Starting the Christmas Season off Right

Today, Nick and Cooper wrote our Christmas letter. If Jeff lets this version get out the door, you'll want to frame it or something. It's a classic.

Tank Ewww

This one is getting closer and closer to the age of two, which means that more and more words (that we can understand) are coming out of her mouth.

She says the most appropriate things at the strangest times:
*Tank Eww (thank you) We usually have to prompt the boys to say this, but not Maddie. She'll thank you for supper; she'll thank you for a hug; she'll thank you for changing her diaper; she'll thank you for rubbing her head after you've accidentally smacked it with the refrigerator door. She's definitely got a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

*Butt (butt) Guess who has been teaching her this one? What's funny about it, though, is that she'll use it anytime she sees anyone's butt. And since she's at about butt-height, she uses it fairly frequently. As her parents, we've been trying to correct her into saying "bottom", but you have to admit, to see this sweet innocent face say, "butt" is kind of funny.

*Ick (Nick) I'm not sure why she's taken to calling her big brother Ick, but it seems to fit.

*Buddy (Cooper) This one is starting to disappear. She used to call him that because she couldn't say Cooper, but she's starting to get the hang of it, and I think we're all a little disappointed.

*IOK (I'm O.k.) She's learned this from Ick. We all know how he'll yell it as he's on his way down to the floor, and then he'll reassess and confirm that indeed, he is o.k. Well, he's teaching this skill to his sister.

*ay dow (Lay down) Most mornings, I'm grabbed by the hand, led to my bed, and given this instruction. Then I get jumped upon. I don't particularly love that last part, but it's hard to resist the chance to "ay down" with Miss Maddie.

*sap (I'm going to sit on your lap) This usually is said when my lap is entirely full, and there isn't a spare inch. However, she makes her own space.

There's more, but right now, I'm drawing a blank. Plus Ick just told me we're going to ay dow. Who am I to argue?

Artists

With a girl in the house, we have a new-found love of artsy things. The boys would color at this age, but not like this girl. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to want to limit her art to paper, but that's another story for another day.

Nick is really working on writing his name. He's got some tricky letters in there -- N and K were always what I considered hard to learn, but he's really getting it.

Cooper was working on his homework. He had to draw a picture to go with each of his spelling words: huge, June, rule, tube, use, cube, cute, flute, rude, mule. Luckily, he doesn't have to turn this in, but it's just for practice. I think everyone made their mark on this particular assignment.


By the way, this is my 100th blog post. It's hard to believe that there are 100 little random thoughts and glimpses into our days worth sharing, but thanks for playing along!

Nothing New

Ive been in a funk lately, so it's time to pull out the big guns...


Here's hoping that helps. Otherwise, I may have to find new funk-lifting solutions, and they all involve plane tickets, passports, and blue-green waters.

There I Go Stealing Again

I picked this up from Miz Booshay. I just love opening up her blog. It's like Christmas.

A - Age: 33; soon to be 34, but I'm kind of sensitive about it.
B - Band listening to right now: The geniuses on "Farm Country Ahead"
C - Career future: aack -- the pressure.
D - Dad's name: Ronald
E - Easiest person to talk to: Jeff; Nick (really, all you have to do is listen...or not...he doesn't mind)
F - Favorite song: (at the moment) Chicken Fried, Zac Brown Band
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Blech
H - Hometown: Greenwood, IN
I - Instruments: of mass destruction??
J - Job: wife and mom; church secretary and bookkeeper
K - Kids: three
L - Longest car ride ever: Florida as a kid
M - Mom's name: Linda (Ronald + Linda = Ronda...get it? Har-de-har-har)
N - Number of jobs you've had: 5
P - Phobia[s]: water, electricity
Q - Quote: Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
R - Reason to smile:

S - Song you sang last: Whatever was on the radio...I'm an awesome singer in the car!
T - Time you wake up: 6:30
U - Unknown fact about me: My life is an open book; what do you want to know?
V - Vegetable you hate: brussels sprouts
W - Worst habit: this crazy laptop
X - X-rays you've had: arm, foot, teeth
Y - Yummy food: bread
Z - Zodiac sign: Capricorn

That Girl of Mine

There is no doubt left that this child is mine.

Just this morning, she was climbing on the computer desk (which she's not supposed to do). I've grown weary of pulling her off of it, and figured at some point, she'd fall and that would learn her. Well, today was the day.

It took only a second to make sure there was not that horrible scream that every mom knows means injury, and I went in to help her up. I asked her what happened, and that's when the girl started cussing a blue streak.

Now, since she's not yet two, I didn't get all of the four letter words that she might know (where would she learn this stuff?...I'm going to have a talk with her father), but there was no mistaking the tone of her voice. I was able to pick out a few key words and phrases.

I believe she started by cussing Nick (because he causes most of her anguish, so it's good just to get that one in for good measure).

She cussed the floor she fell upon (how dare it be there).

She cussed the computer (which caused the placement of the desk).

She cussed daddy (she must have known he assembled the desk with little help from me).

She cussed the entire Chinese nation (who made the desk in the first place).

She cussed the driveway (for being outside while she was inside).

And she cussed the fact that we have no Pop Tarts. She really likes Pop Tarts.

Yep, she looks all kind and innocent, but inside that little blond head lives a temper. Just like her mama. (Can you hear my brother laughing?)

Where did the Fall Go?

It was downright cold here this weekend...good thing I snapped these earlier in the week. I almost missed it.

For Grandpa

Darlington Farms

The grand total? $56.04

Yep, that's it.
Bargain city, it is!

~~You want a closer look?~~
They have stuff for kids (3 easel pads, 2 lined writing tablets, and 4 sets of flashcards)

Books of all shapes and sizes

Household stuff (that's a measuring spoon in the middle, for crying out loud)

And oodles and oodles of Christmas stuff (7 rolls of wrapping paper, Christmas cards, gift bags, a holiday CD, gift tags, and Nativity Christmas tree ornaments for my Sunday school class)

My most expensive item: $2.99

So when shall we go?


(They're also open in December)

I can't guarantee that the same stuff will be there if we go again. They bring out new things all of the time!!

My Little Man's World

On this historical night, my little boy showed me a paper he brought home from school today. It was a magazine type publication trying to explain elections to the young souls that are first graders.

My son weighed his decision heavily, but in the end, had to put his ballot in the box for John McCain based on one key bit of criteria. He listed one of his hobbies as "hiking". Barack Obama listed "basketball". My kid is more comfortable in hiking shoes than hightops, so debates, commercials, and automated phone calls aside, the choice was easy.

However, the reason I share this story with you is to ask for a simple prayer. Tonight, my little boy told me that one of his classmates wouldn't vote for Barack Obama because he didn't have the same skin color as her.

Please pray for our country. Please pray for our decisions. Please pray for my little first grader who told me he didn't like his classmate's logic. If you could lift Jeff and I up in prayer, along with the parents of that little girl, I would appreciate that, too. We are shaping the minds of these future voters, and I continue to pray for guidance.

Happy Halloween...a bit late