A Deluge

William has started to really pay attention to toys.

Fascinating.

Fasci--oh wait. Yum. This is what he's been missing.

So very, very fascinating.

He finally noticed me.

Oh, yes. That is what I like to see.

Let's get some laughs, shall we?

Giggle, giggle, giggle.

That's right. I'm his favorite. Oh yeah.

. . . .uh, right?

Well, whether I am or not, I sure enjoy these grins.

Here are some baby giggles, in case you want to watch. I like to get some of my babies' first laughs on video, so it's about time I did this with William.

password: laugh

Rite of Passage

Doesn't every child have to do this at least once?

Softball

During the summer, our church plays softball with other congregations in our city's church softball league. It's been a lot of fun to go to the games. If we tell the kids we are going to the softball fields, they dance around the house, merrily singing. "Yay! Softball, softball, softball!"

Joel really likes playing. He gets plenty sweaty in this humid heat but I don't think that dampens his enjoyment.

Running to first. I believe he made it.

Sometimes Joel likes to bat left-handed, and sometimes his hits are more solid if he does.

The kids have plenty to do here. Usually there are some girls who love to play and/or take care of my kids during the game. This means I can (somewhat) relax and only have to take care of the baby, so it is a pretty good situation for me. The girls do such a good job with the kids that I would probably play if it wasn't for William. That's ok, though; the rest of the team should be happier with me sticking to the sidelines.

This is why the kids have plenty to do:

Bleachers, to play on our around.

Water--that they are not allowed to touch but that they can throw rocks into.

Flower-picking.

Dirt.

Friends.

Even William has a friend to play with, who is only about six weeks older but moves around like a champ. Someday they'll be rolling around in the dirt together.

The ball games are now tournament games, so we only have a few left. We aren't the best team, but I think everyone who comes has a good time.

The Truth of the Matter

Everett has recently realized that he does not have to tell us the truth. We haven't had any discussions (until lately) about lying vs. telling the truth because it has been a non-issue. He has always been very upfront with me.

However, Everett must have figured out sometime over the past few weeks that lying about something might keep him from getting into trouble, as long as he isn't caught.

Well, we catch him pretty much every time.

Everett has been getting his pants a little wet each time he needs to go to the bathroom. He'll go a little bit in his pants and then hold the rest in for who knows how long. After a while his pants begin to smell very bad, so in the hope that he will decide it's not worth the hassle, we've started making him take a shower whenever he does this. Yesterday he went up to use the bathroom and came down three separate times in new shorts and underpants.

"Why are you wearing new pants?" I would ask. Everett would just shrug. We had a conversation about how hiding his dirty clothes from me is not acceptable, and I hoped I had made my point clear. Time will tell on this one.

A few days ago, Everett and Ashley were finishing up their lunch. Everett finished extra quickly--suspiciously so. When I asked him where his plum had gone, he told me that he had eaten it. Sure enough, a quick glance at the garbage can confirmed my suspicions. He had sneakily thrown it away.

I sent him to his room, explaining to him that he was not getting a time-out because he threw his plum away. I told him that it is okay to throw food away sometimes (I don't really like throwing food away, but I didn't want to confuse the issue). I also told him that it is not okay if he doesn't tell me the truth. I tried to tell him the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie, and I thought the issue was pretty clear.

Yesterday, Everett lied again about some small matter. He again got sent to his room with another explanation on truth vs. lies.

When he came down, I asked him why he got sent to his room. He shrugged. I told him it was because he did not tell us the truth.

"What is telling the truth, Everett? What does that mean?"

"It means, like, we don't throw things away," he answered confidently.

I explained that this is not what it means, and again I gave him a simple definition about how telling the truth is saying what he really did or what really happened.

"Yeah, and we don't throw cereal away, either," he interjected, before I could get to the part of my explanation about lying.

He wasn't listening to a word I was saying. Somehow, although I tried hard from the beginning to make sure that this exact misunderstanding did not happen, Everett believes that telling the truth has something to do with the moral issue of where you put your garbage.

I think I know what tomorrow's Family Home Evening lesson is going to be on.

If You Have Old Apples You Want to Get Rid of, This Post Is For You

It seems no one in my house wants to eat apples anymore now that we have a whole bunch of good summer fruit to choose from. This means we had quite a few old, almost-wrinkly apples lying around. I didn't feel like tossing them out, so we used them for dinners the past two nights:

APPLE CINNAMON WAFFLES (healthy!)

(disclaimer: I kind of made this up, so I might not exactly remember the amounts I used. I usually just toss things together without thinking about it--and yes, this has led to a lot of failures. However, this one worked out pretty well!)

2 c. flour--use whole wheat if you need to be more "regular." Hah.

3/4 tsp. soda

3 eggs, separated (discard one yolk)

1 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 c. milk (the batter shouldn't be too runny but it also shouldn't be stiff. It should be fluffy. If you need, add more milk.)

1/2 c. plain yogurt (I used vanilla because that is all I had)

1/2 c. applesauce

2 c. diced apples.

2 T cinnamon (or as much as you want; I just dumped in a bunch)

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Combine egg yolks with milk, yogurt, and applesauce. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Fold in egg whites. Cook on regular waffle iron.

I think these are best topped with a little butter and a sprinkling of powdered sugar, but you can use maple syrup if you're like Joel :). Joel even had quite a few of these, which I consider a success because he isn't a huge fan of waffles.

APPLE CHUTNEY (I got this delicious recipe from a friend of mine)

(disclaimer: I didn't have jalapenos, so I left them out. I also left out the raisins because Joel doesn't like them. It is better with both these ingredients but I didn't miss them too much)

From Eastside Café in Austin, Texas

1 pound Granny Smith apples

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

3 tablespoons onion, diced

2 teaspoons fresh jalapenos, seeded and minced (watch for spiciness—hot jalapenos can burn your hands and don’t ever touch your face when handling them)

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced

½ teaspoon fresh garlic minced

½ teaspoon allspice (or 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon)

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground coriander

1/3 cup raisins

Pinch of salt

Peel and quarter apples. You can use an apple slider, but don’t use it on all the apples because it will be a mushy chutney instead of a chunkier one.

Slice in ¼ inch slices. Combine apples and remaining ingredients in a large stock pot.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 45 minutes. (FYI: I did this in my crock pot because I wouldn't be home, and it was fine.)

This recipe doubles and cans very well.

Conversational: Tidbits I'd Hate to Forget, but that You Don't Need to Read About

EVERETT:

After picking Joel up for lunch, we were driving along and discussing some work-related matters when suddenly Everett speaks out from the back seat.

"Mommy! Mommy! Watch the road! Don't turn your head around and talk. Watch the road!"

I explained that I was watching the road, but the chiding tone remained in his voice as he asked me once more to comply with his demands.

* * * *

The other night at the table, Everett moved his dinner around on his plate with his fork, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Mom! This dinner is incredible!"

I laughed. "Everett," I said, "What does 'incredible' mean?"

"You know, Mom, like the robot." (Everett was apparently thinking about the robot(s) in the movie The Incredibles. I'll take this as a compliment.)

* * * * *

I'm sitting on the couch while Everett is eating a small piece of cake. He comes into the living room with a satisfied look on his face, grins, and announces:

"Mom, that cake was dewicious!"

"You liked it, huh?"

"Yeah," he grins and shrugs helplessly, as though he couldn't help himself.

What can I say? The boy knows how to flatter his mother.

ASHLEY:

Longest sentence yet:

"Oh no! I left my puzzle pieces upstairs!"

Also: New favorite book? There's a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Mayer. She sleeps with it in her bed--an odd place for a book about a nightmare--and asks for me to read it to her every day. ("Nightmare, Mommy! Wead Nightmare, Pweeeeeeeeease!)

WILLIAM:

The poor guy was absolutely exhausted. I fed him, put Ashley to bed, and returned downstairs to see that he couldn't even begin to know what to do with himself.

I began to swaddle him in a blanket, and as we made eye contact, he laughed.

"He he he he!" he chuckled, sounding very tired and very relieved that I was finally getting him to the state he wanted to be in.

Me too, kid. Me too.

Mohawk Man

William is starting to lose his hair.

Anyone want to guess where?

Mama Monkey, by Ashley

Ashley usually draws monkeys (monkey is on the left), but they usually have about a gazillion tails.

(I just had to get a picture of her very first recognizable drawing.)

Thank You, Elder Holland

Random

Do you ever have a bunch of little thoughts that don't exactly belong together but you don't have any place to put them? I do. And here they all are, to suck some more time out of your day.

Everett just learned how to write his name. He refuses to even attempt anything that is challenging for him (something I'm trying to work on with him), so I took him to the store for a little motivation. We picked out some twistable colored pencils, took them home, and began our writing lesson. The new pencils worked better than I imagined and Everett quickly learned the new skill. Now that he knows he can do it with a little effort, he wants to write all day long. Thank goodness--sometimes a little bribery really does open doors.

I'm losing hair again. Happens after the birth of all my children so far. It is disgusting. I brush my hair and the linoleum on our bathroom floor turns into what looks like a dark brown shag carpet. Do you know how annoying it is to be washing your hair, only to pull your hands from your head and see your fingers wrapped with a hundred twisted hairs?

I just went to the dentist. My last appointment was over five years ago. I joked to Joel before I left that I just might use all of our flex spending up on cavities. Joel just knew I'd have quite a few. BUT. . .no cavities. Not a one. After Joel got over his disbelief, he decided it was all because of the toothpaste we use. Since we've been married, I have not been allowed to bring home any toothpaste other than crest whitening with scope. Occasionally I try something new; when I do, Joel acts (with great horror and astonishment) as if he's been robbed of his most prized possession. Naturally, given this attachment, he would assume the correlation between no cavities and this particular toothpaste really does exist.

When I tuck the kids into bed at night, I have to follow a particular routine. Ashley wants me to sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" while I hold her on my lap and cuddle her. Then I lay her down and tuck the blanket up around her and her favorite stuffed monkey. Then I must--I absolutely must--tell that monkey (in a mockingly stern voice) the rules: no jumping around, no getting out of bed, no yelling. That monkey must close its eyes and go to sleep, buster. Ashley giggles every night after I've finished lecturing her monkey. Then she lays her head down and goes to sleep.

Everett wants me to sing "Baby Jesus" which is his name for "Away in a Manger". While I sing, he wants to lay on his pillow while I stroke his face and hair. Then I make sure the sheet and blankets are tucked around him, I make sure his favorite dogs are in their proper places, and then I give them the same lecture I give Ashley's monkey. Everett's smile and the dimple in his cheek emphasizes his amusement and pleasure at this little routine.

Hershey's Dark Chocolate Chips have to be the best thing ever invented. They are so much better in cookies than semi-sweet, which is what most people recommend because it counteracts the sweetness in the cookie dough. The dark chocolate has more chocolately flavor and tastes less waxy. Yum.

Ashley is beginning to draw with intention. Her squiggles are taking on recognizable form. She draws delicately--she holds the pencil artfully supported amongst her thumb and forefingers, touches only the very tip to the paper, and draws. It's like watching a tiny ballerina pirouette and arabesque airily across the page.

William has been laughing for about 10 days now (no, not straight, although that would be amusing). My sister gets to claim his first chuckle, but I get to claim the first belly laugh.

Fireworks

Last Saturday we went up to the city and watched fireworks. We found a good place to sit with less hassle and fewer people than I had expected. The fireworks were impressive.

Everett had a great time.

Ashley had a great time, although the fireworks didn't keep her full attention for the full half-hour.

William had a great time, too. But then again, he always loves sprawling on a blanket if he can feel a nice breeze.

However, I think the best part for the kids was the glow sticks I brought to keep them entertained while we were waiting for the show to start.

The sky may have been booming and glowing, and the fireworks may have been raining down in front of us, but the kids kept reverting to the simple glow sticks. Maybe next year we'll forgo the fireworks and just get the glow sticks!

Everett did enjoy the show and talked about it for days afterwards. In case any of you need a reminder about why it is fun to see something like this with a small child (I'm sure you don't), well, here you go. (Just forgive the poor lighting. I realized after this that I should have been filming the actual fireworks as Everett was talking.)

password: fireworks

Auntie

As I mentioned before, my sister Maddy came out to visit us a little while ago. The kids were in high heaven. She catered to their every desire and they temporarily forgot that they like to have me do things for them.

I got a few good pictures of her with the kids. I also got a picture of her sleeping on our sleeper-sofa (and a good video of her snoring on that same sofa), but although my brother would love it, I didn't think she would appreciate me posting those goodies.

Maddy and Ashley are a lot alike. Although I don't feel like Maddy's mother in any conceivable way, I called them by each other's names all through her visit.

Maddy has the patience to help them inspect every blade of grass, every little rock, and every tree.

We went to our town's water park during their special infant and toddler day. This meant that Everett could go down the big water slides with her help even though he didn't meet the height requirements. (FYI, the slide you see pictured is not the "big slide" Everett went down. This is the kiddie slide)

Catch me if you can!

These are the kind of pictures that makes me appreciate my little point-and-shoot camera. It can take some good pictures with minimal weight and hassle.

Thanks for visiting, Aunt Maddy! The kids loved it and so did I. We hope to see you again soon.

Ashley

Ashley at two years old can:

Draw tiny, perfect circles

Identify all the colors

Identify the basic shapes

Identify all animals (except for obscure ones) and sounds

Kick a ball

Jump with both feet quite a ways off the ground

Scale the rock climbing wall at the playground

Ride a tricycle (provided she can reach the pedals)

Sing several songs

Get herself completely undressed

Sit and listen to stories for at least 30 minutes

Talk in complete sentences

Match/sort anything correctly

Eat messy things with a spoon and bowl and not get it all over the place

Open doors

Things about Ashley I don't want to forget:

The way she skips around, singing nonsensical little songs when she's happy.

How she always wants me to cuddle her and sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" before I tuck her into bed.

Whenever I ask her what she would like to eat, she says, "Candy!"

She loves the playground and will be the first to point one out, even if it is someone's private backyard equipment.

How she shouts, "Mommy, come here!" when she wants me to see something. If I don't come right away, she will find me, take my hand, and lead me there while saying "come with me, Mommy. Come with me."

She still thinks if I kiss her injury it will be magically healed.

If I ask her to do something she says cheerfully, "Kay!"

She loves Mommy and Baby pairs, especially of animals, and shows great sympathy if they are separated.

She is interested in bugs and flies, but if one touches her she will inevitably freak out.

When she is following Everett around, she will walk exactly as he walks, exactly the places he walks, and touch exactly the same things, even if she is a full two minutes behind him.

She has been going through a Mommy phase where she prefers that I, rather than Joel, do things for/with her.

She alternates between saying "No, Mommy do it" (see above statement) and "No, I do it byself"

If you tell her she is getting something she hoped for, she will dance around, clap or raise her hands, and merrily say YAAAAY!

If you talk curtly to Ashley and then try to ask her what she wanted/needed, she will avoid eye contact with you, stick out her lip a little, and refuse to tell you. This is not out of spite; it is out of sensitivity and shyness.

Anything Ashley has picked up (ie colors/shapes) she has absorbed all by herself. She is always quick to understand and remember new information.