Trip to Texas (Tova and Ben); Camping and Climbing; Moment Mellows this Morning

 I am working on the computer and Penelope is coloring in a book across from me.  The rest of the house is strangely silent and I'm trying not to fear that the other little ones might be wreaking havoc.  Hmmm...

Occasionally, Penelope will say, "Mama?"

I will sweetly reply, "What, Penelope?"

She will mumble.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Penelope?"

"Blah, blah, mumble, dah dum." 

Smile.

I love tender little sweet two year old conversations.

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We just got back from a trip to Texas visiting Tova and Ben.  It was so lovely to be with them!  I love how family feels so right together.

Tova time!

This is the crack that Liesl and Penelope climbed through first.

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Right now, I can hear Havala strumming and singing in the other room.  Maia is getting dramatic and awesome with her Duolingo Spanish.  Xai just spent about an hour perusing old Singing Bees posts all about him and laughing again and again at the funny ones.  Quinn is madly doing work so he can be ready for his trip next week.  I am trying to stay calm and centered, knowing that this life is not about rushing madly through a list of items on a checklist but to be tested to see if my sincere desire is to trust God and be glorified of Him.  That delicious mandate is so wonderfully non-specific, but it does eliminate certain things: fear, doubt, distress, denial, refusal. I am grateful.

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The kids just came up. They were looking for Easter supplies in the store room. While I can only imagine what the store room looks like at this point, it was a productive, intentional process.  So fun!

 For the past two nights, I have been serenaded as kids go to sleep with a litany of how much they hate me and what a horrible mom I am.  Thank you, Liesl and Maia.  Hopefully tonight will be better.  

Xai excitedly informed Oma and Opa last night that they were great grandparents to Akos and that someday they would meet him!  So funny.  Great news for them, lol.    Oma told him that she has actually met Akos before.  News flash!

Before I went to Texas to be with Tova and Ben after their baby passed, Penelope would call both Quinn and I “Mommy.”  After I got back from Texas, all of a sudden, I was Daddy!  No way!  I have worked tirelessly and patiently since then (so for over a month) and finally she is calling me “Mommy” again!  And she’s back to calling Quinn “Mommy” as well.   Apparently she just has a universal parent word.  She also has a universal older-sister-in-the-house term, “Hava.”  “Eli” is the term for older younger brothers.  It was super cute the other day: we finished setting the table (with her help) and she started yelling loudly, “Eli! Eli!”

This morning I called up to Xai, “Hey!  Do you want to come down and help me update our job charts?” He let out an excited gasp.  “I can’t come down!!! I’m not wearing anything green!!!!”  I jumped up from the table where I was sitting and dashed into my closet to change before I got pinched.  That startled Penelope awake, who hurriedly awoke, slid out of bed and dashed out of the room (I think she was looking for the usual cartoon that is playing in the front room).  Now she is rubbing her soft fuzzy hair against my arm…I think she is pretending to be a puppy.

Xai has been doing a TON of writing in his workbook!  He is analyzing stories, identifying parts of speech and other grammatical challenges.  And his handwriting is so improved!  We found this Groove calligraphy book where the kiddos actually follow the grooves and it has helped so much!  

Working on clearing our felled tree!  Eli commented, "I love being strong!"