Small Child + Small Object + Small Nose

What is it about small objects that makes a small child want to put it into his small nose?

Mom tells me that when I was too little to talk, I put a curler sponge in my nose. She didn't see me do this. She didn't know anything was wrong until I started to stink. Gramma knew, because my Uncle Gene had stuck a bean up his nose when he was little.

I think just about everyone of my children has put something up their little noses. We've had a bit of carrot, Cheerios, a butterfly bead (more than once the same child put the same bead up her nose.) and now a popcorn kernel. We've managed to rescue the noses (or the small objects depending upon your point of view). Only once did we have to go to the hospital. The carrot will live in infamy.

You Haven't Changed a Bit

I missed the Theatre @ Southeastern reunion this weekend. I was a bit disappointed. I did want to be there. However, there was a part of me a bit anxious.

"You haven't changed a bit." That is the standard line. That's what you say to convey that the other person looks great. It's nice to see you. It's a compliment. Except that I want to have changed. I sincerely hope that I am not as self-centered, reckless and stupid as I was in my early 20s. I hope that I have gained some wisdom, some self-control. But these are changes from the inside. There is that small part that would like to think that I still look good. If not, oh well. It's all vanity anyway.

It's Raining Again, But I Still Feel Good

It has been raining, again. It's been raining for weeks. I can't quite remember the last time I saw the sun in a clear blue sky. I don't mind the rain. We need it. I don't mind the slightly cooler temperatures. It is appropriate for the time of year. I do miss the sun. No, I miss the sky. I miss that big, blue Texas sky. The sky that stretches forever. That sky that feels like possibilities.

My eyes miss that sky, but after today I feel that I have a bit of it inside. Today, my oldest son shared his testimony in sacrament meeting. Speaking in front of a crowd, even a friendly one, can be daunting for one of any age. He handled himself so well. He spoke clearly. His testimony was short and simple. Perfect. For just a moment, I was able to imagine that he actually did listen to me from time to time.

I love my family. My children can be so frustrating one moment and then completely delightful the next. They are lovely, lively little people. I always want to do my best for them. I often fall short. I will keep trying and I will keep hoping. Eventually, I will have it all figured out.

Goodies

I believe Sarah is becoming reconciled to the fact that someday we are going to eat the chickens. She named one of them Goodies. She even said that it might be OK the eat Goodies or even Watermelon. She cried the first time I told her that we were going to eat Watermelon. So, the named chickens are: Watermelon, Sunflower and Goodies. I still can't tell them apart, but Sarah seems to know who is who.

Sunshine (one of the cats) caught a mouse last night.

"Ew! Ew! Sunshine caught a mouse!" squealed Hannah. Sure enough, a very pleased kitty cat was batting around a small, expired mouse.

"Is she going to eat it?" Hannah asked.

"Probably." I reply. And she did. Mostly. There was half a mouse on the porch this morning. It seemed to be the right size.

Ahoy There Mateys

Step. Thunk. Step. Thunk. Step. Thunk. This is the sound Jacob makes as he walks in his bright orange straight leg walking cast. Stepthunkstepthunkstepthunk. This is the sound he makes when he tries to run in his bright orange straight leg walking cast. Yesterday, when I was listening to the slow walk across the kitchen floor, I kept wondering if this is what a pirate with a wooden leg sounds like. Thinking of pirates, I next remembered meeting my future brother-in-law for the first time.

Kermit took me to meet his sister, Tara, and her husband, Cash. We had a nice dinner. We were engaged in conversation, when out of the blue Cash says, "So, I hear you're a pirate."

We were all a little surprised. I wondered if there was some family joke that I didn't know yet. The looks on Kermit's and Tara's faces told me that they didn't know what was going on either. I stammered some sort of reply.

What we had failed to appreciate was Cash's inner conversation. The comment made perfect sense to him. He had noticed that I had a tattoo. He started pondering tattoos and who would typically have a tattoo. I'm glad he passed over biker babe and sailor before he landed on pirate.

Today, I am listening to Jacob step-thunk his way across the kitchen floor. Maybe we are part pirate.

One Little Monkey Jumpin on the Bed...

Jacob and the little girls were jumping on the bed Friday. The girls leapt off the bed into a pile of pillows. Jacob tried to follow. He didn't quite make it. His little leg got caught in between the mattress and the foot of the bed. His leg broke. Nice clean fracture of the tibia. We were at Children's Hospital ER until 4 am. Seven hours with a little boy who was tired and hurt. It was not an episode that I'd like to repeat.

He was quite grumpy yesterday. I'm sure the leg was hurting more. And his entire right leg is in a cast. He can't move around like he wants. We had a devil of a time keeping him happy and still. Nineteen month old boys do NOT want to be still.

Today he is in better spirits. I'm glad of it. I'm slightly worried about how he will cope. However, little children seem to adapt so well to a variety of circumstance. I probably shouldn't worry too much. This will be a bit of a burden on the other kids. We had to miss the library summer reading swim party. I suspect swimming is over for the summer. I'll have to find some way to make it up to them.

I am grateful that it wasn't worse. If the fracture had been higher up or in his knee, he would've had to have had surgery. As it is, he only needs a cast for 4-6 weeks. Toddler in a cast for 6 weeks. awesome.

Joseph's Birthday Water Slide