I just wanted a simple picture of me and Buddy.......so I set the timer on the camera and took several pictures. These are just a few of them.....

Marta Talks Politics

Yesterday Marta was playing outside in the sand box. She suddenly said,
"This is from John McCain." She was making some sort of sand and rock mixture.
She continued, "I voted for John McCain. He looked like the happiest guy."
She had brought a little paper ballot home from school, on which she had indeed "voted" for McCain.
"What's that other guy?" she asked.
"Barak Obama," I responded, waiting to hear what else she would say.
"Yeah. Barak Obama. He had a mean daddy face. He looked like he was saying, 'I'm gonna spit on you.'"

There you have it. Political advice from a 3 year old.

"Young Love"

Last week at school Nils and I were putting some things away when one of the girls came up and hugged the boy standing next to us. Then she kissed him on the cheek before going back to her desk. He wandered to the back of the room to tell the other boys that he had been kissed. I'm pretty sure the teacher missed this whole exchange of red-cheeked , wide-eyed gossip.
A little while later we went to lunch and the 2 love birds were sitting next to each other. The boy was referring to his "girlfriend" and she was smiling shyly. At recess they were actually not playing together.......but then I noticed him walking over to her. He said he had a surprise for her. She curiously followed him over to where he had been tracing words in the wood chips. "Look, " he said proudly. "It says, 'I love you'". And indeed it did.
I have to admit I was rather impressed by the boy. That was a smooth move and kind of sweet. I would probably love it if a boy wrote "I love you" in the wood chips for me. Maybe.....if I was seven years old......

FYI- I'm pretty sure the relationship is already over. I heard her say this week that she had 200 boyfriends and she couldn't have anymore. Tough break. But he doesn't seem too upset.

My Vacation in Pictures

Nils Language

Nils and I went for a walk the other day. Actually, it was his idea. He walked out of the house, pulling me along behind him. I asked him what he wanted to do, and he just kept walking down the driveway. So I kept walking, too. We walked all the way to the end of the street, then crossed the street and started up the next block. After awhile Nils sat down in the grass in front of someone's house to take a break.
"Let's sit in the shade," he said, and plopped down in the sun. Then we both drank some water. It was pretty warm out. He jumped up after less than a minute and started walking again. I drank some more water. Then he wanted some.
"That's good. Ahhh." This is one of his famous phrases.
"Water is good. It's refreshing, " I said in return.
The next time he took a drink he said, " Ahhh. I'm freshing."

Remember when you were a kid and the word "carnival" just made you jump up and down in anticipation? Yes- the rides, the games, the food- it was such a great experience for you, but maybe not for your parents who wasted all that money on tickets and cotton candy and attempting to win you a giant Scooby-doo. I actually still like going to the carnival or the fair- at least once a year. It's a tradition.......

Well, today Nils and Marta were excited when they heard that we were going to a carnival. Annika and Mommy went to New York for the weekend, so we had to do something exciting! Thankfully Daddy met us out there- somebody had to finance this great adventure! :)

The carousel is the ride that you have to go on. Who doesn't like sitting on a fake horse that goes up and down while listening to classic carnival music? The kids picked their horses and off we went! After exiting the carousel, Kendall calmly walked over to the tilt-a-whirl, suggesting that we all ride it next. I immediately started objecting- things that spin me around in little circles while I'm already spinning in a big circle are not on my favorite list. But he had already handed a wad of tickets to the ride guy, and I stupidly kept walking toward the ride of doom. I have not ridden one of those things since I was a kid and passed out at the fair after getting off of one. And I hadn't yet thought about how Marta was going to react.
Starting out wasn't bad......but then the horrible spinning started- and you never knew exactly when it was going to come- first one little spin, then four in a row. Every time we started spinning, I screamed. Marta was crying after the initial spin, and it was downhill from there. Nils would laugh for awhile, and then he started saying, "oh, dear......oh, dear......oh, man!" I'm wondering if I said it first or if he just came up with that on his own. If it had been recorded- which it really should have been- you would have seen or heard this:

Spin
Melody- "AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Nils, laughing- "oh, dear."
Marta, crying- "I want to get off!"
Kendall - just laughing- the whole time!

And why is it that the carousel is over in like 1 minute and the tilt-a-whirl lasts forever?

Then the ride guy asks me - while the ride is going- if Marta is o.k. Hello!!! She is crying with this horrible look on her face the entire time! Was he planning on stopping the ride if I could have said anything in response? I don't think I had time to answer before another spin came, which produced another round of screaming oh dear's and louder crying. I do remember saying at one point, "I hate this ride." That, of course, was answered by more crying from the little girl and laughter from both of the boys. A minute later Marta cried loudly, "I hate this!"

It finally ended. When it stopped, we all just sat there for a second. I actually couldn't move- I knew that I would just fall over if I tried to stand up. Kendall was trying to get Marta to stop crying....then Nils started crying because he realized we had to get off! It was definitely one of the most memorable carnival rides I've ever been on! Admittedly, between all my screaming, I was laughing, too. The kids were just so funny. But we have agreed to never, ever go on the tilt-a-whirl again.

Later, at McDonald's we were talking about the rides. Nils had gone on Pharoah's fury-the big ship that goes back and forth- and did great. He said, "That was not a spooky ride. That was my favorite one." And we all went down the fun slide twice. Marta liked that. But she gave a clear opinion on the tilt-a-whirl: "That was a stupid ride."

Funny Face

This picture just cracks me up. Nils was playing at the playground and stuck his face right up on the window to look at me. I was laughing so hard while trying to catch it on camera!

A Joke From Marta

Q: "Why did the chicken hug Melody?"

A: "Because he loved Melody!"

What Kindergarten Kids Say.........

Monday morning- not my favorite morning. Time to get back into school mode. Getting to school was not a problem today- and we were early! I walked into the classroom to a chorus of "Hi, Nils!" This was normal. Then I heard a little girl's voice:
"Melody, have you been married before?"
"No, " I said, as I tried to make sure Nils was going to his table and not running across the room to the video shelf.
"Well, then, get married!" She spoke it in frustration, and I just looked at her for a moment before turning to Nils to help him with his coat and backpack. It was soon forgotten as other kids arrived, but it was such a bizarre question from out of nowhere..........
I guess I'll have to make sure to let her know if I ever do get married.

Other recent quotables:

We were watching Fievel Goes West one day and had come to the scene where the little mice Indians capture Tiger the cat. From across the room I heard a girl say,
"Look. It's the Canadians."


Math class. The teacher was explaining vertical vs. horizontal. She asked if anyone knew what the "horizon" was. One of the boys raised his hand.
"It's a kind of phone, " he responded.

Reminders

I was sitting in the doctor' s office last night, hoping that the doctor would have pity on me and give me an antibiotic. My head felt like it could fall off at any time, and I was feeling rather sorry for myself. Of course, if I had gone to the doctor a week ago, I probably would not have found myself in such a predicament-but there I was in the convenient care office on a Friday night.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty insane for me. I'm super busy with work, and there are lots of things going through my mind about the current state of my life. Just last week I was having dinner with a friend and we were talking about some issues that I have been concerned about. As we parted, I said something about knowing that God is in control, but not really praying as much as I should about it. When I got home, I picked up a book I had been reading (The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges) and read these words about depending on Christ: "Prayer is the tangible expression of our dependence. We may assent to the fact that we are dependent on Christ, but if our prayer life is meager or perfunctory, we thereby deny it.........God will work in us what is pleasing to Him, for He knows far better than we what really needs to happen in our lives at any given time."
Obviously I needed to read that that night. I knew that I needed to pray more earnestly and more often. Unfortunately, being the sinner that I am, I fell asleep while praying just a few minutes later. Well, I did better this week, but continually felt my body beginning to slow down- which leads me to the doctor's office on Friday night.

The nurse led me into an office and wrote down my symptoms, then left me alone to wait for the doctor. I sat hoping for some relief.........then I glanced at the wall and noticed something that you don't normally see in a doctor's office. Romans 8:38-39 was hanging in a frame on the wall. That kind of blew me away, but it was refreshing to read about nothing separating me from the love of Christ while sitting in that little room. Then I noticed the frame next to it. It contained the following words:

This I know
E. Margaret Clarkson
I do not know what next may come
Across my pilgrim way;
I do not know tomorrow's road,
Nor see beyond today.
But this I know --my SAVIOUR knows
The path I cannot see;
And I can trust His wounded hand
To guide and care for me.

I do not know what may befall,
Of sunshine or of rain;
I do not know what may be mine,
Of pleasure and of pain;
But this I know -- my SAVIOUR knows
And whatsoe'er it be
Still I can trust his love to give
What will be best for me.

I do not know what may await,
Or what the morrow brings;
But with the glad salute of faith,
I hail its opening wings;
For this I know -- that in my LORD
Shall all my needs be met;
And I can trust the heart of Him,
Who has not failed me yet.

The doctor came in then, and after a few questions, he gave me some free samples and a prescription and sent me on my way. I was, of course, greatly relieved to have some medicine, but the things I had read stayed in my mind all the way home. I am so thankful that the Lord throws little things in my path to remind me of His love and His sovereignty.

The Jellybean Ball

Yes, a ball! You know, like when Cinderella goes to the palace with her glass slippers and dances with the handsome prince........o.k. It wasn't really that kind of ball. I did not meet a handsome prince, but I danced with Nils, and he looked pretty cute! And the "dancing" mainly consisted of jumping up and down and spinning around in circles- and yes, the jazz band did play the Pink Panther Theme Song!
The ball was a benefit for Easter Seals, and I was very impressed with the efforts to make it a family friendly event. There were actually jellybeans on the tables, but, as you can see, the lollipops were the hit of the night! We all had a great time!

The Sock Hop

Ode To O.J.

The hairy orange cat.......he was our house guest for a time. These pictures are from when he was staying with us. Annika came to visit, and she was delighted to see him. He went home shortly afterwards, but this past week he was taken to the vet and put down. He was pretty old and not too healthy. I was at the house right before the vet appointment and told him goodbye. He really was such a good cat. Annika was crying when they left- she only knew that he wasn't coming back, and she is the one who really loved that cat. She carried him around like a baby. It was hilarious to watch! I had to give O.J. a place of honor on my blog!

Some overdue Christmas photos:


the cute newly engaged couple


Grandma with the gang

everybody home for Christmas!

The Imagination Game

I just came home from playing with the girls while Nils was at his swim lesson. I couldn't resist recording some great quotes from our playtime.

Marta kept referring to herself as Princess Jasmine, until Annika decided that I should be Princess Jasmine. I agreed and told Marta she could be Abu and Annika could be the Genie. Annika didn't like that idea and told Marta to say no. Marta said clearly, "I don't want to be Abu and a weenie."
Annika and I both laughed out loud.

After awhile I went upstairs to check on the dog. When I came back, they were playing The Little Mermaid. Annika was Ariel and Marta was Melody ( Ariel's daughter in Little Mermaid 2).
Annika: "O.k. Marta- you're Melody and you shrink and I have to save you."
Marta lies on the ground and sticks out her tongue.
Annika: "No, Marta. don't stick your tongue out. Just be shrunk."
Marta pulls the tongue back in and closes her eyes. Annika picks her up, saying dramatically, "oh, baby, come on. You're o.k. I'll save you."
Marta opens her eyes and looks at me, groaning, "Oh, Grandma."
Now I was the grandma. I'm not sure how that happened.

A few minutes later-
We're still playing. I tried to be the audience. Annika stood in front of Marta and said,
"o.k. I resus to you Melody, who is going to shrink." I think she meant "present". I didn't last long as the audience because Marta kept climbing on my lap and calling me "Grandma."
Then a moment later I wasn't grandma anymore.
Marta said, "No, I'm Melody and you're a squid."
Annika and I once again started laughing, which made Marta frown. She obviously doesn't like it when we think she's funny (unless, of course, she's trying to be funny).

The next thing I know we are hiding in the bathroom from "the mean girl", who also happened to be named Melody. Annika gives us instructions.
"Marta, you have to come and save me and ask Melody to turn you into fins. Melody, you are magical so you can turn her into fins and she can save me."
She went out and fell on the floor, closing her eyes and lifting her arms up as if she was trying to reach for someone.
"Come on, Marta. Save me before the storm comes." I gave Marta fins, and she saved the day.