Friday, November 21, 2008
Peter is Seven!
What a week! On November 19 Peter turned seven years old. We've been celebrating in full force for several days now. Last Friday after school we celebrated at Going Vertical, a sports/training facility. His good friend, Austin, also has a November birthday, so we had a joint sports party with all of their good buddies. Twelve boys, one trainer, and two all-time-quarterback-dads had a blast on the field turf playing football and dodge ball. After the contests they cooled down with pop and football-themed cookies (with GOBS of frosting). Peter was in bliss!
Peter with Austin
Tuesday night Peter and I went to the grocery store to choose a special birthday cereal (sugary, of course) and cake. We baked the cake before going to bed, but the frosting had to wait. Bummer! He was looking forward to licking some!
Wednesday Peter woke up to streamers and balloons hanging over his bed. The birthday fairy likes to sneak in and decorate at night, just as she did when I was a kid! We had the special cereal for breakfast and then went to the Wheeler book fair before school. He chose two favorite books before heading upstairs for class.
At lunch Clara, Jonas and I brought pizza to school and ate with Peter in the cafeteria. Then we played outside for recess--Peter played football while Clara ran around with some of the big kids. After recess we went into Peter's classroom and had b-day treats with his class. They all sang to him, and he passed out Rice Krispie Treats and Capri-Sun drinks to everyone. Fun!
After school we played outside, walked home, and made preparations for evening dinner. Finally a lick of that frosting!!! Peter is the perfect age to enter into the excitement and anticipation. What a joy! When John came home we had a brief family dinner complete with cake, candles and presents. We gave him a super-cool Patriots football jersey which he loved! Then off to basketball practice, Awana, and home for bed. Whew!
Thursday after school we had two buddies over for popcorn and a movie. Then at 6:00 Grandpa & Grandma, Daniel and Micah came for supper and celebration. Peter requested school-style sausage pizza (how do you even replicate that?), Pringles, and cake and ice cream. We all sang and celebrated, and he loved being the guest of honor. Cool presents were opened--Martian Matter game, drum sticks with practice pad, and Wall-E movie--and played with immediately following supper. It was hard to go to bed after all of that!
Happy Birthday, Peter Meshach! We love you always and forever.
Peter with Austin
Tuesday night Peter and I went to the grocery store to choose a special birthday cereal (sugary, of course) and cake. We baked the cake before going to bed, but the frosting had to wait. Bummer! He was looking forward to licking some!
Wednesday Peter woke up to streamers and balloons hanging over his bed. The birthday fairy likes to sneak in and decorate at night, just as she did when I was a kid! We had the special cereal for breakfast and then went to the Wheeler book fair before school. He chose two favorite books before heading upstairs for class.
At lunch Clara, Jonas and I brought pizza to school and ate with Peter in the cafeteria. Then we played outside for recess--Peter played football while Clara ran around with some of the big kids. After recess we went into Peter's classroom and had b-day treats with his class. They all sang to him, and he passed out Rice Krispie Treats and Capri-Sun drinks to everyone. Fun!
After school we played outside, walked home, and made preparations for evening dinner. Finally a lick of that frosting!!! Peter is the perfect age to enter into the excitement and anticipation. What a joy! When John came home we had a brief family dinner complete with cake, candles and presents. We gave him a super-cool Patriots football jersey which he loved! Then off to basketball practice, Awana, and home for bed. Whew!
Thursday after school we had two buddies over for popcorn and a movie. Then at 6:00 Grandpa & Grandma, Daniel and Micah came for supper and celebration. Peter requested school-style sausage pizza (how do you even replicate that?), Pringles, and cake and ice cream. We all sang and celebrated, and he loved being the guest of honor. Cool presents were opened--Martian Matter game, drum sticks with practice pad, and Wall-E movie--and played with immediately following supper. It was hard to go to bed after all of that!
Happy Birthday, Peter Meshach! We love you always and forever.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Values, According to Corduroy Bear
Disclaimer: I have to get this preaching out of my system...
Please skip this entry if you feel so inclined!
We recently bought a book about Corduroy the bear--Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever! Seems like darling, wholesome fun with good family values, right? Wrong!
As the story unfolds, Corduroy's friend (Puppy) comes to his house with a damaged (unusable) costume, so Corduroy offers his own for Puppy to use. Nice idea! Here's the dialogue that follows:
"Really?" said Puppy. "But Corduroy, what will you wear?"
"Don't worry. I have an idea," said Corduroy.
But he didn't, really. What would he wear?
Later in the story he finally comes up with an idea for another costume, and everything works out in the end. Seems nice? Warm and fuzzy? Look a little deeper...
Lesson 1: Lying is okay if you can get away with it.
In this case, it seemed to be for Puppy's benefit. He may not have accepted Corduroy's gift (or may have felt like a burden) if he knew it was his one and only costume.
Lesson 2: Giving can never be selfless. Generosity is motivated by excess, not sacrifice.
It would have been okay to offer the costume if there were many available, but not only one.
And why do I take it so seriously? Because this is exactly the tainted value system that we (and our children) are immersed in daily. Because with this mentality, humanity will never even come close to comprehending God's truth and love. How can we possibly embrace the fact that God is truthful? No one tells the truth all the time. How can we understand perfect, selfless love and sacrifice? We don't even know what that looks like. On and on the implications flow...little by little our vision is clouded.
I am sorry to say that "Relativity" Corduroy will be asked to leave this house. Too bad. He seemed like such a cute guy.
Please skip this entry if you feel so inclined!
We recently bought a book about Corduroy the bear--Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever! Seems like darling, wholesome fun with good family values, right? Wrong!
As the story unfolds, Corduroy's friend (Puppy) comes to his house with a damaged (unusable) costume, so Corduroy offers his own for Puppy to use. Nice idea! Here's the dialogue that follows:
"Really?" said Puppy. "But Corduroy, what will you wear?"
"Don't worry. I have an idea," said Corduroy.
But he didn't, really. What would he wear?
Later in the story he finally comes up with an idea for another costume, and everything works out in the end. Seems nice? Warm and fuzzy? Look a little deeper...
Lesson 1: Lying is okay if you can get away with it.
In this case, it seemed to be for Puppy's benefit. He may not have accepted Corduroy's gift (or may have felt like a burden) if he knew it was his one and only costume.
Lesson 2: Giving can never be selfless. Generosity is motivated by excess, not sacrifice.
It would have been okay to offer the costume if there were many available, but not only one.
And why do I take it so seriously? Because this is exactly the tainted value system that we (and our children) are immersed in daily. Because with this mentality, humanity will never even come close to comprehending God's truth and love. How can we possibly embrace the fact that God is truthful? No one tells the truth all the time. How can we understand perfect, selfless love and sacrifice? We don't even know what that looks like. On and on the implications flow...little by little our vision is clouded.
I am sorry to say that "Relativity" Corduroy will be asked to leave this house. Too bad. He seemed like such a cute guy.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
According to Clara...
TV shows we're not allowed to watch:
“They don’t believe in God.”
Eating a banana in the peel:
“I want it in the bun.”
Eating an apple:
“I don’t like the crust.”
Looking at a tag I cut off a comforter:
“Is it according to the Scriptures?”
What happens if someone smokes?
“They have to go in a wheelchair if they do that.”
Isn’t the mind of a child so fun!
“They don’t believe in God.”
Eating a banana in the peel:
“I want it in the bun.”
Eating an apple:
“I don’t like the crust.”
Looking at a tag I cut off a comforter:
“Is it according to the Scriptures?”
What happens if someone smokes?
“They have to go in a wheelchair if they do that.”
Isn’t the mind of a child so fun!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Precious Clara
 |
| From Fall 2008 |
Our conversation at breakfast this morning:
Clara: Remember when we talked to that man in the bushes?
Sarah: What man? I don’t remember that…
Clara: He was in the bushes.
Sarah: (getting a little concerned about child predators in the bushes!) That doesn’t sound very good. I don’t usually talk to men in bushes.
Peter: She’s talking about Moses and the burning bush!
(Laughter and relief!)
I guess that MAN in the bush is okay to talk to…there are always exceptions!
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