Okay, so I have all these friends who tell me of their children's masterful feats of making up stories or who sit and ask Mom or Dad to "Tell me a story." I have never had these kids. Don't get me wrong. Mine love to sit and listen to a book. We can read book upon book upon book ad nauseum, until I decide that I just can't read anymore and they will sit and listen to all of them. It's actually quite a peaceful time in my house and I usually reserve it for right before bedtime or naptime. The teacher in me is quite proud of that. However, the idea of making up stories has never interested us. In fact I even had one friend who wrote her child's story down so he could illustrate it. I was starting to think that some of the literary creative juices had spilled somewhere.
Until today...
We were riding over to my mom's house to let the dog out while she was out of town and my dad was at work. We passed by a construction area where they were fixing a bridge and they had a crane out working. The next thing I knew, I heard this.
Kyle: See this is what it says, "Kyle couldn't reach the crane."
So, again, I think the teacher in me saw the moment and the following discussion ensued.
Mom: Is that your story? What happened next?
Kyle: Then he climbed up the crane.
Mom: Wow, where did he go?
Kyle: The crane took him to his house and slid him inside.
Mom: Then what did he do?
Kyle: He just played.
Mom: That sounds like a great ending for your story.
Kyle: Yeah, that's the end. He just played and played.
I know to many it's not much, but I was so happy that he was following a progression of events. And then I heard this.
Kyle: Jacob do you want me to do another one?
Jacob: Yeah!
Kyle: Who do you want it to be about?
Jacob: Jacob!
Kyle: Once upon a time there was a boy named Jacob. He liked his cooking class and his gymnastics class...
I can't remember the rest, but there was a small problem which was quickly resolved and then a Zachary story was told. Unfortunately when Jacob asked him to tell one about Mommy he couldn't think of one. Oh well, I am thrilled with what I got. Who knows? Maybe I'll even write it down and let Kyle illustrate it! Is that crossing some eerie teacher line? :)
B
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A quiet moment
I am getting a quick sneak at my computer this morning. Usually I don't get around to it until the kids are down for naps and quiet time in the afternoon. However, the boys have all been playing down in the basement since they woke up this morning-about an hour so far.
They have built some drain pipes using blocks and are happily driving the trains and cars around, parking them in garages and going about their business. It is now after 8:00 and we have to go to the grocery store today, so I have to get breakfast in them soon, but I just don't want to interrupt the peaceful playing that is going on right now. So often, two of them will play well together, but when you add that third one, there are more fights that play. It doesn't matter which two, just take one out of the mix and everything changes.
Granted when I say quiet, I don't really mean quiet. I can still hear them down there and there is some banging going on. However, Jacob is not screaming, Kyle is not purposefully antagonizing either of them, and Zachary is not hording cars or trains. In my world, that is peace. I'm not sure I know what to do with myself!
B
They have built some drain pipes using blocks and are happily driving the trains and cars around, parking them in garages and going about their business. It is now after 8:00 and we have to go to the grocery store today, so I have to get breakfast in them soon, but I just don't want to interrupt the peaceful playing that is going on right now. So often, two of them will play well together, but when you add that third one, there are more fights that play. It doesn't matter which two, just take one out of the mix and everything changes.
Granted when I say quiet, I don't really mean quiet. I can still hear them down there and there is some banging going on. However, Jacob is not screaming, Kyle is not purposefully antagonizing either of them, and Zachary is not hording cars or trains. In my world, that is peace. I'm not sure I know what to do with myself!
B
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Like Father, Like Son
Just in case we weren't sure that Jacob and Kyle belonged to my hubby...try this!
My hubby has this annoying little habit of wanting to rehash every hand of cards that he plays. When the hand is over, he will ask if someone had x card and then proceed to tell what was in his hand and how he could have played it differently or how he knew that he was going to win. Occasionally there is someone who likes to do this as well, but I think most people just want to get on with the game.
As I watch Jacob and Kyle playing catch with Daddy's softballs, I see and hear the following things:
Kyle: Did you see that? The ball just rolled like this and then I had to pull my glove up like this (all the while demonstrating with the ball and glove in slow motion).
Jacob: Give me the ball so I can show you what happened. The ball went like this and I had to go like this (again, demonstrating in slow motion).
They went on like this all morning, rehashing every catch they made and even ones they didn't. At this age, it was really cute, but I'm not sure how long the cute-factor will continue.
B
My hubby has this annoying little habit of wanting to rehash every hand of cards that he plays. When the hand is over, he will ask if someone had x card and then proceed to tell what was in his hand and how he could have played it differently or how he knew that he was going to win. Occasionally there is someone who likes to do this as well, but I think most people just want to get on with the game.
As I watch Jacob and Kyle playing catch with Daddy's softballs, I see and hear the following things:
Kyle: Did you see that? The ball just rolled like this and then I had to pull my glove up like this (all the while demonstrating with the ball and glove in slow motion).
Jacob: Give me the ball so I can show you what happened. The ball went like this and I had to go like this (again, demonstrating in slow motion).
They went on like this all morning, rehashing every catch they made and even ones they didn't. At this age, it was really cute, but I'm not sure how long the cute-factor will continue.
B
A Beating Heart
Tonight at my hubby's baseball game, Jacob came up to me after playing and running with his friends. He didn't say anything, he just kept trying to grab my hand. I kept pulling it away not understanding. Finally I just let him have it. He pulled it up against his chest and wanted me to feel his heartbeat. Of course it was beating very fast having just been running around. There was nothing said between us, but after a moment of me feeling it, he just ran back to play.
It reminded me of how connected we are. I first heard that heatbeat when I was pregnant with him, and every appointment I would long to be sure it was still there. Now, I just take it for granted that God will keep his heart beating. Maybe this was God's way of just reminding me what little miracles I have running around me every day. Have I mentioned how much I love these little rascals?
B
It reminded me of how connected we are. I first heard that heatbeat when I was pregnant with him, and every appointment I would long to be sure it was still there. Now, I just take it for granted that God will keep his heart beating. Maybe this was God's way of just reminding me what little miracles I have running around me every day. Have I mentioned how much I love these little rascals?
B
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Daredevil
Yes, we have just one daredevil in our family. You might think with three boys that we would have three, but no, we just have one.
Zachary is my daredevil.
When he rides his tricycle outside, the neighbors all ask around to see who is available to watch Jacob and Kyle when I have to take Zachary to the emergency room. See, he doesn't use the pedals, he leans far over the handlebars and gets his feet going (think Fred Flintstone in the car) and he gets himself moving. He refuses to pedal as it is slower that what he does.
He has been dubbed by all who know him as "The King of Near Misses" and he truly is. Sometimes, I am already getting the keys as I watch him do something because I know the ER is our next stop, but somehow, God miraculously watches over this kid.
I am always ready, but ever hopeful that he will stay safe. However, I am not too optimistic since I know that he already thinks that he is at least as old if not older that his brothers. Oh well, the docs in the ER will get to know us well I have a feeling!
B
Zachary is my daredevil.
When he rides his tricycle outside, the neighbors all ask around to see who is available to watch Jacob and Kyle when I have to take Zachary to the emergency room. See, he doesn't use the pedals, he leans far over the handlebars and gets his feet going (think Fred Flintstone in the car) and he gets himself moving. He refuses to pedal as it is slower that what he does.
He has been dubbed by all who know him as "The King of Near Misses" and he truly is. Sometimes, I am already getting the keys as I watch him do something because I know the ER is our next stop, but somehow, God miraculously watches over this kid.
I am always ready, but ever hopeful that he will stay safe. However, I am not too optimistic since I know that he already thinks that he is at least as old if not older that his brothers. Oh well, the docs in the ER will get to know us well I have a feeling!
B
Bridal Shower
My sister had a bridal shower over the weekend. It just also happened to be the weekend that my in-laws were in for a visit. My children are desperately trying to understand the role that they will be playing in this wedding, no, check that, they are desperately trying to figure out what a wedding is. They have seen Mommy and Daddy's wedding picture, they know that they are going to wear special clothes, and they know that they are invited (which, by the way, is very important to them), but they don't really get what it is.
Anyway, as I tried to get things ready Friday and Saturday, the conversation went something like this:
Jacob: What's a bridal shower Mom?
Mom: Well, it's kind of like a party where all the people who love Aunt Sara come and give her the things she will need to have a house where she and Uncle Bill can live.
Kyle: Are we invited?
Mom: No honey, bridal showers are only for girls.
Jacob: Is Grandma Iowa going?
Mom: No honey, it's only for the girls in Aunt Sara's family.
Kyle: But Grandma Iowa is a girl.
Mom: I know honey, but you know how we go to Tulip Time and that's only Grandma Iowa's family, and when we go to the lake that's just Grandma Cassie's family? Well, this is just for the girls in Grandma Cassie's family. I know this is hard for you to understand.
Heck, it was getting hard for me to understand
Jacob: So when are we invited?
And the circle of life continues.
Somewhere down the line I think we will get it, but maybe not before the wedding actually happens-it might be many, many years after that.
B
Anyway, as I tried to get things ready Friday and Saturday, the conversation went something like this:
Jacob: What's a bridal shower Mom?
Mom: Well, it's kind of like a party where all the people who love Aunt Sara come and give her the things she will need to have a house where she and Uncle Bill can live.
Kyle: Are we invited?
Mom: No honey, bridal showers are only for girls.
Jacob: Is Grandma Iowa going?
Mom: No honey, it's only for the girls in Aunt Sara's family.
Kyle: But Grandma Iowa is a girl.
Mom: I know honey, but you know how we go to Tulip Time and that's only Grandma Iowa's family, and when we go to the lake that's just Grandma Cassie's family? Well, this is just for the girls in Grandma Cassie's family. I know this is hard for you to understand.
Heck, it was getting hard for me to understand
Jacob: So when are we invited?
And the circle of life continues.
Somewhere down the line I think we will get it, but maybe not before the wedding actually happens-it might be many, many years after that.
B
Monday, July 21, 2008
Overheard
I'm so glad to be home, but I think Zachary was starting to get used to the idea of not having a mommy anymore, because I heard this from him the other day:
Zachary: I love Grandma!
Mom: Zachary, that's so sweet, do you love me too?
Zachary: No, I only love Grandma!
Then this embodies all I love about my children.
Zachary: Why did you tickle me Mommy?
Mom: Why do you think I tickle you Zachary?
Zachary: Because you love me!
(Ah, indeed I do, and any excuse to get close to them!)
B
Zachary: I love Grandma!
Mom: Zachary, that's so sweet, do you love me too?
Zachary: No, I only love Grandma!
Then this embodies all I love about my children.
Zachary: Why did you tickle me Mommy?
Mom: Why do you think I tickle you Zachary?
Zachary: Because you love me!
(Ah, indeed I do, and any excuse to get close to them!)
B
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