A "Kate" Moment

Kate (holding up an animal cracker): "Mommy, do you know what animal this is?"

Mommy: "Let me see... it looks like a goat."

Kate: "No! It's a fratanian."

Mommy: ????????????

(FYI -- I still don't know what a fratanian is.)

See? No fratanians.

Another Milestone

Noah's first adult tooth came in without pushing out the baby tooth in its place, so the dentist "helped" the first two baby teeth come out to make room for the adult teeth. Here are the before and after pictures:

Travelin' Fever

You know when the sunlight starts to turn "autumn-y" and the first cool front feels so good you have to stop and thank God you're alive? That's when it seems my wanderlust is most irresistible. A drive to anywhere. And the song in my head is "Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. And I say it's alright..."

(special thanks to the Beatles, to my parents who taught me that "playing hooky" once in a while is a good thing, and to God for the promise of soon relief from Texas summer heat)

Tips from Mom

Things You Can't Afford NOT to Do:

1. Find good slow-cooker recipes. The time it takes to find them and try them will come back to you a thousand times over. Throw it in the pot in the morning, and dinner-time will feel like you're on vacation!

2. Purge the excess. Excess breeds chaos. If you don't use it regularly or if it doesn't fit, set it free. Donate it to charity or make a few bucks off of it at a resale shop. The extra space you'll have will make your home (even the closets) a place of peace -- a place you actually want to be.

3. Manage your household; don't let it manage you. It usually takes LESS time than you think to tidy up, unload the dishwasher, purge the closets, etc. If you let it go, the work will pile up so high you won't know where to start. And starting IS the hardest part. Imagine you have company coming over in 15 minutes -- and then zoom through as much housework as you can. (Chances are, if you get up a good momentum, you'll want to keep going!)

4. Have the kids clean and de-clutter with you. Impress upon your children the feeling of satisfaction that comes with having a clean, orderly space and with giving to those less fortunate. If you do this, they will learn to be good stewards, to be organized, to be charitable, to value "things" less than people, and to keep a loose grip on the material "stuff" of life. After all, you can't take it with you.

5. Plan your meals for the week and grocery shop accordingly. It will save you time wondering what to make each evening and running out to the store for one more ingredient, AND it will save you money in keeping you from the "need" to order in or pick up restaurant food.

6. (On a more serious note...) Plan for eternity. Today could be your last. Don't make the tragic mistake of thinking it can be dealt with later because "later" may never come.

(Acts 16:25-31) But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."

Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Moral Code for School Children

From Collier’s, The National Weekly © 1925

If I Want To Be a Happy, Useful Citizen I Must Have:

Courage and Hope
I must be brave—This means I must be brave enough and strong enough to control what I think, and what I say and what I do, and I must always be hopeful because hope is power for improvement.

Wisdom
I must act wisely—In school, at home, playing, working, reading or talking, I must learn how to choose the good, and how to avoid the bad.

Industry and Good Habits
I must make my character strong—My character is what I am, if not in the eyes of others, then in the eyes of my own conscience. Good thoughts in my mind will keep out bad thoughts. When I am busy doing good I shall have no time to do evil. I can build my character by training myself in good habits.

Knowledge and Usefulness
I must make my mind strong—The better I know myself, my fellows and the world about me, the happier and more useful I shall be. I must always welcome useful knowledge in school, at home, everywhere.

Truth and Honesty
I must be truthful and honest—I must know what is true in order to do what is right. I must tell the truth without fear. I must be honest in all my dealings and in all my thoughts. Unless I am honest I cannot have self-respect.

Healthfulness and Cleanliness
I must make my body strong—My eyes, my teeth, my heart, my whole body must be healthful so that my mind can work properly. I must keep physically and morally clean.

Helpfulness and Unselfishness
I must use my strength to help others who need help—If I am strong I can help others, I can be kind, I can forgive those who hurt me and I can help and protect the weak, the suffering, the young and the old, and dumb animals.

Charity
I must love—I must love God, who created not only this earth but also all men of all races, nations and creeds, who are my brothers. I must love my parents, my home, my neighbors, my country and be loyal to all these.

Humility and Reverence
I must know that there are always more things to learn—What I may know is small compared to what can be known. I must respect all who have more wisdom than I, and have reverence for all that is good. And I must know how and whom to obey.

Faith and Responsibility
I must do all these things because I am accountable to God and humanity for how I live and how I can help my fellows, and for the extent to which my fellows may trust and depend on me.

Think On These Things

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Stumped by a 2-year-old

Heimer: Mommy, do peas like to run?

Mommy: ?????

(Any philosophers out there who can help me out?)

Lost in the Translation

Kids say the darndest things. Here are just a few things that got lost in the translation:

ear loaf -- ear lobe

glossias -- gracias

super girl to arrest you -- super girl to the rescue

Franklepea's Glossary of Terms (updated)

magni-finding glass (n.): magnifying glass
remembries (n.): memories
crouton grabbers (n.): tongs
scratch-backer (n.): back scratcher
buckin' otters (n.): binoculars
armpit sugar (n.): deoderant
mo-tro (n.): remote control
beezow (interj.): used to express a futuristic shooting sound as heard in some video games

For Lack of a Better Word

Recent Quotables...

Franklepea: (watching TV) Goofy the Great!
Mommy: Who is Goofy the Great?
Franklepea: That's what they call Goofy when he's "magicky" -- you know, a "magic-tricker".
________________________________

(thunder claps)
Mommy: Ooh, did you hear that?
Franklepea: Was that thunder, or is someone firing cracker-nuts?
________________________________

Franklepea (watching a commercial): Ooh, I want to see that movie.
Mommy: What movie is that?
Franklepea: The Little Wormaid.

Jungle Bugs

Our team of "Tumble Bugs" by way of one misunderstanding became more appropriately named "Jungle Bugs." Their domain, a Lord of the Flies-esque upstairs play area where small people reign and grown people struggle for dominance. Their language, incomprehensible to grown people and a tool for clandestine communication. Here is the tribe's current chief (under constant threat of mutiny by the smaller members) and the tribe at the entrance to their lair...

Tez's Glossary of Terms

goggly-goggly (interj.): usually said in repetition as an exclamation signifying happiness or excitedness; "Goggly-goggly-ga!"

babuwhabu (interj.): an exclamation signifying happiness or excitedness; often said upon entering a room post-naptime so as to announce one's presence to others

Heimer's Glossary of Terms

golly-ga (interj.): an exclamation derived from the interjection 'goggly-goggly' as an expression of happiness or excitedness; often used in repetition. "Golly-golly-ga! Golly-golly-ga!"

voof (n.): juice

Franklepea's Glossary of Terms

crouton grabbers (n.): tongs

scratch-backer (n.): back scratcher

buckin' otters (n.): binoculars

armpit sugar (n.): deoderant

mo-tro (n.): remote control

beezow (interj.): used to express a futuristic shooting sound as heard in some video games

The Little Girl in Me

There is an 11-year-old girl inside me that has a huge crush on Kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years. He is my kindred spirit... my junior high, one-generation-removed, fictional kindred spirit.