20 Questions- Bear Edition (Age 5 years 5 months)

I copied this idea from my sister's blog.  Well, we started and poor Bear nearly had an anxiety attack.  She didn't think she knew the answers, she wanted to get all of them right, and she started crying.  Poor thing.  I tried to explain to her that she only had to answer them the best she could, she would not get into trouble if she was wrong.  So she answered a few and then decided to go watch whatever is on PBS Kids right now.


1. What's something I always say to you? No.

2. What makes me happy? hugs

3. What makes me sad? sticking my tongue out

4. How do I make you laugh? tickling me

5. What do you think I was like as a child? being mad (How did she know that?)

6. How old am I? I can't remember.  (crying) 17?

7. How tall am I? a hundred

8. What is my favorite thing to do? play games

9. What do I do when you are not around? scream

10. What am I really good at? tag

11. What am I not really good at? dancing?

12. What is my job? to take care of us

13. What is my favorite food? uhhh... broccoli?

14. What makes you proud of me? um, when you help me?  That makes me proud sometimes.

15. What do you and I play together? tag, peek-a-boo, princess monopoly

16. How are we the same? mom, i can't tell (ran off to watch tv)

17. How are we different? Our skin. You have darker skin and I have lighter skin.

18. If I were a cartoon character who would I be? Mickey Mouse.  Or Minnie mouse, because she's a girl and you're a girl.

19. How do you know I love you?  Hugs and kisses

20. Where is my favorite place? um, beach?

That's my girl. "20 questions" to be continued when she is up to it, maybe.
4/4/2011- We finished up today while she ate her cereal for lunch.

Cousins came quickly!

 J's cousin and her family came to visit for a quick overnight stay on their way from WI to SC.  We are so glad they were able to come.  The boys played really well together last night... well, B and S did.  They built towers with some blocks.  The little guy is not quite big enough to play with the big kids yet.  Here are some photos from their visit:

Settling in, ready for Spring

 

standing on the bench... only allowed with mommy right there... even that scares me (it's a long way down)

 "helping" daddy examine where the screen will go

 someone is looking at the steps....

 Our neighbor built the gate here to keep someone from sneaking up.  We should use it, huh?

new, soft area rug over the hardwood... so much cozier

A month ago, we were frantically packing up boxes, Hannah was helping Grandma pack the kitchen, and Buddy was climbing over barriers that were supposed to keep him out of our way so we could pack without having things unpacked by mr. curious.   The "big, big house" is starting to feel like home. Our home.

Bear can't quite pedal up the sloped driveway to the street, but that's not a bad thing.  While Buddy "napped" (after flooding the bathroom floor yesterday afternoon while I cleaned the kitchen), I helped her up the hill, and then she pedaled to the end of the cul de sac and back.  She is my cautious one.  We live on the quiet end of the street, about 4 houses from the end.  It's not very busy.  But thankfully she IS cautious and aware of cars, I'd rather have it that way.

Living in the apartment, with a flight of steps separating us from outside, dragging the outdoor toys out was a pain.  I am lazy, and so my girl has almost outgrown her bike.  She also still needs training wheels, but that's ok.  The trike/stroller combo?  Well, Brandon tipped it on its side yesterday ,trying to take it up the driveway and cracked the joint where the handle meets the parental steering column.  It is now even more of a pain to control.  I need to get B a regular plastic trike that he can learn to ride himself.  At least he likes to wear his helmet.

Spring is here in Tennessee, and that means J doesn't mind helping cook (grilling).  My job is to marinate the meats (or in the case above, make the burger patties, well seasoned) and make any sides. (Sometimes that means opening a bag of chips).  I can handle that.  The starter on our old fancy gas grill went out after 3 years or so, this time we bought a less expensive basic Weber charcoal grill.  The flavor is so much better.

We are so thankful for our new home.  J's commute is 30 minutes on the  very worst traffic day, which is half of what it was in Georgia.  He has been home more, and we know there was a reason we could not bring ourselves to buy a home there.  God had other plans.

Home is where the heart is

"Change is the one constant in life."

That quote seems to summarize the past 5 years of our family.  The kiddos are now in the 3rd dwelling they have lived in.  Bear has told me that she barely remembers the first.  It has been over a year and a half, and I certainly don't remember the house that I lived in when I was the age we moved with her the first time.

So far, they are adjusting well to this most recent change.  They miss their friends... H, especially.  We're not putting her back in Pre-K, and we're visiting churches, so it's going to take time to feel settled.  They LOVE the park that's nearby, and when we walked through our neighborhood's walking path in the woods last week,  H immediately began chanting, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my."

They LOVE having space.  And boy, do we have plenty of it.  Upstairs play room.  Basement.  Their own bedrooms.  A yard, and a big one at that (.37 acre).  Here are a couple of more recent photos (including a shot of J in action on the home improvements)...