Quotables

Peter: "I think I'll spend a little time in the other room learning about science."

(studying an encyclopedia)

Anna: "I think I'll spend some time in here learning about TV."

Now this girl has some serious fashion sense!!!

Tink's Castle

Tink has a castle she has created in her mind.

She tells us about it every day. It's where she is going to live some day.

Each day she comes up with something else that will be in her castle. So far it's made of purple bricks. Daddy is there all the time. There are six hippos, five horses, and two cows that live there. She also appeals to her audience by including things she thinks they may like. For Peter there will be dinosaur bones, popsicles, star wars, chocolate milk, Jackson, and ice cream. For me there will be: news shows. Nice very nice... perhaps I've given her the wrong impression.

The family of God

And the coup de grat . . . Anna accepted Christ as her Savior during a deep theological discussion she and I were having in the drive thru at McDonald's tonight. Well, as deep as a three year old goes. But hey, it's a start, and it was a crowning jewel on a rough day that I would never have relived even if you paid me.

Welcome to the kingdom, Anna!

Our Gentle Shepherd

It says in Isaiah that "He gently leads those who have young." A friend showed me that verse a few years ago. I have forever been changed by it (Thanks, Maggie). I cannot tell you how many times just in this last week I have felt absolutely overwhelmed by the task of parenting. It's a constant bombardment of what it feels like are pop quizzes on how to be a good parent, responding to your children with love and discipline, reflecting the attributes of God in a way they can relate. But I'm learning that God does just what he promises He'll do in His word. No matter the promise, He will fulfill it. In this case, "He gently leads those who have young."

And this is how He did it for me the other day.

Oftentimes, when we are getting ready to go someplace, Tink will exert her will by saying "I don't want to go." I've always tried reverse psychology, ignoring the behavior and acting like I'm leaving with or without her. The other day, we rehearsed the scene again. However, this time as I started to walk away a check in my spirit urged me to try something different.

I turned around went over to her got down at her eye level, and said...
"Tink, you're a Kaiser, I am a Kaiser, we're Kaisers. We are a family. We do fun things together as a family, and I want you to come with me, because we are a team and I want to be with you."

I paused waiting for her response.

Her eyes filled with unspeakable joy and relief. She stood up and threw her arms around me, and her entire demeanor changed.

I had been sending her a subtle message, I would be fine with or without her. She so needed to feel wanted and loved. That episode also was key in revealing that it seems quality time is her language of love. A very helpful insight to have in parenting her.

All of this wrapped up in a precious moment brought to us by the Shepherd who "Gently leads those who have young."

Smoke Signals

The three year old that lives at my house makes it her mission to keep my life interesting every day.

Her interesting mission of the week:
In her words, "Making clouds" by puffing the baby powder around the living room until it was all gone.

Now to those of you who may think much like my dad, that that must mean I am not attending to her, that is incorrect. I am just busy putting out the last fire she's started... in this case it was putting the care packages back together I was sending to her father... Meanwhile she's sending smoke signals to him... or was it distress signals? Regardless, despite the fact an ocean and multiple continents separate us, I think he got the message: She used enough baby powder for him to get the signal.

And they said it couldn't be done...

Speaking of Tink in all her glory.... today I discovered her standing on top of the toilet, straddling the seat. Okay, so who said girls couldn't pee standing up? Who cares if she clogged the toilet with the toilet roll. She peed in the potty, and the clog is nothing a plunger can't fix, right?

Coming soon to a doorbell near you . . .

Tink in all her glory!
Stay tuned . . .

Was there ever any doubt ...

This girl's got personality!

TINKERBELL!!!!

It's almost too painful to mention... but Tink has taken to redecorating our entire upstairs. Apparently, she has given another medium, black sharpee marker a try! So in my dear husband's last week before he begins his heinous work schedule, he has been doing a bit of repainting in the kids rooms, in our room, in the hallway, on our door frames, along with cleaning the bathtub, the mirror, and the windows with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It all happened in five minutes after church on Sunday... I think it was premeditated. The sharpees are so not in her reach! I think the only safe option for us at this point is to get a gun safe to store all writing utensils in. I love that girl dearly, but let me just say: today, when she said she needed a little "piracy," let's just say I didn't oblige. And oh, by the way, the word is "privacy," Tink.

You can't make these things up...

Tink has taken to a fascination with toilets and things pertaining to them. She's yet to have an accident since her introduction to Tinkerbell and Dora underwear, but that's not to say we are without our share of antics from Tink.

Like when we discovered a huge rock and a rubber duck in the toilet the other day. The Handsome Genius had to have that discussion with Tink. I was laughing too hard in the kitchen. It's another one of those conversations I never imagined overhearing when I first met that man 10 years ago. Never pictured him lecturing a three year old on the ins and outs of why we don't spend our time IN the toilet.

Or the other day when she used . . . let's just say a different "medium" for her wall art. It does come off the wall a lot easier than pink highlighter; I will hand her that, but between highlighter and this I am not sure which one I would prefer her use. I'm now thinking pink highlighters are nice option.

"Long Live the Lollipop!"

Guess who gave up these...That's right our Tink... gave up these for lollipops and Tinkerbell underwear... If only I had known it would be so easy. We are on day three and there hasn't been an accident yet. There are so many wonderful uses for lollipops. Economy bag of dum dums . . . $2.50; Potty trained toddler . . . Priceless.

Note to self...

When you drop your car off to get worked on... don't leave your child's lovey in the back seat. This will cause serious problems.

And then there's Tink

She may not have the faith of Peter yet, but she looks just like an angel sometimes.

Tink is back

Well, true to form Tink makes life just a pinch more interesting. First day of Dan's "new schedule" and Anna has already decided to do a little redecorating. We now have a mural upstairs in florescent pink (her signature color). She also added a little color to her dad's snowboarding pictures because what picture is complete without a little pink? Phew what a relief! I was beginning to think life was getting a little boring.

P.S. Thank the Lord for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers they cover a multitude of magic marker moments!

And as I was scrubbing and discussing my frustrations with Peter as to why his sister continues to do this... His reply...
Yeah you would think her trouble instinct would tell her not to....
Where does this guy come up with this stuff.

Truly, life wouldn't be as precious without these little people! Magic Marker moments and all!

Just in case . . .

Just in case you start thinking it's all doom and gloom around here, Anna tells me there's smooth waters ahead.

Blowing Bubbles

Okay, here we have a study in contrast. Here we have intensity and levity all wrapped into one family: same genetic package, completely contrasting personalities.

Check out your face, Tink! Blowing your guts out to get one bubble.
Look at you, Pete, enjoying the many bubbles blown from gentle breaths.

Love the socks, Pete! Love 'em! Keep up with expressing yourself in little ways... or maybe it was just the last pair of socks left in your drawer thanks to your mom's excellent ability at keeping up with the wash.

See how well you can play together. Keep up with that! Your siblings can be some of the best friends you can have. They hold a mirror to your soul. They see the patterns of who you have been since you were little. They're the ones who rub off the rough edges to prepare you for The One, Lord willing, that you will spend the rest of your life with. I thank God for the treasure I have in my brothers and all the moments we've shared. I pray that you someday will feel the same way about each other.

And I thought I had troubles. . .

Today I started to get a little overwhelmed with the amount left to. . . prepare for a visit from Grandma and Wolfie, pack for a trip to Charleston, and clean for Bible study tonight.
But just as I started to get swept under from another tide of laundry left to do, fold and put away. Anna shifted everything into perspective for me.
She mentioned to me that her nose hurt.
I asked her why, half listening while rapidly stuffing laundry into the wash .
"An alligator bit me."
Okay . . . and there you have it . . .
It could be worse.
(She has quite an imagination, that girl;))

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Dear Anna,
Today I watched you go outside to play. Time stood still for just a second as I put down what I was doing just to watch you in wonderment: watch you slide down the slide, swing on your belly and gallop across the yard in your rain boots. I wanted desperately to capture that moment in time; you are growing so fast. You were completely content playing alone in your made up world. You are such an inspiration to me in your element, not easily daunted or pressured to please, unphased by much, and determined to succeed.

You are a lot like your daddy. You are fearless and independent, spunky and strong, tough and sweet...so sweet. You love horses, your bear, your rain boots, your sunglasses, your brother, your sister, Dora, and your thumb. You love to sing, imagine, and climb. Your favorite song is "Once upon a dream" from "Sleeping Beauty" and you sing it all the time. We call you "Tink" because you are precious with just a pinch of a mischievous side.

You are our little girl; you are three today, and we love you so much!
Happy Birthday, Anna. May God use all of these precious qualities for His glory. I already stand in wonder!
Love,
Your Momma

Fudruckers

Tink and Little Man in the Fudruckers' arcade last night:


In one corner, we have Tink scaling the wall of the candy machine. Given enough time I am quite certain that she could find a way inside it.


In the other corner, we have our Little Man, playing none other than the shootout game. The game itself is not important. What he likes is the gun. He's aiming it around the room getting all the unseen bad guys, and saving the damsels in distress.