Emotional Intelligence

We have a very emotionally expressive and perceptive 2 year old and a 4 year old in our home. In mid August when Jedd got the news that his dad was no longer welcome to stay at the memory care unit and had lost 20 lbs. in 15 weeks, he cried a bit as I hugged him. Sonna was nearby but I didn't think she was in ear-shot. Brooke had Sonna and when I joined them Sonna said, "Daddy sad; he want his Daddy". She was right. (I will insert that when Sonna hears a child cry she often says, "She want her Mommy" and that's usually the case).
Yesterday we received a beautiful picture of Joan and Lanny taken recently at the nursing home where he is staying in Minneota, MN. Jedd set it as our screen saver so it's a pretty big picture. When Mara saw it she leaned into the computer screen and curved her arms in such as way as to give them each a hug and said, "Oh, Grandpa Lanny" and "Grandma Joan" in an affectionate tone.
Earlier in the day Mara was intrigued by a combine. As we watched it I reminded her that her daddy grew up on a farm that had a combine and so did Grandma Margaret. Last night when Jedd was talking to Grandma Joan on the phone Mara asked to say something. She spoke to Grandma Joan and said, "Tell Grandpa Lanny that I saw a combine today". Somehow she put it all together that Grandpa Lanny was a farmer and he had driven a combine.
It is pretty amazing to watch our children grow and connect all sorts of dots and make sense of the world. We are blessed.

Family Photo

Words and phrases and observations

Sonna loves to say "HUGE one!" or "tiny one!". "Huge one" can refer to how much soap she pumps from the dispenser, how much ketchup is squeezed on her plate, or how big the dog is that is sitting shot-gun in the pickup that drives by. She is a very observant girl. Jedd and I have both been caught by Sonna after having snuck a piece of chocolate or something else sweet. Everytime she can smell it on our breath and she'll say "What having, Mommy/Daddy?" and of course she wants some too.

neighborhood kids

Remember those summer days as a kid when you'd spend 6-8 hours straight playing outside with the neighborhood kids? Today was that kind of day. Perfect sunny day with lots of kids happy to push the baby dolls in the strollers, play in the sandbox, play 'kitchen' with the plastic dish set and wooden food in the driveway, ride bikes, pull each other in the red wagon, and eat popscicles. I think Mara "died and went to heaven"!

potty talk

Sonna went in the bathroom and as I went to check on her she said, "Don't even come in here" in her low, raspy voice. I walked away and a minute later she came running down the hall singing, "I went pee in the potty!" I guess the girl wanted her privacy.

Good sister friends.

Extremely Extroverted 4 year old

After being at daycare with her friends all day, Mara (4 years, 4 months) played outside with 3 neighbor girls. After 45 minutes I called her in for supper. She cried and wanted to stay out and play some more. I said, "Mara you got to play all day with your friends at daycare and now you just got to play with Aspen, Jesse, and Willow". She said, "But Mom, Lilly had to leave daycare at quiet time and then there weren't many friends to play with; only five". That's my Mara. Her interest in playing with others is insatiable. Even her extroverted Mommy has a hard time keeping up with her. My mom said I was the same way as a kid.