Hannah-ism. There aren’t too many words that trip up an 8-year old. But today one got her.
She was playing with the calculator on my phone today in the car (I know, we spend a lot of time in the car – like most other families who run to dance, piano, church, etc).
“Mom, what would you like for me to add, subtract, or multiplicate for you?
I didn’t correct her. However, the truth will be out in January when the fun begins for her to start learning multiplication. Mr. Demme, her video math instructor will set her straight soon enough. She loves Mr. Demme – it will be much kinder coming from him.
But, I got to thinking…multiplicate is a more sensible way to modify the word multiplication than the word multiply…
Ellie said today, “last week I was a baby. Then I had my birthday. Now I am a big kid. I am THREE!”
Yes, just last week you were my baby. Next week, I will turn around and you will be turning twelve.
Realizations like that make me understand the blessing of time that comes with being able to stay at home with my children.
I called my husband and checked my gas gauge. I actually felt sorry that I filled up just a couple a days ago – I’m not one to pass up a great bargain!
Last week, I was able to buy a half price leather bench at LinenNThings’ closeout sale to use as a coffee table in our hearth room because of the extra room in my budget due to falling gas prices. How is that for stimulating the economy??!!
Hmmmmm – I’m not spending the money on gas, but on furniture…thus stimulating the economy. A day late and a dollar short as LinenNThings has fallen victim to everyone tightening their belts and spending less at spendy houseware stores.
This picture was taken about a month ago at Grant’s Farm during our Beihai Reunion. Judging by the bright smiles you can see that we were having a great time!
Sometimes it can be hard to come up the the exact word or phrase you are looking for. Ellie doesn’t have that problem…she just makes up her own…
–Corn Man — While driving to town today she was noticing how many cornfields had been combined. She came up with this term to describe the farmer who will come and combine this one last cornfield and how he will use it to feed his cows.
–Nose Thing — She used this term to describe the white fluff sticking to her hand after she elmer glued an art project and tried to clean off her hands.
On another note, Hannah loves to tell jokes and they are heard frequently in this house. Ellie is catching on. She had three jokes of her own tonight.
“Mama, why did the snake cross the road?…..To get to his food.”
“Mama, why did the three ladybugs cross the road?…The get to their food.”
“Mama, why did the dogs cross the road? To get to their dog food.”
I was pretty impressed.
that bunnies have short, fluffy tails and live in a hole in the garden?”
If you are around my girl very long at all you will hear this conversation starter. I don’t know where it came from, why it has hung on…It is what she says when she wants to have something to say but doesn’t really have something to say.
how much satisfaction there is in watching my child master her addition and subtraction facts. I think I can actually hear the wheels turning as she decides whether she needs to regroup a problem or not. It seemed to take awhile to get her there, but she is definitely thinking mathematically now! There are so many things to be proud of as a parent – even 17 minus 9!
Waiting for Ellie was a hard, frustrating phase of our life. For us adoption became the way to extend our family after experiencing and coming to terms with infertility. We were told when we started that we should be home with our child within 12 months. Then China slowed down- everyone in the adoption world has watched this program slow to a snails pace over the past few years. All told, we were home with Ellie Grace in 22 months. Many more have waited much longer- but we did our time. Of course, all the pain and wondering and worry has faded away as we are very much enjoying this child who emerged from her bedroom this morning having already donned her princess outfit for the day. Today she is Fuchsia Princess in a velour pink and sparkle-y dress that used to be her sisters’.
During the “paperwork portion” of the adoption process for Treasure I have been guarding my heart against the frustration of the “wait”. I have stated that while I want a third child, but am perfectly happy with my two. My days are full and they bring me much joy and satisfaction (and exhaustion and laundry). I often say that while I needed Ellie Grace, I want Treasure.
I can feel that those protective layers peeling away as I am fantasizing about this new little one a lot more. I dreamed about the two little ones last night (Ellie and Treasure) running around, playing together. I literally awoke this morning with a smile on my face.
