Mine!!!

Mini-E has a habit of just walking out the front door if it's open. Yes, she has to push open the screen door.

Come to think of it, it wasn't really walking either. It was more of a sneak. Anyway...

The other day, the door was left open after someone retrieved the mail. She started going out the door. I called to her in my best mommy voice "Mini-E, No!" she took another step so I said another "no"

The look she gave me was not the look of an 18 month old. It really wasn't. It was the look of an 18 year old and it said "You're not the boss of me." It was the look that did it. I went forth to retrieve my child. She realized that I was coming and she started to book it. She didn't get far, because she had waited too long giving me the look.

As I scooped her up she started kicking and hollering, "Mine, mine, MINE, mine, MINE!"

I nearly dropped her from laughing. I was impressed with my calmness and said something like, "That may be, but You're mine and I said "No"."

After it was all said and done, I couldn't get another picture out of my head....

A picture of another small person who looks at the world and says "Mine."

Looking at the spiritual side of life, I rather believe God looks at us and says the same thing: "Mine."

Fruit....

Fruit goes stale. It's a known fact.

So does Fruit of the Loom go stale?

If not, then why do they come in "Resealable Bags"?

Things said in the dark...

Have you ever played hide and seek in the house with most of the lights off? We tried that tonight.

It was sort of an accident. We just didn't turn the lights ON when we started. I was it and just grabbed the flashlight when it was time to seek. I mean, they use flashlights on CSI. I just looks COOL. (Silly, but cool. If they're not going to turn the lights on, neither am I. And I'm not looking for evidence.)

Then it was my turn to hide. Which is fun. I love finding that one perfect spot. My theory is that I can teach them to hide by hiding myself. I really try not enjoying besting my children at games - too much. (I took great pleasure it besting The Professor at Mancala, though. Twice.)

The First time I hid, I hid in G-man's bunk. He keeps animals up there it was easy to lay down among them. He didn't find me during his first sweep through. Then he got the idea to check all the beds.

Mini-me said, "I don't think she's up there. The blankets aren't chubby enough."

Hey. I resemble that remark.

So it was their turn to hide. Mini-Me wanted to play, too. PLaying in the dark seemed like fun - especially with the flashlights. So I counted...and went to find them. I had a little help with the seeking. J-man will sometimes follow them around and watch them hide. Then when it's time to seek, he'll help do that, too. Makes my turn as "it" so much easier when I have a snitch.

I mean Help.

It's back to my turn. I had scoped out a corner that I wanted to try as a hiding place. Among the dress up clothes, in the dark, it might just be difficult to find me. So I put the box in my lap, a hat upon my head and snuggled up amid the hanging dresses. And waited.

They walked past me several times. Talking about where I might be and how scrunched up I might be while in my hiding place. I was quite comfy.

They come back. Flashlights blinking...and landing right on me. I love my new hiding spot. Of course, it will only work in the dark.

"Maybe she's under the bed!!" was G's suggestion.

Ever the logical one, Mini-Me says, "and how do you think a chubby lady will fit under there?"

I almost gave my position away by laughing. Chubbies jiggle when laughing comes from the belly.

I did have to vacate my perfect hiding place after Mini-E wandered around the house calling out "Mommy" quite forlornly. She decided to console herself in my absence by playing in the cat box. (I caught her just in time. Gotta get her a sandbox. Mini-e, not the cat.)

G-man was a bit upset with me when I wouldn't reveal my hiding place. Despite that, they're ready to play again! "Tomorrow??" "We'll see. We'll see."

There's only so many places a chubby lady can hide, dontcha know.

Casting Off!

The doctor said it would take a bit for the elbow to loosen up but the x-rays look great! So no further casting would be required. Well, that's good news. I didn't know it was an option. Which really, it wasn't. Because I prayed that it would be healed so I was expecting it to be that way when x-rayed.

We prayed over her muscles and elbow to relax and loosen. She was so sweet, she told me, "Thank you for praying over me."

She can write and color, she's tried them both! She even had a good, castless time today playing games. School re-starts on Monday. :-) I hope I'm ready because, now, she is.

Stanley's Last Day..

When I saw the post at Training Hearts about Stanely's virtual escapades, I thought it would oodles of fun to participate in. I'll be honest, we had the most routine of all weeks this last week. I'm still not sure what happened. So I was concerned that our visit wouldn't be as grand as Stanley's visit to here. I mean he got to meet royalty when he visited there.

Still in all, I think Stanley was pleased to visit us. Maybe our house seemed much like his own. He was certainly allowed to be a kid. *L* Bouncing on the couch and all.

Stanley sat with me while I did a bit of Bible Study while the little kids were asleep. Mini-Me's cast came off the same day. It was quite the treat for everyone. I wanted to ask Stanley if he knew Jesus, but he was a bit quiet on the subject, so I didn't push the conversation. He was all smiles about my study, though. Maybe he knew something he wasn't telling...or maybe he was just happy to be there. He certainly was the quietest Bible Study partner I've ever had.

While I did my study, the kids built a fort. Oddly enough, it looks a lot like computer jail. I guess it's the intent of the builder. Stanley had fun. They decorated, well, Mini-Me Decorated. They had a drawbridge pillow that went down and up. There were secret passages. It was a great fort. It got dismantled for dinner, and then reconstructed after. One is not welcome to sit on the outside "ledges" of the fort, as that blocks the view from within. You've been warned.

I got the bright idea today, after seeing all the scattered puzzle pieces, that I needed to clean out the game "closet". Really, it's also the linen closet, the medicine closet and the construction paper closet. Then I remembered all the games stuck at the top of the coat closet. So I got them ALL down....

After getting them all down and in the kitchen I discovered that I had games I don't want/need anymore. I'm the gameskeeper around here, just to clarify my position. I found a game that I haven't played in over 10 years. Even though it brings fond memories, it's got to go in order to make room for something new. (It will probably go to Goodwill as I'm a reforming "collector")(See: Packrat - definition two)

I discovered two games that my bigs could play NOW: Mancala and Chinese Checkers. So we got them out, dusted them off and learned how to play. We taught Stanley, too. You never know where he might turn up. He needs all the knowledge he can get.

Here they are laughing at something I said. Really.

Stanley got the joke, after all he has a younger brother, too.

The board is all set up and Mini-Me makes her move:

After this rousing game, it was nap time for the littles.

Then it was time for a heated and confusing match of Chinese Checkers.

I amaze myself when I just assume that my kids understand what I'm talking about.

Chinese Checkers involves moving your pegs (or marbles) from your starting triangle to the triangle across the board. You can jump opponents pieces but you don't capture them.

AND you have to jump in a straight line, no arcs.

These were slightly difficult concepts to grasp after learning to play ordinary, old fashioned checkers. You know, the one on the square board.

We had a good time, though.

Stanley thinks it's time to move on. So we're going to wrap him carefully in a box and send him to Africa to visit our friend in Uganda. Hopefully, he won't eat her chocolate on the way there. I'll be sure to pack him some sandwiches for the trip.

Farewell Stanley, Good Journey