Butterfly

I'll say this about kids.  They keep you on your toes.  Case in point: The Death of the Moth, or if you are under 5, The Death of the Butterfly.

It was a nice Saturday night.  We took the kids to the local Maverik to fill up the car and get a treat.  As I was getting out I saw a moth on the ground and, I am a little ashamed to admit, I stepped on it.  On purpose.  To kill it.  I don't know, I think it was some primal instinct.  I felt a little bad but was ready to move on.  Unfortunately the kids saw the whole thing and they were not ready to move on.  They scolded me on the way into Maverik.

Aiden: "Mom, why did you kill that butterfly?  That was not nice."
Me: "Mmmmm, mumble, mumble, sorry, mumble.  choose your treat."
Annie: "Mom, that was a beautiful butterfly!"
Me: "I know, I'm sorry.  Mumble, mumble. Hot chocolate or ice cream?"

We got back out to the car, hot chocolate (for Annie) and ice cream (for Aiden) in hand. We started driving home and Annie said, "Mom.  That beautiful little butterfly was just looking for her mommy!" Stab to the heart.  Seriously, what I thought was a simple smashing of a bug was a family drama of epic proportions in Annie's (somewhat crazy) head.   I apologized again.  And again.


I thought the whole episode was closed, but a few days later Aiden and I were talking in the car about making mistakes, bad decisions, repentance, etc.,  I was trying to teach him the distinction between a mistake (accidentally knocking down your glass of water) and a sin (picking up your glass of water and throwing it at your sister).  He understood the difference and gave me his own example.  "So mom, when you killed that butterfly, you did it on purpose, so that was not just a mistake.  And that was rude. "  Got it. 

Mmmmm... Peaches

 I love watching Norah devour a peach. And you do too.  I'm sure of it. 

Cloth Diapers

I have always wanted to try cloth diapers and I finally gave it a try.  I have to admit, I love it!  I love that I'm not spending money on something I'm just going to throw away, I love that I'm being nice to the earth, I love that it is healthier for my little baby's bottom. It was so much easier than I thought.  The washing isn't difficult and they look absolutely adorable...

That's a lie.  That is the blog post I dreamed of writing when I tried cloth diapering a couple weeks ago.  But, truth is, I hated every minute of it.  I hated the time it took to change a diaper, I hated the clean up, I hated the laundry, I hated the hassle.  Truly, a bad experience.  Except they were very cute.  That part was true.  And now that cuteness is stored away in our emergency kit.  Heaven help me if we have an emergency and I'm required to use them. 

First Day

 Today was Aiden's first day of "real" preschool.  Last year I did a co-op where I taught every few days and knew what was going on every other day that I wasn't there, so it was a little weird to drop him off and not know what happened for the next three hours.  After I picked him up I asked how it was and he said, "I don't want to say any more words".   I think he had fun.

I think there was a little trepidation before school started.  That or the sun was in his eyes.

Now that he is in preschool, he is automatically ten times cooler.

He is also quite the thinker.

Norah joined us for the photo shoot.  She forgot to wash her face.  Silly girl.

RC Park

We spent Saturday morning with my dad flying remote control airplanes at the RC airport.  Seriously, they actually have little mini airports set aside for flying toy planes.  Hilarious, I tell you. They even have air clearance so that real planes don't mess with them.  Aiden and Annie thought it was fabulous, and I enjoyed the beautiful weather and good company.

Aiden tried his hand at the remote.

And then Pampa showed them how a pro does it.

 They were impressed.

This is what the "non-pilots" did. 

An even more enthusiastic pilot explained his helicopter to his captive audience.  And then delighted us with a show.

 Aiden and Annie found the the rocks to be much more exciting.