July Catch-Up

A lot can happen in 10 days, right? I mean, everyone is always telling us how we have five children and, my, my, how they must keep us busy. Well, July has proven them true.

First the sad news: the puppy only lasted six days. (Don't look at me! I was being supportive!) He apparently worked himself up enough one night and jumped the four-foot fence that seemed secure. He then, of course, headed where all animals seem to head around here, right for US 40, where he was struck and killed. The boys were pretty upset, especially Levi. I may not shed tears over animals, but I do shed tears over my children shedding tears.

Our obligatory fair-trip went well....highlights were how well our new red wagon worked out (does that count as a fair highlight?)...Sara's 2nd-place tractor pull finish (is there any money in professional kiddie-tractor-pulling?)...Leah enjoying the Ferris wheel for the first time. Here's a fun-loving boy at the top of a well-loved ride:



If it's fair time, it must be birthday time. Delaney gets a birthday well-spaced from the others, right smack in the middle of summer. Turning seven around here means you can invite a few friends to join in the celebration (Delaney's in the middle).



Last but not least, football practice has officially started. And to think, it only took 8 1/2 years!

You are not hallucinating

Look carefully, all ye people. Especially all ye former college roomates. Especially the Vet and the Ohio attorney. What is it you see?

Yes. It is. He's ours.

Here's the stats, for those who care about such things:

Black lab, 13 weeks old, found him through Craig's list from a family who does animal rescue (his parents were rescued by this family). So far, kids are still 3-2 in favor of him, although Sara shows heavy signs of bumping it to 4-1 soon. Leah is generally determined to live indoors for the rest of her natural life. Because, of course, he is and always will be an OUTSIDE dog. : )

They have named him Prince (after Eric's childhood dog).

P.S. If you look carefully, you can see the feet of the child standing on the chair next to Prince. There is no doubt who their mother is.

Musical Discernment, 101

We were in the van yesterday on a visit to family; one hour there, one hour back. We listened to a Christian music station most of the way. On the way home...

Levi: Mom! We heard that song. I think that's the same song we heard this morning.

Me: You're right...it is.

(A few minutes later)

Delaney: Mom! This song, too. We already heard this song.

Me: You're right...we heard that one earlier, too.

Delaney (after a few more that sounded awfully familiar): Mom, I think these radio stations play the same songs over and over.

Me: I think you're right, girl.

Delaney: Let's find something that sounds more mysterious.

What's been going on, you ask?

Losing...


Picking...


Celebrating...


Riding...


Winning!

The telephone game, our version

You may note, that I am getting this post in just under the wire before the date will turn to July, thereby accomplishing a grand total of TWO posts in June. I am sorry to have disappointed you, my adoring audience, but I have actually been busy writing other things this month (newsletters, VBS lessons) and have exited my computer chair as soon as possible each night. I make no promises about July. I also, for the record, have no idea why my paragraph breaks aren't working on this post.

Eric and I just returned yesterday from a little "get-away" trip to the Ohio homeschool convention, thanks to my dear parents who willingly cared for the kiddos.

Next we headed to the hills! We scoped out some good camping spots and trails, and hiked other trails that the kids won't handle for another few years.We had a great time, getting to drive, sight see, eat and just talk. The strangest feeling comes when we both go in together at the gas station convenience store and pick out our own drinks. We never get to do that, ever.

The nicest part of getting away by ourselves, of course, is the time it allows us to talk about life-things in-depth. Plans and questions and discussions that we really can't have at home can go on for hours without interruption. We enjoy this so much that we have a hard time coming out of that mode, even after we have retrieved the children (this is leading into my post title, by the way -- I had you lost, didn't I?). We need to re-train ourselves quickly, because while we aren't wearied anymore by endless diapering or toddler-chasing, the conversation round-robin around here can nearly kill you. I'll leave you with just one example from today.

Parents' discussion: the unlikelihood of travelling anywhere for 4th of July

Kid 1: "did you say Nanny's? When are we going to Nanny's?"

Kid 2, to Kid 1: "What day are we going to Nanny's?"

Kid 3, to Kid 4: "We're going to Nanny's TODAY!"

Kid 5: "I've got my backpack ready! Can I sit in the middle?"

Is that in your Bible?

So we're back in the routine of our regular devotions, now that we wrapped up our homeschooling year's study of Matthew. Each night -- generally -- Eric reads a short passage from the Bible and then the kids draw what they heard and remember from the passage on their own little white boards. Then each one gets to show his/her picture and explain it. They get pretty intense on these pictures! It's great to hear each of their descriptions, but Leah has been taking the cake lately:

After a passage on people getting baptized: "...and this is Jesus, and he can't see down in the rivah (river), and see the baptized, because he can't see with his eyes, because I didn't give him any eyes, because my marker was too big."

After a passage on Jesus healing and casting out demons, which is irrelevant because she was still stuck on the baptisms: "...and these are four little girls, and they're going to be baptized in the tomato juice." (she had used the red marker that night)

For your bonus, here's a recent pic of her with her sisters:

This post is for me

I held a four-and-a-half-month-old this week. Our neighbor was babysitting him for a friend and brought him across the road to chat. It's taken me a while to get to this point, but I'm definitely in the nostalgic-about-babies phase. (Most people, I understand, would have their next baby at this point, but since we all know OUR backstory on that, we'll just move on. I'm content to put the whole burden of producing offspring on my sister!)

Anyway, my point here is that my children are growing quickly, and I can't seem to keep up. Someone's always saying or doing or drawing or singing something amazing each day -- times five -- and most days I can't seem to get my head out of my laundry pile and focus my full attention on them, for a real, true moment. So right now, for me, I am going to write, and capture a bit of who they are, this day. Youngest first, don't you think?

Leah Hope

There are no words to describe how much she is her own person, even at age 4. She plans her days as if the whole world awaits her announcement of the agenda. Every fork, carrot, toothbrush, pencil is a imaginary character that wants to play with a similar item in her sister Sara's hands, and every other moment is spent evading work with her brother Jesse. For her and only her, tough big brother Levi will put toothpaste on, tie a shoe, buckle a seat belt and accept a kiss. Her highest aims are to do "reading lessons" like her twin siblings, and hop on one foot for a long time. She gives four kisses, every time, and tries to sneak in a fifth.

Sara Jeanne

Imagine very light, big, clear blue eyes staring innocently up at you, while the whole time you can almost see the gears turning furiously as the five-year-old "good" twin tries to figure out how to stay out of trouble without lying. She is curious! She wants to know everything, about everyone, all the time. Joy abounds at the mention of peanut butter and jelly, but her whole body slumps when anything appears in the shape of a casserole dish. She produces seemingly endless works of beautiful art every morning, all of which she expects will be displayed appropriately. She loves to read, and is figuring out more words each day. She makes friends more easily than any of her siblings, but never, never with a dog.

Jesse Harold

What goes on in that mind? If he notices you noticing him, he reacts with a quick huge grin and two fully extended arms asking for a hug. He plays the best by himself of any of them, but would never ask to do so. He loves to sleep, but doesn't ever complain when his big brother rouses him out of bed each morning. Eye contact is an absolute when giving him instructions, because it seems he usually assumes that no one could really be just talking to him. He basks in praise from anyone, but especially his older brother. He cheerfully -- and very accurately -- completes math problems said older brother has created for him each day, content to just be doing what Levi is doing. He is quick to laugh, quick to help, and very quick to love.

Delaney Kay

I can barely write about her without crying. Six years old is her element, I guess. She leaves us amazed each day with her witticisms and thoughtfulness and obstinacy and intelligence and bossiness. She.loves.to.sing...and the bigger the words in the older the hymn, the better. She directs the group playtime of herself and the younger three each day until Levi bribes her heavily enough to convince her to join him in something and bring along her gang. The newer the food, the more mixed up it looks, the better. Nothing cheers her more than the announcement that it's a "big workin' day!" She lives to write stories, organize/sort clothes, and visit her Nanny and Grandma.

Levi Matthew

A dear friend told me that I would love all my children, but that my love for my son, my firstborn, would be a "fierce" love. I live that every day. This tall, intelligent 8-year-old looks at me each morning and all I want to do is grab him and kiss his head all over. But then he starts complaining and I want to whop him with my dishrag. He will whine and wheedle, trying to get out of chores or schoolwork, but he's actually the one who always does the work. He will complain that something is not very fun, but wouldn't miss doing it with you for the world. If he could sit quietly beside his dad the entire day, every day, that's what he would do. He remembers everything, and understands about that much.

I am so thankful for each one of them.