Tea Party

     Scott decided to take the boys to Awana tonight, but didn't take Tirzah.  She was crying very hard as he pulled out, so I told her to dry it up and we'd do something special.  She has been bugging me for the last week to have a tea party with the new tea pot I received, so I figured it would cheer her up,and it did.  We tidied up, put on a fancy tablecloth, warmed some cookies from the freezer, lit the candle, and were almost ready when Scott called.  He said the boys were settled, and he was headed home.  I told Tirzah, and acted excited, so we added a place setting.  She met him at the door and "invited" him to the tea party.  Aila joined us as well.  We used all the "fancy" dishes, including my antique tea cups, which Tirzah was allowed to choose for each guest, Aila excepted.  It was our supper, as well, so we started with a small bowl of soup, along with some crackers and "spray" cheese.  The height of elegance!  Along with the tea, we had ginger cookies and buttered panetonne.  Scott was amused, and Tirzah enjoyed it fully.

     The tea cups we used were from my Grandma Preston, whom I adored as a girl.  She kept the fragile china cups and saucers up on the very top shelf of her cupboard, and I only saw them on a few occasions.  I remember always wanting to get them out and have tea, but she never wanted to bother.  Probably didn't want to risk breakage.  (not that I blame her)  However, I knew it would mean so much to a certain little Miss if I allowed her to use one that it was worth the risk.  She was super careful, and pointed out to me a couple of times that she wasn't going to break her tea cup.  :-)  After all, what's more precious: the memory of Tirzah sipping tea with a smile on her face or a set of perfect china that never got used?

The Great Outdoors

     Case and Archie's party was today. (cousins) We had fun making masks, capes, and playing some superhero themed games, had lunch, etc.  Josh and Leigh and co. went with us on a little winter hike down the road from Jess and Louie's to Debar Pond.  First we missed the turn, and had to go back.  Once parked, we had to get people outfitted.  Aila did not appreciate this at all, and howled from her car seat in the sled.  Tirzah got snowshoes for Christmas, which were forgotten in the crazed rush to get out of the house.  There was only a few inches of snow, so I told her we wouldn't need our snowshoes.  Japheth, of course, already had his on.  At least she accepted it with no scene.  We walk down the road to the trail, and Scott decides he wants his vest, so I run back for it.  Josh decides he wants his snowshoes, and goes back for them.  Once on the trail, it's a bit icy, and Leigh heads back for her snowshoes.  Meanwhile, Aila is still crying from her car seat, so I get her out.  The trail includes portions of very narrow boardwalk, so the sled isn't even viable for use.  The older kids are all over the place, while we tell them to stay close.  At this point, I'm thinking "Is this even worth it?"  But we press on.  I just carry Aila, who has repeatedly shaken her mittens off on the side of the trail.  Finally the narow bridges end and it actually is very beautiful, if not relaxing.  The pond is lovely, and we took some nice pics.  Levi chewed a bunch of wintergreen; I tried it, too, but it's not much good without sweetener.
    I record all of this because it is a typical scenario.  Chaotic preparation, time crunch, disorganization, crazy kids, indecision of what to wear and bring.  And we do it in spite of all this, just to get out in God's beautiful creation.  It does dampen one's ardor, however.  Someday, it will be easier.  I keep telling myself that, anyway!
     On the trip home, Tirzah was singing the alphabet song. Over, and over, and over.  Like this: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S, Y and Z.  She paused and asked if it was good.  "It was very nice." I assure her.  Finally after innumerable renditions, she announced, "This is my seat concert."  "Your seat concert?" I chuckled.    She responded, "Yes, because I am stuck in my seat!"

Blamblee and Mankeee

       Levi and Tirzah have blankets.  Of course, don't we all?  But these blankets have names.  Levi's is Blamblee; it's actually a woven cotton crib-sized blanket Caelin got at his baby shower, but he never really used it, so it's been adopted.  It is the love of Levi's life.  Refered to as "he", it gets taken everwhere and cuddled with.  It shows, however.  The poor thing is slowly losing its strings and developing some large holes.  The funny thing is that Scott had an almost identical blanket as a little boy, and it suffered the same fate, slowly being loved and picked to death.  By the time Levi gets married, all he'll have to show his bride is two little balls of string, like Scott.
     Tirzah's blanket's name is Mankee.  A gift from Trish Puffer when she was born, it is an ultra-soft plush pink number with satin binding.  I like it myself.  It is her first thougth when upset or hurt.   She sleeps with it and tonight finding it lying on the stairs, yells, "I found my mankee, her was on the stairs!"  

                                              "Mankee in the background on Christmas morning"    

Life with Levi is Never Dull

     Just jotting down some of Levi's recent commentary.  Yesterday he announced "I don't believe in Tirzah!  Only Mama, Daddy, Jesus and God."  She asked, "What is believe?"  He responded, "Believe is when you obey them and aren't afraid."  Out of the mouths of babes...
     This morning, I was toasting bagels, and Levi proclaimed he didn't want his toasted. (which is true, he doesn't like his bread toasted)  "But if you don't toast them, they'll be cold and tough." I pointed out.  "I like them cold and tough!" he declared.  Just like himself.  :-P

The Butcher Strikes Again

     We've been on a family trip to Ohio, which seemed extra far away this time.  13 hours in the van is not for the faint of heart!  If I had a quarter foe every time Levi did something to bug someone, I'd be a millionaire.  Overall though, the trip was OK.  We were able to spend time with Scott's mom and step-dad, brother and his wife, and Uncle Paul, which really was the point of the trip.  We also hit up the Goodwill in Wadsworth and scored some good deals. 
     The day we were packing to leave, Levi bursts from the schoolroom with a handful of hair, announcing, "Look what Tirzah did!"  That's right, she chopped her hair.  Again.  This time her hair was in two pigtails and she hacked off about 3/4ths of the right one.  I almost cried.  It's been just over a month since the last scissor run-in, the day she massacred her bangs hours before the annual family photo shoot.  This time, though, the damge had to be repaired, and we took her to the Walmart salon in Wadsworth as soon as we could.  The result is not as short as I had feared, and actually pretty cute.  (Though I'll not tell her so until she's a teen-ager!)

     Some funny Tirzah moments from the car trip include her talking about a "sober-toothed cat", and randomly calling out, "...in my suitcase I'm gonna pack...".  And, of course, the ever-popular, "I'm peeing!", striking fear in the hearts of dads everywhere.

Cha...potty?

    It's Caelin's turn apparently.  To be sick, that is.  He didn't feel well at Japheth's birthday party yesterday, which I could write a whole paragraph on by itself.  Suffice it to say, the Comfort Inn may never be the same.  The pool was great, except the part where Aila was frantic, and we couldn't figure out why.  The kids really enjoyed the arcade, earning tickets, and redeeming them.  One of the funniest moments was at lunch.  Tirzah was seated by Pippen; she turned to him and said, "Your belly is fat like my Daddy's!"  I thought Trip was going to fall off his chair laughing.

     Anyway, Caelin felt worse as the day went on, prompting a shortened trip to the mall, and was postively ill last night.  Tirzah, Aila, and I stayed home with him this morning, while Scott took Levi to church.  Sabbath calm reigned.  Caelin rested on the couch, while I tidied and bathed the girls.  Tirzah helped me prepare an Indian dish,chicken and vegetable (Tirzah's pronunciation:Jegable) biryani, along with basmati rice.  Then she helped roll out the chapattis, sort of the Indian version of tortillas, which we fried.  The house was deliciously fragrant when the guys came home.

     Levi asked what the flat things were.  "Chapattis", I told him.  "Cha...patti?"  he asked .  "Why did they name them after the toilet?"  he asked seriously.  Cue family laughter.   Everyone was seated as I brought the pot of biryani (chicken vegetable stew) to the table.  Levi leans over and sniffs it.  He makes a face.  "That stuff smells like chihuahua!"  When we recovered, I asked how many times before he had had chihuahua.

     This afternoon, Caelin felt better, so we went on a scenic drive, taking some photos of the ice coating the trees while the sun shone through. The 3 younger ones passed out, and we enjoyed God's handiwork, along with some much needed adult conversation.  

Psalm 147:16-18  He gives snow like wool, He scatters the frost like ashes.  He cast forth his ice like fragments; Who can stand before His cold?  He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow. 
Psalm 145:5  On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wonderful works, will I meditate. 

Our God is so amazing!  Every detail of creation is so perfectly designed!  Snow is white. (of course) But imagine if it weren't!  How dark winter would be!  Or if ice didn't float!  Water is the only thing that expands as it freezes.  That didn't evolve!  God planned it!!  Praise Him!!!!! 
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Parmesan? Blossom Tree?

     We've had quite a bit of freezing rain today.  I was pointing out how low the branches on the balsam tree were drooping, when Levi came up behind us and asked, "What blossom tree?"
     Levi has a very mild case of the Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease, contracted at the same time as Tirzah's, no doubt.  He has just a few minor sores around his mouth, and I called him to the bathroom and began putting some antibiotic ointment on them.  "Is it Parmesan?" he inquires.

     This morning he was helping cook the sausages for breakfast. Or as Tirzah calls them, "thaugages".  He caught the edge of his wrist across the edge of the pan, burning himself pretty good.  We got it in cold water right away, but he declared that made it hurt worse.  Plan B: I cut a piece of aloe and smeared that on.  At lunch Levi touches the blister and claims, "Now it doesn't hurt when I push on the pillow!"  
     This afternoon, he said he wished Schmutz and Tiger were girls, "so they would lay puppies and kittens."