Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Abby's proverbial pants have been on fire for the last week.

If there's one thing we don't tolerate, it's lying.  We can deal with most of the crap the kids throw at us, but lying doesn't sit well with us (particularly me).  On Sunday, we were all in the kitchen and Abby went to the bathroom.  She's had this thing lately where she doesn't want to wash her hands, or she just wants to splash some water on them and call it a day.  That morning I noticed the soap dispenser in the bathroom was out of soap.

So, when she came out of the bathroom, I asked her if she washed her hands (something we do quite often).  She said "yes."  I asked if she used soap.  "Yes."  I said, "are you suuuuure you used soap" (knowing full well she didn't).  She said "yes daddy, I used soap."  I said, " let me smell your hands."  Immediately she knew she was caught.  She hung her head faster than you can imagine.  She knows I don't tolerate lying.  She's done it a couple times before this.

I sent her to her room to think about her actions.  Yes, I know it was a small thing to lie about.  That doesn't make it much better in my mind.  I even gave her a couple "outs" to try to correct her initial lie.  But, she still lied.....multiple times.

Long story short, we had a long talk later and she got her privileges taken away for 5 days.  This includes things like dessert after dinner, playing zingo (her favorite board game), playing games on the computer/tablet, TV, etc.

On tuesday, when I picked her up from school, she was unusually quiet.  It was really weird.  She wasn't really excited to see me like usual.  I knew something was wrong.  On the way home we had quite the comical conversation.

She finally told me that they watched a movie at school.  She acted really shy about it like she was waiting for me to get mad at her.  Not remembering her priveleges getting taken away, I said, "yeah, so?"  She told me she thought she would get in trouble.  I had a little laugh and reassured her it was fine.  Then she said "daddy, I need to tell you something else."  "I had pudding at lunch."

It was all I could do not to bust out laughing.  Of course she can have pudding at lunch.  I explained to her that her privileges getting taken away was only for home and that I was really proud of her for being honest with me.

Friday she got her privileges back.  She talked about it all week, and was happy to have them back.  I thought all was well.  I was wrong.

Friday night, she went to the bathroom.  Just out of instinct (not to try to get her in trouble again), I asked if she washed with soap.  She immediately replied "yes."  Seeing a possible lie (due to the way she said it), I asked again.  She hung her head and said "no."  UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  It was almost bedtime so I sent her to her room.  Seriously, didn't we JUST cover this?

She got her privileges taken away for labor day weekend.  Which is a bummer, because we were going to go swimming.  As Peggy says, it's more of a punishment for us.  Yes, I think a lot of times that's true.  But, if we follow through now, we hopefully won't have to do this as much for the next 14 years.

This morning, she went to the bathroom.  I asked if she used soap.  She breathed in, seemingly about to automatically say "yes."  Then something magical happened.  She held in what she was going to say, paused for a couple seconds, then said "no."  HALLELUJAH!  I praised her for telling the truth and sent her to wash her hands properly.

First Day of School

August 12, 2013 - Abby's first day of preschool, last year before Kindergarten. She's working on sight words and simple math. Noah started in the 2/3 year old room. He's doing great on the potty. Accidents are far and few between these days. Both have adjusted very well to their new teachers. They are back at the same school they were at last year so there are many of the same kids in their rooms, which has really helped with the transition back to the classroom.

 Off to school!

Cousins

My cousins aunt/cousins/two second cousins stopped by for dinner awhile back on their way from Little Rock to Minnesota. Abby and Noah just met Claire for the first time when we were in Minnesota this summer and Abby has been going crazy with excitement to see her again.

 Owen tried to help us capture a kitten in the back woods but we aren't sure where the little furball ended up, the kitten not Owen.

 Anyway these two were two pea's in a pod. Before the adults were even in the house the girls were playing dress up in Abby's room. I'm glad they had the chance to play together again.

Buddies

Our friends Ryan & Jackie brought over their little boy, Zachary a few weeks ago for dinner. Abby is completely smitten. She would have held him all night.

MOBOT Free Day

Last month Missouri Botanical Gardens celebrated the birthday of Henry Shaw the founder of the gardens... they celebrated with a day of free admission. It was a great day too, not too hot. This summer has been so much cooler than last summer. We've been able to enjoy so much time outside.

 Abby and I went to the gardens last summer but it was for a special event - it was nice to see the garden in bloom in the daylight.

 It's hard to tell but they are standing underneath a waterfall.

 In the children's garden there is a country store for the kids to "shop" in. I'm not sure who taught these kids to carry their groceries around like this but they both did it.

 These two love fountains... water up.

 Water down.

Zoo Class

Last month the kids cousin, Lily, invited Abby and Noah to attend a private zoo class at the St. Louis zoo that Lily had won. The kids were so excited. We love our zoo and spend many days there.

The class was 45 minutes long and they were able to get up clothes with many animals from the children's zoo.

This is an elephants tooth. Yep it's huge. No we didn't plan to wear the same color shirt, I came from work and Noah came with Daddy.

Noah liked the bones more than the animals. This guy travels around the zoo inside a recycling bin.

This massive bone is a femur from a baby elephant. It was much too heavy for her to hold on her own.

After class we stopped by the butterfly. It was extremely sunny outside so the butterflies were very active. Abby kept trying to get one to land on her and right before we walked out this blue morpho landed on her hat. I made her stand really still so I could fumble for my phone in the backpack, thankfully both Abby and the butterfly cooperated.

 The butterfly didn't stay still for long though and quickly flew away. I'm glad I got the pictures that I did.     Abby was so excited.

A Trampoline

A month ago we saw a trampoline at Sams.  The kids have loved trampolines when they've been on them before.  It's about 8 feet wide and we figured it would fit perfectly in the basement.  Figuring it was a seasonal item and wouldn't be there during the kids birthdays/christmas, we just went ahead and got it.

Then came the debate of when to give it to them.  We figured it would be nice to have in the hot days of summer.  So, we gave them an early birthday/christmas present.  Naturally, they don't really understand this concept, but they'll just get less for their bday/christmas presents.

The kids LOVE the trampoline.  Seriously, they would spend the majority of the day on that thing if we let them.