We went to the Plaza the other night to pick up hot chocolate at the Starbucks and to drive around looking at Christmas lights. On the way out of the Plaza we saw a helicopter fly over us. I said it was most likely a life flight heading to Children's Mercy. Wyatt immediately suggested we pray the Hail Mary
and the Glory Be for the people in the helicopter - so we did.
It amazed me to suddenly understand that you have no idea who might be praying for you.
He's got soul.
The response before yesterday's Gospel was "To you, oh Lord I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul!"
Wyatt asked me "What is a soul?"
I said "Do you know how your heart feels when your feelings are hurt or when you hurt someone else's feelings?"
And holding up both hands he said to me "Oh, it's like the two little voices that tell you what is easy to do making his right hand talk like a puppet) and what is hard to do (making his left hand talk like a puppet). Cuz the right thing to do isn't the easy one, right?"
I think he got it.
Wyatt asked me "What is a soul?"
I said "Do you know how your heart feels when your feelings are hurt or when you hurt someone else's feelings?"
And holding up both hands he said to me "Oh, it's like the two little voices that tell you what is easy to do making his right hand talk like a puppet) and what is hard to do (making his left hand talk like a puppet). Cuz the right thing to do isn't the easy one, right?"
I think he got it.
Pinewood Derby 2013 plans
Jack worked up the drawings for his 2013 Pinewood Derby entry. He did all of this free hand and with no help. I like his specifications and details.
Infared
Someone had a birthday.
Little nephew Stephen turned 1 this week! Happy birthday, Stephen!
I'm not a baker. And Melanie is the cake decorator. I will say though, that my pumpkin bread/cake with the cream cheese frosting was quite good.
Stephen seemed to like it - especially the icing.
Face-in-the-Snow Angels
The boys were scheduled for a half day of school on Thursday. They would have had an hour or two of classes, a school mass and their Christmas parties. Mother Nature had other plans and brought enough snow and ice to result in school being cancelled. I still had to work and was taking the boys with me so we all had to get up. Jack sat up like a shot once he heard the word "snow". He then took over the duties of waking up little brother. He nagged and nagged until Wyatt got up. "Come look out the window Wyatt! I have a surprise!" Wyatt walked to the window. Jack opened the curtains and announced
"I present to you - SNOW!"
The boys were desperate to get out into the snow. I knew we had to get moving but I decided it was more important to be a mom than it was to be a little late for work. I bundled them up while John made pancakes. Wyatt took three steps out the back door and threw himself face down in the snow to make Face-in-the-Snow-Angels. I think it is lovely.
A boy and his cousin
My nephew Stephen is staying with us right now. He loves his big cousins. The boys play ball with him and chse him around the house - something Stephen finds endlessly hysterical. He is in love with the piano and is loves to bang away at the keys - he sees Jack practicing and playing all the time and quite frankly, who wouldn't want to be like Jack?
20/20
The school nurse contacte me to let me know Jack's last two in school eye exams did not go well and we should take him to an eye doctor. Sure enough he needed a pair of glasses. Look how happy this guy is now that he can see!
Why I love my children - in 3 photos
This one is obsessed with mustaches.
This one put a "Kick Me" sign on his little brother. Little brother exacted his revenge by putting a "Love Me" sign on big brother.
Though he is learning, the little one is not far enough along that he can write a letter solo. Big brother offered to write Little Brother's letter to Santa - and before you even asked, he took dictation...with a few suggestions.
Matchy McMatchertons
The boys' school had a skating party two weeks ago. These turkies decided they wanted to "wook-a-wike" so they found their Kinder shirts. What is interesting about these shirts is that they were designed by sisters who happen to be in Jack & Wy's classes.
Then they boys made sure they had matching jeans.
Then they found 2 pairs of socks, but split them up so they were each wearing 1 black and 1 Smurf sock.
And then silliness and hilarity ensued.
Kinder feast - it's a little late, I know
Here are a few of the kinders at their Kinder Feast this year. Wyatt would not tell me in advance if he was going to be a Pilgrim or a Native American. He said, "You will have to find me." I wound up being 5 minutes late and they were already half way through their presentation. I run 12 shows a week and can't get one of them started on time. It was very exasperating to be late and wonderful and guilt inducing to see his face light up when he finally saw me there.
Wyatt and I like to do photo shoots.
The Kinder Beast is a native to Owenland Park.
Nightcap
Wyatt has decided this is his nightcap.
He also says if you hold the open end to your ear and the puff to your mouth, you can talk to Santa.
I adore this boy.
2nd Grade Mass
Jack was one of the petitioners at today's all school Mass.
For those whose lives are closely linked with ours, that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as Christ loves us, we pray to the Lord...
Jack's First Reconciliation
Jack made his First Reconciliation last week.
The school he attends is populated by children from two different parishes. These kids do not make their Reconciliation or Communion through the school. They do it through their parish. There are 10 kids total in our parish who made their Reconciliation last week. Five of these students are from Jack's school and unfortunately he is the only boy in the whole bunch. Of course the school parents wanted all the classmates together in a picture. When Jack saw we were funneling him up to a group of girls at the altar he stopped dead in his tracks and refused to be moved. (This boy does much better when he has advance notice so I told him he could skip the picture that night but that he would HAVE to get a picture with his classmates when they made their First Communion.) As I was talking to him I heard a bit of whispering and then these young ladies announced "If you won't come over here Jack then we are coming to you." Without any parental nudging, these ladies just decided they would move the location of the photo shoot right over to Jack. So I say, "Thank you, ladies!"
After the humiliation of beign photographed with ladies he tromped right up to the altar for his solo shot.
Father with all the kids - see the lone boy trying to kinda, sorta hide back there by Father?
And some of my favorite homework.
The boy who went down.
The look he gave me after I said "Yes, you do have to eat your chicken."
While I wasn't looking he left the table and returned wearing his penguin towel. As if wearing a penquin towel is going to keep him from having to eat his dinner? I said "You can dress like any animal you want but you still have to eat your chicken." And the good Mother I am? I took pictures and tried not to laugh as he went down.
And laid there.
Shrek
At the Coterie we are deep into performances of Shrek. The company was fortunate enough to meet David Lindsay-Abaire on opening day. This is the gentleman who wrote the book and lyrics for Shrek. (Some days my job is really cool.)
Here is the cast and much of the design team posing for posterity!
Election Day
Uh - am I not the cutest voter you ever did see?
