Say What?!

Once upon a weekend morning,
4 year old Aloria woke early and snuggled in between her dad and I.

Instead of falling back to sleep, I watched her study her daddy's face.

"Daddy?" She said.
"Daddy, you have something white by your mouth."

"Really?" he sleepily replied. "What do you think it is?"

She proposed without hesitation: "Maybe it's bird poop."

...........................

And that was the end of our sleeping in.

Caught Redhanded: a story of the kleenex box's undoing

Just out of sight
and for just long enough...

The Kleenex box lie unprotected.

It's tidy preexistence would never, ever be the same.




























Despite valiant efforts to to contrary.

And a complete lack of remorse.

But judging by this face,
it was totally worth it.



The End.


...Until next time.

Tea for Two

Together they sat.
Two red chairs pulled up to one make-shift kitchen island.

A white satin ball gown with jewels enveloped one seat, while a hot pink lace tunic
(accessorized with striped toe socks no less) perched respectively across the corner.

Small beflowered teacups with matching saucers littered the surface in front of them,
only two privileged for use.

The conversation I per chanced to overhear sounded antiquated - there was chatter about "the
time she fainted", and "the good old days" back when they were eight or ten years old - but
numerous irruptions of giggling and the youthful tinkle of laughter (which often evolved into
explosions of snorts and guffaws) gave away the truth.  And as indecorous as it would be,
I really thought I might witness tea coming out of someone or other's nose!

The scene was reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell or Carl Larson painting and I think either
would have gladly whipped out their pens and brushes for pleasure and posterity.

My own tool of choice for recording this party is evident.  Not paint nor pen nor graphite scrawl.

If I'd happened to own a silken  garment of my own though, I might have been sitting on the
other side of the camera lens, pinky finger extended and teacup raised.

Perhaps when an event of such nature pops up again I'll be more prepared.

Even a good pair of candy-striped toe socks would do the trick :-)

Spelling-Schmelling

Bananagrams: do we know how to play the actual game?
Wellll... no, but that doesn't stop us from inventing our own fun!

Sometimes no rules is a good way to play :-)

Carolina's message says :

"Squeak. 
Yours is the soup.  
It's cold outside. 
Burgers are good when they are just right.
Your daughter, 
Lina"


That's stretching those letters a bit Lina. Haha!
But you're right about burgers being good when they're just right :-)

~Your Mother

This one...

This one is my story teller.

She can make up a good one on the spot - even if it's only a few sentences long.

This one tells me pretty often that "We should make cherry pie."

She's never had cherry pie.

When I asked this one why she didn't like her soup, she answered without hesitation:

"I would like it if it was chocolate soup."

Well who could blame her?

This one was counting some blocks for me yesterday as she pointed to each one:

"One, two, four, sixty-seven..."

This one can wink just one eye.

If she knew what that does to me, she'd use it to her advantage more. :-)

This one tells me she can "get onto the Toil" all by herself.

She calls it that even though I correct her every time.

It's Toilet.

I should be keeping track of more because this one, she makes me laugh.

It's good to laugh.

Everyone should have one like this. :-)

Her Number is (almost) 3 Months :-)

Says big brother Bryce to his 18 month old sidekick Miles:

"That's your tiny little sister.

She's zero.

She doesn't have a number like you.

You have a number. You're ONE!"

Postpartum: Take 9

*Emerald Peace 1 month old*

And then

she looked at me 

and yawned

as though

I were the reason

for her tiredness.

Precious Inquisition

He sat there silently on the Wingbacked chair in my bedroom,
his blanket waded up on crossed legs.

Perhaps past due to un-train the thumb habit, I don't feel bad,
because I know these years are short
and that
he won't carry his blanket around with him
or suck his thumb forever.

We visit some.

I am preoccupied with hanging clothes in the closet.
He, content to think deep thoughts while watching.

He pops his thumb from his mouth just long enough to ask me

"So. God just said 'Let there be rocks', and *poof* there were?"

"Yes" I reply.  "That's right."

Back in goes his thumb.

Then out again.
"And God said 'Let there be trees', and *poof* there were trees?"

"Yep.  That's so."  I say.

With shorter duration between thumb-pops and questions I hear:

"So God said 'Let there be sky' and *poof* there was sky?"
"And God said 'Let there be animals' and *poof* there were animals?"
"You mean, God said 'Let there be a moon' and *poof* there was a moon?"
"Did God say 'Let there be water" and *poof* there was water?"

I can't help the stray thought that
I don't remember ever using *poof* in my retelling of Creation events,
but I like the descriptive image it conjures.

"And God said 'Let there be gold', and *POOF* there was gold?"...

Loving the constant stream of valuable thought here, and provoking my own mind
to chew on a few new ideas, I answer yes, yes, and yes again.

"Yes" I say,
"Isn't it amazing that God's word is so powerful that it can create anything?"

Thumb in, now silent for a brief pause as he chews on these ponderings of his.
Out it pops for one final question.

"And did God say 'Let there be stores' and *poof* there were stores?"

A Pleasant Kind of Lazy

Whoever says that modern technology 

doesn't bring families closer together

might be mistaken.

The Truth Comes out

We sat at the table, the kids joking loudly while I fed Miles yogurt
and tried to snatch a few bites of my own meal.

Upon hearing something of questionable dinner-table content,
Zachary proceeded to correct one of his sisters.

Immediately I asked him, "Hey. Are you the mom?"

You're probably familiar with this line but if not, it's meant to remind the
bossy sibling that if mom is present than mom can take care of it.

Without skipping a beat he replied
"No, but I have an idea that I should be!"


All hope for serious reproof was lost with the irruption of laughter.

Myself included.

One of these days I may just give him the chance.  I wonder if the imaginations version
of being a mom is all it's cracked up to be?

Aloria Says...

"Dis is a Girl and a Wollypop"

Bryce isms

There is a little boy who lives here.

He is number 6 in order of birth,
but #1 in the only place a Bryce Endurance
could fit in this swelling heart of mine!

We took this picture because Bryce noticed that we matched:-)

Here are some of my latest smile-inducers.
As good as a tonic, by my 3 and a half year old.  Enjoy!


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

B:  "I don't like cooked ants."

Me:  "Who cooks ants?"

B:  "Chefs do."

Me:  "Oh.  Well, do you like raw ants?"

B:  "I don't like raw ants OR cooked ants!"

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


"I like giraffe sausage."

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


Me:  "How did you fall off your chair?"

B:    "I didn't fall of my chair...

        I fell off of Susanna's chair!"

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


Me: "Hey Buddy, let's try saying that in a nice way."

B turning to his sister:  "Hey Lina?  Can you please get outta my way?"

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


B:  "Mom... You are a Toot."

Me:  "No Buddy.  If anyone is a Toot, YOU are."

B:  "Miles is a Toot.
 
      You are a Mom-Toot,

      Miles is a Baby-Toot,

      and I am the Kid-Toot.

      And Dad...  the big guy is a DAD-Toot!"

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


"Mother.  You are talking nonsense."

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

Celeb Photo Shoot

Lucy and Miles modeling the Quick Change Trousers.

Lucy and Miles modeling their own adorable selves :-)

It was all fun and games until.....

Lucy maintains that she didn't pinch her buddy, 
but the whole thing looks a little dubious, don't you think? 

Submit your caption! :-D

For the Dad of Our Family

Dear Dad of my Children (My Own dearly Beloved),

Your kids are very creative.  You may have picked up on that by now, but they sure have it in them!

Thank you for facilitating their imaginations and their fancy, by providing such a wonderful wood shop.
As you'll see below, Number One was inspired to organize the workbench you built!
(Well Done Number One!) Thank you for making that workbench a priority over the top of a long
list of projects to be done.
You are the best!

Clay built one robot this morning and before long, he had a very colorful gathering of friendly and
sociable robots.  I love them.  I love the colors.  I love your Clayton.

Do you see what Z did with the wheels your ordered?  He built two different rolling toys.
Bryce took them both to bed.

Here's a picture of The Robot Dogs Clayton imagined up. My bookcase in the
living room is starting to resemble a Toy Store! :-)

The picture below it?  Some votive candle holders Zachary made and is sharing with me :-)

Now.  Here is our latest acquisition: 3 Goldfish.
Did you know you approved of their purchase?  You did it when you married me
and made me the mom of these hoodlums.  I hope you don't regret it ;-)

At 27 cents apiece, why not seven fish - one for each child?
Because I don't want to hear a sob-story about who's fish just died.
Let's make sure the victim belongs to everyone equally.
I may be a pessimist, but I think I'm setting myself up for success.

Not so sure about the fish.

Finally, a bit of my own creativity.  This sign is a knock-off of someone else's creation, but I'm happy with
my spin.  It was great to have Zacks help cutting this and nailing that, finding me the right screws and
retrieving the ladder... I practically made this sign from cedar fence boards all by myself!
What would I do without an 11 year-old son?

So again, dear Dad...(My own Love), thank you for being such a man.  Thank you for blessing this crew
with opportunities to explore and create.  Thank you for providing the resources.

Thanks for these pretty amazing kids.
I like 'em a lot.

Love,
~me

Were it so simple.

This pregnancy has been another "boringly normal" one.
One thing considerably notable is how much of a mover this little person is.
Moving-moving all the time!
I have been sleeping great lately, but I admit I am ready to meet
he or she and cuddle some sweet baby skin up next to my cheek.

I must look ready.  I keep getting asked "how much longer" I have.
When I answer two months, eyebrows shoot up.
Today when I was grilled, I was told for the second time that I
"look ready to pop"

What do you say to that.

?

Thankfully I am not feeling especially sensitive or vulnerable this time
around, so I tend to take these commentaries in stride.  Smiling, I answer
that "I feel ready to pop".

((And were it so simple to get a baby out as "popping"))

Usually, strangers who like to yak about my pregnant state also want to know 
if this is my first.

"Nooo...." I say slowly "I have some others."

Often this is not the end of our conversation, even as I have signed my receipt
and am trying to edge toward a door.
But I'm selective about who I tell just how many "some more" adds up to.

It can be fun to see the reactions, but it can also put people on the spot.

All in all, I can't believe how many positive looks, responses, and comments
I get when I take the crew out with me.

The Lord's favor is richly over my daily life in that way.
All glory to Him!

Today I had one more really fun commentary - a first for me actually......

The nine of us (including my Wiggly Bump) were taking up half a grocery
store isle, and I was intently instructing Bryce which Bagels to retrieve
for me.
"The Blueberry ones there, with the blue label." I pointed my finger.

There was a woman and child appearing to wait until it was safe to pass
us without running over one of my hoodlums. Or three.

They didn't pass.

The woman continued to observe us, and I began to
realize she was enjoying herself immensely. We were putting on a show.

When she finally did pass, she said "You have a BIG family!"

"Comparatively speaking we have" I replied

Then she asked:
"Are you that family on TV?"

Harhar! {I chuckled out loud}

"NOOO!" I said,
"But when we come out like this it FEELS like we're on TV!"

((At least it feels like we're being watched.))

Ain't that the truth though?  Do YOU feel like you're on TV?
Even going out with just two or three little ones can put you in the limelight.

Hmm... I wonder what the next stranger will say to beat that one!

Such good times.

Masks that Lina made for herself and Bryce

Swapping Sunglasses and checking out their bad selves in the mirror

Painting in the sunlight

Explaining a Math problem (who's doing the explaining though?)

Blocks and animal cutouts the boys have been making

Such great form - and at such an early age! :-)