Boy Talk: Theology Lesson with Michael

After singing a new song while tucking him at nap time:

M: What was that song called?
Ash: "This Day God Gives Me"
M: Gives me what?
Ash: Well, God gives us everything we need, every day.
M: very emphatic and very concerned But, Mama! God doesn't have chicken nuggets!

I don't think he was entirely convinced when I explained that God provides what we need to make/buy chicken nuggets...

love the milk mustache, Mr. Michael

{p,h,f,r} A Taste of Contentment on the Threshold of Autumn

The other day I was... something. I don't remember exactly--frustrated, anxious, upset, disappointed, just plain tired. Probably all of the above. And I thought to myself, "I need more contentment in my life."

Almost as soon as that thought entered my mind I realized it was kind of ridiculous. I don't need more contentment, I just need to pay attention to what I already have. And you know what? It's working! When I start to feel frustrated and disappointed that my back and our budget and the sheer business of three such little boys kept us from accomplishing much (compared to our totally unrealistic dreams) in the yard this summer, I stop and focus on the things I love about our yard. There's a lot to love out there!

Same with the state of my house. When all I'm seeing is the dust and the pretzel crumbs and the toys everywhere, I focus on being thankful that we have so much space in which to gather dust and crumbs and ohsomany toys (and then I try to find a minute to grab the vacuum and make a mental note to get rid of some of those toys). 

Baby steps. I'm not very good at baby steps, but goodness knows I don't have the mental or emotional capacity for a complete attitude overhaul all at once (who can even do that, anyway?).

So to help I decided to (finally) link up with Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real}. Capturing contentment, right here at Crane Corner. Okay, less alliteration, more pictures.

{pretty}

So, that yard that hasn't been transformed into the perfectly manicured little retreat yet? Well, it still had a few very happy surprises for me as the summer winds down. I scattered many packets of wildflower seeds around the grotto in the spring, and some of them are finally blooming.

{happy}

I am so happy that it is (almost) fall. I love fall. But for some reason this season, more than any other, brings on an intense nostalgia. And it's usually an "I wish I were..." nostalgia, and not a "wasn't that nice" nostalgia, if that makes any sense. As much as I love fall, it can bring an added challenge to contentment. Oh hooray, another chance to grow in holiness (only sort of sarcastic).

{funny}

"Mama, look, I'm a robot!"

{real}

There has been a lot of this going on at our house lately (that would be Thomas on the laptop screen there). Usually it's Little Pim or Magic School Bus (60% of our preschool "curriculum" for the year, only sort of joking). Sometimes it's Thomas or Mighty Machines (and then oh! the excitement!).

Last week I got a very unexpected but very welcome and exciting writing project. It also ended up being much more challenging than I expected, and hugely time-consuming. Thus the extra screen time. And there will be more tomorrow, because I'm behind on the second part of the project.

Notes from the trenches: Spanish lessons, alligator games, and Bible stories with Michael

I've been meaning to blog forever... so much has been going on and I just couldn't manage to get around to it.

And then today I decided to totally redo the design. I wasn't pleased with the last version. I think this is my particular manifestation of the infamous Rappana rearranging gene. We'll see how long I keep this one...

Just a few brief stories, and then I really need to clean the kitchen. And I really need to get to bed before 11:30 tonight!

John Paul is enjoying the unadulterated adoration of his big brothers. Michael insists that we all call him "John PAOW," and Liam's pronunciation sounds mostly like "Pablo" these days. So Alex and I have generally taken to calling him Pablo.

I told Michael that JP's name in Spanish would be "Juan Pablo," and now he's very interested in everyone's Spanish names. He can also count to nine in Spanish, but he always skips siete, for some reason. Thank you, Little Pim.

Liam's current favorite game is talking about the alligators in the dining room (thank you Grandpa and Grandma for sparking his interest and telling us what alligators sound like). It goes something like this:
Liam (in a worried voice): Dators?
Ash: Are there alligators
Liam (still worried): Yeah
Ash: What do the alligators say?
Liam: RAWR
Ash: Oh dear!
Pablo: (laughs hysterically)
Liam (worried again): Yowd
Ash: Are they loud?
Liam: Yeah
repeat, multiple times per day

I love telling Michael Bible stories, and I love the questions and commentary he provides. Yesterday we were reading a children's book about the Last Supper, and it included the story of Peter walking on the water (because Jesus was sad and the Apostles were trying to cheer him up with stories about their time together). I was really trying to get Michael involved, so after I told him that Jesus could walk on water because he is God, I asked M if he could walk on water. "No!" he said, "I would sink and a shark would eat me! Or an alligator."

We are all about the aquatic predators in this house, apparently.

Okay, dishes are calling. Goodnight!

7 Quick Takes (vol. 37)

--- 1 ---

Through much of high school and college I processed my thoughts and emotions through journaling. I would spend hours pouring my thoughts, hopes, dreams, and tears into cute little notebooks while sipping Sugar Monkey Plum iced tea at my favorite coffeehouse, waiting for a friend (or stranger, more on that some other time maybe) to stop by my table for a friendly (or not so friendly, probably no more on that later) theological debate. Or I'd curl up with my journal and chai in my room with soft music playing and candles on every surface that would safely hold one.

--- 2 ---

Today I'm typing this post on my phone, lying on my stomach on the playroom floor, trying to entertain JP on his playmat next to me with funny faces and noises. M is using his wonderful imagination and keeps offering me "Lima bean Cheerios" (?!?! My only guess is that the Lima bean bit comes from Veggie Tales). Liam is alternately driving trucks on my back and finding things to jump off of when I chase him away for being too rough. 

--- 3 ---

Proof:

already a master of the one eyebrow raise

don't you want some Lima bean cheerios, dear reader?

Liam, his dump truck, and my foot

--- 4 ---

So yeah. A little bit different. And I feel like I have a lot I need to process, but between the diapers and snacks and stories and never ending laundry and every 2 hours nightly nursing sessions (seriously JP, what is your deal?!) and dishes and toys everywhere and ... What was I talking about? Oh, right. By the time the boys are in bed and the kitchen is clean and Alex and I have finally had a chance to say more than two words to each other without being interrupted and I could, theoretically, light some candles and think something out on paper I barely have energy to drag myself to bed, let alone engage in any sort of introspection. 

--- 5 ---

Another element of my current mental and emotional chaos is trying to find some work as a freelance writer. This year I'm only teaching one class for the Biblical School rather than three, which is fantastic for our daily schedule (not getting myself and all the boys out of the house before 8am twice a week? Yes please!) but more than a little challenging for our budget. So I've been spending a lot of time finding and applying for freelance projects and trying to work on a couple articles to submit various places. It is alternately exciting, fun, discouraging and terrifying. 

--- 6 ---

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but a major part of my motivation this week has been driven by my discovery of Twice online consignment. I know I'm waaay behind the curve here, but if you're not already shopping there and you're interested, would you be so generous as to sign up through my referral link? I'll get some store credit if you decide to buy or sell anything, and then I can indulge myself in some 80%-discounted Limited tops without sacrificing the groceries or mortgage payment ;) 

--- 7 ---

Okay, JP is no longer amused by my absentminded cooing or the endless string of toys, and the big boys have abandoned this entire room of toys to go play on the stairs (not allowed, and therefore always a first choice).

Check out Jen and the rest for more Quick Takes

Boy Talk: The Liam Files

Oh my goodness. This boy and his words. Here are some of our current favorites at the ripe old age of 21 months:

nooch - smooch
huds - hugs
tatu tatu tatu tatu! - thank you
jiu-jies - blueberries
Hah-POHL - John Paul
Za-Za - Liam (your guess is as good as mine)
Dado - Michael
cahs- cars
tuts - trucks
tocter - helicopter or airplane
bye! bye tocter! (with wave) - whenever he hears an airplane overhead
roosrie - rosary
nuch - lunch
nook - milk
ashishus - delicious
paffles - waffles
tah-tos - crackers
tsatser! (always deep and growly) - soccer
dah-poo - diaper
pwack! pwack! - when you ask him what a duck says
a-joo-ja - alleluia

more interested in the pacifier now than he ever has been... and more interested in it than JP is too

such a good big brother

he wouldn't hold still enough for a non-blurry picture, but the hat reads "I hunt for hugs."
It suits him :)

cool dude!

do you think maybe we're related?

flying a "tocter"

getting adventurous with the sprinkler

reading stories with Grandma

Look for more boy talk coming soon from this chatty, busy little fellow! As Liam would say, "Ah joo!" (I love you!)