Carli-isms

I'm catching up on e-mail and my class discussions while the girls are in the tub. I'm hearing some funny things...thought I'd let you in on the laugh.

Carli's singing to Olivia "If you're happy and you know it." She's changing it up a bit though: "If you're happy and you know it say 'shampoo!'"

Carli's been taking a real interest in big words, recently. Her newest on is judgement, since she overheard me say that I was going to eat another piece of lasagna against my better judgement. Now she's always saying that something is a judgement.

Disclaimer: If you're easily offended, you might want to stop here.

The other day, Carli walked in on Glen shaving in the bathroom with his shirt unbuttoned. (Is that a dangling modifier? I'm too tired to work on rewording that. Hopefully you get the idea.) Anyway, she was quite amazed, stunned, whatever, with what must be a new concept for her: chest hair. She wondered what it was, and daddy said that well, sometimes boys have hair on their chest, but girls don't. After a moment of serious thought, Carli asked, "Does GOD have hair on His chest?" Glen and I about died laughing!

Long Post....coming soon! In other words, not today!

I just couldn't resist taking a minute to tell you all about a new book I'm hearing talked about. I have it a request in for it at the library. It's called, Does this clutter make my butt look big?

Background. One of my favorite people to watch in action is Peter Walsh, a professional organizer. What I love about Peter (besides his lovely accent) is that instead of just making a clean sweep of the clutter, he really gets to the heart of the issue of clutter. One thing I just heard him say was that even when our clutter is neatly organized, so many of us just have SO MUCH STUFF!!! We save things that have sentimental value, but it's not in a treasured spot. Rather it's packed away or in piles and definitely not looking treasured. Or we save because "we might need it some day." His newest book Does this clutter make my butt look big? connects our clutter to our fat! Ouch! He said in a cluttered home, there is absolutely no way to make healthy choices, either emotionally, physically or spiritually when you live in clutter.

Clutter, even organized (in other words, way more stuff than you need and use regularly), points to a deeper issue, namely that we're trying to feel a hole. Hmmm. Maybe he should be a preacher. Funny how Christians (and I'm preaching to myself here, too) can take the moral high ground because we're not alcoholics, drug addicts, or hooked on cigarettes. But somehow it's ok to be addicted to food or to having so much stuff.

My house is pretty organized right now (I didn't say garage!), except for a stray drawer or cupboard here or there. But Glen and I both are excited for a few weeks from now when we basically have to pack the whole house so our carpet can be laid, because we're going to declutter even more. And shopping in the future? Do I really need another book because it looks interesting and it's only 10 cents? Do I really need yet another CD even though it's on clearance at Half Price for $1??? At some point it's just ridiculous--And addicting. How freeing to just let it go!

Ok, enough. I didn't mean to drag that out so long.

Long post coming soon to tell you about our trip!

Carli

After six days of running a fever and laying around and two trips to the dr and one chest x-ray, we finally have an answer! Carli has pneumonia. After only two doses of antibiotic, her fever has yet to return today. I'm so relieved to have an answer so I can quit worrying.

Ok, back to schoolwork!

Patience, My dear, Patience

Hi, one and all. I just wanted to write a quick post to all my friends. I am so behind on my emails and phone calls, and I'm just afraid that it's not going to happen this week. I think this will be one of the more hectic weeks of 2008 thus far. It's an exciting kind of busy since we're getting ready for a DC trip, which of course includes finishing up a mountain of schoolwork and housework, plus taking Carli to and from preschool, choir practice, etc, packing AND shopping for small gifts that Glen promised the girls for every day that they are at Grandma's (parts of 4 days all together). I'm so sorry that I've not been the best in communication these last few months. I'm hoping that once I'm back into accounting courses rather than these ones that require a lot of writing, I'll be able to be a better communicator! :) Anyway, until next week....hope you still love me!!!

Pajama day, field trip and Baby Koen

Hi, again! This post has been building for a while. Crazy busy with a sick kid (Carli) and finishing up a Macroeconomics course--still a few days to go. I have my writing done for the paper, but I have to put our team's paper in APA format, read two more chapters in my book (have you ever tried to stay awake reading economics?), complete the chapter problems, complete class discussion posts and team questions, and take my final. So consider this quick post a treat!! :)

Last Thursday was Carli's favorite preschool day yet--Pajama Day! You would have thought she was a grown woman for as many times as she changed her mind on what to wear. She was especially tickled that her's kinda matched Mrs. Wilson's--purple with snowmen!

The following pictures are of Carli's fieldtrip to Firestation #1. She was especially impressed with five firemen sliding down the pole.

(Before we left the classroom for the fieldtrip, they were going through their morning routine with their opening song, prayer, calendar, weather, etc, but that morning's little helper wasn't there. So they were drawing names, and Mrs. Wilson drew Carli's name to help determine the weather. She held it up to show what name it was, asking whose it was, and Carli bounded out of her seat, and said "It's mine!" The parent beside me said, "It's too bad she's so shy. Maybe she'll grow out of it," totally tounge-in-cheek, of course. They all think she's adorable, and their boys do too! :) )

Today we had the special treat of babysitting a 22-day-old baby boy, Koen. His mom is a single parent and called the church two weeks ago, in desperate need of help. She had to go back to school (nursing, I think) one week after the baby was born and was desperate for help, as the daycare assistence program doesn't take newborns until 6-8 weeks. Our children's pastor, Kraig, emailed our SS class to see if there was anyone who could help the girl. Another lady and I both volunteered. April is keeping the baby mostly, and I'm filling in when needed. Today was our first day! He's so dear, and his mother really caring and sweet and I think she really loves her kids and takes care of them well. I did nothing this morning but take care of the little bundle. I could hardly put him down! The girls absolutely loved him, and I had to work to keep them out of his face. I definitely could see the difference in Carli and Olivia's personalities with the baby. Carli thought he was cute and wanted to feed him, but when I let Olivia "hold" him, she would rock him back and forth and coo and shush him like a little mama.

Here's some pictures: please excuse my straggly kids...I hadn't dressed and combed them by 8 when Koen arrived!

Yesterday, I think I felt the baby move. And Olivia said "Goodnight, Car-ee." And Carli looked at something in the kitchen and said, "That says 'apple,' doesn't it?" She is learning so much. I'm always amazed at the creative things her teacher comes up with.