Ruby and the Squirrel

I have no idea how I missed posting this. I was going through my drafts today and came across this one that I wrote on November 3, but somehow never posted! This would be Ruby at about 26 months:

Periodically, it's good to step back and explore the interesting conversation potential of a little person who still refers to her toes as piggies. Today we were walking home after getting Sarah from school, when Ruby noticed some squirrels darting up a tree.

"Oh no,
squirrels.
Come here
squirrels.
Oh no,
I can't
get them!"

I asked why.

"They're too
fast.
I can't
climb
the tree."

Again, I asked why.

"It's too
slipp-
erwy."


Slippery. A new word.
I get this little delight nearly everyday now.

LOL

There's a new comic in our house. She's two.

Her: Knock Knock

Me: Who's there?

Her: Manana

Me: Banana who?

She covers her mouth with her hands and snickers.

Then we all laugh wildly.

It's a good one.

Halloween

Ruby did have a diaper on here, but by this point, clothes were optional.

LOL

A few days ago, I was trying to herd my crew into bed and discovered my two little girls creating some interesting contraptions in their room. I walked in and they handed me one that they had been testing out on each other. "Mom, we invented a hypnotizing machine!" "Hmmmn," I thought, "This could be useful." The amazing thing was that, for the most part, the machine was a success. I just waved it over Sophie's head and chanted, "To bed I said, 'til morning lights upon your head!" And sure enough, she went to bed, giggling. Sarah, however, only responded to Samuel's hypnotizing, sooo....no such luck. Instead, I got a lot of silly dancing until I finally convinced Sam to send her off to bed. :)

Today over dinner, I asked my four-year-old, "How are you feeling today, Sarah?" Her totally straight-faced response, "I feel like a moose is eating me."

In the van, after a quick trip out in our jammies to return some rented videos, I mentioned that Grandma is coming over tomorrow so we can do something fun together. Sophie piped up from the backseat, "Hey, maybe we'll play some poker!" You must understand that neither Luke nor I have a clue how to play poker...and I'm pretty sure Grandma doesn't either. LOL

Have a cheerful day, loved ones!!

Lightsaber Squirrels

I told you something good was coming....

Comment Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

If you didn't read the squirrel story, you must: That's so Weird

Just for Joy

I'm not the kind of person who really enjoys shopping and rarely buy things on a whim, but I was at the Dollar Tree with my hubby the other day looking for a giant bubble wand and a gag gift when I ran in to this little guy.
I couldn't help but smile...he's just so darn jovial. Then I picked him up and instinctively gave his little plastic case a small squeeze...and found myself laughing out loud at the combination of the faint popping sound and the frolicking clown inside. So for a buck, I brought him home. My kids were as impressed with him as I was and have found endless delight in his popping case. Then the unmentionable happened...removed from his case, the little glass clown slipped from Sarah's fingers and broke. I felt a sudden twinge of irritation and the urge to scold her...remembering then that I had also purchased some super glue, I scooped up the clown and in moments our joy purchase was again standing atop his ball making us all smile. I've glued him once more since then, but we're all still smiling.

A lesson in impermanence...everything changes. Glass breaks. Joy can be found in simple things outside ourselves. But lasting joy? That comes from within.

Thankful Thursday: Children's Motrin and Toddler Chatter

My kids have been sick this week. Poor Sophie started complaining about a headache Sunday night and has had a fever off and on since, followed by a flaming sore throat and earache. Sarah climbed up in my lap on Tuesday afternoon and said, "I think I have a fever." She was asleep within minutes in my arms. We went to the doctor yesterday...the throat swabs came back negative for strep throat, but I'd be surprised if the culture results told the same story. I am so thankful for Children's Motrin and Tylenol...I know my girls are too.

During weeks like this one, a bit of light-hearted humor does a lot for the soul. Ruby (19 mo.) is always willing to comply. Her toddler chatter is so funny. If you ask her what her name is right now she will always respond with a smile and "Googay." Yesterday she was nursing while I sat at the computer. She stopped and said, "No...no nurse." Pausing for a moment, then, "Okay...nurse," picking up where she left off. I'm thankful for toddler chatter...it's a sign that she's growing up, yes...and nursing my baby will not last much longer...a reminder to laugh and enjoy the fleeting time because baby is growing up.

China TVs

The volume level at our table was really loud last night. Four excited kids trying to talk over each other about upcoming vacation prospects created more chaos than I like at dinner. I typically prefer peaceful coversation highlighted with polite children saying "excuse me" and waiting patiently for their turn to talk. Last night I got excited, happy, laughing, loud kids. I can handle that trade up much better than tired, fussy, crying, loud kids. So, playing along, I suggested we pretend to have volume controls like the TV. Sam and Sophie played along. Sarah just looked at me, not so easily convinced. Then I asked if they had mute buttons. Sam quickly turned his mute on so that when I pushed the button it would 'unmute' him. I asked Sarah if she had a mute button. She said, "No, I'm pretending to be a China TV"

So, apparently, China TV's don't have mute buttons.

Sarah's Prize

Last night Sarah and Sophie were playing a game of "Knock Over The Soldier Guys With Bouncy-Balls." Sarah won and celebrated her victory by running in circles and yelling excitedly, "I won, I won, I won!!" So I said (just as enthusiatically, by the way), "Yay Sarah! Guess what your prize is? You get to help pick up all the Lincoln Logs!!! Hooray!" She just looked at me for a second and without skipping a beat said, "No, I cheated, I cheated!" Of course, this was followed by hearty laughter on my part and a lot of tickling. :)

If Sophie Was President

I know my friend Kelli over at Searching Souls will especially appreciate this one. Sophie brought home this paper from school last week from their observation of Presidents Day. The question at the bottom reads, "If you were president, what is one thing you would change?" Her answer: "For in China pepole to have more kids."

Fashion Design

a few fabric scraps, free

some cute buttons, $1.97

a sewing machine + a little creativity, 2-hours of mommy time

a really happy and proud 6-year-old
wearing a Sophie Original, Priceless:

Pixies

By the way, there really are fairies in our garden:

And jewels:

Those Beautiful Curly Blonde Locks...

Yesterday morning I walked into the bathroom upstairs and noticed a few locks of beautiful curly blonde hair. For a moment I was puzzled, then slowly panic set in as I realized what little head the tufts had fallen from. In a daze, I found myself in the girls room surrounded by more angel hair. Sarah is my three-year-old. Everywhere we go people ooh and ahh over her sweet blonde curls. Admittedly, I have a hard time taking my eyes off those darling ringlets, myself.

I pulled her into my arms from a sound sleep and saw a first glimpse of the damage done. Yes, it was true, she had cut her hair quietly before going to sleep, not knowing the repercussions of her actions. In tears, I said, "Sarah, what did you do to your beautiful curls?" Still half asleep, her face crinkled up and tears swelled. Of course, I went through the stages of bewildered, sad, then angry....lastly humbled. Hair grows back, but heart's are easily broken...remorse was deep and real for her and for me.

Sarah now sports a darling vintage 80's hairstlye perfect for warm summer weather. It will take a while to get used to and I've vowed to put her in summer dresses and girly colors all summer while her hair grows out, but I have to admit...it suits her personality.
This is Sarah with her best friend, Bella...doesn't she look like she just stepped out of an 80's McCall's magazine?

Overheard yesterday as my girls were playing on the livingroom floor:

"No, Sarah, princesses can't marry horses!"

Do you have any favorite halfling quotes?

The best "I colored my face picture"

Couldn't resist posting this after seeing my neighbor Stephanie's picture of her little girl with a black permanant marker mustache. Although Sarah was quite proud of her new look, this was the creation of her sister, Sophie, who was trying to make her look like a kitty with the water colors. Niiiiice....

The Toothless Two

Here's Samuel and Sophie sporting their matching toothless grins:

On the Lighter Side

I stepped outside yesterday evening to water the newly planted flowers in our back yard (and a few moments of peace.) Several minutes later my oldest son runs out on the deck and yells in a panicked sort of voice, "Mom hurry! Sophie put a pair of underpants on her head and put her arms through the holes. She's stuck!" My heart skipped a beat when I sensed the panic in his voice but I couldn't help but break out in laughter when he finished telling me what was wrong. Unfortunately, the little houdini worked her way out of the underpants before I made it inside and upstairs with a camera. So, the scene will have to be left forever to the imagination.

"A good laugh is sunshine in a house."

--anonymous

The Amazing Dish Machine

For my entire married life I have washed dishes by hand, taking, as I see it, valuable time at the sink that I could be spending with my family. (Besides, does anyone really enjoy this tedious task?) Many times I have used the dishes as a way of burning off steam and having some time to think through some frustrations or just bang around a few cups and bowls. But I am in no way attached to this sort of anger management therapy. So a few months ago, my husband bought me a cute little countertop dishwasher as a birthday present.

During the days we waited for our new servant to be delivered, I talked to the kids about how wonderful it would be to put the dishes in the machine and let it do the work so I would have more time to spend with them. My son came home from school on the day of the delivery and upon seeing the dishwasher exclaimed excitedly, with sparkling eyes, "Your dishwasher is here??!! Yay!, now you have more time to spend with us!"

But today I had to take a minute to jot down my older daughter's take on the wonderful new machine, after overhearing a conversation with a friend playing at our house:
Peach: "Sometimes I help my mom with work around the house."
Friend: "Yeah, sometimes I help my mom with the dishes."
Peach: "I don't because my mom doesn't do the work. She has an Amazing Dish Machine who does the work for her! So she has time to spend with us!"

What a refreshing thought. A little reminder not to take forgranted our Amazing Machines that do so much work for us! So, may we take joy in the few short minutes it takes to load the washing machine or empty the dishwasher or toss a few ingredients in the slow-cooker. (Now I just need an automatic sock folder!) ( :

Peach and Daisy

Just had to post these pictures of my gals! Several months ago, my oldest daughter began calling herself Peach and her little sister Daisy. It's always fun to hear them playing and seeing little sister responding to her new nickname almost as quickly as her given name.

"Our 24 Family Ways"

Yesterday my six -year-old son asked me, "Mom, do you think you could make me a list of my jobs so I could do them without having to be asked?" What more need I say? It is really a blessing to see such signs of maturity in our children.

For anyone interested in some great reading on the topic of parenting, may I suggest anything written by Sally and Clay Clarkson? I have been encouraged and equipped by their books. My children and I are particularly enjoying their Our 24 Family Ways color book right now. We are reading and discussing each "family way" and corresponding picture, working on memorizing each and applying them to our daily lives. I have seen some great results in all of us!