Family News

Starting Tuesday of last week (12/18) when she emptied her part of the dishwasher the first time she was asked, Melody has grown more and more sweet and affectionate. Almost compliant at times.
She still clams up and does her pouty face when she feels like too much is being asked of her (smile? [...]

A few nights ago Melody was using the potty after bedtime, so all the big lights were out.
Responding to her call for assistance I could see well enough that I didn’t turn on any new lights.
Melody reached out and took my hand, feeling it like clay in the dark, trying to recognize it. Finally [...]

Natasha [whispered to me]: Daddy’s being a good daddy: he’s changing the sheets.
~
She’s been playing one of Jay’s Everquest characters this morning, too, and I heard her run to Jay and shout, delighted, “I collected a striped blue butterfly!”  Which is doubly adorable because she only knows that because of the print that came up [...]

Last week Jay hurt his back when he brought the tree up from under the house.
His hurt wasn’t on my mind that evening, but, like I sometimes do, I changed into a nice dress right before Jay got home. The girls of course were thrilled and begged me to help them into dresses also, [...]

Jay brought it out yesterday, and and the kids and I trimmed it today.
It’s twirling in front of our window (I’ve always felt people with Christmas trees should share them with the neighborhood).
Putting on the ornaments reminded me that I haven’t looked for anything new this year (I got representative stuff last year. But [...]

Isn’t this sad?
The girls didn’t even know what cauliflower is.  Shopping yesterday I bought some, and the girls’ reactions were great.
“What’s that?” (distrustful) “What do you do with it?”
I explained it by saying you can do anything with it you do with broccoli. One of the girls gushed, “You can make soup with it!”
So that’s [...]

At the book store last week Elisha met a little girl his size who was there with her father.
Both kids were dinging around (not-listening) and after a while I had to round up my three and take them to the bathroom for a diaper change (not going to leave anyone unsupervised, of course).
The dad (he [...]

The girls have developed an attachment to The Sound of Music and we were watching it this morning.
How would you explain Maria’s leaving after her dance with the Captain?  To a 3- and 4-year-old?  I did okay, I guess, but I’ve not had an answer before today (and they have asked).
Today I said Maria thought [...]

Well, I can’t decide if I’m sensible or a wimp.
It was 16-below this morning– for this first time this winter?  And I decided we were staying home from MOPS.
We went to the library yesterday at zero, and I learned what an odd age/cold combination I have.
Natasha is old enough to winterize herself, and walk quickly [...]

Well, it’s been a while so I wanted to write something
We spent a lovely week up North with Jim and Teena, half of it also with Aaron and Autumn, allowing me the rare opportunity to talk with them and especially to get to know Autumn better. Very special.
If I haven’t said so [...]