An answer

The other day I wondered aloud, "What do you do with board books that have been loved and gummed and flipped through by three emerging readers?"
Well, inspired by Isaac and Audrey's desire to raise as much money as possible for the Pennies for Peace boxes from Sunday school, we went through all of our boxes of books and some old toys and sold some with all proceeds going toward Isaac's lofty goal of raising $50,000 so he could build a whole new school in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Seriously, he finally lost that tooth last night and he put his tooth fairy dollar in his Pennies for Peace box. Their support and heartfelt care for the cause is inspiring and natural and beautiful, born from an instinctual desire to help other kids. Just another one of those times that I realize I have a whole lot to learn from these little people.

Now, you can imagine this process. Many of these books haven't been looked at in months so Isaac had to read most books before deciding if they should go in the keep or sell pile. Then Audrey had to "read" the books before deciding which pile they should go in. Then Elliot randomly walked up to piles and knocked them down or picked one out of the middle that just had to be read that moment. It took a while for the living room to recover.

It's official

Yesterday, Elliot had officially lost his mind.
Isaac was officially done with being trapped inside for days by sub-zero temperatures.
Audrey was officially over her new Christmas toys.
I was officially exhausted.
Thankfully, today is a new day and we are all officially happy as clams.

birthday planning

Since a certain someone has spent the last, oh, let's say, 11 months informing me that he's about to be six, I suppose it's time to face the music. The friend party invites are out and we're preparing for a winter Olympics themed party complete with (bob)sledding, snowball shot putting, ice skating on the pond, snowy long jumps, and snowman building. Isaac is so excited! We'll wear them out playing outside, then bribe them to come in with cake, ice cream, and hot cocoa. We'll paint cocoa mugs and they'll make their own hot cocoa mix to take home. Low key. My kind of party.
I'm slightly more concerned about the meals that Isaac requested for his actual birthday. He'd like to start the morning out with crepes, which he remembers from our days studying France while reading Madeline. Fancy schmancy and time consuming, but not that big of a deal. He's already on record as saying he's fine with anything for lunch. How generous! Last night he was racking his brain for birthday dinner ideas when Audrey had to pipe in, "OOOH OOOH! How about crab legs! Didn't you want those for your supper?" To which Isaac replied, "Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Crab legs! YEAH! Crab legs." To be fair, he did tell us this months ago, but we, and the wallet, were really hoping he forgot. No suck luck. And thanks, nana, for introducing our children to crab legs!
Added to the fact that he wants shrimp pad thai and lettuce wraps and is considering rhubarb crisp instead of cake for his entended family party, I'd say we have an adventuresome eater. Yeah! With very expensive tastes. Boo!

Still wondering how an almost six-year-old can be missing so many teeth. One more on the bottom is sure to fall out while he's sleeping tonight for a grand total of four out now with six lost so far. He's keeping the tooth fairy very busy.

overheard

Isaac and Audrey spent about an hour and a half beading necklaces this morning. Isaac had finished up math and handwriting and we were about to get started on something else when they immersed themselves in beads. I took that chance to make a few bracelets with them before playing and reading with Elliot. Here's a snippet of deep conversation.

Isaac: "This green reminds me of the color I see when I blink. Also of the color that comes in my mind when I'm sleeping. Sometimes I see colors in my mind while I sleep."

Audrey: "Isaac, sometimes when I'm almost asleep, but not quite asleep, I see pictures on my walls that aren't really there. They're pictures I can see when I'm almost asleep, but they're not really hanging on my walls. Some were motorcycles tonight with people on them driving as fast as they can and another night they were people flying kites in the night. It's on my walls and bed and pillows. I don't like when it's on my bed."

Evolution of a boy

Once upon a time, there was a baby who really couldn't be called a baby at all. Unless, of course, the person doing the calling was his mama. Then he can expect that title for the next, oh, say 50 to 60 years.

But even she knows she's pushing the limits of babyhood. You see, he keeps doing big kid things like helping us set the table and learning to unload the dishwasher with his big brother.

He keeps doing toddler things like sticking his big pouty lip out while telling us no and throwing toys when he gets frustrated. Cute, huh?

He keeps saying really smart things like, "funny big squirrel," leaving Jim wondering if babies that age should be using adjectives like that. My favorite was when he got out of the tub and started looking for sock fuzz while I got him PJed up. He searched between all his sweet little toes, found nothing, and came to this conclusion: "empty sock fuzz. eat toes." Then he peed on himself for the second time, the first being the first moment we laid eyes on our sweet son 19 months ago today to be exact. He knows how to make an entrance, that boy.


He counts 1 eye, 2 eye, although sometimes he just jumps right in to 9, 10, 11. He usually knows the colors green and blue and sometimes knows orange and white. He is a hilarious parrot who loves to mimic Isaac and Audrey. He loves all things with engines. Hmm, can't imagine where he got that. Here he is searching for an airplane. (is the child edible, or what?)

So, it's true. He's a 19-month-old toddler. But you better believe he's my baby! He is today and he always will be. Just in case you ever wonder.

why oh why

Does she have free rein of her closet?

Probably because it's about the cutest thing ever and it brings such a happy smile to her face. Probably because I know I'll have plenty of time to argue about clothes with my daughter so I'll save it for when she's fifteen and it really matters.
And, if you're keeping count, that's one pair of puppy tights (hidden), one pair of stripey socks, black pants, stripey shirt, navy blue dress, one goofy smile, and one on-the-side ponytail made to order.
In her defense, she thinks all stripes were created equal and, therefore, all match each other. Aside from that, I can't comment on her inspiration for the rest of the get-up. She's an original, that Audrey o'mine!

Buddies

Audrey loves to call her brothers buddy. Isaac will not tolerate it. I can call him Bug or Bugga or Buddy, but with Audrey, Isaac is the only option. Oh, how his rule has vexed her. Until she came to the grand realization that she has another brother and at this stage in the game she can call him whatever she wants.  She'll be mothering him in some doting, utterly adorable way, steering him to this side of the train table or coaxing him to choose this particular night night story and she'll end her sentence with a lilting, "Okay, buddy?" He'll reply, in his loud gruff voice, so different from hers, "Okay, buddy." Her voice will go up a few octaves and the house will ring with the words, "Oh, did you hear that. He said, 'okay, buddy. I taught him that!'" She'll laugh and laugh at the hilarious joke meant for her ears alone. Except it is so endearing that Jim and I have to laugh too, because she has wanted to have her own "buddy" for a long time and now she does. And neither of them could be happier!

Dreaming spring dreams

So much of the time, I am content right where I am. There are enough thought-provoking moments, tedious worries, beautiful instances, complicated questions, loads of laundry, and lovely wonders in the here and now to keep me happy right where I am. But today as I rocked Elliot, I thought ahead a few months. He was giggling and rubbing his forehead on my lips so I could smother him in forehead kisses and he was so darn happy. Bliss. Carefree. Joy. Those are the words that come to mind. Beautiful words, full of all the promise that every 18-month-old in every corner of the world holds within their little bodies and minds and souls.

His sweet, boisterous giggle was as free as the first warm breeze of spring and a picture planted itself right in my mind: Elliot at the park. We are a park-loving family and we bike, run, stroller, wagon, or walk our way to one park or another most sunny summer mornings. Elliot, a June baby, spent the first months of his life being ferried to parks to sleep the hours away or drowsily watch his older siblings cavort. Last summer he loved to swing and ride in the toy car and chase super balls through the grass and crawl in the wood chips. Truth be told, he also discovered that they don't taste too bad. Needless to say, he's an experienced park-goer, but in all his days, he's never walked at the park.

Oh, how I look forward to the moment he hops out of the stroller and realizes the park is his to discover. Every nook and cranny will be explored. Or he'll just climb up and slide down and climb up and slide down over and over and over. Either way, I expect I'll hear his carefree giggle on that warm, breezy, clear spring day. Maybe I'll think back to the day my 18-month-old, full of promise and delight, giggled as I rocked him before nap. And I'll smile a smile filled with love and adoration and gratefulness. Just in case you ever wonder.

Live from the peanut gallery

Lest one worry that not getting a word in edge-wise for the first 10 months of your life due to very verbal older siblings may stunt a toddler's ability to talk, I present wise words with Elliot.

"Dada air mpressor zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." After listening to Jim put in the doors and trim in the basement. We're impressed that he got most of the letters in compressor.
"Stop Audy push."
"I can do it."
"read tactor beek."
"Mama funny."
"Go bye bye. Wear shoes. No! Diffent shoes."
"I splash Audy."
"I-gaac shower. Otopus shower."
"Polar bear roar."
"Cheetah run. Zoom"
"Beek. Hallinan." This one really gets us. When we read books we say the title, then author's name. He likes the books by P.K. Hallinan so he often finds one on the bookshelf and brings it to us with that request.
"Sing ABC hands." He says this when I forget to sing the ABC's while helping him wash his hands.

The list could go on and on. He is a silly, sweet, chatty boy full of ideas, love, and opinions. Oh, and did I mention cute? And big?

What do you do?

What do you do with shoes you’ll never fill again?

What do you do with a now purposeless walker that taught three strong children to walk?

What do you do with itty bitty onesies that snuggled your precious little babies and now look preposterously small?

What do you do with a carseat that safely chartered three new, beloved babies home from the hospital?

What do you do with boardbooks that have been gummed and chewed and flipped through and read and loved by three emerging readers?

You relish the feel of a drowsy, drooly head resting on your shoulder when no one else’s shoulder will do.

You appreciate each sunset that finds us dwelling together and growing together.

You thank God for the enormous blessing of loving these three miracles.

You only cry a little because you really are looking forward to all the adventures sure to come.

perspective

I worry about finding time to make Elliot's 15-month and 18-month well baby visits that are long overdue.

She worries about her 6, 4, and 2 year old children waiting for her in Kenya.

I worry about cooking healthy, tasty meals heavy on organic fruits and veggies without breaking the budget.

She worries about finding a job to save enough money to get her kids here.

I worry about paying for dance classes and piano lessons and homeschool co-op and if Elliot will be sad that he doesn't go to music class.

She worries that her children's most basic needs aren't being properly met and the fact that, at this moment in time, she can do nothing to help them.

I worry about making time to connect with my husband in the midst of raising three young children.

She worries about her daughters growing up in a country where "women are wasted," as she put it.

I worry about discipline and raising our children to be respectful, empathetic followers of Christ.

She worries about giving her children hugs before bed, kisses when they fall, and whispering I love you before they fall asleep.

When I'm up close to my problems, they can seem huge. Even overwhelming sometimes. But when I step back and consider things in relation to mamas separated from their babies and homeless children wandering the broken streets of Haiti, I realize that most of my problems are born from my blessings. If I weren't rich compared to the vast majority of the world, I wouldn't have the chance to worry about fitting extracurricular activities and organic food into an obscenely large budget. If I weren't rich and blessed with health insurance, there would be no doctor's appointment to fit into our day. If I weren't living in a country that offered women more opportunities than many dream possible, I wouldn't have an equal and loving relationship with my husband to want to foster. My worries are so small. Insignificant even.
Today we cleared the snow off of our pond so we could skate. A plane buzzed by in the clear blue sky. Audrey and Elliot craned their necks in search of it. Finally spotting it, Audrey said, "That plane is small." When we step back and look at things in connection with our big world, even a plane looks tiny. Perspective.

The Great Compromise of 2010

Have you ever argued with an almost 6-year-old? It is the very height of frustration and frowned upon in all situations. We try our very hardest to keep from getting into those tug of wars with our kids because no one ever wins. Somehow we all end up in a filthy heap in the middle of the tug of war mud pit. Not fun and to be avoided at all costs.
But there was one issue that we kept coming back to. Unless Isaac is intellectually engaged, his body must be moving. He will read books for hours, write letters endlessly, debate current events, planets, fantasy football, or any other topic a grown up has an interest in discussing at great length with a child who will ask 13,359 questions, and sit through as many chapters of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a person is willing to read, but the moment the book is on the nightstand, the pencil hits the table, or the grown-up passes out from exhaustion the boy has to be dancing or playing football. There is simply no in between for him.
I tried to change him for far too long. Also the height of frustration, by the way. But, since he is a dancer at heart, a wide receiver in his dreams, and in the top four on my very short list of most important and beloved people in the universe, there had to be another way. Alas, we do not have a playground, football field, or trampoline in our home, so it was time to get inventive. Well, I am pleased to announce that a few weeks ago we finally figured it out and it is a beautiful thing!

He can throw scarves to his heart's content. Scarves can't break lamps like balls can. As an added bonus, they travel at a much more manageable speed. He is his own quarterback throwing to a very agile wide receiver who is known to dive after a scarf for no particular reason, unless you count the satisfying thud of knees on carpet.

Problem solved! I love my dancing, football playing, knee thumping, book inhaling, information hungry sweet boy and I wouldn't change him for the world. Just in case you ever wonder.

A recipe, highly recommended by two little people

In learning a bit about Italy, we tried some recipes common to the area. One of the highlights for Audrey and Elliot was a pesto-spinach dip. Although it was spicy, as evidenced by the fact that Audrey drank cup after cup of water as she ate it and that Elliot repeated, "Spicy dip" each and every time he had the bright idea to scoop handfuls of the dip into his mouth as the forlorn looking crackers sat on his plate, they both utterly enjoyed it.

Elliot was in charge of tearing basil

Audrey and Isaac shared spinach tearing duty before Isaac moved on to cottage cheese scooping

Elliot was the very happy, spicy mouthed, green faced dip taster

Here he is showing me his biggest smile

Without further ado, the recipe responsible for that big, luscious grin and perhaps a bout of heartburn. We are so glad we have no problem getting our kids to eat their green veggies.

Spinach Pesto dip
1 c. 1% cottage cheese
1/2 c. packed fresh spinach, torn into pieces, stems removed and discarded
1/4 c. loosely packed fresh basil, torn into small pieces
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 TBSP chopped onion (we will omit this next time)
1 TBSP grated parmesan cheese
pepper to taste

combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Chill several hours or overnight to blend flavors. Serve with fresh veggies, on crackers, as a salad dressing, or as a sandwich spread. MMMMMM!

solitude

Once upon a time, a boy, forever deep in thought, found the perfect winter's soccer ball.

This is the life

Each winter I am amazed at the resiliency of the human body. As fall turns to winter, we lament the 30 degree nights, wrapped in sweaters and blankets and longing to stay under the covers just one more minute when we awaken the next morning. Then, before we know it, it's January and it's been 0 for three weeks. We run from car to dance class and back to car, teeth chattering the whole way, keeping our chins up because this is what we expect from January. It isn't fun, but it isn't a surprise either. It just is.

Then, hallelujah, we wake up one morning and it's already 10 and and the wind isn't howling and we just know it's going to be a bundle up and head out to greet the sunshine kind of day. Where once 30 felt like a penguin's frozen tundra, 10 feels like a little spot of paradise. And that, my friends, is why people from the north wear shorts when it's 40 degrees in March. Here we are enjoying our little spot of paradise.

Isaac and Audrey would run at the snowbank, jump up, spin in mid-air, and land on their bottoms to make their own personal chair. Audrey's in mid-jump.

Audrey liked to crawl through the drifts and Elliot liked walking on his own, turning a quick nature walk into an hour long adventure.

Sporting Audrey's cool shades, Elliot loved experimenting with his voice as we bumped our way over the slushy, icy sidewalk in the wagon. He laughed and laughed as his voice wobbled and bounced.

Yes, further proof that our walk took forever. Good thing it was 18 out or we'd have been freezing! : )

Books, books, and more books

We are a reading family. Think I'm lying? Check out these pictures as proof.

Audrey reads This Little Piggy to Elliot while Isaac peruses the sports page

In the name of preventing future public humiliation, I had to crop this picture before putting it on the internet, but the picture is much funnier in its original form. Oh well, Elliot will thank me for it later. Elliot likes to read books while using the bathroom. The other kids heard me reading and didn't want to miss out on the underappreciated fun of large groups of people reading books in a tiny bathroom. They both found their way into the bathroom until we were packed in like sardines, enjoying "The Mitten" by Jan Brett.

life lessons

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

We have, once again, been struck by the sleepy bus at our house. We wake up with a sleepy fog hanging over us. We fall asleep, much too late, after putting kids to bed, cleaning up the kitchen, working on the basement, getting stuff together for school, and making sure we fit in time to talk, just the two of us, knowing that the next day will come all too soon. Such is the life of many parents, so I can't complain.
But, I will just a little. You see, Elliot teased us. He tricked us. He lulled us into complacency thinking a good night's sleep was our right. We had earned it and it was ours to behold for all the days of our lives. Oh, how good it felt. To snuggle under warm blankets knowing there wouldn't be a hungry baby to feed, a restless toddler to rock. We'd just sleep until a happy little boy woke up about 6:15.
Well, that was then and this is now. 4:50 AM is apparently the new 6:15, according to the ever trendy Elliot Belliot. I remember the same thing happened with Audrey. She was sleeping in (I know. HA HA. They call 6:15 sleeping in. Hilaaaaaarious, huh?!?)  and then she wasn't. No rhyme or reason. I was talking to a friend about it and off-handedly said, "The Lord gives and takes away. I slept and now I don't and someday I will again. Such is life." We laughed about it and that was that.
But, really, I think about that verse often. "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:20 The song wiggles its way into my mind often. "He gives and takes away. He gives and takes away. My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed by Your Name." My prayers turn to this issue often. I wonder, does my life reflect this song?
Right now, I really don't know. I can handle the insignificant take aways like sleeping past 4:50. I can handle the little take aways like having a grandparent I'm not very close to pass away. I can handle medium take aways like feeling worthless and abused at the hands of someone I thought cared about me. In my blessed beyond my wildest dreams life, I haven't had to deal with big take aways. How awesome is that? And I certainly praise God every day for that. That part is easy to do. How could I keep from thanking God for my loving husband who offered to grocery shop tonight because he knows how I love to stay home all snuggled under my new blanket on a chilly night? Or for my loving Isaac who, realizing Elliot hadn't found his way to my lap for night night stories, plopped his 5 11/12 year old body square in my lap making me feel like the luckiest mama alive. Or for my caring Audrey who put two little cloth diapers on her baby, wrapped it in her dark purple scarf turned blanket, and laid down next to it saying, "Shhhh. Shhh. It's ok. I'm right here. I'm here with you." Or for my sweet Elliot who laughs and laughs at his brother and sister, then walks around saying, "Igaac so funny. Mama, Igaac so funny." My life is full of reasons to fall on my knees to praise God.
But, inevitably, a grandparent will die. A parent will die. My health will fail. Or any number of unforeseen tragedies. What will I do then? I call out to God that I be one who will rejoice in the midst of sorrow. That I will rejoice in the time spent, memories made, and love shared with people I love rather than lament what is lost. Because how can I turn on the one who has provided me with this abundant life?

These are the things my sleep-deprived mind ponders as I fold the laundry, put groceries away, and rock babies to sleep. Big life lessons can come from little wonders. Must be time for bed.

wicked smart

Sometimes Audrey renders me speechless with her insightful observations. In studying a bit about Italy and the many forms of artistic expression it is famous for, we listened to a beautiful CD by Classical Kids Digital called Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery: A tale of Venice and violins. A beautiful and very engaging story filled with interesting Venice tidbits is set to many of Vivaldi's most famous pieces. Some of his pieces are light and airy as 12-year-old orphan, Katarina, excitedly explores Venice at Carnevale time on a gondolier with her new friend Giovanni, but then there are dark and brooding pieces as she struggles to solve the mystery surrounding the Stradivarius violin to be played at midnight on the final night of Carnevale.
It was during the transition from a joyful piece to a sorrowful piece that Audrey quipped, "This song reminds me of that other book we read about the house that blowed up." At first I was surprised because that sounded a bit more violent than the books we read so I asked a few more questions. I wondered if it reminded her of another book on CD, a homeschool book, or just a book we read for fun. She said it was another homeschool book and that she colored the story disk for it with a dark blue marker. Isaac asked a few questions to see if he could help her remember anything else and she got even more specific. She said, "The book had a picture of a soldier standing on broken wood from a house."

I was literally dumbstruck as I realized she was talking about Grandfather's Journey, a story that touches on life in Japan after the attacks of WWII. We read Grandfather's Journey one month ago, so that part wasn't so surprising since kids have memories like a steel trap. I was touched by her ability to hear a song filled with sadness and longing and attach it to a picture of a heartbroken child soldier standing on a home destroyed by a bomb. She is, after all, 3 1/2. I find that emotional connectedness, that sincere empathy, shocking and beautiful.

Oh, how I love this boy.

Elliot is sweet. Just as sweet as a boy could be. Yes, he's drenched in cherry juice, covered in licorice sweet. His hugs and smiles and "cawwy me" requests with arms stretched up high over his adorably round head are enough to make a mama melt. Since we live in reality, he's also known to throw down in a temper tantrum fit if I don't feed him fast enough or have the gall to share part of the half of a cantaloupe with his siblings, but I'm busy and that nonsense is easy to ignore, even with those big, sad crocodile tears! OK, it's not that easy because his cry sounds so tragic and his tears are just huge, but ignore them I must!
He was very sleepy the other night so he was tucked into my lap just like a little kangaroo joey as I sang him his lullabies. He was so still and breathing so evenly that I thought he might be asleep. I stood up, gingerly laid him down in his crib, and began quietly tip-toeing out of his room without the usual "Night night, Elliot. Mama loves you." I was about to step out of his room when he drowsily said, "Nigh nigh, mama. Wuv you." Sweetest boy!

And, for posterity's sake, a picture of Elliot, who insisted on wearing the barrette, while having a tea party with his sister.

weirdos

Elliot and Audrey love lemons. Seriously LOVE lemons. We made pad thai the other night and when they saw the partially squeezed lemons on the counter, Elliot was suddenly "hungy" for "yemons." Except it was expressed much louder than that! The two citrus-loving kiddos walked around for over 45 minutes chomping and sucking on a lemon half. We then squeezed limes on our finished pad thai product so Audrey had to try the lime, too. She sucked on it and, with lips all puckered, said, "oooh. That shaked me." I just love the way kids describe things. So simple, yet so true!

papa piccolo

We've had a fun week with Papa Piccolo. It's set in Venice, Italy, so Isaac planned quite a menu to finish out the week tomorrow. We've researched the geography of the country and learned a lot about canals and gondolas, had an introduction to Marco Polo who was born in Venice, and studied a bit about the paintings, sculptures, and music from the area. Papa Piccolo is a cat, so we've also researched different types of cats and nocturnal and diurnal animals. We used the beautiful illustrations to learn about primary and secondary colors and made our own color wheels. Armed with our new knowledge, they painted pictures using red, yellow, and blue and at least one secondary color. Here's what they came up with. (even Elliot)

Isaac painted a car with a broken wheel, orange sand alongside blue-ish greenish water, and a bright yellow sun. Audrey's main goal was making dark purple and painting with a plastic knife. Elliot actually used a paintbrush, so I was highly impressed!

In the story, Papa Piccolo adopts two kittens and sings them a lullaby he remembers from long ago about moonbeams and stardust and goldfish, things that would make a cat happy. I made a list of nouns so the kids could decide what their lullabies should be about. Here's what the two of them came up with on their own.

I'll sing a song for babies about milk and lullabies and night night.

"                        " monkeys about hanging on trees and swinging and jumping.

"                        " flowers about growing and purple and seeds.

"                        " mamas about having babies and loving their kids and when babies are in tummies. (They've got me pegged!)

"                        " Isaac about being in the Air Force and singing and praising God.

"                        " Audrey about chapter books and praising God and snuggles.

It has been great to get back into the swing of things after a fantastic Christmas break. I am amazed each day by the bright ideas that Isaac, Audrey, and Elliot come up with.

Isaac wonders

We've seriously researched and finally chosen a pretty intense curriculum for first grade. Jim and I are both a bit scared. Not about the curriculum or teaching at home, but because we're fairly certain that he's going to be smarter than us before he's seven. Here are some things that he's been thinking about lately.

What year did Marco Polo get to the border of China?
What does bambini mean in Italian again?
Upon reading about a man found frozen in ice for thousands of years. Was he born even before the first King Herod who wanted to kill baby Jesus?
Upon seeing this lovely display of hat hair in the mirror when he went to wash his hands. Do you think I look like a quail?

The nickname Gapper is oh so appropriate! You can't see it here, but he's missing a bottom tooth as well.

Researching his fantasy football picks with the sports page.

My kids are cute

In fact, I think they're the cutest. Other parents think their kids are the cutest and we're all right because cuteness is quantified differently when the child is yours. But, truth be told, if it came up to a vote, we'd have the whole congregation at church on our side. Each sunday we have Kids Time where the kiddos go up to hear a little sermon about the day's bible story. As soon as the pastor says that kids can come forward, Isaac and Audrey stand up proudly and fumble around as they trip over diaper bags, legs of grown-ups, and each other to make their way up front, holding hands the entire time. Thankfully we sit in the second or third row or it would take all day.

As they're up there, Isaac hanging on every word and Audrey listening intently, but checking out the rest of the kids and the first few rows of parents, too, they tightly clutch hands. They periodically lean over to give each other hugs or rub each other's backs. They whisper answers to the pastor's questions to each other since Isaac shoots his hand up, but is never quite fast enough or outgoing enough to say an answer without being called on. Some days, Audrey sits on Isaac's lap. When it's time to pray, they turn to each other and hold both hands, just like we hold hands to pray at our supper table. It is so adorable to watch. Each time they do something sweet, we can hear the sighs and giggles from around the church. People, especially those with teenagers, tilt their heads wistfully and smile at these tender displays of affection between a big brother and his little sister.
Of course they argue. She plays with the toy he hasn't wanted for weeks, but suddenly can't live without. He races ahead of her to wash his hands first. They push each other's buttons. Of course they do. After all, they are siblings. But they love. Oh, how they love. They love with brothers reading night night stories to his little sister and sisters asking an annoyed brother if he would please talk to her because she loves him so much. They love with their words and their actions and their thoughts. They love and they are loved right back. Just in case you ever wonder.

Audrey sitting on Isaac's lap at the Christmas Eve service

It's about that time

Apparently something clicks when a girl turns 3 1/2. Puppies are still fun. Trucks are still cool. Bike rides are still thrilling. But, the pull of glitter becomes too strong. The call of pink becomes deafening. The need to accessorize becomes impossible to ignore. Here's what that looks like.

Could there be anything cuter? Or more obnoxiously pink?

Resolutions

Happy New Year! We had a wonderful celebration last night. We spent the afternoon playing monopoly Jr. and Hullabaloo before the five chefs convened to make homemade pizza, a family favorite. It was perfect and the kids were especially thrilled since I made our first annual Happy New Year cake. Isaac and Audrey shaped 10 candles into the shape of a 10. It wasn't an easy undertaking and resulted in a hole-filled cake where they had to rearrange candles, but they figured it out together. At 7:30, thanks to the wonders of youtube, we all watched the ball drop in Times Square circa 2007, Big Ben strike midnight in England circa 2009, and fireworks around the Eiffel Tower circa 2009. Then the kids were off to bed while Jim and I painted the last room in the basement. It is gorgeous and we can't wait to show it off to visitors soon since it will be ready for Isaac's birthday.
At dinner last night we talked about things we want to learn about or try in 2010 and also about what we wanted to accomplish in 2009. Last year Isaac wanted to learn to ride a bike with no training wheels. Check! Audrey wanted to drink from a glass cup. (Seriously, that was her idea). Check! We all decided that Elliot wanted to learn how to crawl (check!), walk (check!), run (working on it), and talk (check!). 
Jim and I didn't do too bad either although we didn't hit it out of the park like our kiddos. We both wanted to exercise more and did so sporadically, but really hunkered down at the end of the year so we're riding our momentum into 2010. I wanted to be as patient with three kids as I was with one. Let me tell you, that is not easy. Of course, I fall short often, but have noticed a huge difference since October. Our house has always been filled with laughter and happiness, but the feeling of serenity and joy within these walls is palpable. It's amazing what a little extra sleep will do for a person.
This year Isaac wants to get his own fantasy football team and learn to ride his bike with no hands. Audrey wants to learn to ride her bike without training wheels, and she thinks Elliot wants to learn how to ride a trike while the rest of us think he'll continue working on running and using his fork and spoon. Jim and I just look forward to the next year of fun, adventures, and learning stretched out before us.
I always find the idea of New Year's Eve strange. Yes, it's the start of a new year, but so much is pinned on that one night and so many hopes rest on what happens in the coming days. Will she stick to her new diet? If not, the year is ruined. Will he really be more patient? If not, all is lost. So, while we talk about things we'd like to learn or try, I also remember that we have the capacity to learn and improve ourselves and make changes every day. We all make mistakes. We all fall short. But tomorrow is always a new day and it's never to late to do the right thing for ourselves, our family, our community, our world. So, we'll start today. And if we don't hit it out of the park, we'll try again tomorrow. It's not too late. Just in case you ever wonder.

18 months

We spent the day after Christmas sledding, snowmobiling, eating copious amounts of cookies and Chinese food, opening gifts, and hanging out with more family. It was a fantastic day! A great final hurrah to our Christmas festivities. The next day I realized that in all the excitement, I'd forgotten one important thing: Elliot turned 1 1/2 that day. What a big boy! He is changing so quickly and is most certainly the spitting image of his brother at that age, with just a few extra dimples. It is so fun to watch him grow up and see his personality grow every day. Isaac, Audrey, and Elliot are our own little version of the 3 Musketeers and it's impossible to imagine one without the other two. They go together like chick peas and curry or peanut butter and chocolate, two of the best food combinations known to humanity.
Elliot is so darn hilarious and keeps us in stitches for much of the day. He is laid back in most situations, but also quick to let us know if something is irritating him. Yep, he's 18 months old so it's about time he start making his wishes known and what better way to do that than with a loud no and a body flop. Thankfully, he doesn't pull those shenanigans too often and is easily distracted if he gets upset. Our guide to keeping Elliot happy is very simple and virtually foolproof if followed.
Elliot is happy if he's:
1-wearing shoes, or even better, boots for playing in the snow or
2-recently fed or currently eating or
3-close to his siblings and his parents or
4-looking at books, having a book read to him, or making large piles of books on the floor for others to trip on(current favorite is Who is coming to our house with goodnight moon and the set of vehicle books he got for Christmas coming in right behind) or
5-throwing a ball or
6-singing songs (current favorite is jingle bells, ho ho ho, who wouldn't go, and Angels we have heard on high) or
7-snuggling

nothing like a good tickle

commandeered all of Isaac's Christmas presents-has to keep up with the big kids!

he loves to help us "shaa-well," as he says it

This boy is joy and excitement and silliness and sweetness wrapped up in a big ball of how the heck did you get so cute! Somehow he shows me new reasons to love him each day. So, happy 18 months to our growing up Elliot!!