Fear Factor

On our recent vacation in the Lake of the Ozarks, my Uncle Joe and Aunt Julie were nice enough to offer their boat for a "little kids' cruise." My sisters, Oma, and I lubed everybody up in sunscreen and zipped the kids into life jackets. Initially Henry said he didn't want to go, but he changed his mind. Immediately he began checking things out:

Henry: Why is that water there?
Me: When people get back on the boat after swimming in the lake, water drips off them.
Henry: Why is that rope broken? Is that okay?
Me: It's just an old piece of rope that's not being used. Don't worry.
Henry: Hold on to me. What's happening?
Me: Uncle Joe is turning the boat, and one side goes up higher than the other...boats are made so they can do that.
Henry: Mom, I think I figured out what one of my fears is - boats!

I told Henry that I was proud of him for trying, but he didn't have to take any more boat rides if he didn't want to.

(Incidentally, Elena, who won't turn 4 for another few months, didn't have the same issues. She even went tubing - without anyone else on the tube! She had a great time and wants to do it again next year.)

Paris

At this moment, Henry, Elena, Evie, and Isaac are playing "Paris." They have all dressed up: the girls are in fancy play clothes, high heels and tiaras, Henry is wearing a Bob the Builder costume that is a good three sizes too small, and Ike is wearing Henry's old frog costume that is at least two sizes too big. Each of the kids packed a backpack full of the necessities - I have no idea what is in all those bags, but they are really full. Then they got on the "plane" (the couch) and flew to "Paris" (the play room). I heard Henry call for a taxi and ask to check in at the hotel, as the rest of the kids tromped after him with their gear. It all looked like so much fun that I asked to join in, but Isaac informed me that I couldn't come. I guess I can't even get to Paris in my kids' dreams, let alone my own!

Princesses

Lucy and Johnny recently became engaged, so there has been much discussion of the wedding. The other day I was changing Ingrid into a dress with pink flowers on it when Elena noticed that she and Ingrid were both wearing pink flowers on their clothes. Elena said, "Mommy, Ingrid and I are flower girls." I told her, "Yes. And maybe you and Ingrid can be flower girls when Aunt Lucy gets married." Of course, Elena wasn't familiar with the duties of a flower girl, so I explained, "Flower girls get to wear pretty dresses and walk down the aisle at church before the bride comes in." Elena added, "Yeah, with their prince." I smiled and asked her who her prince was. She responded, "Daddy," like I was a very silly Mommy for not knowing that very obvious fact. (That was fair because Josh always calls Elena his princess.)

Silly Johnny

Johnny and Lucy got engaged shortly before our annual family vacation, and Johnny joined us in the Ozarks for a couple of days. Apparently Johnny is unable to pass a fence without attempting it to jump over it. When Johnny tried to jump the fence by the pool, however, the fence won. Johnny ended up with a pretty painful and swollen ankle as a result of the encounter.

Henry was interested in Johnny's injury, as well as the motivations for trying to jump a fence, generally. Johnny was explaining that there would come a time in Henry's life when Henry would want to jump fences, too, but Henry was not buying it. Henry scolded, "Johnny, there's a gate!" After a beat he added, "There's two gates!"

Shhhhhh!

As usual, Josh, the kids, and I shared a cabin with Oma, Pa, and Aunt Lucy during our annual vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks. One of the highlights for Henry and Elena was the fact that Josh and I did not enforce the usual bedtime. Still, the kids woke up in the morning well before Oma and Aunt Lucy each day. Josh and I tried to keep the kids relatively quiet until all the adults were up and repeatedly asked Henry ahd Elena to be quiet.

One morning, I was in the kitchen when I heard Henry bellowing, "Mom! Mom! Mom!" as he came down the hall from our bathroom in the back of the cabin. When he finally spotted me he informed me, "Mom, I didn't flush the toilet so I wouldn't wake anyone up!" Oma and Aunt Lucy had a lovely wake-up call that morning!