things to hold on to

Kids grow fast and I can't freeze time no matter how hard I try.  Here are a few moments I'd like to hang on to, before they slip from memory:
One Sunday a few weeks ago, I was getting ready for church.  As I came out of my room to check on things, I found James in the bathroom where he had lined up his brothers and was carefully combing their hair WITHOUT being asked.  Now that's a treasure!

One day, I fell asleep on the couch while I was reading Simon stories.  I woke up 20 minutes later covered with a blanket and 4 pillow pets.  So nice to look out for me:)

Rachel is at an age where she likes to sing, but doesn't really remember the words to songs.  The other day we asked for a song and she was pleased to combine a few and come up with this: Jesus, Jesus ashes ashes we all fall down.  James said it sounded like the second coming.  I was thinking the same thing.

Amelia spent one after noon decorating hearts (lots of them) for our entry way.  We look so festive now, thanks to her talents. 

Simon is finally using the potty like a pro, thanks to an off comment by the doctor.  (he mentioned that kids poop with in a half hour after eatting- why didn't the 6 potty training books I read say that??!)  So now he does his constitutional after every meal and is clean as a whistle.  It crackes me up when he says he going off to "constaTOOT."

I read in a book a fun game called Memory Lane where you get a large bag of candy and give your kids a piece for every scripture they can recite.  It's so sweet to hear their voices proudly proclaim what they know.  I thought this would be fun for Sunday but the kids are clamoring for it other days too.  I try not to give in too much, I don't want the novelty to wear off.
 
I need to hold on to the sweet times because I know these kiddo diddos will be grown and gone before I know it.  I try not to dwell on that though- it makes me a weepy mess. 

the butter phase

I like to include the kids in the kitchen.  I like to cook and I like it when they join in.  I have a difficult time coming up with jobs for them sometimes though. 
Last week, preparing for Christmas dinner I had plenty of helpers in the kitchen.  I like the bustle.  Anyway, I was mixing something up (i forget what) and Rachel came up to ask for some of what I was making-  or so I thought.  I offered her some and she said no.  She pointed behind me, to Gary who had  unwrapped a stick of butter.  "THAT" she said pointing to the butter.  Funny thing about kids- they aren't embarrassed to tell you they would like to eat a stick of butter. 

I think it was last year, we were on a road trip and stopped at Cracker Barrel.  We ordered food and it was delivered.  I thought everyone had enjoyed their food but as we cleanned up, I realized that Simon had not eatten a bite from his plate.  Instead, he had managed to eat all of the butter packets on the table. 

And several years ago, after a stop at Bob Evans I found a bunch of empty butter cups in someone's bed.  Apparently he or she had taken them home as a doggy bag and enjoyed as a bed time snack. 

Once or twice I have had to throw out whole sticks of butter that showed signs of gnawing.  

I guess it's just one of those phases kids go through.  Then they figure out that butter is not a main course.   

About Whales

Last week, I took the kids to the library.  It's one place all the kids love.  We were there at story time and Rachel insisted we attend.  I was glad she did. I like it when she gets to do little kids things.  Most of the other kids are too big and so they hang out reading or looking for books.   Simon came in at the start of story time, themed about arctic animals.  Jonny came in half way through, with a stack of books.  He listened and read as the Rachel, Simon and I participated in songs and rhymes.  Then the librariam asked the group "What is blubber?"   The children were mystified until Jonny eagerly raised his hand and blurted out this wise knowledge "it is what you use to tell if a whale is pregnant or not."  Wow.  I had no idea blubber could do that:)