Letters from Pemberley

Theology with Tommy

May 18th, 2010 by ECM

Overheard while making dinner…

Tommy: Mommy, David did kill Goliath.

Mommy: Yes, he did!

T: Why did David kill Goliath?

M: Well, Goliath hated God’s people, didn’t he? He wanted to rule over them. So David had to fight him.

T: Why did he want God’s people to stay slaves?

M: Um…?

T: We are talking about Pharaoh now.

M: Oh, are we?

T: Yes, why did he not want to let God’s people go?

M: Um, because he was totally depraved? He didn’t want to obey God, did he?

(Derek enters the kitchen.)

M: Tommy, tell Daddy what we’re talking about.

T: We are talking about Goliath and Pharaoh.

M: And total depravity.

D: Tommy, do you know what total depravity is?

T: Yes. Daddy, why did Pharaoh not want to let God’s people go?

D: Because God hardened his heart.

(At bedtime, Mommy is reading from The Big Picture Story Bible.)

M:…So Adam and Eve had a choice. They could obey God and not eat from the tree, or they could choose to listen to the serpent and doubt God’s goodness. What would you have done?

T: (thinking) I would prob-ly disobey.

M: Yes, we probably would, just like Adam and Eve did. That makes Jesus sad. That’s why we need His help, because we can’t be good on our own.

T: Yes. (Derek enters the room.) Daddy, I have ‘Ightning McQueen pajamas on!

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Twelve month visit for the Little One yesterday–all looks good, and Tommy held her hand during her two shots so that she could be brave. My kids react remarkably well to their vaccinations. For every anti-vaccine blog story you read, call me, and I’ll tell you how doing them by the book has been perfectly straightforward for our family.=)

Her stats:

Height–28 1/4 inches (40%)

Weight–20 lbs 7 oz (50%)

Head–45.3 cm (50%)

For comparison, Tommy’s stats:

Height–29 1/4 in (50%)

Weight–23 lbs 9 oz (50%)

And here they are this morning. They thought it was pretty funny that Mommy had slept in the office to stay away from Daddy’s germs. There’s not quite as much cuddle room on a folded-up futon as on a full sized bed, but we had morning cuddle time, anyway!

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Not too much fun

May 17th, 2010 by ECM

Well, today’s been rough. Derek got hit with a stomach flu, I’ve been having extreme tension headaches for the past four days, and the kids are restless. The kids and I watched over an hour of tv together today–Brainy Baby French and the first half of The Importance of Being Earnest (which scared Tommy–Algy’s creditors really freak him out). And I’m sleeping on the futon to try to avoid the flu. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

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Elizabeth's First Birth-Tea Party

May 15th, 2010 by ECM

This morning, we had some nursery kids and their parents over for a birth-tea party. The menu? Chicken salad sandwiches, sunflower seed butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit salad, blueberry scones, artichoke dip with toast, cranberry limeade, tea, and double chocolate banana muffins baked in tea cups and frosted with pink icing. Yum! The birthday girl was a great hostess, and like her mommy, she loved the chocolate!

Posted in Elizabeth, Friends | 7 Comments »

The Landing

May 14th, 2010 by ECM

Our kids love the landing–it’s their favorite place in the house! Lately Elizabeth has been racing up the stairs to be able to look out of the big window.

Posted in Elizabeth | 2 Comments »

Our Birthday Girl!

May 13th, 2010 by ECM

Today Elizabeth turns one! Where has the time gone? She’s such a merry little soul, laughing and flashing her 4 (!) teeth at her beloved brother or anyone else who smiles at her. She’s adventurous, climbing all the way up the stairs whenever Mommy’s back is turned. She’s a good eater, pretty much enjoying whatever is put before her (but especially fruit!), and she’s a good sleeper when not teething, putting in 12 hours overnight and two naps adding up to 3 hours. We love that she’s starting to show more interest in books, in singing, in baby sign language (“all done!”), and in babbling. We think she’s said Mama, Dada, Bubba, Grandma, Grandpa, Duck, Tickle, and Hi. She loves baths with her big brother. She loves snuggling with us in bed on those rare mornings where she gets up earlier than Tommy. (Today he was up at 6 and woke her up at 8:30, though!)

In preparation for her first birth-tea party this weekend, we did a little photo shoot with her birthday present (just wait ’til we move in to State College next month and have the whole tea pot theme incorporated into her nursery!)

In this last one you can actually see all four teeth!

Posted in Elizabeth | 6 Comments »

Derek and Tommy Go to a Cubs Game!

May 12th, 2010 by ECM

We just dropped the guys off at the L to go see Tommy’s first Cubs game! He actually has been to Wrigley in utero, but I don’t think he remembers much of it.=) It’s supposed to be a balmy 52, so the guys layered up in preparation. Here’s hoping they have fun!

Posted in Family, Tommy | 2 Comments »

Chicago Museums: Adler Planetarium

May 11th, 2010 by ECM

With Daddy home this month, we’re going to try to take advantage of museum free days and library passes to hit up all the museums we’ve missed…and the ones we want to see one last time!

Today we visited Adler Planetarium. As a homeschooling mom, I would give it 2.5/5 stars (worth a free day, but wouldn’t pay money or become a member.) Derek went a couple years back and enjoyed it more when he could go to a show and read all the information.

Key Age Range: Elementary to Adult, with a kid’s area that is best for K-3.

Time: We blasted through with the kids in just under 2 hours.

Cafeteria: Actually, really good paninis and an under $5 kids’ meal.

Parking: If you get there early enough, there’s street metered parking for $1/hr–a steal in downtown Chicago! Will park there if we go back to Shedd or Field. Otherwise, a $16 lot.

Fun Factor: Some dress up activities, some hands-on activities, but more displays for reading.

Educational Factor: A lot of space/science information, but besides the Jim Lovell Gemini exhibit, there’s not much of a coherent story that kids would remember or be able to write about later.

All in all, the kids and I prefer the space section of the Museum of Science and Industry, where we’ll go next.

Looking at giant telescopes–Tommy didn’t really get it.

dressing up as medieval students learning astronomy

Elizabeth teaches the astronomy class.

packed up and ready to blast off

NASA astronauts in training

eating moon rocks. This had potential but was a little lame.

Posted in Elizabeth, Homeschooling, Tommy | Comments Off

Hiding

May 10th, 2010 by ECM

I am in the office, hiding from Tommy. He has recently decided that Mommy is the only one who can put him to bed. A problem. Derek is currently trying to do the bedtime routine solo. Wish us luck!

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