Mom and Dad hosted a wonderful gingerbread house and fort morning for the grandchildren. They worked together to create a delightful village of deliciousness. Thanks Dad for sending the photos. One of the beautiful things about boys,that I'm slowly learning to appreciate, is the way they play. The boys decorated their fort with the theme "Attack of the killer worms". It was marvelous!
"Loaf, what are you going to be when you grow up?" I heard one of the girls ask her one night
"When my hair is long?" she asked.
"Yes, when your hair is long." the giggled response came.
"Well, I not grow up right now. I has short hair."
Loaf is not quite ready for the big life questions, now choosing which dress to wear is another matter.
When we first decided to get a dog both John and I were ardent that it would be an outside dog, but even before Ellie came home we knew she would be an inside dog as the girls talked about sneaking the dog in through their bedroom windows.
Then I was serious that she would not be on the furniture and slowly despite my best efforts the children have been sneaking her on their laps on the couches.
All this culminated into Ellie looking up at me Saturday night with her huge puppy eyes as we were all up on the bed, and she was stuck on the floor. So I did the unthinkable, I called her up. How did I move so far from the strict rules I set up months ago.
I never understood dog people and now I have become one and happy to have changed.
My bedroom is a gathering place in our home. As I have heard other couples talk about their rooms as their sanctuaries and the boundaries they have set. I think about how wonderful it would be to have that kind of set up in our home, but then I walk into my room and see a pile of bodies watching a movie, laughing at the funny things they remember to tell one another, a little something to read during the boring parts. I see all this loveliness and smile at John knowing that these times will not last and one day our room will be once again just for us. Until then I will endure the crumbs in my sheets and the socks under my pillow with more joy.
The potty training has more downs than ups, however one day last month Loaf decided she was done with diapers. For an entire week she went to the bathroom and I thought we were done with diapers, but it was only for a week and then she decided going to the bathroom was too much of a hassle. I should be better about encouraging her, but my motivatation is waining. Maybe after the holidays.
Seeing as how Loaf is not currently using her underwear for it's desired purposes the littles found another use for the clean undergarments. Their laughter was almost uncontrollable as they walked into the room to show us. It's amazing how much delight can be found in simple things.
A classic conversation:
"DAD! Mom has threatened to spank me if I don't get my job done." Tank said one Saturday with disgust and horror.
John smiled and said, "Well sometimes that happens when we are not obedient. My mom spanked me when I was a little boy."
"BUT DAD, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! MOM SPANKS HARD!" He was serious and I was trying not to laugh from the other room.
Chuckling John replied, "I know son, she has spanked me before." and before John could finish his sentence Tank with great disgust shook his head and said, "that is wrong in so many ways."
hahahahahahha!
He didn't miss and beat. The children are utterly disgusted when we are affectionate. We tell them that one day they will appreciate it and think we are cute, but consensus is that it's not likely.
He did such a great job in his Christmas program. He has a great teacher who loves him very much.
I am so thankful for all the teachers in our lives. As I have contemplated who they are and the beautiful things they do for my children I am so blessed to have such positive influences that help them grow. In reflecting about the horrors of the shootings in Connecticut I look at those who bless our lives and in them I see the same kind of dedication, love, and devotion not only to their profession, but to the children as individuals. I know that if something horrible were to happen in our school they would protect and defend my little sweethearts at the cost of their own lives if necessary. Thank you dear teachers in our lives!
Whe we brought Archie home just over four years ago - I laid down the law - he was not allowed on the furniture and the baby gate would be going back up so that he couldn't go upstairs.
Four years down the line - he has his own chair in the living room and sleeps on my bed sometimes between me and my husband !
He wouldn't get away with it if he was a bigger breed (he is a border terrier) and I don't considered myself a small dog lover either.
My Mom's opinion is he is the third child I never had . . . she may be right.
Posted by: Louise | December 18, 2012 at 12:53 AM