Less than 5 mintues ago, Nana, Kaden and I were having hot tea and a cookie. He wanted coffee, and even cried to get some, but settled for actual "hot tea" in a real mug.
So, we're dunking the cookie and eating and chatting (Slurp, slurp). Then I ask Kaden to tell us a story. Sure, he says.
Jesus, he made the lights. Oh, really?
Yes, he made the water too. Mmm, Nana and I nod and exchange a glance. We're thinking he learned about the Creation story.
Then Jesus made the wine, and mixed it with water. And he put it on my head. Eh? you mean when you were baptized? (We are clearly out of the creation story here.)
Yes, but on the altar too. Jesus puts the wine and the water on the altar too. Oh, okay.
I told my teachers. You told your teachers this story? (Maybe his teachers told him!?)
Yes, about Jesus and the wine and the altar. Oh, okay. (You can see how we have less and less to contribute...)
(Now, he stands on the chair and starts swaying back and forth.) Look, I'm a penguin! Come dance with me. Like a penguin...
So we danced like a penguin and hid in our castle. Well, Nana and Daddy did while I typed this up before I forgot. But don't you love stories with happy endings?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Listmania (or, Here's Your Sign)
How I can tell when:
... I'm up too early: 1) the boys are still sleeping 2) the skylights aren't illuminated 3) there's still morning fog outside
... Our household is battling way too much sickness: 1) we go thru 8 oz of honey in less than a week 2) we run low on tea bags 3) we have to call a dr to renew a prescription before an appt 4) I'm desperate enough to spend money on untried items to ease someone's discomfort 5) we buy ice pops more than once a week 6) I have to cancel plans to see friends
... I need to get the computer organized: 1) I can't find photos from last week 2) I'm not sure if I have videos from Kaden's "baby time" 3) I never updated microsoft and now can't open word documents 4) the bookmarks are so plentiful that they're not really helpful
... The house needs serious cleaning: 1) my mom cleans the bathroom 2) Kaden points out dirt in the kitchen 3) the dustbuster christmas present hasn't been opened yet.
... My husband and I need a real date: 1) we pay a babysitter so we can go to a meeting 2) we can't remember the last time we went to the movies 3) our racquetball racquets have cobwebs
...I read too much: I can go thru one book in one night, but can't keep up with magazines... oh, who am I kidding. I can never read too much!
... I'm up too early: 1) the boys are still sleeping 2) the skylights aren't illuminated 3) there's still morning fog outside
... Our household is battling way too much sickness: 1) we go thru 8 oz of honey in less than a week 2) we run low on tea bags 3) we have to call a dr to renew a prescription before an appt 4) I'm desperate enough to spend money on untried items to ease someone's discomfort 5) we buy ice pops more than once a week 6) I have to cancel plans to see friends
... I need to get the computer organized: 1) I can't find photos from last week 2) I'm not sure if I have videos from Kaden's "baby time" 3) I never updated microsoft and now can't open word documents 4) the bookmarks are so plentiful that they're not really helpful
... The house needs serious cleaning: 1) my mom cleans the bathroom 2) Kaden points out dirt in the kitchen 3) the dustbuster christmas present hasn't been opened yet.
... My husband and I need a real date: 1) we pay a babysitter so we can go to a meeting 2) we can't remember the last time we went to the movies 3) our racquetball racquets have cobwebs
...I read too much: I can go thru one book in one night, but can't keep up with magazines... oh, who am I kidding. I can never read too much!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Kingdoms
This week, I've been struck again by the realization- or maybe the remembrance- of how there are so many different "worlds" in which people live.
For instance, since JimDad has been doing the triathlon stuff, we've become aware of how so many people live, breath and train just to swim, bike and run. And fitness in general- there's an amazing number of "fun" races or competitions that one can enter, like WarriorDash or Muddy Buddy. Or even the Disney Marathon series-- a year ago I didn't know it existed and this year I know of at least 4 who competed (thank you, Facebook).
There's the folks who love gardening, or even have small farms, who know all about when to plant and organic ways to deter pests. There's the folks who love nature, and can spot a silhoutte in the sky and tell you the name and characteristics of that bird.
There's fanatics, too. The NFL ones have season tickets, and jerseys from players currently on the roster. They know where to park at the stadium, and how to tailgate. They might even know stats and salaries and the referees' names.
I know folks in all these categories. They have a certain passion, and knowing details about their domain is as natural as breathing. They are immersed in what they love. They're Masters of their chosen Kingdom, and it expands my world when I'm let into theirs. I learn a bit about their "land" and a bit about them. I appreciate a bit more the vast wildness in the way we were made, in the absolute variedness of our shared World.
And then, every so often, I catch glimpses of kingdoms I forgot about, or I didn't even know were on the map. The "awareness shock" will ripple through my mind until the new kingdom settles in. That, my friends, is a good day.
For instance, since JimDad has been doing the triathlon stuff, we've become aware of how so many people live, breath and train just to swim, bike and run. And fitness in general- there's an amazing number of "fun" races or competitions that one can enter, like WarriorDash or Muddy Buddy. Or even the Disney Marathon series-- a year ago I didn't know it existed and this year I know of at least 4 who competed (thank you, Facebook).
There's the folks who love gardening, or even have small farms, who know all about when to plant and organic ways to deter pests. There's the folks who love nature, and can spot a silhoutte in the sky and tell you the name and characteristics of that bird.
There's fanatics, too. The NFL ones have season tickets, and jerseys from players currently on the roster. They know where to park at the stadium, and how to tailgate. They might even know stats and salaries and the referees' names.
I know folks in all these categories. They have a certain passion, and knowing details about their domain is as natural as breathing. They are immersed in what they love. They're Masters of their chosen Kingdom, and it expands my world when I'm let into theirs. I learn a bit about their "land" and a bit about them. I appreciate a bit more the vast wildness in the way we were made, in the absolute variedness of our shared World.
And then, every so often, I catch glimpses of kingdoms I forgot about, or I didn't even know were on the map. The "awareness shock" will ripple through my mind until the new kingdom settles in. That, my friends, is a good day.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wild Suburbia
Hey, let's play a game: two truths and a lie. Which of the following 3 options is NOT true:
During the last 48 hours, we have seen the following within 30 feet of our condo's front door:
1. a 3 foot stalk of corn growing
2. a baby gator
3. an adult otter
(answer at bottom)
*****
I've heard this is the Winter of the Acorns-- every so often, the oak trees drop an overabundance of acorns to make absolute sure the squirrels and their relations don't eat up all the "oak seeds". And you know what? It's TRUE! All over our driveway and yard, there are hundreds or even thousands of these little acorns.
Kaden and Ihave had much fun piling them all into his dump truck, driving them across the concrete, and pouring them into a wee depression in the ground. I wanted to see how many we could collect, but after asking a zillion questions and realizing that the ACORNS were actually SEEDS that would grow into TREES, Kaden began planting them all over the yard.
*****
The burrowing owls are back. Well, coming back to roost anyway. I think they stay around, but we are starting to see them back at the burrows. Which means soon they'll be pairing off, and then we'll have cute fuzzy baby owls to take pictures of and point out on our walks! Did you know they're endangered? So if you have property and want to build and there's an occupied burrow there: too bad for you, sucker. (It's funny until it's your friend.)
****
You'd think we'd see baby gators all over the place, right? Well, we do, sortof. But not near our front door. Nay, folks, we've a 3 foot corn stalk, complete with tassels, bursting out of our potted garden.
And a HUGE otter ran down the side yard yesterday evening, ducking into a culvert, then making a mad dash towards the neighbors, whose dog began to chase it... and that's all we know. Sorry, we're not CNN, folks! I don't even have a blurry picture to get you to squint funny and disagree with me. But JimDad and Kade and TWO other neighbors saw the otter, too- so there.
****
What wild things are happening near you?!
During the last 48 hours, we have seen the following within 30 feet of our condo's front door:
1. a 3 foot stalk of corn growing
2. a baby gator
3. an adult otter
(answer at bottom)
*****
I've heard this is the Winter of the Acorns-- every so often, the oak trees drop an overabundance of acorns to make absolute sure the squirrels and their relations don't eat up all the "oak seeds". And you know what? It's TRUE! All over our driveway and yard, there are hundreds or even thousands of these little acorns.
Kaden and Ihave had much fun piling them all into his dump truck, driving them across the concrete, and pouring them into a wee depression in the ground. I wanted to see how many we could collect, but after asking a zillion questions and realizing that the ACORNS were actually SEEDS that would grow into TREES, Kaden began planting them all over the yard.
*****
The burrowing owls are back. Well, coming back to roost anyway. I think they stay around, but we are starting to see them back at the burrows. Which means soon they'll be pairing off, and then we'll have cute fuzzy baby owls to take pictures of and point out on our walks! Did you know they're endangered? So if you have property and want to build and there's an occupied burrow there: too bad for you, sucker. (It's funny until it's your friend.)
****
You'd think we'd see baby gators all over the place, right? Well, we do, sortof. But not near our front door. Nay, folks, we've a 3 foot corn stalk, complete with tassels, bursting out of our potted garden.
And a HUGE otter ran down the side yard yesterday evening, ducking into a culvert, then making a mad dash towards the neighbors, whose dog began to chase it... and that's all we know. Sorry, we're not CNN, folks! I don't even have a blurry picture to get you to squint funny and disagree with me. But JimDad and Kade and TWO other neighbors saw the otter, too- so there.
****
What wild things are happening near you?!
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