What If...

What if you went to a nationally franchised fast food restaurant with your kids after school?
What if you let your kids play before the food arrived?
What if you didn't let them play when they were done eating?
What if you hurried them into their shoes and then into the car?
What if you told a child who left her shoes on the floor to put them away?
What if that was the moment that you discovered that your child had worn someone else's shoes home?


Yeah. Grandma and Grandpa were still standing by the shoe bin after our 4 mile round trip, wondering where their granddaughter's shoes could have gotten off to.

We laughed.

Because, really, it was funny!

That Certain Twinkle

There's this impish look that Abigail gets when she's about to say something mildly naughty. Something she knows she won't get in trouble for. Something irreverent.
We like to let the kids pray for dinner if they ask. Some do all the time, some do some of the time, and some don't ask. Jonah is an always asker. He asked and we let him pray for dinner. Abigail is a sometimes asker. She asked when Jonah was done so we held hands and closed our eyes again while she prayed. Something sweet, and childish. Something that ended with, "In Jesus' name, Amen."
Then I looked up at her. And she had the look. And she asked me, "Mom, is Jesus' name really Amen?"
And I laughed. And there was apple juice in my mouth already.

Note To Self:

Next year, when making green milk for the Lucky Charms on St. Patrick's Day, only dye 1/2 gallon.

Definition: Post Neuclear Gross

I told my brother in law, David, that I could define "Post Neuclear Gross" best in pictures.  Well, here you have it.

And even though I did clean it up, there is a new mess.  And it looks strikingly similar....

The Days Of The Week- 4Year Old Style

Monday,

Twosday,

Threesday,

Foursday,

Friday.

Yup, plus a couple of extras.

I'm Beginning To Wonder

Why I am writing. For me? Cuz' I seem to be almost alone here folks (Sorry Lizzie, LeeAnn, and Newly-Commenting-BIL-David).

Come on people. Quit holding out. Pass me some lovin'.

Freaky-Smart Children Scare Me

Jonah's changing table was the top of his dresser. Since he was born there has been a plaque above his dresser with his name in wooden letters that are painted bright colors. After a diaper change I would hold him so he could touch the letters, or when he got bigger, he would stand on the dresser and touch them. As he would touch them I would guide his hand along them and tell him the name of each letter.

We haven't changed diapers in a long time.

This year he has been begging me for "work" since Jesse is always being told to focus on his work. I drug out the preschool books I have. I have used these with each of my kids to some degree. I really like them. There is another series that comes after these that is a little more complex- but I loaned them out and they didn't come back- so I guess I will have to buy them again.

Anyway the books that Jonah is working on are written by an old order Amish author. They are SO cute. They tell stories about obedient Amish children who hang their coats and shine their boots, help Mother with the dishes, and help Father with the animals on the farm. I love fiction.

You can get these here.

They have great activities in them. Like this:

(All the better if you color them with one of your sister's multicolor crayola maker crayons)

The bottom page cracked me up because even though I do own all of these items, some of mine take batteries or plug in. And I guess he's never seen me hand stitch before, because he couldn't tell me what a thimble is for.

Except Jonah is burning through them.

Fast.

And then, yesterday, he got out his Leapfrog magnetic alphabet toy. And found all the letters to spell his name. And put them on the fridge. In order.

So today I handed him a pencil and asked him if he could write his name.

Apparently, he can.