The Dinosaur in Our Kitchen

Archer: Cake.
Me: What?
Archer: Cake. (As he points to his mouth)Yummy.
Me: Did you eat some cake?(I know for a fact that we have no cake in the house because if we did, I would be eating it!)
Archer: Yes.
Me: Where did you get the cake?
Archer: Kitchen. Dinosaur.
Me: You got the cake from a dinosaur?
Archer: Yes. Kitchen. Big one.
Me: You got cake from a big dinosaur in the kitchen.
Archer: Yes. Yummy! (said with a big smile.)

Alrighty then.

Carry a Tune

Archer's version of "Jesus Loves Me"

"YES, (loudly) Jee zus of's ME (even louder)!
YES, Jee zus of's ME!
YES (even louder) Jee zuz of's ME (perhaps the loudest)
The baba ta me SOOOOOO! (practically screaming the last word)"

Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat

Well, you get the idea.

Amused and Bemused

Although today is Mark's birthday, I can't ignore that I am about 6 months behind in blogging. So instead of doting on Mark in cyber-space I will have to do it in person later. Because today I am working on a 2 month old post, Archer's birthday.

I have said many times that Savannah never ceases to amaze me. The wheels in her head are always turning and her brain is on fire! Yes, Savannah amazes me daily and Archer well, he amuses the heck out of me! From the day he flew out of the womb (and he did, but his birth story is another tale) he has bemused and amused me.



Mr. Arch spends his days singing at the top of his lungs Jesus Loves Me, ABC's, Jingle Bells, and Old Mc Donald. The funniest is Jingle Bells, "Jinga bell, jinga, bell, jinga bell...HEY!!!!" Loud emphasis on the "HEY!!!" If at some point in time you hear this in your living room, know that I am running with him in the stroller somewhere within a 3 mile radius of your house. He's that loud!



His next favorite pass time is making out with his mom. And honestly I can't wait until he is 16 and I get to tell him that! Since infancy he has required, sought, and given more hugs and kisses than I ever dreamed a human could need. I complained about my neck hurting after a busy stressful day the other day and Archer came up to me and kissed my neck saying, "all better." So sweet. That's just the way he rolls. He will spot any "boo boo" on me and seek to make it better with kisses. Likewise he makes up numerous boo boo's of his own that need to be kissed. However sometimes they are real like just a few days ago when he took a bite of spicy sausage. He stuck out his tongue and said, "Hot, boo boo, kiss it." Laughing I told him I wasn't going to kiss his tongue and then he was of course heart broken. Needless to say, in the end I kissed his tongue!

Bemused. Everything about him has been different from Savannah. And I don't mean this in a good verses bad sort of way but more of a what-in-the-world-do-I-do-about-this sort of way. I found myself at square one with child two. That means that when you see I have not blogged in a few month, I am busy trying to figure things out. The funny thing is, he is getting easier every day. I forsee a day when we will enter a new stage where he is the easier of the two children. But for know I am madly in love with this cuddly ball of amusing challenges.

P.S. Archer's counting this week, "7, 8, 9, 10, 11, A, G, Z, B." Man, and I was beginning to be very impressed. Well, at least he got part of it!

I am a Toddler

Wednesdays are usually Archer's favorite day. Why? Because he get's to rock out like nobody's business at Kindermusik class with one of his favorite people, Mrs. Donnis (and me! I'm there too of course!) There's singing, dancing, instruments, friends, loudness, and sillyness. What toddler would not love such a weekly opportunity.

But this paticular Wednesday morning. Archer was happy playing in his room at his train table. I called him over to me so that I could put his shoes on.

"No." he firmly replied. (Poor child, he still thinks that's an appropriate answer to my commands. He will learn!)

Still being patient I called him over again and assured him he needed to get his shoes on so that we could go to his favorite thing, kindermusik.

"No," this time with dramatic head shaking.

Five minutes later of this charade I was holding him down while he cried as I crammed his shoes on. He kept yelling "train, train, train, no shoes, no shoes, no shoes."

Without any sympathy I wrestled him into the carseat threatening his life if he did not cooperate and off we went to Mrs. Donnis' Kindermusik class. At this point we were both in less than a party-like mood. But I knew once we got there he would have the time of his life even if it took him a while to get over his fit.

We pulled into the parking lot and his face lit up, "kinmusik, kinmusik, instamints (instruments), fun, fun!"

Frustrated and in my best I-told-you-so voice I said, "Archer, I have been telling you all morning that we were going to Kindermusik. That's why I wanted you to put your shoes on, so we could go."

And he did have fun. That boy seriously does rock out in class. And then the rest of the day he repeats, "Donnis, fun. Donnis, fun."

I put him down for a nap and opened my bible study and noticed this week was labeled, "control." Great. Let's learn about relequishing our plan and submitting to God's. Yikes.

Suddenly this morning's events played back like a movie except I was the 2 year old. I literally saw myself throwing a fit over God's plan. How many times have I been so distracted by the mild nuseance of putting on by shoes that I failed to see the purpose was so I could go somewhere great. Well, that number is not for public knowledge. Sufice to say, way too many.

And how many times have I been so content playing with the same old toys (good toys no less) at home that when God tries to move me to something new (and far beter) I hesitate because it was not my idea or I am fearful? If I could look up from my own personal desires (ultimate sign of a toddler) then I would see God was leading me into something far better, even if it does enatil a mundane car ride and getting out of my pajamas or even a little discomfort.

Fear, control, self-centeredness all describe my toddler and myself.

The remedy? Faith and submission.

Exodus 4:10
But Moses pleaded with the Lord, 'O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have bee, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied and my words get tangled.' Then the Lord asked Moses, 'Who makes a person's mouth? Who decided whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see?' Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with youas you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.' But again Moses pleaded, 'Lord, please! Send someone else.'

Discovering Thanksgiving

Through the grapevine I had heard that Thanksgiving was a big deal at Savannah's new school. Still, I had no idea the production in store for the kids and parents until I arrived and the annual Thanksgiving Day Festival.

Festivities began with Savannah's class reciting all of Psalms 100 in front of a sea of Native Americans spotted with a few pilgrims. That's right, all students, teachers, and some parents dressed the part for the day. Some of the costumes were very elaborate.

Then the kindergartners put on an adorable short play telling the story of Thanksgiving. And then we were sent off to learn and play.

The first stop for us was Thanksgiving art where they made authentic tie-dyed turkeys just like the pilgrims did! Just kidding, but it was a craft that Savannah greatly enjoyed. Here she is with her classmates and teacher.



The final product which now hangs on our fridge.




From there the class went to snack time where they learned about what the pilgrims probably ate that first Thanksgiving and were able to try a few new foods. Afterwards they got to Pet a few live animals and learn what the Native Americans and pilgrims would have used them. Thrown in there as well was storytime hosted by someone's grandmother who was absoulutly charming! She was the kind of woman you wanted to call Granny the first time you meet her even though she wasn't your granny.

At this point the children were on a pilgrim high and it was time to bring them back to the deeper meaning of the holiday, thanking God for all His amazing blessings. Music time served just that purpose with old hymns and modern praise songs. There is nothing more moving than a room full of children praising God with their voices. We adults stopped singing for a while and just took in the heavenly sound.




The last stop on this Thanksgiving train was game time which was highly entertaining for the parents. The kids played turkey dodge ball. Basically a group of kids were selected to be turkeys and had to stand in the middle of the circle by the tee pee. The other kids were the hunters and tried to nail them with the balls. Circular dodge ball! It looked more like a turkey slaughter house and had the parents laughing their heads off.




The game got so intense at one point I saw my usually non-athletic daughter pick up the whole bucket of balls and run with the chucking a new ball at her victims with each step!




The funniest part was when they played girls against boys and the girls were the turkeys. They all hid behind the tee pee (the parent in charge was smart enough to make this round uni-directional instead of circular). When is was the other way around we had to keep telling the boys that turkeys are not allowed to throw balls back at the hunters. Just more evidence that boys are meant to go out and hunt for our food (and use up some of that testosterone!) while girls are smart enough to figure out how to solve a problem and keep themselves safe.



With each field trip and event at Savannah's school I become ever more thankful for the opportunity to be apart. This place has been a true blessing!

New Heights

This past summer Savannah conquered her hindering fear of heights and I could not be more proud of her. Last May the same girl who can be seen in the picture below scaling a 3 story high wall, would not walk up an open staircase.

In the picture above my nephew Burton is on the left (he just likes gliding down off the wall and who could blame him) and my niece, billy-goat-Ella is on the right conquering a difficult course with ease.

Below Savannah is on the left and Ella is on the right. My little climber made it just a few feet shy of the top (3 stories high!). Through several attempts she wore herself out by the time she developed the skill and courage to go higher. And she is determined next time she will make it all the way to the top to ring the bell.



Almost there...



Did I mention we were in Aspen during this triumph? Here we are at ACES on Archer's first hike where he fell into the lake. I knew beforehand it was only a matter of time. My guess was that he was going to fall into the River Walk in San Antonio the week before. Luckily he waited and fulfilled hi s destiny here.




Every summer since Savannah was 1 year old she has played in the little stream that runs through the downtown area of Aspen. You would think the being surrounded
by nature that a child could find more exciting things to occupy their time. Maybe the tiny stream is just their size. Who knows why, but kids love it. I couldn't find the pictures of Savannah when she was in the stream at age one but here she is at the age of 2.



And here are the kids this summer (we've added a few since the early picture). George wandered off and missed out on this picture but he joined us later.



Ella and Savannah...I hope they always remain close in spite of the miles.

All Aboard!

A few weeks ago my good friend Rachel and her son Dealey rode the train out to my house for a visit. I took a few shots us playing on the trains at the station but for some reason I never captured Dealey or Archer???? I am fairly sure they were with us.