Never underestimate the capacity of a child to overhear what parents talk about.
Jon and I have been reading books about organic and local food lately and we like to talk about them during dinner.
Last week, we ate eggs for breakfast.
In between mouthfuls, Claire said, "Are these eggs from happy chickens"?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Claire's first ballet
Last week I took Claire to her first ballet performance, a performance based on Max Lucado's book, You are Special.
Claire wasn't exactly enthralled the whole time. She frequently asked me when it would be over. She told me more than once that she was tired. She also took very seriously her job to distribute peppermints during the performance to her friends (we went with 10 neighbor kids and their moms).
Despite all of this, she was intrigued with the dancers. When one of them danced off the stage, she said in a rather loud voice, "I bet she had to go to the bathroom".
When it was over, we got to meet the dancers outside of the theater. Some of them signed Claire's program. I took pictures. This was where Claire got so excited that all she could do was suck her thumb and gaze adoringly at "the pretty dancers".
Claire wasn't exactly enthralled the whole time. She frequently asked me when it would be over. She told me more than once that she was tired. She also took very seriously her job to distribute peppermints during the performance to her friends (we went with 10 neighbor kids and their moms).
Despite all of this, she was intrigued with the dancers. When one of them danced off the stage, she said in a rather loud voice, "I bet she had to go to the bathroom".
When it was over, we got to meet the dancers outside of the theater. Some of them signed Claire's program. I took pictures. This was where Claire got so excited that all she could do was suck her thumb and gaze adoringly at "the pretty dancers".
Hotel adventures
We spent the past weekend in London, ON. My cousin Michelle (aunt Michelle to our kids) just defended her PhD dissertation and we were invited to her PhD completion party.
We stayed in a hotel room with my parents, the third time we've done so. The kids absolutely loved it - the time spent with Nana and Papa, the swimming pool, the fact that there was a TV in front of the beds, that there was an elevator, that we ate out in restaurants.
The first time we stayed in a hotel (last fall when we met up with my parents in Sarnia and visited my Pake in the hospital), Claire didn't quite know what to think of it. On our way back to the hotel after eating dinner, she said, "When we get back to our new home, can I watch TV?"
We all laughed at the time, as we imagined what might be going on in her mind, on how she was trying to making sense of her new experience.
Now that I reflect on it, I realize her concept of "home" is profound. Home to her was having the people she loved be around her. Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, David...throw in a few beds, towels, clothes and TV (!) and she was all set.
Why does "home" for me get so complicated with things and possessions and stuff?
We stayed in a hotel room with my parents, the third time we've done so. The kids absolutely loved it - the time spent with Nana and Papa, the swimming pool, the fact that there was a TV in front of the beds, that there was an elevator, that we ate out in restaurants.
The first time we stayed in a hotel (last fall when we met up with my parents in Sarnia and visited my Pake in the hospital), Claire didn't quite know what to think of it. On our way back to the hotel after eating dinner, she said, "When we get back to our new home, can I watch TV?"
We all laughed at the time, as we imagined what might be going on in her mind, on how she was trying to making sense of her new experience.
Now that I reflect on it, I realize her concept of "home" is profound. Home to her was having the people she loved be around her. Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, David...throw in a few beds, towels, clothes and TV (!) and she was all set.
Why does "home" for me get so complicated with things and possessions and stuff?
Cousin Ruby's funny travel adventure
I just got off the phone with my sister Danielle. She, Paul and baby Ruby got back from a 2 week visit to Prague (to visit my brother Pete). And, within that visit to Prague, they went to Tunisia for a "resort vacation", a resort vacation that went awry, a resort vacation story that made me laugh so hard that I had tears coming out of my eyes.
I'm sure that Dan will write about it some day so I won't even try to describe it here.
But, one of the things Dan and I talked about is how traveling with kids changes the whole travel experience. One of my favorite quotes is something about how traveling is not just about seeing new horizons, but it's also about seeing with new eyes. I like it because of the reminder that traveling allows us to see new people and places, but it also nudges us to see ourselves and our place in the world differently, in ways that we weren't able to before.
I think that traveling with kids adds yet another layer to this metaphor of seeing. Though Jon and I don't have a ton of experience with this (Atlanta, Vancouver, CA being the only "far" places we've taken our kids), I've noticed that when I do travel with my kids, I am much more acutely away of my role of parent, of the responsibility I have in taking care of them. In part, I "see" new people and places through those lenses.
They remind me of something I should be aware of all the time: of what an awesome (used in the inspiring sense) and humbling role it is to be a parent.
I'm sure that Dan will write about it some day so I won't even try to describe it here.
But, one of the things Dan and I talked about is how traveling with kids changes the whole travel experience. One of my favorite quotes is something about how traveling is not just about seeing new horizons, but it's also about seeing with new eyes. I like it because of the reminder that traveling allows us to see new people and places, but it also nudges us to see ourselves and our place in the world differently, in ways that we weren't able to before.
I think that traveling with kids adds yet another layer to this metaphor of seeing. Though Jon and I don't have a ton of experience with this (Atlanta, Vancouver, CA being the only "far" places we've taken our kids), I've noticed that when I do travel with my kids, I am much more acutely away of my role of parent, of the responsibility I have in taking care of them. In part, I "see" new people and places through those lenses.
They remind me of something I should be aware of all the time: of what an awesome (used in the inspiring sense) and humbling role it is to be a parent.
Eating peanuts
On the way home from our weekend trip to London, ON, the kids were snacking on peanuts.
"This one looks like a dolphin in the water" Claire said, holding up half of a peanut.
Wow. I had never thought of examining peanuts for their unique shapes. I tend to just shovel them in my mouth (I have issues with eating food too quickly).
It made me remember when my siblings and I would lie in the grass of the park down the street from where we lived. We would look up at the clouds and tell each other what we thought they looked like.
Thanks Claire for reminding me of this, for reminding me to delight in things that get overlooked.
"This one looks like a dolphin in the water" Claire said, holding up half of a peanut.
Wow. I had never thought of examining peanuts for their unique shapes. I tend to just shovel them in my mouth (I have issues with eating food too quickly).
It made me remember when my siblings and I would lie in the grass of the park down the street from where we lived. We would look up at the clouds and tell each other what we thought they looked like.
Thanks Claire for reminding me of this, for reminding me to delight in things that get overlooked.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Dinnertime routines
When we're finished with dinner, we read the Bible (children's versions) and then sing songs. This has become quite a routine. In fact, when David has finished eating the food on his plate (a generous way to describe the little bits of food that he actually eats), he looks at me and says "Alive, Alive" (his latest favorite song).
We have quite the short list of favorite songs. For awhile it was "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Only a Boy Named David".
Now it's "Alive, Alive" and "Waves of Mercy". The kids love to run around and dance for this last song just like our song leaders did during our church retreat. Claire usually bumps into a wall or David at some point during her dance. David usually falls down in a dizzy fit because he turns around so much. But, both kids are so excited to be singing our "Bible songs" that neither one of them minds.
I don't think God does either.
We have quite the short list of favorite songs. For awhile it was "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Only a Boy Named David".
Now it's "Alive, Alive" and "Waves of Mercy". The kids love to run around and dance for this last song just like our song leaders did during our church retreat. Claire usually bumps into a wall or David at some point during her dance. David usually falls down in a dizzy fit because he turns around so much. But, both kids are so excited to be singing our "Bible songs" that neither one of them minds.
I don't think God does either.
Jacob is 4 months old
I can't believe that Jacob will be 4 months old tomorrow.
He's rolling over. He's laughing. He's starting to grab at toys. His cheeks are filling out (I take full credit for that). He loves to stare at things with his big blue eyes.
I can't imagine our family without him.
He's rolling over. He's laughing. He's starting to grab at toys. His cheeks are filling out (I take full credit for that). He loves to stare at things with his big blue eyes.
I can't imagine our family without him.
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