Growing & Learning

I'm a Guest!

2011-07-04T16:15:00.003-05:00

There are certain times in your life that you feel honored publicly by others. Today is one of those times in my life.

Over at "In the Nursery of the Nation", I have the honor of being a guest blogger!

Hop on over and read my post about our surprise adoptions.

Thank you, Bambi!

4th of July

2011-07-04T14:01:00.011-05:00

Lydia got a new pool the other day. It fits her request perfectly. She wanted a small pool that could hold about 2" of water. She's so easy to please!

Seeing Daddy come home with a PINK pool was just about too much for her! She squealed with delight, offering hugs and kisses to both Mama and Daddy.

But, of course, even a PINK pool can tire you out.

Jacob enjoys being in the pool but has no confidence about his ability to float while wearing a floatation swim suit. All of my other children have learned to enjoy the freedom a floatation suit offers at an early age, but not Jacob. Maybe it's an effect of the sensation loss caused by the spina bifida, but he just isn't comfortable on his own in the water. Even when I hold his hands as he floats, he screams. He insists on having something supporting his bottom or either he wants to be holding onto the side of the pool or the ladder.

But, being in the raft is a very safe place to be, in his opinion. So, that's where he spends most of his pool time.

Samuel, on the other hand, has a blast in the pool! Here he is jumping into the middle of a "donut".

Esther and Samuel found out today that it was fun to straddle floats and pretend that they were horses. Before too long, a race was started. You can see it in the video below.

Anna didn't spend much time in the pool today, but she has spent lots of time in it so far this summer. She's a great swimmer!

But, wait! What about the food? Aren't your "supposed" to grill on the 4th of July? Yeah, I guess so. This year we cooked different food. The main course for lunch was chicken and tonight it will be roast, both of whom floated in Italian dressing all night. Below are the unfinished projects.

Happy 4th! Enjoy the freedoms you still have!

"I want a pet"

2011-06-27T13:14:00.004-05:00

"I want a pet." Those are the words I've heard many times over the last several days from Lydia.

"I want a pet", she says with those big, brown, puppy dog eyes.

"I want a pet", she says out-of -the-blue when nothing related to pets or animals is being discussed.

I want a pet", she says when I least expect it.

When I think of a pet, I tend to think in terms of 4 footed beasts. You know, dogs, cats and the like. Maybe even a turtle or iguana.

Not Lydia.

She has one thing in mind. It's even FREE, a word I like to hear. Easily replaced, too, for when those unfortunate events in life happen.

She wants carpenter ants for pets. Not just one, no. She wants a family of ants. It must include at least three members - father ant, mother ant, and one to be a baby ant (no matter that it's the same size as the father and mother).

Lydia likes to play with them. She likes picking them up and having them crawl on her. They're so much more enjoyable that way.

This mother draws the line, though. Lydia may keep the ants, but outside. Now, I know carpenter ants aren't likely to bite us, but I don't want them cruising around inside the house when they get out of the flimsy (cheap) bug house they call home.

$3000

2011-06-27T08:01:00.003-05:00

Jacob said to Mama, "If I pull my baby tooth, will Daddy give me $3000?"

The boy has no sense of economics or of our annual household income.

Simple Matching Outfit

2011-06-23T14:33:00.004-05:00

Making a simple matching outfit can be easy, requiring less than a yard of fabric, a solid color t-shirt and some ribbon.

Following my directions here, make a simple skirt with an elastic waistband.

Then, pin the ribbon around the bottom of the skirt, making one or two rows of ribbon to suit your taste. Sew in place.

Next, use the same ribbon to decorate your solid color t-shirt. Pin the ribbon in place around the neckline and sleeves of the t-shirt. Sew in place.

There you have it! A simple matching outfit that you can make in one afternoon.