The cleaning crew

One of the many things I learned after having Isaac was that I should have made him pick up his own toys way earlier than I did. It was just so much faster if I did it myself, but it taught him a bad lesson. The girls have always been much better about picking up and with their help Isaac has gotten better too. Always looking for new ways to encourage picking up, Jake played a clean up game with the kids while I was sick recently. The great thing was that they loved it and wanted to pick up all the time, the downside was that they made messes specifically so they could later play the pick up game.
Indiana is by far the most concerned with cleaning though. Since she could walk she has had to pick up her room before she could come out to play after her naps. She picks up all her toys and blankets and puts them back on her bed. The other day she was downstairs gathering all the plastic cups and bowls and throwing them into the sink for me. One thing though that she has started now that she can reach the drawers in the kitchen, is that she puts the silverware back in the drawer. The problem is she takes them off the table after they've been used and puts them away. I now have to remember to check the drawer at night when I clean up the kitchen and pull all the dirty silverware out of the drawer.

The Secret to Eating Veggies

I usually make a big serving of stir fried vegetable that we eat for two or three meals. I've tried a variety of vegetables, switching out the unpopular vegetables in search of the right combination. So far we know they'll eat green beans, onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and squash. Turnips and parsnips are definitely out. Even with the most popular vegetables it's a struggle to get them to eat a small serving each. Today I decided to break out the mandolin slicer and julienne all the veggies. They ate everything! The more homogenous mixture and smaller vegetable size seems to have made all the difference. Of course this could just be a fluke, but I'm looking forward to further testing.

Kids and Creation

Overheard while the kids were supposed to be doing their schoolwork; a discussion on creation.

Abigail: He created sticks and flowers and mud. And He created grass in our backyard.
Isaac: No, He didn't create mud. He made the rain fall and when dirt gets wet it turns into mud.
Abigail: But Isaac, sometimes when it's not wet it turns into mud.
Isaac: No.
Abigail: Oh, no. (followed by laughing) Did God create hats and belts?
Isaac: No, but bunnies are created by God.
A: Dinosaurs?
I: Yep, they sure were.
(Hysterical laughing)
A: Are eyes created?
I: Yes
A: Are chins created?
I: Yes
A: Are tummies created?
I: Yes
A: Are backs created?
I: Yes
A: Ears created?
I: Yes
A: Necks Created?
I: Yes, okay Abigail that's enough silliness.