Tidbits

• Few things are as wondeful than hearing my wee babes pray. Eden said "Amen" for the first time yesterday. Um, yeah, so that's her 3rd word. Dada, Momma, and Amen. Pretty cool. Owen's prayers are full of "thank you for friends," "thank you for camping mountains," "thank you for Dad, Momma, Eden, Owen, Pacas (his word for Grandmas and Grandpas) and friends" (he thanks God frequently for friends).
• Both kids are singing old-school Sunday School songs with me (I tend to sing when making meals for them). Owen is really good at "Jesus Loves Me" and "Down In My Heart." In the latter, he hollers out "WHERE?!" everyone time I pause. Then I hear him throughout the day singing "...joy, joy, joy--where?" Eden keeps up pretty good too. I think she'll be singing before she's talking.
• Owen's speech is rapidly developing these days. I hear him playing with his toys acting out stories. He will do voices for each of his trains and cars. I love that all his trains remember to say please and thank you.
• I'm thrilled that my kiddos get along so well, and play together frequently by choice. They do enjoy their quiet separate time, but for the most part they want to be together.
• Eden took a dive out the front door this week. Owen saw Daddy coming, and not realizing that Eden was leaning on the screen--he opened the screen door. She caught herself, but not before scrapping her head on the concrete. Ouch. A little blood, a few tears, and seconds later she was up and running again.
• In the last week it seems Owen's desire to learn has increased to warp speed. It took us a month in January to get about a week's worth of schooling done. We've zipped through 2 weeks this week alone, and done several extra projects. I learned that as long as I keep new things on the school wall, he'll eagerly want to get them done. It usually takes a bit of prodding to start, but once he's started he zooms through the rest. He asks A LOT of questions, occasionally asks for help, and is bummed when we stop (usually b/c he's finished all that I've prepared). We've been working on colors, shapes, writing letters, learning new words, number recognition and counting, understanding things like same or different, and lining things up in a row. He's also learning parts of the body, and we're reading "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". (We're also reading "James and the Giant Peach" at naptime). He recently made a collage and learned about Henry Matisse. From previous posts you know that he recognizes and can write his own name. He's a sharp kid, and works very hard.
• I start my new job on Monday. It's the weirdest thing--normally I would be overwhelmed with anxiousness and excitement, but I'm very peaceful about it. I am thrilled and looking forward to working, but I don't feel stress. Too cool.
• Matt has applied for several worship-leader positions, we're praying for one nearby. We don't want to move, but we've put this on God's shoulders to handle. A few weeks ago it seemed that Matt would lose several hours at Starbucks, but he's maintained a steady schedule. Starbucks has changed their policies on vacation accrual, so he having to take vacation time. This turns out to be a blessing in disguise, b/c Matt really needs (WE ALL NEED) some down time together.
• Lately I feel that I'm coming into my own skin, becoming much more acceptive of who I am. I announced to Matt a few nights ago that I'm the type of girl who tucks her hair behind her ears and scrunches her sleeves up--and I'm okay with that. Okay, that sounds odd, but had you been living in my head the last 28 years you'd know that I argue with myself daily about those things and others. I'm constantly telling myself to stop tucking & scrunching. Why? Somewhere during life I told myself it wasn't okay for whatever reasons. So, if you see me tucking my hair behind my ears and scrunching my sleeves up--just smile.
• Speaking of smiling--I got called for jury duty for the first time!! I'm so excited. I hope they pick me! In college I went to trials for my law classes (back in the day when I planned to go to law school). I had such a good time that I kept going FOR FUN! (Yes, I'm a freak. A hair tucking, sleeve scrunching, jury duty loving, FREAK, but hey--I'm okay with that. ;)