Funny Things Children Say

This morning I asked daughter number two (9 yrs. old) where daughter number one (11 almost 12 yrs. old) was since I was almost time to leave for early morning choir (7:35 a.m.) and she had not shown up for breakfast. "Sad to say but she is still getting dressed. Apparently, this world is a world of options and H (daughter number one) just can't make up her mind!" I laughed. What an interesting way of saying "she's still getting dressed!" "What? What's so funny?" Daughter number two asks. Good Morning Wednesday.

Susie and the Snowball

Susie got up early and was "playing" in her room so I slept in. I came downstairs to see her night-gowned little figure outside the window on the front lawn. She was wearing a nightgown and pink boots. She was by the rear of the AllPro Cleaning Truck. I run to the door and call to her. "Mom,... I've got this." Susie looks down into her hands. "A ball." "Yes, Susie, that is a snowball." "Yes, and it needs to stay outside (and you need to come inside and get dressed!)" "Okay, I'll leave it right here so it can find it's friends!" she says as she gently puts it on the front doormat and comes inside and closes the door. "My hands are cold!" Susie says looking down. Audible gasp, "Ooh, they're melting! What am I gonna do!? (Said very dramatic). Maybe I could wipe them." She heads down the hall to the kitchen for a towel. Later** I notice a blue balloon wrapping by the front door. Yesterday, I noticed that one of the children took the frozen water balloon out of the freezer and placed it outside by the doorstep. Susie must have found it and unwrapped it. Can you tell I haven't spent enough time outside with her this Winter? She was murmuring about getting her coat on and making a snowman.

A Valentines without Chocolate (Valentines Weekend)

This weekend, we celebrated Valentines. This year, we had lower expectations and played things by ear. (So Joe and I went and bought a present for me at Shopko together on Saturday night. We have not done that before--usually it is a surprise). We were supposed to be "camping out" at my parents old A-style cabin on Saturday night but as the night fell, I got more and more nauseated. My children were understanding as we put aside the things we were going to take and ate heart shaped pizza, made chocolate chip cookies (thanks Papa Murphys' Valentine Special dinner for$9.99) and Joe's requested BBQ Chicken pizza. Joe read aloud to me and the children watched The Princess Bride instead. The Valentine Bird left dazzling Sweethearts for the children and little figurines for each child. It was odd not having chocolates today (but probably saved me some weight). Joe brought out a Symphony bar he has saved since Christmas and we shared it and read a new book together. Sunday morning we woke the children to a special big breakfast. We ate bacon, whole wheat pancakes with cream and berries (blue and raspberry), Smuckers flavored syrups, scrambled eggs, and white grape juice. I love having late church! Joe had no meeting this morning and it was so nice to have him home helping get the Nursery Treat Bucket ready, four children dressed, and out the door on time! After church, the children and I worked on Valentines for family and went to Family Dinner. We dropped Hannah and Rebekah off to Jane's house for a birthday sleep over and visited Mom and Dad Campbells' with Valentine presents.

A Bunburying Day

Susie and I have been at it again. How tricky it is being three. She delights us by the things she says. She delighted me with her "schemas" (or early drawings showing a circle head and feet, eyes, and hair--not just "scribbles.") That is, until she drew schemas all over the counters (in black crayon) and a play table--I blame Elmo and the Elmo's World movies she got for her birthday. She is very sweet to "baby" and kisses and hugs and talks to her (my pregnant belly) often. She has also begun to tantrum (when hungry and tired). Susie has had some very late nights (or early mornings) where we have both struggled to sleep. Last night, unfortunately, was another one of those. This morning I noticed the remains of a fine rash all over her body...Roseolla? Normally, I would go back to bed after getting the big children off but she awoke early and the All Pro service man came just as I was headed (hopefully) back to sleep. Unpredicted snow flakes fell softly. I muddled along, so tired. In The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde, Jack Worthing, the plays protagonist and upstanding citizen, pretends to have a black sheep brother "Ernest" in the city who is often getting in scrapes and causing Jack to rush off and rescue him. In fact, Ernest is Jack--in the city. Jacks close friend, Algernon, suspects Jacks double ways and has his own Mr. Bunbury, an imaginary chronic invalid to whom he rushes off to visit at his deathbed. Bunbury becomes the catch all to the plays double life deeds. Today, I was Bunburying too. I thought of all I needed to do and instead spent the morning and early afternoon reading about abuse among the Amish (random, I know). Then I picked up Nicholas Sparks novel, A Walk to Remember. The sun was out, children coming home from school, and I read on and cried. (The movie is updated and in some ways because I saw it first, I prefer it to the book. It is still a sweet story). Children got home and spread out their Valentine party loot. The sun is setting and I have bunburried the day away...oh, well. It was nice to come "home" to my children and inform them that Mr. Bunburry was very "sick" and now his heart is better, perhaps.

Valentine Fun Ideas (Cheap and Easy)

This year, most of us are feeling the financial pinch and also wondering what to do for Valentines weekend. My children get out of school Friday (Teacher Comp Day) through Monday (President's Day) and so it will be a long weekend. Some Valentine Ideas: For that someone special in your life: Purchase, recycle, reuse a pretty apothecary-type jar with a ribbon around it. On the front you might label: Happiness Notes. For example: *Joseph's Happiness Notes These notes are guaranteed to uplift, encourage, and please you. To be drawn at the rate of one per week (or day).

1. Good for an evening of undivided attention playing a computer game (Age of Mythology, Fiesta, etc.).
2. Good for one special moonlight walk together.
3. Good for a dessert of your choice (cookies, chewy brownies, )
4. Good for one extra long back rub.
5. Good for a Redbox movie of your choice.
6. Good for a quiet evening reading the book of your choice.
7. Good for a romantic evening together.
8. Good for a special big kiss.
9. Good for a pedicure: foot soak, rub, and massage with lotion.
10. Good for one extra special dinner request.

And the list goes on and on with the things that Joe really likes. The children also like the Valentines Bird which leaves love notes, small presents or sweets for them. We like to decorate sugar cookies and chocolate heart cookies. Another idea is a *Valentine Tree. (This is especially fun for the ones in your life whose love language is appreciation.) Go out into the yard and select a branch from a tree. Cut it. You may spray paint it white (in a well ventilated area). "Plant it" in a flower pot with marbles or stones, etc. Let children decorate it with Valentine hearts and love notes. [This same tree can be used for any holiday with added decorations such as shamrocks, colored eggs, etc.] * From a book I purchased secondhand called, "A Family Raised on Rainbows" by Beverly Nye. **From Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages.

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Joe and I have a tradition today. It started a couple of years ago rather informally. We meet for dinner and a movie upstairs. Dinner is grape juice, shrimp with cocktail sauce, rice, and a vegetable egg roll with sweet and sour sauce. The movie is Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell) of course! We set the children up for dinner downstairs and a "G" movie under Hannah's supervision. They had turkey hot dogs, corn, and Broccoli Au Gratin Rice. The yearly movie viewing is a good reminder to me of the transformation that one person can undergo when they forget themselves and go to work making the situation in which they have been placed or "stuck in" a better place. Winter by this point in the season usually seems too long and gray (being a non-skier and non-sledder, very pregnant). Bekah has begun to despair, "Will Spring ever come?" That little hog, Punxsutawny Phil, always seems to "predict" six more weeks of Winter. Has he ever predicted Spring right now--practically tomorrow?! I don't think so. I love one of the closing lines when Phil (Bill Murray) asks Rita (Andie MacDowell) ", Is there anything I can do for you today?" So...is there anything that I can do for you today?