hard at work

I love that my kids - abby excluded - are at the age where I can say, "Girls, go play!" and they'll scamper off somewhere and find something to do.  This is very useful when trying to cook dinner, for example.  

They are also getting old enough that I can leave paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils down at their level - thereby often eliminating the need for me to say, "Girls, go play!"  They do it themselves.  And stay occupied.  For a very, very long time.  

Hallelujah. 

And sometimes, when all is calm in the kitchen and emails are sent, I'll sit and listen to them say the funniest things to each other, like this:

Emma:  Why is drizella and anastasia (from Cinderella) so mean?

Samantha: Because they don't believe in Jesus.

Emma: Maybe God should send Jonah to go tell them.  

True.  All true.  Except the Jonah part, of course. 

So back to me watching them....

And recently, abby wants to get in on the action.  I have discovered that letting her hold the markers brings untold bliss to everyone involved.  

1) There are plenty of markers.  Her holding one or two won't cause any property wars.

2) She stops screaming.

3) She isn't yet old enough to pull the lids off.  

4) She doesn't destroy the masterpieces-in-progress.

 

Emma is usually happy to have abby around (as long as nothing is being destroyed), but Samantha still finds her a bit annoying.  Samantha gets irritated when Abby bumps her, and is often convinced that abby is out to get her.  But there is usually peace.  A very delicate peace, but peace is peace.  

"Mom, why are you down there?  What could possibly be so important that you have to lay down on the floor to do it?"
Samantha had been bitten by a mosquito near the eye the night before this photo, so her face is all swollen up - just another side effect of having sensitive skin.  
I love this picture - this is part of the essence of Today's Emma: always working hard on some project, some letter, some picture, some creation.  
...and she's usually pretty happy with whatever she's created.  
And usually, by the time this is over, dinner is ready.

Amen. 

abby, eight months

Abby Lynell, eight months:

• loves those little Gerber puff-thingies.
• scarfs down broccoli.
• likes splashing in the bath.
• favorite toy: little tikes market (which was meant for her sisters!)
• is clingy for mama.
• likes to be thrown in the air.
• likes to play with the dollhouse, preferably right after samantha has already neatly arranged it all.
  

• is too brave for my taste.  She'll climb - or attempt to climb - anything.
• can make it to the top of this slide now - both via steps and via slide.  My blood pressure must have skyrocketed in the last few weeks!
• pulled the folding table on top of her a few days ago. 
• likes looking out the window at the lights.

• took her first steps two days after josh left.  =(
• doesn't like it when emma picks her up.
• loves it when emma laughs with her.
• shrieks often.  Yes, we've returned to the shrieking phase.
• grabs her feet during diaper changes.
• chews on the side of her pack-and-play.
• cruises around furniture - and loves the freedom that brings.

• has not met any of her grandparents yet.
• has flown far less than her other sisters at this age.  
• has two teeth on the bottom and two on top, with two more on the way.
• loves playing with a roll of toilet paper.
• can wave "hi"...when she wants to.  
• doesn't like her morning nap.
• still sucks on her two middle fingers.
• doesn't like to cuddle anymore.  =(
• makes me smile every day.

Quotes:

• "mama!"

it's better to have loved and lost...

...and so begins the tale of the dog-that-was-no-more.  Not, died "no-more", but certainly "not here", no-more.  

And just to put your hearts safely at ease while you read this story, you can know that our sweet dog was put into foster care and has been adopted.

So, back to the dog.  

You might remember I'd been pushing this dog business for a while.  Josh wasn't opposed to the idea, but he wasn't the motivating force behind it.  Several times I had gone to the dog market ready to buy, but I never could get the timing right.  

One sunday morning, I dropped the girls off at school (this was a weird sunday where school was open) and I went to the Sunday Market.  There were dogs of all ages and breeds, all sorts of sellers, and a whole lot of cars...making the experience very chaotic.  But I was by myself and was prepared to buy a dog.

I first saw a little dachshund being sold by an older lady, and since my friend becky had persuaded me that dachshunds were great little pets, I went to talk to her first.  She gave me a sob story about how her husband had fallen ill shortly after she bought the dog and wasn't able to raise it properly anymore.  She told me that the dog was about 3 months old and was coming from a home that loved her. 

I was sold.  I was glad I wasn't buying from a breeder, that this little dog had some normal people interaction, and glad that the lady loved her dog.  She even told me her dog's name in the local language and teared up when I sealed the deal and handed over the cash.  (If you're wondering, the dog cost me about $50.)  

The first thing I did was take little pup to the pet store down the street.  I walked in and the employees said to me, "I thought you wanted a little dog!"  I hadn't noticed until then that the dog actually wasn't very little.  In fact, she was rather big.  Not fat-big, but grown-big...

Hmmm....well, anyway, she got her little bath and then I headed home to drop her off before I went to pick up the girls from school.  I had prepped the dog beforehand, telling her that two little girls wanted to name her "Jessie" (as in, from Toy Story2, "Jessie" - we're all about toy

 story these days).  She stared up at me with her big brown eyes, and gave me a blank look.  

Josh spent some get-to-know-you time with the dog while I went to get the girls.  In the taxi home, I told them we were having a guest for lunch that hadn't been around little children very much, and that they'd need to be calm and quiet around her.  They had no clue.

I opened the door, and immediately heard the sound of her little paws, clack-clack-clacking down the hall.  The door opened and her head cocked to the side.  Emma paused; she looked at josh, she looked at me.  She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it.  Finally - with huge, wide eyed - she said, "Is this our dog?" 

Upon hearing that it was indeed, she slowly breathed, "It's INCREDIBLE!!!"

From the start, Emma was the reason behind all this.  The girl has an unusual attrac

tion to pets, and honestly is very good with them. She and jessie got along so well.  I couldn't have been more pleased with jessie - she was gentle with the girls, subjected herself to all sorts of preschool-treatment, and had just enough energy to be fun without wearing us out.  

She especially loved chewing on one specific stuffed animal and ran all through the house with it.  It's a good thing it wasn't emma's precious polar bear, though Emma did make sure that Jessie felt at home and had full access to all the most modern luxuries:

Samantha also liked Jessie, but only when jessie was on a leash and/or unable to jump or lick her.  She did enjoy talking her for walks...



It wasn't too long in this adventure that I realized what a catastrophic mistake I'd made.  Even though our girls loved the dog, even though the dog was good-tempered and sweet, there were some major issues:

• Abby is so young.  I couldn't leave her in any room alone with the dog - because one bite or nip is one time too many.  Yet, I don't have the time or ability to make that happen unless I leave one of them closed in their rooms most of the time(and then I'd either have to deal with a cranky dog or a cranky baby).
• Samantha had a slight skin reaction to the dog.  Not enough for this to be the sole reason, but enough for it to be a factor.
• I didn't have time to potty train the pup.  I can't follow a dog around all day to anticipate when she's about to do her business, and that's what needs to happen in the beginning.  That was unrealistic from the start.

So those are my main reasons.  I know there are lots of people who have inside dogs and babies, but it seemed that my wonder-woman-ness ends with canines.  For those people - you are awesome!

We had some good friends who were interested in providing foster care for our pup and they decided to keep her; she is truly in good hands and the girls will get to see Jessie every so often.  

It was a special chapter in Emma's life.  It didn't last very long, for sure...and probably won't be repeated unless we are either in America or have a yard.  It brought me a lot of sadness (even tears!  Tears? I never cry!) to make the decision to give up the dog, knowing how it would break Emma's heart...but I felt like in the best interest of the family, there was no other real option.  

We made the most of the time.  We  made paw prints and hand prints...

went on lots of walks, bought extra dog treats, and gave as much love as we had.  

So, it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all...right?

making time to swing

One of my goals during Josh's absence was to make time to really invest in the hearts of my children.  I know I'm with them every day - helping them get dressed, moving them from one place to another, reminding them to wash hands, reminding them to be kind, teaching them how to read, spelling words for the tenth time....

...but, it takes extra time to invest in their hearts. It takes extra time to explain something rather than say, "let's talk about it later."  It takes extra time to do the things they want to do.  It takes extra time to ask them questions that draw out their emotions and feelings.  And sometimes, it takes a lot of extra time just to "be" together - with no reading lessons to do, nothing to review, nothing to accomplish.

One morning, I took the girls to preschool, and after dropping samantha off in her class, I gave this option to emma:

You can either choose to go to class, or you can choose to do something fun with mommy.  Just you and me.  

It's a good thing she chose me, because that's what I was planning on!  

We went and bought some chocolate donuts and milk (and somehow, $20 more of other stuff I didn't even know I needed).  We went to the beautiful apartment complex where their preschool is and had a donuts and milk picnic.  I asked her questions.  She confided in me.  [Well, that's a bit overdoing it.  She told me she gets tired of answering questions from curious strangers over and over again.  But she told it in a really heartfelt and sincere way, so I think it's safe for that to be labeled it as "confiding"...right?!]

We found a baby ladybug.  We held hands while we walked through the rambling and landscaped paths.  Then we played on the playground together.  

And instead of pushing emma on the swing, we practiced her actually doing it herself.  I usually never have the time or undivided attention to devote to this activity, but today I did.  The swing kept us happily occupied until it was time to pick up Samantha.  

There was nothing earth-shattering about our outing, but my heart was blessed just spending time with Emma.   No expectations.  No agenda.  No time restrictions.  

Just swinging.  

finger foods

Abby is diving into finger foods these days.  We're up to banana, wheat bread, steamed carrots, and avocado so far.  She especially loves those little Gerber Puffs, which I bought in bulk on taobao.  

You'll notice I use the clothing-free painting method for eating, too.  Pretty much, my kids don't ever wear clothes.  (Yes, I'm kidding.)

In case you're rusty on how to begin eating finger foods, Abby would like to give you a step-by-step demonstration.  

Step 1: Locate the tasty morsel.
Step 2: Try to get your grubby fingers around it.  If it's a banana, it will take extra work.
Step 3:  Put in your mouth. This may be made more difficult if your fine motor skills haven't developed enough to know that you should get your fingers out of the way.
Step 4:Leave it there for a moment. Swish it around with your tongue to bring out the subtle flavors and textures. Savor the bite. (and also throw a glance at mom, who is again sitting on the floor to take pictures)
Step 5: Giggle with success!  Food, glorious food!  Ask for more.  Repeat steps 1-5.
[Authors note: If I quit feeding her, will she stop growing so fast?]

about fall

There are a lot of reasons why I really love fall.

• I raided Hobby Lobby last year in America and bought out the entire "Seasonal - Fall" aisle.
  
• Brown is one of my favorite colors.
  
• Brown, orange, red and yellow together is even better.
• There's something very peaceful about leaves dying and falling to the ground - and knowing that's exactly how it was supposed to be.
• Pumpkins can be painted.
• Leaves can be collected.
• Cinnamon? Pumpkin? Spice? Exactly.
• Can you tell I'm into bullets lately?

So, last year in America, I truly bought a lot of fall decorations, but I'm SO glad I did.  My house feels fallish and that's just fun.  

I also stumbled across these candles at Bath and Body Works - a little misleading because Bath and Body Works isn't mentioned anywhere on the candle.  

It's beautiful, isn't it?  I love the stainless silver lid that fits on top, the colored glass, the classy-whimsical designs on the front.  The descriptions of the candles are simple and rich.

These candles are pricey, $20 each (unless you can find them on sale - which can be done occasionally).  And there's nothing worse than buying a candle that doesn't fulfill its purpose in life.  

Fortunately, that is not this candle.

This candle will not disappoint you.

This candle will never leave you or forsake you.

This candle will greet your guests as they get off the elevator to your floor, long before they have stepped foot into your home.

Yes, friends, this is the candle you've been waiting for.

...but since I'm not a candle-seller and get paid no commission for purchases, let's move on to other fall topics, shall we?

I bought this at hobby lobby too, except for the fabulous paper mache pumpkin in the background.

That is not my paper mache pumpkin and never will be.  A sweet friend and her children brought it to my kids one friday, and I was instantly filled with a bizarre mixture of craft inspiration/jealousy.  I must have paper mache pumpkins, my mind raced.

We planned to do it a few days later.  I bought my newspaper, made my squishy mixture and did damage prevention exercises for the bathroom floor.  

And yet, I forgot one simple fact that now all of you know.

My daughter hates getting her fingers dirty.

The project was over before it began.  Emma saw the basin of gloop and simultaneously raised her eyebrows and scowled.  I made a pathetic attempt to convince her, but actually, after I put my hands in the gloop, I didn't want to do it either.

[Note: from this day forward, I will never attempt paper mache.  If, at any time, you hear that I am going to undertake a paper mache project, please spare no expense to bring me to my senses.  Thank you.]

The Slatkin & Co. candles give my ordinary Ikea candle on the table candle-envy until fall time...when the fab candle wreath comes out of storage. (Did I really use the word "candle" four times in that sentence?  My apologies.)  This candle is a wee bit small for this wreath, but the great and beautiful brown pillar candle I used last year is...used.   Seriously, is it not a gorgeous fall wreath?  I thought so, too.  

This "I love fall" home tour ends with our Daddy-comes-home calendar.  Because I'm a bit obsessive about the whole leaves-falling-off-the-trees thing, I created a calendar that would feel right at home in my world.  We've got a tree.  With leaves falling off it.  And when all the leaves are gone...you guessed it...Daddy comes home.  

I'll be the one taking off that yellow leaf, thankyouverymuch.
If fall is not your favorite season, and  you feel that my obsession with fall is a little over-the-top, here are a few steps I recommend (enter bullet points):

• Go to Hobby Lobby. Or your nearest craft store. I'm not picky.
• Buy the entire aisle of your favorite season.
• Mail it to me or deliver it in person.
• I will change my favorite season to your favorite season.
• Immediate results guaranteed.

to infinity and beyond

Two or three months ago, I saw Toy Story2 at a local movie store and picked it up.  [Note: While I recommend Toy Story2 for children, I personally do not like and am disturbed at several parts in the first Toy Story.]

We had such a fun time watching it as a family, and it quickly became the favorite movie.  As is often the case with new movies, it also quickly became incorporated into pretend play.  The girls would take turns being Buzz (there are usually spats about who gets to be the "real" Buzz and who has to be the "fake Buzz), Jessie, the aliens, etc.  

I found a Toy Story2 book in our local bookstore a few weeks ago, and it too has become a precious commodity.  

We've watched the Toy Story3 trailers many, many times - have you?!  It's SO stinkin funny.  I, for one, can't wait for June 2010! Yes, I am a full-grown woman.  Yes, I was just barely in high school when the first toy story came out.  But who's really counting?  You know you like the toy story movies too.  Let's not judge each other.  You MUST watch the trailer.  It will be good for you.  

One little activity I found on the toy story website was to make your own buzz.  It included printables that required lots of small cutting, but we forged ahead.  

They turned out pretty good, and the girls really liked adding their own characters to their buzz paper.  
Later that evening, we took a walk outside - it was a perfect day!  We've had several of those lately.  

What is this, you ask?

This is Buzz Lightyears.  Two of them.  Going to infinity and beyond.  That's how we walk these days.  
Particularly Samantha, who has perfected the outstretched arms position.  

To infinity and beyond, folks.  

samantha - three years, plus a little

Samantha, at three years:

• loves to pretend that she is Buzz Lightyear.
• has a very tender heart and cries at just a mean word spoken to her.
• has a very tender heart and loves to share and give to anyone who needs it.
• speaks with a slight lisp.
• succeeded in begging me to start reading lessons with her.
• loves trying to write her name.

• believes that "moke" is the past tense of "make".
• will eat any fruit or vegetable in large quantities.
• rides her bike like a speed demon.
• doesn't love chocolate as much as the rest of us, but just eats enough to fit in.
• sleeps with a pink blanket (from pops and nonna), a mickey doll and a minnie doll every night.
• has perfect hair.  It makes even me jealous.

• answers every asianese question the same way: "yes!" (Even if she doesn't know what it is!)
• gets tired of eating donuts for breakfast.  
• always enjoys any time she gets to play alone.
• is thoughtful and generous towards others.
• gives the best squeeze hugs you've ever received.  
• still loves yellow, but is slowly gravitating toward shades of pink.

• loves to pray long and heartfelt prayers.
• makes up detailed songs in her free time. 
• is the class favorite at school.  (surprised?)
• gets scared during Family Pillow Fights and runs to Emma for protection.  
• still likes holding my hand.
• stuck a green bean up her nose yesterday.
• is very matter-of-fact when she disobeys. 
• has sensitive skin, especially when situations involve dry air, mosquitoes or raw tomatoes.
• loves her bible memory cd's.
• could win the Gap Casting Call, don't you think? (It seems we are ineligible, but otherwise I'd be all over it! JS, I hope yours wins since mine can't!)

• is a loved and treasured child in our home!

Recent Quotes:

• closing the door to Abby, who was quickly crawling towards their room:
  

"I'm closing the door to the heavenly kingdom!"

• while praying for Daddy's travels:

 "Help daddy have wisdom to get on the right bus to take him to his apartment-hotel, and even though we don't know which is the right bus, you know everything and can help so please help him get on the right bus."

putting on our game face

We were all ready for the OU/Texas game last weekend, even though josh was gone.  

We had our game faces on and everything.  

I guess sometimes, even that's not enough...

Emma, four-and-a-half

Emma, at four-and-a-half:

• loves reading by herself - and is very good at it!
  
• loves reading to samantha.
• still hates mushrooms.
• prefers running, as fast as possible, to any other means of transportation.
• likes to pick up (literally) other children.
  
• loves writing letters and notes.
• wears pink whenever possible.
• can read more asianese than her mama.
• is a slow and picky eater.
• ...except if dessert is being served. 
• loves to ask taxi drivers and strangers if they believe in Jesus.  
• prays diligently and persistently for many of her unbelieving friends.  
• must wear a belt when she leaves the house.
• favorite foods: grilled cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and syrup sandwiches
  
• sleeps with her mouth open.
  
• sleeps with her blanket (from josh's parents), a green bunny (from my parents) and her stuffed white polar bear every night.
• prefers headbands, but occasional ponytails will do.
• hates getting her fingers dirty.
  
• likes joking with daddy in asianese.
  
• loves animals of all kinds, especially dogs and cats.
  
• is a great big sister to Abby.
  
• loves the color violet (often subject to interpretation).
  
• has a great laugh.
  
• has hair like her mama's - curly and frizzy.
  
• is sometimes shy with people she doesn't know.
  
• enjoys going to preschool.
• is loved by her family!

Recent Quotes:

• on Daddy's ability to fix the pedal that had fallen off her bike:
  

"Wow, Daddy is so strong! His muscles are so big! I can't even see my muscles!"

• after mixing up two different movies:
  

"Buzz Lightyear, m!ss!on@ry!"  (instead of "Buzz Lightyear to Mission Control")

• encouraging me when I was opening the bottle of nail polish:
  

"Try your best, mommy.  The Lord is with you."

affordable housing for all, part 3

Let me start this final installment by saying this:

I recently read something that said - There are no new ideas.  Creativity is just taking other people's ideas and making them better.  

I really agree with this and have seen it unfold in my giftings.  I rarely have new ideas, but I love looking at other people's ideas and changing them a bit here, tweaking that, adding this...that sort of thing.  This method is great, but looking at other people's ideas is the spark that gets it all started. 

So I post pictures and stories and ideas for two reasons, 1) I want to save all these memories for myself and 2) so that other people can see what we do and tweak it for themselves.  I'm not trying to showcase myself or my kids, but just hope that these things might give you some ideas when you want to do something fun or unusual.  

Ok, now that that's over, let's finish this housing project:

We added a glittery-paper-covered wrapping paper roll with gold ribbon to serve as the top of the castle...

...and made princess crowns.

I have loved watching them come up with creative ways to play with the castle, and it seems that every new child who comes to our house adds a new twist on how to use it.  Abby loves crawling inside and pulling up to look out the window, the girls like using it to crawl inside and read books, and have decorated the inside walls with drawings and notes.  Crack me up!

So there you have it.  Affordable housing for princesses.  End of Story.