Pucker Up

He denies that he was playing with Willa's Christmas present. He says that he was just listening to the rattle in the pretend lipstick. But the picture says otherwise.

I say, Embrace your inner fashion queen!

The Perfect Crime

I was in the same room on the phone and at the computer working on some Primary tasks, no more than four quick steps from the offense.

I thought I was listening to what was happening behind me.

But she never even cried while her brother poured milk all over her head.

Which is why he probably celebrated by taking off his pants and dancing.

(When the innocent felon was finally discovered--when I turned around--I gasped into the phone, "I don't know wheather to beat him or take a picture." "Take a picture." That's why she's the Primary President.)

Martin Quote

Taran [sitting, contemplating]: What does "ruthless" mean?

Mommy: It means without compassion.

Taran: What does "ocean liner" mean?


Editor's note: What goes on in that boy's head?! How in the world are these two words related to him?

Kids with a Camera

Calvin got an indestructible children's camera for Christmas. The kidlins have been taking pictures of everything. It's fun to see what they think is photo worthy or funny (I have deleted dozens of extreme closeup shots of walls and floors). They have a different perceptive of their surroundings and they don't care to edit their space like I do (ie. move the camera more to left so the piled junk mail isn't in the shot).

So for the first installment of "Kids with a Camera" we have:

The Boys Room

This is a picture of the underside of Enoch's bed, taken by Taran who was laying on his (and Calvin's) double bed. It is a bunk bed the boys share.

Here is Taran on his bed with Calvin. Either Emma or Enoch was taking the picture. Because it's level, I'm guessing Emma.

An incredibly grainy picture of the boys' stuffed animal pile atop their book shelf.

Here is a wall with some cowboy art in their room. David painted cow spots to add whimsy, but really it was to hide many, many the dirt and crayon spots. (There wasn't any cleaner out there or any amount of scrubbing that could take those stains out. I suspect that the cheap renter paint on our walls is actually just primer.)

Another view. David and his brother Paul had this art work up in their room when they were boys.

More spots.

The opposite long wall with the cowboy icons border and ceiling.

Giddy UP!

Church Ball

One way to keep the winter crazies away is to play a rough game of ball with some tough ladies.

Don't let the pregnant one fool you, she's the toughest.

Saturday Chores as Captured by the Kidilins

Although today is July 3, 2011, I am putting this post here. While going through old pictures stored in the computer, I found these blurry gems. They are pictures taken by my own children of Saturday chores on the camera Calvin got for Christmas.

What caught my attention was the ordinariness of the scene. Saturday chores happen like this almost every Saturday.

Here Emma stops sweeping to smile for the camera.

Taran bringing up (or down) clean (or dirty) laundry.

More smiling, more sweeping.

Calvin plays where he won't be noticed (Enoch must be taking the pictures).

Calvin found and now set to work putting away dishes in the kitchen.

Mommy reading the newspaper. What?!

Go Green: Have Boys

Their clothes never touch a landfill, they just rot right off their bodies.

Enoch's shirt.

Calvin's shorts.

Taran's socks.

I'd like to thank all the wonderful mothers who make this ecological post possible by donating their used, undamaged clothing to the Martin Boys Recycling and Refuse Foundation. Special thanks go to Pili and Amy you ladies ROCK!