Even Though…

Love to hear The Rugrat (4) praying at length.  His prayers are a kind of narrative of the day, or even of the moment.  “Thank you Jesus that we are reading the bible, and putting our pyjamas on and going to bed, and the light is still on, and  my teddy is here on my bed (almost like he is describing what’s going on to God… smile)

The one that made me really laugh though was the other night when it was, “and thank you for my baby brother, I love him very much, even though he’s stinky.”

Classic.

In Case Jesus Comes

Overheard The Poppet (8) checking up on The Hero (6) this morning. 

The Poppet: “Did you clean your room?” (such a little mother hen)

The Hero: “M-hm.”

The Poppet: “Did you clean it with EXCELLENCE?”

The Hero: “I don’t know.”

The Poppet: “Well… you should go and make sure you cleaned it with EXCELLENCE.  You should do everything with EXCELLENCE, you know.  In case Jesus comes back today.” 

 

Awesome.  Preach it girlie.

The Poppet Turns 8

Favorite Color: Robin’s Egg Blue

Favorite Food: pizza

Favorite Drink: Crabapple Slush

Funnest Moment from Year Seven: Tobogganing at Loewen’s Hills.

Saddest Moment from Year Seven: when we found out Nonna wasn’t coming for holiday.

Favorite Thing to Do: read

Favorite Movie: Little Women

Favorite Book: Good Wives

Favorite Toy: mp3 player.

Hero: Mommy and Daddy

Why? “Because Mommy works hard cooking and Daddy works hard making our house nice.   

Favorite Family Activity: Go to the indoor waterslides.

Hobby or Interests: Reading, playing piano

Want to be: An artist.

Gifts; mp3 player (Daddy), Louisa May Alcott collection (Mommy), The Charlotte Years-Little House (Prairie Girl), The Caroline Years-Little House (Prairie Hero, Prairie Rugrat and the Prairie Punkin’), also McNally Robinson Gift Card (Brin), Body Butter (Bailey & Willow), Pet Shops (Josie & Livia), Cash (Aunty M.).

The Hero Turns Six

 

Favorite Color: blue

Favorite Food: pizza

Favorite Drink: cold water (???)

Funnest Moment from Year Five: my special day in the city with Daddy

Saddest Moment from Year Five: one day at church when I was playing with Berry Boy and he ran away to play with Nate. 

Favorite Thing to Do: play with Berry Boy

Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean

Favorite Book: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Favorite Toy: my popper pistol

Hero: "that.... I don't know.  Oh. God."

Why? "Because He answers our prayers."

Favorite Family Activity: Watch a movie (I sense a pattern)

Hobby or Interests: spending time with Daddy, playing games with my family.

Want to be: A police officer and be partners with Berry Boy. 

Merry Christmas, Jesus.

Christmas is such an exciting time for kids. Late nights, lots of parties, games, gifts, friends, fun. It can be so much WORK to keep it simple and meaningful. This year we were very happy to slow everything else down and really create a season of worship and reverence in our home. Each year we seem to find another new and simple breakthrough that helps us wake from the stupor of a culture that has once again caught us up in the rat race of consumerism and bling and return our focus to the classic and endearing things that really merit our devotion and emotion.

This year, after the last of our gifts had been opened (despite there being few gifts in the numerical sense, we spread their reception out over the day by opening one gift per hour) we called a family council meeting. Arriving with our drinks and snacks in hand, we proceeded to
discuss what gifts we would bring to Jesus this year. We're talking very personal gifts. Gifts of character and attitude. We don't prompt our kids. We let them steep and stew and see where it leads us.

The Rugrat was the first to respond. He didn't need to stew. He knew exactly what gift to bring to the manger. Prairie Guy and I sat floored as after a pause of only 15 seconds he opened his little three year old mouth and said; "I have a gift for Jesus. I will use only nice words."

And a child will lead us. As we all sat around and discussed it, we agreed that this is a gift we all want to bring to the manger this year. Not just wholesome words, but words said in respectful tones.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts, be pleasing in
Your eyes, Oh Lord.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, JESUS.

The Devil Made Me Do It.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“….for, though Tommy was one of the best-meaning boys who ever adorned knickerbockers, events of the most direful nature were always happening to him, no one could exactly tell how.” 

Little Men, Louisa May Alcott.

*Sigh*.  It’s one of those moments  you hope will never befall you.  The one where your child says something utterly horrifying, in public, to your great chagrin.  Yes.  One of *those* moments. 

Until now the worst it had ever gotten was our oldest daughter once crying out in great three year old anguish from the back seat for someone to help her with her “bloody seatbelt.”  I stopped using that word then and there in moments of frustration, I can tell you that right now. 

How was I to know things could be so much worse?  Immeasurably. Worse.  As the story goes, as my children would tell it, my 5 progeny were seated around the supper table last night with the prim and oh so proper Miss Shawna presiding.  Everyone was apparently enjoying their ravioli and the prospect of an evening of fun and games and crafts with the sitter.  When all of a sudden the devil entered my three year old Rugrat (hyperbolically speaking of course that kid’s got enough mischief in him that he really doesn’t need any help from the devil) and caused him to look innocently at Miss Shawna, open his adorable little mouth and say; “You son-of-a-gitch” and then have the audacity to laugh.  And say it again.  And again.  Like five times in a row.

My older children sat there stupefied.  And apparently my five year old Hero blushed, and ducked his head in a most telling manner.  (Should I really be reading Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer to these two?)

Are you kidding me???  No.  No.  I kid you not.  I think we need to wash some mouths out with soap around here, and the most humbling part of it all is that it won’t be only little mouths. 

Oh, Lord.  Have mercy.