Ma Ballerine Amélie

My sweet baby girl took her first ballet lesson this week.  

I am so proud of her!

It took a little convincing.  She wants so bad to be a ballerina and she wants so bad to be a cowgirl (how Parisienne Farmgirl of her!) and she was simply freaked out that she could not be both.  I assured her there were many cowgirl ballerinas and that she could surly rope -n- ride and plié and twirl with the best of them.

I always wanted to take ballet but never could (and I have yet to find anyone that will teach an adult - they look at you like you're plum crazy!).  I am just so happy for her - look at her - she is simply beaming!

You should see her dance around to "Dance of the Sugar" (as her and Aidan call it)

PRECIOUS!

Forget the laundry, dumping out the gross strainer from the kitchen sink and the calls for "Help!" from the bathroom... This is the good stuff.

Being a Momma is so much fun!

I love you girlfriend!

Snapshots in Conversation - The One True God

Tonight at bedtime prayers part of Amélie's went like this...

"Father...

...I know you're the real One and not the fake one."

When you pray for your kids to have a heart that longs to know God and at three and a half they confess to knowing with their little hearts that He's "the real one and not the fake one." Well, there really aren't words.

Snapshots in Conversation - To Infinity and Beyond

If you want to double over in laughter just get my son talking about any of his favorite subjects:

Jesus - The Bible.  (He can practically tell you the whole story cover to cover).

Taxes/the Government.

Electricity.

Volcanic Activity.
and of course...
Outer space.

He is a veritable chatterbox and his vocabulary is hilarious for someone who will turn six next month.  He employees words like, horizon, actually, responsibility, prefer, convince, disappointed and more... He'll preface a dissertation with, "Can we talk about..." or "Can I ask a question..."

And he is off and running....  Good luck getting a word in edgewise.

I read recently in a phenomenal parenting book that if we don't give them our undivided attention now when they speak we can't expect them to want to engage us in conversation when they are teens.  Not much irritates me more than a sullen, withdrawn teen (or adult for that matter).  Aidan is quite a talker, full of lengthy, DETAILED, long, explanations... it's actually one of my biggest pet peeves when a fellow adult shows impatience during one of his speeches - let the kid talk and fake that you're interested for crying out loud you big jerk.  Do you have something better to do?  I have been guilty of this myself of course (which is usually the case with pet peeves).

There are a couple easy ways we can show our kids that their little words matter:

-If you are walking thru a room as they chatter, stop and turn your body towards them.

-Try to say, "Just a minute" as few times as possible during the day.  Whatever you were gonna do can wait 6 minutes.  The world won't come to an end.  I know the "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  "Mom"  comes rapid fire and your head might feel like it's going to implode if someone says it one more time - but we have to get over ourselves, pray for patience and remember our Father who would have us turn to him a thousand times a day if we so desired.

-Sit down while they talk.

-If your computer is in a family space like ours is, close the dang cover or turn it off.  That goes for IPhone's too.  Detach that thing from your body - I promise, you will survive.

-Encourage other siblings to not interrupt but that means you can't either - HA!

Aidan has given so many hilarious dissertations
 in the last few days this is JUST a quick sampling:

Aidan:  Dad, would you mind if we talk about Gemini 6 right now?

Joel: Sure Buddy.

Aidan: Gemini 6, Gemini 7, Gemini 12.  Gemini 12 blew up for a matter of fact.  It was like this much off the launch pad and then, the bottom started leaning because it wasn't straightened properly.   Then ka-boom.  Remember one of the spaceships that is kind from our kind of space ships?  Then it went up and like three pieces went everywhere?

Me:  That was the Challenger buddy.

Aidan:  If I was the President this time I am making them go to the moon.  I don't care how much it costs.  I about cry when I saw them putting our flag on the moon.  And it's still there.  God made the moon.  He did a pretty nice job.  Dad, did you know someone is gonna go back to the moon?  I guarantee it.

Snapshots in Conversation - Royal Confusion

Children have the most sincere concerns. 

 But sometimes when they bring them to you it's difficult to refrain from falling on the floor in laughter.  As was the case with Amélie yesterday when she came to me, 

her little heart heavy...

Amélie:  Momma, I wish Princess Katherine's head wouldn't get cut-ted off.

Me (holding it together):  Oh no sweetheart, that's what happened to Marie Antoinette!

Amélie (much relieved):  Oh yeah, yeah.

Snapshots in Conversation

Oh it's been forever since a "Snapshots"... I have missed so many hilarious quotes.

But this one from Amélie about dropped me to the floor... hopefully it reads and funny as it was.  When the offenses fly... and with those two strong personalities, they do!  I am trying to teach the kids to work it out without me... unless someone is bleeding of course.  A little Matthew 18 (The passage in which Christ teaches us how to handle conflict within the church body) for kids if you will...

Scream from the other room and Amélie comes a 'runnin'.

LeeLee:  Mom, Aidan tried to cover my mouth.  (Half the time, I can't blame him :)

Me: Amélie, what did I tell you?  You go handle it.

In the following two seconds Aidan felt his conviction and I heard him say, "I'm sorry."
To which she screamed at him,

"No, No Aidan, I have to handle you!"

Snapshots in Conversation - The Proverbs 31 Woman

A couple weeks ago the littlest Nada Farm Girl generously sent my Amélie a package and to her surprise she opened a darling pair of pale pink ballet slippers.   She is so proud of them.  They are a couple sizes to big but the gaps along the sides and the elastic pressing into her still chubby feet is so precious...

As mother's we shape our children.  We prepare them for their adult lives.
As a mother I constantly tell my children there is nothing they can do that would make me happier than for them to love Jesus.  It's up to me to create those habits that will soften their heart to Him.

John & Charles Wesley's mother Susanna had 19 children.
 NINETEEN.
She spent one hour a week with each of her children reading the word of God to/with them.
ONE HOUR A WEEK.  PER CHILD.
Here are her own words:
"I am a woman, but I am also the mistress of a large family. And though the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you, yet in your long absence I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. I am not a man nor a minister, yet as a mother and a mistress I felt I ought to do more than I had yet done. I resolved to begin with my own children; in which I observe, the following method: I take such a proportion of time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. On Monday I talk with Molly, on Tuesday with Hetty, Wednesday with Nancy, Thursday with Jacky, Friday with Patty, Saturday with Charles."


Two of her sons would go on to shape the spiritual nature of two nations.
Simply stated, John Wesley founded the English methodist movement, using open air preaching much like the great George Whitefield.  Charles Wesley went on to America to do the same... both encouraging people to experience Jesus personally.

And then there's me.  Out here in the suburbs of Chicago.  Wondering if I can be used shape hearts and souls in such a way...
The other day Amélie and I were having "our time" on the couch.  We were reading Proverbs 31, we were breaking it down, thinking of ways Amélie could be like the woman in the passage when I hugged her and said passionately,
 "Oh LeeLee, Momma wants you to be a Godly Woman someday."
to which she replied with her usual sassy spunk,


"I no wanna be a Godly Woman, I wanna be a Ballerina!"

Snapshots in Conversation -

It's been way too long since I've published a S.I.C. 

I hope these little quips and picks bring a smile to your face.  You may even spit your coffee all over the computer screen.

Amélie in her linen tablecloth Easter dress.  A Parisienne Farmgirl design!

Amélie fell down...


Me:  Amélie Ca va?  (Are you alright?)
Amélie: No, no I not ca va.

Aidan decked out in Budweiser Mardi Gras beads, an American flag and a Buzz Lightyear gun...


Me:  Aidan I SAID clean up your playroom.
Aidan:  But MOM!  Look!  I'm an American!  I have a gun, a flag and Budwieser!

The dejected patriot.

Aidan on God...


Aidan:  God is a store.
Me:  He is?  Why?
Aidan:  Because he provides food for us!

The kids trying on and modeling their Easter clothes.

Amélie on her darling figure...


Me:  (Kissin' all over her) Oh LeeLee, You're so Rubenesque.


Amélie: I not Rubenesthque.

Baby J.  
Not happy.

We only recently introduced the concept of Hell to Aidan.  I gently explained that if you choose to spend your life apart from God then he will oblige you and you can spend eternity apart from Him....and Aidan's response was a hilarious...

"Hell NO!"

Aidan salon/spa specialty Black and Decker hair treatment and styling.

 The stuff they come up with...

I strapped the chickens in the car and ran back inside for "The Littlest One" (or T.L.O. as we call her) and my purse.  I came out and opened the door to find in that short amount of time the kids had made up a song...and they were singing it at the top of their lungs.  Crap is one of my favorite words.  Clearly I need to stop saying it.

"Satan is a bunch of crap.  Crap.  Crap. Crap.  Satan is a bunch of crap."

Aidan as we drove thru the country.

That's some good lookin' prairie!

My Easter basket.

Out looking for garage sale signs with the family yesterday...

Aidan:  What if there was sign after sign after sign after sign and you guys just had one dollar???

Waitin' for grub.

Hoolie's Tootsies.

Oh, Sorry, We are full of nicknames in this home - Hoolie is short for "Hoolietta"  ...Juliette.

And last but not least the grab your tissue all you Moms and Gramma's Snapshot in Conversation.

About two months ago I was getting ready to venture out on my own with the kids.  A big trip to the grocery store.  We had been living in jammies for a month so everyone got dressed (read: a lot of work) and I grabbed the camera.  With Pandora.com playing in the background.  Trace Atkins, "You're Gonna Miss This" came on and I, full of love and hormones, began to cry as I snapped the pictures-

Aidan:  Why are you crying Mom?  Because of this song?

Me: Yes.

Aidan:  It's a song about kids growing?

Me:  Yes baby (sniff) it is.

Aidan:  (Looking deep and sincerely into my eyes, tipping his little head to one side) - I will try to go slow Mom. 

Me: Now sobbing.

Aidan: But you know what will never change Mom?

And my little, contemplative, old soul took his to fingers and pointed to his eyes.

There is not a day that goes by when I don't laugh hysterically at these children and cry with the pain of watching them grow.
Please, "go slow" babies.
Go slow.

Happy Birthday Aidan - Snapshots, a Secret and a Slideshow! READ AGAIN! I added few things!!!

Oh baby baby.  How can you be four???

The other night I broke down crying at tuck in time.  Squeezing hands that are still a little thick with baby fat, smelling hair that had "play smell" and singing our songs and praying our prayers.  Thanking God  for healing his heart.

I always say to Aidan, "I will miss you."  And I will.  Every day I miss the person he was yesterday even though I look forward to the person he will be tomorrow.  Life is such a blur and even with the blog, the 25,000 photos I take per year (I wish I was kidding) and all my scraps of paper around with "snapshots in conversation" all around the house I still am desperate to remember every little smile and sass.  But as much as I try to create a bubble here in this house, life is a blur and I forget.  

So, I will miss him.

Joie de vivre.  Aidan has more of is than anyone I have every met.  You will see that in this fast pace glimpse into the last 365 days of his life.  Aidan cooks and cleans and pees where he pleases.  He plays, creates, paints both walls and papers.  He gardens, reads and loves his Heavenly Father.  You should hear him pray.  We cry every time.

In an effort to celebrate this powerhouse of life I have been stockpiling "snapshots in conversations" for your reading enjoyment and for my mothers heart.  I am not assuming that blogland wants to obsess over my beloved but his Great Gramma's and Aunties read Parisienne Farmgirl so humor me as once again I fawn all over my beloved son.  You might even find out a secret...

Once Again, Snapshots in Conversation:

Aidan on Dinosaurs:

"Mom, are dinosaurs at the zoo?"

"When did the dinosaurs die?  Was it Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday?"

"I know what happened, maybe they had a sickness or an emergency.  Or maybe they caught on fire."

HERE IS THE ONE I FORGOT AND IT MIGHT BE THE FUNNIEST!!!

Aidan on Chanel No. 5:

Running in from the garden to announce:  "If we could take some of our flowers and put them in the Cuisinart we could make some Chanel for you...Our purple and pink ones and mix them to a color of prettiness."

Aidan on Decorating for his birthday: 

Me:  "We could use "sporks" for desert and maybe garbage bags for place mats.  What else could we do to decorate for your Wall-E birthday?"

Aidan:  We could paint the dining room ceiling black.  Not really much in some parts for the stars."

Me:  "Oh, so we could leave some spots white like the stars?"

Aidan: "Yeah."

Aidan on wanting a farm in our front yard:

"We could just dig up that street and move all those houses."

Aidan when I told him I was pregnant:

"Why aren't you puking yet?"

Aidan on my waistline a few weeks later:

"Why aren't you fat yet?"

Aidan on Amélie's waistline as I was trying to get her dressed and all she wanted to do was run outside:

Aidan: "Just send her outside maked so people will laugh at her!"

Me:  "Why will they laugh at her?"

Aidan:  "They will laugh when they see her bwubbers."

On Amélie's Michelin quality arm rings:

"I just love her bracelets!"

On restocking the bird feeder with his "One Gram"  (at home we put Cayenne pepper in with the seeds to keep the squirrels away):

"We need Leon pepper."

Aidan on Amélie's waistline.  A popular topic of conversation around here...

"Mom, how big will the baby be on your birthday?  Will he be this big"  (Showing about 3 inches with his hand)

Me:  Yes Aidan, that is exactly how big the baby will be!"

Aidan:  "And then what?"

Me:  "Well, he/she will get bigger and bigger.  Do you remember how big Amélie was when she came out?"

Aidan:  "Yeah, and then she got really much fat."

Me:  "Yes she did, didn't she baby?"

Aidan:  "Why she got so fat?"

Me:  "Well, that is just the way God made her..."

Aidan: "Cause she did not work out?"

Aidan on his Great Gramma's Farm:

"Will you miss me? Me and dad are going to move to "Two Grams's" farm.  You and Amélie can stay here.  This will be the ladies house.  I love Two Grams's farm.  It is my whole heart farm.

Aidan on Cleaning: 

When Gramma asked him if we had a dust pan:

"No, but we have bread ones."

And last but not least, this is the darling prayer that my beloved prayed over dinner the other night without prompting:

"Dear Lord thank you for this meal, thank you for this dinner and heavenly father praise you for this food and please bless our whole life and this family, praise you for this baby brother - Amen."

We are off to the zoo for the day.  Our first time!  Another day with my son.  He is my "whole heart" son.  Happy Birthday to my first P.R.!!!!!!

Wall-E is a big deal in this house these days so while my music selection may seem strange it has delighted Aidan.  It's called "72 degrees and Sunny" from the soundtrack - that about sums up a day spent with him!  If you missed last years slideshow it's on this blog somewhere (1095 days of Aidan) and well, that was the sappy, make you cry one.  This one was just for FUN!

And yes, the secret is out - we are going to be celebrating P.R. le troisieme into our home this January 2010.  P.R.  is our nickname for our babies when "in belly"-- it stands for Petit R________ (our last name).  Aidan is over the moon with joy and praying nightly for a baby brother.  Oh boy.  

I, on the other hand am over the toilet with my usual 24/7 sickness which explains my lack of blogging (laundry, cooking, cleaning, grooming, basic functioning) the weeks past and upcoming.  Oh Lord.  

Give me the strength to decorate this Wall-E cake and walk the zoo!!!

Snapshots in Conversation - Aidan On...

GOODNESS, I posted this, walked away, thought of a few more things to add and you girls had already commented!  I can not keep up with you!!!!

One of the most amazing things about mon Toutou is that he knows a little bit about everything.   I know I am the biased mother but I swear this child is the most multifaceted little person I have ever encountered.  He has an opinion about everything too...I wonder where he get's that?  He is sensitive, hilarious and has a very mysterious understanding of the LORD.  (He says that God talks to him while he is sleeping!)  

Of course, he is a rambunctious, testosterone filled little 3.7 year old boy too so when we are with people he tends to show off and has been known to push the limits - I swear it's a peeing to mark his territory kind of thing and I wish sometimes that friends and family could get to know him when he is not in "show off mode."  

If you want, you can have a conversation with him on just about anything; cooking, photography, music, France, gardening, geography, music and different styles of music, "Mom, is this bluegrass?", Johnny Cash, NASCAR (including things like pistons, gas tanks, burn outs, crew chiefs, caution flags...) Aidan can tell you about outer space, rocket boosters and of course, fire, fire, fire.  Aidan is beyond creative and spends HOURS a day building with his Legos, his drawings are frighteningly accurate and he has a little camera and what's even more frightening is that he knows how to edit his photographs in I-Photo.  He says things like, "Oh, this one would look good dark and white"  (Black and white)  He also uses words and phrases like, "As a matter of fact."  "Gorgeous", "I could not care", "Be my guest", "Amazing", "Fantastic", and "Actually."  He is also known to ask people, "How much you weigh?"  when what he really means is, "How old are you?"  He says, "Yes Man!" When told to do something instead of  "Yes Ma'am!"  I have to turn my head to laugh every time!  Nevermind that in the last few days he goes for minutes at a time and speaks French!!!!  Broken French mind you but he is obsessed with trying!

"Snapshots" is one my favorite features on my blog, the house is always littered with little pieces of paper with my scribbles of things Aidan has said.  I may not be the best "Baby Booker" but at least I have "Snapshots in Conversation."  Here is just a sample of what he has said in the last 48 hours:

Aidan on growing up:

"You know what's really sad?  When you grow up and you have to get a new bike but you love your kid bike so much"  (Tears in his eyes!)

Aidan on the lyrics to Amazing Grace being played on the computer:

"I'm actually free and saved.  I'm alive and God saved me so much.  I know I'm still alive.  

Me:  "Cause God saved you?"

Aidan:  "He's a really good guy."

Aidan on Homebirth:

"How old will I be when my baby brother comes out of your tummy?"

Me: "Well kiddo, I hope you will be about 4 1/2."

Aidan: "Can I help Dad pull him out?  I'm gonna be really much strong to pull him out."

If you are a new reader, Joel delivered our daughter as Aidan watched Christmas Eve 2007)

Aidan on Amélie: (While snuggling in bed with her and I.)

"I am just so in love to her.  I am going to love her for years and years and years.  She is the sweetest Amélie I ever had."

Aidan on Poloroid Photography:

"Well, how do you I-Photo it?"

Aidan on the statement I had just mumbled to myself about how gross and greasy I was looking:

"Well, get some makeup on and get your gorgeous!"

I wonder every day if I could be more in love with this little guy.  He is getting so big; I cry at the thought of it.  So cliché - but how in the world could the last few years have gone by so quickly???  I am "so in love to him"!

Snapshots in Conversation - Even Pre-Schoolers can See Through Obama!!!

Update:  The music mentioned when this post was first posted was Carly Simon's "You're so Vain" - Hilarious.

Aidan overheard something negative about Obama on the radio the other day (go figure...in THIS house???)  This is brief the conversation that followed:

Aidan:  "I don't like Obama."

Me:  (Thinking this would be an opportunity; however premature to explain that sometimes we might not like someone but we must respect them according to their position or at least respect their position.  This is NOT an egalitarian household.)

"Well, Aidan.  Momma doesn't necessarily like Obama either but..."

Aidan: (totally interuptting me) "But he sure does make me laugh!!!"

Me:  (Holding in my tea.)  "Oh, he does hugh?"

Aidan:  "Yeah, he is such a silly goofer...the stuff he says it just cracks me up!"

I thought this would be an appropriate Snapshot considering the "leadership" we are seeing out of Washington lately.   Turns out Barack will soon be headed off to France for a "Town Hall" type, We-are-the-World meeting in my family heritage home of Strausburg.  It looks like he is going to disregard what even the Socialist French Government and other E.U. Leaders are saying (That we are planning to spend too much money) and instead go right to the people.  I tell you what - he thinks he is a Rock Star.  It's enough to make you see red (Ha!  Pun intented!)  But if my smart ass baby cakes didn't make you laugh hard enough perhaps the bottom spoofs will.  Because sometimes you just gotta laugh about it!

Oh my gosh, can you STAND my music selection for today???  Move over Laura!

For a GREAT post on our "great" leader click here to read my new blogger friend:

Snapshots in Conversation

Variations on a Theme...

Two month ago.  In reference to some clothes he had outgrown.

Aidan: "My brother can wear that someday."

One month ago:

Aidan: "I am going to marry Amélie.  Amélie has a brother.  I do not.  I need a brother and then he will need a sister."

One month ago.  While driving in the car at dusk.  This is in reference to us telling him he was a star in the sky before he was born.

Aidan:  "Look!  Look up there!  Do you see that star?  (Venus) That's my brother up there!  See how brightly he is shining?  Do you see him Amélie?  That is my brother!"

Two weeks ago:

Aidan: " Are you pregnant with my brother yet?"

Two days ago:

Aidan:  "Will you pray for me tonight Dad?"  (He asks this every night)

Joel:  "About what?"

Aidan:  "About my brother."

Joel:  "What about him?"

Aidan:  "That he would sleep thru the night...unlike Amélie."

Today, in reference to me trying to change my attitude and response to our (lack of) financial situation.

Me:  "I wonder what great things God is going to do for us this week?!"

Aidan:  "Put my baby brother in your tummy?!!"

We want to add to our family so badly and Aidan's joy over the idea of a baby brother is simply beautiful!  I swear he loves him already.  I know he does.

Your continued prayers for a job for Big Daddy are appreciated.  Needless to say there has not been any good news since my post about this some months ago - really, things just keep getting worse.  But, I was gently but firmly reminded by my beloved Gram today to continue to praise God and trust His plan.  Right now it really feels like there is no plan and many times throughout the day we find ourselves at our wits end but darn it - we are going to praise Him in this house, walking by faith and not by sight.  We are so blessed with our children, a warm house.  The joy we feel over the idea of another child someday pales in comparison to the Father's love for us.  He is watching over us.   He has a plan for us, a job for us, a place for us to live, here or somewhere else...and I believe, more children for us.  

Seems like Aidan has his head wrapped around that a little more than we do sometimes!  Out of the mouths of  babes!

Snapshots in Conversation

Not that I want you to miss out on yesterday's Chocolate Cake but this was so funny I had to post it toute de suite!!!  (Right away!)

As I laid out everyones clothes for church tomorrow Joel sat in the bathroom with the kids while they shared a tub.  I came in to do the washing and began to "prep" them that after bath time it was bed time.  No going back downstairs to play.  Aidan protested that it was early and to that I clicked of the bathroom light momentarily leaving the four of us in the blackness. Quickly showing him how "late" it was.  When I turned on the light the conversation went like this:

Aidan:  When the light was off I could still hear your voice.

Me:  I know baby, that is because you see with your eyes and you hear with your ears.  Those are called senses.

As I washed him up I explained further...

Me:  You feel with your skin, that is called touch.  And those bubbles that got in your mouth earlier, you tasted them because you taste with your mouth.

Just then other bubbles came floating up to the service...

Me:  And you smell those little farts of yours with your nose.  So you hear with your ears, taste with your mouth, smell with your nose, touch with your skin and see with your eyes.  Those are the five senses.  Taste, smell, touch, hearing and taste.

Aidan:  And farting.

Snapshots in Conversation

The Set-Up-

Lately we have been dreaming about summer.  We say all the time in this house that the only mad thing about summer is the mosquitos (or as Aidan says, "Mister-sqitos").  We also battle Japanese Beetles on my roses all summer though this has not been mentioned around here since about August.  We have also been working on certain behaviors so that when Dad gets home we can give him a "Good Report."  Check out the way his little mind works.  He walked into the kitchen and announced this this morning...

"Mom, The other bad thing about Summer is those bugs that are on the flowers.  Those little thingys that are beetles.   That will give summer a bad report.  You have to spray chemicals on them and then they fall off but you have to do it again and again and again..."

Snapshots in Conversation

Free at last, free at last!  

Automated Operator: For English press...

If you would like to add services or have a question about your existing service press 1, to inquire about your scheduled appointment press two, for all other inquiries press 2.

Crappy "on hold" music...

Treena:  Thank you for calling Comcast how can I help you today?

Me:  I would like to cancel my service.

Dead air.  Dead air...

Treena:  Ugh, May I ask why?

Me:  We don't watch it.

Treena:  Well, what about in February...you will have to have a digital converter or a digital t.v.  You won't be able to watch...it won't work.

Me:  But, we don't watch it!?

Treena:  Ugh, O.k.  Angela, you service is cancelled and someone will be out tomorrow to disconnect your outdoor line.  Is there anything else I can do for you today?

Me: Nope.

Treena:  (Still very confused) Thank you for using Comcast, please remember us in the future.

I was thrilled when we went to $15 basic cable but our T.V.s sit around covered in dust, especially during the downseason for Nascar.  Now, our evenings are without "surfing" temptation, if we want to watch The Office we watch it on the laptop without being subjected to pornographic "Desperate Housewhores" commercials.  I'm feeling a little cocky and I will frankly confess to you, self righteous (which I don't like about myself and I KNOW is wrong)  when I see the blue glow in someone's living room.  But I tell you, this is an opportunity for more conversation, more creativity, more board games, more books, I am beyond blessed to have a husband who thinks this is as cool as I do -Joel's been reading his Bible every night...I think this is going to be a very good thing for our family.  

Snapshots in Conversation

Out of the clear blue at dinner last night Aidan made one of his proclamations...

"Ok, these are the rules for America; to be a good boy and to be a Godly Man.  That's it.  These are the rules for America!"

If only.

Snapshots in Conversation

Today Aidan, myself and Amélie were cozy on the couch reading a little book about Christmas.  It was a very simple book so I was reading it half in English and translating the other half to French.  There was a page with a Christmas Tree with little Advent-like numbered doors that opened up to reveal ornaments.  They were scattered about the page...

Me:  Ou est un?

Aidan found it.

Me:  Ou est deux?

Aidan found it.

Me:  Ou est trois?

Aidan:  I am right here.

Genius.  A sense of wit and humor and he doesn't even know it!  I know only a handful of readers will get this so below is my little humor helper-

ou est - where is

un- one

deux - two

trois - three

toi - you (pronounced almost exactly the same as the above "trois")

Snapshots in Converation

A Three Point Preface:  Aidan is most familiar with the sun setting into the water on account of our vacation to Door County last year.... He asked once where the sun goes and I told him it goes to Paris....Today he woke from his nap to find in gloomy and cloudy...

First snapshot from the other day:

Aidan:  "When it is dark in Paris sun is shining here."  (I found this rather remarkable that a 3 year old would understand to reverse what I had told him)

Today he said: "When the sun goes down it goes into the water and the water takes it to Paris."

Shapshots in Conversation...

I'll be homeschooling my chickens (if you are a new reader and have missed past debates) and I am a pretty firm believer that most boys are not cut out to sit still at a desk all day long when very young and I don't really think formalized schooling needs to begin so dang early...all that to say this: I will begin teaching anything young when an interest is expressed and lately Aidan is all about letters and sounds (and States and distances) so I grabbed some half off phonics cards in the Target dollar aisle the other day. Every other day for 10 minutes or so while he plays Play-Do we have been working on letters A-D and the sounds they make...

Me: Aidan, what sound does the letter B make?

Aidan: Buh, Buh, Buh.

Me: Very Good. Do you know some words that begin with the "Buh, Buh" sound?

Aidan: Hmmmm...BUTT-FART!

What else could I say except, "Very Good."

Snapshots on Conversation-

Aidan has a little daily devotional that I have been trying to do each night with him.  I say "trying" because it is in addition to his beloved "Simon" books (au francais) and other favorites like his giant French Pictionary and The Little Train and Blueberrys for Sal...

The devos (I hate that word but thought I'd use it) are one page long - one for each day of the year - Aidan always wants to read more than one.  The one page concept doesn't click.  Neither do half the devotionals.  The book says ages 3-7 but come on, some of these Godly concepts are completely lost on him so I do my best to break it down as simple as I can.

The other night I was breaking down the concept of being thankful and after we read our one page and our conversation went like this....

Me:  What are you thankful for Aidan?

Aidan:  Parks.

Me:  Oh, that is wonderful.  What else are you thankful for baby?

Aidan:  I am thankful for beer.

If you just picked yourself up off the floor, I feel your pain.  I am still down there...in a puddle of pee.

Snapshots in Conversation -

We had just gotten our backs "cracked" (adjusted) by our chiropractor (friend). Let's just say I threw mine out of alignment when I fell over laughing. Aidan's little mind blows mine all the time...

As we were walking out...

Aidan: "Pretty Mom."

Me: "What honey?"

Aidan: "Pretty Mom."

Me: Bending down and smothering him with kisses. "Oh, Aidan, you are so sweet! Momma loves you so much."

Aidan: "You gonna put that on your "bwog" ?