They Still Fit

It doesn't always happen that all four of my sons are in the bathtub together.  In fact, it doesn't often happen.  To be quite honest, it rarely happens.  But it happened last night.

From my oldest...

...to my youngest...

...they all managed to fit in one little ol' bathtub.

Can you guess how much fun they had?

 You can?

 What was your first clue?

 The crazy looks on their faces?

 Especially Shav--whew!  He's developing quite a sense of humor.  Maybe he learned it from his big brother David.

 Those two are such hams, we might as well change our last name to Burger.

When I am an old gray-haired lady, tottering around with my cane and posting Facebook status updates about my arthritis and all the prescriptions I need to get filled, I'll remember when...

...four little-but-getting-big-fast boys fit in my tub.

Tangled Web

As a child, I learned these famous, truth-filled lines:

Oh! what a tangled web we weave

When first we practise to deceive!

I didn't know then, as I do now, that they were written by Sir Walter Scott; but I did know that not only was lying wrong, it was also stupid because one lie led to another and it was difficult to maintain a string of falsehoods.  Telling the truth was simpler (not to mention, more righteous!).

Scott's poem flashed through my mind yesterday as I happened to come into my garage at just the right time to see the late afternoon sun illuminating a large spider web in the corner of the door.  Two webs, actually, although one is significantly smaller than the other.  

I thought about knocking down the webs, but then I talked myself out of it.  After all, they weren't hurting anything or anyone, and I don't mind spiders living outside--that's where they belong, after all.  So I let them stay...and walked away grateful for a visual reminder to live a life of integrity.

If we are wise and let them, those childhood lessons follow us all the way into adulthood; and sometimes, all it takes to remind us is a glimpse of a tangled web.

He Made It Easy

He's an active, energetic, dramatic, passionate, hands-on kind of child.

One part monkey, one part kangaroo, one part all-boy!

He had the habit of writing certain letters and numbers backwards (still does sometimes).

"Is he dyslexic?" I wondered.  "Will he be a late reader?  Surely it will be a challenge to teach him to read.  I'll certainly have to do some research and learn some techniques for teaching struggling readers.  How will we ever manage?"

And then, when he was four, he asked me to teach him how to read--and he learned!

The rest, as they say, is history.  Could I be any prouder of my David?  Could I be any more grateful for the wonderful gift of his reading ability?

Sometimes certain aspects of life turn out to be much harder than expected, but sometimes--blessedly--they turn out to be much, much easier.  And oh, what a delight that is!

Wordless Wednesday {Happy Tobin Bear}

Still Here

We're still here.  Just a little busy, that's all.  

Let's see...  Left the house Sunday at about 7:00 AM and returned about 8:00 PM.  Went swimming at a friend's house on Monday morning, then a violin lesson for Josiah in the afternoon, then unexpected (but delightful) guests in the evening.  Today, met friends at a park, then stopped at another friend's house for play and conversation.  The lovely Kathryn came this afternoon to play with the boys.  We had guests for dinner, then an incredible Bible study with a young couple until...oh...11:45 PM or so.  Lots and lots of people time.

My laundry is piling up.  My schedule for housecleaning has been completely disregarded.  The weeds in my front flowerbed are threatening to grow up so high they block the front door.  But I've been reminded the past few days that time with people is what matters.

Because people are the only things we get to take to heaven with us.

The Photo Quality Is Lousy...

...but the boys in this picture are precious.

And they think their daddy is SPECTACULAR!  :)

Our Second Firstborn

At three and a half years of age, Tobin is still a little guy; but whatever you do, don't tell him that.  He thinks of himself as quite a grown-up fellow, especially when his little brother is around.

Tobin has developed quite a knack for bossing Shav around.  "Do this, Oddy!" I'll hear Tobin say.  ("Oddy" is Tobin's current {mis}pronunciation of Shavi.  A few times, I've heard the "sh" sound come at the beginning as Tobin calls his little brother, but I'm not sure that's an improvement.  After all, who wants to be called "Shoddy"???)  :)  "Get this tricycle, Oddy!"  "Go this way!"  "Get in the boat, Oddy!" "Put the car there!"  "Follow me!"  The commands are constant.  It's clear to anyone listening that when these two boys play together, Tobin is in charge.

Mercifully, Shav goes along with it!  Oh, occasionally, he'll squeal a protest; but almost always, he is his next biggest brother's willing accomplice with whatever scheme Tobin is dreaming up.  I don't know how long his compliance will last; but for now--for this stage of their development--it makes for mostly peaceful play times.

I know the child development and birth order experts would say that with only a gap of two years and nine months between Tobin and David, Tobin can't really be considered a second firstborn (don't you need a gap of at least five years to produce that situation?).  But if you didn't know what "the experts" said and just listened to my third child's bossiness, you might think he was acting like the stereotypical oldest child.

At the very least, you might marvel at his...shall we say?...emerging leadership skills.  ;-)