So with Nate, Brad, Luke, Charity and Kelly all gone to their things all week- that leaves just the other half of us home together! It's been an interesting two days so far. It's just such a different dynamic! For one thing- I cannot run little errands here and there whenever I please- I have to load them all up and take them with me which we all don't seem to enjoy all that much. Poor Jack is not loving having to go places. He's gotten very used to his lifestyle of staying home with whichever big kid is staying home. And Molly... she is a handful and there's not a lot of extra big hands to help out with her. I must say that Noah and Erika have totally stepped it up and they are trying their best to fill the big kid roles. I don't think they really like it, but they're doing good. We miss the big kids for a lot of reasons, one of mine being that I'm starting to get my ego back-- HA! Just kidding- they don't make fun of me THAT much. I'm kidding. But really- I could go on and on about how much I miss them. But I do think that these times are good for everyone. It's good for the little kids to experience this position. We've done a lot of fun things together to make up for everyone's absence and I've realized there's a lot of things they enjoy doing- easy things- that the big kids wouldn't care for, that we've been able to do! So that's been good. Plus, I'm going to say it- there's definitely less fighting. There. That's all I'll say about that. So Monday, after the kids played with their friends- we decided to roast hot dogs for dinner (see what I mean about easy!). Chips and Hot dogs for dinner :). We then got the idea to make S'mores too! And then while we were down by the creek decided it was the perfect setting for FHE. So Noah gave us a lesson on Repentance and Baptism. He's so cute when he's the big brother. Everyone loved it. I could have done without all the weird bugs. But whatever. It was a lot of fun. Jack cried when we started cleaning up and putting the fire out. I was a little jealous when the kids kept talking about what the Maughans do when they're roasting hot dogs and stuff, and I realized they've done that more with them than with us. But oh well. Then it occurred to me that we are really blessed to have such a good family full of kids our kids' ages for our kids to spend time in their home. It's definitely not always the case. We are very blessed. So after our S'mores we ran to the craft store because I needed some thread and we ended up picking up some little wood craft things for them to paint the next day. That was a lot of fun. Minus Molly screaming. Then we got home and the kids cleaned up the kitchen while I set up the projector movie! We watched Monster Trucks and had a great time together all of us on the tramp! Tuesday I had to get up early and clean the garage for Produce which I did all by myself because everyone was still sleeping! Kinda nuts! Then we got breakfast and jobs out of the way and they got to paint the things we bought. They were SO CUTE painting! It's been a while since I did anything like that with those four. Maybe never. But they loved it, I loved it, it was fun! I hope I always remember that. They were so sweet with each other. Noah painted a "Wish Frame" which is basically a bank in a frame- there's a slot at the top and then they made it so you can take out the back to put in a picture of something you want to save for. Cute Noah put a picture of himself from his Baptism photo shoot, in his suit that he loved, and painted "Elder Maynes" on top of it- he wanted a bank to save up for his mission!! Love that kid! Erika painted a little house- looks like a dog house to me- totally cute- and she did it in the colors of her room so it would match :). She helped Molly a lot as well, totally talking her through the whole process. Such a good big sister. Jack also painted a bank- his was clear in the front as well. He sure enjoyed this! I wasn't sure he would, but he got into it. I loved it. Molly (being the spoiled youngest kid that she is) got two things to paint- her M (which she has become completely obsessed with) and a cute box. She was adorable too and super happy through the whole project. It was cute to see how well she did, and how much attention to paid to a lot of the details. Cute girl. "I wike puhpoh and pink". Then we spent the rest of the day playing with friends, and being bummed that friends couldn't play- poor Noah- and learning to play a new card game with mom- again, poor Noah- just kidding, he actually really liked this one, called James Bond. I like it too- takes some strategy. We ran to the store and delivered the PTA binder, then played some more. See how busy we are when the big kids are gone :). Then we did the unthinkable and had breakfast for dinner!! The kids were ecstatic! Even Jack! And he ate!!! It was so much fun for some reason! I'm just loving the simplicity of these people of mine :). And maybe it's me that makes it so I think things have to be bigger, maybe it's not the big kids... I don't know. But these guys definitely get excited over some pretty simple things. We ran off to Pack Meeting after that- then home to watch a movie while I went to my dumb Parent Board Meeting. I just realized on my way home that being Secretary means that I have to be to every meeting. EYE ROLL!!! Ugh. Oh well. We'll see how it goes. I can do something else next year maybe. The littles survived on their own and everyone was alive and watching movies when I got home. Not asleep, but alive :). I'll take it. And the house was still standing. Helps that Molly went to bed before I left. Still the best sleeper ever. So anyway. We've got big plans for the rest of the week- hopefully the kids survive being with me without the buffer of the big kids. 6-26-18
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