Me : "Walter, are you my boy?"

W: No, I not Mommy's boy, I Mommy's cow."

Me: "Oh, how nice. What do cows say?"

W: "Cows say Maaaam."

The Whole Gang 3

The Whole Gang 3, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

This one is my fav. :)

The Whole Gang 2

The Whole Gang 2, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

The Whole Gang 1

The Whole Gang 1, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

We are a sad bunch when it comes to family photos. There's always some "good" reason to put it off and I have yet to get anything stellar, but I'm so thankful to have these; mussed up hair, tired faces, fake smiles and all.

Thank you so much for your help Ann!

Fun with the English language

Addie (3): "Mom, I came inside because I was so boring."

more later...

Kids

Walter likes to wrestle, punch, and otherwise knock everyone down. He is no respecter of persons in this pursuit so we've been catechising him in boy/girl distinction in order to help him differentiate between who he may war with and who must be protected: Joshy - boy, Emmy - girl etc. I gave him a pop quiz the other night at bedtime.

Me: "Is Micaiah a boy or a girl?"

W: "Caiah boy!"

Me: "Is Daddy a boy or a girl?"

W: "Daddy boy!"

Me: "Is Papa a boy or a girl?"

W: "Papa boy!"

Me: "Is Emmy a boy or a girl?"

W: "Emmy MAN! heeheehee :)"
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Addie singing Uncle Jamie's (Jamie Soles)song about Samson:

"I'm Samson the La-za-rite...."

Me: "Addie, it's NAzarite (launch into explanation). I think you're confusing Nazarite and Lazarus."

A (singing again): "I'm Samson the La-za-rus..."

Me: *beats head on wall*
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Elisabeth: "Dadadadadadadadadada. Blahblahblahblahblah."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were more. Must remember. Dishes first!

Quickly, and quite without photos

I got new glasses from 39dollarglasses. They had a $15.00 discount code so I got them for a song. I'm so thankful to God for sight! They're a little funky. I'll post photos. Maybe. Probably never. Sorry. :)

Walter's feet are doing fantastic. No signs of trouble and he's very agile on them. Fearless beast! He thinks he's an "A-kin Wine" (African Lion) lately. His roaring is very convincing. Also, the teeth marks on the back of my thigh.

After two years of searching, we've got a farm in the works. The offer has been accepted and we're waiting for a few details to check out. We could be on the move near the end of November. Praise God for us! Whether we stay or go, he is the opener of doors and the lifter of our heads.

We're taking a break from school to free up time for organizing and packing. The kids want to help me. It could be a opportunity to grow, right?

Glasses

My poor old glasses bit the dust awhile ago. My eyes are too irritated in the early morning to happily accept the insertion of contacts, so I've been making breakfast in a rather blind fashion. Consequently, I keep burning myself in a most Johnny Hacklerish fashion and this morning? Eggshells. In my eggs.

I must get some new glasses.

What do you think of these?

Self-Control in a Wired World

I posted this on facebook right before I deactivated again. Leah shared it awhile ago and it resonates with me every time I know I've been on the computer too much. I am certain that Satan loves armchair Christians and I find myself too often being a hearer and not a doer.

Off to bed for me. We're heading to Spokane early in the morning for Walter's 6 month visit. Hopefully it will be a fun event for him unlike last time when he screamed at the nurses and doctors like they were peeling the skin from his toes. Who knew that having your feet measured could induce so much drama?

No, I do not like your hat. Good-bye!

I'm off of facebook again. Excuse me while I throw some of my statuses on here. Someday I'd like to make this blog into a keepsake book for my kids so I don't want to lose the funny things they've said.

Emmy (my 5 yr old): "What's that flavor of jelly belly called again? Nudiefart?" (tuttifrutti)

What would THAT taste like?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jamie Soles song 'Fight Mr. Philistine!' prompted discussion with my kiddos about Eli and sons. It reminded me of this:
"You cannot control your children, you say.Then the Lord have mercy on you!

It is your business to do it, and you must do it, or else you will soon find they will control you. No one knows what judgmen...t will come from God upon those who allow sin in children to go unrebuked." ~ C.H. Spurgeon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‎"ON A BOARD!!" Addie (3yr) calling everyone to her train.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‎"Walter, don't touch that. Run! Run to the potty before you - oh shoot. Take those shoes off, Addie! Emmy, please remove your fingers from your mouth. Joshy, please stop pouncing on your brother. Oh dear. Elisabeth's awake already." School! Laundry! Diapers! Baking! Meals! Dishes! Phone calls! Stories! Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Life is like a box of chocolates? More like a game of whack-a-mole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joshy (7yrs): "That's a sweet Jeep."
Emmy (5 yrs), with as much gravel in her voice as a little girl can muster: "Ohhh, yeeeeaaah. Sah-weet like the Dickens."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walter (2 yrs): "Foo. Foo, Mama. Diss fwy foo. I got it in sky."

Walnut is my bug exterminator. He is always on the hunt for flies in particular but he's fearless of bees and wasps too. Last week he proudly presented me with a yellow jacket which was trying very hard to sting him. One of these days...

Foo is the contract...ion 'for you'. I wonder if it will catch on. "I got some flowers foo, Honey."

No?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got four goldfish for the kiddos tonight. They all named their chosen. Joshy's is Oliver, Emmy's is Suzy, Addie's is Laura - Mary! no, Laura, and Walter's is No.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Annie Price makes the best chocolate cake I've ever tasted. Long may she live!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walter (2 yrs): "Dah Wards myyyyy shepiiees, I noh wahn..." Psalm 23 Scottish Metrical Psalter

He converts all words that end in 'er' to 'ies'. Water=watties, paper=papies, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dishwasher's Grace
Thank God for dirty dishes, they have a tale to tell. While other folks go hungry, we're eating very well. With home and health and happiness, we shouldn't want to fuss, for by this stack of evidence, God's very good to us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make me a portrait of Jesus
Paint his love over my sin
And make his life shine like a light through mine
...'Til I am a picture of him
Joni and Friends
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boon has joined No. It is the top news story in Walter's little world. If you come to my house and he feels agreeable enough to try to engage you in conversation, you will certainly be informed. "Fiss dead." Addie, bless her sweetness, was benevolent enough to give Walter her fish. Thank the Lord for seeds of compassion and kindness.

Giddyup Horsey

Giddyup Horsey, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Emmy's passing it down to Elisabeth. I love watching the older girls with the baby. Sisters are wonderful things to have!

A Soles and a Warren

A Soles and a Warren, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

That's what I see. :)

Looks like a self portrait, doesn't it?

Looks like a self portrait, doesn't it?, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Elisabeth is amazingly cheerful for such a sicky. Her usual restful sleeping habits have been thrown on their heads in favor of constant nursing and wanting to cuddle. Sore throats and ears will do that to a girl.

4 month update:

She thinks the word 'blueberries' and the clap of my shutter are the funniest things.
She loves her sock doggie from Auntie Dor.
She can roll from back to tummy but doesn't much care to be on her tummy once she gets there.
She always has a ready smile - except when she doesn't like her bath. Cold tub on warm toes is cause for a complete meltdown.
She has a little girly voice when she talks to me, but she has begun to growl like the boys do when they pretending they're lions or other such ferocious beasts.
She squeals and yells at Auntie Annie. It seems like it's in fun though sometimes it's hard to tell.
She enjoys watching the fish.
She is a sleeper girl. She refuses to sleep if she can feel a draft on her legs.
She blows bubbles. A whole lot of bubbles. Consequently, 'Bubbles' has become one of her nicknames.
She is very drooly and gnawing on everything she can get her mouth on.
She's got a charming bald patch on the back of her head from whipping her head around at the slightest noise. She has had exceptional hearing since birth.
She pulls my hair much too frequently. I'm bald enough. Unhand the hair!

Guess who...

Guess who..., originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

is happier than these two ragamuffins? That's right - me! My brilliant husband fixed my camera last night. *glee*

Red eye and all

Red eye and all, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Bubbles is 3 1/2 months already! My camera must be fixed. Using Ann's camera is akin to acute torture.

Tikka Masala

Ann and Lonna made this for dinner tonight. I haven't had Tikka Masala since Ed and Hannah's twins were two weeks old. Who knew Indian food was beyond delicious?

Pass the Pickles, please!

My love for crunchy dill pickles is well known. Today during lunch I espied a big, juicy one. I remarked to the kids, "That pickle has my name aaalll over it", to which Emmy replied, "Can I see!? Where are the letters?"

By way of an update, we are finally having summer here and it.is.hot. The heat didn't bother me last year because the blood loss from my miscarriage made me cold, but this year I've had to resort to tying a kitchen towel with ice cubes in it around my neck more than once.

Josh is as busy as a guy could be. He gets up at 4 every morning to get some reading in before heading out to work around 6. He likes to gets the weeding done before the heat gets unbearable. After the cleanings are done for the day, he heads out to mow a yard or two before dinner. He's one tired guy at the end of the day and frequently falls asleep with the kids after family worship.

Joshy (recently 7) just wrapped up his first Math book and is excited to begin book 2. I hope it will be more of a challenge for him, though repetition does have its benefits. Reading has become one of his favorite subjects now that he's able to do it with more ease. He is especially enjoying the Little House series. He's growing by leaps - wearing size 9/10 jeans, and he loves to tag along on yard jobs with Josh. He's literally learning to be a diligent and cheerful worker from the ground up. It so good to see him come home covered in dirt from head to toe, grinning from ear to ear about the wage he's just earned. He's growing in character in other ways as well. I praise God for softening and changing his heart.

Emmy(5)is still the writing, drawing, card-making, read, read, reading girl. She also loves the Little House series so she and Joshy have worked out a system for taking turns with the books. She wants to learn how to sew next. We'll have to learn together. I played at sewing by hand as a girl, but I wouldn't consider myself sufficiently educated in that area. She has plans for a patchwork quilt for one of her babies. She and Addie are both hoping for kittens if we ever move out to the hills. She would dearly like to have a white one.

Addie(3)is getting to be such a big girl. She has the potty thing down cold now (Thank you, Lord!) so we are moving on to bigger and better things. She has loved to sign since she was around 18 months so we're working on learning the alphabet together. Watching the 'Signing Time' videos has already given her a good start with phrases and names. She is wild, loud, and silly like I was (am?). Also? Very bossy. She gets that from Daddy. ;)

Walter(2) (aka Walnut or Boots) is talking up a storm now. He's been listening to us sing all along and suddenly, I'll hear him singing using the right words! It's quite adorable. For the past few days he's been in Mommy boot camp to work on being more cheerful. I don't know who it's been more effective for, me or him. Either way, there are more smiles all around. :) He's still my tough nut. This morning we got up early and went to the park while it was still cool. He marched over to the tallest slide, climbed up the steps and flew down without a moment's hesitation. As far as I can recall, it was his first time down a slide. The last time we went to a park he was too young. I often say that he will be the one to make me old, but perhaps it's just the opposite.

Elisabeth is just over 2 months old now and she is the easiest, happiest, little chunk of joy. It's a good thing I didn't have her before all of the others. I would certainly have a very inflated view of my mothering abilities indeed. She is about ready to bust out of her 0-3 month clothes, and she can roll from her back to her side without any trouble. She is a conversational little girl with a soft, coo-y girlie voice. If only my cameras weren't out of commission!

As for me, I am happy and looking forward to Summer's adventures. Maybe we'll go camping this year. It could be fun, right?

Happy Birthday!

This is Jennifer, Jenni, Jen, sister, friend. She is a godly, beautiful, kind, thoughtful, encouraging, witty, talented, wonderful girl whom I love. It is her birthday today. I think she's 27 this year.

Happy Birthday!

Why didn't I think of that?

Joshy: "Mom, I've been thinking about this for awhile now, and I have it figured out."

Me: "Do tell."

Joshy: "Well, I think we should have two rooms. A boy room and a girl room. Daddy and Walter could have come in my room and the girls and Elisabeth could sleep in yours!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Addie: *with gritted teeth* (She loves intensely) "Ooooo, Lizzie, you are the most be-ew-tee-foe girl in all of cweation!"

"Mama, I have a new password. *whispers* It's airplane-monkeys-booger-booger."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On my birthday card from Emmy:

"Happy Birthy Mommy!"

The world's least amiable child...

The world's least amiable child..., originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

has a heart-melting smile. I hope he'll learn to use it more. Screaming is his preferred weapon of choice. Better than biting like Joshy did, but oh so grating. Thankfully, his vocabulary is expanding by leaps and bounds now and I can teach him how to deal with offenses in a more civilized manner.

Recent phrases:

"Where's Ahnie Jenni's boys?"

"I pease go ow-side?"

"Shoes running!!"

"Uh oh! Poo-poo's in 'ere!"

*scowl* "Addie say,"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

In answer to any of us saying that we're going somewhere - even downstairs: "ME!!"

Said when he finds a lego man head: "Oh, guy!" He also says, "Oh, BOB!" or "Bob running!" when he sees our neighbor. Not that he would ever give the poor man the time of day if he came face to face with him.

"Doggies! Pease, doggies?" Said when he wants to watch 'Up'.

Nag, nag, nag, nag. Me: "Walter, I'm getting it. Please be quiet now.' Whisper, whisper, whisper.

Said when Auntie Annie was doing a most dreadful and scary thing - washing his hair. "Eeeeenghhh"
Annie: "Walter, I'm just washing your hair. Close your lips."
With a plea-filled look and a whisper: "Pease howp me?"

"PEASE HOWP ME. I STUCK!"

"Baby's seepin." "Oh! Oh no! Baby's ky-in!"

"I see it?"

"Sop! Sop it, Jossy."

White Fuzzies

White Fuzzies, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

When Addie was a newborn my sister Tammy got me a soft, creamy white blanket. Addie liked to lay on it and it soon became her "white fuzzy". She and her blankie have been inseparable for three and a half years but with the summer heating up, Miss Wrap-herself-up-like-a-human-burrito kept getting up from her nap completely drenched in sweat. One morning I told her we would have to put her beloved away until the weather cooled down and she went into mourning. Her Papa and MomMom (Josh's parents) were out shopping and found her this sweet bear to love on instead. She calls it "White Fuzzy Bear" and it is well loved indeed.

Auntie Jody Eyeballs

Auntie Jody Eyeballs, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

She was born on the day of Jody and Mitchell's wedding so I guess it's only fitting. :)

, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Well, I tried.

Well, I tried., originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I didn't get anything that I really love, but I'm glad to have these since she'll probably be a year old before I can get my camera fixed.

6 1/2 weeks

6 1/2 weeks, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

6 1/2 weeks

6 1/2 weeks, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

sooc -I barely got these today before my camera shutter decided it had been operational long enough. Repairing is not in the budget at the moment. Woe.

Button nose

Button nose, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I looked at her today and realized that her newborn look is gone. She's a bonafide baby now. That's her MomMom holding her.

He runs too

He runs too, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I am blessed every day to see him tearing about. I can only imagine how frustrated he would be if he had never been able to walk due to his clubfeet.

JUMP!

JUMP!, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

We have liftoff, see?

"Ahn Jenni"

"Ah Jenni", originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

She made a good post to cling to during jumping practice.

Mr. Teasebox meets his match

Mr. Teasebox meets his match, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Joshy never misses an opportunity to obnoxious his Aunties (and nearly everyone else) to the brink.

Lovely Mess

Lovely Mess, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

The humidity puts waves in her hair just as it used to do to Emmy's.

, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

We've had some beautiful thunderstorms here lately. They make me miss New York.

sooc - ISO 1600 monochrome

Ellie girl

Ellie girl, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I had to post this snap my s-i-l got for me. As you can see, the cheeks are a-growing. :)

My Girls

June 2010 295, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Kissable

Kissable, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I defy you to resist that face.

, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

These are all from a couple of weeks ago. Her cheeks have doubled in size.

Lashes

Lashes, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I wish I had a macro lens so I could capture her lashes. If they go black like Emmy and Addie's she'll never need an eyelash curler or mascara.

Helloo

Helloo, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

She was yellow about the gills for a couple of weeks so I stripped her down and put her in the bean bag in a not-so-sunny window everyday. Better than nothing, I guess. When will this cold, wet weather be gone?

Pinky

Pinky, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Addie's hat

Addie's hat, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I like new things, but I must confess I get a sentimental feeling seeing her in things her older sisters wore when they were wee.

, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

She likes to hear her big sister's high-pitched voice cooing and squealing, "Ooooo, she's sooooooooo cute!"

Little Mother

Little Mother, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Emmy is very good with Lizzie. She has such a gentle way.

Beautiful girlies

Beautiful girlies, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I've had to resign myself to poorly lit, sooc snaps, but I adore these ones.

"Fie!"

"Fie!", originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Walnut thinks when she waves her hand around, she is actually requesting a high five.

Hush, little baby

Hush, little baby, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Elisabeth has a nightly ritual. She must fuss and fret for at least an hour before settling to sleep at night. Sometimes swaddling works, sometimes the swing, but I usually end up rocking her for the duration. This too shall pass.

Fonetikl spelling

Some snaps I pilfered from Ann's files:







Emmy figured out how to spell Elisabeth's name all by herself.

Addie made a card too. Elisabeth's name looked like cirlces and waves. Addie told me that Elisabeth is spelled: "E-r-t". We are a nicknamey bunch. I hope that one doesn't stick!

Possibly...

Possibly..., originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

the happiest baby I've ever seen. :)

Little Bitty

Little Bitty, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

I've been a bad blogger for the last...well, quite a while. I didn't post about my pregnancy at all. In fact, I held my breath until 37 weeks. Having a bad miscarriage will do that to you, I suppose. I am delighted to report that Elisabeth Kathleen joined our family last Saturday. She weighed in at a hefty 6lbs 14oz and was born after 14 1/2 hours of labor. Thankfully, I had no pain until the last 40 minutes. The boredom of laboring for seemingly forever was much worse than the actual pain of birth. I realize this implicates me as an impatient person. Eheh. Guilty.

This was my first home birth and it was lovely. Freedom to move, no I.V.s or EFMs, no strangers continually coming and going. Just peace and quiet and I got to sleep in my own bed to boot. Bliss! The Aunties took my kids to our dear friend's house (thanks Ang) for the daytime part of it, and Josh brought them home shortly after Elisabeth's arrival in the afternoon. They're all in love with her and have adjusted very well.

A virus completely wiped out our computer last week so I have to use Ann's laptop. In other words, the long run of bad blogging isn't over yet. If I manage to get any good photos I'll try to post them, but don't hold your breath. :)

Rosebud

Rosebud, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

She has the sweetest profile.

Blues

Blues, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Could stay blue, could go green. Addie and Emmy both had blue eyes when they were born.

On The Mend

On The Mend, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Feeling well enough to sit up and zone out in front of a movie, at any rate.

The older three are fever free today, but poor Walnut went down hard this afternoon.

Sick

Sick, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

My kids have been down with fever, croup, and tickle-y death coughing all weekend. They are so miserable, poor lambs.

Josh and I have been taking turns tending to them round the clock and we are both exhausted. I expect we'll be going through the worst of it ourselves when the kids are *just* well enough to bounce off the walls.

Times like these make me so thankful for health. For routine. For a few solid hours of sleep.

The Builder

The Builder, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Joshy at 6 is always making/building/inventing something. He delights in all things mathematical and mechanical. He reads well now so I often ask him to read to the others when they're bouncing off the walls and I'm too busy with my daily things to stop and settle everyone. He enjoys a good story, but has a frustrating time with spelling. Vwls it sms, rn't rlly ncssry. He looooves to do physical and outdoor work like Daddy and is always the first to volunteer to help move something heavy. It's wonderful to see how much heart he pours into it. He's still a rascal and a teasebox and loves to wrestle with Josh and Walnut. W doesn't take it too kindly, but Josh does alright. ;) His latest interest is movie-making. He's got 5 or 60 ideas he'd like to try. Should be fun.

Three

Three, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Missy blue turned three in December. She is big now. Her favorite things are cuddling, wrapping herself up in her creamy fuzzy blanket and looking at books, playing knights and princesses with Em and Joshy, tattling on all evil-doers, bossing whenever she can, making buns and "torrr-tee-yas", writing 'A', drawing circles, and playing legos. She knows her ABC's, 1 2 3's up to 14, and most shapes and colors. She is a dedicated mother to her babies Dolla and Babe. Sometimes she gives them to Emmy for keeps but they seem to find their way back to her eventually. Don't mistake her tricycle for a hunk of red metal. Oh no. It is a horse. It trots. Her favorite psalm is still "Shepherd". She's trying to teach it to Walter but, to her great dismay, he is a poor student. Potty training has been up and doooooooooooown for her, but lately it's been mostly up. Whew! She doesn't like to take a break from whatever is occupying her at any given moment, so I've had to break out a new secret weapon.

The stool.

If she has an accident, I give her a big drink and ask her to sit on the stool in the hall. The idea is to train her to react to the first signal her body gives her so she will make it to the potty in plenty of time. So far, it has been very effective though I'm not going to hold my breath.

Determined

Determined, originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

My 4 year old girl (5 at the end of Feb) has been an absolute sponge in her lessons. She likes to run wild outside when I make her go out, but she'd much rather be reading, drawing, writing, making cards, and in the kitchen helping me. She's flying through grade one and has such an appetite for learning that it's been a breeze to teach her. She blanks once in awhile during math, but it doesn't take long for the light bulb to come back on. She is a tender-hearted girl. She never loses an opportunity to tell someone she loves them or make them a card to encourage and cheer. She has been attempting to fix her own hair every morning for the last few months. Sometimes she does amazingly well and sometimes it looks like swallows are settling, but I love to see the satisfaction on her face for having done it herself. She is Walter's favorite. He loves to dance and she is very obliging. One of these days I'll get some snaps of that. She is constantly hurting herself one way or another. Some things never change. :)

To my dear girl,

To my dear girl, , originally uploaded by iamaprice(Amanda).

Sometimes big brothers can be annoying with their constant pestering and breaking the rules to 'What time is it, Mr. Wolf?'. Yes, he knew that you were the wolf. Yes, he was supposed to run away from you in panic and fright when it was "time to eat you!". No, he wasn't supposed to usurp your wolfship and tackle you instead. Don't let it get you down. Things could always be worse. I could have decapitated you like I did poor Addie, right?

Ok? Feeling better now? That's my girl.

Love you,
Mom