Friday Five Years

Okay, so I was away from home, babysitting for some friends for almost all of Friday. Precious children, but I couldn't think about much else!

So today, the Friday/Saturday Five is for the Five Autumns we have lived in this house. We moved in during September of 2006 and it has been such a blessing to be here! Remembering how the Lord provided for us that summer in living situations gives me continued faith that He has the best plan and timing for our lives now. Though my time table said "Job by May of 2010," God has a different idea. I'm patiently waiting for Him to reveal it to us and I'm so thankful for His loving provision for us in the mean time.

The best way to mark these five autumns is by Abigail's pumpkin pictures for each year we were here. I've posted them before, but here they are again, with a new one!

1. October 2006

 

 2. October 2007

 

3. October 2008

 

4. October 2009

5. October 2010

Already?

Our slow, relaxing golf morning turned into a very nervous one for me when Jake said yes to this question: "Can I drive, Daddy?" He kept his foot on the gas, full speed ahead, for some crazy driving that had me wanting to jump out of the cart, dragging my family with me, several times. Jake may have some fingerprint bruises on his arm from me... and he is a little wounded by my lack of confidence in him. But seriously, he kept his foot all the way down on the gas, not slowing when doom seemed close by. I have to admit she got a little better by the end and I don't have a lot of experience with golf carts... Here is a video of our little girl... DRIVING A GOLF CART.

Missing

MISSING

Sweet little girl with curly hair and green eyes, likes long hugs and cuddles (and pretending to be a lion in tall grass).

She was replaced by a child that is almost the same, but she squirms out of hugs as often as possible and often acts like a teenager:

REWARD: A LONG HUG

Friday Five: Wildlife

Today we encountered a lot of wildlife. Mostly because we went to a 'Barnyard Birthday Bash' for Abigail's friend Maggie. We went to a petting farm where most of the animals just share this large yard (the horses, cows and pigs are penned up).

1. One very nice, calm and patient pony! Although when I petted his mane, white got on my hands? What's that all about?

2. Two Donkeys. This is the first time we were at the petting farm and the donkeys were out roaming free. They were very nice and one gave us a few hee-haws for our listening pleasure.

 

3. Goats. Usually I'm a big fan of goats. The goats at this farm though... they're slightly annoying. They were still fun to pet and we got to feed them too! Sorry this isn't a great picture, I was trying to get a 'V' for my letter prints. Yeah, it didn't turn out so well. But I did get a 'V' from Donkey legs!

 

4. Does a bird's nest count as wildlife? We found this one on the ground at the farm and it seems that the birds flew the coop a long time ago. Bird nests are so cool.

 

5. Giant Praying Mantis. This thing was on the wall of our house when we came home. So cool. How big is it? Too big to fit inside a spaghetti sauce jar comfortably. We put her in a gallon container to keep until Daddy gets home. Abigail is currently looking for her (the mantis's) bug dinner!

Here is some of the human wild life from today:

Friday Five

Okay, so I realized almost none of my 'top five' lists were actual top fives. So decided to change it to the "Friday Five."

The five most repeated conversations in our family:

1. me: "Abigail don't do that because you--" her (interrupting): "Why??!?" me: sigh.
2. me: "Abigail, I don't want you to (fill in the blank)." her: "Why?" me: "Because (fill in the blank) will happen." her: "No it won't." me: "Well then, because I said so."
3. Abigail, holding up her artwork: "Mama, isn't this beautiful?" me: "Oh yes, nice job!" her: "Why?" me: "Why what." her: "Why is it beautiful?"
4. me: "Okay, Abigail you can (fill in the blank with something she likes to do) now!" her: "Why?" me: "Well, if you don't want to, we can certainly take it away!"
5. me: some kind of imperative for Abigail. her, while not obeying the imperative, in ultra-whinny voice: "WwwWhhHYyy?!?!" me: "Because." her: "But you're not telling me why!!"

I sure hope she turns out smart.
And despite what I make it look like, I'm rather happy that she understands the word 'why' because I can ask her the same question and get a real answer! I'm afraid I had many a frustrating day when Abigail was smaller and did something and couldn't tell me why because she didn't understand the question. And I do enjoy answering her 'whys' when they are asked with a good attitude and with genuine curiosity!

 

(we went to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville in September on the Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day. It was so fun!)

Brain Teaser

Which of these girls is bigger?

Answer: Neither! They are the same size!

The detail oriented among you might have noticed these differences:

hair/helmet different, different kinds of bikes, different expressions. 

But then you would have seen that the girl was wearing the same clothes and that her face was indeed the same. Then you would have come to the conclusion that the bigger bike must be making the girl in the right picture look like she is bigger, when really she isn't. To these observant people I have to say, congratulations on your keen insight. Now go take the SAT or something.

Top Five Details I Love About Abigail

It is her birthday week after all. And of course, you can't pick just five. But I will.

1. When we go to the store and there are bins of toys/candy/fabric/etc, she sorts out of place items into the correct bins.
2. She's flexible. If something doesn't work out and you explain it, she's usually good about it.
3. She actually licks her lips when she sees something yummy. And says, "mmMMMmm."
4. When she gives butterfly kisses her little fingers flap like butterflies.
5. She loves to snuggle and get hugs and kisses.

4 years old

Last week Abigail and I were counting the days until her birthday on the calendar.

me: I can't believe you're getting so big!
we think.
her: Are you going to miss your baby?
I grin.
me: Yes, I am.
her: But it's okay, because kids have to grow up?
me: Yes, they do.

Our little girl is now 4 years old and treasured greatly. Here are some details about her.

• 41" tall (75th percentile)
• 36.5 pounds (50-75th percentile)
• Last time to the doctor: over a year ago, for her 3 year check up! Crazy.
• Favorite Colors: orange and pink
• Favorite Movie: Lion King
• Favorite TV Show: Rescue Rangers
• Favorite Foods: "My favorite kind of pizza" which means Papa Johns or Dominos pepperoni (though she often takes the pepperonis off), hot dogs, crunchy peanut butter and jelly, nuts, oatmeal, treats, yogurt, cheese sticks, goldfish/whales, pancakes and waffles with syrup, honey, "chocolate treats, chocolate chips, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, and everything chocolate that I don't know about."
• Favorite Toys: puzzles, Simba, coloring, painting, crafting, books, random stuffed animals, pennies, cars, plastic tea set, 'fuzzy balls' (those little pompoms they sell for crafting), tricycle. Now in the few short days after her birthday add: princess bike, Ariel (her giggling pink build-a-bear), calico critters doll house, ladybug kite. 
• Other Favorites: sparkly flip flops, Ariel nightgown, Disney anything, Tweety Bird shirt (she insists that Tweety Bird is Disney because she loves both of them. We keep telling her he's warner bros...), lime green 80's shorts that are like short leggings, going to the playground (but not the covered slides or swinging big), MUSIC (kid's music in particular)
• What she wants to be when she grows up: A teacher for bigger kids. How long has she wanted to do this? "Since I was a born." Other options are: a cleaner and the latest, a house painter who helps people who are too tired to paint their house (this was so out of the blue I can't even describe it). 
• What she most talked about related to her birthday before it happened: That Grandma, Papa, and Jonathan were coming. And that she would be as old as Ruby. "But Ruby already grewed up."
• Our weekly activities: Gymnastics, girls lunch with Betsy and Rachael, Bible study, cleaning at Mary's (Abigail watches a movie), library story time, playgroup.
• Bedtime Routine: Brush teeth; potty; pick vitamin; don pjs; hide with blankie and simba; call up non helping parent to pray; wait to be found, but can't be called Abigail yet; pray; she says, "Just kidding, I'm Abigail!"; Hugs, kisses and butterfly kisses for Mommy and Daddy; do two tricks, right now usually jumping off of chest, crawling on the light on the floor which comes in from the hall, flip on bed; while jumping on bed, catch simba, who is thrown by Daddy; Pull blankie off of Mommy's face when she says, "Help me, Help me!" Mommy then must say, "Thank you Gadget, Rescue Ranger."; Lie down and get tucked in with blankie and Simba, Simba must face a certain direction; Mommy tells a bedtime story; call out to Mommy as she leaves, "You're silly!"; Mommy leaves and closes the door, then shouts "You're silly!" THE END. She's okay if we have to take out some steps sometimes. But usually we humor her...
• What to be for Halloween: Tinkerbell. Her friends will be: Peter Pan (James), Wendy (Ruby), Indian Princess (Maggie), Dog (Bonnie Kate). Thinking about... Captain Hook (Jake????), Pirate (Charissa????)