Quotes from my Brothers (and Sister)

Thomas: "I know why people kidnap people - because they want more kids!"

Thomas: "Is it illegal to fight a robot?"

Gavin: "If it's a police robot then maybe."

Thomas: "Dad, do you know what it feels like when I eat Rice Krispies? It feels like I'm having a heart attack." And then, "I just heard my day imagination. I put a bite in my mouth and I heard a bang."

Nadia is very prompt to say thank-you when she is given something. But if she is not responded to with a "You're welcome" she'll scold, "Say me welcome!"

Nadia: "Mom, keep me safe!"

Mom: "From what?"

Nadia: "From the lion."

Mom: "The lion?"

Nadia: "Justine is a lion."

It's been a very long time...

...hasn't it?

Instead of the usual March weather of grey skies and brown fields, we received a beautiful layer of snow the other night. On top of that, the snow was glazed with ice from freezing rain. Today dawned bright and clear, the sunshine reflected off the ice and snow, and it was altogether a cheerful and breath-takingly pretty day.

In this picture, I tried to focus on the coil of vine. However, the sun was glinting off the camera screen, so I didn't see the result until I put the pictures on the computer. It did focus on something, just not what I wanted it to. And the background looks how I wanted it to. :)

I was bouncing these two little men on a fallen log (and having lots of fun) when they told me I looked like a Daddy long-legs. I just laughed, so they kept calling me that and laughing. :)

Happy Friday!

Justine

What We've Been Up To

On Saturday, Leah, Meghan, and I cleaned a church. Another girl we know used to do it, but she moved away so we got the job. In the afternoon we did stuff around the house. After supper my dad took me to the city to practice driving. I am pretty confident driving in the country, but there are so many more things to watch for in the city. I drove for more than an hour and even got to see a place where my dad is going to be working.

On Sunday we had some friends over for lunch. After the evening service the Young People's from our church came. The last people left at about 10:30, so it was kind of late. But I had a nap this afternoon, so that's okay. :)

This morning when we woke up it was a bit chilly, and it was cozy to go downstairs to the warm living room where the fire was burning brightly. When the sun came up we saw that we'd had a good, hard frost. We have already had one frost but it wasn't so hard as this one. Warren and I went outside to let the dog run around this morning and I took the camera along.

Warren ran and slid on his boots across the grass. Here you can see his tracks. Where the tracks start is where he started sliding. The tracks beside are from the first time he slid.

Later we tried sliding on the deck. I couldn't slide very far, but Warren could. When the others saw him sliding they decided to come out and try it, too. My mom got some video of it.

It's just about time to get the winter coats and hats and boots out. We did get boots out for the three little ones this morning. We put on their winter coats, too. Since Nadia's was in the wash, they all had to bump up one - Gavin wore Brent's coat, Thomas wore Gavin's, and Nadia wore Thomas'. They looked so cozy, bundled up in the too-big coats. Nadia's mitten was a bit wet by the time we came in because she tried to suck her fingers through it.

Gavin is being generous, handing out his Sunday School candy. That is his weekly practice. :)

Justine

Cheese Men

During the morning, some of us older ones take turns doing things with the little ones. Allison gives them a snack, and sometimes they do a "craft snack". Today they made cheese men.

Here they are, lined up on the counter while Allison is getting things ready. (We have a "shortcut" between the dining room and kitchen. I took this picture from the dining room.)

Eager anticipation

Three cheese men

Justine

Space Shuttle Adventure

The following is a journal entry I wrote a few days ago. The pictures were taken another day.

Every school day I take Gavin, Thomas, and Nadia outside for one hour and fifteen minutes. This morning the boys wanted to play space shuttle in the old blue van.

(Brent, Thomas, and Gavin)

Brent (who had some free time), Gavin, and Thomas took turns being co-pilot and "driver".
While Brent was driving, we went to the moon. On the way, we passed the sun and blew it up. We went straight through Jupiter and blew it up as we were leaving.

Gavin got us stuck in the middle of space. Then he hit an alien. Emily was doing a science project and was using the front of the van as a writing desk. We appointed her as an alien.

Thomas, whose knowledge of the solar system and of geography is somewhat confused, decided to head for Africa. But first, the space shuttle got stuck in a tree. After he succeeded in knocking down the tree, he steered for Africa, guided by a map of North America.

(Cyrus walking on the windshield)

Meanwhile Nadia and I lounged around in the back seat. Nadia sucked her middle fingers and watched her brothers' excited activity with a look of mild concern.

Eventually the boys tired of their cosmic flight and turned to the tamer activity of using swings as trucks and race cars. Someday maybe they'll really fly to the moon, but I doubt they'll go as far as their imagination took them one morning in an old blue van.

Justine