Mail

Goliath loves to get mail. Every day he offers to get it from the mailbox, and then shuffles through looking for his name. Well, today is his lucky day! He got his very own mail. And not just any mail...Goliath got a credit card offer! It's irresistable, really. 0% introductory APR. No annual fee. Pick your own payment due date! AND, this particular credit card supports the American Kennel Association. He has the option of having the family beagle to adorn his card. I'd be surprised if he doesn't fill out the application this very afternoon with his special blue Crayola and mail it right back. They'll have to forgive his penmanship, however. He is a phonetic speller and his letters tend to run 3-4" in height. Wonder what kind of a credit limit a kindergartener can get these days?

We Should Adopt Eric Carle

Baby is going through a phase. It has nothing to do with eating or throwing tantrums or wanting Mommy. It is what we refer to as the "Brown Bear Blues." Having brought 2 other little boys through toddlerhood, we should have anticipated it more. But the first time Baby brought Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to me, I was caught off guard. I obliged him with the catchy tale of colorful animals, and that's when it started: I handed him the book and he handed it right back to me. Oh, mercy. No matter how many times we read it to him, he brings it back for more. We read Brown Bear at least 10 times a day! We have even enlisted Goliath's help: he can "read" the book and Baby will sit on his lap (cute). There is only one possible diversion that ever works. What is it? Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider. Sigh.

Car Conversation

Overheard in the car on the way to drop Hubby off at the airport:

Goliath: When I grow up, I am going to have 3 children and I will name them Goliath, Little Middle, and Baby, just like us!

Little Middle: Well, when I grow up, I am going to have 6 children, and I will name them all Hot Dog!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

If you live in the DFW area, you know it has been raining here for a long time. Like, 11 days. The clouds finally broke on Thursday afternoon, and it was sunny most of the day yesterday. I am all for bad weather, don't get me wrong. Clouds, thunder, and rain make for a very cozy day...IF you don't have 3 little people running around. The first couple of weeks of summer vacation have not been too fun. So, yesterday, on the first sunny day in nearly two weeks, I was inspired to really have fun with the boys. We pulled the old tent out of the garage and set it up in the backyard. The boys stocked it with pillows, blankets, and flashlights, and we were set for a campout! After Baby went to bed, Goliath, Little Middle, and I settled down in the tent to watch Toy Story on the portable DVD player. We were snuggled up and I reveled in that sweet time with my two older kids. I kissed them goodnight, assured them there were no witches or monsters living in our backyard, and fell asleep on my air mattress (I'm too old and snobby to sleep on the ground if I don't have to). At 11:30, I woke up to the wind howling and the sound of thunder. Just when I was wondering if I should wake the boys so we could go inside, it started to POUR down rain. Luckily, we had had the foresight to put the rain tarp over the tent, but STILL....The storm lasted about an hour, and only Little Middle woke up briefly. When the rain was down to a patter, I managed to fall back asleep, only to be woken again at 3 a.m. by another storm. This time, Little Middle wanted to sleep with me, so we hunkered down on the twin-sized air mattress. Goliath never moved, but woke us up at 6:30. He was absolutely cheerful about our adventure, and clueless about what had really gone on during the long night. Needless to say, I sought shelter in my warm, dry bed and slept until 9:00. I think I will look for other, less sleep-depriving ways to be a Fun Mom.

P.S. This picture was from last week, when we were on Day 6 of rain. Goliath and Little Middle had had enough inside, so we gave in and let them play outside in spite of the weather!

End of the Chapter

First, I must apologize because this post is a backtrack. I have wanted to write about Goliath's graduation from preschool, but it's been nearly 2 weeks since it happened. Part of me is sad and I feel like maybe if I don't write about it, it won't be true; and part of me wanted a picture to go with the post and I can never download them off the camera. I've been waiting for help.

So...two weeks ago a sweet chapter of Goliath's life book came to a close. He has attended preschool since he was 20 months old. This past year has been so much fun to watch him truly blossom socially, mentally, and spiritually. During the graduation ceremony I was thinking about how much he has changed in the past year. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was feeling unconcerned, like I had plenty of time left with him at home. Watching him march in with the other 5-year-olds to receive his preschool "diploma," however, I was panicky...this is IT, and come September, our lives will never be the same. Then, those precious little ones sang a song about how much God loves them. I was in tears (of course), but quietly reassured because I know that my baby will go to kindergarten knowing that he is loved. Loved by his mom and dad, but more importantly...he is loved by God.

He received a Bible of his very own as a graduation gift. He has been very interested in looking at the pictures and reading stories. I pray that as a new chapter of Goliath's life unfolds, he will learn the truths in that book and claim them for his own.

He is an amazing blessing to us, and we are PROUD
parents!

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, babe. Thank you for being my partner in this crazy life and my best friend. I miss you and can't wait for our date tonight!

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I, I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand and have no fear

I, I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind, I will listen

I will be here when the laughter turns to crying

Through the winnin', losin' and tryin', we'll be together'

Cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future is unclear

I, I will be here

As sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here

I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you

And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me

And just as sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here

We'll be together

I will be here

Laugher is the Best Medicine

My kids crack me up.

They think nuns are gnomes.

If you have an itch, you must have fleas.

All the lobsters in the tank at the grocery store died, and they had a ready explanation: A fox must have come in to the store in the middle of the night and eaten all the poor little lobsters.

Goliath is convinced that his grandfather is bald because he pulled out each little hair, one by one, in order to get a new hairstyle.

I'm sure I laughed before I was a mom, but I can't really remember much delightful, belly-aching, hold-your-sides laughter like what I have now. The best part is, they don't even KNOW they are funny!!