No TV.

We made it. Last week, the girls were grounded from TV for the whole week, and we made it.

And it wasn't even bad. We got into our groove, and they were fine.

Which isn't to say that we are now done with TV. I would love to be that person. "We discovered how meaningful our lives were without TV, and so we all happily gave it up. All it took was that one week grounding."

Nope. I mean, they are watching TV right now, as I type this. It's the first they have watched since The Grounding, but they look like they are in heaven.

They are watching something dumb too. I'm pretty sure I could put gray static on, and they would curl up in their blankets and watch it until bedtime.

This past week was also Character Education Week at school. So the kids had to wear certain colors certain days, and the whole school made tie dye shirts. You know, in the name of character. They eradicated bullying through that tie dying group project.

The only real character development that happened last week was my own. Did I mention my kids were grounded from TV?

June's grade had to wear orange, hence the random swan skirt with her tie dye shirt and black pants. I used to buy t shirts when we didn't have the right color for something. Not no' mo'. We can get creative and deal with it.

Luckily Gwen's grade was assigned purple, which she also used to for her tie dye. So what I'm telling you is that there was really no reason for the rest of her outfit to be the way it was. But it was.

This week was also a bunch of random firsts, so here goes.

The girls went to their first LEGO club meeting at the library, while the boys and I hung out nearby. But not too nearby. The librarian told me I didn't have to sit in the meeting unless I wanted to. And so I hightailed it outta there before she even finished her sentence. I love not squeezing my stroller into a tiny classroom, and I love not hovering. I want to look at the books and do whatever I want.

And so the boys and I hung out in the children's section while we waited. This is seconds before Harris slid a flat block underneath the door of the emergency exit, where it will never be found again.

And also this week, Beck had his first solids.

He looks grossed out, but he gobbled them up better than any of our other kids ever have. Start earlier rather than later. Glad I have learned that now that we are at the caboose end of our kids.

And I started teaching the girls piano lessons, something I promised myself I would never do. But they have been begging me, there aren't a lot of teacher options near me, and I am kinda particular about it. So I'm at least starting them off and saving myself some money until we can find a better arrangement.

And Gwen rode her bike all of the way to the park and back, while Dan pulled June and Harris, and I pushed Beck in a stroller. We were quite the caravan.

When someone was outside working in their yard, Gwen would speed up as fast as she could go and then break to a screeching halt so that they would look at her. Then she would smile and speed off.

She likes a little attention now and then.

And Gwen "made" the parmesan rolls for Sunday all by herself. She rolled the frozen dinner rolls in melted butter, then parmesan and lined them up on the sheet pans.

And some Not Firsts.

Harris got another haircut because we had family photos on Saturday. He gets his hair cut A LOT. But he's so good for it, and I love him. He's pretty crazy for a lot of things, but he's great for a hair cut.

And Sunday photos:

And some Isms. Juneisms, Gwenisms. Things my kids say that are just ridiculous.

Gwen regularly uses the word "human" when she really means "person". For example:

"Mom, I played with the same human at recess today."

"Mom, I hurt a human with my backpack today." (The sparkles on it are scratchy, and if she gets too close to someone, they feel the wrath.

Also, Dan recently brought her a plate with The Works--a hot dog, chips, fries, everything yummy. She looked at the plate and said (with disdain), "Um, I didn't order this."

Yesterday morning, June charged into my room while screaming, "MOOOOOOOOOM!! AHHHHHHHHHHH! WE HAVE TOO MUCH BAKING SODA!" She found two in the cupboard and was quite concerned.

Also, I asked "Who would like their list of jobs for the day?" To which June responded, SO politely, "No thank you," and walked to her room and closed the door.

The End.