Tiny Talk Tuesday

We're using Starfall.com for language arts. I highly recommend their program for learning to read. David has really been enjoying it. Elizabeth also enjoys their ABC pages... now if she could just figure out how to use the mouse!

Here is David singing last week's verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Song from Sing the Word: From A to Z, part of our Kindergarten home school curriculum from Sonlight.

A few days ago, I was whistling the catchy cantina song from Star Wars. David didn't want me to sing "his song" and came up with his own version. I have to admit, I was impressed with his ability to write lyrics on the fly!


We had another death in the family this week, this time my husband's grandpa. I explained to David & Elizabeth that PaPa loved Jesus, so his soul had gone to heaven. Elizabeth replied, "With Grandma?" Yes, my love.

She has a notebook of coloring pages and a wipe-off book that's for practicing handwriting. She calls it "my school work." She's so cute working in her books. Sometimes she traces the letters, sometimes she draws smiley faces, sometimes she just scribbles.

Rebekah says: Da-did! and she is in the process of cutting tooth #3 this week!

Valentine Tuesday

Sorry to disappoint the Tiny Talk fans out there, but I haven't really noticed much cute tiny talk this week. Been having some problems with one wanting to be in charge and another not telling the truth to avoid trouble.

Speaking of Valentine's Day... with all the other stuff that was going on the last few weeks with Grandma's illness, I never posted our Valentine photos. Here are the heart people we made:

Elizabeth's was actually a ladybug. Of course. We also had heart shaped pancakes. David's turned out really huge - and the ate the whole thing!

Rebekah paid no attention to Valentine's Day this year, except to eat some of the paper valentines that were left within reach. She's just cute that way.

I think the jeans are cute, too!

In other news, I wanted to say thank you to everyone, whether they read this or not, who's been praying for our family and for the cards. And a huge thank you to my BFF who drove 5 hours with a baby to be there for me... and massage the stress out of my neck & shoulders!

Tiny Talk Tuesday in Memory

I haven't felt much like blogging lately. But I'll do this one in memory of Grandma, my Momma, who passed away February 11, 2010. She loved to read Tiny Talk Tuesday.

Grandma & David, 2007

Uncle Jimmy came to visit Grandma last week. My kids had never met him, so I asked: So what did you think of Uncle Jimmy?
David: He had girl hair.
Elizabeth: Yeah, it was white!
Uncle Jimmy has gray/white hair in a long pony tail.

Aunt Sissy was making David & Elizabeth peanut butter sandwiches last night and asked: Do you want squares or triangles?
Elizabeth: Triangles!
David: I want it like a man! (a whole sandwich, not cut)

Grandma & Elizabeth, 2009

We've had to talk about the subject of death. When I explained heaven, David replied: Now there are two people in heaven - Great and Grandma.

Dad did an excellent job when he talked to David. One night at supper, David said: Grandma's soul is in heaven.

We love you Grandma and miss you greatly.

Grandma holding Baby Rebekah, 2009

Momma's Snow

I never got the snow pictures on my blog, so here they are, finally! February 11, 2010 was a memorable day. The day I lost my Momma. The day the snow started falling. It was a peaceful, beautiful day. When I went to bed that night, I measured (with a ruler) 7 inches of snow in my yard. In Texas. I have never seen that much snow in this state! And it was still snowing!
David & Elizabeth loved the snow! Elizabeth kept saying, "It's gonna be Christmas again!"

Mother and son snow angels!

Father and son snowman construction...
turned out to be father snowman construction!

Snowballs!!!

The finished snowman with Dad's FD helmet & gloves.

Wow, it was really bright out there!

Dad's aerial photography
(from the signal mast in the front yard)
after all the snow slid off the roof of the house.
What a beautiful event!
I will forever remember this as
Momma's Snow.

Tiny Talk Visits the Stock Show

Elizabeth: Hey, David, you got on a muscle shirt.
David: Yeah, that way people can see my muscles better.

Mom to Rebekah: You ate it all! You ate two bowls full!
David: Yeah! She almost exploded!

Yesterday we took a field trip! Is it too much to ask for Mom to get a good picture when we get to the stock show? Apparently...

Thanks to that lovely FD sticker on the car (and knowing who was on duty at the complex station), we were able to get a special parking spot at the Will Rogers Complex... and walked right in without having to pay admission! The first display we saw got everyone excited, so we had to take a picture for Grandpa:

David smiled really good for that one! Next, we headed into the cattle barns.

They were probably arguing about something, not really paying attention to the cattle...

In Planet Agriculture, they got little headband hats to wear. I thought I got a picture of them with them on, but this was the best one I got and you can't really see them. Elizabeth was a pig and David was a cow. And Elizabeth thought these little piglets were cute. David's being his own little piglet with a bag of popcorn.

I liked the little puffballs, myself.

And check out that comb! Impressive! I bet he doesn't like freezing weather!

In the exhibit hall, they tried on hats. Oddly enough, Elizabeth was not really excited about the pink hat. She must have been getting hungry because David was hogging the popcorn.

But David was all over that camo cowboy hat!!! Now there's a picture Mom can be proud of!

She did wear the pink tiara cowboy hat that went with the pink feather boa at the AT&T photo op, though.

We went to the petting zoo. I was unable to photograph my children actually petting anything.


Then we had some Mexican food for lunch & went to the big library to pick up a few books... I was stocking up for home school, the Thursday school class I'm teaching, Valentine's Day, and a few just for fun.

When we got home, I asked David: What was your favorite part of today?
David: Lunch!
Mom: No, I mean what was your favorite part when we were at the stock show?
David: The popcorn!
Mom: OK... (deep breath) What was your favorite animal at the stock show?
David: The cows. (with much less enthusiasm than the food got)
Mom: What did you like about the cows?
David: I liked the cow that was getting a hair cut!

Yep, that was pretty cool...

God is in Control

I asked my Momma (aka Grandma) how she was doing after being diagnosed with liver cancer this week. She replied, "Well, I don't like it... but God is in control." What a wonderful example I have in her. This song's for you, Momma. I hope it encourages your spirit.

To everyone else, please keep Momma in your prayers.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Elizabeth: Mama, are we gonna ride in the hick-up?
Mom: Yes, dear, we're gonna ride in the pick-up.

She walked into the room where Dad was watching a video of railroad something & started: Is that my train???? I wanna see my train!!!
and then broke into song: Dinosaur Train, Dinosaur Trail, riiiiide the Dinosaur Train!!!



Here's this week's Wiggly Verse:

Do what you can for Haiti...

I don't watch TV. Someone asked me at our home school group how I know what's going on in the world. Either my husband (he watches news at work and reads the newspaper online) or other sources online. So I haven't seen the pictures or the news stories. I found out about the tragedy in Haiti on Facebook. One of my friends, who's also in my class at church, was in Haiti on a Mission Trip the week of Thanksgiving, so it holds a special place in her heart. I'm also friends with Compassion International, who we have supported for 11 years. (Fan Compassion on Facebook.) I also read blogs, and when a crisis happens, bloggers spring into action.

Money Saving Mom is one of my favorite blogs. She and her husband have graciously offered to donate $10 to Compassion International for every blogger who blogs what they're doing to help the relief efforts and links to her website. Last time I checked, she's up to donating $3280! And that was before I linked up! She's got it open through January 21. I'd say she's been a good steward of her resources to be able to leave an open-ended donation going like that. Her blog is well worth your time.

You can also make a donation directly to Compassion International's Disaster Relief Fund. Compassion was already in Haiti. Casualties could have included some of their staff, volunteers, and definitely the children and families they were already ministering to every day. Compassion has been keeping us up-to-date on their ministries on their blog and on Facebook.

The cloth diapering world is also getting involved. Kelly's Closet is doing a raffle fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. For a $10 donation, you are entered into a drawing for an awesome diaper bundle or gift certificate! The last update they posted on facebook, was that the fundraiser had already brought in $2580 for donation. You can also donate online directly to the American Red Cross. And the easiest way to donate that I've seen - by text. I don't have texting, but you can donate $10 by texting "HAITI" to 90999.

My friend from church also tells us that our church will be sending disaster relief through the organization, New Missions, who is already positioned in Haiti. Our church has gone with New Missions to Haiti for a few years now. The photo above is from this year's trip. That's Jessica in the foreground. You can read more about the work in Haiti on their website, where I learned that Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Contributions can be made directly to New Missions on their donations page.

So what am I doing to help? In addition to our contribution to Compassion International, I'm spreading the word. You can also help other bloggers give, too! At the bottom of Money Saving Mom's post, you will also find a list of other bloggers who have committed to donate to Haiti in some form based on comments they receive. Your clicks & comments will help the donations grow without even coming out of your own pocket!!!

So get out there! Get involved! Make a donation! Comment on a blog! Make a difference!

Birthday on the Rails

Last Saturday was Elizabeth's 3rd birthday!!! She said she wanted to ride a train. With a January birthday, there's not a whole lot you can do. The zoo would have been too cold. But when given the choice, she picked train over zoo! I think credit must be given to The Polar Express and Dinosaur Train... not to mention a rail fan Dad. No matter, it was a lot of fun for all!

Exciting graffiti!

This is my favorite picture of
Elizabeth & Dad

Everything was exciting as she looked out the window!

She saw tunnels, water, and even a butterfly at one of the stops!

When the train stopped on the other side (before coming back),
we had cupcakes!

Grandma assisted so that she wouldn't get her jacket all chocolaty.
After cupcakes... presents!

She kept gasping saying,
"Oh my! Oh my!"

She got more princess stuff and some really cute dresses.
She excitedly waved the clothes around,
so I was unable to photograph them!

Putting all her beads in her new purse.

When we got back to the station,
Dad wanted us to look at the old T&P Building.
Uncle Bubba put some good photos on his blog.

But Elizabeth just played with her beads & purse.

She was eager to head to McDonald's for lunch, though!

Thanks to everyone who made
Elizabeth's 3rd birthday train ride
a wonderful expereience!