Weekend Rituals

Watching for "Choo-choos" at the train tracks in Kennesaw...

Collecting rocks and...

throwing them in the creek...


Walking on the "balance beam"...


and going on a "bear hunt" in the woods.

Good Parenting Reminders

"A Child's 10 Commandments to Parents"

by Dr. Kevin Leman

1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for a short time, please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.
4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.
5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism.
7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kinds of decisions that life requires of me.
8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
10. Please teach me about Jesus and take me to church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

Snow Pictures

First Things First

After picking Anna up at school today, as soon as she got in the car, rather than greeting her with a "Hi, Anna, " or letting me ask about her day, John Caden leaned forward and asked intently, "Anna did you flush the potty?" Oh dear... I guess if this is the first thing that comes to John Caden's mind when he sees Anna it must mean I've been drilling them a little too much with this question lately.

WARNING: Full length mirrors can be mistaken by small children to be sliding boards

If only this warning had come attached to the mirror I purchased for Anna's room!

After hearing one too many "thumps" coming from Anna's room during quiet time today, I ventured in and this is what I found:

Somehow, she managed to take her full length mirror off of the back of her door and decided that it would make a great slide for her and her "friends."

Well, I guess for her light weight stuffed "friends" it was a smooth ride down, but for Anna...

...obviously the "slide" did not hold up! Who would have thunk it---a full length mirror = a slide??!!! Only a four year old could have come up with this idea. (Needless to say, she now knows that creating playground equipment from her room furnishings is not inclusive of her quiet time options).