Mommy Life: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Educational Chores

Helpful tip:

If you want your children to read more literature with substance, simply place a good book on the table, dump out a load of laundry right next to it, and tell the child to get to work. The book will be read before the laundry is folded...

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Creativity

This is what my Honor did this morning in her spare time:

I think her "baby carriage" is super cool. So does her sister. She wants Honor to make her one too.

Honor's response: "I worked hard on this. If you worked hard, you can make one too."

I think she's going to vote Republican when she grows up...

Monday, February 24, 2014

Chicken Ducklings or Duck Chicks?

Ariana retrieves eggs for me every morning. She says it is because she wants to make sure I have enough eggs for my breakfast. I'm sure there is some truth in that. I'm also sure that there is at least a small part of her that wants to make sure there are no new baby goats.

Anyway...

Yesterday morning, Ariana came into the kitchen proudly carrying a solitary duck egg.

Mommy: "It is still warm! Was the mama duck sitting on it?" (We are waiting for the day that the ducks will breed so we can have little ducklings.)

Ariana: "No. I just had one of the chickens sit on it for a while so I could give it to you warm."

How thoughtful...

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Ice Skater

In honor of the Winter Olympics, I rented the movie "Miracle" about the 1980 US Hockey team (and, yes, I did make my children tell me what they knew about the Cold War first...). During the exciting parts, Samuel would glide around on the hardwood floor in his socks.

About halfway through the movie, Samuel whispered in my ear, "When we go to Iowa and go ice skating, everyone else will fall down, but I won't because I've been practicing in my socks."

There is that whole visualization philosophy out there...

Mobility

Conan is crawling.

CRAWLING.

At 5 months.

I'm not ready.

He gets placed on his back, immediately rolls over, and CRAWLS to whatever object catches his attention.

I'm not ready.

The child is carried everywhere from sun up to sun down...how on earth did he learn to crawl so soon???

I'm not ready.

I actually had Daddy buy a couple of baby gates today. I wasn't anticipating needing those for at least three more months.

I'm not ready.

But he is.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

New Chicks

The girls immediately began naming chicks the moment they laid eyes on them.

Ariana: "...and I'm going to name this one Pecker because she pecks a lot."

That name got vetoed...

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Exercise

While working on his Language Arts on the floor, Connor got up on his hands and knees in semi-push up position, bobbed up and down an inch three times, then lifted one arm and bobbed up and down 1/2 an inch three times. After exhaling loudly, he announced, "Whew! That was a good workout!"

I did not laugh.

I deserve an Oscar.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Loose Tooth

Samuel (from the other room): "I have a loose tooth, you know! That's why I don't want to get hurt."

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. I thought you didn't want to get hurt because it caused you pain. My mistake.

My Goal in Life

As with many Christian women, my goal is to live up to the ideal Proverbs 31 woman. I would like to apply all of Proverbs 31 to my life (and all of Proverbs!--and all of the Bible while I'm at it!), but especially the parts that are in bold--and ESPECIALLY the parts that are in red bold. I fall short of this on an hourly basis, but that is why it is a goal!

Proverbs 31: 11-31

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, (ha, ha!) for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.