Lamb Chop at the library

Yesterday was a lovely day. I finished my ridiculously intense exam in the morning, and then I was going to spend the rest of my free time in the evening finishing a paper due the next day. THEN. I got an email saying the paper wasn't due until next week.

Oh, what a spring that put in my step!

So, the world was my oyster, and I decided to go to the library to return some overdue books.

Dream of dreams! I took Y&A Lamb Chop along, since I thought she would love the library.

She helped me return the books. But then, she really wanted to go inside, so we had to.

When she saw the inscription on the side of the library, she hugged the building. A friend!

A message on the bulletin board when we entered. Now that's what I'm talking about! Lamb Chop want banned books!

We found this when we looked through kids' DVDs. We celebrated the occasion many times.

Hey! It's another family album! And it's a Scandinavian-American family album, and the Lamb Chops are Scandinavian by my heritage! I think these two albums should get together for lunch--they have a lot in common! Note: this is just in our little Lamb Chop family. As I recall, Shari Lewis' and her Lamb Chop were Jewish. At least, they had a Hanukkah special that I loved to watch.

Aww, look how she can just curl up in the books! Alright, it's time to come out, Lamb Chop.
...
Lamb Chop? L-Lamb Chop? Come on now, you need to get out.
No, don't go behind the books!

She didn't want to come out. There was almost a scene in the library, but then Lamb Chop decided it was too dusty to breathe back there. The scent of library books was too stifling in the middle of the shelves. So, she got out, and I helped her choose some books.

Cozy in a nook of books. Come on Lamb Chop, we can read at home. It's dinnertime!
So, I tried to gather up all the books she chose, and it was difficult. How many books did we even get?

The stack is taller than Lamb Chop! Lamb Chop, how do you expect to read all that? And do you really think it's necessary for you to study for the GRE?

Actually, not all of the books fit in my bike basket, so I had to be industrious and form a makeshift bag out of my jacket, which I tied to the handlebars of my bike. It was ridiculous.
Nonetheless, it was a lovely day, and a lovely time for Lamb Chop. She will love to come back here again sometime.

Lamb Chop is found

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.

As may be clear, Original Lamb Chop has been acting up lately. Sometimes, when lambs act up, they really just want attention. This can definitely be said for crazy Original LC. So, last weekend, when I went to celebrate Labor Day with the family, I took along Original LC so she could be around a bunch of people.

Refreshing beverages are a must on Labor Day.

Lamb Chop even got to go on the trampoline! Fun!

Whoa! That's some high jumping, Lamb Chop!
Side note: This picture cracks me up. Look at my 5-year-old cousin on the left. What is he doing? Hahahahahaha!

Bleeehhhhh...Lamb Chop dizzy!

Ahhh. This is what Labor Day is all about, right? Relaxing and getting away all the hassles of everyday life. Lamb Chop knows a lot about that.

Lamb Chop takes after me--she loves to hula hoop. And again, what are my cousins doing?

But it wasn't all fun and games. Lamb Chop had to pitch in and shuck some corn for dinner.
She was very cooperative! It was a Labor Day miracle!
After dinner, it time to go home. But where was Lamb Chop?
I found her! She was up in a tree, and she looked like she was pondering:

What are you doing up there, Lamb Chop?

Oh ok, you were just sitting up here and thinking about all the fun you had today? You certainly did all sorts of fun things! I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm proud of you for being such a good helper. I love you very much, Lamb Chop.

Even though she was going astray, I think there is hope for Original LC. She just needed to know that she mattered and that I love her. And I really do love her, no matter the mistakes she makes. She's still her crazy self, I can tell, but I don't think she'll be kicking anyone down the slide anymore.

Lamb Chops at the park

The other day, the weather was kind of gray, so the Lamb Chops and I thought it would be a great day to go to the park--no one else would probably be there. Sure enough, we were alone, and the Lamb Chops had free rein over the playground. I set them loose, and here's what happened:

Mommy LC and Football LC tried out the little kids swings.

Mommy LC didn't really know how to use them.

Football LC apparently did, but even that didn't help her much.

So, everyone got on the tire swing. I'll give you a push, ok? Smile!

Lamb Chops! You were supposed to hold on when I pushed the swing!
So, they moved on. Original LC and Baby LC went to go on the slide, but Baby LC was a little scared and wouldn't go down. Original LC got impatient that she was holding up the line...

...oh, poor Baby LC! Original LC, that was very naughty!

Oof.

Y&A LC shows her cursive skills in the sand.

Unfortunately, Football LC, Christmas LC, and Baby LC were playing tag and didn't see that they ran through her art.

"All we are is dust in the wind."

Mommy LC tried out the glider and wouldn't come down for about ten minutes.

Christmas LC listened to the voice receiver. She said she could hear sleigh bells! Ok, Christmas LC. It's September. Whatever.

They were all tuckered out from a long day of playing at the park.
...But not too tired for fruit snacks!

Oh no, Original LC! They're not all for you! They're to share!

Y&A LC got one back! Victory!

Baby LC tries a fruit snack. Mommy LC is much more interested in tasting the wrapper.

Look! Look! Look, Christmas LC! We got fruit snacks! Do you see them?

Original LC settles. She tried to act disappointed, but she ate all of her fruit snacks anyway.

Lamb Chop on a road trip

Last weekend, we went on a road trip to Lanesboro in southern Minnesota. I decided to take along one of the Lamb Chops, and due to recent behavioral troubles, I decided to take the one who would probably be the happiest traveler and the least problematic: Christmas Lamb Chop.

She had to borrow some sunglasses for the trip out.
We also made mix CDs for the trip. Mine started out with a song that Lamb Chop couldn't help but dance to. Lamb Chop loves to dance. Can you guess what it is?

...wait for it...

Dada Daaaaaah!

Dada Daaaaaaaah!

Dadada dunnnn dadadada dunnn dadadada daaaaaah!
Dance break!
Did you guess it?

The obligatory side mirror shot. Look who's sitting up front!

We all think that this creepy oil refinery looks like the space station in the Star Trek movie.
And, after a couple hours of landscape that looked a lot like this...

Lanesboro! The small town life! Oh, the thrill!
So much to do! We saw a play at the Commonweal, we stopped at an art gallery, and we went to a little gift/toy shop before heading home again. It was a lovely day. Lamb Chop even got a toy at the gift shop:

A kazoo! Kazoos! Who'da thunk it?

The kazoo got old pretty quickly. We put it in time out.

And with any thrill comes the inevitable crash. With Lamb Chop asleep, we spent a very pleasant kazoo-free ride home.

Storytime with the Lamb Chops

Lately, I've been letting each of the Lamb Chops choose an activity for us all to do in the evening. Last night, it was Young and Agile LC's turn, so she decided she wanted us all to read a story, and she would read it aloud.

Hmm. Interesting choice. I thought it was a bit ambitious of Young and Agile LC to get the others to pay attention, but they all gathered around quietly to listen.

"Is not silence more painful than death?"

"Well, I know I'm in pain from being silent!"

I forgot to mention. Original LC was peeved that we didn't get to do her choice of activity, so she had some major 'tude.

Football LC thought it was funny, but the other Lamb Chops comforted poor Young and Agile LC. I gave her back the book that fell on the floor, and she started again.

Football LC was trying not to laugh.

Young and Agile LC continued, "Her beauty was like a gift of poetry."

"Haha! So was her beauty fictional? Or was it long and boring? Oh, I know! I bet it rhymed! Yeah! Up top, Football Lamb Chop!"

Uh oh. This time, Mommy LC started to get the giggles. Things weren't looking good, but Young and Agile LC persevered.

"But poets are unhappy people, for, no matter how high their spirits reach, they will still be enclosed in an envelope of tears." She paused for dramatic effect.

Which was lost on the Lamb Chops. Even kind-hearted Christmas LC couldn't help but crack a smile. They all laughed and laughed and laughed. Young and Agile LC was not amused.

So, she stormed away. "This is why we can't be cultured in this house!"
I felt it was necessary to scold the Lamb Chops, since they had ruined Young and Agile LC's special activity night. They were all ashamed.

Except Original LC. The 'tude remained. "Big deal! It's not my fault she picked a stupid activity!"

"Hey! What gives?"

I put Original LC in the corner for time-out and told her that she wouldn't get to have her own activity night until she apologized.
She wouldn't.
I explained to her that everyone likes doing different things, and part of being a family is being supportive of everyone's various interests.
She said, "Oh yeah? What if someone's interest was drinking out of the toilet? Huh?"
I paused.

Then I said, "I see what you're trying to say. Well, Original LC, I support your decision to drink out of the toilet, and I'm sure all of the other Lamb Chops will support you once I tell them."
"What? Hey! No! I don't--that's not--don't tell them that! I'll apologize! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Can I come out of the corner now?"
I said I wouldn't tell the other Lamb Chops but that she needed to stay in the corner a little longer and think about how she had treated Young and Agile LC.
There may be hope for this rascal! She's learning!