Camping...McCarthy style

Is it normal for a 4 year old boy to prefer to sleep on a pile of pillows at the foot of his bed with a canopy of beach towels over his head than to sleep in his bed? I find it odd and frustrating, and having never been a 4 year old boy, I just can't relate. This has been going on for over two weeks now and I am over it. Particularly since the top of the "tent" (e.g., one edge of the beach towels) is tucked into his underwear drawer and he fusses at me every single morning for wrecking his tent when I open the drawer to pick out his clothes. But it is one of those things that just isn't worth doing battle over. Another night in the tent it is....

Stubborn as a mule

I don't know how I ever got through the first 36 years of my life without a 4 year old guiding me along. We have had exactly 2 homework assignments from pre-k and already Evan has decided that he knows more than I do. His teachers sent home a "Bb" worksheet yesterday and asked that we work with Evan on his technique. He is apparently doing just fine tracing the dots to make the Bs, but he is not going from top to bottom with his strokes. He likes to make the straight line from bottom to top and then go back to the bottom to start the "bubbles" as I called them. So, we sat down this afternoon to work. As I tried to instruct him on how to properly trace the dots from top to bottom to make Bs, he informed me that I was absolutely wrong. He also informed me that the curvy lines are NOT called bubbles. When asked what they are called, he thought for a long time and finally said they are called circles. It is going to be a LONG 14 years....

Girls are from Venus, Boys are from Mars

My kids are so different. Since we got home from school, Evan has done nothing but crash things into other things and make big sound effects. Pressley has been obsessed with her baby doll and stroller. After she poured my bottle of water all over the doll trying to "feed" her, I went and got her a real baby bottle. That kept her occupied for a while. Then, when I was reading to Evan, Pressley disappeared upstairs. I found her trying to put one of her own diapers onto the baby--luckily a clean one.... Anyway, I found a real newborn-sized diaper in her changing table drawer and she is thrilled to have a new diaper for the baby. Seriously - they could not be more different.

I got nothin'...

I wish I had something witty, funny, insightful, or profound to say tonight. But, I got nothin'. I am likely just too tired. Perhaps I'll be inspired tomorrow.

Aqua Fit

When I joined the gym, the guy that signed me up told me that they have this fabulous Aqua Fit class. I asked if the class was mostly comprised of elderly ladies and told him that my previous experience with water aerobics led me to believe that this demographic would be widely represented. He told me that the instructor is so good that people of all ages and fitness levels attend the Aqua Fit class. He lied. There were exactly 3 0f us under 40 this morning. Old ladies aside, I liked the class. The instructor was good: not an old lady and super-fit. I found the class to be one of those things that you can tailor to your fitness level - not that my fitness level is ALL that superior to the old ladies, but I did keep up a lot better than most (OK, all) of them, if I do say so myself. I think I'll go back next week. After running/walking on the treadmills with the Barbie and Ken dolls who have their machines set at 6.8 while mine is set somewhere between 3.2 and 3.8, this was a much-needed fitness ego boost. I don't know why, but the Barbies and Kens always seem to choose the machines right beside mine. I always select a nice isolated treadmill with no one on either side so I can sweat and suffer in peace and solitude. The next thing you know, here comes some chick in short shorts, a jog bra, and a blond ponytail to sprint right beside me (in my yoga pants and baggy t-shirt). Why do they do that?

On a serious note

Last night was a rough night for me. I could not sleep. I do struggle with insomnia from time to time, but last night was different. Sleep was difficult because my heart was heavy.

My biggest fear in life is losing my sweet husband or one of my precious children. Yesterday, my mom gave me the People magazine with the story of Steven Curtis Chapman's tragic loss. Many of you may know the story: Chapman, a christian singer, adopted 3 daughters from China when his 3 biological children were teenagers. In May of this year, one of the biological sons was returning home and parking his SUV when the youngest adopted daughter (only 5 years old) ran out to greet him. He did not see her and backed over her, killing her. The account of the pain and loss this family has suffered (most of all the son involved in the accident) made me weep. Their story of courage and faith only made me weep more deeply. (Sweet Evan walked over and said, "Mommy, when you finish reading, can you come help us build our tower? So, I immediately set about the business of playing with and tickling my own kids, and my mood was lifted.)

Later, after the kids were all tucked in, I was blog-stalking and happened upon a link titled The Story of Audrey Caroline. Even as I clicked, I knew the story would not be happy and that I was asking for it. I spent the next 30 minutes reading about a christian couple who was pregnant with their 4th daughter when, at their 20 week ultrasound, they found out that she had multiple maladies that would certainly claim her life either in utero, during delivery, or shortly after her birth. The doctors recommended terminating the pregnancy, but this couple of faith decided that they would keep the baby until God took her. Audrey Caroline was born in April of this year and lived only a couple of hours. The family's story was similarly tragic and similarly inspiring. They have used their tragedy to tell untold numbers of people about the hope that only Christ can give.

I nearly had a panic attack as I wondered why God would lead me to read these two accounts of tragic loss in the same evening. I just can't think about it. Unfortunately, I know a lot of folks who have had to endure unspeakable suffering with their children. I marvel at the strength these folks display and the testimonies of God's grace they are able to share through their pain. I thank our Lord that he never throws circumstances at us that he doesn't also provide us with the strength to endure. However, I pray fervently that I will never have to experience such loss (or such strength) first-hand. I am glad that God has given me a spirit of empathy and compassion, but sometimes I do wish it came with an off switch.

On a lighter note, here is a photo of Pressley, who found a pair of Evan's shorts while I was typing this entry and insisted on wearing them.

"Gangsta' Pressley"

The return of Lightning McQueen

Yesterday was a much better day than Friday. Evan went right into his classroom and sat down, so he earned his Jibbit back. For the record, it was Sally (the girl car from Cars) that I took from him Friday and returned on Monday. Not Lightning McQueen. I had to leave something else to threaten that was nearer and dearer to his heart than what I originally confiscated. Anyway, we took Sally with us to school yesterday, and as soon as Evan sat in his chair like a big boy, I took his shoe off and returned the beloved Jibbit. Today... well, today was not bad, but it was not as easy as yesterday because there was no instant gratification (a.k.a: bribe) for cooperating. Sigh. Corin and I are still learning what works and what doesn't as we muddle through figuring out this parent thing.

This afternoon was a lovely afternoon. I have figured out that the period between 2:30 (when school gets out) and 7 p.m. (when Corin gets home from work) is just too long to leave unstructured. So, today we went to the pool. The kids were great. We showered them off before we left and put on dry clothes, so I was able to immediately start cooking supper when we got home. And, they were tired enough to sit in front of an hour-long episode of Diego and just let me cook in peace. We need more afternoons like this one. Must find more free after school activities....