Bundle of Naughties

“I’ve thought a great deal lately about my ‘bundle of naughties....'"

Amy March ~ Little Women

Ella is a menace.

If it weren't for that dimple and winsome grin she would spend 2/3 of her life in time out.

That "bundle of naughties" quote from Little Women has popped into my head so many times in situations with Ella. She has a very large "bundle of naughties" and my fear and expectations are that it is only going to get bigger.

Today she cut off a HUGE chunk of her hair. This is the 2nd time.

I could kick myself for not realizing she was up to something when she walked past me w/ a big "I love you" smile, hands discreetly behind her back in a shy, innocent sort of way. HAH!

She had enough thought/guilt process to come downstairs, sneak scissors past me, go back up and get the trash can out of their bathroom, chop off her hair and throw it away and then replace the scissors.

"Why did you do that, Ella?"

"Because it was in my eyes."

This reminded me of the time I asked her why she colored all over the chair and she said, "because I couldn't find any paper." (Oh, well in that case....)

Or when she had an accident in her bed and told Heath that it must have rained in her room.

Or when she swore to me, mouth brown w/ chocolate and silver foil wrappers strewn about the floor behind her, that she didn't get into the candy jar.

Or when she swallowed a penny at Vacation Bible School and at least that time she admitted she didn't quite know why she did it. (it meant more to Heath than me to look for the "outcome" of that one)

She marks up our leather sofa w/ crayon; she frequently empties her pj draw and dresses her stuffed animals w/ them; and she has been known to rub yogurt and applesauce on her head for no good reason.

And yet she is still so easy to love.

She needs to thank the Lord for that sweet dimple.

Marley the 1st Grader

Marley started 1st grade and loves it!! Her teacher, Ms. Crawford, is new to the school this year so Marley was a little curious about what she would look like. The night before school started we sat down and had a little fun trying to draw pictures of her. She turned out to be a very lovely young lady (unlike one of the potential drawings I did) and Marley told me that if she could have chosen any teacher, she would have picked Ms. Crawford!

So far we are off to a good school year!

We live about 1/2 a mile from the school and Marley drove me crazy last year asking to be a "walker." No less than once a week she would make the request. So this year I decided I would park at my friend Beth's house (which is right across the street from the school) and she and several friends would be "walkers". Basically this means she will walk the length of the soccer fields across from the school and then I wait there w/ my car to pick her up. With that plan in action, Heath was waiting for her on her 2nd day.....she told him she didn't want to be a "walker" anymore because it was too far.

Sometimes that child exasperates me.

This is Marley and her best friend Kailey.

Kailey and Marley were in the same preschool and Kindergarten class and spend alot of time together so it took some preparation to break the news to them that they weren't in the same 1st grade class. Surprisingly, they took it well.

Yesterday, Marley told me that when they get to school in the morning she says "See you at recess, Kailey!" and then after recess she says, "see you at lunch, Kailey!" and then after lunch she says, "see you after school, Kailey!"

How sweet that not even being separated by a hallway could sever their friendship!!

I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder!

We love Kailey and look forward to their friendship growing even stronger over the years.

Ella Goes to Preschool

Today was Ella's big day and she was so excited!

She will be going to Twin City Baptist Preschool for PreK on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 - 3:00.

I am even more excited than she is because I have that time all to myself!!

We are so thankful that she will share her preschool experience w/ her friends Logan & Gabe.

Marley also went to Twin City 2 years ago and I asked her if she had any advice for Ella on her first day. After asking me what advice was and getting a pretty good explanation, she went on to tell Ella to "always say please & thank you" & "obey your teacher."

Can't go wrong there.

At the end of the day when I picked Ella up I asked her what she thinks of preschool and she said, "I love it! I love it! I love it!"

Good enough for me!

Sweet Childish Days

"Sweet childish days, that were as long

as twenty days are now."

William Wordsworth

I had grandiose plans for this summer.

I was going to take the girls swimming several times a week and picnic in the park once or twice.

We were going to get away several weekends and go to Aquariums and Zoos.

I was going to hostess tons of cook-outs and everyone would be laughing and chatting by the tiki light while the kids played joyfully somewhere off in the background.

I even kicked around the idea of planning some sort of "day camp" w/ friends (which by the way, I totally want to do next year!!).

Yes, this summer was going to be an incredible, event filled 11 weeks......

And now here I sit 4 nights before school starts and even though we didn't do any of the above (we did swim a few times) the girls still seemed to have had a wonderful summer! Children can take an ordinary day and turn it into something spectacular. It took me 10 weeks to realize that I don't have to entertain them ~ they love entertaining themselves.

My memory was jogged on Monday night as the yard was full of children well past dark. I was tempted to call them in several times because we needed to get the "schooltime routine" established, but I got caught up listening to their voices and laughter. It instantly took me back to my sisters & brother and I playing ghost in the graveyard and swinging statues with our neighbors Pat, Elva & Blooper Sipple (I'm not making those names up) and Natasha. We played way past dark, until eventually parents would start yelling out their windows that it was time to come in.

And lightening bugs ~ remember chasing lightening bugs?

So, in honor of my childhood days, I think next year my list for the summer will look something more like the following:

• play hide & seek and red rover several times a week
• eat a bologna sandwich and drink lemonade on the back step while still dirty from playing
• run in the sprinkler
• form a secret club with neighbors
• go for a family car ride w/ all of the windows down, music playing and eveyone singing along
• catch lightening bugs