This One Takes the Cake

The Punk (22 months) is such a card.  Seriously.  We almost can’t discipline the kid for laughing.  Almost.  Yesterday My Hub and I were having what you might call an animated… discussion at the dinner table (why is that so often the case on Sunday afternoons… someone tell me please???) And this guy, who sits between us at the head of the table (go figure) got right in there and saved the day.  As we were discussing back and forth, a little bit short with each other, all of a sudden I felt one little chubby hand grab my wrist, and saw the other chubby hand grab my husband’s sleeve and  this shrill little voice cut in;

"Hey!  Hey! Shhhhhhh…………”

I look over at him and he has this dead serious expression on his face, he points his chubby finger at my plate and commands,

“Eat!”

Oh did we laugh.

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.