Kid-isms...

Wow, I don't always remember to write down what my kids say as they say it...and miss the opportunity to share with the entire world (or at least the dozen or so who read my blog) what got me laughing during the day....but! Here are a few from the past few days.

Luke, immediately upon waking up on his birthday: Wow, Susanna, I'm sure glad I'm not only 4 like you are!

Susanna to Tony, as he walked in the house shortly after she received a "hand spanking" (slap on the wrist) for spraying WD-40 all over: Daddy, YOU left that spray out where I could get it and I got a discipline for spraying it all over! You should be more careful where you leave things. (and the next day, she spraying Watkins all purpose cleaner in her cereal.....)

Luke, during supper: Wow, Mama, you are the most beautifulest woman in the whole world!
Me: Even more beautiful than Vanna White? (they love watching Pat & Vanna)
Luke: No! Of course not! Wait! What does that mean?
(he then quickly assured me that I am really more beautiful than Vanna)

Susanna, trying to get in on the compliments: Mama, Vanna and you have the most beautifulest dresses in the whole world!

Susanna, seeing a double-yolked egg for the first time today: Look, Mama! It's a two-headed egg! Can I eat it?

They crack us up, kids who are growing up entirely too fast. Their imaginations go full blast right now, and it's fun just sitting back and listening to their interactions, especially when playing.

I'm looking forward to a day tomorrow of not much more than enjoying my kids (after I figure out and pay the state and federal quarterly taxes and figure out what I need to pack for our St Cloud trip next week...the rest can wait until Saturday....although I'm convinced the laundry keeps growing....)

Susi's Prayer

Tony was running late for supper and told us not to wait for him to start tonight...so we didn't. I asked Susanna if she'd like to say grace, and she quickly agreed. Here's what her prayer was:

Deaw God, please make me some chopsticks so if my lips get dwy they can get betta and help my boogies to go away in my nose so when I whine and fwet they won't come out. Help Luke to be good and not peench my nose and me to be good, too. Kill satan and do whatevew you want wif him. Have a good twip with youwa special angels and deaw God, I love you. Amen! oh yeah, and for me and Daddy and Mama and Luke and Daddy and me. Amen!

I didn't know what to say, so I just dug into my pesto.....

(and yes, things are getting better...although we've been dealing with some stealing issues...although she's decided that she doesn't like when I take away her most favorite doll without asking...and she's not had any more peeing incidents, thank God! However, scissors are once again taboo as she now has a very short lock of hair on the top of her head....)

My Literal Kid and My Slave

Last Saturday, I stopped at a grocery store I usually don't shop at -- they have great brats, all beef hot dogs, and bacon that they do there at the store....so I stocked up for the freezer. When I got home, I asked Susanna to take the bacon out of the bag and put it in the freezer. Susi tends to get distracted often, so I didn't think much of it when it took over ten minutes to complete this simple little task.

Fast forward to Thursday morning. We're at breakfast, enjoying a slow starting morning -- I didn't have to be at the market or any where else; we were having "the cousins" over for supper; and the only thing I had to work on that day was a pretty long list of general house hold chores, some Watkins business things, and lots of laundry. Luke, being a typical boy, discovered that if he wets his lips, puts his mouth against the heels of his hands, and blows hard, it sounds like, well, a natural occurring bodily function. Much to his delight.

"hey mom! hear what this sounds like? A STINKY TOOT! Isn't that cool?"

Inside, I'm cracking up. I'm thinking back years ago to arm pit farts, burping contests, flipped up eyelids, and all other manner of inappropriate and hilarious childhood fun (or grown up fun, depending on the company you spend time with). Outside, I carefully maintained my mother face, asking "but Luke, do you think it's appropriate and polite behavior?" (This, as his sister is sticking her face in her plate and licking every last drop of syrup left over from the two pieces of French toast she devoured in a non-lady-like manner in less than five minutes.)

Eyes dart all over, except to my face. A grin surfaces. A quick glance at Mama then eyes zoom else where. Finally, the answer: 'Well, Mama, at this moment (yes, he actually said that), it, um, well, uh, hm. I don't know."

Boys.

I never did laugh in front of him, or crack a smile. I didn't want "those noises" made all day long!

So after breakfast, it was off to working down the chore list. I headed upstairs and stared with dismay at the kids' room....how did it get so messy and why did it smell so bad? Okay, I know why it smelled so bad, but anyway.....I set them to cleaning up while I headed into the upstairs living room. After they cleaned their room, we headed to the steps and foyer...where they continued to tidy things up along with me. Then downstairs...the biggest job area. As I cleaned the kitchen counters, I handed them each one of Watkins great new microfiber clothes (only $5.99...check it out! http://www.watkinsonline.com/productdetail.cfm?Product=27000&gCatalogLocale=USA&ECredit=367574) and had them start wiping down cupboard doors, kitchen drawers, and cabinets before sending them out to match socks in the sock basket.

Luke finally threw down his cloth in disgust and said, "you really hate us. You just make me slave around ALL DAY! My job is to PLAY, not work!" It startled him when I quickly agreed. "Yep, you're right. I hate you. I never cook for you, never make you treats, never give you cookies, never play with you, never let you have any fun, never let you play with the cousins. All I do is work you nonstop, every day." My son. He loves me. He quickly rose to my defense, this boy who had just accused me of being a slave-master, just like the Egyptians (yeah, he compared me to them!). "No, Mama, you really do love me! You're always doing that good stuff!" And he shut his face and finished wiping things down and matched all the socks he could find.

Meanwhile, I opened the freezer, I don't even remember why now. Much to my shock, there were two rashers of bacon, just sitting there, unwrapped, right on top of everything. "What is this bacon doing here, and why isn't it wrapped up???!!!!" and a tiny little voice piped up, "but Mama, you told me to take it out of the bag....."

Sigh. Maybe that's why she puts a little shimmy in her step when I tell them "let's get shaking!"

My Kids

They don't take after MY side of the family! Please note the inside out shirt. The long johns on the head for a "hat," if you could see the back of the cowboy hat, you'd see a huge hole in it.

Funny thing is, they don't take after Tony's side of the family, either! Where DID these kids come from?????

More morning conversations

Last night, I set out a pair of jeans for Luke to wear today (okay, I'm behind on laundry, and the jeans he wore yesterday were amazingly still clean); there was a clean t-shirt already on the floor that he'd pulled out of his drawer yesterday... This morning, these were the first words I heard:

No, Susanna, that's MY Watkins shirt!

No, it isn't. It is MINE!

If it says Girl with a G it is yours. If it says Boy with a B, it is mine (the shirt actually says "I'm the next Watkins Man/Woman")

IT'S MINE!

No, it isn't. See, it says m-m-m boy.

I'M TELLING DADDY!!!!!!!

Susanna rushes to our room where I'm playing possum. Tony is downstairs already. She comes running over to the bed, stands for about 30 seconds looking at me, then rushes out the room and downstairs. A few minutes later, she stomps back upstairs.

IT'S MINE!! IT HAS MY NAME ON IT!

No, Susanna. Your name is S-U-S-A-N-N-A (a moment of Mama pride here....Luke figured out how to spell her name all by himself by sounding it out, double n and all)

IT IS NOT! IT IS S-U-S-I. MAMA TEACHEDED ME! (yeah, I taught her that, figuring a shorter version would be easier to start with.....hmmmm.....)

No, it isn't.

YES, IT IS. AND I'M GETTING ANGRY AT YOU!! I'M GOING TO HEAD BONK YOU RIGHT NOW! NOW GO GET YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH FROM DOWNSTAIRS AND YOUR HELMET OF SALVATION SO IT WON'T HURT SO BAD! (even angry and screaming, she's concerned for his well-being....ah, we're training them up right....)

No.

YES! LUKE, IF YOU KEEP BEING MEAN TO ME, I AM NOT GOING TO BE YOUR LITTLE GIRL (I wish I could spell "girl" the way she says it). I WILL BE DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL AND MAMA'S LITTLE GIRL BUT NOT YOURS! HMMMM! PHBTTTTTT (yep, she gave him a raspberry)

DON'T spit at me, Susanna. That's not nice. And if you're not going to be my girl, I'm not going to give you, um, something.

LUKE! Well, if you give me something, I will be your, um, I'll be your girl again. (funny how sweetness can fill her voice immediately after an angry scream)

Not if you act like that. You are not being kind.

I'M GETTING ANGRY AT YOU! GO GET YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH! (maybe she was hoping to do some serious damage but still wanted to make sure he was protected...)

No.

I'M GOING DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW!!!! And, as she stomps out the room, she stops and sweetly says, "Luke, I'll be your girl again now."

A few minutes later, Luke came to our room, fully dressed. Not wearing the Watkins shirt. Maybe the kid's already diplomatic enough to realize he doesn't want to tick his sister off every time she looks at him today. And, by the way, they each have their own Watkins shirt....

I commented to him, "You're not wearing your Watkins shirt."

No, Mama. Susanna got mad because she said her name was on it but it wasn't.

I know.

Did you hear us?

Yes.

Oh.

Speaking of diplomatic, as we were finishing supper last night and they were trying to get out the door for Awana, Luke kept reminding me he will be my hero and will fight Daddy with his (foam) sword if Daddy does anything mean to me. Not even thinking of it, I yelled "HEY!" to Tony at that point....he was about to each my biscuit...and the butter had just finished melting! Luke grabbed his sword as Tony looked at me and said "Thanks" (and returned my biscuit). Supper was just about finished, and Luke said something about them all going to Awana. I started blinking fast and said, "but who will stay home and protect me from the bad guys?" Wow, you could see that little brain working! He wanted to stay and protect me. But then again, there was Cubbies! And his friends! And Mr. Vocelka, his leader. Finally, he came up with the perfect solution. "The Lord, Mama! He will stay with you!"

Susanna's birthday -- the guests

We had family and a few friends over for Susanna's birthday. Susanna is turning Grandma LaMae into a "boid" that flies all during the day; Grandpa Carter is enjoying the tunes plucked out by Clinton and Tony (Daddy) while Mark and Beth guard the door so no one can escape; Susanna has just turned me into a princess; Grandma at the piece of cake with most of the blue from the lake (Uncle Mark ate the other piece....but I couldn't get him to pose!); Luke is enjoying the food; Brittany is admiring the birthday present she got for Susanna as Aunt Beth laughes with Tessa about something; Daddy is capturing everything on video; Clinton is hiding his newly shaven face; "Uncle" Mark Magnuson is trying to stay awake....

The funny things they say and do...

My kids crack me up. While Susanna is usually a much more serious child (and loves anything involving art...which is bad news for me since I usually don't love anything involving art...but put her at the table with water colors, a paint brush, and something to paint, and she's happy -- and distracted -- for up to an hour!), Luke comes up with the most hilarious things.

Yesterday's prayer at lunch "Thank You, God, for everything and for being with us and for not getting us dead because then I'd be really sad."

Today at the dentist "What are you trying to do, kill me?" Thankfully, the hygeinist is our pastor's wife....(and his teeth were all fine, unlike another child who will go nameless).

Monday, "I'm going to give myself wet willies whenever I say "whatever." Oops, WET WILLIE!" and proceeded to do just that (and continually has since Monday which really cracks me up even more.

Susanna, I have just found out, will do just about ANYTHING for chocolate! I've been struggling to find her "monetary language" and it isn't money. It isn't stickers. It isn't pretty much any kind of reward. I can threaten to take toys away (and do), have thrown away play dough when she won't clean it up, put away doll houses and Barbies and princess things, to no avail. But mention chocolate....

My Angel and My Star

Here is my angel and my star in their Tiny Tot Christmas program...they did an AWESOME job. Unfortunately, we sat on the wrong side to even see Susanna, so I had to go from the front row thru the back of the church to the other side just to snap her picture! And yes, they did say their lines nice, clear, and loud!

I'm hoping to post some photos of "my" kids from the older kids' program in the next day or so!

Just like his dad?

As much as Luke loves being Daddy's helper and going everywhere with him, I'm glad to know that he misses me during that time. He informed me today that he plans to stay with me forever and ever, even after he's grown up. I'm not banking on that one -- and I'm even hoping and praying that's not the case. Not in a negative way, but in that raising him, he has the confidence to go into the world as his own person, knowing God loves him and will guide his steps, if Luke seeks his guidance.

ANYWAY! As we are spending a day at home, "decompressing" from the busy-ness of the past few weeks (and before the busy-ness of the weekend), the kids and I spent some "school time" and "Cubbie time" before playing some logic games (which they think is just plain fun, not realizing how much it's building up their brains, haha!) then giggling over Bambi. Out of all the kid movies we've watched, Bambi has to be my favorite...not necessarily the story line or the cute characters, but because Luke and Susanna giggle almost the entire time watching Bambi's and his friends' antics. That in turn makes me laugh. Today, however, it finally sunk in to Susanna about Bambi's mom. As they were racing from the meadow to the thicket (Mama, what is a thicket?) and the shot rang out, Susanna came over to me with concern all over her face, "Mama, did Bambi's Mama get shooted?" "Yes, Susi, she did." "Oh. Okay. By a huntay?" "Yes, Susanna, by a hunter." (although when I told Tony about our conversation he said to make sure they know it was a POACHER not a HUNTER...hunting season isn't in the spring with the new grass peeping through the snow...). "Oh, okay, Mama." "Hey, maybe it was Uncle Tim that shot Bambi's mama!" (yeah, above all, I'm still a sister to a no-longer-pesky little brother) To which Luke came back with, "No, it was ME! I'M a great hunter! I got that deer!"

Yep, you can tell we live in hunting country.....

Update on what's going on

I got an email from my sister-in-law Rita today telling me how she caught up with things via my blog -- it's so great being able to keep in touch with loved ones from the Philipines, Indonesia, Paraguay, Canada, all over the United States, and who knows where else with just a quick (yeah, okay, long) blog entry! I love the emails, comments, etc. Keep 'em coming!

This weekend it dawned on me that I'm getting OLD! Okay, I've had creaks and aches for awhile, but my parents celebrated their birthdays yesterday (Mom) and today (Daddy). And I realized....my MOM is closer to 70 than she is to 65! And Dad is closing in on the big 7-0, too. Wow! (Sorry, Mom, I don't mean that in a bad way, it's probably just as hard to realize you have a daughter who is 41!) Is it me, or do people just turn like ten years older when you blink? I mean, kids I used to babysit have children. Babies I held in my arms are DRIVING. Kids who I used to have to bend down to talk to now have to bend down to talk to me! Anyway, happy birthday, Mom and Daddy!

Health-wise I'm doing much better these past few days. I did really well for about a month then started having problems again with my stomach, chills, shaking, fatigue, weakness, etc. My right foot was also very painful to the point where I could barely walk. I finally called my doctor after dealing with these daily for almost three weeks and she asked me to come in right away. Blood pressure still pretty low, severe plantar's faciitis (or however it's spelled) -- doctor's orders to wear shoes in the house, a definite no-no in this one! (hey, I'm married to a farmer with a hubby and kids and visitors coming in all the time after being in the fields and cow barn, need I say more about what may or may not be trekked into our house???) So I wore my sneakers that day then went and got a pair of Crocs the next day -- and got a pair for Tony, too. My feet are already feeling MUCH better! She also gave me a prescription for my stomach problems with strict instructions to call next week if there was no improvement so she could order an ultra-sound to check my gallbladder. I'm very happy to report that there was a big improvement the first day I took the medication, and I'm back to feeling 100% now, praise God! I still have to go in one morning for more blood work....I'm so tired of this all....but at least I have energy again, and was quite surprised and thankful when I told Tony last night (after the TOH show) that my LEGS hurt from standing all day, and not my feet!

Remember the 14 bushel of apples we got last weekend? Last fall, we sold maybe a total of 7 bushels of apples throughout September and October. I thought 14 bushel would last at least thru mid-October, or at least until the end of the month when I hope to go back down to the Cities for Honeycrisp as well as restocking other apples. Good grief. We have less than a bushel left! By Friday afternoon, we had sold about 12 bushels of apples with people requesting even more of the common ones (McIntosh, Haralson, Cortland) and some that aren't being picked yet (Honeycrisp, Gala, Fireside). I'm heading south again on Tuesday.....

We are getting ready for our pumpkin parties. The first one is this coming Saturday, then we'll add Friday afternoons in October. Tony has added duck races this year, too. So this week will be packed with him busy at the market getting the maze and everything ready while I bustle around with the admin side of things -- wristbands, give-away candy, buying food and making treats for the concessions, getting out the pumpkin party paraphenilia, and wondering if everything will be done in time...while getting in that trip to the Cities all day Tuesday and a trip to Fargo on Friday! Thankfully, though, things do slow down work-wise once the first pumpkin party is done!

The Taste of Home cooking show! I've had questions on how it went! It was busy; we had a GREAT location for our booth, about five slots from the entrance. Good set up, good products from the Market and from Watkins, you name it. Two years ago when the show was here before, they told us over 2300 people came through. I had three helpers scheduled along with me and hoped we'd be prepared. Well. The show didn't sell out. They even had more than 100 extra bags AFTER cutting the bags down from 850 to 800. Everyone in town saw the big advertisement in our paper for the show....two days earlier in Alexandria (an hour or so away), but only one person remembered seeing an ad for the Park Rapids show. Even today at church three ladies I spoke with didn't even realize there was a show yesterday...and would've been there if they knew! We did have brisk business off and on throughout the morning, but not as good as I was expecting. However, from what others said who have been there before, they had great long-term results from exposure at the show. So...that's what I'm hoping for! Maybe the calls and orders will start pouring in for Watkins...and the market will be innundated with customers from now until October 31! They did give each of the vendors one of the give-away bags, and there were some GREAT give-aways! Best thing, though, is that we found more participants for our home-based business show on December 6 (more about that in another blog) and I was asked to participate in a huge pre-Thanksgiving bazaar at a local church here in town! So...we'll see where that leads!

Luke and Susanna have decided they are coyotes and go around the house howling all the time. Either that or wild ponies. Or farm dogs. Or sheep. They do give us clues by the sounds they make.

For now, I'm heading off-line. Got a few more things to do before bed time as well as figuring out when I'm going to do what this week! I think, God willing, everything is under control...but you can keep us in your prayers!

And big congrats to my cousin's son, Brandon, who was baptised today! God is good. ALL the time!

Do You Remember....

what my kids look like? Just in case, here are a few photos of them from the past month or so!

This is what happens when Daddy gets the kids ready for bed...and in case you're wondering what's on their heads, that's "overnight underwear"!

More funnies...

My kids crack me up, especially Susanna. She is so dramatic in everything she does! As she talks to you, she accompanies everything with hand motions, facial expressions, and sometimes full body movement to give emphasis to what she is saying.

Tonight, bed time was late as it has been most nights this summer. We decided to forego the usual story-reading and instead each snuggled a little one while telling a story about when we were growing up. I started a story about when I was a little girl; Tony wrapped up a story when he was a little boy, but before we could start prayers, Susanna started her own story:

"Lasterday, when I was ten, I went to the pond to go swimming, but I fell in! It wasn't too bad, though. It didn't hurt."

Hands going up and down, back and forth, eyes getting wider, face very serious...while Tony and I tried to keep from cracking up in front of her. Meanwhile, Luke is almost asleep on my lap, but Susi wasn't done...oh no!

"Okay, Luke, it's your turn to tell a story about when you were big. Come on! Daddy and Mama told when they were little; I told when I was big, now it's your turn, too..."

He wasn't having anything except a request for a VERY short prayer and bed...which is where I'm heading now!

A Taste of Fear

It was about a year ago that Luke started getting scared at night of the (to us) funniest things. Now, it is Susanna's turn. She's crawled into bed with us the past two nights, and although Tony takes her back upstairs, she's in between us again by morning.

I asked her today what she is afraid of (she comes in our room because she's scared). Get this. She is scared of a little tiny round pink girl (picture her making a circle with her thumb and index finger) who has yellow or white hair...and is named Susi.

Tonight, as we went over how she is going to stay in HER bed tonight and if that little tiny round pink girl with the yellow hair named Susi comes to her bed again tonight, she is to tell her that it is HER bed and she must go somewhere else ("Luke will tell her, Mama."), as we went over how God is with her and will take care of her because He loves her very much, she informed me that the little tiny round pink girl with the yellow hair named Susi is even bigger than her, but she is very little.

Well, it makes sense in at least one mind in our house.

More Morning Murmurings

Oh, I love that we still have a monitor in the kids' room and can hear what they say! (Okay, we'll take it out -- maybe -- by the time they're teens!)

This morning, Luke woke up first, which is pretty rare, and was mumbling cheerfully to himself. We heard nothing from Susi until Luke said, "Susanna, if you don't stop that talking RIGHT NOW, I'm going down to Daddy and Mama's room!" And a sleepy voice replied, "Okay, Luke." Then lots of giggles.

Pretty soon, "Luke, can I wear some of your pants and shirt? But not your underwear." "Sure, Susanna. And not my socks, either." "Well, Luke, maybe some socks, too." "No, Susanna, it is going to be hot temperatures outside today, so you do not need to wear socks." "Okay, Luke. I love you."

And shortly after that...."Luke, I got pee pee in my bed." "Yeah, Susanna, I did, too. Let's go tell Mama."

Oh, the joys of early morning in our home. At least that wasn't at 3:00 a.m. like one night (morning?) last week!

And how many of you ladies have ever looked in the mirror first thing in the morning and have been very thankful that your guy married you anyway? (Although, he probably didn't see what you looked like first thing in the morning before you were married...and definitely not first thing in the morning after you had kids!)

Or is it just me?

Keep smilin'!

Two in a row!

Yep, another new post! As I clicked "publish post," I heard Susi going upstairs, flipping on the light, and informing her brother, "Luke, it is time to wake up. The sun is up! Wake up and play with me. I will be the puppy and you will be the kid."

"No, Susanna. I will be a puppy, too. But I can't get up. My, um, I'm, uh, I'm TIRED. Everything is TIRED. Here, you can just go to sleep, too."

She's being persistent...I think he's getting up....but they need someone to play the kid so they can both be puppies....anyone wanna come be the kid?

My Dreamers

Sometimes I think we should have named Luke "Joseph." Luke is a dreamer. Not only during the day time with the things he thinks up, but especially at night. There are many times I hear him laughing and giggling in his sleep (hm, maybe "Isaac"?), times I hear some whimpers, and then there are the times he comes downstairs to crawl into bed with us and tell us his dreams. I have to admit, it's very rare that I remember a word he says, as I'm usually trying to enjoy my own dream time....

Susi joined us around 6:30 this morning to share her latest dream...there was a lady monster in the woods who was holding a little tiny baby. She didn't go in the woods, but I did and some how made it out okay after Daddy came in after us and made that lady monster go away.

Tony comes up with some doozies of dreams at times, but I don't really remember my own -- except when I was pregnant and had REALLY vivid and unusual dreams...maybe that's where my kids get their dreams from (or where I got my dreams).

Okay, maybe my musings didn't make much sense this morning, but hey...it's another new blog!

Yet another call to prayer

I have such an aching heart right now. Tonight I found out my friend Jane's husband is not doing very well. Lowell and Jane celebrated their 50th anniversary 'round about the time my in-laws did. Jane played the organ at our wedding. Their kids grew up with Tony and his siblings. We've gotten to be friends...Jane and I emailing each other, enjoying each other's blogs (see the link to her blog to the left--especially enjoyable are the times she's written about newly married life!), sitting a pew in front or behind at church, seeing Lowell turn around and give a look when our kids got a bit too loud...but always with a twinkle in his eye.

Almost as long as I've known him, Lowell has been having health issues, but they've greatly increased the past couple years to the point where he often was unable to go out of the house. It has been a delight seeing him in church regularly the past several months. This past weekend, his health problems increased even more. Monday he was taken to the ICU in Fargo and was put on life support because of a bleeding anurism that the doctors cannot operate on. Tomorrow the plan is to pull the plug. Right now life support is what is keeping him alive, so Lowell most likely will have his eternal home coming tomorrow.

As we told the kids tonight to pray for Simone (Luke's friend and Lowell's granddaughter) and her family because her grandpa is sick and will soon be with Jesus in heaven, Luke and Susanna quickly said, "we are going to be sad, too." But Susanna, with a child's insight, wisdom, and straight-forwardness added "But other people waiting for him in heaven will not be sad. And Jesus will not be sad, either!"

Please pray for the Wolff family during this difficult time. I am so thankful that they know Jesus and will be getting their comfort from Him, but having to say goodbye is never easy, no matter what the circumstances.

Jane, Brownie, and any other family members that may read my blog...you are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you during this time and in the times to come.

Farm Kids

Take a close look at my feminine little girl's attire and actions..... (she comes home from the farm even dirtier than Luke usually!)

How do you keep a boy quiet?

This is a question Tony asked last night as we were going to sleep. Luke CONSTANTLY has to be making some kind of noise, whether it is truck sounds, animal sounds, grunts, or more. And this is when he isn't talking. My boy talks at any time for any reason. He talks in his sleep (he laughs in his sleep!), he talks to anyone within ear shot (and even those who aren't), he talks to his favorite blankie...yes, you heard me right. The other morning, as he was getting dressed for the day, I heard him saying, "okay, softie, I'm going downstairs now. I know, softie, I'll miss you, too, but I'll just be downstairs. OkAY! softie, I'll take you with me. Come on!"

We love him dearly. We laugh at the things he says (usually), and wonder how he can make some of the noises he does...but we just cannot figure out how to get him to be quiet for even 2 minutes!

On the flip (Susi) side, last night Susi taught herself how to whistle. Daddy had left the room and she tried to get his attention by "woo hoo!" Realizing it didn't work, she tried another Daddy tactic and attempted a whistle. After the third try, she was whistling like a pro. Goodness, I can't even whistle!

And thank goodness she didn't practice once she went to bed!

Iron Man Cubbie and other cute things

Okay, before last Friday I had never heard of Iron Man. Maybe it's because I'm so out of touch, maybe it's because Iron Man really doesn't have that big of an impact (although, from what I discovered later that weekend, Iron Man is some kind of super hero and is the star of some movie that came out last week....showing here in town....and supposedly was the highest grossing movie of the weekend).

Anyway, at Burger King, Luke got some snap together Iron Man toy and Iron Man became his new hero...based only on that. That night, having never actually seen a picture of the "real" Iron Man, Luke decided he would become Iron Man. Hence, the outfit. Please note, the entire outfit is all part of Iron Man -- bulky overnight underwear, Bob the Builder pjs, and "scary mask like Daddy wears for hunting." Oh yeah, and big muscles.

Last night was also a big man for my Iron Man. It was the last night of AWANA for this year (we go by the school year)...Awards night complete with ice cream sundaes afterwards. It's the first time I remember that we actually didn't have enough room for all the clubbers to sit -- we had to cram parents together to fit in all the kids that were there! Not something to complain about at all! We average 300 in attendance on a regular AWANA night...that count includes about 60 regular leaders and listeners, so we're reaching between 225-250 children from age 3 through 6th grade (before they go into a program directed at teens) each week with the gospel of Christ, training them to serve HIM! (if you're familiar with AWANA, you're familiar with that line!).

Susanna was excited that she finally got to go to AWANA again and even have ice cream! While the children took turns going up front for their awards (those that finished a full book during the year -- 32 sections with at least that many bible verses), she entertained the masses (okay, maybe a dozen or so folks) sitting behind her by pulling down her pants and shaking around her naked tushie...Daddy and Grandma being totally oblivious to her antics, Mama busy handing out awards and running back and forth to the kitchen making sure everything was ready for ice cream. Yes, she is my shy one, and NO, I promise you she has never seen that at home (unless it was done by her brother at one time or another).

Luke, however, did a great job when he was up front getting his award and singing with the rest of the Cubbies. I was pleased to see he was one of the few who were actually singing, jumping, and clapping...when they were supposed to! The photos are fuzzy, but you can see him in his cute Cubbie vest, pleased as punch.

He must have made some good impressions...as we were eating ice cream, our music ministry director for the church came up to ask me if I thought Luke would sing a solo at church on Sunday for both services. Hm. Luke go up front and entertain hundreds of people with a solo? Yeah, that would be right up his alley...but I did check with him. We sang the song together for a few times, he got it down pat, and told Anna that yes, he wanted to sing. On the way home, he informed me that he wanted to sing a different song instead. Since his favorite song is Mary had a little lamb, I immediately cut him off and told him it was the song Mrs. Campbell gave him or nothing at all. He was content to "settle" for her song. Now...will he sing? And will he sing the song she gave him? Will we remember to bring our video camera? Will he do something even more mortifying than his sister did last night? He did sing it perfectly for his music teacher today. But on Sunday? Stay tuned....

For those of you who would like to teach your own children the song Luke is singing, here it is, to the tune of Fere Jacques (or however you spell that!):

I love Mama, I love Mama,

Yes, I do! Yes, I do!

Mamas are for hugging

Mamas are for kissing

I love you, yes, I do!

Now, if all goes well (and even if it doesn't), could I even dream of a better Mother's Day present (no, honey, don't get any ideas!).

And regardless of how happy Luke is to tell the world of his love for his Mama, Susi did put me in my place today. As I was brushing her hair into piggy tails, she informed me, "Mama, you are not perfect." "I'm not?" "Oh no, Mama," she reassured me. "Other Mamas might be perfect, but you are not!"

I forgot to ask her what she thought "perfect" meant! Sigh.