Gladdest Hours

Bike Riding for Pre-Schoolers 101

Somewhere in Seattle, WA is a man who saved our backs.  Literally.  About four years ago Pete took the girls to a park on a Saturday morning so that I could do my 1-hour-whirlwind-house-cleaning.  (I don't do that anymore, btw.  Now, when he leaves the house with them, I do something that doesn't involve being on my feet.)  But, I digress....

While he was at the park, he started talking to another dad who was teaching his 3 yo how to ride a bike. His process was so ingenius that I couldn't believe we had never heard of it.   Surely we were the only parents on the face of the early who hadn't heard of this!  THIS is what should be on the evening news!  THIS is what should go in those crazy-well-baby/child-mailings that I get from our beloved governor that cost tons of tax dollars, that say brilliant things like, "Your child will become more mobile, so pay attention and don't let them touch the stove."    

But, so far, of the people that I've told about this, and I HAVE told lots (I get kind of "excited" and a bit "over-exuberant" about some things :)   NO ONE realizes HOW EASY it actually can be to teach a child how to ride a 2-wheel-bike!  They can basically teach themselves with a few easy changes to the traditional process.

Now, let me preface this by saying, I'm usually not a fan for "pushing to learn things early."  I'm definitely on the "better late than early" spectrum of things.  But this is different....especially for younger children with older siblings who want to do what the olders are doing and keep up and play their games. And, no matter WHEN you teach a child to ride a bike, you are cutting your horrible-bending-over-back-wrenching-time down to about 5 minutes!!!   And for those of us approaching our 40's and 50's who don't have children old enough to take over bike-duty, this is GREAT! 

****************BIKE RIDING FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS 101 *****************

Somewhere between the ages of 2.5 and 4, a child can go from scooter/tricycle/other to a COASTER BIKE.  COASTER BIKES are simply a 2-wheel-bike, in a super-small size (usually a 12" wheel/tire) that: 

• has no pedals 
• is low enough to the ground to feel secure
• has the seat moved very low so feet can touch the ground easily

They sell "real coaster bikes" in all the specialty bike shops for $200-400 dollars...(give me a break)...OR, you can go to KMart and buy a regular 12" bike for $30, remove the pedals, and lower the seat.  OR....our favorite is to keep an eye out for free 12" bikes that people are trying to get rid of at the end of their driveways on the weekends, and remove the pedals.  Here is our COASTER BIKE: 

Pete just took the pedals off and lowered the seat.  The idea is that the child is learning that feeling of BALANCE long before they have to pedal.  One thing at a time.  Balance now.  Pedal later.  Right now they can self-teach themselves to balance by first getting on the bike, touching their feet to the ground and just pushing themselves along.  As they become more confident and their balance gets better, they lift their feet more often and for longer periods of time and basically "ride" their bike....just without the pedals.  It also helps if there is a slight hill for them to ride on, so that they get the feeling of going quicker and gliding.....they just naturally lift their feet.  Voila!  Caroline started riding her COASTER BIKE last spring right before her third birthday.  Here she is cruising around the driveway: 

In the woods: 

Coasting along after going down the slight hill on our neighbor's driveway: 

  

This is highly superior to riding a 2-wheel-bike with training wheels for two reasons: 

• It's WAY MORE FUN!!!!!  Training wheels are boring and slow and tippy!  Yuck!
• Training wheels don't teach them to BALANCE, which is what riding a bike is all about!  

OK, so once they get really good on their COASTER BIKE, there are 2 options: 

1. Put the pedals back on the COASTER BIKE.  Not our preferred option.   What if you put the pedals back on and Johnny isn't ready to ride with pedals on?  Then you have to take them back off!  According to Pete, putting pedals on and off is a pain, so we don't do this. Plus, EVERYONE loves the coaster bike, so it's never NOT being used.  
2. Get another 12" bike, leave the pedals on, no training wheels.   This is what we do.  So, we have two 12" bikes around here at all times.  

When you and/or they think they are ready, you help them learn how to rotate the pedals and walk/run along side them for about FIVE MINUTES!!!!!!  If they're ready, that's all you'll have to do!  

About 2 weeks ago, Pete spent 5 minutes with Caroline who is 3.5 years old, and she HAD IT!  

Dorothy Jo was just shy of age 4 when she rode on her own, and Pete remembers Dorothy Jo doing the same thing.....FIVE MINUTES and she was riding on her own.  

More pics of Caroline a couple weeks ago: 

 

 

Novice Bike-Riders also need to watch out for Mini-Pedestrians!  Where's the Crossing Guard???  Hmmmph...she must be busy taking pictures.

This is such a great way for a child to learn how to ride a bike at their own pace!  They are completely in charge of this process with a bit of gentle help of a parent at the beginning of each stage.  They can practice on their own, gaining more and more confidence.  Balance learned on the COASTER BIKE is key!

And, no back aches for the elderly parents.  :)  

Caroline's Beach Buddy

 

"Hmmmmm....where's that Auntie of mine?"

 

 

 

 

The Watermelon Club Celebrates Erika's Sixth Birthday

Six Years Old!

A couple of years ago, my sister, Senta Kay, obtained some little watermelon cupcake toppers, and like all aunties, she said to herself, "Self, I should KEEP these.  Just IN CASE I'm ever in Seattle for Erika's birthday in August; it would be a GREAT summer birthday theme."    Well, THIS was the year!  She would be in Seattle  during the month of August for Erika's birthday.

So, the "Watermelon Club" was born and took on a life of its own!   

Auntie Senta arrived on the 10:00 plane from Colorado, complete with watermelon cupcake toppers:

Watermelon Headbands:

And, a Watermelon Tie for the only male member of the Watermelon Club:

 

Erika made these for all of her guests:

 

And, I couldn't help but to get into the watermelon-spirit with these plates, napkins, and tablecloth:

 

For the past few days, there was this sign posted on the girls bedroom:

Usually, we are enjoying an outside summer birthday party on the deck, but this year it was raining heavily.  So here we are, indoors, ready to eat Auntie Senta's delicious Phad Thai for dinner:

Baby Jacqueline sports her watermelon headband on the lap of Grammy Anne: 

 The officers of the Watermelon Club salivating over the birthday cake, wishing I would quit taking pictures:

 

Last, but not least, the Watermelon Club in its absolute entirety:

Thanks Auntie Senta for bringing a bit of themed-excitement, a new club, a lot of pink and green, and tons of LOVE into our favorite summertime celebration.....precious Erika's birthday!

Neighborhood Erects Monster Tent

Pete and the girls of the neighborhood slept in the tent the other day.  (That sounds like a high-school-note passed around in class, two days after Prom Night.)

How 'bout that laundry bucket over on the left side?  (No time for cropping these days!)  And, no, that's not me holding Jacqueline; that's my neighbor, Julee.  I WISH it were me...that would mean I was down about twenty pounds!  The other two handsome dudes in the photo are John (Julee's husband) and Mike, our northern neighbor.  Poor Mike.....he was planning on a peaceful evening in front of his firepit in his own backyard, and then....HERE WE COME.....in full force in our backyard.  I guess he decided we were no match for his quiet evening, so he just joined in the chaos!  The fact that he's willing to pose for one of my lunatic photos, shows just what a great sport he really is.

Are they excited or what????

Night - night!  

And, yes.....they actually made it ALL NIGHT out there!

The Neverending Spelling Bee

Two of my favorite movies from the past couple of years are about Spelling Bees: Spellbound and Akeelah and the Bee.

So, you can imagine my delight last year when the girls were fascinated watching their Signing Time "friend," Leah win her spelling bee .  Her mother explains why this was such a Miracle!    Ever since, we have random, spontaneous spelling bees at our dwelling. 

Here is an excerpt from one a few weeks ago:

Madeleine (6.5): Erika, how to spell "John"?        (NO, that is not a type-O....they always say "How to spell" instead of "How do you spell"....we don't know why, and we think it's funny, so we don't say anything.) 

Erika (5):  May I please have a definition?

Madeleine:  The tall, skinny man with glasses who lives next door.  The mailman.  Mrs. Bergstrom's husband who lives across the street.  And, my godfather who is also tall. 

Erika:  Jon.  J-O-N.  Jon.

Madeleine: Correct.  You may please be seated. 

Wow! Four definitions for John.  I didn't realize how many Johns we knew.  And, she thought of them SO FAST.  The girl can't draw a circle to save her life....but, BOY can she verbally articulate, describe and pratter!

And, it's so hard to not burst out laughing when the question "May I please have a definition?" is posed. 

Late Winter at the Pond

We went exploring at "our" nearby pond last week, examining winter "goodies" and some very early signs of spring.  Probably the last time we'll do this until after the baby is born.  We had a special guest come with us...neighbor and Little-Flower-friend Gemma came with us!

The pond and surrounding areas look so different in the winter.  The girls can walk in places they normally cannot.  For instance, actually IN THE POND:

It may still look like winter, but they really did find lots of signs of spring.  See the little splotches of green?

Foraging for cattails:

And, pulling them apart:

Caroline was a bit tired, and quite content to be pushed in the stroller (since the backpack is out-of-the-question these days).  Except when the ducks came around.  Then she wanted in-on-the- action.

We saw a pair of ducks that we've never seen before.  One looked exactly like a ring-necked duck.  But its partner did not look like the female ring-necked duck.  It looked more like a goldeneye (except with a white "cap" on its head) or a bufflehead duck. 

Things We Do For A Bit of Peace And Quiet From the Toddler

This bought us a good 20 minutes or so of read-aloud time: 

Getting back to the regularily-scheduled-program will prove challenging and funny, I'm sure, in oh-so-many ways.   

Be Ye Like Little Children

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Mat 18:3

Yes.  This is true in so many ways.  This is one of the bible verses that enters so often into my mind when pride, anger, lack of faith, etc. rear their ugly heads. 

The other day, however, it entered into my mind for a different reason, and it made me laugh hysterically. 

Be Ye Like Little Children.  I wish I could become like a child, and it didn't bother me to have my tights falling down.  Look at her.  She's absolutely oblivious. 

It's Snowing!

And the neighborhood girls were VERY busy today!

Where is Thumbkin?

There is just something oh-so-cute about a three-and-a-half-year-old standing in a corner of the yard all by herself, singing and doing the finger-play for "Where is Thumbkin?"

So sweet.

(What IS that string tied to the Apple Tree?  Who knows.)

Three Cheers for Low Tide!

We met the Rodabaugh Clan at the Beach on Tuesday, as it was low tide.  Low tide just BEGS us to an early morning out the door with some banana bread, grapes and oranges for brunch, and a pail and shovel for everyone!

Here are some of the beach-combers (Caroline even gets into the action, in the bottom left):

Then, it's on to a bit of team work:

While the "babies" of each family relax:

And some rock-climbing to finish off the morning:

   

I do as I'm told

We were out inspecting the neighbor's wonderful array of spider webs filled with drops of dew.  They did indeed have a lot.  Erika (5) was especially excited.  "Stay right here, Mom, and make sure Caroline (1.5) doesn't poke the dew drops.  I'll be right back with the camera." 

I have to admit, I WAS a bit excited to hear, "Stay right here."  Usually it's "Come here!" or some variation or plea for help, requiring me to use my legs and heart.   

So, I took my job as spiderweb-with-dew-protector very seriously in the somewhat supine position.   As stated in the title, I do as I'm told:

I laughed out loud when I saw this, as I was doing my evening duty of deleting most of the crazy pictures that the kids take throughout the day.   I wonder what the neighbors thought. 

In any case, I did my job and Erika was able to take a few pictures.

 

Here is the above-mentioned spiderweb-destroyer off to dismantle other things since I was doing such a good job:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch......

Obviously our dollies don't understand the Charlotte Mason quote   "Why be indoors when you can rightly be without."

Nature study at our house. 

Coming soon......our new Outdoor Nature Shelves!  I'm so excited about this I can hardly contain myself.    

Busy Little Nuns

You have GOT to see these two posts from Margaret at In The Shade Of The Old Oaks:

• Feeding the Hungry
• Another Busy Day at the Convent

For some reason, there is just something so sweet, hysterical and loveable about 2 little Chinese sisters pretending to be nuns.

And, simply because it's so much fun to see these little girls in action, here is Little House in the Shade of the Oaks. 

Thanks, Margaret!  You only post occasionally, but when you do, they are marvelous!

Sinking and Floating during the Month of August

Erika (almost 5) asked me to put this on the blog.  (How can I refuse?)  She wanted Grama Charlotte , Auntie Becca and Natalie to see her "Sink and Float Espeerment" (experiment). 

Here are the things that float:

Stick, Apple, Flowers, Plastic Nail, Clothespin, Leaves, Dandelion, Ronald McDonald, Measuring Cup, Plate, Syringe

Things that Sink: Seashell, Pebble, Penny, Rocks, Golf Ball, Fireman, Blue bucket, Hairclip

Just in case you ever wondered....

....what a three-and-a-half-year-old looks like, wearing layers of 12-month-old sweaters. 

Lace? Ruffles? Ribbons?

No, no, no! 

Move over Donnatella Versace, my girls are going to give you a run for your money!

And, quite practical too!

Bringing Life and Learning Out-of-doors

The weather has been wonderfully sunny the past few days.  Not always WARM, but sunny and beautiful!  We have moved our life OUT-OF-DOORS! 

Phys Ed:

Reading, Poetry, Religion and a Picnic in the front yard:

Lots of Nature Study, Botany & Composting:

More Botany:

Geography & Beachcombing:

A bit of Physics:

Socialization and Team Work:

Entomology:

Dendrology:

Picture Books:

Civil Engineering:

Math (How many steps to get to the compost pile?)

Even Mom gets a couple minutes seconds of peace in the backyard, perusing a new book. 

      

And Photography.  Don't forget Outside Photography! (Dorothy Jo took this picture.) 

   

There She Was Just a Walkin' Down the Street

Singin' Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

Snappin' her fingers and a shufflin' her feet

Singin' do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

She looked good (looked good) She looked fine (looked fine)

She looked good, she looked fine, and I nearly lost my mind!

Caroline walks!   And, yes, OF COURSE, that is dirt on her face!  What kink of a glorious Spring day would it be if the 14-month-old of the house didn't eat find a bit of dirt? 

Well, OK, maybe A LOT OF DIRT:

Note Caroline in the upper-right corner.  Making her way over to partake of the Beaver Dam Festivities. 

Books about Sisters

I found these recommended on Amy's blog, Among Women.   She has four girls, so naturally she has a sidebar entitled "Books About Sisters."  Well, didn't I just request a few from our nifty little library, and lo and behold, we have some definite winners!

Seven Chinese Sisters - This was probably the biggest HIT of 2006!  They did so many activities with this crazy book that I could barely keep up.  It's the story of seven Chinese sisters, and the gets stolen by a dragon and the other six sisters rescue her with their various talents.  The Finale was a playette performed by the three girls, Jemma (our neighb0r, who is Chinese), Raggedy Ann, me, Pete (dragon) and a doll.  The playette was preceeded by a Chinese noodle soup lunch with everyone in their Chinese silks, thanks to Jemma and her mom!

The Lemon Sisters - This is a wonderful book to read in the winter when the snow is coming down. It's a very sweet story about youth and growing old, and, of course, the beauty of sisterhood.  The three  little sisters make Lemon-Ice for the three elderly sisters who arrive to celebrate a birthday.  It always made me cry because it's so sweet, and the girls thought I was crazy.  It led to many episodes of making Lemon Ice during our snowfall this winter.  What is Lemon Ice, you ask?  You'll have to read the book to find out!

Perched

Mothers of boys will probably laugh at this.  Maybe.  (How would I know what mothers of boys laugh at?)  Caroline discovered that she could crawl up on this bin (it's normally not left on the floor).  So, she just perched herself up there for about 25 minutes.  No kidding.  25 MINUTES!  I say perched, because she also was chirping, just like a bird.  Occasionally making "uhhh" or "ahhhh" noises.  Moving around on that  2'x3' square only, switching positions.....completely proud of herself.  Changing positions....kneel, sit, upside down.  Kneel, sit, upside down.  Chirping and watching.  Weird.   

Then, later in the day, I turned around in the kitchen and saw this:

GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK!  "How did you get up there?"  Well, she climbed, of course.  I guess she wanted more of that Vitamin D and DHA that she loves so much in her milk. 

We don't have steps on our main floor, so I never really KNOW when my kids are ABLE to climb steps.  I remember that with Dorothy Jo.  One day, we were in the basement, and I set her on the floor.  Next thing I know she's half-way up the stairs.  Alrighty then....I guess you know how to climb stairs.  Good.

And, I just have to include this picture in this post:

This has GOT to be the smallest child on-record to sit at a big-kid table.  Because MOST 17-pound babies are only  4-6 MONTHS OLD and can't even sit UP yet!  The 4-month-old across the street is bigger than this 13-month-old!  My children obviously missed their Guardian Angel's "Growing 201" course in the womb. 

She has assumed her rightful place at the table with her sisters.  Not on a regular basis....only occasionally.  I can only take so much.   

Somehow, I got the message that she was tired of this:

 

"Hey!  I'm missin' all the action! Would someone PULEEZ turn me around.  I can't see!  Stop taking pictures and TURN....ME.....AROUND!"

Rice is Nice

How to keep 7 kids, aged 3-12, entertained for over 30 minutes:

The Asel siblings spent some time at our house today.  Isabel (age 4) is usually the one to hang out at the Rice Bin, but today everyone wanted to get in on the fun. 

Strangely Reminiscent

Erika bellows from the living room: "OH NO!  Mom, Caroline has snot!! 

Dorothy Jo chimes in: "Eeeeewwwww, huwee!  Now she's yicking her snot! 

Madeleine: "Uh, yeah, Mom, she really is.  It's pretty disgusting.  You better hurry." 

Reaching for the handkerchief, I suddenly have a feeling of deja-vu. 

Running to the living room to wipe away the above-mentioned snot before Caroline's tongue does, I remember....."Oh yes, we have moved on from the yuckiest spew being "gwabbed" and spread around to SNOT being "yicked."

I guess we're making....uh...progress?   

Good Help Is Hard To Find

No wonder nothing ever gets done around here. 

Letter to American Girl

We received our American Girl catalogue in the mail yesterday.  I'm obviously a bit annoyed by it, as it took less than 12 hours for me to compose this crazy letter. 

Download ag_letter.doc

Probably NOT a good place...

....for that loaf of bread:

And, furthermore.....THAT is NOT a stool:

Quiet Time Playing Camping.  (open door) BONK!  Right into left-camper's head!  So much for quiet time playing camping:

The neck would be a bit too far back for me...but, hey, whatever it takes:

Welcome to our Fabric Store

I think I've been making too many trips to the fabric store lately. 

Here is the fabric selection:

Seamstress Erika has made her selections carefully (all while holding her baby):

She brings her fabric to the cutting counter:

Where the "cutting lady" will lay the fabric out:

Note the measuring tape attached to the table.  Also of note: The cutting lady's questions such as, "What are you going to make with this one?"

Seamstress: "Oh, a summer dress for my daughter and maybe a shirt for my cousin."  (which is especially funny because my daughters don't have any cousins.  Yes, I know, this is PRETEND! But it's still funny.) "I was going to make underwear, but I couldn't find the size."

Cutting Lady: "Oh, that will be beautiful.  I really like how this fabric has pink and then little green dots and it goes like 'this' (hands waving in the air).  I think I'll make a tablecloth from that tomorrow." (Great....matching dresses, shirts and tablecloths.  Why didn't I think of that?)

Seamstress: "Yes, I'm leaving for to see my mother in a few days and I could use a tablecloth too" (what?????%$#%) 

On with the task at hand.

Measure and cut.  Seamstress Erika wanted "187-and-a-half-quarter-yards of this one please" :

There is a "baby cutter" too, who just stands around grabbing at everything.   

Seamstress Erika then "leaves" the cutting counter. The cutting counter is then miraculously transformed into the cashier counter. Here is the cashier (the cutting lady's twin) waiting for a customer:

Adding it up:

Various discussions take place about important things like the weather outside, scissors and babies.  Then the question: "Are they all your yours?" 

Answer: "Oh yes, and I have 13 more at home.  They are the ones who are getting the new hats from the fabric." (Hmmmm...I don't remember talk about HATS, only shirts, dresses, underwear and tablecloths.  This is one busy-mama!)

Money transfers hands:

Bag it up:

"Thanks for coming in.  Have a nice day. Good-bye!"

"Good-bye."

 

Thank Goodness for Neighbors with Children, Food and Wine

We have been “iced in” for the past few days.  We live at the bottom of several hills, and haven’t been able to leave for fear of sliding uncontrollably down one of these said-hills.  Not that I leave to go anywhere anyway, but for once, EVERYONE else is home too!  The camaraderie of a snow-day.

Babies Are Yummy

Madeleine (age 5) bellows from the living room, "UGH, Mom, YOU BETTER COME GET CAROLINE!!!!!

I think to myself, Sheesh, now what has she destroyed?  "Ok, Ok, I'm coming."

She continues, "Arrrgggghhhh, she's just SO CUTE, I think I'm going to squeeze her to death!  Aaaaahhhh, just LOOK at your cheeks!" 

Oh, yes, well....in THAT case I will DEFINITELY come get her.  You're only FIVE after all, and can't POSSIBLY be expected to control your baby-mauling-urges.

A Sense of Togetherness

...that the 3 Kings probably never thought possible.   

(Found today on the couch)

Me: "Whoa!  What's with the 3 Kings?" 

Erika (4): "I didn't want them to lose each other.  That wouldn't be right if they showed up at different times or there was only ONE or TWO Kings.  They HAVE to stay together!  And, mom DON'T take the rubberbands off until Sunday.  We all agreed they should stay on."   

And, we all know that democracy goes a L-O-N-G way in this house.  (Ah-hem!)  But, in this case, I'll happily oblige.

The First Noel at our Home

This is one BORED donkey; Joseph is obviously taking too long with Mary's saddle. 

And, here we have baby Jesus inside one of those furry, soft socks complete with a frog decoration.  Not exactly the "swaddling clothes" to which the angels were referring: 

There have been several other things that PROBABLY didn't happen according to our re-telling. Such as:

Mary (Erika-4) suddenly running quickly out of the scene as soon as the shepherds appear, and 30 seconds later BELLOWS from the other end of the house, "WILL SOMEBODY WIPE MY BUM!!!?" 

Mary (Dorothy Jo-3) falling off the donkey (Madeleine-5) which resulted in a bloody lip.

Balthazar (Dorothy Jo-3) REFUSING to give baby Jesus his gift of myrhh. 

Mary and Joseph telling the donkey (mommy) that Bethlehem was  THAT way, and the donkey explaining that the donkey can't really go that way because THAT way is the WOOD FLOOR! (kinda hard on the knees). 

The Angel (Erika-4) picking her nose while proclaiming the good news to the shepherds. 

The Donkey (Madeleine-5) was accused of "bottom-showing" because her pants were falling down. 

And, of course what kind of Nativity Play would it be in a household with a 10-month-old, if the said-10-month-old didn't start EATING the HAY in the MANGER!  She's so smart.  Nobody needed to TEll HER she was the cow.

Who Can Buy Which Stockings

Our annual "Christmas Stocking Boutique" has officially opened.  The girls set up all current and other random Christmas stockings and "open shop." Madeleine welcomed her first customers and gave us a tour of their her little boutique. 

"These are for little girls who have American Dolls (I wonder if that's a hint?) and these are for daddies who have jobs (as opposed to daddies who DON'T have jobs....they must be in another section). 

And these over here....it doesn't matter how old you are, how tall you are, or how many teeth you have, ANYONE can buy these." 

Yes, Caroline's teeth are becoming more prominent.  I could have also titled this:

"Sibling Play Signifies Baby Development." 

"The Song of Bernadette"

I can always tell when the girls have been watching "The Song of Bernadette" while I was out.  I come home and find 3 little French peasant girls wandering around the house.

I'm not sure WHAT's going on here....

....but I ain't askin' any questions! 

I have learned many things in my mere 5 years as a parent.  One of them is.....IF IT HAS TO DO WITH HOT, SOAPY WATER AND MANY RAGS.....DON'T INTERFERE! 

Il Neige! Il Neige!

This is a rare....snow in November.  Come to think of it, it's rare in GENERAL.  To us...this is "tons of snow."  Joy, joy, joy, joy....

"Where'd everybody go?"

(Why is it so quiet all of a sudden?)

Response - "We're in here!

Caroline Marie......NEVER ALONE!

I'm almost positive this is not safe (110+pounds in a baby CRIB!) But, I know for a fact that we are not alone.

My Pro-Life Activism

My mother would do something like this.  She is notorious for lining things up and taking a picture.  In that way, she was way ahead of her time, as this is what scrapbook professionals advise as an excellent way of capturing the moment, the state in life, the plethora, the.....well, you get the idea.  I remember the day she was finally ready to get rid of the massive box of baby shoes in the attic.  To make herself feel better, she lined them all up and took a picture.  Classic....Perfect....Reminiscent.  Five children wore those shoes, and what a story that picture tells.  My father, of course, thought she was crazy.....but I think that even he would admit that if he looked at that picture today, he'd get a bit teary-eyed. 

These are all of the strollers that we own. Big and little.  For real babies and for baby-dolls.  In no particular order (sorry, Mom).  I was complaining to a friend a year ago, about how many dolls we had in the house. I just couldn't believe how MANY dolls my girls could play with ALL AT ONCE! The more the merrier. Everywhere I turned there were dolls.  She reminded me that there WERE three girls in my house, and 24 various dollies divided by 3 was ONLY 8.  Eight dolls per "mommy." That's a nice-sized family.  "That's actually VERY pro-life; you should be thrilled that they love their babies and want lots and more!" Hmmm, I hadn't thought of it like that.  So, I've decided that SEVEN strollers in our family is not that outlandish.  It's actually very pro-life.   

The most important election of the year is taking place in South Dakota.  The battle intensifies as we get closer to election day.  As Nov. 7 approaches, please continue to pray and sacrifice for the election in  South Dakota. Maybe this would be a good week to memorize the St. Michael Prayer with my little prayer partners.   

I may not be waving signs, stuffing envelopes or doorbelling these days, but I am still working for the pro-life cause, by praying and sacrificing and "changing the world one diaper at a time."  Someday, by the grace of God, my little girls will be working hard to protect human life, from conception to natural death, in their own way.....however God calls them.

Born on the Toilet

Overheard today while the girls were playing "Pregnant Mommy"

Madeleine - age 5 - pregnant mommy - "I feel contractions and I just made a casserole.  I think my baby is coming."

Dorothy Jo - age 3 - midwife - "OK, jus come ova here, you haffa sit on da toilet, cuz yo baby hasa be born on da toilet. But don worry, we will catch her, she won't be flushed down da toilet. And, look! Der isn't even any poop in der....it's a CLEAN toilet!" 

Madeleine was actually BORN ON the TOILET! A couple minutes after the birth Pete said, "Uh, was my first-born child just born on the toilet?"

Midwife response, "You'd be surprised how many babies are actually born on the toilet." 

So, come on....all you closet-toilet-birthers....come clean!  How many of you ARE THERE? 

And, about the casserole.....I made a casserole for after the birth, during the early stages of labor with Caroline.  Madeleine must have overheard me joke that "now we can have this baby, I have a casserole all ready to go in the oven for after the birth!"

Summer is winding down

Taking a break from digging in the dirt (my father would be so proud) and bike riding in the front driveway.  Afternoon Snack Time.  Something tells me these days are numbered. 

Dorothy Jo's prayer from this morning ~ "Jesus, peez help da birds who are getting wheddy to fy south. Help dem to not bump into anysing."

If the shoe fits, wear it!

Around here, we prefer the adage "If the baby doesn't fall out, wear it!"  (especially if it keeps her quiet).  Probably not EXACTLY the size of person the BABYBJORN company had in mind for the use of their baby carrier. 

Madeleine has been BEGGING me for the past couple of weeks to put this thing on her, and I kept saying that it wouldn't fit.  Hmmpphh. 

Yesterday we were getting ready to go somewhere and the "load-in" had begun.  I went to scoop up Caroline from the living room floor where I had put her 5 minutes earlier, but she wasn't there.  "Hey, where's Caroline?" I yelled.  A muffled voice yelled back from the direction of the van, "Oh, she's out here mom, she's in her car seat already, I buckled her up and everything.  I TOLD you I could take her to the car and get her in.  We're just WAITING for YOU."    Yep....she even tightened the harness enough.  I was greeted with "Gee, what took you so long in there?" 

Maybe things are "lookin' up."

Whoa! I guess she was tired!

....oops!  Perhaps Mommy should pay more attention to this poor child! I obviously missed the "sleepy signals!"