prayer

I think there are probably many people who would say that they don't believe in God, but in a crisis, they pray.  Perhaps not so unlike those of us who profess to believe, yet in a crisis, our prayers attain a whole new level of urgency.  So this fact comes as no surprise to any parents out there: raising kids continues to teach us about prayer.

Other than robotically repeating what they have heard us pray many times (thanks for the food, thanks for this day), our kids have really yet to pray.  (or you might argue the exact opposite, that all of our prayers, even our adult prayers are so feeble that in comparison, the prayers of our children are as real as ours...)  So Brown and I were laying in bed the other night praying and his first original, heartfelt prayer was uttered. He had received a hand-me-down electric car that we were having trouble making work.  That night he said his first prayer: "Please let the car battery work."

Though I hope he, and I, begin to focus our prayer life more on others needs rather than our own, it was still heartening to see him make the connection of prayer to change. From the mouths of babes....

Tough

Ok, sorry for you to have to read this in later years, but Brown, we have thought you to be very timid.  And in some ways, you are a very cautious child and we love this about you.   But you surprised us this week.  Because of our frequent and ongoing time around the water, we decided that you needed to be subjected to the military swim lessons of Coach Tom this week which so far has been little more than throwing you in the water and watching you struggle to get to the side (he does have a system, though).  There have been lots of tears, both you and Joseay and your mommy.  But in general, I am pleased to report, you have responded to the challenge very well.  And you are learning to swim!  It is very exciting for Chris and I as parents to see that when it comes down to it, you have risen to the occasion.  Fun.

So, lest any of you think that the above picture is part of the harsh swim lessons, the above road rash is a souvenir of the combination of Brown, bike, and asphalt.  Likely not the last with this unfortunate combination.  Although only a faint echo of my childhood, I still remember that pain and fear of leaving a bit of my flesh on the cement.  Brown, each time I see your face in this condition, it definitely pains me.  But in a deeper sense, I am reminded of how many parents have had to witness deeper pains in their children, whether they be severe physical pains or perhaps the more devastating emotional pains that lead to scarring.  So in a weird way, this painful week for you has been a reminder to me of how good we have it.  The swim lessons will soon be over and you will have become safer around water.  These physical wounds will heal, likely without even a scar.  God has been gracious to us as a family.

Sneaky

Joseay has been making more of a fuss lately when it is time to nap or go to bed for the night. She knows that she can get her mom riled up when she screams or shrieks when I am walking out of her room. She loves pushing my buttons because I clearly don't want her disturbing Brown with her screams while we are trying to put him to sleep in the room next to hers. So for the last week or two, i can tell she has started to feel like I am at her mercy and she loves it. It is so enjoyable to her that it has even become worth it for her to have her beloved blankie taken away when she screams. She's kind of a rebel like that. Not good...

So anyway, yesterday I had decided that this just had to end once and for all. No more warnings. I had already taken every stuffed animal and blanket like substance out of her crib (which also makes her shriek and scream- fun cycle). I had thrown them all out on to her floor and she was all alone in her stark white lonely crib. I told her if I had to come back into her room one more time because of her shrieking, that I was going to have to spank her. No questions- she was getting a spanking.

So of course... As soon as I shut the door behind me, my precious little angel (aka strong willed rebel) shrieked louder than ever. So I stormed in, turned her over, and gave her a good one. She cried!!! Oh, did she cry. I walked out of her room and shut the door and heard her crying and whimpering for her mommy. Then she got quiet. Ahhhhh... Peace. She must have cried herself to sleep. I had won. Sheeesh- finally! I was now on my way back to regaining my authority and being in charge again. Ha!!! No more victories for the two year old! Showed her.

After about an hour, I heard her talking and cutely laughing - which was kind of a relief. It's never fun for a spanking to be the last interaction between you and your child before they go to sleep. So I walked in to her room and went over to her crib. She was cuddling with her stuffed kitty cat and cutely playing with bunny and tigger and pooh bear who was wrapped in her blankie. She was so happy and smiled big at me and said "hi mommy!". I was thinking to myself, "wow... that is amazing...what grace... beautiful forgiveness and love of a child even after a good spanking is just amazing to me. How quickly she wants me to pick her up again and hug her and kiss her and she is just so happy. I wish I could move on from things that quickly and not hold a grudge or feel sad. Joseay is so cute playing with her little kitty cat and snuggling with her bunny... wait... her kitty cat... her bunny... they were on the floor. They were not in her crib."

You little punk. You climbed out of your crib, got all of your animals and blankets back into your crib, and then you climbed back up and over into your crib. And you've been in here playing with them and having a good ole time for the last hour. Unbelievable."

I had to walk out so I wouldn't laugh in front of her. I love that girl. She cracks me up.

Lessons

I have learned two things this weekend. 

The first is that some bits of knowledge that you think should be taken for granted, need to be explained: When a 4yo has a runny nose and there is not a kleenex around, it is not ok to use the back of your sister's shirt that she is wearing.

The second is that kids, a rope, an old tire and a bit of good weather still equals laughter.

Just thought I would pass that along.

Sliding into childhood

How much influence do we as parents really have on our children?  How much is genetic? How much influence do friends have? How much do other adults have?  I am sure everyone has their own idea about this, but these questions become very real as your kids grow into their own, as they become a person from that little baby they once were.  These comments have almost nothing to do with the rest of the post, except that we had a great experience as a family this weekend and one that we hope they will remember, but probably will not due to their age.  Will this shape who they become?

We went to experience the “rustic mountain modern charm” of the indoor water park in Sevierville.  How does it live up to its description?  Rustic – don’t think you can have a “66,000 square foot, state-of-the-art waterpark” and still get away with calling it rustic.  Mountain – technically close, but unless you leave the waterpark, you have no idea you are near the mountains.  Modern – yes, the 3 flat screens in our room gave that away.  Charm – hard to call spending the day with hundreds of strangers charming.   BUT, what I would say is that it is a blast.

We spent the first 3 hours or so in the kiddie pool as I expected that Brown, who is generally timid, would not be so interested in the bigger slides.  He was fine with getting splashed so when he asked to go on the big boy slide I thought we would give it a try.  After a climb of some serious stairs and a time of waiting in line, he began to get nervous.  But I didn’t give him a choice to back down and soon we were hurtling down the tube.  He told me he was scared and so when we hit the water at the bottom and he started shaking, I thought I might have made a big mistake.  But he immediately said, “can we go again?”  This was not the last time we heard this question that day. 

Here is a video of our last ride of the day.  

Joseay made lots of friends.  She was too small to do most of the slides, but she had a great time running around the pools, splashing, talking to strangers, and riding the float with mom in the wave pool.

  

To say we had a good nights’ sleep would be an understatement.

4 years and counting

What does a dad say to his son on his birthday? Brown, you have only been with us for 4 years, but it seems we have always known you and could not imagine our life without you.  We have watched you blossom and continue to see new insights into who you are and who you may become.  We love you.

Now to review our time at waffle house.  We were having a great December 11th morning at the WH sitting at the bar, talking to the waitresses (they wanted to eat you up), listening to the orders get yelled, watching the cooks do their thing, talking to others at the bar and generally having a great 4yr old adventure.  Then a new gentleman joined us at the bar and sat right next to you (Brown). All was going well as he pulled out his grapefruit...            Yes, he brought his own grapefruit into waffle house.  First of all, who brings their own grapefruit out to breakfast.  Secondly, I didn't know that they even allowed food into the waffle house unless it clogged your arteries in some way.  When he asked for some saran wrap to wrap half of his grapefruit to take home, I held you just a little bit closer to me.  Ok, to each their own.  He ordered some food and then opened up his ipad on the counter.  Not sure if he doesn't have kids or whatever but setting an ipad next to a 4 year old with an orange juice cup on the same counter made me just a bit nervous.  After reading his ipad for a bit and apparently cross checking it with the paper copy of the newspaper that he also spread out on the counter, the waitress brings out the bacon on a plate to the gentleman.  He asks that she bring out all his food on one plate. She is standing there with the food on a couple of plates and she asks if he wants her to take back the food and put it on a single plate.  Yes is the answer.  She proceeds to take the bacon and eggs and hash browns back to accomodate the grapefruit bearing ipad risker. It was about this point that you reached out your fork toward the gentleman's half eaten grapefruit saying "I want a bite." 

I hope you don't remember how forcefully I grabbed your hand.

Happy Birthday and here is to many more!

This is what I cannot stand:

I've thought about it... For months- years, actually. This grosses me out way more than dirty diapers or puke. Officially, the thing I dislike most about the toddler years --- I despise the after meal cleanup under the table. It is so disgusting to me for some reason... I'm not sure why my kids can't seem to keep the majority of their food in their mouths or on their plate or at least on the table somewhere. Anywhere. But crawling on my hands and knees with a rag under the table picking up moist morsels of half eaten food after a meal... Hate it. Hate it. The end. This is Chris writing in case anyone ever reads this or wonders if Curt or Chris is the one who hates this. It's me.