Chipmunk Cheeks

Emily had all four of her wisdom teeth taken out today. I was going to take her picture when she had the ice packs on both of her cheeks but I had an attack of compassion and decided against it. This is as close as you'll get to seeing what she looks like at the moment.


This is a picture of her mood:




Luckily we have pain medication. I think she'll be just fine. I hope the rest of us survive. ;)

Toddler Property Laws

If I like it, it's mine.

If it's in my hand, it's mine.
If I can take it away from you, it's mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
If we are building something together, all of the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine, it's mine.
If I think it's mine, it's mine.

If I give it to you, and change my mind later, it's mine.

If it's broken, it's yours.
- Unknown

I came across this little poem in a child development book the other night (yes, I do read them from time to time) and it just tickled my fancy. Truer words were never spoken and I have proof of that every day with Sam and the little girl I babysit, Sophia. They are 6 months apart (Sam is older) and just the epitome of toddler development. The following picture is a perfect example:

Obviously one or more the toddler laws were broken and they are "making up" or, rather, hugging like they were told to because "we treat our friends nicely."

I have to be honest - I read these child development books because I have no idea what I'm doing. It's a good thing I believe in prayer because I fly by the seat of my pants most of the time. I don't take everything the books say as a hard and fast rule, but, as I'm sure you know, it's been several years since I've had to deal with a toddler. The last toddler I had was a dream child. Couldn't ask for a more agreeable, pleasant, adorable little pumpkin. These two test my patience every day. Every hour. Every minute. Okay, maybe just every hour - except when they nap. If they keep the commandments the way they stick to the property laws, they'll have no problems in the eternities :)

Oh, but I do love them so.



P.S. I also caught this little gem on Facebook of all places:

"Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff." - Catherine M. Wallace

Good advice.

Consider yourself updated...

I guess it's been awhile since I posted. Once again, stuck in the rut of feeling like I have nothing to say or just maybe no pictures to go with it. So I guess this is gonna be a post without pictures.

So it's been about 6 weeks since we last visited. Hmmm... what's happened since then, you ask?

Let's see - hockey is temporarily finished (more on that later), preparations for Kenya are still ongoing, and Sarah is going to be a major theater star. Nothin' huge.

First, hockey ended for Michael before Sarah. Michael's team did make it to the first round of playoffs but couldn't pull it together to keep going. Sarah's team made it to the second round of playoffs but also petered out. They played well and tried their hardest and we had lots of fun so I'm happy. As for hockey being temporarily finished, Michael will be playing more hockey at the end of the month and at least one more weekend in April. He's going to try and make his zone team for the Alberta Cup (http://www.teamalbertahockey.ca/default.aspx?p=alberta_cup) which is a tournament in April in Leduc. I'm really glad he's going to give it a shot. I think he'll surprise himself with what he can accomplish.

Preps for Kenya are coming together. We're waiting for the passport and have the travel immunizations scheduled (cha-ching). Poor Emily has to get all 4 wisdom teeth out first on March 25. Lots of ice cream and jello, I guess. I can't believe it's coming up so fast. She leaves at the end of June and comes back just after her birthday so we'll have a Happy Birthday/Welcome Home party for her when she returns.

Sarah is going to be a major star after she gets discovered in the children's chorus of the Rosebud Theatre summer production of Oliver. She was very brave and auditioned at the theater and was accepted - because she's awesome! We're really excited and it's going to be a fun summer.

I'll leave you with a picture of Sam because, well, let's face it - he's the cutest of all and I don't really have a cute story about him. He is in a big boy bed in his own room now - I guess that's news. Here's a picture anyway even though I said I wouldn't post a picture.


I mean, look at those dimples!!