Like Father, Like Son

Jake's never been interested in television until he discovered he's got one in his room. Thank you, Barney!! (and Reta for giving us all those videos)

Trying to get a good pose for Christmas cards I haven't ordered (yet)!

Christmas Tea Party

Sophie and her friend, Allison, accompanied me to a Christmas Tea Party. They had such a great time! My friend's daughters were so sweet to find some dolls for them to play with and serve them seconds and thirds of the goodies. It was so fun that when I told them it was time to go so Allison could make it to her dance class, she replied, "Could you just call my mom and tell her I'm going to stay here instead?Because I don't really like dance anyway".

A little sibling love- both kid napping in Jake's crib. So cute!

Meals on Wheels

I started volunteering for Meals On Wheels. So of course, the kids go with me. It's been fun and interesting. Sophie's been around her 87 year old great-grandmother a lot, so elderly people aren't new. But some of their problems are. I do have to say- my grandmother is able and her mind is sharper than mine is. So of course, Sophie had some questions about some of these people. There is a man, Mr. C., who can't speak. So he nicely mumbles, and for whatever reason we have to pass his meal through the window of his room. He's hooked up to some stuff, but he scoots over to the window and he's got on a grungy shirt. As soon as we get in the car, she asks why he's wearing a dirty shirt. So I explain that it's kinda like Jake. When you get older, sometimes you can't take care of yourself as well, like a baby. Some people drool or get food on their shirt like babies, some can't make food for themselves. Some even wear diapers like babies. She's like, ok, ok. Ok. Then- "WHAT?? DIAPERS??". I just can't wait until she asks Mamaw if she wears diapers!

Sophie's been into Little House on the Prarie for a few months now. She's very much into role-playing, which is in part why she's been watching Little House. She easily takes on the bad attitudes of the tween characters on Disney Channel. We cut that off, and all that's left is Laura Ingalls. So she dug out some old smocked dresses, an apron, and I braid her hair. She goes around carrying a basket to gather eggs or vegetables. She sweeps, she has friends who die from consumption or "the fever", whatever that is. The neighbors must be intrigued by the girl who sometimes flits down the sidewalk wearing a bonnet and plucking weeds from their yard to place in her basket. When she does that, she wears a hat and her garden dress, which is an old dress of mine. It was lovingly made by my Aunt Helen when I was a flower girl in her daughter's wedding in 1978. It's got 5 tiers of yellow cotton trimmed in lace to the floor. I'll try to post a picture of it when I catch her. It's a sight, let me tell you! Anyway, I decided to jump at the chance to make some bread and work on math fractions, both of which were needed in our household. And the Ingalls just happen to do their own baking.

Sophie and friends at Justice for a "birthday makeover"