Starting them young...

I kept asking Eliot what he learned at church today - just as his sticker prompted me to; and all I got was this smile. I think he has his big brother Theo to blame for the sharing of this sticker:

Wild and Crazy Hair

The other day I was talking to Addie (who is quite the talker now) and had the following conversation:

Erin: Addie, do you think you look more like me or Daddy?
Addie: Mommy.
Erin: Why do you think that?
Addie: My hair look more like Mommy.
Pause.
Addie: More like Grandmother. Her hair wild and crazy. Like me.

There you have it. And even my mother would agree, Addie's right!  And the similar-hair ladies:

Lunch Time Pray-er

The other day Jack was really struggling. I climbed up on his top bunk to try to console and help him learn from his frustration (to ensure I don't sound like the perfect parent - it is worth noting that I climbed up after many minutes of anger and frustration with him!) . I offered to pray with him. At this point, Theo (who we didn't even know was in the room much less listening) piped up and offered to pray too:

Theo: Yes Jack. Mommy and I can pray for you.
Erin (a bit surprised): Jack, would you like Theo and me to pray for you.
Jack (really surprised with Theo's offer) - nods his head.
Erin (wanting to see how this play out): Theo, why don't you start the prayer.
Theo (long pause): Well, I only do lunch prayers.

Everyone laughs.

You see for a long time Theo has resisted praying out loud. Just recently he has agreed to pray before our lunchtime meal. Evidently, he only qualifies himself as a lunch time prayer.

Although it is worth noting, that comically, my dad asked Theo at dinner the next night if he could please do one of his 'lunch time prayers'. Theo though this was really funny and agreed. So we might be close to having a 'dinner time pray-er' as well!

Concern for Theo

Four is the age where every parent wishes they had a microphone recorder on all the time. I think four-year-olds say the funniest things. I remember this age with Jack as well, and Theo is definitely at it. I feel like I forget by the end of the day all the amusing things he has said. I think what is so precious is that he is trying so hard to be adult-like (true to the age) and says some of the most mature things, but he is only FOUR!

Today as I was busy talking to one of the other kids Theo showed me some dead skin on the bottom of his foot. I glanced quickly, made a short remark, and went on with my business. Theo then blurted out, "Mom, you should be more concerned for me.'

After smiling and chuckling inside, I stopped and really examined that one inch section of the bottom of his foot that had the smallest section of dead skin I have ever seen. :)

Four Year Old Entertainment

Our good friends Alec and Keri came for dinner last night. They brought with them two of their German friends who were visiting. Our kids always have a good time when fake uncle Alec (which he likes to be called) and fake aunt Keri (which she puts up with because she is a good wife) are around. Daniella and Sebastian were a lovely couple and we enjoyed having them over as well.

As we were getting the kids ready for bed, Jack mistakenly though that Alec and Keri were going to spend the night and asked 'what are we going to do with them tomorrow?'

Theo immediately had the answer:

'We are going to play with crazy Alec. Read books with sweet Keri. And fight World War 2 with the Germans.'

Thankfully, Daniella and Sebastian were kind enough to laugh at this suggestion!  Oh, the thoughts of a four-year-old!  :)

And a picture of our forgiving Germans and our fake aunt and uncle:

Popped in the New Year with Someone in their High Thirities

We celebrated New Years in style by watching Toy Story 1 with the kids. Okay two kids watched. One wandered around trying to 'be an adult' and the other was transferred between Mom and Dad's arms. We also had a 'pop' theme. We made popcorn in our cool new 'old fashion popcorn maker' (thanks Uncle Brian!) and then had popcorn shrimp. Mom had bought popsicles for dessert, but we ended up not using them.

Before we went to start the movie Charles told the kids that their rooms needed to be straightened before we would start the movie. The kids went to it with vengeance. They quickly came out and told us that everything was tidy. Given the brevity of their absence, Charles then asked 'Was it tidied to my standards or yours?'

Jack thought for a minute and said, 'Well it meets the standards of a seven year old, but I am not sure it would completely meet the standard of someone in their high thirties.' There you have it - Charles is in his 'high' thirties! :)