Thinking out LOUD

Yesterday was windy and warm, and Shelley came over. We put the girls' "muddy boots" on to play in the back yard. Evelyn was first out the door, and as we got Amelia and ourselves ready we heard this outrageous yelling. We opened the door, and Evelyn was standing in the middle of the back yard, arms outstretched, face looking up to the howling wind, screaming at the top of her lungs with great deliberation, "DOES... ANY... BODY... CARE...WHAT... I... THINK???" While I assured her that I LOVE knowing what she thinks (so fascinating!), her thought must have been, "I think I want to scream as loudly as I can!" because she just kept doing it. :)

As I type this, Amelia is walking around with the plastic sleeve from what was a package of stickers. She is staring at it as if it is a piece of music and she's singing a made-up song about her "map" (I guess it's not music, it's a map.) The song just ended with "That's Elmo's world!" It's a most adventurous life over here.

"But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out with a loud voice, and He hears me." (Ps.55:16-17)

"Hear me O God, as I voice my complaint..." (Ps.64:1a)

Wish We Were There

On Tuesdays we go to AWANA club at our church (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, from II Tim.2:15.) It is a Bible Memory-based youth night with structured games, activities, and lessons. Evelyn and Amelia LOVE their classes, and I help with the 3rd-5th graders, where there are usually 6 adult leaders.

This past Tuesday, four of the leaders in my class (Jess & Andy of Hamiltopia, and Matt & Jen) went to Disney together, so I thought it would be fun to photograph our class looking sad and sorrrowful without them. Well, we have 2 cynics in our class, an outspoken one and one who mumbles under his breath, and as we were posing for the "sad" picture, they were behind me saying, "I'm not going to lie. I'm not sad. I won't act. I won't lie." So then we posed for a picture of how they REALLY felt. :)

After our Bible memory work and the weekly review game, we had a special visit from a local Christian Wildlife group who had a great, hands-on presentation. Yes, that is Evelyn with a Boa Constrictor around her neck. In the other picture she's holding a turtle. If you click on that picture and enlarge it, you get a good idea of the way Evelyn dresses pretty much every day.

It pays to be nice.

We listed our crib on Craig's List for $30, and when the woman came to pick it up, she handed me two twenty dollar bills and said, "You've been so nice and have saved me so much money--please take $40." (I think she must be related to Diana, who has made yard sale purchases with this same technique.)

Recitative, "Rose Petal, Don't Fall"

It's cold again, so it's a little stir crazy around here. Evelyn is BESIDE herself in anticipation of smelling a rose, & when I had the opportunity to bring two home from a reception, she was in heaven. It inspired one of my favorite (to date) of her spontaneous songs. Amelia, as usual, is content and non-plussed in her own world while her sister makes absurd music. (The song actually reminds me of 20th Century Art Songs I've learned. Composers, anyone?)

Making Good Memories

A week or so ago Mom, Shelley, Courtney and I went to Egyptian Pizza for a girl's night out--it was SO MUCH FUN, and I've got this great picture to remind me of the evening--we're going to try to do this more often!

Other recent good memories include Evelyn's prayer at dinner last night, which was "Thank you Jesus, for EVERYONE, and for all the people who love their cousins." (Amen!) And Amelia's bedtime prayer thanking God for "the lines on Mommy's forehead." So, should I be thankful for them, too? Ugh.

Rewind and Delete

I'd love to REWIND to last week when we took Juli & her mom Rachel to the Science Center. What fun--for the kids AND the moms!

But I'd like to DELETE yesterday when, playing an awesome game of chase around the dining room table (in 5th gear, of course), I rammed my right foot into the radiator. The radiator went nowhere, and I went to the floor, making noises and a face Alan said he hadn't seen since I gave birth. I was pretty sure something was broken.

But it was our turn to host Hamiltopia and Alan had a gig. We had the meal ready and I couldn't imagine NOT having that fellowship, so my wonderful mom came over for the girls, and after dinner our Hamiltopia friends, Sean & Karen drove me to Patient First. While there, Diana, Shelley, Sung Ko, Alex, Liv, and Maddie brought me Rita's ice cream and hung out a bit--what a great community! An x-ray confirmed a broken pinky toe, and I was sent home with Nurse Alan, who came for me after his gig.

Today I found an orthopedist, Alan had to work, & Diana got me & the girls, dropped me off at the hospital, then took them home w/her. (Wow I am BLESSED!) Thankfully I do NOT need surgery or a cast, and my little toe (turned a bit in the wrong direction) will heal correctly if I daily tape it to it's "buddy toe," wear that funny shoe, and use crutches for a few weeks. Dad picked me up, he & I got the girls from Diana's and stopped at our newest neighborhood spot, only crutches-distance from our house, the "Lost in the 50's Diner" for a late lunch.

Later tonight, after dinner, I told the girls Grandma had sent over some of her famous rolls--both chose a roll for dessert, over cookies or pie! Now you KNOW how good those rolls are, if you've never actually had one.

As Amelia reminded me tonight as we prayed, "In everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:18), I thanked God for my broken toe and all the things I will learn and experience as a result of it, not the least of which has already been the love and support of family and friends. I'll be ready to owe some people...in about a month. :)

Mythology and Poetry

In the car today, we were listening to a Disney tape, when the song "I Can Go the Distance" played. The girls began heatedly arguing over the correct pronunciation of the Greek hero who sings it:

A: That's Perc-you-leez!

E: NO! It's Prick-you-leez!!

Often, as we are listening to tapes or the radio, a word will somehow stand out to Amelia. Today it was "church," and she said, as she always does, with GREAT enthusiasm, "Church!!! That rhymes together, church and CHURCH!" or "School!!!! That rhymes together, school and SCHOOL!!" or, if we were still listening to the aforementioned song, "Perc-you-leez! That rhymes together, Perc-you-leez and PERC-YOU-LEEZ!" (And you can guess what conversation would then ensue...)

The Games Daddies Play

The girls love "telling stories under the blanket," using a battery-operated candle from Aunt Lisa. (Blanket from Aunt Barbara!) Alan took pictures of Evelyn under the blanket and they had a fun time editing it on the computer.

Finally, a few pictures that made me LOL when I found them on the camera. Alan told the girls to make their scariest, meanest faces, and Amelia's just double me over.

Overheard recently...

Amelia, singing her new, improved version of the ABC song: "...H, I, J, K, ella-noma, P..."

Evelyn, on her "cell phone" with Ariel (of "Little Mermaid" fame): "Oh, hi, Ariel...yes...oh, that sounds like fun...I'd love to...but there's only one problem. I don't have any fins."

Jump!

On Alan's birthday last week, my mom's gift to him was a leisurely morning at home with me (I benefited as well!) She took the girls and met Courtney & Aidan at this gigantic place full of inflatables and they spent hours jumping and running together. Our leisurely morning was followed by marathon work days for both Alan and me--still a huge GIFT when one rarely has a chance to get "into the zone" of any one task. And to think the girls thought it was for THEM! Thank you, Mom!!

Conclusive Evidence of Global Warming

March came in with snow, so we made our first snowman. You'd think the worst part would have been his disintegration over the next few days as it soared near 70 degrees--but alas, the most disappointment was felt by Amelia, who wilted visibly when Mr. Snowman, upon receiving features and a hat, did NOT talk. Later, Evelyn decapitated him, then stood merrily for a photo.

She Blinded Me with Science

During the winter months, the Maryland Science Center is open into the evenings on Fridays, so Shelley and I took the girls two Fridays ago. The nice thing about these evenings is how empty they are, and we just followed the girls all over the place. They love the dinosaur dig (the safety goggles are such a hoot--I can see them in Chem Lab someday), and that's Evie lying down in a model dinosaur footprint. She's not down for long, of course.

Another favorite is the "bed of nails." The girls will get back in line a couple times for this one, but the great thing about places like this is you can always do the toddler thing and immediately "go somewhere else" for more adventure, like running in circles to the piped music outside the front door.

Grandma & Grandpa Blackman Visit

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Alan's folks came up last month for a couple of nights to see Alan play at the college where he teaches and to spend time together. The girls got lots of game-time in with them and we all visited a local library that has this awesome toddler annex called "Storyville." We also did some planning for our upcoming trip to San Francisco in June, where we'll all be renting a house in the city and doing some sightseeing for a few days. (The goal will be for Amelia to be DONE w/diapers by then. I say that to motivate MYSELF, of course, because when I ask HER the silly question, "Don't you want to go to the potty like a big girl?" Amelia says flatly, "No. I wear diapers." I'd say it's TIME.)

The other two pictures are two of the many portraits of one another the girls took the last morning Mom and Dad Blackman were here. The faces just crack me up.

Thank you for the visit, Mom and Dad!

Anna's Cowgirl Birthday

Cousin Anna turned SIX last month, and we headed to RVR for horse rides and cake--what could be better? It may have been chilly, but the cowgirls (and sole cowboy, Aidan) were undaunted in their enthusiasm (hot cocoa helped, and the indoor arena kept the wind chill down!) Evelyn and Anna both enjoyed leading the horses as much as riding them, and if my eyebrows look unusually raised, it's because that old hat of mine is SO TIGHT, and once I started wearing it I had to KEEP wearing it lest I display the gigantic furrow it made in my brow.

The speckles in some of the pictures are from the flash reflecting off the dust in the air--wild, eh? Alan played with the camera settings and found the one that was a little less dust-reflecting.

Amelia was coming down with a fever, and while she rode for a short spell, she spent the bulk of the party snuggled in my mom's lap. (I wish I'd taken a picture!) She actually fell asleep on Mom in front of the wood stove in the Wagon Wheel Cafe where the cake was served...poor little thing. She was fine a little more than a day later--just a fever, nothing else, and I'll take THAT any day over other kinds of illnesses.

Happy birthday, cousin Anna! Thanks for the cowgirl party!

February--when dairy farmers vacation!

Mindy & Raleigh ventured down from Upstate NY to stay at Andy & Jess's and have a holiday in Hamilton. What fun to add them & their kids to the goings-on! Beyond the regular weekly meals, we had an Asian-themed dinner at Tim & Di's on Valentine's Day (which included Shelley & our Appalachian Trail fellow hiker Melissa & her family) and enjoyed a gathering at our local Hamilton Tavern. (Mindy loved the farm-theme, so here are the pictures of the railing made from rakes, and the AWESOME front door made with the handle of some old farm implement. The restrooms are papered with the pages of old copies of classic literature--too cool! I think I'd like to do that in the girls' bedroom at some point.)

It was great to have Mindy & Raleigh, Anneke & Owen off the dairy farm and around for a while. (Thanks for the great beef and maple syrup you shared, too!) What a cool thing to know that Hamiltopia is now a vacation destination!

More Discoveries!

A couple of weeks ago Di's girls, Liv and Maddie, went with me & Evelyn to Port Discovery. (Alan was home with a napping Amelia.) I enjoyed seeing it from a teen and pre-teen's perspective (I think we crawled through the pitch-black, sound-and-texture-infested tunnel representing a household drain about six times--something I never do when it's just me and the toddlers.) Evelyn's favorite part continues to be the Buffalo Cowboy exhibit, as you can see. I dread having to define "traveling exhibit" in the next few weeks.

Evelyn, Amelia and I went to Port Discovery again today, actually, and had a great time. The city bus was crowded but not terrible, and at one stop a large African American man got on, put his bag on the seat next to Evelyn, and then stood. Evelyn reached up and began playing with the cord from his hoodie, and I immediately piped up, "Evelyn, it's not polite to touch people if you've never spoken with them." (Where do these things come from? Was that better than saying, "Don't touch that man, Evelyn?") So she put her hand down, looked innocently up into his face and said, "Can I touch you?"

He laughed, we laughed, and I sat back and enjoyed the rest of the cultural experience that is the city bus. Evelyn playing with strangers' hoodie cords, Amelia singing made-up words to the tune of "Joy to the World", and a man at the front of the bus preaching with an open Bible on his lap. He had a black-church, sing-song rhythm going, where he'd say, "Now we know from the Holy Bible--AH! That God lead Moses across the sea--AH! And God is calling you--AH! And He wants you to follow Him--AH! He wants you to look at Him--AH! And He wants you to listen--AH!" I kind of felt sorry for him because everyone around him was giving off MAJOR annoyed body language, so I made eye contact with him and smiled. Well...I think he felt that was the Spirit telling him to preach solely to ME. Fortunately we were off 2 stops later.

Let me assure you...

...that Evelyn's bug, "Joan," was most certainly a box-elder bug. While we've not had any experience with roaches in our house, we promise to instill in the girls a healthy disgust of them if they are ever introduced! (It did make me laugh to think that all my commenting about the typical levels of cleanliness at my house had raised some questions!)

PS-- Florida folks, we know that you did NOT think this was a palmetto bug. Alan lived there and you can saddle those things and ride 'em!