Our Favorite Questions

So we have realized over the last few years that according to today's standards we have a "large" family. We consider this odd since not that long ago an average family would be 4 or 5 and a large would be much larger (Jen has a grandfather who had 14 kids). It has been an interesting adventure and we are now eagerly expecting our next bundle of joy (Jen says he is waiting for May since all the kids have been born early in the month). We have heard or been asked some interesting questions (some humorous) as we have gone on family excursions to places like the grocery store or shopping. My favorite is when people hold up their finger and count, as if they can't believe their eyes or can't count to 4 without assistance. Here are some of our favorite quotes and questions are (in no particular order):

1. They all have the same Daddy? or Are they all yours?

2. Is the next one a girl or are you going to keep trying for a girl.

3. You're really lucky! (to have all boys - normally given by people from certain cultures where Males are really important)

4. Are any of them twins? (even though they all differ by stature and appearance)

5. "Oh my Gosh!" (given by a lady who saw Jen walk into the store with the kids and said it very loudly)

6. You have to teach me what your doing (normally given to Chris by another father with all girls)

7. You know what causes that don't you? (normally given to Chris by co-workers - he normally tells them that it has something to do with the water right?)

8. You must be Catholic, Jewish, or Mormon (as if they are the old people who have large families in the world anymore)

Peter, Sam, Joe, and Will at the Beckman House

We went to the Beckman's house. They like Star Wars, Clone Wars, and Transformers like we do. We had dinner and S'mores. Then we played. They have lightsabers and they have guns and swords too. They also have helmets and one suit of armor that you can wear. Soon I'll be in Cub Scouts with the Beckmans. Matthew Beckman's mom and dad are the scout leaders. When I get older I will be in Boy Scouts with my Dad. One time when Dad took me and my brother to scouts with him, at the end we had snacks and then we went home. It was a fun time.

I have 5 teeth missing.

After we go to Ms. Christine's house (when the baby is being born) we might go to the Beckman's after. That is if Ms. Christine is busy. I like Matthew (Beckman) and his brother Sam (Beckman). Zachary had his own room. Matthew and Sam have Legos and other toys in their room. They have 3 Lego Jedi's (Yoda,Obi One, and Luke Skywalker).

Dad's going to be home a week or two when the baby is born. Mom is going to have the baby at home. We have 5 games on the computer. The Lego Indiana Jones is too hard but we can play all the other games. If we practice we'll get better and be able to play Lego Indiana Jones. I have a skateboard in the garage. If I keep riding my small one, Mom will get me a big skateboard. I love my friends at the Beckmans.

Diet? Nutrition? Naw, just go eat a bowl of ice cream!

Nutrition drives me crazy. There are enough diets and people telling you contracting information to make your head spin. I read somewhere that girls between the ages of 9 and 12 feel better about themselves when they are on a diet. So it starts that young? Is nutrition and diet just a female thing? I have to say I have not seen many males in the field. I believe that there is one God and one true religion. Why can't there be one true diet? Didn't God make all of our bodies the same?

I seem to go through a cycle. I start looking into new recipes, then I take a step back and consider if these new recipes are good for us to eat. That usually brings me to the library or computer to figure out what is really good for us to eat. Then by the time I look at enough nutrition books and websites, my eyes glaze over and my head hurts. I end up wanting to throw the books in a violent show of protest, then go and have a large bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate. What is a mom trying to raise healthy boys to do?

Maybe its good that I don't have girls, Peter is nearly 8, and he doesn't care about what he wears or if he is on a diet. I just make sure he isn't wearing his brothers clothes. He has a vague idea of matching, only because jeans go with anything. What would I do if I had a little girl get all worked about stuff I don't know about? I must be better suited to boys, because I am about to have #5!