This and That, but no pictures yet

So many things I've wanted to blog about lately, but by the time my turn comes at the computer (as in no kids at my elbows) I'm too tired and uninspired (nice rhyme) to do it. I've got lots of pictures I'd like to upload, but they take so long. Right now I'm waiting my turn for a shower and then I'm going to read McManus aloud for Matt and me. It's nice to do something together that makes us laugh. We've read pretty much all McManus's stories, but still laugh till we hurt on some of them.

My sister-in-law Jessica decided to grow a garden again this year, except this time she has THREE of them. She started her plants from seed indoors and is being overrun with tomato plants. We've inherited 12 of them, for which Matt made a beautiful bed this afternoon beside the house. I commented that at one point I came outside and he had the holes dug (and each of the three kids in their own like little plants; our own "kindergarten".) and after I finished cooking supper I came back out and he was spreading mulch around a perfect looking garden. Looked like the tomato fairies had come. One moment, dirt and ugly holes, the next, thriving green plants all tucked in their bed. He's an amazing man. Just hope I can keep these plants alive. It falls to me to remember to water them everyday. Yikes.

Tuesday I played the violin at church for a senior citizen's luncheon. Ronnie Davis from church played the guitar to accompany me. It went well; glad it was a relaxed setting because I messed up some, but had fun.

Camie and I are trying a lap book for school this week. It's basically a re-folded filefolder in which you attach lots of mini-books about a topic. I think some people call this type of study a unit study. We're using a book called Officer Buckle and Gloria and are mainly doing things about saftey, as that is the basic theme of the book. But there's also things we'll do like writing simple words from the book (he, she, it, sits, etc.), a Humpty Dumpty rhyme booklet, learning our phone number and address, learning about "dog jobs" (seeing eye, police, etc.). It's been fun. Lissy and Micah are eager to be a part of it, so I'm trying to be a good Mommy and include them somewhat.

First Baptist now has a full-time youth minister, so Matt is no longer in that position. He feels like he's done with that for now, that school is his main focus for a while, but neither of us feels like he's/we're done with ministry.

Little Cassie Hope will be a year on the 19th. It's amazing to me how each baby turns a year before a full 12 months have gone by. Because surely that's the only way to explain it. She can't really be 12 months old yet, can she? Maybe 9 months? Ten at the most? I think our baby is getting robbed a few months somewhere. :) She crawls full speed so as not to miss what the big kids are doing, thinks Micah is the most hilarious kid around, pops her thumb in her mouth and lays her head on my chest almost anytime I hold her, clinches her fists and grins when Daddy comes in the room, laughs a fake little (loud) laugh when others are laughing, cruises along the sofa, and hasn't given up on the hope that maybe, just maybe, one day Mamma will let her rob and lick all the raw potatoes from the potato bin that she wants. She is a very smiley baby, still cries very loud though when upset, and is generally happy.

Don't go to your children for complements. These conversations occured this week here:


kid: "Are you going to have another baby?"
me: "No; I don't know when the Lord will give us another baby. Why do you ask?"
kid: "Your tummy just looks like there might be a baby in it."
(Then an explanation of "baby fat" and 'don't ever say that to any another lady because it could hurt her feelings'. But I reassured them I'd rather have four sweet little kids anyday than a skinny tummy. Immediately there was a fight about something and I loudly reminded them I said SWEET kids. :)

Naming everyone's ages around the table:
kid: "Camie, 6, Micah 3, Lissy 4, Cassie, almost a year."
me: "How old do you think I am?"
kid: "80?"

me:"How old do you think Daddy is?"
kid: "10?"


Lauren and Camie were playing a game they made up the other day: "Well you're a. . . " They make up silly things that really make no sense. Mom and I were laughing till we hurt.

La: "You're a screen door with the letter 'M' on it.
Camie: Well if I'm that, then you're the United States without a President." (WHAT?!)
La: "Well, if I'm that, then you're a venus flytrap that eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
And so on and on and on. :)
Well, reading time is here. Maybe soon I'll post pictures, since I won't feel it so necessary to write a post with them.
Rose