More Playmobil under the Christmas Tree

One knight appears to be rappelling down from a star in a harness of tissue and orange fluff. Another knight, wearing a tissue cape, was having a conversation, a snatch of which went like this:

"If you don't take this kleenex, you will die. This is not your kleenex, I brought it from home. I took this kleenex from a long-past king - a good king."

Playing with Playmobil knights

"Quick, prince, drag your battleaxe down! Stop that, you dastard villains!"
"Talking beasts are better than un-talking, you savages!"

Great birthday presents. Thanks, y'all!

Bathtime Poetry

"I'm gruff and I'm grumble, with an elephant's trumble."

"The elephants are raising their trunks at me, like ropes in knots, tied around a bad guy."

Photos from November 2011

November 2011

"Mommy, I love you as much as the time it took God to make the whole world, which was actually very short, so I love you as much as the world is big."

Last week, I saw one of the gifts that Aunt Sharon mailed us from Mom-Mom after she died, and I cried for awhile. Joel asked if there was anything he could do, and I explained that I was sad because I wanted to thank Mom-Mom for the pink satin slippers she sent Mab, and I couldn't. Faelan said, "I will thank her for them in heaven right now!" As he wandered off to his room, he looked up and said, "Thank you, Mom-Mom!" in a cheerful little voice.

Mab is army-crawling now, has been for about a week. She can pick things up between her thumb and forefinger, pass things from hand to hand, roll around. The other day we took something away from her and she howled angrily, then, still howling, rolled away from us twice, to the other side of the room, where she grabbed something else and chomped on it, yes, still howling.

I am now realizing how very, very dirty all our floors are.

October 2011

October 2011

Subtle signs that we read a lot of older children's fiction

Faelan, upon being told to stop splashing: "But Mab finds it amusing!"
And upon being told that breakfast comes after getting dressed: "But why must I wait?"

I also see signs that he is questioning our authority...

Knowledge

Faelan: I know all, all, all things that are true.

Joel: Oh yeah? What's the boiling point of water?

Faelan: To make tea!

September 2011 Photos

September 2011

Smithereens

Faelan, pounding a rock on a pile of dirt he has placed on the patio: This is what the enemies of dirt do.

Amity: What, smash the dirt to smithereens?

Faelan: Yes.

Amity, pointing to the pulverized dirt: Hey, that's what these are called - smithereens!

Faelan: No, these are dirtmareens.

Amity: I don't understand. What does that mean?

Faelan: They are mareens that haven't been smithered.

Faelan, five minutes later: Come see what has been smithered!

August 2011

August 2011

July 2011

July 2011

June 2011

June 2011

May 2011

May 2011

April 2011

April 2011

Faelan, during a conversation about opening a heavy trunk: "If you had four husbands, cleaning the house for six months, you could be playing with me ALL THAT TIME."

March 2011

March 2011

More Cooking Notes

As I was making blueberry frozen yogurt, Faelan asked, "What would happen if there was a spray of cocoa, and it sprew all over the yogurt? Then it would be cuckoo, and I couldn't eat it!"
"That's true," I said, "it would be chocolatey."

Vancouver March 2011

Vancouver March 2011

February 2011

February 2011

January 2011

January 2011

December 2010

December 2010

November 2010

November 2010

October 2010

October 2010