Tag: Parenting

A Real-Life Epic Minecraft Fort

August turned seven this year, and he wanted a Minecraft-themed birthday party. We invited his friends for an afternoon at our house with pizza and cake, and an epic real-life Minecraft fort!

Full credit for this idea goes to Brandon, who ordered two dozen large, plain moving boxes and plastic tablecloths with a grass print to make Minecraft blocks. The best technique we found was to staple the tablecloth along the top four corners, then cut out a wavy hem to wrap around the top sides and secure with packing tape. Brandon also covered giant sheets of foamcore that we had on hand with the same pattern, and used one additional tablecloth with a wooden board design for ‘oak planks’. (Foamcore that large can be hard to find and/or expensive, FYI. Blankets would work just fine too.)

Stacking the boxes three high made the fort just the right size, and I have to admit it looked pretty magical if you were kid-sized to run through the twists and turns! I’m big on letting kids guide their own play, but we did want to make sure there was an engaging activity at the party so that guests weren’t feeling bored. We all worked together to set up the fort, they played, took a break in the middle for lunch and cake, and then we rearranged the fort for them to play some more until the party was done.

The kids loved the freestanding pet gate we brought out to serve as an entrance!

“Pixel” tools and weapons (these and these) were the props that extended the fun of the fort. We also added a big plush cube TNT pillow (a present that doubled as party decor), and I whipped up a quick wrapper to make a few smaller TNT boxes from red jumbo kids’ building blocks.

The worst part of hosting a party at home is typically the clean-up, but this wasn’t too bad! Stack the boxes up again, and the majority of the mess was taken care of. I’m on a big cleaning and clearing out kick, so we’ll reuse the boxes to gather up donations. They’d be handy for storage too, and there are always families looking for moving boxes that could use them.

If you have a Minecraft-loving kid and need a birthday party activity, this is a great one!

March 14, 2018
About to Bloom

I ripped out her zinnia. Technically, I didn’t do it, but it’s my fault.

I took all three kids shopping with me for new school clothes over the weekend while Brandon stayed behind to mow the lawn. “That’s a weed,” I told him as we walked by a planter, pointing to a tall, odd plant I hadn’t noticed before. He pulled it.

The first grade kids planted seeds into little plastic cups as winter turned to spring. We could see them through the window and Eleanor showed them to me, saying that they were supposed to be a surprise. (She was too excited and proud to wait.) The class had lined their cups along the windows and watched them grow, then brought them home just before Mother’s Day weekend to give as gifts. Eleanor and I watched as her seedling continued to grow, remembering (mostly) to water it — just a few drops at a time. “Not too much, mom! Here. I know how to do it.” The weather finally warmed and we planted the tiny sprout outside in a big planter where the side yard meets the back, where we would see it often. We checked on it as it grew sideways at first, then up, growing from two leaves to four, and then eight. We didn’t know what color it would be, but we put forth our best guesses. Pink, probably! At least we hoped so. It’s my favorite color.

This morning, it was Brandon who was taking all three kids out while I stayed behind to work. I helped get them ready, like always, then went out to help load them in the car. “Let’s go check on the zinnia before you go!” My idea. And when we couldn’t find it, I realized that hadn’t been a weed. I realized why I hadn’t noticed it before. It had changed. It was just about to bloom.

I know it’s not that big a deal, but we cried, me more than her. I thought that maybe I could find someone with a zinnia and transplant it, showing her when she got back. It’s not the same though, is it? It won’t have the same bend to it. It won’t be the seed that we cared for together. We’ll never know what color it would have been, but I’d like to think we were right. Pink, my favorite.

August 23, 2016
Adjusting

Calvin is nearly four weeks old already! I was always on my own with our babies before, but now with Brandon as a stay-at-home dad, we can team up on kid duties. I’m nursing and some days it feels nonstop, so I’m mostly taking care of Calvin while Brandon has Eleanor and August.

Nursing — I have such a hard time with it in the beginning. I’ve seen lactation consultants, I’ve read the entire La Leche League book, and my search engine history has been entirely taken over by various breastfeeding queries. Things got better with both Eleanor and August around six weeks, so I keep telling myself it will happen again, but right now it is incredibly difficult. It’s isolating and time-consuming, but the worst of it is that I dread sessions because of the anxiety around anticipating a painful latch. There are often tears, and I’m having a hard time right now.

We are all doing so well though, in every other regard! We’re settling in nicely as a family of five, and the kids are sweet with the baby. Our normal morning routine has continued smoothly, we’re all sleeping as well as can be expected, and I get out of the house and see friends often enough to keep from going stir-crazy. Plus I love love love having a baby at home again. Calvin sleeps on me and is in my arms all day, and I adore his little snuggles.

The good stuff is coming up: the smiles, the coos, the baby laughs. This is likely our last baby though, so while I’m eager to get past the nursing pain, I don’t want to wish this time away. There’s a lot of good stuff happening right now, too.

October 29, 2014
The 4-6 Weeks Project (Weeks Seven and Eight)

I took photographs of Eleanor and August each day until baby number three arrived, to document our last 4-6 weeks as a family of four. I first did this project to document our time as a family of three before August was born. Of course, baby number three came late, so this turned into a nearly eight week project! Here’s the end of the series.

{ Week One • Week Two • Week Three • Week Four • Week Five • Week Six • View All }

No baby yet, and today was the due date! Game after game of Tic-Tac-Toe ought to pass the time, right? Well, maybe not, but Eleanor, you did have fun playing against mama and daddy (and sometimes winning).

Your schools had their annual carnivals today. You had both been looking forward to going and we weren’t sure how the timing would work out with it being so close to the baby’s due date, but he decided to stay put and so we were all able to attend. It was a day filled with tickets, bouncy houses, prizes, games, food, and friends.

Poor August. You and Eleanor have been sick on and off since the start of school (little kids = germ factories), and today it was your turn again for not feeling well. You spent most of the day in PJs, cuddled up with mama.

What does one do with leftover school carnival tickets? Why, make a beautiful jewlry collection, of course. I particularly likethe nose piece, Eleanor. Nice touch!

Fort-building is serious business around here. Eleanor, you are constantly scooting those chairs closer together or further apart, depending on how you need them arranged for the day. You welcome August to play in your structures too, but the design is typically all yours.

Reading, hanging out, absolutely not obsessively thinking “baby, come out, come out, come out! When will you come out!?” Nope, that’s not at all what’s going through mama’s head at all times now.

He’s here! Calvin Edward Balch was born today at 8:18 a.m., weighing in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long. Beneath that hat he has the softest, fuzziest brown hair with a polka dot of a blonde streak, right on top in the center.

Mama and Calvin came home from the hospital today after staying overnight. Eleanor, you were so excited to meet your new little brother, and August, we know you’re going to be a great big brother. So nice to be together at home, our family of five!

October 15, 2014
The 4-6 Weeks Project (Week Six)

I’m taking photographs of Eleanor and August each day until baby number three arrives, to document our last 4-6 weeks as a family of four. I first did this project to document our time as a family of three before August was born.

{ Week One • Week Two • Week Three • Week Four • Week Five • View All }

Aunt Ashley came over after work today, so she and mama took you guys out while daddy started priming the nursery. We went to a few shops in Forest Park, and then had dinner at Junction Diner. They have a huge chalkboard wall there, a photobooth, a train table and toys, and our dinner arrived via model train!

Mama picked up a new rug to try in the nursery today. Eleanor, you saw it and immediately tried to shimmy up it like a tree trunk! Poor August wanted to do it too but he couldn’t hang on tight enough, and then daddy thought maybe this whole climbing thing wasn’t such a good idea anyway. (But it WAS fun, right, E?)

Just a little castle time. You fight with each other a lot (“I’m never ever playing with you again” can be heard all too often), but you also have plenty of fun and get along more often than not.

Mama’s 34th birthday! Everyone had been wondering if the baby would share the day, but nope. August and Eleanor, you’re holding the Pikmin toys you gave mama for her birthday — pretty sure they’re going to end up more yours than hers. (Was that your plan all along when you chose them?)

Oh no, look out! It’s the Hug-Bot. RUN!
Argh, August, he’s got you!

August, mama snapped this picture when you got back from school. A few toys, a few pets, family… the house feels good. Comforting, colorful, and cozy. Ready for a new little baby to come home to.

You two have a million toys (too many toys!), but a new box comes and suddenly it’s the BEST THING EVER. That box, by the way, was from a bouncy seat that we ordered for the baby. He’s due tomorrow, but will he show up?

September 30, 2014
The 4-6 Weeks Project (Week Five)

I’m taking photographs of Eleanor and August each day until baby number three arrives, to document our last 4-6 weeks as a family of four. I first did this project to document our time as a family of three before August was born.

{ Week One • Week Two • Week Three • Week Four • View All }

August, you can be pretty silly, but also sometimes incredibly sweet. When mama asks for a smooch (a “mooch,” as you say), she never knows if she’ll get one, and if she does, whether it will be a real smooch or a raspberry!

Mama remembers doing the same thing when she was little, too… seeing how many times the balloon can be hit back up into the air without letting it hit the ground. (p.s. Mama rearranged the furniture last night while you two were sleeping. Normal behavior, or nesting? It’s hard to tell.)

Now that you’re both back in school (especially with you gone all day at kindergarten, Eleanor), the weekends feel more special. We all stay in jammies for a good long while before worrying about getting dressed, and you play so nicely together in the morning.

You two create elaborate structures out of your “Star Wars Clone City Building Set” (a.k.a. plastic disposable party cups). Eleanor, this one was mostly your doing, and you were so proud of your fortress that it stayed like this until it was accidentally knocked over a few days later.

August, you correct us any time we call you some silly name, even though we’re just joking around. Apparently when you are wearing mama’s glasses though, we are to address you as “Mr. Fancy.”

After dinner today, you and mama spent some time up in the playroom while daddy cleaned up downstairs. We played with Play-Doh, did some pretend cooking on the toy stove, had a Plants vs. Zombies battle with toys in the dollhouse, played Hi Ho Cherry-O, and put together a puzzle before finally heading down to get ready for bed.

Eleanor and August, you and daddy walked to the popcorn store to get slushies after picking Eleanor up from school. I know you both like the taste, but I think getting those blue tongues as a result of drinking them is almost as much of a draw!

September 23, 2014