I took the kids to McDonald's for lunch so they could play and
not just so I could eat fries. I had a salad as matter of fact and I only ate the fries they didn't eat...which was most of them. Anyway, when it's cold outside I still want the kids to play. They had a great time. Tommy was the biggest kid there so he quickly recruited the kids into being his minions. It's very entertaining to watch the political
hierarchy that kids develop almost instantly when they play. It reminded me of the time we went to Chick-fil-A (dang we eat out a lot) and I noticed all the kids in the play area were sitting on the benches. Were they in time out? No, one boy was laying out the strategy for them. He was a young Patten and had the full attention of every child there. When his plan was delivered, he gave the signal to execute and they all leaped into action. Today, Tommy was that boy. The kids eagerly followed his plan whether they were transformers or flying on an airplane. One brave and maybe not so bright little boy thought it would be a good idea to hit everyone and make them cry. He hit the little boy whose mother was sitting next to me, and...made him cry. Later, he hit Tommy in the face. I thought, "oh, little boy, what are you thinking?!" Sure enough, Tommy waited until he and this little would-be bully were framed in the opening of the
play land for all to see and punched him in the face (how about a little discretion next time Tom). An older woman who hadn't seen the first fight was visibly shocked. She looked around and asked, "what was that all about?" I was afraid she was with this little "victim". But she wasn't. The lady next to me (the one with the son who had been attacked earlier by this same kid) all but applauded. She whispered to me, "that was a good hit". The little boy's dad had luckily been sitting in the area outside of the playground and missed the whole thing. His son told him that Tommy had hit him and his dad politely laughed and said it was an accident. It was not an accident. At all. I know that a lot of moms and especially people who are child educators would frown on this whole incident. Children should use their words to resolve conflict. Usually I agree but I also think that children should be allowed to relish the sweet age when a good punch in the face may not result in a lawsuit. I have associates that I wouldn't mind punching in the face...but I can't. Why should I deny my child that right which is his for only a little while longer? Yes kids should play nicely but even when this little boy continued to hit Tommy in the face later, it was very hard for me to not shout, "kick his butt Tommy!" This may all be because I just read The Three Musketeers too. I really want to carry a sword and use it to resolve conflicts. These men were
gentlemanly and civilized, they just happened to realize that a duel was an effective way to settle a disagreement. They knew it, kids know it now, let's not inhibit them anymore!
The kids love to make surprise parties for Mike's birthday. It was especially effective this year since we did it a week after his actual birthday. They put balloons all over the house and helped me make a robot/princess cake. Since Katie and Tommy have had split cake designs a couple of times this must be what they consider normal. When Mike came home from a trip, we had all the lights out and were hiding. Tommy was in a big box with a bow on it. They jumped out and yelled, "Surprise, Happy Birthday!" We gave him a few presents and Katie made him a bunch of cards. She still loves to paint and draw and make all kinds of crafts. One present that Katie gave him was a few toys from her room that she put in a pink unicorn bag. She has such a sweet heart. Tommy has gotten him Bionicles in the past. This year he said, "I get too distracted with those and I think they're mine so let's not get him one this year." He really is a clever kid.
Katie is taking dance lessons. She loves it! 
Katie made this candy necklace and she wanted to take it to Utah to show her grandmas. Then she decided she couldn't wait to eat it so she asked me to just take a picture to show them.
Practicing for the surprise party.
