Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Ties & Tutus

Jake and Lilly’s individuality is best seen as they are at play. There are few toys or games that they both show the exact same enthusiasm towards. For instance, Jake loves to tote around his Daddy’s golf club while outside, and Lilly is content to sit and color on the driveway with chalk. Lilly loves books; Jake loves the vacuum cleaner. Jake is obsessed with remotes; Lilly is fascinated with animals. Jake adores bubbles; Lilly enjoys puzzles. The list goes on and on.

Only a couple things have the ability to pique both kids’ interests simultaneously. One of such activities is admiring themselves, whether it’s in front of the mirror or watching videos I’ve taken of them on my phone.

Today we played “Dress Up"... For Lilly we pulled out two tutus, a ton of bracelets, and a few necklaces; for Jake, we found a tie from Daddy’s closet, a pair of his shoes, and a cowboy hat he wore when he was a kid. All three of us had a blast… both kids were thrilled to dress up and make faces in the mirror, and I was tickled to watch their excitement from behind the lens of my camera.



When it was time to clean up and get dressed to go outside, Lilly politely shook her head, “No,” insisting that she continue to wear her pretty tutu outside to play. She chose her zebra rain boots for her feet, and was extremely proud of her wardrobe selection. While running around outside in her colorful tutu, she did not avoid the mud or wet grass... not sure why I expected otherwise!


Monday, March 19, 2012

Saved By The Ritz.... Again!

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams

Last week Jake and Lilly spent a whole day playing at Grammy and Pop's house. They were not so sure what to think of the hundreds of tall, blue flowers that covered most of the front yard. Armed with a camera of our own and a whole lot of optimism, Grammy and I set out to take the perfect photo of these two toddlers who were not at all thrilled about the idea of actually getting close to these beautiful Spring surprises that pop up every March.


We were not a bit surprised that Lilly was the first to make her way through the bluebonnets, while Jake hung back, patiently assessing the situation before joining her.

Careful not to crush any of the flowers, she lifted her legs way up in the air as she made her way through the yard.

Lilly will always find time for her animal friends. Blue and Sadie had so much fun watching Jake and Lilly's reactions in the bluebonnets. And Jake and Lilly loved watching the two dogs run and play with each other.

This is one of my favorite shots of Lilly, mostly because of her adorable yet unruly hair blowing every which way. The longer it grows, the curlier it seems to be. As cute and precious as it is, her hair definitely has a mind of its own.
Just like her.
After our continuous coaxing got us nowhere with Jake, we resorted to picking him up and plopping him right in the middle of the bluebonnets! We got hundreds of photos of him, because he stayed in the same spot we left him for a good ten minutes before working up the courage to venture off on his own.

Clarification: When I say "we got hundreds of photos," I mean ones just like this, which clearly demonstrate his disapproval.
Needless to say, he was not very happy with either one of us. I can just hear him saying, "Mom, I can't believe you made me wear this pink shirt and now you expect me to stand here surrounded by flowers with a smile on my face. Does Dad know about this? I'm sure he would not approve!"
But after a while, Jake finally gave in to his curiosity and decided to investigate the bluebonnets...

...and forgot about the fact that I dressed him in pink and abandoned him in a patch of girly flowers.

He was not the only one who wore a frown, though. Lilly was having too much fun mowing over the bluebonnets with the little green tractor and chasing the dogs across the yard. When I suggested sitting next to her brother to pose for a picture, this was the look I received.

Determined to capture the beauty of Spring, and two little ones with plans of their own, I did what every mother does. I pulled out the crackers.

And just like that, they sat side by side in their carefully-picked-out-coordinating outfits and their matching cowboy boots, totally oblivious that Grammy and Momma were snapping photos like they were the paparazzi.

I've been saved by the Ritz cracker so many times I've lost count. It is a staple in our house, and I never leave home without them. In fact, they should just add a box to every Baby Registry, so new moms and dads don't have to figure this one out trial-and-error-style like us. Forget the cute, cuddly blankets and teddy bears. I'm bringing a box of Ritz crackers to every baby shower I'm invited to from now on!
Jake was so enthralled with his salty snack that he wasn't even fazed when Grammy stuck a bluebonnet inside his shirt pocket. (OK, so he did swat her hand away, but then he quickly forgot about it upon receiving his second cracker.)

When it comes to photographing kids at this age, it's really very simple. You can have the latest and greatest camera, equipped with a zoom lens for optimal results. You can arm yourself with all kinds of props (bells, shakers, puppets, hats) to get their attention. You can sing every silly song you know in an attempt to get them to smile (or in this case to stop crying). But none of it matters at all. When it comes right down to it, you have to learn to speak their language. When Momma pulls out the crackers, everyone is suddenly cooperative. Amazing!


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Grandpa Green

I bought Grandpa Green for Jake and Lilly because the cover reminded me of my Pop.

Written and illustrated by Lane Smith, it is a beautifully simple yet profound book. The story is told by Grandpa Green’s great-grandson, who is just a little boy. He talks about the era in which Grandpa Green grew up, the one before computers or cell phones or television. Grandpa Green wanted to study horticulture, but went to fight in a world war instead. Grandpa Green met a girl and married her. And they never ever fought. Grandpa Green creates beautiful works of art out of bright green topiaries that tell the story of his life and the generations that follow. The pictures, more than the words, tell a beautiful story of aging and about what is left behind. When Grandpa Green grows old and cannot remember any longer, the garden remembers for him.

This book reminds me so much of my Pop, I cannot help myself. When I sat down with Jake and Lilly to read it to them, I was in tears. We read it cover to cover. Then we read it again. And again. And again. It’s as if both of them knew that this book was special.

My Pop, just like Grandpa Green, was a soldier, a husband, a father, a gardener. Though he went to be with Jesus just six weeks before his great-grandson was born, he left so much behind. He left his garden. He left my sweet Grandma who is now the Keeper of the Garden. He left my son, Jake, who carries his name. He left all of us a little changed… for the better. He left this world a better, brighter place. He left us an example to follow. He left a legacy.

Today is his birthday. I’m not sure how it all works, whether this “Happy Birthday” will reach him in Heaven, but I do know that he will be celebrating his special day with Jesus. I miss him so much it hurts. We all do. He was a good man, a loving father, and a playful grandfather. If I could talk to him today, I’d tell him thank you.

Thank you for watching all of my puppet shows when I was a little girl.

Thank you for sharing your secret stash of Peanut M&Ms with me.

Thank you for teaching me about Jesus.

Thank you for making me laugh.

Thank you for keeping your faith; for never giving up, for fighting strong, especially at the end.

Thank you for seeing the best in people.

Thank you for being my “Grandpa Green.”

Thank you for all you left behind, including your garden.


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

My Daddy Says...

"My Daddy says, 'A real cowboy never takes his boots off!' Which is why when the temperature outside hits almost eighty degrees, we just trade in the blue jeans for shorts."




"And Momma says she doesn't care even if we do look silly wearing boots with our shorts. She's just glad it quit raining so we can run around outside!"


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Rainy Day Blues

It has been raining non-stop since Thursday afternoon, and the forecast is the exact same for today, tomorrow and Monday. Last night, as Cody was blessing our pizza dinner, I had a twinge of guilt when he thanked God for the rain. I know we need this rain, but I couldn’t help feeling anything but grateful for the saturated yard, the puddles in the driveway, and the return of the cold weather after so many beautiful, sunny, warm-weather days.

I tried to tell myself that I wasn’t being selfish… that I was really thinking of the kids. It was my empathy for them, not my own selfishness, that got me thinking about how many hours they’d been cooped up inside. It was my concern for their well being, not my own mental health, that caused me to grow weak when I considered that we were looking at three more days of rain. But I will be honest…. I am going crazy!!! We (and when I say “we,” I mean “they”) need to be outside, running and playing, swinging, blowing bubbles, chasing the neighbor’s dog, running and playing, riding in cars, swinging golf clubs, running and playing, feeding the horses, … did I mention running and playing?

So this morning, determined not to have another rainy-day-headache, we built a fort. Pillows, blankets, an extra large sheet, and a little rearranging were the perfect recipe for a morning of fun.

Jake and Lilly read Daddy every book they own. Then Lilly started gathering all of her stuffed animals, and dragging them into the fort. When it got crowded, Jake made a break for it! Everyone had a blast! I think Daddy even managed to sneak in a morning nap!

Friday, March 9, 2012

A Momma's Prayer

Motherhood has taken my world and flipped it on its side. I see everything now through a new pair of lenses. I can’t tell you how many times I heard, before I had kids of course, “Just wait until you have children. Then you’ll understand.” So much that was never on my radar before has now hit me right between the eyes.

Like, for example, the hitchhiker who now touches my heart because he is “Somebody’s Jake.” I don’t know him, but someone does. I can’t drive by any longer without wondering, “Does his Momma know where he is and where he’s headed?” And even if his Momma has no clue, God knows. God knows his story, because God made him…. in His image. And He loves him.

Or the child living in poverty on the other side of my world who may not get a meal today. It breaks my heart not only for the little girl with the empty belly, but I am torn over the helplessness her mother must feel, knowing that there is nothing she can do. I wonder, sometimes, how I would react if I knew Lilly needed something (even something as basic as food) and I could not provide for her. But I am reminded over and over that God knows that mother’s need. And He hears her prayer.

This morning I was looking up a passage in 2 Timothy that was referenced in another book I am reading. I skipped back up to the very beginning, just started reading, and there it was, staring right back at me, almost jumping off the page:

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5

I am sure that I have read this before, but never before have I let it really sink into my soul. In this letter that Paul is writing to Timothy, the very first thing he mentions is the “real or authentic” faith of Timothy’s mother and his grandmother, and the evidence of that faith being passed down to him. I believe that God wants to speak to us through His Word, and I received such an encouraging message in that one verse.

The message I heard was this:

A mother’s prayers for her children are so vital. God listens to a Momma’s prayers, and He is faithful. When I think about how much I love Jake and Lilly, and how I’d do anything for each of them, I am sometimes overwhelmed to think that God loves them even more than I am even capable of. And the most significant gift I can pass down to my children, and my grandchildren one day, is my faith. Faith that they can see… real faith, not the kind we just talk about. What an incredible responsibility and honor to be trusted with teaching my children to walk in His truth. And on those tough days, when as a mom I don’t even know what I need, God knows. And He hears my prayer, even before I speak it.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Peculiar Pattern

Lilly has this little obsession. She is constantly gathering up toys that are alike and transporting them from their original place to a new place. Here are seven cases of this odd behavior:

1. A few months ago she started this habit of taking all of the ABC blocks and moving them to her reading chair in the play room. It took her forever to diligently carry each block from its storage bin to her chair across the room, but she remained devoted until that last block was safe with the others. When all the blocks had successfully been moved, she abandoned them and started playing with something new.

2. Then it was books. She could not ever just take one book from the bookshelf in her room. She needed all thirty books, so she could effectively decide which one she should select for her bedtime story. She piled them up and toted them off to another spot in her room. Thank goodness, the “Only One Book at a Time” rule has stuck, and we no longer have to replace dozens of books each night before bed. When she wouldn’t nap, I reluctantly allowed her a few books in her bed so that she would settle down and have some quiet time even if she didn’t sleep. Every day, after she decides she is finished reading and ready to sleep (even if it’s only for 20 minutes), she gathers all of her books in a heap, then falls asleep laying on top of them, like a mother hen sitting on top of her eggs, waiting for them to hatch.

3. She has always been fascinated with stuffed animals. She can’t ever just cart around one. She needs all of them at the same time. She gets so frustrated when she can’t slide down the stairs while holding three of her “friends.” That’s what brought about the “Leave the Friends in the Bed” rule. We are still diligently trying to implement that one.

4. At Christmas, when Jake got a tool bench from Auntie Bri and Uncle Dave, Lilly drove me absolutely crazy taking every screw and nail from the tool bench and stuffing them into the microwave in their play kitchen. Every single morning, it was the first thing she did. One by one, she would take all of them from the place they belonged to a new and better place: the microwave. I would try to put them back and she would get so mad at me, so finally I decided that Jake’s tool bench needed to be moved to another room away from their kitchen. So far, she has not come up with a new home for Jake’s hardware since “The Relocation.”

5. Lilly loves when I fold clothes, which usually involves at least five loads of laundry. Small confession: I HATE doing laundry. It’s not the washing/drying part; it’s the folding. So I do the washing and the drying, (OK the machines in the laundry room do that part) and then five (or more) loads of laundry sit in the laundry room until I can’t stand looking at them anymore and decide to fold them. I share all of this to explain why there are always two laundry baskets present when folding occurs. Lilly is thrilled to take each piece of laundry from one basket and move it to the other basket. The only time this becomes a problem is when the article of clothing she decides to transport has already been folded!

6. Another favorite hobby of Lilly’s is coloring. When she sits down to create a beautiful piece of art, she is adamant about having every single crayon within her reach. Sometimes, she will scoot the pile of bright colors closer to her, just in case I decide to pick them up before she can save them. She does the same thing outside with chalk. She is not happy with one piece; she has to have every single one of them laid out in front of her. At least she hasn’t started hiding the chalk in the bushes… yet.

7. This week, she’s on to something new. For three days now, I’ve watched her gather every single piece of play food, from pizza to broccoli, and take it from the kitchen area to the little red wagon. I’ve posted plenty of stories about the little red wagon, so if you know my child, you know what’s coming next. After all the food had been dumped into the wagon, she then hopped in on top of the food. Now I’m not sure why she prefers to sit on hard, plastic food, but yesterday Jake pulled her all over the house as she sat perched on top of her stockpile of food.


Strange habit? Harmless quirk? Early signs of hoarding? I'm not sure. I have to admit I do see a pattern, but most of these instances can be categorized as merely "rearranging" or "gathering."


However, the following definition makes me a bit uneasy:

hoard- to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place


I'm still sticking with innocent quirkiness!