Obsession Convert

About a year ago I confessed my obsession with collecting box tops. My obsession increased this summer when I learned that the preschool I was enrolling Jaron in used box tops toward purchasing craft supplies. I was hooked. And I also had a convert to the box top frenzy.

Thanks to the ever scouting eyes of my 4 year old "Mommy, I found a Top Box", the contribution of Grandmas (and even their friends) we have been amassing them. I have also been pilfering these treasured pieces of cardboard off of items I find at church (the Cheerios box in nursery) and even removing them from boxes in the trash bins next to sample tables in the grocery store. I'm pathetic. But hey, it's been paying off. Since this summer we've collected 145. That translates into $14.50 for his school ! I know. I'm strange.

But this kid loves it. And he is so darned proud when he finds one. The thrill last week was a box of cereal with not just one but 3! And I must tell my friend Devon, I never realized it before, but I guess I've reached fogey-hood because I do indeed collect something!

Whistle a Happy Tune

This is one little boy who came home from preschool last Friday thrilled with his Bingo prize. A whistle!

And here a mother's love for the preschool teacher fell just a teensy-weensy little bit. A whistle?! What a thrill. (You can't hear the sarcasm in my voice. Just as you also can't hear that whistle. Consider yourself lucky.)

Is that a trill I hear? Not really, more just a squeak, squeak, S-Q-U-E-A-K. I tried to be kind, I tried to be patient. I tried to be deaf. I attempted to put on real music which he insisted "playing" along to. By 3:00 pm I had a headache.

What could be more thrilling than a whistle? Playing it outside!! I convinced Jaron that he could play it to his heart's content outside.

And what I heard . . . lovely silence. Now if I can conveniently loose that thing life would be great.

Enjoying the View

On the end of a breezy summer evening I was attempting to get the kids ready for bed. It had been so hot for weeks and weeks and we hadn't had the windows open at all, I don't blame them for being far more interested in what was going on outside instead of what needed to be going on inside.

They were enjoying the view.

I was enjoying the view.

And Eliza, well . . . she seems to enjoy everything.

Conquering

Sneaking off and conquering the stairs while Mommy has her back turned is such a fun thing to do.

And such a happy girl about her accomplishment, though a girl on a mission. Not much time to stop and smile.