Firemen Biz and Sethie

Biz was a fireman today for his Fall party at school. He was very excited to get to wear fireman clothes to school.


This whole week the boys have been firemen and have chosen to stake claim on the same firehat. Although we have two firehats, they are adament that the one particular hat is their own. I actually think Seth may be the more stubborn of the Workman boys, as he has not given in to Biz's multiple attempts to place every other hat in the house on his head in hopes that little brother will forget about the coveted firehat. It has been an interesting struggle and battle of wills that will probably end with the hat being placed on a high shelf out of either arm's reach.


But for now, there has been no bloodshed and we are sort of getting by with letting them take turns wearing the treasured hat. Biz knows that since he got to take the hat with him to school today, he must immediately relinquish his rights to it once we pick him up. We will see how gracefully he gives it up!


Why are my children always fighting over head wear?

Smile

Caleb: Mommy, do you like my smile?

I turn around to see a big toothy grin coming my way.

Mommy: I love your smile.

Caleb: Because it's friendly?

Mommy: Yes, it is very friendly.

Caleb: Okay, Mom. Look, here it comes again!

Ahh...I do love that smile!

This is what happens when....

...you let your four-year-old use the camera.

Two Little Firefighters Sitting on the Bed

Famously Hot

Caleb's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. Some of the words that he spouts off to me on a daily basis amaze me. I just crack up hearing some of those big words come out of the little body. I must give some credit to shows like Word Girl and Martha Speaks on PBS, because that is one of the goals of the shows-to introduce new and bigger words to youngsters. It is fun to hear Caleb try out his new vocabulary and most of the time he uses the words correctly and sounds oh so sophisticated...for a four year old.

Minor communication glitches arise when he latches on to a new favorite word and doesn't quite use it correctly. It is actually really cute. The current favorite, incorrectly defined word, in Caleb's repertoire is "famous". Caleb is adamant that the definition of the word famous is hot. When I was preparing his lunch one day this week, he called into the kitchen, "Make sure my food is famous, Mommy." At dinner last night he wanted me to make sure that the cornbread was famous. Recently, when he and Daddy were having a guy's night at Logan's, he informed Daddy that he wanted to eat famous, hot hamburgers.

We aren't quite sure where he came up with this definition, but he is not budging. Eric thinks he saw a commercial advertising, "famous hot rolls," and from that he discerned that famous must also mean hot. I think he got it from the Famous Dave's sign that has flames on it. Who knows?! And it doesn't really matter, because for now I will give up trying to change that precious little stubborn mind and let him figure it out for himself.

Oh how I love that Sethie of Mine!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5 (NIV)

Watching the Clock

Caleb made a gingerbread man cookie yesterday at school and although he wanted it for breakfast this morning, I told him that he would have to wait until his afternoon snack at 3:00 (or in Caleb terms: when the big hand on the clock touches the 12 and the little hand is on the 3).

It was a vigorous wait.

At 2:40: "Is it 3 o' clock yet?"

At 2:45: "Is it 3 o' clock yet?"
"Well, I guess I am just going to sit here and watch the clock until it is snack time!"

At 2:50: "Is it 3 o' clock yet?"
"Can I stay like this until snack time?"

At 2:55: "Now come look at the clock. It says it is snack time!"

At 3:00 (on the dot!): "It is snack time!!"

"This cookie is scrumptious, Mom! That means it tastes good."

Curtains

After over two years of bare windows, this weekend we put curtains up all over the house. For Caleb, this was a very exciting task! He got to spend much time digging in the treasure chest known as daddy's tool box, which made him one happy and busy camper, I mean builder. The task was a little more daunting for Mommy and Daddy, who found places in the walls that must be made of steel. It was very interesting. But the job got done...with help from Biz, who jumps at the opportunity to use REAL tools. Many times this weekend, Mommy observed the Workman "concentrating" tongue come out in both Daddy and Biz while they were working. As for Seth and I, we did more spectating and supervising than actual hammering and drilling. We thought those jobs would be better off in the hands of "professionals."

One of Caleb's comments on our family work project was, "We all got to be Alpha Pig this weekend." For those of you unfamiliar with the daytime PBS line-up, he was referring to the pig character on his favorite show, Super Why, who is a "builder."

And Mommy, for one, is very happy to have this job done!

Thanks Guys!!

Playing Together

Camping Trip

Last weekend we traveled to Montgomery Bell State Park with Uncle Tim, Tante, their nephew, Daniel, and Josiah. We had such a fun, relaxing time. It was so great to get to spend time with the McLaughlins and Tante made Caleb's day by bringing Daniel along as a surprise. The boys had a really good time playing and adventuring together. One of Caleb's favorite parts was, of course, sitting by the fire and roasting marshmellows. Seth proved to be a great little hiker and enjoyed the extra bonding time with Jo-Jo. Eric and I just loved being together with good friends and taking it easy in the great outdoors.

I have to admit that, at first, I was a little apprehensive about taking the boys on their first camping trip. I am not exactly the "roughing it" type and I wasn't sure if the boys would actually sleep well outdoors. I had envisioned that camping would be a very stressful event filled with lots of bug bites. I was proved wrong on all accounts. I found out that I am a little more rugged and it was a lot less buggy than I thought. Plus, the boys absolutely loved everything about camping and slept like champs (once they finally gave in and went to sleep). Eric and I can't wait to take the boys again!! It was such an awesome experience for the whole Workman clan.

Here is a long photo recap of our camping trip: