To Emry

Little girl,

Today you are four years old! And you are so delighted…although you are also very much like your Mama for with this milestone now accomplished, you are already talking about when you turn five!

This past year has been an exciting one. So many people warned me that “three is the new two” but I’m not sure that is entirely true. While you have certainly thrown up many challenges, I’m sure you will find more now that you are four. For some days you are a little drama queen, a little bully, defiant, stubborn and a living reminder that not only are you a sinner, but so am I. A little sinner I pray will one day know a powerful Savior.

But in the midst of all that, the age of three brought growth, and fun, and change. I feel you left the toddler moments behind and sprang into simply a little girl who loves “sparky” clothes, the color pink, Minnie Mouse, princess Legos, dancing, puzzles and games. I love watching your imagination grow. I love watching you learn how games are played or different things work. I love how you have even become a bit adventurous, throwing some of your careful calculating away as you climb the “spider web” at the park or learn to ride your new bike.

What amazes me most is your determination. One day, you simply set your mind to something and you do it. Like the first morning you dressed yourself. Now you get dressed every morning, which is sooo nice! (If only you could also brush your own hair!) Or you decided to clean the bathroom sink without even being asked because it’s on your chore list. Or when you do so well at your schoolwork, actually ignoring the fact that you cannot write every letter perfectly (even though you want to and often throw a fit when you don’t).

I also love the way you explain everything. (Well, sometimes I don’t when you’re in trouble and you’re trying to explain that away…) But watching you teach Ethan his colors, or explain to him the days of the week or how to play a game is very fun. Perhaps one day you will be a teacher, although you’re so very detailed at your explanations you might be better off as a college professor.

You have grown like a weed these past few months, much to my surprise! You love to run, you love to play with other kids, and you love to go to Sunday School (where you learned all about the bronze snake on the pole, which was your favorite game to play for weeks). You gobble down fruits and vegetables, love to be going just about anywhere (like your Papa) and even though you can pick fights and he can get on your nerves, you do love your little brother and watch out for him. 

I am very excited, little girl, that you are now four years old. I think it is going to be a fun year. But among all the things you will explore, and dare, and challenge, and learn; I pray you will learn more and more about Jesus. About how He loves you, and watches over you, and what sort of little girl He most wants you to be. Because no matter what this next year holds, He will remain the same.

I do love you!

Mama

The Third Wheel

At some point in our life, I am sure we have all been “the third wheel” – a common term in our vernacular. And one Wikipedia may even have right: “Someone who is superfluous”. Ouch.

My son is a third wheel. He doesn’t know it. And even if he did, I’m not sure he would really care. To him, it just is what it is. So, he dashes off to find his own thing to do…and comes back later to join in again.

I don’t mean this in reference to our family. I’m talking about the little trio of Emry, Ethan and their cousin Beto (who falls about right in the middle of them as he is a week shy of being exactly a year younger than Emry). Emry and Beto get along like two peas in a pod. Which is sometimes an odd couple. Emry is very black-and-white, exact and cautious. Beto is all over the place, lives half his life in the midst of his imagination and doesn’t know what cautious is because he’s simply not focused enough to think anything through. In those ways, he is actually more like Ethan. Which is, perhaps, why he finds a better playmate in Emry than in Ethan. A kind of “opposites attract” thing.

But watching the three of them is often hilarious. Beto spent most of today with us, which meant until the three of them went outside first to paint and then to cover themselves in mud and chalk, Emry and Beto played some imaginary game in Emry’s room while Ethan was soon kicked off the island and spent his time happily under my feet in the kitchen. He wasn’t at all put out with the idea that he was a third wheel and extremely superfluous to his sister and cousin. Quite the opposite, in fact. With Emry occupied by Beto, he had me all to himself and chatted up a storm as I went about my work. 

Of course, one day he may notice that he’s the third wheel and fight back. But I rather doubt it. For one, the dynamics among the cousins will change as they grow. And two, he already knows how to give as good as he gets. He’s a younger brother. Not only has he figured out exactly which buttons to push to rile Emry, he’s also got Beto’s number. And he pushes with a twinkle in his little blue eyes.

I am curious to discover, though, over Easter when my sister Katey is here with her boys what he’ll be like as a “fifth wheel”. Because that is what he will be. It’s been nearly two years since all five of them have been together, so it will be different. But Ethan is the youngest and he simply tends to be the one who is forever left on the sidelines observing – unnoticed by the others who have no idea how observant this little guy actually is. Watching…and waiting…

Yeah…it’s going to be an interesting Easter…

Happy 3^rd Birthday, Beto!

 My nephew – the birthday boy

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

My “baby” brother with his favorite (only) niece!

50¢ Corndogs

As a family, we don’t eat out very often. Coffee and donut holes at Dunkin’ Donuts are usually our go-to-we-can-afford-that treat. Oh, and ice cream. Because ice cream is absolutely essential in one’s diet and budget. Right? 

Anyhow…

This morning I got a text stating that Sonic was having 50¢Corndogs all day! Now that is something I can afford. Even if we throw in an order of tator tots and cherry limeades (1/2 price via the app!). So, we had dinner out!

Emry loves corndogs. Ethan is a picky eater so he ate about half of it and then I had to take off the breaded part so he would eat the rest of the hotdog. Emry had a couple of tater tots. Ethan is beyond bizarre and doesn’t eat anything dealing with a potato. Both LOVE strawberry limeades and the mini size is perfect for little people. And even though it was a bit windy out, the weather wasn’t bad either.

 Emry and her strawberry limeade.

Ethan and his corndog.