Frosty the Snowman

We've been struggling lately with keeping in touch. I've been exhausted and things seem to always fall by the wayside when that happens. But a few days ago, my sister called and we just happened to hear the ring from outside, and everyone was awake. We had a great time talking, and the older cousins (both nearly 3) were delighted to share their toys, books, and latest songs they've learned. At one point, Braedon brought one of his favorite books, and both kids settled in to hear it. These things are amazing- I guess they now sell books where people can record themselves reading the story, so that whoever receives the book will hear the sender reading. Well, both kids listened to Grammy (my mom) read them the story. Amazing. A grammy from California read a story, simultaneously to her grandson in Kansas and granddaughter in South Africa. It was a great moment!

Neanderthals Like Peanut Butter

I was extremely thankful when I found out we were being sent to a country that has peanut butter widely available. I'm a PB freak. The first few months I was in Chile studying were brutal because on a bad day there was no comforting, creamy, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth peanut butter to be had... anywhere. I was so grateful when Richard Smallridge came on business and brought with him TWO whole jars of the stuff. If I remember correctly, I ate an entire jar before he left to go back to Auburn! I think it's just one of those "comfort foods" I turn to when things are... well, when things go wrong.

There was nothing "wrong" about this morning. By 8am, I had both kids dressed, Em and Todd out the door ready for the day, Cooper playing and my entire kitchen cleaned and reorganized. It had been a good and productive morning, but I was tired. I didn't sleep well last night with the babe auditioning for the role of the next Karate Kid. So I threw in a slice of bread for me and one for Cooper. The kid may look just like his father, but he has my side's genes. If there is food, and he can see it, he wants to eat it. Period.

I didn't anticipate him wanting his bread EXACTLY like mine however. In the last two weeks, he's cut his molars (odd with only four other teeth to speak of but hey, whatever works I guess!), and has discovered that he can TASTE his food rather than just swallow the stuff whole. It's amazing what a difference a few teeth can make. So after much grunting, finger pointing and renegotiating on his part (me pulling my hair out trying to understand what he was saying without my Cooperese-fluent interpreter, Em) the idea to put peanut butter on Cooper's toast dawned on me. The relief on my 5-word-using son's face was obvious, so I figured I'd gotten it right. It was one of the many, many times throughout the day that I was reminded of how verbal Em is, and how Cooper is perfectly satisfied to be lazy and let her be verbal for him. Todd and I still get a kick out of him grunting the syllables of whatever it is he wants. He's very polite and consistent in saying "thank you," but it comes out "guuu duuu" without lips ever being moved.

So the mystery of the wantonous peanut butter was solved, and Cooper had his toast. I got mine and came to sit down, only to be greeted by this face. Who could resist NOT laughing hysterically at that one? It's like he knows exactly what face to put on to make you roll over in hysterics, and he uses it to his advantage every time!

It's as if you can actually hear him saying, "I make this look good, right? I know that's what you're thinking... it's going to be the new trend, and you know that I know who started it. Yeah, that's right."

I will leave you with one last glance at my grunting, gesturing goof-ball of a boy who LOVES his nut butters... because I couldn't resist!

The Kloof

It's nearing the end of summer, which means it should be cooling down with a few warmer days. Apparently, no one told the weather man this fact. We've actually been having a really mild summer so far. T-shirt and jean weather, which is nice when you've got a heater strapped to your belly. The last week, though, has been hot. Technically, not blazing, but it came out of no where, so it feels like a sudden fire to me. The kids and I have been trying to stay cool in the pool, sprinklers and the air conditioned grocery stores in the afternoons. But Friday was a bit cooler, and Todd was home from work a bit early. I was hoping for this, as the heat wasn't terrible. I got the kids slathered in sunscreen, dinner made (yes, in the heat of the day, blah!) and all of us ready to go. So when he came home, I sent Todd to change quickly and we headed out to Kloofendal Nature Reserve down the road.

Em got to chase Guinea foul all over the grassy, outdoor amphitheater as Cooper toddled and Mommy waddled to catch up.

Thankfully, a good portion of the path was shaded, so we all got a bit of a break from the heat of the sun. Cooper REFUSED any help, even a hand to hold, the entire time we were out. This patch of the path was rather nice, but it wasn't all like that... and he, being a boy, apparently had to touch and inspect every rock and stick we came across.

Cooper taking so much time to play Inspector Gadget gave Em and Todd time to look at birds and spiders and other crawly things.

In the end, Em decided it was her job to supply all the "food" for the "giraffes" that she'd seen. Don't know how well imaginary giraffes digest sticks, but she was convinced, so arguing would be pointless.

Our turning point to head back to the car was this great little lake. Em was thrilled to see the "ocean" again, Cooper just wanted to dive into the water, and I, well, I was just proud that I didn't have a panic-attack when both kids wanted to crawl on these boards!

My Daughter, the Librarian/Teacher

I've said on a number of occasions how much Em is into her books. She'd spend a lot of time pulling them out and putting them back. Now, she's to the point where she remembers the words and thus, "reads" the books. Yesterday was a particularly hot late-summer day. We haven't had many super hot days, which this pregnant lady has been overjoyed about! Yesterday, however, saw the temperatures go from mild to blazing in a 24-hour time period. I was sitting with as much of my body surface on the cold kitchen tiles complaining to Todd about how hot it was when he noticed the eery calm from the kids. He peeked his head into the living room and motioned for me to come see.

What I stumbled upon, in my sweaty stupor, was fantastic and magical and wonderful all wrapped in a fuzzy throw blanket from Nam and Namp (why they needed a blanket when it was a thousand degrees, I don't know, but they apparently did).

Em had recruited a sturdy, square toy for Cooper to use as a step-stool and both children were on the off-limits couch, snuggled together. Emme's been obsessed lately with all things mommy-and-baby related and this book is just the thing that tickles her funny bone. It's all about the names of various animals and their offspring (example: a goose and her duckling). She was dutifully reading it to her brother/imaginary friends.

And dutifully showing her brother and imaginary friends the pictures! Ah... moments that make a mom thankful she didn't call it a day and go off to get a cup of (iced) coffee and 15 minutes to herself!!!

Chair Diving

People tell you before you have kids how fast the time goes. Like an idiot, you think you understand what they mean. These same people also warn you of the difference between boys and girls. Again, you think, in all your non-parenting wisdom, that you know what they mean. I thought Em was a busy kid. To her credit, she really was, but her busyness was generally constructive. She'd pull something off a shelf to look at it. You tell her no a few times, and that was the end of it.

Cooper, on the other hand, has been suicidal since the day he could move independently. The first time he rolled, it wasn't just belly-to-back or back-to-belly. It was 10 feet across the room... into a wall. Em learned how to climb onto our wingback chairs so that she could read books "like Daddy." Cooper, after discovering how to climb the same chair, was caught hanging for dear life onto the curtain tie-back... and then five minutes after the hysterical wailing ended, was back doing it again. Where Em excelled in communicating what she wanted and learned new words by the dozens, Cooper is perfectly content with his small handful of grunts and names. Who needs words when you have a big sister to interpret for you anyways? Getting the picture?

I have a daredevil with NO FEAR and a spirited and curious scientist who has to figure out why. We've been trying to teach Em why she must sit properly in a chair. She has only fallen once and it was a very specific instance, so the translation to ALL chairs hasn't happened... until two days ago.

Coop and I were out running errands, seeing the midwife, and a hundred other things, so we grabbed lunch and took it into the office to eat with Todd. We were all sitting around a round conference table in Todd's office, when Cooper decided to jump (not fall, leap!) out of the chair. The floor is comprised of that stiff, high-traffic (and totally unpadded) office carpet that could easily be used on a basketball court. The dive was a little less than waist height for a normal adult. To say it scared Todd and I half to death is an understatement, but in true form, 5 minutes later, he was back on the same chair, trying to do it again. Something that would have put Em off chairs for a month, doesn't seem to phase this one. Maybe it's simply that he likes the war wounds... and the added emphasis to his various different facial expressions.

"FREEDOM!!!"

**doing his best William Wallace / Braveheart reenactment**

Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! This ones has things that lift up!!! Now I'm excited :)

Bubbles

The kids got bath bubbles for Christmas. They were in someone's stocking, I think. One way or the other, they LOVE the things. It's the easiest bribe and it works every time like a charm. We generally don't use them because we're just wanting to get things taken care of and them in bed as soon as we can get them there. However, tonight we had BBQ chicken. To say it was all over them would be a gross understatement. Em had it in her hair, Cooper had managed to wedge the sauce between his toes (no idea how, but it was there) and they had watermelon and got to play in the backyard. BBQ sauce + juicy watermelon + dirty dog + red clay/dirt = very, VERY dirty children. And since the junk seemed to be caked and dried on by bath time, I made the executive decision to let them prune in the tub. That way, scrubbing wouldn't be such a task. So we busted into the bubbles since they always end up drinking the bath water and fighting with each other if given too long in there.

When they first got into the water, the bubbles were twice as high as the water itself. Cooper's shoulder's were nearly covered and he and Em thought it was Christmas all over again.

Em was thrilled beyond words at the quantity of bubbles surrounding her. She was like a kid in a candy store :)

"Sit still Cooper! Emme doing your bubbles."

You can just call me "Honest Abe"...

Lilies of the Field

Every family has those "breaking points"... moments where you just want to throw your hands up and call it quits because it feels like every wall is caving in on you. When you're newlywed, it's those 'big' fights you have and you just want to run away to Mom and Dad's, and when you first bring home baby (after family leaves) it's that moment when you want to drive back to the hospital and try the 30-day-lay-away-while-you-make-up-your-mind option. It happens. Doesn't matter where you live, how much (or little) family you have surrounding you, how strong your faith, whatever. Life happens and it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

A few months ago, Todd and I were getting very close to that point. We were tired, weary, and homesick. We hadn't totally settled into being a family of 4 and the idea of 5 was properly frightening. But God is good. He answered long-standing prayers about our house in Illinois. We received a TON of encouragement from LINKS churches, College Church, friends and family. And, we've gotten a number of packages from likely and unlikely sources. It was one of those times where you can see God working through other people in your life, and Todd and I were so encouraged.

Today was one of THOSE days. Every mom has them. The ones where everything goes wrong, your kids make you want to join them in their crying fits and dinner is burnt. I was trying to hold it all together, telling myself that I'm a good mom despite the morning's set-backs, when I went to get Em from school. Yesterday, as I was pulling in to wait for school to get out, the car died. I was coasting to a stop, so the timing was as good as it could get, but still. Todd had to come, the car seats had to be moved. Mechanics and then towing were summoned. It was a disaster AND both kids were starving for their lunch. So today, I drove Todd's car. When Em saw the car, she was so excited, until I got out, and then she started hysterically crying because I was "just mommy but I want DADDY!!!" Great. Makes a mom feel really good about herself, right? And it went down from there.

But when Todd walked in with a package, from friends at Parkside Nazarene Church in my hometown, it was like that one good, deep breath that you need to keep from falling apart. When I opened it, it was blessing upon blessing- just like ALL our recent packages. We've received everything from socks and underwear to magna-doodles and baby monitors. I'm telling you, you wouldn't think tennis shoes would be such a big deal until you move to a country that only goes up to a US sized 9, when you're a 9 1/2 and then get pregnant, twice and move up to a 10 until it happens. And then, those shoes make you so happy you kiss them, and want to kiss the sender and the lady who donated them and the shoe sales person for selling them to the lady who donated them.

As we round out another tough week, with a car in the shop with what will be a heavy price tag to get the thing running again, amongst other things, I'm reminded of how God's timing is perfect. Providential. How small and fleeting my issues really are and how even the birds of the air get taken care of... so I've got nothing to worry about.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26