No Thanks!

This summer we've been meeting with a group of neighbors to play games. In theory we play all sorts of games. In practice, we generally play No Thanks. It is a simple game with numbered cards that goes quickly. There is some strategy involved, but enough luck and dealing with others' choices that the same strategy doesn't always work. I've been surprised at how many different people enjoy the game.

The basic game play is quite simple. Take nine cards out of the deck. They are out of the game for this round. Don't look at them. With the remaining cards, turn over a card. If it is your turn, either take the card or pass by putting a chip on the card. If you pass, the next person has a turn. If you take the card, you get all the chips on the card. Turn the next card over and it's still your turn. When all the cards are gone, the person with the lowest points wins the round. Chips are negative points. Cards are the number of points on them. For consecutive cards, only count the lowest card.

An Enigma

Can I just say I'm excited for the Professor to build this? I love the intersection of math, history, electronics, and secrets. (For those of you who aren't up on your World War II history, this is an electronic replica of the code machine the Germans used during the war.)

As requested

I hadn't realized it had been almost six months since I uploaded pictures to the computer. No wonder the Professor's mother is getting anxious for photos.

This is for her.

(Young T is teething.)

I love the majestic calm of this picture.

On the way home from the library

Miss M: Fake blood? Cool. Mom, do we have corn syrup?

Young M: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...

Miss E: When a mommy has a baby in her tummy, she shouldn't eat sweets. This book says so.

Miss M: A working model lung!

Young M: 10, 11, 12, 13. Mom, what does 1 and 2 make?

Young A: On Venus it's hot enough to melt lead!

Young M: Mom, what is this number?

Me: I'm driving. I can't look. Ask Miss E.

Young M: Miss E, what is this?

Miss E: It's a six.

Miss M: It takes twenty four hours for your food to turn into poop.

Young A: Venus's day is longer than it's year!

Miss E: There are two words "can" that are spelled the same but mean different things!

Miss M: A nutrition balance helps you balance your nutrition.

Young M: 12, 4, 16.

Young A: Venus's day is 243 days long.

Miss M: A model hand?!

Miss E: Like "The beans are in a can." or "George can paint."

Miss M: Make your own edible cell? Mom do we have some candy the size of a gumball?

A disagreement in chocolate

About a month ago, Young T discovered the drawer in my nightstand, the drawer I keep my chocolate stash in. I rescued one of my birthday chocolates with two tiny teeth marks on top. Ever since that first taste, Young T and I have been having a major disagreement. He makes a bee-line for the drawer, snatches a brown chocolate paper, stuffs it in his mouth, and spits it out in disgust when he realizes it is empty. He grabs a Lindt ball and chomps it almost in two until it begins to ooze from the side and he gets a taste. Then he howls in rage when I take it away. We compromise on the chocolate bars. I let him carry them around and chew on them, but I don't unwrap them. I don't think I've ever had this much competition for my sweets.

Do it.

Important Mothering/Life Principle I've Just Figured Out #467

Do it.

I tend to get caught up in wondering how to do all sorts of important things: Family Home Evening, cleaning the house, teaching the kids to clean the house, exercising, etc. Usually, I think up some great program/schedule. Then, I don't follow it. I love organizing a plan. I hate sticking to a plan.

I'm learning that the first thing to do is to start. If I worry about how to do something, it won't get done. If I start doing it, then I will know how to change it to meet our needs. But nothing will happen until I do it.

And how do you like your cereal?

Yesterday I took all five children to the grocery store. As we were shopping another lady started chatting with us. Noticing the boxes of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch in the cart, she told Eliza that we seemed to be buying the same thing she was. Then I heard her ask me, "Do you like yours with booze, too?" I didn't know quite what to say. I've heard of using orange juice instead of milk, but not booze. After a moment she clarified, she enjoyed her peanut butter cereal with the chocolate Boo cereal. She claimed it was just like Reese's. Ah. Suddenly it all made much more sense.