He Did It!!

At 14 1/2 months, Emmett decided to start walking. Hooray, Mr. Man!!

My Spoonful of Sugar

When I was little and when I got sick there was one person in the world who could really make it better. I mean really. In fact, there were times I really wanted to get sick, just so he could make it better.

It's my dad. Something like this would come out of his mouth every time, without fail: "I know it's not fun being sick but I'm really excited that I get to hang out with you and watch a movie!" And that is what we did. We would snuggle onto the couch, Dad would bundle me in a pile of blankets, a cool washcloth at the ready, and a pan, just in case. And we would watch a movie. It was usually Shirley Temple because there isn't much that can top her. And I would feel better. To this day I don't remember feeling miserable, achy, in pain at all. All I remember is the spoonful of sugar, and looking back now I realize it didn't just soothe the momentary ache. It is a lasting memory of my Dad and how he loved me.

I have thought a lot about my Dad these last few days. While we were visiting in Oregon Emmett decided to stop sleeping through the night. Not only that but he decided to wake up at about 2:00am and refuse to go back to bed. At 2am Papa came out with a smile on his face and he and Emmett rocked in the big brown chair for hours, giving me much desired sleep. Dad was my spoonful of sugar. Okay, and Emmett's, too. The kid conked out on Papa's chest and rested peacefully as long as Papa kept rocking. He did this for almost a week straight.

Now we are home and the kids are taking turns at being sick. Stuart was first and Bryant just took the baton last night. As I race from room to room, tucking kids in, getting them drinks and cool washcloths and medicine, I can't help smiling. As Bryant and I trudged down the stairs at 3am this morning to turn on Cars 2 because he was shivering and shaking and couldn't settle back down with his fever and that was the only diversion available, I thought of how this was not so much about the momentary ache, as it is about an opportunity to be my own children's spoonful of sugar. So as I piled up blankets over the top of Bryant, tucking them in just so, brought a cool washcloth to place on his forehead, and put the movie in, I said something like: "I'm so sorry you are sick, but I am so excited that I get to spend some special time with you watching a movie!"

My Dad, my spoonful of sugar who helps all types of medicine go down.

Our Snow Days!

 Last week it snowed about 6-8 inches and shut down life for 2 days. For example, there was one employee at Walmart, allowing 3 customers at a time to come inside to shop. You know it's bad if Walmart only has one employee working.

 

So here is what we did for those two days! It made easing back into life in Virginia a little better.

 

We threw snowballs...

 "My self is cold!" says Stuart. The snowball throw backfired.

 We had "survival school," headed up by John who had the kids hunt for sticks to build a fire outside. And subsequently roasted hot dogs for lunch and drank hot cocoa.

 This girl was in heaven. She absolutely loves being outside. Especially if there's cocoa involved.

 Bryant was the biggest help in starting the fire and roasting food.

 I took a stroll with Aubrey through Footprint Forest, or the Valley of Giants, depending on whether you talked to Aubrey or Bryant.

Mr. Emmett even got in on some action, going on an exciting adventure to the sledding hill.

 

 

We thank the Lord for the beautiful, fun snow and the chance to go a bit slower through the week.