Doing the Next Thing

Never be within doors when you can rightly be without -- Charlotte Mason

"New" bike found after weeks of praying and searching thrift stores: $15.15 6yo boy learning to wait for God's perfect timing and provision: Priceless His joy & gratitude were genuine and overflowing.

salad, anyone?

playing dress-up (tied the tie all by himself!)

I take for granted sometimes that my Littles know all the things I've been teaching the Big 3 lo these many years. But I discovered yesterday there are some ... shall we say ... gaps in their body of knowledge about Advent and the Nativity. So I did it ... I broke down yesterday and bought this: The Little People Nativity set. Family Christian Store had it on sale. It's not elegant. It's a bit cartoonish. But it's got A (5) and K (3) enjoying the Christmas Story for hours on end and sparking their interest in hearing the story from the Bible.

I'm guessing the 12 yo boy's thought process went something like this: If the cozy coupe toddler car is fun for little kids, I bet it would be fun for me. But I don't fit very well, so let's take the roof off. Now, what would be really fun is if we rode it down the driveway. [ our drive is slightly sloped] "Hey, A! (4yo) Come over here and let me push you down the driveway in K's (2yo) car! Coool! Now, grab the end of my grappling hook and I'll pull you!" Their ability to come up with creative ideas of trying to kill themselves never ceases to amaze me. Thankfully the only casualty in this escapade was a sippy cup.

I just had to share a glimpse of recess today at the Next Thing house. I went out to check on the kiddos and here's what I found: -M (9) with a plastic knife and cup, cutting of sprigs of boxwood, pretending they are herbs for her "soup" -C (12) hammering an old piece of crumbling concrete, just because. He said, "Mom, can I just keep hammering? It's fun." -K (2) taking great delight in running in an out of the bushes - Laughing at herself when no one is looking -S (14) watching over things and using sticks to make speed bumps for A (4), who is racing down the grassy hill on his tricycle like Evil Kenevil --and then... S taking his turn going over the speed bumps on A's little bike It doesn't always look this happy, but I love it when they are all using their imaginations, enjoying each other's company, and (for the big boys) ignoring the world's notion that they're too old to "play." Thank you, Lord, for this sweet vision of...

Things that made today sweet: -some good finds at the library -some awesome deals at Good*will: bike $8; boots $3; kids on bike and in boots-priceless -finding three of these that call our garden home -fresh air on a pretty day -ending the day, thanks to a Star Wars cookbook found at the library, with yummy "Darth Malts."

I was busy giving the Big 3 a "mini-lecture" on taking ownership of their own behavior and responsibility for their chores. I wrapped up my speech and went to find A and K. It was very quiet. A was supposed to be unloading the silverware from the dishwasher, but the kitchen was abandoned, drawers open, silverware basket perched on the counter. Ok, now I was worried. Did he let himself out of the house without permission? I peeked into the garage, to see if the outside door was open. When I did, I saw this: Of course I laughed to myself. And being the good blogger that I am, before scolding him for opening a door without permission, I grabbed my camera to capture the moment. He, of course saw me at that point and came running over so I could snap this picture: He's saying, "mwah-ha-ha-haaa" in a very menacing voice! He and K continued to march around the garage, chanting "ha-ha-haaaa" like some kind of masked pirates. These two are quite a pair - remem...