Annie's been afraid of--well, everything--these days, but one morning in particular it was snakes and spiders. It's not totally unfounded, since once when we were camping she had a black widow in her shoe when she woke up in the morning.
Kevin suggested we get a pet spider and a pet snake so she wouldn't be afraid of them anymore. DJ both excitedly and quite seriously said, "we should get a pet spider and a pet snake and then we can train them!"
"Train them to do what?," I asked.
"Kill bad guys!"
Kind of morbid, but it might be more practical than the somersaults and flips I was imagining.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Do you believe in...?
Lately, DJ has been very interested in what I believe in.
Mom, do you believe in Jesus?
Mom, do you believe in the tooth fairy?
Mom, do you believe in Santa Claus?
But today he asked a question that truly took me by surprise, probably prompted by his recent Super Bowl-watching experience.
Mom, do you believe in Lady Gaga?
We had an interesting talk about how we can be sure she exists, unlike, say, the tooth fairy. I still don't think he bought it.
Mom, do you believe in Jesus?
Mom, do you believe in the tooth fairy?
Mom, do you believe in Santa Claus?
But today he asked a question that truly took me by surprise, probably prompted by his recent Super Bowl-watching experience.
Mom, do you believe in Lady Gaga?
We had an interesting talk about how we can be sure she exists, unlike, say, the tooth fairy. I still don't think he bought it.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Love and marriage
Driving home tonight, I had this clear reminder/thought pop into my head: Kevin and I will be together until one of us dies. What a strange mixture of sadness and awe I feel when I really let that sink in!
And somehow that led to a memory. When I started graduate school, multiple (!) acquaintances told me that our marriage would probably not survive. Not because of the rigors of graduate school, mind you, but because it creates too much stress for a wife to be more educated than her husband. I am fairly confident that none of those people are reading this. So let me say this, friends. If for any reason you are ever tempted to even hint to someone (who is not your very close friend or immediate family member) that their marriage will suffer--not now, but someday--just don't. As for us, by the grace of God it seems time, degrees, and life's various trials and joys have made our marriage stronger.
For the record, Kevin is often smarter about math ed than I am. In fact, he planted the seed of the idea that became my dissertation over beers in a northern Michigan backwoods bar when I went along hunting with him. So there.
And somehow that led to a memory. When I started graduate school, multiple (!) acquaintances told me that our marriage would probably not survive. Not because of the rigors of graduate school, mind you, but because it creates too much stress for a wife to be more educated than her husband. I am fairly confident that none of those people are reading this. So let me say this, friends. If for any reason you are ever tempted to even hint to someone (who is not your very close friend or immediate family member) that their marriage will suffer--not now, but someday--just don't. As for us, by the grace of God it seems time, degrees, and life's various trials and joys have made our marriage stronger.
For the record, Kevin is often smarter about math ed than I am. In fact, he planted the seed of the idea that became my dissertation over beers in a northern Michigan backwoods bar when I went along hunting with him. So there.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Sorry, Nellie
I had to revise a recent blog post because I made reference to a "favorite boy" at school and it was too embarrassing for Nellie. So I deleted it, of course. As I did, I asked, "but he is your favorite boy, right?" She responded, "I can think of at least 5 others I like more."
"Oh yeah? Who?"
[Didn't miss a beat] "God, Jesus, Dad, DJ, Eddie."
Love that girl.
Christmas 2015, in pictures
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| Just a fun shot I found on Kevin's camera |
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| Nellie being Mary in the school performance |
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| Not a great shot, but Annie is right in the middle |
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| Riding the giraffe at the zoo |
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| Girls with their gifts |
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| Grilling hotdogs |
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| Batcave! |
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| Chilling with his candy cane |
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| Being Sparty in his new hat and Kevin's shoes |
Christmas 2015
Not to be outdone by DJ's birthday interview, the girls want to do a Christmas one. So here it is! We've had a fun season.
So girls, we've been busy this Christmas. What has been the most memorable part?
Nellie: Christmas morning. Sitting around the Christmas tree, trying to be patient, waiting to open Christmas presents.
Annie: Since we were going oldest to youngest on stockings, I was just so eager to open my stocking presents. It was so...you know...worth waiting for!
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Nellie: Putting up the nativity scene and exchanging Christmas presents.
Annie: I like decorating the Christmas tree, getting the presents, and wrapping the presents.
What present were you most excited about giving?
Nellie: Probably DJ's polar bear set. The one I got from Potter Park Zoo when we saw the lights.
Annie: I was, like, really excited about giving mom her wallet, because she really needed that. [I lost mine in a snow bank in a parking lot, only to have my mom find it a week later when the snow melted.]
What was your favorite present you received this year?
Nellie: That's a tough one. Probably my Truly Me American Girl doll, or my crossbow.
Annie: I really liked my Kindle and the special fishing box that Dad gave me, because you have to use it on a special kind of fish.
What's your favorite Christmas movie that we watched this year?
Nellie: I liked particularly White Christmas, the Grinch...I liked all of them! I liked the play that we saw of the Christmas Carol.
Annie: Are you kidding?! White Christmas, of course! And the Peanuts Movie!
What's your favorite Christmas song?
Nellie: I like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Away in a Manger.
Annie: [Starts singing] Feliz Navidad! Feliz Navidad! ... [I don't know how to spell the rest.] And ALL OF THEM!
What did you like most about going to Holland with Grandma Linda?
Nellie: Probably opening up my present from Charlotte and thinking, "what is it, what is it," then opening it and finding out, "yes! It's another science kit! And you can eat it!"
Annie: Everything! Playing Twister and sleeping in the top bunk!
What are your favorite Christmas colors? [Annie's idea]
Nellie: Red and green.
Annie: I like all of them, but I especially like green.
Is there anything else you especially want to remember about this Christmas?
Nellie: I remember saying that this is the best Christmas ever, because I finally got what I've been asking for every year--a look-alike American Girl doll! Also I really liked getting Sorry. And opening a pack of arrows and being like, "what are these for?" Then Dad walked in from the laundry room holding my bow and I was like, "yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!"
Annie: I liked getting new books on my Kindle. This is the best Christmas ever!! Wait, do I say that every year? Whoopeeee!
I know one thing I'll remember. Listening to you [Annie] recite the whole Christmas story by heart, and singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve while Nellie played piano. Then staying up until midnight putting together toys!
So girls, we've been busy this Christmas. What has been the most memorable part?
Nellie: Christmas morning. Sitting around the Christmas tree, trying to be patient, waiting to open Christmas presents.
Annie: Since we were going oldest to youngest on stockings, I was just so eager to open my stocking presents. It was so...you know...worth waiting for!
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Nellie: Putting up the nativity scene and exchanging Christmas presents.
Annie: I like decorating the Christmas tree, getting the presents, and wrapping the presents.
What present were you most excited about giving?
Nellie: Probably DJ's polar bear set. The one I got from Potter Park Zoo when we saw the lights.
Annie: I was, like, really excited about giving mom her wallet, because she really needed that. [I lost mine in a snow bank in a parking lot, only to have my mom find it a week later when the snow melted.]
What was your favorite present you received this year?
Nellie: That's a tough one. Probably my Truly Me American Girl doll, or my crossbow.
Annie: I really liked my Kindle and the special fishing box that Dad gave me, because you have to use it on a special kind of fish.
What's your favorite Christmas movie that we watched this year?
Nellie: I liked particularly White Christmas, the Grinch...I liked all of them! I liked the play that we saw of the Christmas Carol.
Annie: Are you kidding?! White Christmas, of course! And the Peanuts Movie!
What's your favorite Christmas song?
Nellie: I like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Away in a Manger.
Annie: [Starts singing] Feliz Navidad! Feliz Navidad! ... [I don't know how to spell the rest.] And ALL OF THEM!
What did you like most about going to Holland with Grandma Linda?
Nellie: Probably opening up my present from Charlotte and thinking, "what is it, what is it," then opening it and finding out, "yes! It's another science kit! And you can eat it!"
Annie: Everything! Playing Twister and sleeping in the top bunk!
What are your favorite Christmas colors? [Annie's idea]
Nellie: Red and green.
Annie: I like all of them, but I especially like green.
Is there anything else you especially want to remember about this Christmas?
Nellie: I remember saying that this is the best Christmas ever, because I finally got what I've been asking for every year--a look-alike American Girl doll! Also I really liked getting Sorry. And opening a pack of arrows and being like, "what are these for?" Then Dad walked in from the laundry room holding my bow and I was like, "yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!"
Annie: I liked getting new books on my Kindle. This is the best Christmas ever!! Wait, do I say that every year? Whoopeeee!
I know one thing I'll remember. Listening to you [Annie] recite the whole Christmas story by heart, and singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve while Nellie played piano. Then staying up until midnight putting together toys!
DJ, 4 years old
How do you feel about being four?
Good!
What kinds of things do four-year-olds do?
Drink milk all day. Eat gummy bears and cookies. Touch my eyeballs.
What are you most excited about for the next year?
Only four days until my birthday party! I get to have Batman cake. I get to have broccoli from our house.
Drink milk all day. Eat gummy bears and cookies. Touch my eyeballs.
What are you most excited about for the next year?
Only four days until my birthday party! I get to have Batman cake. I get to have broccoli from our house.
Who is your best friend?
Uriah. Joey S. from school.
Uriah. Joey S. from school.
Who are your favorite people to play with?
Annie. You. [What about me? - Nellie] Daddy, Nellie, and Eddie.
What kinds of things are you good at?
Um, making silly faces. Playing with Annie. [What's your favorite thing to play with Annie?] Duck Hunt. Cleaning up...but I'm not.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Firefighter and a police officer.
Firefighter and a police officer.
Why do you want to be a firefighter and a police officer?
Because I work a lot. And I go to Woldumar a lot. They need firefighters and police officers at Woldumar. There was a firefighter at Chuck E. Cheese!
What’s your favorite song?
God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man, Old McDonald, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Because I work a lot. And I go to Woldumar a lot. They need firefighters and police officers at Woldumar. There was a firefighter at Chuck E. Cheese!
What’s your favorite song?
God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man, Old McDonald, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Favorite movie?
Star Wars. [Actually, he just started singing the song. Then he showed me that he chewed his cookie into the shape of a Star Wars fighter plane.]
Star Wars. [Actually, he just started singing the song. Then he showed me that he chewed his cookie into the shape of a Star Wars fighter plane.]
Favorite book?
All the Veggie Tales stories.
Favorite color?
Green and blue and orange.
Favorite food?
Corn.What are some things you like to play?
Super Hero Squad, my dinosaur, play with Eddie.
Is there anything else you want us to know about you?
That my dinosaur opens its mouth and when you push the guy down it moves his arm and opens his mouth and says stuff. "May the Ferb be with you." [Quote from Phineas and Ferb] Mommy, what are you writing? May the Ferb be with EYEBALL! The last thing I like to do is watch T.V. My favorite show is Dragon Tales.
That my dinosaur opens its mouth and when you push the guy down it moves his arm and opens his mouth and says stuff. "May the Ferb be with you." [Quote from Phineas and Ferb] Mommy, what are you writing? May the Ferb be with EYEBALL! The last thing I like to do is watch T.V. My favorite show is Dragon Tales.
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