I found this in the freezer today.

I decided to let it sit on the counter and defrost.

It looked like a cup full of frozen water to me.

It sat and it sat.

Then it defrosted enough that I could dump it out.

I had a feeling that it wasn’t just a cup of frozen water.

Because – you know Jack?

Yeah, he lives here.

And when Jack’s in the house, nothing is what it seems.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.

He froze rocks inside a cup of water.

Here’s to our future Geologist.

Last Tuesday, February 2nd. 4:51p.m.

Jack takes off his shoes, the sandstorm ensues.

I hear clink clink clink.

“Jack, what is that?”

“Rocks. I brought them home for my fish.”

“Jack, please don’t bring rocks home for your fish. He has rocks. We bought them with his tank.”

“Ok.”

Last Thursday, February 4th. 4:49p.m.

Jack takes off his shoes, the sandstorm ensues.

I hear clank clank clank.

“Jack, what is that?”

“Rocks. I brought them home for my fish.”

“Jack, I asked you to stop bringing rocks home. They’re all over the house.”

“Ok.”

Last Saturday, February 6th. 11a.m.

clink clank clink clank clink clank

“Boys, what was that?”

Michael: “Mom, Jack just threw a handful of rocks into my room!”

“Jack!!! What are you doing?”

“Sorry.”

“Where did you get those rocks?”

“My backpack.”

“Bring them to me. NOW. And no. more. rocks.”

“Ok.”

Last Sunday, February 7th. 2:34p.m.

Enough said.

Today. February 9th, 3:43p.m.

“Come on Jack. Time to go home.”

{Mom picks up coat and backpack}

“WHY are there ROCKS in your POCKETS?”

Jack’s teacher: “He said that it was ok to bring them home. We kept asking him and saying that you probably wouldn’t like it. He seems like such a good kid, we believed him.”

{This is where I explain the past week’s events to the teacher. She laughs, I laugh}

“Jack, NO. MORE. ROCKS.”

“Ok.”

{Picks up lunchbox}

“Jack, why didn’t you eat your… WHY ARE THERE ROCKS IN YOUR LUNCHBOX???”

{Teacher and Mom run out of the room laughing}

We had a long, long talk on the drive home.

I’m fairly confident that there won’t be any more rocks in the house. Or backpack. Or lunchbox.

But you know, this is Jack that we’re talking about.

My friend Kellie is hosting a carnival today, and I thought it would be fun to play along!

Since I’m NOT at my house today, I have to be a little bit creative, but bare with me, will you?

If you came to my house today, it would be…

quiet….

and calm…

and…

BORING!!

Before we left, we had lots of fun making couch forts:

Before we left, we made a batch of pumpkin cookies (yum!):

Before we left, we tidied up a bit, so you would have seen this:

and possibly heard a little bit of bickering about the “right” way to vacuum or use the swiffer…

Now, though, I bet you would hear…

the icemaker…

and possibly the hum of the frog tank that holds our {still unnamed} African Dwarf Frogs…

and maybe a bark or two or three…

I bet you would see a forgotten shoe…

a hiding dog…

and quite possibly a wonderful neighbor that comes over to play with and feed the animals…

We’ll be home soon, so won’t you stop by then?

I promise to invite you in.

I have stumbled upon a real money-saver.

Do you want a free sandbox?

No?

Me either.

But I’m going to tell you how to get one – just in case you ever need to know.

Step 1: Enroll your son (must be a son, not a cute dress and sandal wearing daughter) in preschool. *Note: The preschool must have a sand area*

Step 2: Go out and buy a pair of tennis shoes and/or cargo shorts. Cargo shorts are optimal because they have up to 7 pockets!

Step 3: To get the most sand, have your son get in the shower and take his cargo shorts and shoes off as soon as he gets home. If he waits, most of the sand will get all over the house, and how much fun is that?

Step 4: Start saving sand! Before you know it… you’ll have enough saved for your own free sandbox!

You’re welcome.

Do you know what day I love around here? Saturday. 

Isn’t Saturday everyone’s chore day? I can remember Saturday mornings when I was little…  

(cue harp… taking me back to when I was 15…)

The sound of the vacuum at the foot of my bed with my Mom yelling “You’re not up yet? Well, I am. And I’m vacuuming already! You should get up and help me clean!”

Just kidding. Kinda. Love you, Mom. 

Anyway… chore day. Saturday. On Saturdays, I get help!

Yay! Says the peanut gallery in my head!  

Even though the help is usually in the form of two tattling boys (Jack’s not cleaning, Michael’s being mean, etc.), it’s help. And I am grateful. 

The boys do mirrors, floors, counters, and lately, laundry. Yup. From putting the wash in the washer to putting the clothes away in their drawers. 

Help with the laundry is my favorite because the first time they did it, Michael said “Mom, we should stop changing our clothes so much because then we wouldn’t have to fold all these clothes.”

Hallelujah, Michael! (Yes, I had to google the spelling)

The boys couldn’t do laundry for the longest time because Michael couldn’t reach the laundry detergent. Excuse the exploitation of the 9 year-old for a second while I make my point:

 

And to be honest, even if he could reach it way up there, I didn’t need him spilling it. Have you ever had to clean spilled laundry detergent? Not fun. 

Believe me when I tell you that doing their own laundry just isn’t the same when they can’t put their own detergent in the washer and dryer sheets in the dryer. Because then it’s ME doing the laundry and THEM folding it. 

Recently I found these. 3-in-1 laundry sheets. Detergent, fabric softener, and anti-static “stuff” all in one. Michael can reach them and I don’t have to worry about him making a mess and spilling anything. He sticks one in the washer, then transfers all the clothes AND THE SHEET into the dryer. 

The amazing part? The people at Purex don’t market this stuff to parents! I have yet to see a commercial or magazine ad that says “Hey, Mom… If you want your kid to do laundry for you, buy these!”

Personally I think it’s a great marketing strategy, but there’s obviously a reason why I am a speech therapist and not a marketing guru.

If you click here, there’s a coupon for $1 off your purchase of these amazing little things. They retail for under $6 a box, and there are 24 sheets in a box.

Try them, and let me know what you think! 

 

For more Works-For-Me-Wednesday ideas, go to We Are THAT Family.

Jack is not allowed in the bathroom by himself until further notice.  Says me.  ”Why?” You might ask…  Let me count the reasons…

I asked Jack how he was helping Michael with the chores, and he told me “Michael sprays the ‘Cleandex’ on the mirror, and I wipe it off!”