One Day

Until my baby girl is officially not a baby anymore.

Technically speaking anyway.

I feel old.

Dear Terrible Twos:

I would like to thank you* for taking my sweet, chubby, angel faced baby girl and turning her into a 15 year old over the last few months. And not a nice 15 year old. A mean one. A bossy, crabby, stubborn one. I love hearing her say "I don't want to" 7,000 times a day. Its really endearing and cute*.

The lying really never gets old either*.

Also, a big shout out to whatever hormones you secretly implanted in her while I wasn't looking. She cries more than any newborn baby or pregnant woman I have ever known.

I hope you aren't planning on sticking around long. I mean- the last few months have been awesome*, but come on, I really want my baby back.

And I ain't talkin' ribs. So go away, Terrible Twos.

Please.

Pretty Please.

Just go.

Confession:

I am a Blog Slacker.

I take full responsibility for the lack of goodness and hilarity you recieved last week.

I am sorry.

On my honor as a former Brownie Scout, I will try to do better this week.
Barring scheduling conflicts, World War III, or the Swine Flu.

Speaking of which, my kids are sick. Which is, needless to say, not any fun at all. And why do people say, "needless to say"? I mean, if it doesn't need to be said, why say that it doesn't need to be said, and then say it anyway?

So just forget that last part.

*

But this week is Thanksgiving! Yea, I love holidays. And we will actually be "traveling over the holidays" this year. Well, Thanksgiving anyway. I've always felt a little twinge of jealousy when I hear of people "traveling over the holidays"

*

"Oh, say, are you traveling over the holidays?"

"Well as a matter of fact, yes I am..."

*

Well, pin a rose on your nose.

But now it's my turn. And guess where we are going?

No really -guess.

.

.

.

.

Kansas.

Yep.
Whoo- hoo.

But still there is alot to be thankful for, like Infant Tylenol, and naptime.

And a bunch of more important stuff I'm sure.

I hope everyone has a great germ-free week. And in everything, have a spirit of Thanksgiving!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of the three musketeers, taken this summer. You will notice Ethan's lack of hair.

That was me. I really shouldn't be allowed around hair clippers. I have no knowledge or concern about "guards" or any such nonsense.

But now it has grown out, and Sunday Alyssa gave him a mohawk.

What a little stud.

Ah, my baby's growin' up...

Making a List...

Not to be presumptive, but just in case anyone was wondering, and while it's on my mind anyway...

Here is the list of suggestions I am passing around for the kids for Christmas. It's easier for me to post it here, instead of making out a dozen copies and remembering to have them on hand when someone asks.

Ethan:

size 9 winter boots

Transformers anything

Veggie Tales dvds or games

books

board games like checkers, memory, or any other game for 3-4 year olds ( we are getting Candy Land)

Crafts/activities/art stuff

Charlotte:

size 7-8 winter boots

Little People people and animals

2T sweaters

2T 2-piece pajama sets

socks

books

puzzles

those markers that only color on the paper

Caden:

3-6mo winter clothes, esp. pants and shirts

3-6mo pjs/sleepers (preferably with zippers)

Introducing...

The Artist Formally Known as Charlotte.

Currently known as In Time Out.

Dear Queenie and Grandpa,

We hope you are having lots of fun in Florida! We can't wait for you to come back and play with us!

*

Liz-

I reset the clock on your office computer. I hope you didn't have it set 2 hours behind intentionally. I also borrowed a Post-It.

See you soon!

Boys and Girls...

Sunday evening, we went to Josiah and Sarah's place for a bonfire and foshees (foshies?phoeshies?), which are hard to spell, but really fun to make.

When you first put them in the fire, it looks like this, and you think it might burn up.

But if it works, it will suddenly take off like a little paper hot air balloon. They are pretty fast, hence the blurriness. Sorry.

Somehow we got on to the topic of boys and girls, and Rebekah, Abigail, and I were trying to explain to Ethan what a tomboy is.

Me:"Charlotte is more of a tomboy because she likes to climb trees and play outside and stuff like that."

Rebekah:"And Olivia is a girly-girl because she likes to dress up and be a princess. She's more like I was and Charlotte is a tomboy like Abigail was."

Ethan:"No, Abigail is a BIG DORK!"

Which, I guess, is also true.

To be a kid again...

How to Make a Really Good Leaf Pile:

1. Find one of your uncles. Ask him to get a rake for you.

2.Make sure you pick out all the leaves, so there aren't any "old leaves" in your super cool leaf pile. Because that wouldn't be any fun at all.

3. Let the big kids help rake, throw, and kick the leaves into a pile. It makes them feel good that you need them.

4.If someone says, "I don't really want to make a leaf pile, " they are lying. No one is too cool for a leaf pile.

5. Discipline is in order.

6.Show them who's boss!

7. No ifs, ands, or... bottoms.

8. Ok, now run and jump.

9. And roll around. You really can't go wrong with this approach. Don't worry about making a mess. You can clean it up later.

10.Or not.

11. And if you get tired, take a break- you deserve it. That was hard work!

Do You Ever Just Have "One of Those Days"?

Well yesterday was "One of Those Days."

At one point, all 3 of the kids were crying.

I wanted to cry too. Or hide, or take a nap.

I could have done with all three to be honest.

Days like this, it's comforting to know that Jesus died for us when we were not perfect, so I don't have to be pristine and polished and in-control all the time for him to love me. He is in control when it's smooth sailing, and when the storms are so bad you just want to throw up. And even if you did, he would still love you. He's right there holding your hand, and holding back your hair. That's love. That's Jesus.

Hey, that's a tagline! Don't steal it or I'll sue.

So in an attempt to cancel out all the doom and gloom that was my day, here is a little bit of sunshine in the form of Things Ethan Has Said This Week That Made Me Laugh. And some random pictures.

"Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep"

as told by Ethan
*

"Down the Linney, Down the Steeps

I play along my doggies

and the angels watch me spend the night

and keep a blessin's tight.

Amen."

There are some deer that frequently graze in the field next to my dad's house.

Ethan calls them Trixie, Dixie and Debbie.

He calls lightbulbs "Lampbobs."

When I leave the house, he feels it's important to remind me to "Watch out for snakes!"

We like the movie 'Betime Stories', and Ethan likes the British guy's accent. He knows he can get a smile out of me by singing "Jumping up and down on the alligata, riding up and down in the elevata!" He says it when he knows he is about to get into trouble,and it invariably works so that I can't be angry with him, the little manipulata.

Random

Is what this today's post is.

I can't think of anything to write.

I have Blogger's Block.

I saw this spider on my backsplash the other day. I was about to smash her when I noticed what she was doing. She was collecting the little black bugs that have flown in through the window screen earlier this week. The ones I can't get rid of for anything and that are the reason I can't open the windows during this streak of beautiful weather we've been enjoying.

She was collecting them and wrapping them up and eating them. So I let her live.

Except now I can't find her.

*

Which also reminds me: we've had no more mice (that we know of).

(Just in case you were wondering)

I know you were just dying for an update.

*

It also made me think of the intricacies of nature. It's just amazing if you stop and think about it. No one taught her to spin a web, yet she does it perfectly everytime, and she knows what to do with it, without getting stuck in it herself.

I'm always getting trapped by my own webs.

Figuratively speaking of course.

*

You may be thinking- "if she freaks out over a mouse, why would she not just kill the spider and be done with it?"

Well- I think it's because of a couple of things:

1. Im pretty sure she was a girl spider, not that I got a good look, but ever since Charlotte's Web, I've just always assumed spiders were female. So I guess I felt sort of a bond with her. I know- it's weird (and illogical). But hey, that's me.

2. She was serving a purpose. I don't like cleaning those things up. They bite.

3. I draw the line at rodents.

Caden is laughing now. It's the cutest thing ever. He's starting to like being tickled.

And he rolled over. I didn't get to see it, because I was on my hands and knees cleaning up an entire sippy cup full of chocolate milk in the kitchen.

Oh well, at least Jeremiah was there.

"He's gonna break some hearts, I tell ya."

"By smooth talk and flattery they decieve the minds of naive people." Romans 16:18

It starts with her brother's paci. Soon it will be the car keys and clothes. Mark my words.