Baby's First Christmas

This was Caleb's first Christmas. It was a huge blessing to have him with us! (Especially since last Christmas he was in mommy's tummy, and mommy wasn't feeling so well. . .) Caleb got to use the special "Baby's First Christmas" stocking that we used for Joshua.

Joshua and I had quite a conversation about that stocking today. First, he told me that he wanted me to save it so that his kids could use it when they came to see me at Christmastime.

After a little probing, these are the details that he provided regarding his future:

He and his wife, Abbi, will have fourteen children. Most will be boys, but a few will be girls. He and Abbi are going to get married in a basketball net. (Yes, that's really what he said.) Abbi is going to wear one of those "things over her face" and he is going to wear "white with black on top". They will stand on the hoop part of the net. There will be flowers, but he's not sure what kind yet.

He is going to work at Daddy's office in the same room as his daddy. Abbi will stay at home with the fourteen children just like me. I think I feel sorry for her.

He does not plan on giving Abbi any kisses, but he will hug her on occasion.

Those are all of the details thus far.

Mickey Mouse is NOT Real, But The Angel Lawn Ornament is

There is this little boy in Joshua's class that he doesn't like all that much. Honestly, I can't say that I blame him. Joshua is generally a pretty good judge of character, and, based on the reports that I hear regarding his behavior, this little guy is not the kind of friend that I want Joshua to have.

On our way home tonight, Joshua was telling me that this boy thinks that Mickey Mouse is real. I'm guessing that this came from the fact that they watched a Mickey Mouse cartoon at school today. Joshua's proclamation was as follows: "I told him that Mickey Mouse is NOT REAL, but he still thinks he is. I told him that animals do not talk, and that they do not walk on two legs. And I told him that they do not wear white gloves. Mommy, I want to invite him to a play date so that you can tell him that Mickey isn't real. Then, we'll just send him home because I don't really want to play with him. I just want you to make him know that Mickey isn't real."

Not ten minutes later, we drove by a house on our street that sometimes has a beautiful lighted angel in their yard. I say sometimes because some days it is there, and some days it mysteriously isn't. I have no idea what that is about. Joshua's thoughts on the subject are that maybe the angel is real and flies away at night but comes back during the day.

That, my friends, is why Mickey Mouse is not real, but the lawn angel down the street is.

Just Like Jesus

After Caleb's bath last night, Matt wrapped him up in his towel. Joshua said, "He's wrapped up just like baby Jesus!"

Animal Factories and The Chocolate Chip Thief (and other tales)

On the way home from school the other day, we were stopped by a train. Joshua decided that it was heading to an animal factory. As he watched the train cars roll by, he told me what car would haul various animals. I asked him if animals were created in factories, and he told me no. However, according to him, lost animals are taken to these factories to determine their owners. Then, the animals are placed in the correct car of the train and returned to their homes. And to think I never knew that!

Today, Caleb stole my chocolate chip. He was quite sneaky, really. You see, I had taken a trail mix type of snack with me because I had to take our car to the dealership and expected to be there quite a while. I was actually in and out quite quickly, so I saved my snack and ate it while walking around Babies R Us. At some point, I dropped a piece of my mix. I knew I had dropped it, but couldn't see it, so I just kept on walking and munching. WELL, when we arrived home MUCH later today, I noticed that Caleb had something brown all over one of his hands and his pants. Now, chocolate was NOT the first thing that I thought of when I saw it, but upon closer inspection, that is indeed what it was. That little guy had grabbed it and held on to it until it melted in his hand! Who knows if he had his first taste of chocolate today or not. . .

Tonight, Joshua's prayer went something like this: "Dear God, thank you for yeah, and help people make more toys and more commercials, and thank you just yeah and amen." Think the boy's watched a little too much TV.

Whenever someone says that something stinks (literally or figuratively) Joshua always responds without missing a beat: "That's Caweb."