Otis Sidekicks

Phone call from a neighbor: Neighbor: Hi there! Looks to me like one of your kids is on the roof. Me: Oh! My well I better... Neighbor: Doing some landscaping? Me: Well, yes, but I really ought to see which one it is on top of the house... Neighbor: Looked like a bigger one... I quickly hang up the phone and double stair it up as I hear John yell "Mom a ball just fell from the sky!" His voice is full of awe, I am sure he is thinking along the lines of God loves basketball. I make it to the second story bathroom and see a pair of legs and a butt sticking out of the window. I grab a belt loop, a swinging Mark looks sheepishly up at me and I see James on the roof. The upside James informs me he was simply retrieving bullets, Mark never made it out. Everyone is off the top of our home and I attempt to change laundry baby gleefully trying to climb into the dryer as Daisy appears, hand on mini hip and tells me "Mom I am not sure you have everything under control ...

Watching Nate say his prayers last night I realized we have finished up Lent, are moving into spring and did I totally fail this year? I did not read scripture every day as planned, Mickey took many a brother down (goal not to fight with his brothers), John-Luke actually managed not to eat many cookies, Annie was confused half through on what her goal was, I am quite sure Mark broke most of the commandments and James used his lawyer skills to re draft his Lenten choice so many times I can't even tell you what he started with, maybe talking back? Nate did. Of course Nate did. In the busy Otis household there are times the squeaky wheel gets the grease and Nate fends for himself. Watching him over the course of Lent I am not sure that is a bad thing. He is a very self sufficient guy. He prays at the end of his bed. Every. Single. Night. He gave up candy for Lent and literally had a little bag on his desk by his bed for the whole time. He proudly showed me on Easter when he helped...

Mark's been feeling blue the last couple of days so we had a focus on Mark night tonight. He got to garden after school, dig in the dirt and move bricks to clean up. He helped with Lucy (a sought after chore time) and took her down the slide to her squealing delight. He then picked dinner, french fries, fish stick and green peas. So after dinner Daddy and I asked him what would be a peaceful activity he would like to do if he could do anything. Well...a Markie gleam in the eye...I want to do BOXING. Sigh. Round one on the trampoline with James. Round two in Daddy's man cave Mark went to town on the 100 pound heavy weight bag. Now he is peacefully coloring, five boys later I guess I have learned Boxing can be a very zen activity:)

This morning finding baskets and hidden eggs! There is magic all around us,   You can feel it in the air, For the lovely signs of springtime   are unfolding everywhere.   It's a time of fulfilled promise, It's a time of hope and cheer, Joyful time of resurrection   Blessed Easter time. Wishing  You a Beautiful Easter ~unknown Note to the Easter Bunny from Mickey