The Taintor Family

12.19.2009

Happy #1 Lucie

Lucie's birthday was fun.

Book & stuffed animals from Grandma & Grandpa Kopenhefer

Booties from Papa & Grandmerry

She didn't have any problem with the cake eating either. I just had to post this succession of pictures... it is exactly what happened.

Not feeling so good now Mom.

The kids get home from school about 4 and it starts to get dark around 4:30... but it doesn't impede them... Seth especially. I can't even get him to come into the house sometimes after school because he just wants to play (note that he's still wearing his backpack).

Four kids...a whole new level of chaos (and fun)

Lucie is a climbing fiend! Yesterday I was on Seth's top bunk making his bed. I glanced down the ladder and there was Lucie, half-way up it... didn't think that was possible yet.
Lucie's favorite toy is the dishwasher. If it is open, she is unloading it. And her favorite place to sit is on the open door. Between Lucie unloading dishes (very fast) and the dog Etta trying to lick any parcel of food off that may still be on the dishes, I have to be very stealth about when I load the dishes.

I am also graced with dinner preparation music quite often from Lucie and Caleb. All the while being asked homework questions from Kennedy sitting at the table, and stepping over, scissors, tape, glue, and paper scraps from Seth who is making some sort of art project.

Celestial Chaos I tell you... Celestial Chaos!

11.26.2009

Thanksgiving at Sharps with Daughertys

Last year we had Thanksgiving in Minnasota with our friends the Fowlers, Orrocks, and Daughertys (all friends from Medical School) and it was SO MUCH FUN. This year we had Thanksgiving in Indiana with the Daughertys and the Sharps (who couldn't make it last year). Once again... IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

We got there the night before Thanksgiving and put the kids down then stayed up until early in the morning talking and cooking. The next day dinner was so DELICOUS!

That evening we went to Disney's "A Christmas Carol" which is really good, but a little scary for kids we came to find out.

We stayed for the next few days, PLAYING.

We went swimming at the YMCA.

We went to the downtown tree lighting and a concert there.

(We actually ended up watching it on a TV at a nearby Dunkin Doughnuts after we got too cold. It was even better to see while eating doughnuts and drinking hot chocolate.)

Then the guys went to a Pacers Game and got AMAZING seats.

We went to the arboretum which had a great train display & treasure hunt game the kids loved. After the arboretum we got pizza and ate it at a local park and then us girls snuck away to this cute cupcake shop to celebrate Prairie's birthday.

The parents even got to go out to eat while the kids had babysitters and a movie night.

Wonderful memories! Thanks friends!

9.17.2009

Frogs

The kids and I went frog hunting the other day. Danielle was at a photo shoot so all of the kids and Etta, our dog (and the soundtrack of our lives, see video), went to the ponds on the hospital grounds and found hundreds of frogs (thants to a tip by our good friend, Ben). Enjoy the video. Warning to the vertigo-inclined: Kennedy is recording about half way through and you may experience some less-than-steady shots.

You crack me up...

Some of the Primary leaders passed this one on to us: Caleb (3), was being spotlighted in Primary today. They had him come up front and asked him a few questions like what his favorite Primary song was, etc. When they asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he said, "A Mom." The Primary got a kick out of that one.

Last night when I was at the General Relief Society Broadcast Adam took the kids out Geocaching and then for a hike. He took them hiking on this river trail. He had mountain biked the trail before so he was familiar with it. As they started to go back, Adam took them on different trail than they had come on. Seth (probably used to being with his mother who often gets lost) informed his Dad that they didn't come that way. Adam assured him he knew where they were going. After a little while the new trail merged with the old one they had already been on. Seth, recognizing the familiar path, said with total and complete amazement, "Wow Dad! You really are smart!"

On our way home from church Caleb (3), who is experimenting with words that are okay to say and the ones that aren't, asked us if it was okay to say, "chewup" We told him that would be a fine word to say, but asked him what does it mean? He says, "you know... I'm gonna eat chewup." Realizing that he was talking about when we say, "I'm gonna eat you up." Trying to keep straight faces we asked him what exactly chewup was. He says, "I think it has eggs in it."

Caleb's (3) favorite expletive to say is, "kick in the boots!" I don't know where he came up with it, but it's perfect.

Caleb (3), walking home with Adam from a neighbor's house tonight, looked up at the sky and said, "Dad, that moon is crazy!" Adam says, "Why?" Then Caleb says, "Cause it's following us home."- pause- "It's got really long legs."

For family night we were learning about disabilities and how all people are different. Seth (5) comments, "I think my disability is that I pick my nose." Then later that night he says to Adam, "Dad, your disability is that your hair sticks up in front."

For Thanksgiving we were headed to Indiana to visit friends. I had a big pile of food and other items we were working on packing. Among the pile was a big bag of M&M's and Caleb (3) kept on asking for some. I told him, "It is for Indiana." Caleb responds, "Indiana will like that."

We were playing a memory game for Family night where you match cards that have pictures of things we are thankful for (like family, food, house, etc.) One of the cards Seth (5) turned over had lost the picture that was glued on the other side. He says, "oh, this one must be the Holy Ghost."

We saw a limo on the road on our way home from Chicago yesterday. We pointed it out to Seth (5) and he says, "They sure have a big family."

Kennedy (7) & my cooking:

Yesterday we were over at our neighbor's house jumping on their trampoline. Kennedy and Hallie went in the house to get a drink. The following conversation ensued:

HALLIE: Mom, what are we having for dinner?

KARA: I don't know yet.

HALLIE: Kennedy, what are you guys having for dinner tonight?

KENNEDY: I don't know but I guarantee it will be gross.

A few weeks ago I went down to our playroom to see what the kids were setting up to play. They were going to play store which was fine with me until I noticed that the table they were using was really the TV stand and that the 19" (and heavy) TV screen was placed carefully on the floor. I told them that we don't move the TV because it is heavy and can break. Then Seth (5) says to me, "but Mom, we used the incline plane."

We were driving and saw a big stretch limo in the lane next to us. Seth (5) says, "That car looks like a dachshund."

The other day Caleb (2) was in the bathroom yelling something over and over. It sounded like he was saying "Nien" (which is "no" in German). Seth (5) said to Adam... "I think Caleb thinks the toilet is German."

The Taintor Family

12.19.2009

Happy #1 Lucie

Snow

Four kids...a whole new level of chaos (and fun)

11.26.2009

Thanksgiving at Sharps with Daughertys

9.17.2009

Frogs

You crack me up...

Past Wisdom

Celiac and Gilbert's

Places to go, people to see ...

Followers

The happiest person is he who thinks the most interesting thoughts ...

Just a Little Blurb

My Goodreads Books

10 Years of Marriage, 10 Years of Travel

The Places With People Who Like the People Who Live Here