See Baby look.

Reach. Touch.

See Baby want.

Grasp. Drop.

See Baby hold.

Look. Look. See Baby.

See Baby strain.

Struggle. Cry.

See Baby turn.

Push. Stretch.

See Baby roll.

Look. Look. See Baby.

See Baby squirm.

Wriggle. Twist.

See Baby rock.

Move.  Fall.

See Baby crawl.

Look. Look. See Baby.

See Baby hope.

Know. Need.

See Baby sit.

Wobble. Stand.

See Baby grow.

“Hey kids!  Let’s have a scavenger hunt!”

“Yea!”, “I love scavenger hunts!”

“This is going to be a measuring scavenger hunt.  Okay?”

“Okay”, “Cool”

So I handed them a sheet with the following and gave a little basic instruction on what they were looking for.

FIND SOMETHING THAT IS:

1 - 3 INCHES _____________________

5 - 10 INCHES _____________________

10 - 15 INCHES _____________________

15 - 20 INCHES _____________________

20 - 30 INCHES _____________________

30 - 40 INCHES _____________________

40 - 50 INCHES _____________________

50 - 60 INCHES _____________________

She was to write in what they found and he was to take a picture.  They were over halfway finished and all was going well until he decided to be a typical boy and swing the camera like a lasso over his head and she decided to react like a typical big sister and tell him to stop.  It pretty much deteriorated from there.

Still, I maintain that in some ideal world this could work.

*updated to add a couple of pictures that survived the carnage

.

I love poetry.  It’s one of my favorite things.  It’s also one of those things I want my children to appreciate.  Sister apparently has different thoughts on the subject.

I think she was surprised by how much I truly enjoyed her attempt contempt.

I tried to convince them.  I suggested and cajoled.  I almost begged.  Almost.  Maybe I should have but they were so sure.

No, we do not want store bought Valentine’s.  We want to make them.  Yes, all 41 of them.  Each.  (That’s 82, but who’s counting?)

And you know what?  They did. (Well, she did and he helped assemble the pieces that I had printed and cut out the night before while watching the season premiere of Lost.)

In other Valentine news there was no romantic date because Brother had an unfortunate ‘bout of “I don’t feel so good’s” just as we were getting ready to walk out the door. BUT Will did have this delivered:

It’s a replacement for the one he designed himself and purchased for my birthday after hearing a random comment I made about how much I love Amazon.com.  It’s a replacement for the one I adored but that got stained and would never come completely clean.  And this time around he included a bonus for Dora.

And one last bit of romance news.

Last night was not as restful as I’d have liked so this afternoon I lay down on the couch for a nap. Before I did I told Will I was debating whether to make cookies or take a nap but the nap was winning.  He laughed and woke me up an hour later with a glass of milk and a plate of warm cookies he’d made while I was sleeping.  So sweet.

[Insert picture of cookies here ]

You’ll have to use your imagination for this one. They disappeared too fast to be photographed.

After days weeks of waiting, Dora’s first pearly white appears.

All the things I have to do
Like Noah’s ark march two by two
A never ending laundry list
of tasks cry out not to be missed
Each one vies for my attention
Hopes at least for honorable mention
A daily contest: who will win
Dishes?
Dust? or
Three children?

In the midst of this commotion
Comes a balm, a magic potion
Seeping to my very core
Something that will peace restore
In chapter 3 of Lamentation
A promise that will end frustration
I have hope, I’m not consumed
The days loom large but I’m not doomed

With morning’s light hail mercies new
Compassions from my God debut
Faithful Father, One I need
Daily for Your help I plead
Please, this raging storm abate
Seeking you my soul doth wait.
Peace descends ~ still much to do
But now I know that I have You.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”

Lamentations 3:21-25 (KJV)