Floors and scattering seeds
Treats
My mom was notorious for her legendary car-trip snack bags. I think that was Jimmy's favorite part of every visit they made here. Once when Ben was three we found him sitting on the counter gazing into the bag in absolute awe over its contents. He was particularly curious about the Slim Jim's (that mom brought specifically for Jimmy), and struggled over the reality that I would not allow him to eat them. The next morning as we all emerged from our respective bedrooms, we found that Ben had been up early and in the snack bag. He had delivered a Slim Jim for each of us and they were waiting outside our doors. We decided he must have thought that since he couldn't have them his generous little heart needed to know that they would be enjoyed by someone!
His early morning treat making has continued and now, as soon as the door closes behind Jimmy as he leaves for work, Ben heads straight to the kitchen to whip up a treat to be ready and waiting for daddy's return later that evening. A full ten hours later. Usually it's a bowl of ice cream with a fancy topping (or four). He places it in the freezer to wait for the moment he hears the key in the doorknob. He waits all day in eager excitement for the moment he gets to present his delicacy to his daddy.
Maybe it's the instant gratification, or maybe his skill set has broadened beyond just ice cream scooping and Slim Jim placing, but recently I got added to his recipient list. Early one morning he asked me to stay in my room until he came to get me and I didn't argue. After several minutes, he escorted me downstairs and led me to the table, where he had prepared a breakfast feast just for me. He was so proud of himself and since it was made up of his very favorite foods, it was a breakfast for a queen in his sweet mind. And even though a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, quinoa salad and EmergenC isn't typically my first choice for breakfast, it was my very favorite on that day.
The next day he brought Caroline in and she kicked the presentation up a few notches (or "nachos" as the little guys would say). I could easily get used to this....
His early morning treat making has continued and now, as soon as the door closes behind Jimmy as he leaves for work, Ben heads straight to the kitchen to whip up a treat to be ready and waiting for daddy's return later that evening. A full ten hours later. Usually it's a bowl of ice cream with a fancy topping (or four). He places it in the freezer to wait for the moment he hears the key in the doorknob. He waits all day in eager excitement for the moment he gets to present his delicacy to his daddy.
Maybe it's the instant gratification, or maybe his skill set has broadened beyond just ice cream scooping and Slim Jim placing, but recently I got added to his recipient list. Early one morning he asked me to stay in my room until he came to get me and I didn't argue. After several minutes, he escorted me downstairs and led me to the table, where he had prepared a breakfast feast just for me. He was so proud of himself and since it was made up of his very favorite foods, it was a breakfast for a queen in his sweet mind. And even though a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, quinoa salad and EmergenC isn't typically my first choice for breakfast, it was my very favorite on that day.
The next day he brought Caroline in and she kicked the presentation up a few notches (or "nachos" as the little guys would say). I could easily get used to this....
We speak E-Eye
I don't know what all the fuss is about two year olds. In my experience, they are the funniest, most delightful little beings! Eli is certainly keeping that streak alive for us around here. While his opinions and preferences are pretty strong, he makes them known so sweetly that all you can think to do is give him exactly what he wants. Which is precisely why he will likely grow up to be a con man. My apologies to the world in advance, but with his curly blond hair, his bright blue eyes, those adorable dimples and the heart-melting way he says his words it just can't be helped.
First of all, he refers to himself in the third person. For example, he was calling me from his bed the other night and when I went in he stated in his sweet little soft voice, "Mom, E-eye need water. E-eye need nuddles, E-eye need the pan on, E-eye need the door open while E-eye go a-wheep." So naturally, Eli got water, some snuggles, his fan turned on and his door left open so that he could go to sleep.
A few days ago I served pickles along with the children's lunch. As he handed his pickle off to Caroline he declared, "E-eye not wite pittles." When asked why, he says, "Betause! E-eye not wite pittles!"
He also has what we call Eli's FAQ's. Every time we get in the car he turns to Sam and asks, "Dam, where we doe-ing?" Many times. Then several weeks ago the younger boys were getting haircuts. Eli really wanted one himself but I wasn't ready to cut off his golden curls, so I sat him up there and pretended to give him a trim. Ever since then he frequently asks anyone who appears to have an opinion, "You wike E-eye haya-tut?" And, of course, everyone does.
He knows several catechism questions and answers, can sing Amazing Grace with me, surprises us with his ability to say parts of the verses we're memorizing and WILL. NOT. be left out of our family Jeopardy! games. My favorite was this:
Jimmy: "Eli, do you know who God's Son is?"
Eli: "Um.... no."
Jimmy: "Jesus is God's Son. So who is God's Son?"
Eli: "Bible!"
Around here, we speak fluent E-eye and will be very sad when it leaves us.
First of all, he refers to himself in the third person. For example, he was calling me from his bed the other night and when I went in he stated in his sweet little soft voice, "Mom, E-eye need water. E-eye need nuddles, E-eye need the pan on, E-eye need the door open while E-eye go a-wheep." So naturally, Eli got water, some snuggles, his fan turned on and his door left open so that he could go to sleep.
A few days ago I served pickles along with the children's lunch. As he handed his pickle off to Caroline he declared, "E-eye not wite pittles." When asked why, he says, "Betause! E-eye not wite pittles!"
He also has what we call Eli's FAQ's. Every time we get in the car he turns to Sam and asks, "Dam, where we doe-ing?" Many times. Then several weeks ago the younger boys were getting haircuts. Eli really wanted one himself but I wasn't ready to cut off his golden curls, so I sat him up there and pretended to give him a trim. Ever since then he frequently asks anyone who appears to have an opinion, "You wike E-eye haya-tut?" And, of course, everyone does.
He knows several catechism questions and answers, can sing Amazing Grace with me, surprises us with his ability to say parts of the verses we're memorizing and WILL. NOT. be left out of our family Jeopardy! games. My favorite was this:
Jimmy: "Eli, do you know who God's Son is?"
Eli: "Um.... no."
Jimmy: "Jesus is God's Son. So who is God's Son?"
Eli: "Bible!"
Around here, we speak fluent E-eye and will be very sad when it leaves us.
How Tall This Fall?
Lunch Date
Foundation
Reset
The morning had started out badly. Morale was low, motivation was low and the amount of effort it was going to take to rally the troops was high. Higher than I knew I'd be able to muster. Spring Fever hit about six months early. So we did the most reasonable thing I could think to do. Being outside has a way of setting things straight again. We take a few deep breaths, we notice the world around us, our spirits lift. It's like a reset button and it works every time.
Math Buddies
Progress
Even though we have actual excavators and concrete pourers and builders swarming our land every day it's still kind of hard to believe that we're actually building a house. Our 16 year old dream of lots of wide open spaces for our big family to roam and explore and a home comfortable enough for them to look forward to bringing their families for visits one day is actually coming true.
Daily progress checks are part of the routine and I think everyone (including Sadie) already feels at home there.
Daily progress checks are part of the routine and I think everyone (including Sadie) already feels at home there.
Pacman Ghosts
Another little boy has ditched his own jammies in favor of a "daddy yhurt". The way the shirts hang loosely and skim the ground when they walk has always forced us to refer to them as pacman ghosts. Tonight we had a new blue one running through the house at bedtime!
