Obie: Tools, firefighter hat & boots, Eunice (our dog), helping Joel, Mr. Potato Head, he is quite preoccupied with the idea of going on the roof . . . he asks me several times a day if he can go on the roof "ME!!! OOOF! UP!"
Lucy: reading, lifesavers, sandbox, horses, slinky
Elisabeth: The City of Ember series, piano, baking, pureNRG (it's a band), climbing trees
Grace: robots, The Trumpet of the Swan, rice cakes, crocheting
All Girls: Phineas & Ferb, Pioneer life, building forts, playing outside (the snow is almost gone), scooters (Thanks, Uncle Job), Eunice
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A bad Christmas gift finally redeems itself (for Job)
Job gave these flashcards to Elisabeth when she was 5 and lets just say that they didn't fly (well actually they did fly across the room). We are currently studying American History and these cards came in handy while making a timeline today. Thanks Job! I wish Job had been here to teach the girls the President Song.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
QOTD 2
Papa: Lucy, why is your towel on the stairs?
Lucy: I'm sorry.
Papa: That's not an answer to my question, Lucy. Why is your towel on the stairs?
Lucy: Because I am lazy?
Lucy: I'm sorry.
Papa: That's not an answer to my question, Lucy. Why is your towel on the stairs?
Lucy: Because I am lazy?
Domestic Quote of the Day
This was the conclusion of my brief conversation with Lucy regarding my preparations for dinner: "I am hungry, but I am hungry for gummi bears!"
Can you just hear the feet stomping off?
Can you just hear the feet stomping off?
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Highlight of My Day
This morning Christine left with the Elliotts for the cosmopolitan metropolis that is Rochester, NY. She hitched a ride with them for the sake of a visit with her family, and I rejoice to know that she is in their company doing something other than picking up the classroom closet for the tenth time today.
But I miss her terribly.
It's been a reasonably good day, though. We got some schoolwork done, we observed the First Day of Spring tradition of eating freezy pops outside and doritos inside (it was a very cold day here), and I got some church work done. The girls had a wonderful time at the Wood's while I went to work at the school this afternoon. And the house isn't any cleaner than it was when Christine departed this morning, but it isn't much dirtier either.
But the highlight of my day came a few minutes ago as I was tucking the girls in for the night. Elisabeth was reading a book on earthquakes and looked up earnestly to tell me that the book claimed that all of the continents were, at one time, part of the same large continent.
"Yes, pangaea," I said, because I am a horrible show-off.
"What do you think," she asked, "is that how it happened?"
I answered carefully and thoughtfully, aware that the question had some implications regarding creationism and also aware that I am pretty ignorant.
After giving what was far too long and specific of an answer I turned it back on her and asked her what she thought.
Without hesitation she replied "You are asking a ten year old."
And that was the highlight of my day.
Our culture tries very hard to make all of its children think and act as though they are the boy Jesus in the temple, provoking the wondering admiration of the learned.
I am proud to have a daughter who knows that at ten years old her opinion on plate tectonics is of little value.
She, like Chesterton's angels, is free to fly because she takes herself so lightly.
But I miss her terribly.
It's been a reasonably good day, though. We got some schoolwork done, we observed the First Day of Spring tradition of eating freezy pops outside and doritos inside (it was a very cold day here), and I got some church work done. The girls had a wonderful time at the Wood's while I went to work at the school this afternoon. And the house isn't any cleaner than it was when Christine departed this morning, but it isn't much dirtier either.
But the highlight of my day came a few minutes ago as I was tucking the girls in for the night. Elisabeth was reading a book on earthquakes and looked up earnestly to tell me that the book claimed that all of the continents were, at one time, part of the same large continent.
"Yes, pangaea," I said, because I am a horrible show-off.
"What do you think," she asked, "is that how it happened?"
I answered carefully and thoughtfully, aware that the question had some implications regarding creationism and also aware that I am pretty ignorant.
After giving what was far too long and specific of an answer I turned it back on her and asked her what she thought.
Without hesitation she replied "You are asking a ten year old."
And that was the highlight of my day.
Our culture tries very hard to make all of its children think and act as though they are the boy Jesus in the temple, provoking the wondering admiration of the learned.
I am proud to have a daughter who knows that at ten years old her opinion on plate tectonics is of little value.
She, like Chesterton's angels, is free to fly because she takes herself so lightly.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Young Folks
The kids have a little CD player in their room for listening to books on tape and lullabies on CD and such. But recently they discovered the radio function and veggie tales have been eclipsed by much stranger fare. Just now I was talking to Christine on the couch and heard some familiar whistling from the girl's room. We paused to listen and found that it was the song "Young Folk" by Peter, Bjorn, and John. I'm not sure how I feel about them listening to music by Scandinavian artists at such a tender age.
What's next? ABBA?!!
I might have to put them on a strict Sandi Patti diet for the next few days.
What's next? ABBA?!!
I might have to put them on a strict Sandi Patti diet for the next few days.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Amazing Shrinking Vocabulary
Last night at prayer meeting with the women down at the Village Manor I talked about sin: both the subject of sin and the word itself. We talked about the many ways in which we try to substitute euphemisms or explain away our behavior in other terms. I asked them if they could estimate the percentage of their daily behavior or thought life that might fall into the category of sin. None of us could, but we all agreed that it was probably a notable percentage.
Then I asked if anyone around the table had used the word "sin" in the past week, or the past month. The one woman who had was a faithful Roman Catholic who had used it as part of the ritual associated with her trip to confession.
So we talked about ways to bring "sin" back into our vocabularies. It was an interesting and thoughtful conversation.
So how about you? When was the last time that you used the word "sin," particularly to describe your own or someone else's behavior?
The highlight for me, by the way, was as we were wrapping up our conversation of sin to transition to prayer and one of the women, who I think was upset with the fire and brimstone, remarked that "we're going to have to start living some pretty holy lives." I took her to mean from her inflection that she would rather be holy than have to talk about sin, and that being holy was almost as unpleasant and onerous as bringing up the "s" word.
But she's right. We need to start living some pretty holy lives.
Then I asked if anyone around the table had used the word "sin" in the past week, or the past month. The one woman who had was a faithful Roman Catholic who had used it as part of the ritual associated with her trip to confession.
So we talked about ways to bring "sin" back into our vocabularies. It was an interesting and thoughtful conversation.
So how about you? When was the last time that you used the word "sin," particularly to describe your own or someone else's behavior?
The highlight for me, by the way, was as we were wrapping up our conversation of sin to transition to prayer and one of the women, who I think was upset with the fire and brimstone, remarked that "we're going to have to start living some pretty holy lives." I took her to mean from her inflection that she would rather be holy than have to talk about sin, and that being holy was almost as unpleasant and onerous as bringing up the "s" word.
But she's right. We need to start living some pretty holy lives.
Monday, March 2, 2009
I should be doing . . .
Church work. The taxes. Moving something heavy from the van into the cellar.
But it's 9:30 at night. The living room looks drowsy in the lamp light. Christine is sewing a quilt. The kids are all sleeping. Eunice is stretched out pleasantly on the floor at my feet. And the wind makes the house talk and taps the windows with blowing snow.
I think I'll read an article and go to bed. I'd rather set my alarm for 4:30 than break the spell of a beautiful evening.
But it's 9:30 at night. The living room looks drowsy in the lamp light. Christine is sewing a quilt. The kids are all sleeping. Eunice is stretched out pleasantly on the floor at my feet. And the wind makes the house talk and taps the windows with blowing snow.
I think I'll read an article and go to bed. I'd rather set my alarm for 4:30 than break the spell of a beautiful evening.
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