Project 52

This week you and Stella have really formed a bond.

Why I didn't make you start feeding her sooner is a mystery to me.

She has even started to really truly snuggle with you.

You make each other so happy,

and me so proud.

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Your curiosity and desire to explore our new town makes me so proud!

Never lose your wanderlust!

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You have no fear and that scares the shit out of me!

Thankful Thursday

Praying before meals in something that rarely happens in this house.  It's pretty much limited to Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners.  It's not that we don't know how, or not that we don't care to, it is really just not our practice.  Grace before every meal was something that I grew up with, and frankly grew out of.  I feel kinda terrible actually admitting that.

Upon recently enrolling the boy in a religious based VPK (because they don't offer VPK at military schools), I decided that I had better start prepping him for praying before his lunch.  His school that he will be attending come fall says a prayer before eating, does a small bible study daily, and they go to chapel once a week.  You can imagine the sudden feeling of indigestion the hubs is feeling about all of this. ha. 

But, if I was going to teach my child to "pray" before meals...it was going to be my way.  No thanking God for the food that's on the table, rather just giving "thanks" for the meal.  In short just a series of "I am thankful for...", a few from me, and a few from the boy.

So we sat to eat, and I said:

"Tonight we are going to say grace."

the boy: "Grace."

me: "No, we are going to say grace."

the boy: "Grace."

me: "Seriously, let's say grace."

the boy (now much louder and a bit  frustrated): "GRACE!!!!!"

That was when I realized that this had turned into a fun little game of "who's on first".

The point being that we did it.

I eventually realized that he had no idea what I meant by "saying grace", so I went first, and told him what I was thankful for that day.  He followed with some silly almost 4 year old ramblings about being thankful for "butts, and dogs, and poopoo caacaa", he then got THE LOOK and scraped together some appropriate things to be grateful for.

After doing this for a few days in a row it is starting to become obvious that the boy is gaining and understanding of what it actually means to be thankful as opposed to just saying "thank you".  I am teaching him young the importance of living a gracious lifestyle.  Showing him that the more gratitude that you display the happier you will be.

Teach your children to be grateful through your actions and words.  Let them follow you in expressing their thanks, and maybe the future generations will learn to live humbly instead of living with entitlement. 

For now, Happy Thankful Thursday!

Be Grateful & Inspire

Project 52

15.  I love how much you want to be like your Daddy.

You two inspire each other and me more than you will ever know.

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So this day has finally come! 

You are so independent and exceptionally smart.

But when it came to taking care of business...

Well, let's just say that I officially don't have to come

"wipe your butt hole" anymore!

Wipe your own butt hole!

Project 52

Project 52

I love that you still love me more than our new Jeep....although I know it's close.

Project 52

Watching your brain work blows my mind!

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I am not sure what it is about you two.

All day I have to repeatedly tell you two to separate.

I have to break up growling matches,

and try and prevent nips on the hand and wads of fur being removed.

I can see it in her eyes that you driver her crazy 

constantly chasing her around.

I am sure that it drives you crazy that she just won't let you

keep her in a choke hold.

Either way,

there is a definite air of frustration between you two.

But then it's it bath time,

and she won't leave you side.

There is a tiny sense of protection mixed with a sheer love for water

that I am sure ignites her desire to be half way in the tub.

But I'll be damned that if in those 20-30 minutest that you are soaking

in your own filth,

she is your very best friend and you are hers.

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You can't pass up a good hop, skip, and a jump.

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Watching you two 

splash and squeal with joy

brings so much sunshine to a rainy day.

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How you manage to eat balanced like this blows my mind.

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You have always marched to your own beat.

I love how you are now learning about rhythm.

Project 52

I love watching your brain work.

You love to take things apart to see how they work, 

and you always put them right back together.

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number 1:

I love your long, skinny, knobby legs.  

They are growing so fast, and are always covered in bruises and dirt.