while others give something the teacher can pamper themselves with.
This year, our oldest daughter Neva, with the help of Mommy and her little sister Willa are making "Do-it-yourself" Muffins. To me, it seems such a great idea that I thought I'd share it with you. You simply pack all the dry ingredients in a mason jar, add a tag that lists the wet ingredients the receiver needs to add and cooking instructions.
Now we can't take credit for the idea, it in fact comes from a book called Gifts in a Jar: For Kids by G & R Publishing. You can find it at Amazon.
Amazon.com
http://www.contesthound.com/jump/link.php?id=6270
Amazon.co.uk
http://www.crazycompers.co.uk/jump/link.php?id=6271
Amazon.ca
http://www.contesthound.ca/jump/link.php?id=6272
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
This year, our oldest daughter Neva, with the help of Mommy and her little sister Willa are making "Do-it-yourself" Muffins. To me, it seems such a great idea that I thought I'd share it with you. You simply pack all the dry ingredients in a mason jar, add a tag that lists the wet ingredients the receiver needs to add and cooking instructions.
Now we can't take credit for the idea, it in fact comes from a book called Gifts in a Jar: For Kids by G & R Publishing. You can find it at Amazon.
Amazon.com
http://www.contesthound.com/jump/link.php?id=6270
Amazon.co.uk
http://www.crazycompers.co.uk/jump/link.php?id=6271
Amazon.ca
http://www.contesthound.ca/jump/link.php?id=6272
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Chairwomen of the Bored ...
It's less than two weeks before our kids are home from school for the summer. Maybe we're getting a little taste of what it might be like this year as both girls are home sick today. It's interesting that once they decide that they indeed are sick, they become rather easily bored. I certainly hope today doesn't foreshadow the holidays.
Our oldest, Neva, has already done some reading, played on the computer, had a couple of snacks, watched TV and she's only been out of bed for a few hours.
Willa has done pretty much the same but she has liberally peppered her down time with countless questions ... "Can I go outside?", "When's lunch?", "Do I have a fever?", "When's Mommy home?"and on and on.
Kathleen would say that I'm the same way when I'm sick. It's a funny helplessness that comes immediately after being officially labeled as "sick" by Kathleen. As with the kids, I too get bored and eventually, almost miraculously, start "feeling better", at least enough to start doing things for myself ... really, I do ... honest!
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Our oldest, Neva, has already done some reading, played on the computer, had a couple of snacks, watched TV and she's only been out of bed for a few hours.
Willa has done pretty much the same but she has liberally peppered her down time with countless questions ... "Can I go outside?", "When's lunch?", "Do I have a fever?", "When's Mommy home?"and on and on.
Kathleen would say that I'm the same way when I'm sick. It's a funny helplessness that comes immediately after being officially labeled as "sick" by Kathleen. As with the kids, I too get bored and eventually, almost miraculously, start "feeling better", at least enough to start doing things for myself ... really, I do ... honest!
Happy sweeping!
Bob Gunther
Webmaster, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Winter Break or Winter Broken?
It was quite an adventure, our first big family trip. The kind where parents earn a merit badge for survival. It started the week before, when Willa was home sick with a terrible cough and then a bladder infection. I got a sinus infection, which made packing a laborious task. The night before we flew out, we drove through a wee snow storm, complete with cars in the ditch and a tractor trailer spun the wrong way on the highway. Then Milo threw up his entire dinner all over the van ("Happy Meal"? I don't think so!), and our two-hour drive became a four-hour one. Luckily the flight the next morning was uneventful, even exciting, and we arrived in Florida safely and on schedule.
Despite the weather being, well, not entirely Florida-like (it was cold and windy), and despite Neva getting Milo's flu mid-week, we did have a wonderful visit with my mother. We celebrated Willa's 5th birthday; Neva and Milo lost teeth and were visited by the American Tooth Fairy; the sun shone every day but one; we visited the Salvador Dali Museum and the Clearwater Aquarium for rescued marine animals; we had lovely weather the last 2 days; the kids did get to "swim" in the ocean the day before we left (it was freezing) and we had one good swim in the pool. Best of all, there was no snow, no computer, no work and no morning rush!
I can't wait to go back next year!
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Despite the weather being, well, not entirely Florida-like (it was cold and windy), and despite Neva getting Milo's flu mid-week, we did have a wonderful visit with my mother. We celebrated Willa's 5th birthday; Neva and Milo lost teeth and were visited by the American Tooth Fairy; the sun shone every day but one; we visited the Salvador Dali Museum and the Clearwater Aquarium for rescued marine animals; we had lovely weather the last 2 days; the kids did get to "swim" in the ocean the day before we left (it was freezing) and we had one good swim in the pool. Best of all, there was no snow, no computer, no work and no morning rush!
I can't wait to go back next year!
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Head Over Heels ...
I don't know what it is about my daughter Willa, but ever since we enrolled her in gymnastics this fall, she's been flipping an awful lot. She'll hang from the slats of the upper bunk bed and flip her feet through. She'll hold my hands and back-flip through our arms, hanging upside-down for as long as my arms can hold her before flipping through and landing on her feet.
And in the last few weeks it has been taking us much longer to walk to school than usual because she stops every house or two to do a somersault. One cold snowy morning this week, as I was returning home from dropping the kids off at school, I walked past our neighbors' long side yard. And there in the fresh snow was the evidence of Willa's earlier passing: 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print, 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print; 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print...
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
And in the last few weeks it has been taking us much longer to walk to school than usual because she stops every house or two to do a somersault. One cold snowy morning this week, as I was returning home from dropping the kids off at school, I walked past our neighbors' long side yard. And there in the fresh snow was the evidence of Willa's earlier passing: 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print, 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print; 4 or 5 footprints and one full-body Willa print...
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Let Me Tell You a Story ...
Last week when I wrote about my youngest daughter Willa just beginning to learn to read, I mentioned my oldest daughter and her struggle to learn when she was in Kindergarten. Looking back at it, I suppose she didn't struggle much more than any other average 4- or 5-year old, but she also didn't "take off" the way most of her classmates did in the few years that followed.
In Grade 2, it was very difficult to get her to sit down to read to me, much less on her own. She hated the books her teacher sent home and the ones she chose from the library proved too difficult. It was discouraging for both of us. Then Grade 3 brought her an understanding teacher who introduced Neva to a collection of books the teacher thought would be good for her. The night Neva brought the first of the series home she was anxious, having taken a good three weeks to complete the last book she had read. But she went far beyond any of our expectations when she read the entire book in a two-hour sitting! She has since been devouring the rest of the series and has branched out into different authors and longer, more involved stories.
Although I love to read now, I wasn't an avid reader when I was young, other than during the summer months. (This has always surprised me since my parents and my older sisters were never without a novel on the nightstand!) So to see Neva beg to read "just one more chapter" before bed has me thrilled. It helps to remind me that, at her own pace, Willa too will become a good reader.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
In Grade 2, it was very difficult to get her to sit down to read to me, much less on her own. She hated the books her teacher sent home and the ones she chose from the library proved too difficult. It was discouraging for both of us. Then Grade 3 brought her an understanding teacher who introduced Neva to a collection of books the teacher thought would be good for her. The night Neva brought the first of the series home she was anxious, having taken a good three weeks to complete the last book she had read. But she went far beyond any of our expectations when she read the entire book in a two-hour sitting! She has since been devouring the rest of the series and has branched out into different authors and longer, more involved stories.
Although I love to read now, I wasn't an avid reader when I was young, other than during the summer months. (This has always surprised me since my parents and my older sisters were never without a novel on the nightstand!) So to see Neva beg to read "just one more chapter" before bed has me thrilled. It helps to remind me that, at her own pace, Willa too will become a good reader.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
M is for ...
The kindergarten teacher at our school has a special reading program for her students. Each Tuesday, a book bag is sent home with an easy reader, a story book and a duotang that holds poems they are learning in school. Our youngest daughter, Willa, who began Junior Kindergarten this fall, has seen her sister and brother bring these special books home all her life. So she was thrilled the day she brought home her first book bag.
Now, Willa wasn't old enough to remember Neva struggling to learn to read. But she has been aware of Milo's intuitive ability to read, sound out and spell. Naturally, she believed that being in possession of the revered book bag would magically turn her into a proficient reader. Thankfully she doesn't get frustrated with the reality of it all. But she will quickly cover my mouth if I'm helping her with something she remembers from the last time we read.
Still, she has begun the exciting journey through letter sounds and words, particularly the initial consonant sounds: "Duh-duh-duh...Daddy". In fact, the other day we were looking at things on my desk and, thinking of marker, I asked, "What begins with M?"
"Muh-muh-muh ... muh-muh-muh ... PENCIL!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Now, Willa wasn't old enough to remember Neva struggling to learn to read. But she has been aware of Milo's intuitive ability to read, sound out and spell. Naturally, she believed that being in possession of the revered book bag would magically turn her into a proficient reader. Thankfully she doesn't get frustrated with the reality of it all. But she will quickly cover my mouth if I'm helping her with something she remembers from the last time we read.
Still, she has begun the exciting journey through letter sounds and words, particularly the initial consonant sounds: "Duh-duh-duh...Daddy". In fact, the other day we were looking at things on my desk and, thinking of marker, I asked, "What begins with M?"
"Muh-muh-muh ... muh-muh-muh ... PENCIL!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Fair Trade?
The kids had a great time trick-or-treating last Friday. Part of what made it extra special was going out with their friends. It was fun for me too, because as I was left to organize the get together of the neighbourhood kids and parents, I volunteered all the dads to walk with the kids and invited the moms to have a glass of wine with me! Good times aside, at the end of the day, as always, I was overwhelmed by the indulgence and waste of Halloween candy. My three kids brought home 16 pounds (more than 7kg) of candy! (There's the indulgence.) Who can eat that much sugar?! (Well, the Halloweens I was pregnant with Milo and Willa, I took one for the team and plowed through all the chocolate bars. The things we sacrifice for the betterment of our children.)
So, first off Bob and I remove all contraband: hard candies, lollipops, toffees that get stuck in their teeth and things that are just gross to look at. That all goes in the garbage (there's the waste), but there still remains a copious amount. So a few years ago we adopted a deal our friend makes with her kids. I ask them to get rid of (ie. give to me) half of their loot in exchange for a small toy. In the past, it was like pulling teeth to get them to do it -- perhaps the same teeth that would have been pulled after eating it all? But this year I was really impressed with their will power. Neva, our oldest and usually the hardest sell, was particularly keen.
It had finally occurred to her that, "I got all this for free, but you had to buy the toy!"
Ah-ha! Very astute observation, I agreed.
So, just how long do you think I still have until she realises that the $3 toy I got at a half price sale is worth only a third of the value of the candy she just traded in?
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
So, first off Bob and I remove all contraband: hard candies, lollipops, toffees that get stuck in their teeth and things that are just gross to look at. That all goes in the garbage (there's the waste), but there still remains a copious amount. So a few years ago we adopted a deal our friend makes with her kids. I ask them to get rid of (ie. give to me) half of their loot in exchange for a small toy. In the past, it was like pulling teeth to get them to do it -- perhaps the same teeth that would have been pulled after eating it all? But this year I was really impressed with their will power. Neva, our oldest and usually the hardest sell, was particularly keen.
It had finally occurred to her that, "I got all this for free, but you had to buy the toy!"
Ah-ha! Very astute observation, I agreed.
So, just how long do you think I still have until she realises that the $3 toy I got at a half price sale is worth only a third of the value of the candy she just traded in?
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
In the Eye of the "Snow-holder" ...
We had our first snowfall overnight and it was a doozy. I awoke at 3:30am when the power went out. There was thunder and lightning, wind and a blanket of heavy, wet snow. Four hours later, when the kids woke up, we went out to survey the damage.
Six inches (15 cm) of slush covered the autumn-coloured leaves still hanging on the trees; large branches lay all along the street and the sidewalks, and several power lines had been downed. The pear tree we planted just after Neva was born was almost completely destroyed, as was the old magnolia tree in our neighbour's front yard.
But as Bob and I looked at the morning with our grown up eyes, seeing only damage and clean up and messy driving conditions, the kids had an entirely different outlook. All three put on their coats and boots over top of their pyjamas and ran outside. What they saw meant snow forts and snowmen, tobogganing and snow angels. And it was beautiful.
Later today, after I've recovered from the shock of winter's early arrival, I think I will go out and have a snowball fight!
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Six inches (15 cm) of slush covered the autumn-coloured leaves still hanging on the trees; large branches lay all along the street and the sidewalks, and several power lines had been downed. The pear tree we planted just after Neva was born was almost completely destroyed, as was the old magnolia tree in our neighbour's front yard.
But as Bob and I looked at the morning with our grown up eyes, seeing only damage and clean up and messy driving conditions, the kids had an entirely different outlook. All three put on their coats and boots over top of their pyjamas and ran outside. What they saw meant snow forts and snowmen, tobogganing and snow angels. And it was beautiful.
Later today, after I've recovered from the shock of winter's early arrival, I think I will go out and have a snowball fight!
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Running With Scissors ...
There is a lot of very sage, motherly advice that gets passed from generation to generation: don't talk with food in your mouth, never talk to strangers, always wear clean underwear. I'd like to focus on an oldie but a goodie: don't run with scissors.
I'm not sure that my 6-year-old son actually runs with scissors -- certainly I've never witnessed it. But there are plenty of other things that can go wrong with a pair of blunt-ended safety scissors. Like cutting your perfect spelling test into tiny pieces. ("I want Granny to pick a word and ask me to spell it!") Or cutting your bangs to the scalp when the teacher's not looking. ("Owen did it too!") And then there's snipping "vents" into your shorts. ("It was an accident!" he claimed. An accident? All thirteen times?!)
Milo always talks with food in his mouth, not only talks to passers-by but tells them all our names and ages as well, and as long as he's wearing underwear at all we're good. But I think I'd just rather he not have the scissors at all, thank you very much.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I'm not sure that my 6-year-old son actually runs with scissors -- certainly I've never witnessed it. But there are plenty of other things that can go wrong with a pair of blunt-ended safety scissors. Like cutting your perfect spelling test into tiny pieces. ("I want Granny to pick a word and ask me to spell it!") Or cutting your bangs to the scalp when the teacher's not looking. ("Owen did it too!") And then there's snipping "vents" into your shorts. ("It was an accident!" he claimed. An accident? All thirteen times?!)
Milo always talks with food in his mouth, not only talks to passers-by but tells them all our names and ages as well, and as long as he's wearing underwear at all we're good. But I think I'd just rather he not have the scissors at all, thank you very much.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
What a Turkey …
Editor's Note: Because Canada is north of the United States, its harvest comes earlier in the year. As such, Thanksgiving in Canada is the second Monday in October.
This past weekend, Bob and I sent the kids to my mother's cottage to spend Thanksgiving there while we got away for a much needed break. Although we've each had overnights away from the kids, it was the first time we'd been away together without them. And as I suspected, they were so well occupied by all their aunts, uncles and cousins, they really didn't miss us much at all!
On the drive back home, we caught up on their weekend, which they praised as they best time of their lives. They went on a long hike, they played cards, they went fishing, they stayed up really late. And they had Thanksgiving dinner.
"And Mommy," Neva told me, "Milo ate almost everything on his plate!"
I had my doubts, knowing my veg-a-phobic son who also refuses pork and poultry. Time to dig a little deeper. "So, what exactly was on your plate?"
"The teenagers served him," Neva continued to speak for Milo. They had given him turkey, potatoes, carrots, gravy and a piece of bread. I was incredulous! Maybe we should have sent him away on his own years ago.
"And you ate everything?!"
"He ate almost everything on his plate!" Neva was excited for him.
"So Milo, you ate turkey?"
"No," came the reply, in an excited tone that was almost begging me to go on.
"Did you eat potatoes?"
"No."
"What about the carrots?"
"No, but the gravy was awesome!!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
This past weekend, Bob and I sent the kids to my mother's cottage to spend Thanksgiving there while we got away for a much needed break. Although we've each had overnights away from the kids, it was the first time we'd been away together without them. And as I suspected, they were so well occupied by all their aunts, uncles and cousins, they really didn't miss us much at all!
On the drive back home, we caught up on their weekend, which they praised as they best time of their lives. They went on a long hike, they played cards, they went fishing, they stayed up really late. And they had Thanksgiving dinner.
"And Mommy," Neva told me, "Milo ate almost everything on his plate!"
I had my doubts, knowing my veg-a-phobic son who also refuses pork and poultry. Time to dig a little deeper. "So, what exactly was on your plate?"
"The teenagers served him," Neva continued to speak for Milo. They had given him turkey, potatoes, carrots, gravy and a piece of bread. I was incredulous! Maybe we should have sent him away on his own years ago.
"And you ate everything?!"
"He ate almost everything on his plate!" Neva was excited for him.
"So Milo, you ate turkey?"
"No," came the reply, in an excited tone that was almost begging me to go on.
"Did you eat potatoes?"
"No."
"What about the carrots?"
"No, but the gravy was awesome!!"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Parenting Paradox …
I find myself struggling with something I never thought would be an issue. The thing I want most for my children is self-confidence. We are always giving our children positive attention for jobs well done, from the first smile to the first step, the first stick figure to the first bike ride without training wheels. They are rewarded with smiles, hugs, encouraging words and, yes, sometimes even chocolate!
So why is it that my 9-year-old can complete a near-perfect math test but the next day be frazzled by the very same homework? Why is it that she doesn't believe she is capable? Have I not praised her enough? Have I praised her so much that she is unable to trust her abilities without encouragement? Perhaps I have not taught her to look within and see it for herself.
It's a frustrating paradox that something so positive can backfire and become a negative; that some children must always seek the approving nod of their peers or parents before believing in themselves.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
So why is it that my 9-year-old can complete a near-perfect math test but the next day be frazzled by the very same homework? Why is it that she doesn't believe she is capable? Have I not praised her enough? Have I praised her so much that she is unable to trust her abilities without encouragement? Perhaps I have not taught her to look within and see it for herself.
It's a frustrating paradox that something so positive can backfire and become a negative; that some children must always seek the approving nod of their peers or parents before believing in themselves.
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
One of those ...
If your'e like me and approaching 40, you will understand what I mean by having a "senior moment". It's when you start the coffee pot without adding the coffee; or forget where you left your glasses only to discover, after searching for an hour, that they've been on your face the whole time.
Well, similar to the "senior moment" is a phenomenon I like to call "pre-schooler moments", although it can happen to any child up to about age 10. These are purely innocent distortions of a lesson learned or a comment heard. Like when Neva, now in Grade 4, mentions the United States of Ontario. Or how Milo thinks everyone is as knowledgeable about NASCAR as he is and offers to "bump draft" the 2-year-old at the top of the slide to get him moving.
Or, like today, when Willa asked, "Mommy, how do you spell TV?"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Well, similar to the "senior moment" is a phenomenon I like to call "pre-schooler moments", although it can happen to any child up to about age 10. These are purely innocent distortions of a lesson learned or a comment heard. Like when Neva, now in Grade 4, mentions the United States of Ontario. Or how Milo thinks everyone is as knowledgeable about NASCAR as he is and offers to "bump draft" the 2-year-old at the top of the slide to get him moving.
Or, like today, when Willa asked, "Mommy, how do you spell TV?"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Will You Be My Friend?
Everyone was bothering me to have a friend over to visit. It started, as always, with my oldest, Neva. "Mommy, can I have a friend over?"
Before I even had a chance to answer, both Milo and Willa were at me, "I want to have a friend over too!"
I had to think fast -- I surely didn't want three extra children in my house?!
"What if I want a friend over?" I asked.
Willa told me flatly, "You don't have any."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Before I even had a chance to answer, both Milo and Willa were at me, "I want to have a friend over too!"
I had to think fast -- I surely didn't want three extra children in my house?!
"What if I want a friend over?" I asked.
Willa told me flatly, "You don't have any."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Fearless ...
This is a big year for us at school. Neva has begun Grade 4, and is no longer in Primary but Junior, something of which she is most proud. Milo is in Grade 1 and attending full days for the first time. And our baby, Willa, started Junior Kindergarten yesterday. What an exciting first day of school we had!
I was completing Willa's student information sheet yesterday. It was mostly standard stuff: how many letters does she know? Can she print her own name? How high can she count? The only one that stumped me momentarily was about fears and dislikes. I don't think she's afraid of anything. We're talking about the little girl who climbs over the railing of the front porch and jumps over the garden into the grass. The little girl who kept wanting to go faster when she went tubing behind the big boat at the cottage -- even when the wake sent her bouncing from her knees onto her tummy. This is the little girl who climbs on top of the monkey bars. And fell off the trapeze bar, giving herself a nasty nose bleed, only to get right back on the next day.
So I asked her, "Willa, is there anything your teacher should know about that you don't like or are afraid of?"
She shook her head and shrugged unconcerned, "No, just monsters."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
I was completing Willa's student information sheet yesterday. It was mostly standard stuff: how many letters does she know? Can she print her own name? How high can she count? The only one that stumped me momentarily was about fears and dislikes. I don't think she's afraid of anything. We're talking about the little girl who climbs over the railing of the front porch and jumps over the garden into the grass. The little girl who kept wanting to go faster when she went tubing behind the big boat at the cottage -- even when the wake sent her bouncing from her knees onto her tummy. This is the little girl who climbs on top of the monkey bars. And fell off the trapeze bar, giving herself a nasty nose bleed, only to get right back on the next day.
So I asked her, "Willa, is there anything your teacher should know about that you don't like or are afraid of?"
She shook her head and shrugged unconcerned, "No, just monsters."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Constructive Criticism ...
There was a Seniors' Home in our neighbourhood that was torn down last year to make way for a new seniors-only residential building. Since then, the lot has been vacant through months and months of delays in construction. We drove by the other day and noticed the excavators and dump trucks on site.
"Well," Bob commented, "they've dug a hole."
"Oh dear," came Willa's concern from the back seat. "It's gonna take hours to cover that up."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
"Well," Bob commented, "they've dug a hole."
"Oh dear," came Willa's concern from the back seat. "It's gonna take hours to cover that up."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Beatle Mania ...
Our taste in music is quite varied and Bob and I have been very lucky to have three children that prefer to listen to "our" music than, say, The Wiggles or Barney. In fact, we only own two or three kids music CDs and probably haven't listened to them since Milo was a baby.
Bob is always educating the kids on important musical figures from today and yesterday and was more than a bit excited when he heard that Paul McCartney would be giving a free concert in Quebec City for the city's 400th anniversary. (It must be mentioned that he was also heart-broken when he finally realized that driving more than 10 hours to a free concert, for which you'd need to line up 48 hours in advance -- no matter how once-in-a-life-time the experience -- is not an option with 3 children in tow.) As he was excitedly bouncing around the apartment, he asked the kids if they knew who McCartney was and how significant his influence on music was.
Neva jumped in: "I do! I do! And I’ll prove it!" She ran to get our DVD copy of his 2003 performance in Moscow, Paul McCartney Live in Red Square.
"He was in a band called The Beatles. And two of them died. And now he’s in a band called Red Squares."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Bob is always educating the kids on important musical figures from today and yesterday and was more than a bit excited when he heard that Paul McCartney would be giving a free concert in Quebec City for the city's 400th anniversary. (It must be mentioned that he was also heart-broken when he finally realized that driving more than 10 hours to a free concert, for which you'd need to line up 48 hours in advance -- no matter how once-in-a-life-time the experience -- is not an option with 3 children in tow.) As he was excitedly bouncing around the apartment, he asked the kids if they knew who McCartney was and how significant his influence on music was.
Neva jumped in: "I do! I do! And I’ll prove it!" She ran to get our DVD copy of his 2003 performance in Moscow, Paul McCartney Live in Red Square.
"He was in a band called The Beatles. And two of them died. And now he’s in a band called Red Squares."
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Shave and a Haircut ...
As seems to be the norm since school let out 3 weeks ago, I was late getting the kids into bed and I went to check on Milo in the bathroom. The child I had sent to brush his teeth had decided, instead, to shave. He had his "Cars: The Movie" shaving cream all over his cheeks and nose. (This is when, instead of giving him grief about not doing as he was told, I ran to get the camera.) When he had a sufficient amount, he rinsed his hands, picked up his plastic "razor", climbed up on the bench so he could see in the mirror, and began.
He started between his eyebrows and shaved right down over his nose. Next the cheeks, shaving up, down and sideways -- whichever way he could successfully remove the foam. And since shaving his cheeks left foam on his eyelashes, he shaved his eyes. Both of them. Twice. Finally, the upper lip, down over his mouth, chin and throat to finish off.
Once he rinsed his face, splashing water all over the bathroom, he dried his face and put on "man cream", the fresh-smelling aftershave his Dad uses. "How do I smell, Mom?" he asked proudly, letting me nuzzle up against his still-baby-soft skin.
And, thus, we have reached yet another milestone in the life of Milo, the six-year-old. One I didn't realize would have as much an effect on me as I figured it would on Bob. I just hope, as the years go on and he's using real blades in his razor, he'll still ask me every once in a while, "How do I smell, Mom?"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
He started between his eyebrows and shaved right down over his nose. Next the cheeks, shaving up, down and sideways -- whichever way he could successfully remove the foam. And since shaving his cheeks left foam on his eyelashes, he shaved his eyes. Both of them. Twice. Finally, the upper lip, down over his mouth, chin and throat to finish off.
Once he rinsed his face, splashing water all over the bathroom, he dried his face and put on "man cream", the fresh-smelling aftershave his Dad uses. "How do I smell, Mom?" he asked proudly, letting me nuzzle up against his still-baby-soft skin.
And, thus, we have reached yet another milestone in the life of Milo, the six-year-old. One I didn't realize would have as much an effect on me as I figured it would on Bob. I just hope, as the years go on and he's using real blades in his razor, he'll still ask me every once in a while, "How do I smell, Mom?"
Happy sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com
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