Ginna had her Harvest Party at school today. The teachers marveled at how calm the class was…other teachers were coming to our class asking how we had the children so calm….that’s what you get when a dietitian plans the party!! We made ladybug snacks with apples, grapes, cheerios, and cream cheese. And we made ham and cheese sandwiches in leaf bread for lunch. The kids had a great time! Jamey enjoyed playing with the children. They loved having a baby around for the day!
Gotta love that!
Still wearing the hat and glasses…
Jamey received the sign of God’s covenant today. Having a child baptized is such a beautiful picture of God’s love for his children. I am sharing some photos.
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2: 11-12
I found out this week that the “problem” tooth in my lower jaw is going to cost me about $3k, none of which my dental insurance will cover (apparently, they only cover the science of 20 years ago and would pay for me to destroy the two adjacent teeth with a bridge but not to have the current standard of care for my situation, which is an implant). I told Ginna that I was pretty mad because I had to get a new tooth and had to give the dentist a lot of money. She said very matter of factly, “Mom, you have money.” Like, what’s the problem??? OK, Ginna, you’re right. I do. But I didn’t want to spend it on a tooth!!
And with that, I am finished for the day.
I am reading Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. I’d love to hear some thoughts about the following paragraph relating to parenting models and goals. Kimmel says,
“The real test of a parenting model is how well equipped the children are to move into adulthood as vital members of the human race. Notice I don’t say “as vital members of the Christian community.” We need to have kids that can be sent to the most hostile universities, toil in the greediest work environments, and raise their families in the most hedonistic communities and yet not be the least bit intimidated by their surroundings. Futhermore, they need to be engaged in the lives of people in their culture, gracefully representing Christ’s love inside these desperate surroundings. The apostle Paul gave us as parents an excellent goal for our children to pursue: ‘Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.’ Phil.2:14-16″
I, too, need to do everything without complaining or arguing!!
(I’ve had several thoughts this week I’ve intended to post…so now they’re coming all at once!)
Have I mentioned that we are in a French Toast jag in this house? Ginna wakes up most mornings asking for French Toast. In an effort to enhance our enjoyment of this same breakfast, being encouraged by a recent lecture I gave on phytochemicals and functional foods, and with a friends suggestion, I have started serving a new version of French Toast….Pumpkin French Toast with Flax Seeds. I just replace some of the milk in the recipe with pureed pumpkin and add a tablespoon or so of flax seeds to the batter….and we have a great source of beta-carotene and omega-3’s for breakfast! And it’s very yummy!
I am concerned about the future of the written word. Today’s use of electronic communication embraces a new language (BTW, TTYL, etc.), and I wonder about the effects of modern communication on writing skills. What are students learning about writing in high school these days? Can they compose an essay? Why have standardized tests been prioritized over essays? What happened to the college admission essay? (Can you tell I’ve been grading papers!) I’ll keep the rest of my thoughts on this matter to myself. 
After reading Lee’s post on Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, I decided to post my strategies for avoiding car naps. Of course, I can’t always keep Jamey from falling asleep in the car (although we are generally home between the hours of 9-11am and 1-3pm to protect sleep!). But if Ginna falls asleep in the car, even for 5 minutes, she will not nap for the rest of the day (which is a great precursor to a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad afternoon!) So, I’ve developed some “games” etc. to keep her engaged in the car.
1. Ask her questions about things she sees outside the car. “Do you see a red car?” “What color is the traffic light?” “What does a red light mean?” “Tell me when the light changes.” etc.
2. Sing songs. Lots of them. And leave out an occasional word with an exaggerated pause, which indicates to Ginna to fill in the missing word. Currently, Amazing Grace, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, and the Mickey Mouse song are on our top tunes list.
3. Stay off the phone. Car time requires engaged conversation with the kiddos in my backseat.
4. Ask more questions. “What’s your favorite food?” “What do you like to do at the park?”
5. When all else fails, give food. Raisins do the trick…and I have even on one or two very desperate occasions offered chocolate.
Overall, I’d say these tactics engender great communication!!!
I must post the following photo of Ginna washing her feet in the sink….she is her mother’s daughter…..my college roommates often saw me washing my feet in the sink in the community bathroom before bed.
Ginna and Jamey are opening Halloween cards from Wing and Granddaddy.
Here’s my leaf eater seeking a snack.
Ginna’s class went on a field trip to a (fake) pumpkin patch. Ginna was not too keen about feeding (or otherwise touching) the animals.
I’ve been rather negligent as of late with posting photos. Here are a few.
Ginna and Jamey are cheering for Alabama!
Ginna’s class went on a field trip to the fire station.
Ginna is obsessed with bags!
Ginna set up places for her animals and doll to sit with her.
I was at deli counter today at the grocery store today with the kids. The person behind us had a box of Cocoa Puffs, a half gallon of whole milk, and a package of hot dogs. Ginna looked at her and said, “You like hedgehogs?”
She has never had a hot dog at our house, so with her limited exposure to them, she used the word with which she is more familiar.
