"Hi"

Yesterday Joseph was outside our front door . I heard him say "hi!" to somebody/something. He's always saying hi to people we pass on the street. (Unfortunately half the people don't return the politeness.) I turned around to look and saw him crouched down in front of the flowers at eye level with a beautiful butterfly. Unfortunately it didn't stick around long enough for me to get a photo, but I thought it was the sweetest thing. Who else do you know who takes the time to say hi to a butterfly?

Spelling Bee

I love when kids begin to spell things by sounding them out. Rebecca is just barely starting to do that. She has known her sounds for a long time, but never cared to make her own words. Today she was playing a computer game and decided to name herself

ULZBF

Can you guess what her name was?

Library Laughs

I don't know why it took me this long (well, I do, it's because I had company for three months) but I finally made it to our new library to check things out. Libraries make me feel more at home. I love books and especially children's literature with a passion.

I asked at the counter about getting a library card, assuming I wouldn't be able to get one that day. I was right, I needed two forms of things that had my name and address on them like utility bills etc. Oh, but your children don't need ID, they can get library cards today. They can? Yes, here, just fill out the forms.

So I filled out the forms, one for Rebecca and one for Joseph. I brought the completed forms back to the counter, leaving my children in the play area of the library where I could observe them easily. The man helping me said, the children need to write their own name on their cards. Okay, I say and go back to get my children. I drag Joseph kicking and screaming to the counter where the man looks at me and says: "I guess he doesn't need to write his own name." I put Joseph down and he runs back to the play area while Rebecca writes her name.

So I can't get a library card without forms showing that I really live where I say I do, but my kids can get them without any proof of anything whatsoever? I don't get it. But, I think I'll stick to using my kids library cards anyway. The fines are cheaper.

Grocery Store Stories

Why is it that when you're in the grocery store people seem to think they can give you their life story on child raising and inform you of things you are doing wrong whether it be in looks or words?
Yesterday in the grocery store Rebecca was playing with all the stuffed animals in the Easter display and telling me repeatedly: "I want that." With a cool demeanor I kept walking, saying, no, and continued my shopping. A woman passing by overheard my daughter's demands and informed me: "We don't get everything we want either! When we go to the car lot we want the newest car on the lot but that doesn't mean we get it!" I politely answered her: "No, we don't get everything we want either." She proceeded to tell me how she had 4 kids and used to take them all grocery shopping. I politely answered: "Well, I come from a family of 5 and my husband comes from a family of 7" so as not to be outdone by her because all I had with me were my two own children. She continued to praise her own past exploits of managing to take 4 or more children shopping with her as I continued to struggle with my two. She watched my daughter put groceries of her own choosing in the cart and told her: "You have to ask your mom before you put things in your cart. She doesn't have money for everything!" Thanks a lot for that advice.
Her comments wouldn't have been that bad except that I was already ruffled by Rebecca's asking for everything and Joseph trying to reach for everything while trying to stay completely cool, calm and collected, and trying not make unwise purchasing choices, trying not to give in to my children etc etc. But then I rounded the corner, made it to the back of the store where an elderly lady looked at my children, looked at me and said: "Your children are beautiful."

And with a completely sincere thank you, I melted.

The Little Lawn Mower

These 20 second movie clips are from a couple of months ago.



Little Joseph and the big steps.



Funny how when they're really little they still like to work...

Just a few little things

As Rebecca puts on her shirt for the day she uses it to wipe her nose.

Mom: "Do you need a tissue?"
R: "Not anymore."

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Friday night at the dinner table.

Warren: "How was your day?"
Me (discouraged after a day of not getting anything productive done): "Well, I didn't accomplish anything..."
Warren: "Our kids are safe, everyone has had food to eat and everyone is healthy. That's a lot!"

Am I a lucky lady or what!!!

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Rebecca in the car after playing with some new friends today.
R: "Mom, the four year old was already missing a tooth. That's young to be missing a tooth. He is the LUCKIEST kid I've ever saw in my life!!!!" (I didn't edit her grammar).

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We were going out to eat with family the other night and had to wait a little longer than we are used to for dinner. Joseph was starving. On the way to the restaurant I let him play with his new soft plastic sword. I heard ripping in the car-it sounded like paper. I wasn't worried. We arrived at our destination to discover this:

He had successfully had his appetizer for the evening and chewed off one side of his brand new sword. Don't delay feeding your children. You never know what might happen!

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And our afternoon art project:

Name monsters. Fold a piece of paper in half. Write your name in cursive in crayon. Fold the paper back up and rub it so you'll get a mirror image. Open it back up and turn it into a monster!

Monster Joseph

Monster Warren (made by D, R & J)

She's got personality

The other night Warren was upstairs getting the kids ready for bed. I came up, expecting to find both of them in their jammies reading stories. Joseph had complied and was in the rocking chair with daddy, all ready for bed, reading. But I walked in on Rebecca standing in front of the sink, still in her play clothes but now with the addition of sunglasses and flowers in her hair, playing in the water. (By the time I got the camera she had started brushing her teeth.)
As frustrated as I was that she wasn't further along in the never ending nightly routine, she also cracked me up. These pictures show off a little of her personality.

We have a window in the front room that is low and looks out to the backyard. The kids like to pretend it is a window to order food. The other day Rebecca ordered an elaborate snack and said, "Bring me my food, you know, like McDonalds." I wasn't in a "I'm your servant mood" and said: "Are you going to pay me?" She replied: "Bring me your wallet so I can give you the money you already have!"
Yesterday she found a quarter and was dreaming of all the things she could buy with it. Guess it's time to have a little lesson on money in our family!