Backlog

It's ashamedly been a while since I actually made a post on this blog (over a year)... but I've had a huge list building of notes on my phone regarding cute events and memories that I had to share. So be prepared to read back a while as I post a load of good stories that I have backdated to when I noted them in the phone.

Favorite Outfit

One of the funny things about our little guy has become his propensity to want to wear one outfit… literally one. A pair of Carter’s “Super Sleepyhead” Giraffe pajamas with short bottoms… even now that its December (which considering that its suppose to hit 70 degrees on Christmas, it means nothing in Georgia). For the past couple of months, he has sought only to wear these clothes. Starting in the beginning of November, his mother informed me that she was pretty sure he had worn his favorite outfit for four days straight.

Day and night. Before and after baths. Four days. Straight.

She had to finally peel them off him so she could wash them, much to his frustration. But once they were washed and dried, he was quickly to show up wearing his favorite outfit. In fact, later that week he had quite the meltdown when I forced him to change out of them and wear pants so he could go to Awana.

We took him Christmas shopping a few weeks ago and made him wear pants. Joshua kept trying to hid his legs at the restaurant so no one would see him wearing pants. Because, after all, he would “look weuhd.” Yep, wearing pants in December is pretty weird (well, perhaps in Georgia this year).

Call the Cops

This evening, Stephanie showed the family a photo of her step-brother in his new police officer’s uniform. Aubrey, who is enamored with her Uncle Cameron and his ability to be a human jungle gym, quickly pipped up and said, "I hope someone breaks into our house so Cameron will come and give me a hug."

I’m sure there are less invasive ways to encourage a visit from a relative…

Refill?

This evening, as we were around the dinner table, finishing another “peaceful” (ha, ha… anything but) dinner, Joshua in his mother’s lap, I looked over to see little J sipping water out of his own cup and spitting it back out in his mother’s glass.

Sure that his mother was unaware of his actions, I asked loudly, “Joshua, why are you spitting in your mama’s glass?”

This quickly got her attention (and everyone else’s) and Joshua replied, “I’m fillin it back up.”

We all got a good laugh at his toddler logic.

Fear Not Festival 2016

For Halloween, we took the family to our church for the Fear Not Festival. Stephanie volunteered and spent the evening happily painting children’s faces. Aubrey and Elijah both ended up with other friends and families, while I spent almost the whole time at the inflatables watching Joshua repeatedly go through the obstacle course over and over and over again. He loved it and didn’t care about much anything else. One of the teenagers manning the station kept asking him for a high-five as he climbed up the ladder for the final slide. His response was classic toddler talk (or drunk friend at a party). "No, "he would laugh, "Elijah has braces."

The Gospel at Bedtime

Tonight, I am extremely proud of my oldest son. And it's not because he played his best at his soccer game tonight (which we still lost 0-2), nor to the fact that he scored so well on his last science test (whereas most of his classmates did not do so well). No, I'm proud because he reflected his creator in a powerful way.

As with every soccer night, we get home and are trying to rush to get the kids in bed before 9 o'clock, (which never happens). After the kids got a bath and had their teeth brushed, we sat down to read the Bible. The kids were getting in their positions when Jay hopped back up and ran over to the books again. I told him repeatedly, “Come here first, J. Come here first.” But he would not listen. He forced my hand, and I had to tell him, “No stories tonight.” He immediately broke down in tears. I expected his mama to be anguished over her sons crocodile tears, but it was Elijah who spoke up after Bible time.

"I would rather go ahead and lose my story time and let J have his stories," he told me.

"You'll take his punishment?" I asked.

He nodded and said, "Yeah."

I confess I teared up a little as I nodded and told him, "Go ahead, Buddy."

Then I sat J down and presented him once again with the Gospel message. But this time, it was in a real-life situation where his brother, in love and out of the desire to please the father, took his place.

"That's what Jesus did for us J. Even though we did bad things and deserve to be punished, he took our punishment so that we could have Grace."

I'm pretty sure neither kid really understand what took place and what part they played in the retelling of the most beautiful story in the entire universe, but I was blessed to have he eyes to see it.

Nerf Party

Today, while Stephanie and Aubrey took a trip to Stone Mountain with Ms. Patti for a fun time at the Yellow Daisy Festival, I took the two boys to Memphis’ Birthday Party. The Theme: A Nerf Gun Party. This is my kind of celebration. I got to run around and shoot a ton of kids in the name of fun. And I was proudly the only adult (the guy running the party games doesn’t count). So as Elijah and I teamed up to get sweaty running around outside in the hot summer weather, Joshua played in the inside air-conditioning with several little girls inside with Memphis’ and Myah’s toys.

Sparkly Unicorn

This season we decided to put both Elijah AND Aubrey into Madison County Soccer. I ended up volunteering for assistant coach on Elijah's team, The Gators (yes, Michael the head coach is a Florida Gators fan). But Aubrey's coach let the kids pick, although I didn't quite understand this at first. On the way to her second practice, she announced, "I want to be on the unicorn team." Apparently that was one girl's suggestion: The Sparkly Unicorns. I'm sure all the boys voted against that one, though.

So after soccer practice, even though I overheard several parents commenting how they enjoyed that option, Aubrey lamented that the vote didn't go her way. However, Jaguars makes a much more fearsome opponent.

Then, on the way home, my pretty little daughter tooted in the back seat and inquired, "Do you wish you were this chair?" Yeah, that was hardly sparkly unicorn behavior.

"You did what in your cup?"

 So a while back I took both the boys to their doctor's appointment. Today, it was Aubrey's turn. So my little girl prepared for her visit by packing all the necessities for a doctor's appointment. Blankets, a stuffed valentine bear, a few family photos, her Stellaluna book, and a candy cane ornament. The doctor and nurse found it amusing. It was rather cute to see the arrangement.

So, while Elijah watched over his brother, I took Aubrey into the bathroom to pee in a cup. Afterward, the doctor asked her, "Did you pee in a cup?" I answered, "She did." Aubrey then added, "And I peed on Daddy's hand too." Everyone laughed at that.

Later on, Aubrey asked for a cup of water. The nurse brought her some in a paper cup. As she was drinking, Elijah noticed something. "Hey," he announced, "your drinking out of your pee cup." Aubrey stopped and looked at her empty cup in disgust as she noticed the similarities. Then we all bust out laughing.

Second Grade, Here Elijah Comes

So Elijah is now in second grade. Our first impressions of his teacher were a little disappointing, seeing a lot of his friends (Lyle, David, Cassie, Brianna) wound up in Mrs. Thompson's class, and when we met Mrs. Craig she neither introduced herself nor smiled. Turns out she's a great teacher and Elijah though loves her; the fact that she gives them candy tops the lists. I told him the White Witch also gives candy... just saying.

Well within the first week or so, the students had a project to create a poster about themselves. We enjoyed his answers.

I want to be: "a mrenbiolojist" (A Marine Biologist)
I always: "will Love God"
I Love to: "play Socer"
I am good at: "Socer and writeing"
Someday, I will: "be like my Dad" (I teared up reading this one)
I love to doodle: "Navy Ships"
I like to: "swim alot"
I wish: "I could be in Mrs. Toomsin's class with my frend" (I'm sure his teacher enjoyed reading this one)

 

A week later he came home with some of his school work. He was suppose to write three declarative sentences. These were his three (The last is my favorite. It cracked us up. Apparently we make too many jokes about our lack of income):

Childhood Theology

Joshua is always faithful to remind us if we forget the blessing, folding his little hands and telling us, "Bessin."


Often, I try to take the kids through theological questions (the Neal Catechism) or reciting Bible verses; always trying to hammer the basics into their impressionable brains. As Mark Driscoll used to say, I want to make sure they don't miss the big "E" on the eye chart.

Anyway, Elijah learned most of them when he was four and five, and now Aubrey has really gotten into it, often asking me every night, "Can you ask us how many Gods are there?" And thus, we launch into it. And she has picked up on most of them pretty quick.

Afterwards, she wants to talk about "Eden and Av" in the garden. It's adorably cute.
"God told Eden and Av to eat all the trees in the garden except one because it was special. Then was a snake was there and it was evil and told Eden to eat it. Them took it... Eden took one piece and Av took one piece. Then, them didn't have any clothes, so they built clothes. And then, them got sent out of the garden and God put two angels there and fire swords in their hands. Amen."

Helpful Attitude

Aubrey has recently taken a great identity in being "a good helper" and a "good cleaner upper." She helped me unload the car last weekend after our lake trip, pulling luggage that was often too big for her. But it is a delight to have her take such pride in cleaning her room, even folding and putting her clothes away. Once she gets started, she goes all out, getting it ready "to vacuum." Makes me proud... just like her Daddy who organized the games and game closet of the Lake House we stayed at this weekend... I just couldn't help myself. Can't stand seeing everything in disarray

Sweet Moments, Part 1

Password Needed
Stephanie informed me of a short but humorous exchange between her and her daughter last Friday:
Aubrey announced to her mother, "God doesn't know everything that I'm thinking."

Stephanie quickly corrected her. "Oh, Yes He does."
Without hesitation she replied, "But I didn't give him my password."


Funny Wordin
Aubrey has recently started choosing things by the "eeny, miny, moe," method, but hers seems to be a little different. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Ketchup on a toe."

In July, I was reading Joshua a book. "Whats this?" I asked, pointing to a snowflake. "Elsa!" He exclaimed.

Kids are impressionable, and Joshua picks up bad things from both his parents and his siblings. "Shup!" he yells at the dogs to tell them to be quiet.
"Mean Daddy." He'll say randomly. I doubt he really knows what it means, but he hears his brother and sister get in trouble enough to know it, and Aubrey likes to throw it in her rotation of things to get Joshua to say in the car. ("Jay, say 'Banana!'" "Bah-na-na." "Good!")

"Top it, Daddy." He tells me whenever I start to annoy him or sing the Frozen songs in an annoying voice.

"Pah-kuh!" he shouts, as he raises his Popsicle in the air with victory, and the rest of the family joins in.

Often, Jay wakes up, and comes in the Living Room in the morning with droopy eyes, as if he is still waiting for his cup of coffee. The first thing out of his mouth is usually, "Whe-uh my pah-cee go?"

Early this summer, Elijah askied, "Have I had a sleep over with Kingston and Kali?" Then after a pause he answered his own question, "I think so."
Aubrey piped up, "Whose Kingston and Kali? I don't remember."
Finding this rather strange, I said, "Uh... Mrs Jessica's kids. Little brother named Korbin."
Remembering his blonde curly hair, she asked, "The one with the noodle hair?"

We waiting until after Aubrey was four before she made her start using big kid toothpaste. We were with some friends when Aubrey randomly announced that she "could spit." We understood she was referring to the fact she now used big girl toothpaste, but no one had any context.

Not that long ago I went in to tuck Aubrey in and got a hygiene reminder after I brushed her leg with a fingernail. "Hey Daddy, you huwt me. You need to cut yous finguh nails."


Our Public Schools Are Failing Us
At the end of last year, we were riding in the van when Elijah announced: "I think I can name all the constinents: Asia, Africa, Alabama, North America, South America... Is that right, Mama?"


Appeal to Educational Value
After not getting to listen to what she wanted to listen to in the card and Elijah did, she expressed her frustration by belittling the educational quality of his choice. "Adventuhs in Odyssey teaches you bout nothin!" she said with a pouty face.


A Pixar Perspective
Aubrey, after seeing the movie "Inside Out" saw some red buttons and said, "Those buttons are anger."


Reptile Salutations
Last month, Joshua bid me farewell by saying, "Bye, bye, aygatuh tahtodiyo (aligator, crocodile)." He put together "See you later, Alligator. After awhile, Crocodile."


Letters
After our friend Ellie and her three kids left after a Friday hangout in August, Elijah decided he wanted to make a card for his friend Memphis (I'll give you three guesses what Elijah's love language is). Naturally Aubrey began making one for her equivalent: Myah. Then Jay followed with wanting to make a card for the youngest Bradshaw, "Bae-Bae Max!"

Elijah, Aubrey and Joshua and their counterpart buddies in the Bradshaw family: Memphis, Myah, and Max; all enjoying a watermelon treat. We were hoping for a better Kodak moment, but we were all a sweaty mess as soon as we walked out into the muggy August evening.

Update on Jackie
Aubrey has had an imaginary friend that occasionally visits. Creeps her Aunt Riya out. So we make sure to text Miriya anytime Aubrey informs us that Jackie has gone to Florida without us. Sometime in July, Stephanie sent me this text: "Jackie was apparently hurt in an army battle while protecting the queen."


Joke Time:
Every kid loves the knock, knock joke: "Knock, knock. Who's there? Interrupting Cow. Interrup... MOOO!" And each child has tried to master it. One evening Aubrey was rehearsing it over and over again in the bathtub. Joshua would try the abbreviated version by balling up his little fists and drumming either side of his head while saying, "Knock, knock." And then after a short pause he would exclaim, "Mooo!"

Talk Like a Pirate 2015

Today was Talk Like a Pirate Day! And to celebrate such a widely celebrated holiday, Krispy Kreme once again gave away a dozen donuts to whoever came in dressed like a pirate. We got two dozen, gave one to the ladies at the library and shared one with some neighbors. Elijah, who had a little attitude problem missed out and had to watch the rest of us eat donuts. Stephanie and I split a pumpkin spice cake donut (so we did actually buy SOMETHING while we were there). That junk was good. Afterwards, Joshua slipped into a sugar comma with icing all over his face while we made our way to Danielsville in the van. So cute!

Aubrey Good Night Hugs

After getting all the kids to bed, both Elijah and Aubrey will call for me several times. After a several minute conversation with Elijah about death and heaven (not sure where this came from), Aubrey called me in to her room. I begrudgingly walked back in.

“What do you want, Aubrey?” I asked.

“I love you, Daddy.” she said in her sweet voice.

I smiled and knelt down by her bed and gave her a big hug. “I love you too.”

She hugged my neck tight and said, “Sleep with me, Daddy.”

Still embracing her and enjoying the tender moment I said, “I can’t, you’ll choke me.” Her hold was rather constricting.

“Don’t leave me, Daddy. Stay With Me.” She kept repeating these things over and over again. I closed my eyes and continued to hug her. Then she stopped, gave a short pause, and said, “Daddy… can you leave me now?”

And with that, I was given my leave.

First Grade Finally

So I found out the night before, but I was able to go to Elijah's First Grade Awards Event. Like the Star Student Assembly, it was in the morning, just yesterday. They gave out two awards per class (so six in all) for each subject (Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Math) as well as additional awards like Reading, Writing, etc. There were also awards for Music, Art, Technology, and PE. I saw a few of Elijah's friends get awards. David for Technology, and Lyle for Math. Even little Jacob down the street got the Citizen Award. I was proud to see our oldest boy bring home both an Art Award and one for Writing.

And thank you, Mr. Cooper, for a great First Grade Year. I'm pretty sure you have to be the coolest teacher in the school, especially for all those young boys when you're a volunteer fire fighter on the side.

Awana Sparky Award

Last night was Awards and Family Night at Comer Baptist for Awana. This year Aubrey was in Cubbies with Mrs. Brittney and her husband and Ms. Shannon. I have to confess I failed to work very hard on her verses with her, but she got a few of them down through the year. Funny part on her was that half-way through the year she had told her mother after refussing to eat her dinner, "I'm just going to get snacks at Awana." Well, Daddy put an end to that. I relayed the event to her teachers, and they graciously complied to a "no snack" policy for our little girl. There were a few times she ate her dinner and was allowed some snacks during the evening. It became routine for Brittney to ask me every Wednesday, "Did Aubrey eat her dinner?" And I would say, "Nope." And she would turn to Aubrey and say, "Your killin me Smalls!"

Elijah was blessed to have Mrs. Nedra as a teacher again, along with Mrs. Margaret and Mr. John. I had watched this couple the year before lead those kids with such enthusiasm that I was really looking forward to Elijah being in that class. Last year a boy down the street go the "Sparky Award" by finishing all three of his books in one year. I remember turning to Elijah and encouraging him to go for the same. And go he did. He would listen to his CD, foregoing story time at home sometimes or even game time at Awana to work on his verses. Not only did he end up devouring all three of his Sparks books, but he also finished the first review book and was going through the third (they didn't have the second... Mr. John didn't know when they had had some one use one). So, he without question earned his plague. Awesome Job, Prophet! And thank you to all His Awana teachers and Comer Baptist for serving this community in the name of Christ.

Soccer Season 2 End

So these past few months Elijah entered his second season in soccer. We were blessed for him to once again be on coach Kevin's team, but that also meant he played up a level on the U8 (7 and 8 year olds) league. So, even though he wasn't the smallest kid, he was the youngest. And for some odd reason, Kevin asked me to be an assistant coach. He must have been hard up, but I was glad to help and it ended up being pretty fun. Not sure how effective I was one those two occasions I handled the kids without him for a practice, but it was good to learn the game a little better (thank you YouTube for the instruction and ideas). But the best part for me was getting to know each of those kids and how special God made them.

(From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Coach Kevin with "Squeeze"; The Goallies Lydia and DeLaney; Give it his all Michael "Samples" and Haden; "Gwen" Riley "The Boot"; Carter, the defence man; Braxten (whose dad was a much more qualified assistant coach), Matthew "Highfield", and Landon; and Carter. (Missing were Bela and Kennedy)

All in all, it was a great year, and a lot of fun. We look forward to next year when "The Squeeze" puts a good boot on it and gets a goal with the same style that he nails them in during practice. Proud of you, "E"!

Some latest funnies...

Next
Earlier last month, Aubrey asked me, "Daddy, can we sell Peno and get a cute little puppy."

Famous Author
Around that same time, Stephanie showed Elijah her some of her latest craft creations, one of her Tree Hugger bookmarks, "I'm going to do one of Jesus," she told him. "Why?" Elijah asked, "He didn't write anything famous?" Ummmm.... I believe he quickly realized his mistake.

Walking with God
About a week later, talking with Elijah about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, I explained that we follow Christ, we walk with God wherever he leads. "I don't want to walk with God part of the time, because I would get really tired." Or maybe God would.

Overstaying Our Welcome
Aubrey wanted to snuggle with her mother a few nights later, but quickly grew weary of her presence in her bed. "I weally tieuhd. Get outta my bed, Mama."

Which kid?
A day or two later, while we were getting the kids ready for bed, I called Aubrey into the bathroom to brush her teeth. "Yes, Mama." she said as she climbed up on the step stool. After a short pause she corrected herself, "I mean Daddy."

"That's okay, I mess up you guys' name all the time," thinking specifically about this evening when I kept calling Elijah, 'Jay.' "But I don't usually mess your name up, do I," I asked.

Pushing my hand away with the toothbrush so she could speak, she said, "When you see long chockey-milk haiuh, you say, 'Aubee.'"

Make Up What You Don't Know
The other night, when it seemed like no one was paying attention to the Bible story, I started quizzing the kids. Elijah started rattling off what he knew, and since this was regarding the Shepherd's hearing about the birth of Christ, Elijah recounted their proclamation, "Savannah and the highest"

Strange Gratitude
The next evening we were playing outside before bedtime. Earlier, Aubrey had turned up her nose at a new soup meal at dinner time, but thought to thank her mom sometime later in this manner. "Thank you for making the yukky dinner tonight, Mama." What a delight.

Joshua's New Words

It's great to finally hearing the little guy talk. And talk he does, excelling daily in the words he knows and uses. He knows all our names, "Aw-bee, I-Jah, Da-de, Ma-ma." He especially knows his vehicles, "Cah, Bahs, kuck" (Car, Bus, Truck), and of course his favorite train, "Tho-miss."

The other day, he pulled out an old stuffed animal of mine from in the boys room. "Do you like the puppy?" I asked. "Puh-tee!" he exclaimed. "His name is Henry," I told him. "Ho-nee," he repeated over and over.

That very night we were on the couch and I said something about the applications on my phone, to which Jay repeated, "App-i-ta-tah." Stephanie and laughed when we heard him attempting a four syllable word. "Good job," we applauded.

Six months ago he cried and through a fit the few times we put him in the back bike seat for a quick bike ride around the block. Now he loves it, asking to go on a "Bike wie." I took him for a spin, just him and me a few Wednesday nights ago. This past Wednesday Stephanie I both took him for a ride (the other two were at Awana), and I was honored to hear that he wanted to ride behind, "Da-dee."

Apparently most mornings, as Jay watches his older sister eat her vitamins, he desires more than the single multivitamin that apparently taste so good for him. "Vitamee?" he asks excitedly. When Stephanie produced the single chewable, he begs for more. "Twoo?"