Tuesday November 1, 2011
The whole kitchen smells like apples being cooked into sauce … probably because that’s what is actually happening. Three apples are lined up on the kitchen sink as a visual encouragement to make apple dumplings. Why do I dislike messy baking so much?
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On another note, I feel sorry for anyone who does not have a three year old in their house. If there were one year in childhood that I could freeze, three would be it. Potty trained. Past the main tantrums if they’re going to happen. Talking well enough to avoid frustrating communication blocks but not well enough to lose their little person cuteness. Three year olds are mostly comprised of giggles, stories, hugs, emerging critical thinking and puzzle solving skills, and appropriate independence (as opposed to the sassy I-can-do-it-myself when they really can’t).
Liam is three. Today I watched his face when he washed a big bowlful of apples for me. I followed his eyes when he poured sugar on top of ice chunks for the tea I was brewing. It’s all still new and fun. Without a word from me, he notices the way the apple feels under running water. He watches the little drops spray off the side. He turns it upside down and watches the little cavity in the bottom hold water when he moves it toward the bowl. He slowly moves the measuring cup in circular movements across the ice, watching. Always watching. And I want to tell him, “never lose that.” Some day it won’t be sugar spray or water droplets. But never lose the wonder and the fascination of learning.
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11/1/11
Favorite facebook status of the day (from David’s cousin, Virginia): “I can’t get the ones in the right place when I write today’s date.”
Good one, Ginny! Good one!
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And a few funny quotes from Liam in case your day really needed some laughter sneaked into the crevices:
I bought a cassette about zoology at Goodwill for the boys and Liam especially listens to it over and over. The other day he walked out to the kitchen and said, “Mommy, did you know you are a mammal?”
Another day I saw him standing in the living room with a Bible Story book. Apparently he was getting ready to preach to his imaginary congregation. In his most commanding voice he said, “There was a guy sent from God and his name was Johnny Appleseed.”
One Tuesday morning he started begging for a marshmallow well before 9:00 in the morning. Of course I said, no. “But marshmallows have protein,” he insisted. Good try, little man. Although it appears I may be soloing this journey to healthful eating. When I told David the story later he said, “Boy after my own heart.”
Liam was in a particularly happy mood today. When it was getting close to nap time I sent him into the living room to clean up his playthings. “This will be fascinating!” he said.
What will be?
“Picking up my toys!”
The bossiness is the one two year old trait that is not disappearing at all. In fact, I think it’s getting more pronounced. The other day he said, “Can you turn the light on?” I didn’t say anything, just quietly flipped the switch. Liam promptly said, “Say sure I can.”
But my favorite of all are his prayers … at least when he branches outside of the “Fank you dat we tan hab a dood day and fank you for our food” version. For a few weeks almost every prayer started out like this, “Fank you dat Dod {God} tould hab a dood {good} day in heaben ….”
And the one that has me working the hardest not to crack up in front of him is his passionate singing of “All God’s critters got a place in the choir.” It’s just way too many wrong enunciations in one sentence combined with phenomenal vocal emphasis. His version goes like this, “All Dod’s titters dot a pace in du tire.”
your stories are beautiful.
I love it when you share Liam stories. He’s so funny. 🙂 I just made apple dumplings for the first time in my life a week or so ago. Delicious! btw, love the second song on your playlist – so beautiful.
I agree about three year old boys. My three year old is almost 4. He just told me,”I’m crong(strong). I’m crong enough I could be a dad already, cuz I’m really crong.” Also, my boys look at this site and all the stuff your boys do and they think there is kindred spirit here. I think so too…..Love having boys!
🙂 Love the quotes from Liam. Brenten, 7, was singing… “When I went down to the river to pray” and he continued at the top of his voice…”and we shall wear a SORRY crown”… gotta love it.
I am howling over the last one!!!!!!! Oh, my, do I ever love Liam!!! It would be SUCH a hoot to get our two 3-year-olds together right now, because Ariana says the funniest things, too. (This morning she told me, “The snunks skink.” Yeah, doesn’t look nearly as funny written out as it it sounds with her pert little nose all wrinkled up!) Her trademark word right now is “gotfer”. If you can figure out what it means, then you’re a genius! (*hint* On the way to school this morning, she suddenly gasped, “MOMMY! You gotfer your purse!!!”)
So y’all survived the many church services of October? I thought of you numerous times! 😉
😀 Thanks for the laughs… I needed them tonight. It’s been a long day and I’m finishing it out with a smile and a twinkle in my eye. 🙂
Sounds just like our three year old.( Although she can get real sassy.) She always prays, “Dear God, thank you for the wunnerful day…”
I love 3 year olds too. I was just thinking what my favorite age was to babysit…has to be those cute 3-4 year olds. They say the cutest things! I teach that group in sunday school and they’re always saying crazy funny stuff. If I didn’t have to teach them anything, I think they’d be happy just talking the whole time. That’s the hardest part, getting them to be quiet 🙂
Love that note about the date. I wrote the date a few times today and my mind couldn’t get the fact it’s November and not October anymore. Every time I wrote it I’d start out 10-31 and then have to scratch it and start over. All those ones are messing with me 😛
🙂 dear sweet Liam…. too cute!!
@itsayoderworld – That “gotfer” is just too funny! I love it.
I admire you, pausing to see the world through your 3 year old’s eyes. The photos are so good too. I always like your Liam stories. I think my children are cute and funny too, but I can’t put it down like you do.
Just so cousin Ginny knows…I had trouble getting the “1’s” in the right places when I wrote the date today too. (And…little known fact…if my name wouldn’t have been Audrey, it was going to be Virginia. After my Mom told me that, for a long time I pined over the fact that I could have been cool “Ginny” instead of “Audrey.” Actually, maybe I’m still pining!
)
I LOVED the paragraph about you watching Liam wash the apples and play in the water. That’s what life is about!! Loved that you noticed that stuff. So yeah, if your boys watch you, they’ll probably learn how to treasure those little moments and notice the details!
I remember when I was three. I wasn’t quite so mushy back then. Those were good times.
haha! love that liam boy~
“All Dod’s titters dot a pace in du tire.”
that totally cracked me up!!
@Lenni724 – Yummy! You want to come make mine now? 🙂
@amyjane30 – funny! What is up with three year olds being convinced they are almost dads?
@damys – Ok, I literally howled over that one!!! What always makes it even funnier is that half the time they put the most emphasis on the wrong word. And they do it so seriously. 🙂
@itsayoderworld – forgot?? She’s a sugar lump! 🙂 And yes it would be WAY fun to get our three year olds together. Especially since they’d need mommy escorts! 🙂 And we did survive the 15 church services. Two of the revival meeting nights were cancelled b/c of a funeral. I’m just kind of burned out b/c we’re doing a Dave Ramsey series and that means one night a week for WEEKS on end. I didn’t think it would be too bad, but you forget about everything else involved. 🙂 So every extra night just makes me groan.
@ihavesix – Your comment made ME smile!
@quiet_hearts – I bet you could. I love to read what you write. 🙂
@appalolly – And here I always thought Audrey was such a cool name! You need to read Dorcas Smucker’s blog post from yesterday.
http://dorcassmucker.blogspot.com/2011/11/names.html
Love your description of your three year old, and how you write it all down. I love to write, but sometimes feel unable to “translate” my children’s words and stories into something readable for others. Love how you do it! I don’t know how picky you are about who you “friend” on FB, but I’m sending a request . . . mostly to be reminded of your blog here, and other cool aspects of our life. 😉 Happy Humpday!
I had planned to make more applesauce but then lost the desire to do it & instead have been baking anything apple with the 2 boxes my hubby brought home. 🙂 I should make apple dumplings too but don’t really enjoy making them-although I LOVE to eat them. 😉
Love your quotes from Liam-I too have a 3 yr. old but like someone else mentioned she can be real sassy too. The other day we were driving & her one sock kept sliding down into her boot & after about the 3rd or 4th time pulling it back up she said “my sock is in a bad mood!” I laughed & she said “is it bad mood or bad nude?” And I laughed again. She is a nut & she talks nonstop as my Mom found out when she kept her for the night the other weekend.
Totally agree about 3 being the sweet age ever. I love it. My Josh is so much fun right now, I don’t think I want him to grow up for a while.