Things We Teach An Innocent Only Child....

It is entirely appropriate to crawl around the grocery store floor acting like a puppy.

Things we teach an innocent only child....

No kleenex? No problem! You're wearing a shirt, aren't you?

A few recent pics...

This is a girl who has two older brothers. She is SMILING at the crawdad (sp?) Eric is holding up for her to look at.

I don't know where they get this. :) Sophie is on the left. Cousin Johnnie on the right. When together, they are joined at the hip. For Sophie's birthday last year, Johnnie gave her a matching locket. They both put each other's pics inside so they could look at each other even when they weren't together.

Caleb crawling out of the "squeeze rock" on a hike while on vacation. My dad, at age 60, can still crawl through this hole in the rock, and often does so to impress the grandkids. Not a trick for those who get claustrophobic.

Danny on his first day of fourth grade. He is so grown up! A college friend of ours told Danny he wished HIS mom had let him get cool glasses when HE was in fourth grade. We picked the frames out together. Danny liked the retro look. I liked the price. :) I think contacts may be on the horizon, though.

Things we teach an innocent only child....

Having an extra child three days a week has been a great experience so far. Her name is Auden and she is about 20 months. And when her mom and I compare notes, we've discovered that our family teaches Auden some very interesting (some okay, some not so good) things.

And so, I'm starting a series on this blog-"Things we teach an innocent only child...."

Here's one to get you started.


THINGS WE TEACH AN INNOCENT ONLY CHILD

No matter where you are or what you are doing, the best way to get any adult's attention is to simply yell "MOM" at the top of your lungs. Works like a charm.

One Year

Yes, it has been over six months since I posted. That's okay with me. I'm not real fond of "computer time". Let's see, maybe just a few highlights for those of you out there who don't see us very often.

*We had our 1 year anniversary of living in this city. Not sure how I feel about that...

*I.C. has a lot of negatives, but one positive is the nice lakes around. Who needs a pool pass with free lakes/beaches? And yes, I am "that mom" who carries a naked, screaming child to the car under one arm with her other arm lugging a beach bag and her three other kids lagging behind, dragging their towels.

*After much deliberation, it was decided that Danny would go to public school and Caleb would homeschool. (This was what both of them wanted.) Danny transferred schools after three weeks to a much more positive environment. So far, so good!

*Both boys are playing soccer this fall. As much as I don't like spending Saturday mornings at the soccer complex, it has been a huge blessing! We've met numerous families that live within a mile of us, some of whom have kids in Danny's class at school. One family even has four kids, as we do. And if you aren't Mormon, that isn't very common in my part of town.

*I'm watching a friend's little girl three days a week this year. She is a little younger than Eliza. They (usually) get along. When we walk Danny to school I push them in a double stroller. They like to discreetly touch the other one with a finger, toe, shoulder, etc., just to make the other one mad. It is hilarious (and a bit frustrating) to watch/deal with. We are teaching her all sorts of bad habits. :) All of us adore her and Caleb especially dotes on her.

*Our family just spent a week passing the stomach flu around. Any suggestions on how to get the puke smell out of a minivan?

*I love my screened in porch on these beautiful, beautiful early fall days.

*I'm reading, "In the Garden of Beasts" about the days leading up to WWII. Reads like a novel, but is nonfiction. Very good. Makes me want to visit Germany.

*I am very thankful today to be alive. A distracted driver almost clipped us as we were walking to school this morning.I got home and (for the 2nd time) petitioned the city to put in a continuous sidewalk along our street. And thanked God for another day of life.

Speaking of kids...

It's birthday season around here. Three birthdays in 15 days! Never good for the waistline. :) The kids performed a song on stage at church on Sunday. Sophie has been waiting for her turn to get on the stage for years. I paid the boys a small sum to participate with good attitudes. Is that bad? It worked like a charm, so I'm going to go with it. Anyway, if you'd like to view their song, go here....

http://www.vimeo.com/21310119

Yes, I'm in the video, too. And yes, I say "um" twice in a sentence. Shame on me! I'd much rather play someone else on stage than be myself. I get nervous when I'm myself!

I also have a home video of Eliza "performing" as well. I'll try to get it posted, too. She was hilarious!

A morning in Children's Church

Eric and I have been serving in Children's Church once a month on Sunday mornings at our new church. It is a practice in holding back a laugh and a smile when kids get creative in their answers/interactions. For those of you who have never taught a kids' class at church, you should! It is fun and I guarantee you'll learn something-either about God or about kids! Here are a few of our favorite interactions:

Holly: ...and Mary treasured all of these things in her heart....

5-year-old boy: (interrupting with a pirate voice) ARRGH! TREASURE!



7/8-year-old boy: I've touched a million snakes.

Holly: Really, a million?

Boy: (concedingly) Well....maybe a few less than a million....



Eric: Tell me something you are afraid of.

8-year-old boy: Constipation. (I promise, he was totally serious. And really, shouldn't we all fear this? :)