Lance the Turtle

My Indian Princess and her daddy had taken a ride in the pickup.  While they were gone, they found something on the side of the road.  Daddy told me later he must have looked like a crazy person the way he was zigzagging through the grass and onto the road.  This is what they brought home:

Yes.  Their very own pet.  It's not as good as a dog.  But it will do.  For now.  

They named it Lance.  After the turtle in Veggie Tales.  It's my favorite silly song.  If you haven't seen it, look it up on YouTube.  

But it's original name was Puddles.  I guess they have a nasty way of defending themselves when being picked up.

He has taken up residence in the girls' pool since these pictures.  Their pool is now filled with rotting cabbage, bloated baby carrots, and rancid lunchmeat.  And some rocks.  Apparently, turtles are also good for salmonella.  The girls don't seem to mind.  And I'm diligent to point to the bathroom sink when they come in so they don't spread the sweetness.

I have to admit, I kinda like Lance.  He's much easier to care for than a dog, doesn't shed in the house, and you only have to feed him once a month or so.  

Someday, he'll end up in the pond down the street.  But for right now, we are content to have him as our guest.

The Lord

A few evenings ago we had a good thunderstorm.  As we were eating dinner, we heard a really big boom.  It was close, and the girls jumped.  My husband found 2 Samuel 22:14 and read it to them, "The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded "  

My Littlest Girl said, "Wow.  The Lord sure is loud!"

Get the Plank Out of Your Own Eye

She can't really wink...

She said she had something in her eye.

YMCA

It's fun to stay at the 

Y...

M..

 C...

 A!

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A

You can get yourself clean

You can have a good meal

You can do whatever you feel!

Tonight. A Poem. Maybe.

Tonight.
Daddy was gone.
I started a fire in the fire pit.
We roasted hot dogs.
And ate in the tree house.

And when the evening was over.
My Littlest Girl pushed my Indian Princess to the ground.
For no reason.
And got sent to her room.
While the Indian Princess picked up random toys
That she thought would make me happy
And yet still get away with doing as little as possible.

When she was done
I sent my Littlest Girl to pick up her toys.
Any toys that might be damaged if it rained tonight.
And when she was done.
I checked for both of their toys.
And came in with 3 baskets of toys/dishes/clothes
That they missed.

I told them they would have to do chores
To get them back.
And I could tell
They were weighing their options.
Did they really want to do chores?
Or give up their toys?
They weren't sure.

So I told them
They would do chores for me
Tomorrow.
Because I do.not.want
3 baskets of their toys/dishes/clothes
Collecting dust on top of the bookshelf.
Forever.
And they both sighed.
And said, "Yes, Mommy."
And my blood pressure returned to normal.

The End.

T.I.P.

Not sure how to feel:

My Indian Princess tore a BUNCH of holes in her favorite Gymboree dress.  

One that I bought new.

How did she do it?

Skateboarding.

We had to make a new rule.  She only skateboards in pants or shorts.  Not dresses.

I guess I should call her my Tomboy Indian Princess??

This One's Gonna Be Hard

Neither of my girls were thumb suckers.  And I wasn't a big paci supporter.

But I should have been.

At a few months old, my Littlest Girl found her two middle fingers.  And thus began a love affair that could last through the ages.

I don't really have a problem with her sucking on her fingers.  Until she loses a tooth.  Then she will have to stop.  When she came to this realization, she would periodically say, "I'm getting to be a big girl.  But I'm not going to lose my tooth until I'm bigger."  She blurts this out every few days, especially after a nap or close to bedtime.

The rule we've always had is that she can suck them in bed, on her way to sleep.  Not in the car, not when she's watching TV, not when she's bored.  ONLY when she's sleeping.
She's good with the rules.  Except when she has been sent to time out.  On her bed.  Then, invariably, I go up to reconcile with her, and her fingers are in her mouth, baby doll tucked close to her.

So a few days ago, I gave her an ultimatum.  The next time I catch her with her fingers in her mouth during a time out, will be the last time she will be allowed to do it.  We will start the weaning then.  It will be her choice. I told her. I repeated it.  I had her repeat it.  I reminded her the next morning.  (Her long-term memory is not one of her strong suits.)  And I let it go.

Yesterday, she was having a bad day, and was sent to time out.  I didn't remind her.  She's 5 1/2.  I don't think I need to remind her every time.  But when I went up, I heard a slurping sound, and I saw her hurriedly hiding her hand behind her baby.  And inside I grieved.  And I rejoiced.  I grieved because she hadn't obeyed.  And this will be a long, hard journey for her.  I rejoiced because as everyone knows, it's a gross habit.  I'm not fond of stinky fingers waving through the air at breakfast after a long night of being saturated with spit.  Also, her fingers are severely calloused and her nails are very damaged.

I reminded her that she would no longer be sucking her fingers.  Ever.  And I told her I would tape them that night so that she wouldn't be tempted.  She cried.  Tortuously.  For over 15 minutes.  We heard the desperation in her cries and even my husband was sympathetic to her anguish.

So last night the inaugural taping commenced.  It didn't go as bad as I thought it would.  And she slept fine.  Today I taped them for nap time.  She asked me to lay down with her and I did, wanting to see how she was holding up without her favorite refuge.  She was asleep in less than five minutes.

I don't know how long I will have to tape fingers.  I'm afraid the minute I stop taping, she will assume the punishment is over and she can go back to popping them in her mouth.  She's stubborn that way.  The way we all are when a beloved habit is interrupted.  I can only hope I have enough tape, and enough patience, to do this as long as needed.

 In the end she will be better for it.  But in the end I will have lost the last vestiges of her babyhood.  And I will be happy.  And I will be sad.  And I will look forward to the next phase of her life, while holding on for dear life to the memories of her earlier one.  And I guess that's how this parenting thing goes.

Evening Lesson

²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

 Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

  ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

 ³¹ So don’t be afraid; 

 you are worth more than many sparrows.

Fashion Show/Dance Party

It's that time, once again...

I still can't remember what they were doing.  But they were changing clothes as fast as they could.  I guess if they can't make a living being wedding designers, they could try their hand at fashion.  Or dancing.  Or circus tent designs.