Super Baby

Today we were talking about what to dress up as for Halloween. Henry found a new Spiderman outfit at the consignment shop. The kids all got excited about Henry being Spiderman, Caroline finding a WonderWoman costume and John Mac being Batman. But what about Hannah, I asked?

Henry replied, "She can be SuperBaby shooting arrows from her belly button."

Not sure I would have thought of that.

The Mass of Humanity

We went to Busch Gardens today. We wanted to enjoy the park with Jack and Cindi during their weekend visit from Nashville. Just the 8 of us and thousands (I do mean thousands) of other people. It was beautiful weather, Labor Day weekend, and everyone was out to take advantage of it. After standing in line several times with lots of hot and tired parents and children, I was overwhelmed with the mass of humanity: the smells, the clothing with words and pictures I wouldn't pick, the bad parenting styles on display. I found myself wishing the park were empty. All of these people were in my way, a hindrance to my good time. I wish I could blame this attitude on my pregnant body and swollen legs, but I think it all just helped to reveal to me my own heart. So later in the evening, I go ahead of Brandon and the bigger kids to get the car. I have Hannah in a backpack and car keys in hand, nothing else. I wander the parking lot looking for our car. Was it Ireland 42? Ireland 41? Where did we park hours ago? I was tired, thirsty, miserable and ready to lie down on the parking lot asphalt and cry. A sheriff patrolling the area passed me a few times and then kindly offered to make rounds in his car looking for my car. Then a strange looking teenage couple, hanging out in the back of their car, whom I had also passed multiple times, offered me a bottle of water and a place to sit and wait. Sometimes kindness comes when you least expect it. For me tonight, it came from members of the mass of humanity. The people with whom I had been so easily frustrated. The ones Jesus looked upon and said he longed to gather them up in his arms; and so later he died for them to know forgiveness. I am so glad He still longs to gather me up in his arms as one of them.

Random Summer Thoughts

These days have been long and hot. I have worked hard not to complain about this in type since our summer heat wave started early in June, but it has been really miserable here. The temperature dropped into the 90s this week, though, so I feel that an end may be in sight. There have been some wonderful things about summer though. One thing has been our farmer's C.S.A. share. This was our first summer to purchase a share and I love it. Every week the kids and I go to pick up our bag of vegetables for the week. The produce has been amazingly good and I love having someone give me a bag full of veggies that I need to figure out how to eat! Much better than standing in a large grocery store overwhelmed by the options. This week there is plenty of basil so my freezer is now full of pesto. Only a few more weeks of the CSA left. I will miss being told each week to eat healthy.

There has also been lots of indoor play due to the heat. This week I laughed when I overheard the kids playing "mermaids" (Disney) while dressed in SuperHero costumes (Marvel Comics) and talking about using their lightsabers (Star Wars) to fight the SeaWitch (Disney again). Here is the fort they made to add to this great imaginary landscape.

There has been a lot of boy influence in the house lately. Another birthday with soldiers and pirates and the like. As a girl from a house of girls, it all seems very loud and fast. Caroline and Hannah do a wonderful job of keeping up though, and they actually make it look like a lot of fun. Perhaps I was missing out and didn't know it? This is Henry with his slingshot and duct tape "rock".

Hannah has been quite busy this summer. She is our youngest child to join in on the big kid play so quickly. Here is her other favorite pasttime: taking things out of anything. A cabinet, a bucket, a purse! I have so far lost 4 - $10 pairs of sunglasses to Hannah in 2010. I have quit buying them for this summer and resigned to squinting.

And finally, this is what my children have decided that fine dining means: a smoothie at Panera's. Don't tell them it is not a real restaurant or real food. For right now, we are just pleased that a real meal out is still within reach based on these menu selections. I have a feeling this may change with the colder weather.

Santa Claus

We visit the library about once a week. We fill a large bag with picture books and head out until we are tired of them a week later. Lately we've been going to the library on Fridays and for several Fridays in a row we have seen the same man sitting on the bench under a sheltered area just outside the building. Every week he is wearing the same set of blue hospital scrubs from our local hospital as well as a knitted cap despite the heat wave. He is also always eating some purchased food, Burger King or Wa-wa most recently. He always speaks to us and says hello to the children as we slowly place our books one by one in the book return. Many of the local library folks seem to be familiar with him. Williamsburg has no real homeless population, no soup kitchens, no shelters, so my children have no real concept of "homelessness" yet. This week my observant child, Henry, said to me, "Mommy, I think I know about that man." We were just inside the library doors and after Henry had watched the man very carefully today I was fully prepared for a long discussion on the topic of homelessness. Yes, Henry, I explained, we have seen him several weeks in a row on that same bench. "Yes, but Mommy, I know who he is." What do you mean, Henry? "He is Santa Claus." Did I forget to mention this homeless gentleman has white bushy hair and a white bushy beard? Santa Claus, a man with no clear home or family, just a workshop at the Southpole, is about as close to homelessness as my children can understand. I think we'll have to save the bigger discussion for another day.

He did it!

Today Henry finally realized he could swim! It was so fun to share in his excitement. Over and over again we heard, "Look, (Mommy / Daddy / Caroline) I can do it!" as he dove in the water again and again. The pieces he had worked on all summer came together and once he started he didn't want to stop. As we left tonight he said, "Mommy you said I could swim and I didn't know it, but now I do!". He is most excited to show our lifeguard/swim teacher Miss Amanda. I hope she is prepared for a big afternoon at the pool tomorrow.

Bacon and Popcorn

First, the bacon. I've been reading lots this summer. Recently, I finished Eating Animals and Fast Food Nation. Both books detail the factory farming of poultry, beef and pork. It is overwhelming to read how unethically and with what uncleanliness our food is farmed in order to make a profit. If you think fish are safe, think again. One book describes how many other animals are needlessly killed and wasted by the fishing industry on a daily basis. It's really made my stomach turn to read all of it, and certainly it has caused me to rethink my purchasing and consumption of animal food products. In the past, I've read about the health benefits of a plant-based diet, but this added a whole new dimension to the arguments for a vegetarian diet. That being said, I cooked bacon today. It was the last of a package I had bought pre-disgusting factory farming books (and the pigs were easily the most disgusting part), and while I don't think I can buy bacon anytime soon I did not want to waste it. So I cooked it tonight to put in omelettes and the smell just amazes me. Quickly all thoughts of those poor pigs unable to stand in their own waste just left me. Once again, it was just me and bacon and years of southern comfort food all rolled together. Why is that? If it were not for bacon and it's comforting smell I could have become a vegetarian years ago....

Popcorn is a favorite food of John Mac's. It is also a favorite food of my dad's. My dad makes it almost daily in a pot with oil and kernels, the old-fashioned way. It is so much better than any other type of popcorn. John Mac's daily popcorn habit has been expensive. The microwave bags add up when you make several each afternoon for all the kids, so I had recently invested in a popcorn maker. Of course it broke two months into operation. Today John Mac was desperate for popcorn, nothing else will do. Despite watching my father make popcorn in a pot for years and years, I have never actually done it myself. Today I gave it my first try. It was a little slow at first. It seemed to take a while for the oil to heat up. I was sure the pot wouldn't work, but John Mac kept saying, "It's doing it; it's doing it, Mommy" with such excitement that he made me a believer. Sure enough, it worked. Added some salt and it was delicious. First time try, just like Dad's. So glad the gene was passed down.

Keeping Up

Hannah has had a busy summer keeping up with her older brothers and sisters. As an almost 16 month old, she has quickly transitioned from "I'm the infant" to "I'm one of the pack". There are examples of this in each part of her life right now. For instance, Hannah has decided she should sit at the table like her siblings during meals. She is offended when we try to place her in her high chair. She will carry her booster seat from another part of the house to a kitchen chair herself in order to communicate her wishes clearly. These are some recent pictures showing Hannah's firm desire to be part of the group.

This is us on a recent Lowe's trip. Everyone insisted on riding in the cart somehow. I know one day I will really miss this. It does add a dimension of exercise to your trip however.

Hannah has watched enough swim practice this summer to know that she needs her own pair of goggles. She loves to carry goggles around and is quite good at attempting to "wear" the goggles as well.

This is a recent river day we shared with our cousins. It was so much fun and they were all so busy with the sand for hours. Hannah was just as busy. She kept up with the buckets, shoveling and water just like the big kids.

The "bench" in our kitchen is a favorite place for everyone to sit. Hannah has figured out how to climb up and sit there as well. Everyone has a place at the bench now.