chicken feathers

scrabble

I taught Grant how to play scrabble today.  While he was waiting for his introduction to the game he oriented himself with the letters.

It reads "MASTER GRANT ROCKS AND RULES"  he later added "FOREVER"

We encourage humility.

sunday questions

:: A series of questions posted once a week for a year.  By the end of year the answers will serve as an in depth personal history. ::

This is a two-fer.  I missed last week so am including it now.

 

Did you go to college or take any vocational training?  Where and what did you study?  Any degrees?

Did you serve in the military?  Where and when?  Any special memories?

Did you go on a mission?  Where and when?  Any special memories?

Tell about roommates or companions.

Describe your favorite dress or outfit as a youth.

Describe the town where you grew up.  Main Street, stores, parades, activities and notable people.

 

sisters

I made this dress for Anna when she was 4 months old.  

I kept it (kind of rare) and FOUND it (even more rare) and it fit (unprecedented)!  Rita is 5 months old.

A family resemblance, no?

sunday questions

:: A series of questions posted once a week for a year.  By the end of year the answers will serve as an in depth personal history. ::

What do you remember about being a teenager?  Attitudes, problems, dreams and goals, social life, movies, dances, friends, activities, crushes, romances and jobs.

 

soccer, anyone?

I have been feeling some strange guilt for not being diligent in having our kids participate in team sports, encouraging them to instead play outside.  So today I asked Grant if there was a sport his was interested in playing or learning.  He thought about it for a little while and then asked if fishing counted.  Not being the response I was anticipating I hedged a bit.  He said he didn't really like fishing and was just curious if something like that counted...what he REALLY wanted to learn was how to hunt.  Uhhhh, still not the soccer or baseball I was thinking.  Trying to keep an open mind I said that I supposed we could figure something out - maybe target shooting?  Grant then clarified that he didn't want to shoot guns he wanted to learn how to use a bow an arrow.  At this point my visions of T-ball had evaporated into the dusty outfield.  I said I wasn't sure if there were archery lessons in the area but that I would look into it if that's what he really wanted to do.  He then said, "If you can't find bow and arrow lessons, look for ambush lessons."

Oh. my. word.  

 

and so it goes.

It's happened again.  Another kid is growing up.  Two years ago I wrote about my mournful reaction to Grant losing his baby teeth.  Now it's happening all over again with Anna.

This time I feel less distraught over the loss of childhood.  I'd like to think I have a better grip on the reality that my kids are getting older and there is no amount of mourning that can make their youth last a little longer.  It also helps that Anna is just so darn excited to have a gap in her smile.  She was so excited, in fact, to HAVE that gap that she asked Russell to yank out the tooth with his pliers.  Which he did.  The whole family was there for the extraction and when it was all over Rhett exclaimed, "That was AMAZING!"  

Keep your teeth in, Rhett.  This Mama needs to enjoy that little kid smile a while longer.  My time with it is waning. 

sunday questions

:: A series of questions posted once a week for a year.  By the end of year the answers will serve as an in depth personal history. ::

Tell about each of your children.  Their names and birthdates.  What makes them different and special?

Tell the same about any grandkids.

 

making progress

Pictures from last weekend...Saturday morning and Saturday evening.

Between accompanying me to a yoga class and turning my graph papered landscaping dreams into reality, Russell is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!  

Saturday is supposed to be 77 and sunny...perfect for finishing a rock wall, says the man who knows.

 

a nice way to start the day

Rita wakes up hungry around 5 or 6 each morning.  I get her out of her crib and bring her to bed to feed her.  After (or usually during) a nice leisurly breakfast we both nod off so this is my view when I wake up for real every morning.

Have mercy.

I am so surprised by how much I am loving having a baby in our house again.  Before Rita was a reality and we were talking about adding another kiddo to our team I was very, very hesitant.  I wasn't terribly interested in doing any of it again - not the pregnancy, the labor, the long nights, the nursing, the raising, the ___you name it____.  Now that Rita is here I can see that she was clearly meant to be in our family at this time; she has settled right in like she's always been here.  My transition into mothering her has been the easiest of all my children and I am truly loving all things baby - the late nights (those are gone - bless her!), the nursing, the raising, the ___you name it____.  It's just been a delight.  It's hard for me to imagine those polar feelings that were so real just over a year ago.  

Especially when I wake up to sweet, gentle milk breath warming my cheek.

So glad you're here, Rita.  I always wanted you, I just didn't always know it.

sunday questions

:: A series of questions posted once a week for a year.  By the end of year the answers will serve as an in depth personal history. ::

Tell how your parents met.  Tell about their courtship.

Describe your parents wedding day, your mother's dress, their honeymoon.

Where did they live after the wedding?