Random stories about the kids

About twice/week, I decorate Ben's lunch napkin with various drawings & messages. I would write my little "I love you, Ben! Have a great day. Love, Mommy" with the assumption that this is still ok - run-of-the-mill, even - in kindergarten. Not so, I discovered. As I was unpacking his bag yesterday, Ben saw the (unused) napkin & got a guarded look on his face. All of a sudden, he blurts, "Mom, all the kids laugh at me when they see that! It makes me so mad!" After some more gentle quizzing, I found that a) this does not increase his cool factor in the cafeteria, and b) he says he wants me to keep sending them, but wouldn't that be sort of a cruel thing for me to continue? I mean, it's hard enough being cool in kindergarten, what with the macaroni pictures & kid scissors. And just because it makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside, I can't very well let him suffer for it. I guess I'll have to save my napkin-etchings for the dinner table.

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Last week we had a ton of storms. On Saturday morning, the kids come tearing in the house saying "we found dead baby mice!" I followed them outside to the base of a tree, where we indeed found a baby *squirrel* and three other ones clinging to the tree. Their nest was insanely high, so we guess that they were knocked out of it during all the wind/rain. Of course we all ran inside, gathered some rags & the kids helped me transport them to a box. The kids disappeared into Sophie's room, and when they came out, said that they'd said a prayer for the babies. Man, I was so impressed with them!

We checked the 'net about how to care for the babies, stuck a heating pad under the box & I got in touch with Bienville Medical Hospital. They have a vet who helps rehab squirrels & then releases them into the wild once they're healthy. Meanwhile, Rod & the kids had a ceremony for the departed squirrel and said some prayers for him. On the way to the vet with the very vocal squirrels, Sophie decided to name them Dede, Foggles & Soggles. Then she said, "oops, I forgot to name the other one", and suggested "God", though we settled on "Godfrey". After handing them over, we went home & Rod & I told them how proud we were that they found the squirrels & helped them out. Our future little vets! Now Sophie has added "vet" to what she wants to be when she grows up - her list is a dentist, doctor, ballet teacher, and vet. Ben's is army man, fireman & vet. I think we'd better contribute a little more to their college fund.

Family Time & Audrey's Birthday

We headed to Thomasville this weekend for Audrey's first birthday & to visit family. We stayed with my parents & enjoyed Mom's good cooking, rides with Papa on his motorcycle & of course Audrey's party. It was also wonderful enjoying my parents' patio with (gasp) no gnats! We're so used to it now in Mississippi that it feels strange to walk outside without insect repellant at the ready. Anyway, it was so much fun & afterwards we always say we'll get back more often. With school getting out soon, it might happen!

The kids cracked us up on rides with Papa, the helmet probably weighed more than Sophie. Ben insisted on helping tighten it for Sophie & making sure it was secure. What a sweet big brother. Mom & Dad enjoyed some one-on-one time while Rod & I slipped away to the gym. Getting to work out together is always a treat! We look forward to getting back.

Gingerbread Making & Family

We had a little pre-Christmas celebration with Lois, Chris, Katie & Jan. Nothing fancy, our menu included Wal Mart pizza, but fun hanging out! Of course we had to get the shot of Katie sleeping, how could I not include that necessary shot?

The kids also made a cool gingerbread house with Rod. I think they ate half of the icing, so I'm glad enough made it on the house to stick together.

Our little actor & actress

Our church had a Christmas program & as you can see below, Sophie was an angel & Ben was a citizen. He even had a line, too ("are there any rooms left?"). Of course we were exceptionally proud & right smack in the audience with all the other parents juggling camcorders & cameras. Loved it.

Lights, lights, lights

So our church sponsored a trip down to Bellingrath Gardens. It was *gorgeous*. It took us about an hour & a half to walk through; the lights were amazing though I don't envy their electric bill. The kids loved it.

We also met some friends at the annual tree lighting in OS. It was cold, cold, cold that night, but worth it when the fire truck pulled up with Santa. The kids went right up to him this year & put in their requests. It's so funny to see how forthcoming they both were (or maybe not, considering there were presents involved)!

Sophie's Fourth Birthday!

Additional pics from Sophie's birthday. Her preschool (which is Montessori) has a really cool birthday celebration - it's a big enough deal that it would really suffice as her *only* party (but of course we didn't leave it at that!). I didn't know anything about this until she went there, but here's the ritual in a nutshell: they have a candle on the floor that represents the sun, and we brought in pictures of Sophie as a newborn, 1 year old, 2 year old, etc. along with her coming-home outfit (so incredibly tiny!) and her lovey (a black cat from cousin Val). She got to carry a globe & walk around the "sun" as Mary Ann, the director, would say a few words about the different stages Sophie went through as a baby & toddler. Yes, I shed a few tears. Our good friend Christina came to watch & help us film, so it was like a paparazzi corner with me, her & Rod all filming/snapping pics at once!

After the ceremony, Sophie got to pick her friends to help hand out snacks. She had chosen goldfish, carrots w/dip, & cookies w/chocolate frosting & had helped me make them the night before. At her school, the kids handle all aspects of snacktime (sounds like heaven to me!) and they all pass out everything to the 38 students & 4 teachers. Then, amazingly, they just sit patiently and wait until *everyone* has been served before eating. Um, that SO does not happen at home!

We had a nice evening of pizza & a dance session after Rod got home. You can see that Ben is perfecting his air guitar & Sophie is already working her club moves. Rod & I were perfectly content to sit in the audience!

Golf

I love this pic of our future golf pros! This is Ben & his great friend, Amelia, at one of their lessons. They always have a great time practicing & are learning the correct way to hold the club, how to stand, etc. Best of all they get to run around on the green & ride in a golf cart, so they are totally happy after that.