Table Talk

I make a point of making dinner each night and having all of the family sit at the table to eat together. This is where Zack and Sophia first learned to pray. It is also where they have learned a ton about manners! But mostly it has been a place where we have great conversations and fun.

So tonight, the kids requested to do the tongue thing after we finished eating so we took turns sticking out our tongues and giving each other animal names based on the size and shape of our tongues. They are stuck on this game! This took place only after we played the "girls rule and boys drool" game! This was just a "race" to see who could eat all of their salad and fruit first without showing poor table manners!

This in part was because Kaylie is visiting, and I know she doesn't like "red things" (tomatoes) which were in the salad. So, I decided to make it fun. Zack, Sophia and Kenny LOVE tomatoes, but Josh, Mike and Kaylie eat them with less gusto!!! However, I'm one of those moms that sees a need for kids to eat the allotted amount of fresh fruits and veggies each day. The girls did indeed win, and Kayie did not even notice she was eating tomatoes. She said she LIKED them! Oh my word, it was crazy!

After the fun, we enjoyed our spaghetti, garlic bread and washed it down with triple chocolate cake!

We sat there chatting as usual about the school day. The kids also asked each adult how their day was with specific questions. I especially love that! Most kids don't care how grown ups days go, but these kids have picked up on our caring for one another and are displaying the ability to be less than self absorbed at such young ages. Ken is 12 1/2 (knock on wood)!

Anyhow, we usually get to talking about Kennedy, Nicole, and April (the three "girlfriends" of Zack, Josh, and Ken). So we start that conversation, and Zack is sure to say no smoochy smoochy because I am too little, right mom? Then he says with a smile, "Mom, you are my girlfriend"! To which I say well you are a cutie so okay my handsome man. We giggle. Steph says something to Mike, and Mike says Steph if you go there, I am going to tell everyone everything you told me yesterday. So I guess a couple of times, and then give up.

Then I remembered Steph calling me yesterday after having all 5 kids out. She said, "I have decided NOT to have kids." She said, "These are excellent kids, and it is a lot of work and a lot of money"!!!!

So I say to Mike, "She already told me she doesn't want kids" thinking that this is the big secret he was keeping. He lets me know that she did not tell him that.

We move on with a different topic and talk for a good five minutes. Then out of the blue Zack gets up on his knees and looks Stepha in the eyes and says, "You don't want us"? He has big tears welling up in his eyes, and he quickly covered his eyes and smiled which is what he does to stop from crying.

Steph starts to tear up as do I. She tells him YES I WANT YOU GUYS. I was talking about other babies. I don't need anymore because I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! He didn't seem convinced. She cut her eyes over at me and gave me that look that only my mother can give! I felt so horrible. I had no idea how that would be interpreted.

Zack is such a tender kid. Sophia just said, "Stepha, I beat you up, and she shook her fist and grinned".

Here is the difference between Zack and Sophia:

Stepha gets home which always causes all of the kids to come running downstairs to greet her. Sophia says, "Stepha, did you bring me cookies"? Stepha says, "No, not today". Sophia shakes her little fist in the air turns on her heels and goes back up to play.

And, those of you who know Auntie Stepha know that she did what a good auntie would do. She called her right back down and asked Sophia is she made Stepha a cookie!!!! When Sophia said no, Stepha shook her fist and hugged her tight.

The resolution for Zack: A date with Auntie Stepha just the two of them so she can love on him. She takes them each out on their own and just decided to expedite his turn. She is a WONDERFUL aunt. I am so FORTUNATE as are the kiddos!