The other day, Ella whispered to me that she has a new boyfriend. "Hmmm," I thought to myself, "This sounds interesting." After a few failed guesses as to who it could be, she admitted that it was none other than----Tate.
You should remember from my last post that a certain older sister happens to have a crush on this same boy. Considering the sibling rivalry already existing between these two, I cannot imagine anything good coming from this new information!
"A love triangle at ages 6 and 7!" I thought to myself. I imagined the confrontation, the argument, the jealousy, the drama!
I advised, "Ella, you will want to ask Abby if it's okay with her to have Tate as your boyfriend." She didn't seem that was necessary. I tried to convince her that it was. (Never mind that Tate has no clue whatsoever).
She still hasn't mentioned it to Abby. I haven't brought it up, no way, not gonna do it! We'll just see who they're both in love with next week and hope that it's not the same boy.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
The Crush
This is all really making us wonder... I mean, isn't she WAY TOO YOUNG for this?!?!
Abby (age 7) had two boys in her Primary class that she had crushes on. She would vacillate between marrying one and marrying the other. She would imagine and play that she was in love with one and talk about him all the time. And then she would day-dream about the other one. To us, her family, it was all very funny and we teased her mercilessly but she liked the teasing.
Then one evening at a Cub Scout activity, one of the boys (whose name is Tate) decided he liked the attention he was getting, so he started playing along, announcing to everyone, "Abby is my girlfriend!" Maybe she didn't like all the teasing and attention then, because for several weeks she emphatically did NOT like Tate anymore.
Two Sundays ago, Abby came home from Primary all dreamy, lovey-dovey over Tate again! She wrote him in an e-mail:
Dear tate i like you. You are like an {angel icon} to me. How are you doing ? I am so {crying face icon} that one of my dogs died.
{Red heart icon} Abby Musser
She wouldn't answer my questions about what changed her mind about him. But I asked her Primary teacher through e-mail what happened at church?! This was her reply:
"Tate and Abby wanted to hold hands several different times during third hour. I told them that we don't need to be holding hands and to keep our hands to ourselves. Abby also asked me if we could play church charades because she wanted to pretend she was Mary and Tate could be Joseph and they could be married. HAHA!!"
A week later, she's not lovey-dovey over him anymore. What drama! But seriously, isn't this all a little premature? Any advice/experience/opinions would be appreciated.
Abby (age 7) had two boys in her Primary class that she had crushes on. She would vacillate between marrying one and marrying the other. She would imagine and play that she was in love with one and talk about him all the time. And then she would day-dream about the other one. To us, her family, it was all very funny and we teased her mercilessly but she liked the teasing.
Then one evening at a Cub Scout activity, one of the boys (whose name is Tate) decided he liked the attention he was getting, so he started playing along, announcing to everyone, "Abby is my girlfriend!" Maybe she didn't like all the teasing and attention then, because for several weeks she emphatically did NOT like Tate anymore.
Two Sundays ago, Abby came home from Primary all dreamy, lovey-dovey over Tate again! She wrote him in an e-mail:
Dear tate i like you. You are like an {angel icon} to me. How are you doing ? I am so {crying face icon} that one of my dogs died.
{Red heart icon} Abby Musser
She wouldn't answer my questions about what changed her mind about him. But I asked her Primary teacher through e-mail what happened at church?! This was her reply:
"Tate and Abby wanted to hold hands several different times during third hour. I told them that we don't need to be holding hands and to keep our hands to ourselves. Abby also asked me if we could play church charades because she wanted to pretend she was Mary and Tate could be Joseph and they could be married. HAHA!!"
A week later, she's not lovey-dovey over him anymore. What drama! But seriously, isn't this all a little premature? Any advice/experience/opinions would be appreciated.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Studying Poetry
Every weekday morning around here at breakfast-time we read a poem or two. It's amazing how quick the kids memorize them just by hearing them repeatedly. This morning, I asked if anyone wanted to read a new poem. Abby volunteered and she stood and read in her clear and sweet childish voice, "I Had a Dove" by John Keats. It goes:
I had a dove and the sweet dove died;
And I have thought it died of grieving:
O, what could it grieve for?
Its feet were tied,
With a silken thread of my own hand's weaving;
Sweet little red feet! why should you die
Why should you leave me, sweet bird! why?
You lived alone in the forest tree,
Why, pretty thing! would you not live with me?
I kissed you oft and gave you white peas:
Why not live sweetly, as in the green trees?
Well, you can probably guess how this sweet 7-year-old girl responded to the poem. She quietly asked, "Could I read the poem again but changing a few things?" I assented.
This was her version which she copied for English later in the day:
I had a dog by Abby Musser
I had a dog and that sweet dog died
and I have thought it died of grieving
O what could it grieve for?
Its paws were tied
with a silken thread of my hands own weaving
Sweet little white paws! Why should you die?
Why should you leave me sweet dog! why?
You lived with me.
Why pretty thing! would you not live with me?
I kissed you oft and gave you dog food.
Why not live sweetly in the green grass?
I had a dove and the sweet dove died;
And I have thought it died of grieving:
O, what could it grieve for?
Its feet were tied,
With a silken thread of my own hand's weaving;
Sweet little red feet! why should you die
Why should you leave me, sweet bird! why?
You lived alone in the forest tree,
Why, pretty thing! would you not live with me?
I kissed you oft and gave you white peas:
Why not live sweetly, as in the green trees?
Well, you can probably guess how this sweet 7-year-old girl responded to the poem. She quietly asked, "Could I read the poem again but changing a few things?" I assented.
This was her version which she copied for English later in the day:
I had a dog by Abby Musser
I had a dog and that sweet dog died
and I have thought it died of grieving
O what could it grieve for?
Its paws were tied
with a silken thread of my hands own weaving
Sweet little white paws! Why should you die?
Why should you leave me sweet dog! why?
You lived with me.
Why pretty thing! would you not live with me?
I kissed you oft and gave you dog food.
Why not live sweetly in the green grass?
A Quick Thought on Cleaning
I just agree with this statement:
"Housekeeping is like the Word of Wisdom: we master it, and then go on to more important things. Cleanliness is pleasant but order is more important, and orderly lives require that ordering a house take a minor role. The dirty dishes can never be conquered; we have them with us always. By relegating them to their own brief hour we can rise above them. Housekeeping can be put down by this final insult: Do it but don't think about it."
Don't you agree?
"Housekeeping is like the Word of Wisdom: we master it, and then go on to more important things. Cleanliness is pleasant but order is more important, and orderly lives require that ordering a house take a minor role. The dirty dishes can never be conquered; we have them with us always. By relegating them to their own brief hour we can rise above them. Housekeeping can be put down by this final insult: Do it but don't think about it."
Don't you agree?
Monday, September 12, 2011
My Beast!
For any of you who knew Abby when she was a baby, you'll remember how CHUBBY she was! What a cutie. And Baby Felicity was so fat I could only fit her into dresses! But Klaus has them beat. He's our biggest baby weighing in at 25 pounds at 6 months old. Now, at almost 9 months, he is 28 pounds and H-E-A-V-Y!
I've had to pull box after box of baby clothes out of the garage to try to find something I can fit on him. Size 12 months, no way. Size 18 months look like they'd be big enough but nope! At a garage sale I picked up a cute Osh-Kosh onesie that said on the tag "24 months/24 1/2 - 27 pounds." So basically, Klaus is bigger than a 2-year-old! He's the happiest and cutest baby in the world too. I call him My Beast!
Here's a new video of him finally moving around. Please disregard the spitting up at the beginning!
I've had to pull box after box of baby clothes out of the garage to try to find something I can fit on him. Size 12 months, no way. Size 18 months look like they'd be big enough but nope! At a garage sale I picked up a cute Osh-Kosh onesie that said on the tag "24 months/24 1/2 - 27 pounds." So basically, Klaus is bigger than a 2-year-old! He's the happiest and cutest baby in the world too. I call him My Beast!
Here's a new video of him finally moving around. Please disregard the spitting up at the beginning!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I got the job!
I found what I was looking for. Remember when I was searching for something to give me a change of scenery, a break of some kind, a hobby, a class, a part-time job? I got it, ba-by!
It is funny how it all started with Matt submitting an online application to the library for me. He didn't even ask me, he just sent it when he checked e-mail first one morning and saw there was an opening for a Substitute Library Clerk. This was the position I applied for at the beginning of the summer and didn't get. I might not have even applied the second time out of embarrassment, I don't know, but he decided for me and sent it.
Weeks later after the job posting was removed from the internet and I assumed it had been filled, I got called in by the director for an interview! Surprise! This interview was better than the first one because I was more comfortable and confident.
Two days ago there was a message on my answering machine from the director of the library asking me to call her back. Matt and I listened to it as I tried to "read between the lines" of her message to determine if I had gotten the job or not but I couldn't figure it out.
Last night I called her back and she asked me to work for the library! I am so excited because this is a dream job for me. Just being in the library makes me happy. Now I get to help people find the books they're looking for and sign children up for their first library cards and spend time in the most orderly and book-filled place! This library system is amazing; I love it!
I know it's a little bit crazy with my youngins and all; some might think it's a wrong decision for me to leave my babies in the hands of a babysitter. But I know I will be happier and they will be happier if we get a break from each other every now and then! And I am confident that I will find a family or two that will watch my kids lovingly and their kids will play with my kids and it will be beneficial for all.
I am blessed! Thank you, Matt!
It is funny how it all started with Matt submitting an online application to the library for me. He didn't even ask me, he just sent it when he checked e-mail first one morning and saw there was an opening for a Substitute Library Clerk. This was the position I applied for at the beginning of the summer and didn't get. I might not have even applied the second time out of embarrassment, I don't know, but he decided for me and sent it.
Weeks later after the job posting was removed from the internet and I assumed it had been filled, I got called in by the director for an interview! Surprise! This interview was better than the first one because I was more comfortable and confident.
Two days ago there was a message on my answering machine from the director of the library asking me to call her back. Matt and I listened to it as I tried to "read between the lines" of her message to determine if I had gotten the job or not but I couldn't figure it out.
Last night I called her back and she asked me to work for the library! I am so excited because this is a dream job for me. Just being in the library makes me happy. Now I get to help people find the books they're looking for and sign children up for their first library cards and spend time in the most orderly and book-filled place! This library system is amazing; I love it!
I know it's a little bit crazy with my youngins and all; some might think it's a wrong decision for me to leave my babies in the hands of a babysitter. But I know I will be happier and they will be happier if we get a break from each other every now and then! And I am confident that I will find a family or two that will watch my kids lovingly and their kids will play with my kids and it will be beneficial for all.
I am blessed! Thank you, Matt!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
How sweet she is
I don't know what happened to make her change. Just growing up and growing older probably. It seems like last year Abby and I were constantly clashing because of her selfish and independent spirit unwilling to bend to her parents requests.
This year she is full of love and selflessness and a desire to make people happy.
This past week on the way home from somewhere some evening, she got so excited. She told me, "I need to talk to you and Daddy about something tonight without the other kids around."
Her secret turned out to be an act of service. She needed Daddy to switch her and Ella's mattresses so that Ella would be able to sleep on the top bunk, which is something that Abby just knew would make Ella happy. She was just bursting with anticipation for Ella to discover this gift. It did make Ella happy. And Abby was filled with joy too.
Many mornings Abby wakes up and gets herself ready without me asking, because she knows I would want that. She asks how she can help and often volunteers for chores and babysitting and little things around the house. It's not all the time and she still has her moments of not wanting to be helpful, but it's such a different Abby from the girl she was last year. I sure like it!
I can imagine her growing up into such a wonderful young woman.
Today during church when people from the congregation can go to the podium and share their testimony with everyone, I asked the kids if they wanted to go up. Abby did. She felt shy and wanted me to come up with her which I happily did.
When we got up to the podium, she didn't want to talk out of nervousness. So I shared my testimony first, including some words about a daughter who teaches me how to be more like Jesus.
When it was her turn, she talked quietly about loving her family, all of us. She talked about when Ella was having a grumpy day, that she knew she could do something that would make her sister happy and then doing it and how it made her feel. She talked about not always being the best sister. Sometimes she's more of Ella's friend than her sister. It was so sweet. I've discovered that when you let Abby talk, and you have to be patient and just listen, she says very profound and true things.
I'm so thankful for my sweet children.
This year she is full of love and selflessness and a desire to make people happy.
This past week on the way home from somewhere some evening, she got so excited. She told me, "I need to talk to you and Daddy about something tonight without the other kids around."
Her secret turned out to be an act of service. She needed Daddy to switch her and Ella's mattresses so that Ella would be able to sleep on the top bunk, which is something that Abby just knew would make Ella happy. She was just bursting with anticipation for Ella to discover this gift. It did make Ella happy. And Abby was filled with joy too.
Many mornings Abby wakes up and gets herself ready without me asking, because she knows I would want that. She asks how she can help and often volunteers for chores and babysitting and little things around the house. It's not all the time and she still has her moments of not wanting to be helpful, but it's such a different Abby from the girl she was last year. I sure like it!
I can imagine her growing up into such a wonderful young woman.
Today during church when people from the congregation can go to the podium and share their testimony with everyone, I asked the kids if they wanted to go up. Abby did. She felt shy and wanted me to come up with her which I happily did.
When we got up to the podium, she didn't want to talk out of nervousness. So I shared my testimony first, including some words about a daughter who teaches me how to be more like Jesus.
When it was her turn, she talked quietly about loving her family, all of us. She talked about when Ella was having a grumpy day, that she knew she could do something that would make her sister happy and then doing it and how it made her feel. She talked about not always being the best sister. Sometimes she's more of Ella's friend than her sister. It was so sweet. I've discovered that when you let Abby talk, and you have to be patient and just listen, she says very profound and true things.
I'm so thankful for my sweet children.
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