Lessons

Kayla has a habit. Every night after I tuck her in bed, she begins asking me what we are going to do tomorrow and the day after that, and the next day, and the day after that. And so it goes until I finally say I just don't know. Last night she began again.
"Mommy, what are we going to do tomorrow?"
"I don't know."
"Well Mommy, if you don't figure out something to do, we'll end up doing nothing."
How true is that? Indecision really is a decision, isn't it?

Moving on to this morning, I saw a few snowflakes and mentioned that "they" are calling for a few flurries today.
Jack said, "Mom, you never know when a few snowflakes will turn into a blizzard."
That's true on many levels, huh?

I'll tell you, one thing I have learned through these snow showers we have around here has come from the kids' responses to them. I don't think we've gotten more than maybe an inch of snow at a time. But everytime, Jack in particular calls out at some point that it's a blizzard! And I love that to him, it is. And it will always be wonderful until the day comes when we get a decent snow, even just a few inches. Then the dustings may not be so great anymore. It will take more and more to impress him.
Children could be satisfied (and happier) with less but we give them more and more under the guise of generosity or other noble ideas. Often all we really do is make it harder and harder for them to appreciate the little things.
Lessons for me to ponder today.

The Week in Review

I know, it's only Tuesday. But it feels like this week has been much, much longer. I don't want to be a whiner but I have to say this rainy weather has been depressing, especially when one is hoping for snow! I have got such a bad case of spring fever. Warm weather, no more coats, being outside. Being outside... I always forget how important it is for everyone's happiness to be able to spend big chunks of time outdoors. We get out some but it's not the same. So, I'm on a quest to find bright spots in the day. And let's be honest, are they really that hard to find? It's just a matter of looking. Here's a few.

How cool is it when your 5 and 6 year old can make the dinner salad? Kayla sliced up the tomatoes (her favorite) while Jack washed and tore the greens. They had a great time. Doesn't it look good?

OK- this is actually a rocking horse. Samuel believes in finding the best way to climb anything and he usually does!

No words needed.

Home

"She should ask Jack what a soul is, since he seemed to feel the presence of a soul. Cankered, perhaps, but that was what gave him his awareness of it." from Marilynne Robinson's Home

I have thought a lot about what to say about this book. It seems like something must be said. It cannot be left alone-one more returned to the shelf.
This is one of those stories that will stick with me for a long time. My heart broke for these characters, over and over again. Such sadness. The author makes them so real. You ache with them.
They have such need for hope, redemption, forgiveness. All of which seemed to slip through their fingers time after time. Just out of reach.
A must read. Truly.

Our Snowy Day

Pretty, isn't it? The duck pond covered in a little snow.

We went sledding with our friends who live just up the road. There are four boys and a baby girl in that family. Good boys, they are. They took turns carrying Kayla's sled up the hill for her. Several times she and the two oldest boys road down together on one sled. They said she should sit in the middle because "that's the safest place."

Jack calls this his "super-duper rocket ride."

I had to put this video on. I love to hear their laughs.

An Icey Walk

Brian took the kids for a walk to check out the duck pond this weekend. It was freezing! Literally. The kids actually got out on the ice, abou 20 inches according to Jack.

We guessed Samuel was pretty warm on the walk in his snowsuit, since he fell asleep in the stroller. Didn't wake up when Brian brought him in and put him on the couch. Slept just like this for over an hour. What a life!

Git it?

"Git it?"
That's what we hear after most of the jokes Jack tells us. He usually gets them from Highlights magazine.

"OK guys, I have a joke. Ready?"

"Go ahead."

"What do you call a snail on a ship?"
Big grin as we ponder. Not guessing is no option. After a couple tries:

"A snailor. Git it? Sailor, snailor?"

And so it goes with most of his jokes.
Here's my personal favorite.

"Why do cows wear bells?"

"Their horns don't work!"

Git it?

Samuel's First Haircut

Samuel was getting a little scruffy around the ears- as well as a few other places. Time for a haircut. His first. He did great. How did we get this little guy to sit still, you ask?

Two words. Chocolate chips.
(photos by Jack)