Jun. 3, 2008
Potential for Pets and Fun Names

We have been considering a pet for the last few months.  It all began when someone through DH's work let him know of some free Springer Spaniel puppies.  We mulled it over, talked about it as a family, and finally decided, "Yes, let's get one."  We emailed the family, checked out books from the library, and the kids made plans and considered names.   Then DH had to break the news.....  the puppies had already been given away.  While our daughter was especially deeply disappointed, it was a growing time for her as she learned how to handle life's disappointments and look for the silver lining.

Last week, while at a friends, the children where enjoying their new black and white kitten.  Our friend mentioned that his siblings were still available -- for free.  (A decision hubby and I made long ago was that we were not going to pay for a pet -- it had to be "divinely supplied."

When we got home, it was all Darling Daughter could talk about.  At first her daddy was against it.  Like many men we know, he was biased against it -- "Cats are snobby and not as fun as a dog," he declared.  While he and DD went back and forth on their opinions of a cat versus a dog, I had to add some weight to our daughter's side.  "Cats bath & groom themselves, don't need to go on walks, don't tear up garden beds, don't stink like dogs can, and can be left for longer time periods alone then dogs can," I stated persuadingly.  "They are much more managable, in almost every way, which is a big plus for the one who will more than likely end up doing the lion's share of training and caring for the family pet."  (In between the lines:  The Mama of the house -- me!)

Amazingly, DH consented.  "You're right, you're right!  Only we should probably get two kittens, if they still have enough.  One for Darling Daughter and one for Little Man."  I was taken aback.  Never in a million years did I see that coming.

So a phone call was placed to our friend and she promised to check on the possibility of our family being the happy owners of kittens.  We took a trip to the library and checked out books on cat care.  We've perused our local Wal-Mart to price check needed items for our new arrivals -- we will purchase them later, as we are don't want to be stranded with them if we aren't able to get the kittens.

This afternoon during her brother's nap, DD got extra boxes out of the garage and informed me she is making a little house for her kitten to live in.  She asked me if I liked the name "Charlotte."  I did indeed and helped her with the proper spelling of it as she created a name plate for the kitten's little abode.

When Little Man woke up, she asked if he would like a little house for his cat, which he readily agreed to.  It has kept them busy for at least an hour now.  Little Man came up to me while I was reading on the couch.  "Do you like the name Mason?" 

I replied I thought it was a fine name for a little tom cat.  And when I asked who thought of it, he assured me that it was his idea, not his sister's.  (Who has a tendency to "suggest" things to him.) Off he went to inform his sister and they worked on Mason's abode.

I didn't think anything of it until I overheard them chattering, "Charlotte and Mason are going to love their houses.  What else should we add to them?" 

Mommy's brain whirled and clicked: Charlotte & Mason? ..... Charlotte Mason!  Too funny!  Just when you wonder if anything is getting in their cute little heads, they name their kittens after one of my favorite role models in education.

I don't know if the kittens will indeed be christened with the above names, or if they are still available (but how I hope they are for the children's sake), but it was such a delightful moment, this mama just had to share it.

Oct. 18, 2007
Workin' On A New Look; Family Funnies

Aligirl  is helping me come up with a new look for my blog.  She is such a blessing, and you can check out her work at Mission Field Design.   We are in the middle stages right now, so please let me know any suggestions you have!  Thanks so much and hope you like my "new look."

*************************************************************

Here are some recent family funnies:

Little Man: Mommy, can I put my whole head in my mouth?

(I was busy baking in the kitchen, and had to stop and have him repeat it -- he meant what he asked.  )

_______________________________________________

We are working on our memory work for Classical Conversations, and here are some funny things we've come up with to help with our geography:

1) Can you drive a car on the CARpathian Mountains?

2) When you PEER over the Pyrennes Mountains in France, can you see Spain?

3) Of course Mont Blanc is in France; isn't it fun to say it with a Frence accent!  (means "white mountain")

4) Darling Daughter came up with, "The Mad Hatter has Horns." (For Matterhorn)

5) Balkan Penisula:  they must raise chicken in Greece -- "Balk, balk, ba-baalkkk!"

6) When we learned Spain, I told the kids that it was Portugal's hair.  So it makes perfect sense that the Iberian Peninsula would be there, since Portugal needs an eye.

Darling Hubby laughs at us, but it works!  And we have LOTS of fun being silly.

______________________________________

Jul. 13, 2007
Some of Little Man's 2006 Antics

I was looking through last year's entries in the journal that I keep for our Little Man of his antics and cute chatter.  I don't write in it nearly as often as I should, but after reading through it and recalling some of those episodes, it really encourages me to be more purposeful in keeping up with it.

(Click HERE to see MORE of his cute and crazy-ness in action.  Guaranteed to make you smile)

Little Man's Top Antics & Cute One-Liners of 2006:

"Wingo-Wingo"  Wanting to watch a Baby Eistien video on day, he excitedly grabbed the DVD case and pleaded as he pointed to the flamingos, "Wingo-wingo!  Watch wingo-wingos!"

"Let's Draw!"  "Let's" is in the truest sense of the word.  I would get out the crayons and paper for him, and after a few scribbles on his part, he would turn to me and say in his little sweet 2 yo voice, "Draw Mommy! Draw grasshopper!  Draw helicopter! Draw Daddy!" and on and on and on.  This mommy would draw his requests, but when I handed him back the crayon, he would push it back and demand, "Bug!" (etc).  He has great ideas, and it's awesome snuggling and one-on-one time, but I do look forward to the day when he will start coloring and drawing his wonderful, unique, & thoughtful creations on his own!

"Lizard Love"  Little Man loves nature of all sorts.  Whenever he sees a lizard, he has cute, one-sided conversations with them, which is occasionally interrupted with his squeals & giggles as they run away or climb up & down.  "Helllllllllllooooooooooo lizzzzzzzzzzzzzarrrrrd!   Ahhhhh, your sooooo cuuuuute!  Come back, lizzzzzarrrd!  Dare he goes!"

"But I Want to Talk!"  While waiting for a Shakespeare on the Green play to start one night early in the summer, we explained proper play-listening etiquette to the kids: being respectful, listening to the actors, not talking, etc.     When the lights went down and the actors came on stage, Little Man laughed and starting chattering away as he gave a running commentary.  We leaned over to try to get him to hush -- "Shhhhh!  You can't talk right now.  It's the actors' turn.  You must be quiet."   And in a very loud voice, much to our embarrassement and the humor of those around us, he declared "But I don't want to be quiet.  I want to talk!"  He and mama spent the rest of the night out of ear-shot while observing tree frogs, pine needles, and other odds and ends.  (BTW, he did much better the next summer.  A year made a big difference.  That and observing a spider eating its prey near his chair.) 

"Whacking is Fun!"  Daddy, DD, and Little Man sometimes play with Daddy's old blocking clubs that he had back when he did martial arts in college.  These big, soft clubs became a favorite toy and an alternative to pillow fights. One evening, after a rousing game with them, Daddy finally said, "Ok, Little Man.  It's time for bed."  To which he replied, "I don't want to go to bed.  Want to whack sissy!"

"Something to be proud of"  A one-liner that explained it all one day in June when I was changing him -- he looked up at me with a smile on his face and said, "I stink really better!"

"Foreign Objects"  One day in October, Little Man came out of his room when he should of been napping.   He had a wad of toilet paper and was trying to blow his nose.  When I asked what was the matter, he replied matter-of-factly, "Some-ding is in my nose."        I could see something stuck up there, but we couldn't get it out.  A quick call to the peditrician for a same-day appointment, a "what to expect" talk from mom as we practiced on his favorite stuffed animal (he loved being the doctor and saying, "Hold still!"), and then we were off to the doctor's office.       We have an awesome practice that we go to and we love all the doctors and nurses.  When it came time to get the "foreign object" out, I held Little Man on my lap and the Dr. explained to him what she was going to do with the long, skinny, silver clamp.  Little Man didn't move a muscle as she reached in and pulled it out.   All of us in the room were trying to figure out what it was.  It was Darling Daughter who figured out the mystery:  "It's a goggle-ly eye!"  He had done an art project at church and must have been playing around with it during his nap-time.  (When I wrote this entry in his journal, I attached one to the page -- not the orginal one of course.)

"But I Want My Lips Off!"  Sometimes I would catch Little Man perched on my bed, reaching for (or already have reached and was using) my Blistex that I keep at my bedside.  He would smear it liberally around his lip area and leave the cap off.       I tried to temper this behavior and stop it by explaining that we don't take other people's things and that we always ask first.     But he would always strongly tell me, "It is my lips-off." "No, Little Man," I would explain, "It's called lip GLOSS."     "No, mama," he would reply, "It's my Lips-Off.  I want my lips off!"

Feb. 22, 2007
Different Version to Famer in the Dell

Little Man was helping me with the laundry today and it was such a cute time with him as he sang away as we worked together. 

(He LOVES to help.  Training my second-born, starting early, has been a wise thing.  He will actually get upset soemtimes if he catches me doing laundry without him.  We have lots of fun together.  Sometimes we make it a game and he will help me drag/push the clothes basket from our master closet to the laundry room, and he will also do it on his own when told, thinking he is so "very strong."  He helps me take the dirty clothes out of the basket and likes to watch the "waterfall" as the washer fills with water.  When a load is done, I pull the dryer door down to open it and put the clean, wet clothes on it.  He will then push the wet clothes in the dryer, grab a dryer sheet to put on top, and then, enthusiastically and yet with some caution, will push the door shut.  He then shimmies his 3 year old body up to the top of the dryer, using the 5 gallon detergent bucket as a step, and pushes the start button.  He will also hand me the warm dry clothes out one by one so I can hang them up and fold them -- he "loves the oh-so-toasty clothes!") 

He was singing away as we worked together this morning to the tune of Farmer in the Dell:

"The wife forgot the child, the wife forgot the child, Hi Ho the dairy-o, the wife forgot the child!"

He was a hoot!  Just singing away, not realizing his fopah.  Oh, little one, may this mommy never forget her sweet children....

Feb. 6, 2006
Working on "Five"

Not only does our son skip the letter “J”, (to read that story, click here and scroll down to "Family Highlights) but we’ve noticed when he counts to 10, he skips "five."  This has led to many lessons as we “do life” and he starts to count something.  In his sweet little 2 ½ year old voice he says:

“One…twoooo….fthreeee…… fourrrr…… siiiix…… saaavennnnn…..

aaaaaaaght…niiiiiiiiine….ten!” 

“Don’t forget five, Little Man,” we say.  “Five is important.  You have five fingers on each hand, five toes on each foot…...,” and we continue to explain.  He nods and then he tries again.

“One…twoooo….fthreeee…… fourrrr…… siiiix……”

(Oh well, being only 2 ½, we still have plenty of time to work on it.) 

Jan. 15, 2006
“Do You Want a Side of Sassy-Sauce With That???”

Here is proof that not all kids are the same…

 When our daughter starts to get a “tone” in her voice that is not appropriate, or when she says something that tells us that her heart needs worked on, she gets trained by a bit of hot sauce on her tongue and we reinforce to her why we do not speak those words, use that tone, have that attitude, etc.   (We share about James 3:5-12 with her and how we need to tame our tongue, etc.)

There are times when she gets part-way through her sentence, or when she puts on “that face” and we will stop her and say, in a silly, southern voice, “Oh, Daaaaaaaarlin’!  Do you waaaaaant a siiiiiide of sssaaaaaaaaaasssssy sauce with that?!?  I don’t THINK so!”  To which she will sometime dissolve into giggles and quickly correct herself. 

But when she doesn’t -- uh oooohhhhhh!  A drop of “sassy sauce” on a spoon for her!  I will hold the spoon out to her and she knows the drill.  She takes the spoon, takes a deep breath, and after a pause and gathering of courage, quickly licks the spoon, and then grabs some water or milk out of the fridge to wash the taste down.  And she knows that it was not pleasant and doesn’t want to repeat it anytime soon!

But I’ve discovered our son will be a different story.  He has witnessed his sister get the “sassy sauce.”  But since he is only two, he hasn’t done anything to deem a “training of the tongue” – until recently.

He has started in on the “No!” stage, and we are in the process of training him in that area.  So finally I thought it was time for him to learn the “training power” of hot sauce applied to the tongue.  Here is how it went:

One afternoon he said, “No!” 

“All right, little man,” I said, “Then we need to go get the sassy sauce, because we don’t get to say no to mommy and daddy.”

“Sassy sauce!  Sassy sauce!” was his strangely excited reply as he ran to open the refrigerator and get the bottle of hot sauce out of the door.

“Hummm,” this mommy thought, “At least he is prepared to accept his discipline.”

I put a drop on the spoon and as he stood looking up at me, he opened his mouth like a little bird.  Without a pause or a blink of the eye by him, down the hatch it went.

 “Sassy sauce, mommy!  More!  More sassy sauce!”

Oh, my!  He loves it!  Doesn’t phase him a bit! 

I guess it's time to try a different tactic for his “tongue training”……..

Jan. 13, 2006
"Are You the Nanny?"

The kids & I were enjoying the wonderful 70 degree weather today and decided to go for a walk.  There is a lot of construction going on in our neighborhood and the kids & I will always wave to some of the workers and say "Hi!" sometimes.

DS gets all excited everytime he sees a piece of big equipment and lets me know when he sees a "tractor" (which can be a variety of things that are huge with big wheels) or a "truck!!!!!!!" (again, in his mind, variations of huge vehicles with big wheels, but usually has some sort of box, etc on the back).

On our way back, a group of guys were pouring a driveway.  DS was of course fascinated with the cement truck, and Abby was studying how they were smoothing down the cement. 

As we walked by, one of the guys called out to me, as serious as can be, "Are you the nanny?"

"No!"  I replied back, over the sound of the truck, "I'm the mama!"

So......  I asked my husband tonight, "Is it rare for a happy mommy to be walking her sweet kids in the middle of the day, chatting away with them, so the guys just assumed that I had to be the nanny who was watching the kids while their mommy was out working?"

"OR," I continued (and this truly is my deepest hope, since my 32nd birthday is coming up on Monday), "is it because I still look young enough to be a college-aged nanny?" 

Wise man -- he said, "Of course it's because you look so young...... and hot!" 

Thanks, hubby!

Jan. 9, 2006
Grandpa's Boa

My dear MIL brought with her a pink feather boa when she visited this Christmas.  She carried it out of the guest room and said to DD, "Do you remember this?"  To which, my DD's eyes lit up and she jumped up and down happily and said, "YES!!!  Is it for me?!?!"

Grandma wrapped it around DD's neck, and said, "Grandpa doesn't need it anymore." 

And that brought back a funnier one-liner that I had almost forgotten......

When we visited them about 3 years ago, my DD was eying the same beautiful pink boa.  My MIL noticed and waited to see what she would say.  Finally, DD said, in a way no grandma could resist, "Gma 'Nette, could I please play dress-up with that?"

"Well, you'll have to go ask Grandpa, because it's his," Grandma answered.

"Okay!" and off DD ran.

After a few yards, DD stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at my MIL. 

"Grandma," she asked slowly,  in the most puzzled voice, "WHY does GRANDPA have a PINK BOA??????????"

Oh, my gosh, how we all died laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(My strong, strapping ex-wrestler of a FIL was a teacher and worked with people with a funny -- and warped -- sense of humor, and they were always playing jokes on each other.  For a gift one year, one of his fellow teachers got him this pink boa as a joke!)

Dec. 31, 2005
WHO wanted the fish????

My 6 yo DD was begging for a pet, and was shooting for a dog.  Knowing that Mom usually becomes the "mother" to the pet and the amount of work a dog would be, but still wanting to teach her somethings, we compromised as a family and got fish.

9 months later, cleaning out the disgusting, green water, etc in the tank, I jokingly lament, "Who wanted these fish and why aren't they helping me?"

My DD replied, "Hey, don't look at me.  I wanted a dog.  But no.... you wanted to teach me something about responsibility!"

Dec. 22, 2005
"It's just EARLY pneumonia"

...said the husband when I asked him about his doctor's visit.  I had stopped by his work with the kids to pick up his prescription to get it filled. 

"EARLY pneumonia?!?!?!?" said the flabbergasted wife.  "Are you going leave work early today?"

"No, I have too much to do,"  said husband, pausing to cough quite terribly.  (He is in the middle of implementing a big project.)

"He gave me an antibiotic for 5 days," he continued, "and told me to get something over the counter."  Now he's unwrapping a zinc lozenge and popping it in his mouth.

(The over the counter med is Mucinex -- which is quite appropriate since it reminds this former nurse of the word, "mucus" -- which is exactly what is part of DH problem.)

"So, you have pneumonia," said the concerned wife, "but you're going to stay at work.  What about your co-workers?"

"The doctor said it's not contagious," replied the husband, with his assisant looking very thankful in the background.

"So, I guess I'll see you tonight?" replies the wife, knowing I can't change his mind.

"Ya, see you tonight."

I try one more time, "Do you think you'll be able to stay home and rest tomorrow?"

cough, cough.  "I doubt it, I'm too busy.  But I really am okay," he replies.  cough, cough.

Hummmm.... gives new meaning to "walking pneumonia" doesn't it?

Does anyone else have a hubby who is absolutely wonderful and super hard-working, but won't rest?

(By the way, he's come home every night and has CRASHED.)

Dec. 20, 2005
The Nativity -- Through a Child's Eyes

This is what DD created yesterday when she was playing. 

Baby Jesus (doll), Mary, (pink bunny), Drummer Boy (doll sitting by homemade drum), shepherds (bears in front) with a black sheep, and Angels singing on high......

Dec. 20, 2005
"Can you guess what it is?" (from Grandma's Email)

Today, I'm sharing an email that my dear mom-in-law sent out, about our daughter.  Here it is.......

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I have to tell you what six-year-old Abby said to me yesterday. A couple people have told me that I need to write it down.  So you're an (un)lucky guinea pig to get to (have to) read it.    (-:

We had told her before our last trip that we had bought a bench for her playhouse. After we were there a few hours last fall, she came in to me and said: Grandma, you FORGOT my BENCH??!! Grandpa said you forgot it!

We did, Abby. So she has called us a few times each week to remind us to bring it the next trip.

Then she told me yesterday that she knows what we're getting for Christmas but she can't tell me because she knows about that story where the little boy told his brother what he was getting for Christmas, and then neither one of them got anything because he broke a secret!!

But can you guess what it is? she asked.

So I asked her:  What letter does the present start with?

An 'N'. The present sounds like nu . . . nu . . . nu . . . can you guess?

No, no, I can't think, Abby.

Well, the second part of it sounds like cra . . . cra . . . cra. Do you get it yet?

No, no. Does it sit on paper?

No, Grandma. It sits in a rectangle wooden cabinet, like on your wall. You know that one - it has a glass door and shelves?

Gee, I just can't think, Abby.  (Karla was on the other line and not stopping Abby, so I kept the game up).

Grandma, you still can't guess it? Try harder. It sounds like nu . . . cra,
nu . . . cra, think, nu . . . cra.

I guessed, 'er?'

Grandma! Did you GUESS it? Did you guess nutcracker? Now you know what you're going to get? How could you guess it?

Then Karla and I broke up laughing. Maybe it was funnier in person. But it tickled our innards!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

After I read the above email to Abby, she said, "I was tricking her, but she guessed it.  How did she guess it?  Do you think we (Gma & Abby) will still get our presents?????"

Dec. 16, 2005
Afternoon Antics

Little man is running around in his shirt and diaper yelling, “Frrriiizzzzbaaaaa!” and is throwing a Dollar Store addition workbook like it’s a Frisbee.  A bit too much sugar from our co-op’s Christmas Party at noon today, ya think??  He was supposed to be taking his nap over an hour ago – but that holds no interest to him and after trying to put him down (complete with “consequences” enforced for getting up), I’ve finally decided that there is no way this ball of energy is going to be going to sleep with as busy as his little body is today.

Darling daughter is sitting on the floor, browsing through my many boxes of fabric, sewing and craft supplies, occasionally pulling something out and asking me what it is, what it’s for, etc.  Little man has now found a plastic piece of something and has decided that it makes the perfect sword.  He has come over to his sister, brandishing it and declaring joyfully, “Ffff-iiight! Fff-iiiight!”  She takes a piece of the plastic lap-quilting hoop in her hand that she has found, and has giggly started in on the duel.  A sharp look and a few words from Mama and she stops, puts on her exasperated big sister voice, and says, “Tyyyy-son!  Stop!”

They head downstairs, pausing to use it as an indoor slide and saying, “Flyyyyyyyyy!”  Uh ohhhh…. they are out of sight now, and sounding like they are about to continue the wild and crazy fun.  Mama better join in with them………..

Dec. 13, 2005
The World is His Oyster

After Sweet Monday last night, despite the valiant effort of Lysol, strict cleaning with bleach, and careful hand washing, I succumbed to the bug that effected darling daughter and little man.  To try to keep us quarantined, I slept in DD's room so Hubby wouldn’t get it, too.  After a very restless night, I awoke with my tummy a bit calmer, but still pale and achy.  I declared a “sick, no school, stay in pj’s” day, which brought extreme joy to DD, who has been simply wonderful.  She sweetly “took care of Mommy” she informed her daddy this morning.  She does love it when I snuggle with her, and she was in heaven when Mommy slept with her last night.  (She usually only gets to when Daddy is on a business trip.)

I tried to lay back down and rest while Hubby was getting ready for work.  He came into the room, looked at me with a silly smile, and said, “Did you know that your son is running around the house, looking like the world is his oyster?”  Hummm…. maybe I won’t be able to lay down & rest when he is up and has an inkling that something is amiss with Mommy – he’s so smart that he would truly, and joyfully, run around, having the time of his life jumping on couches, etc., figuring that Mommy is too slow to catch him today.

This mama is definitely going to take full-advantage of little man’s nap today, though……