Everyday Treasures

Every day there are beautiful treasures. It is not hard to see them. In fact, most days there are more than I could ever count.

This morning started beautifully as I woke up when Micah did. None of the others were awake, but what a treasure to watch David wake up singing a song he made up himself. After I changed his diaper, he walked into the girls’ room, where Carissa lay awake but still under her covers. When she heard our footsteps, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, feigning sleep in the very obvious way that small children do.

He leaned over her with a huge smile and hugged her, “I love you, Rissy!” he exclaimed with a joyous voice that almost laughed.

I could hardly talk today because this sinus infection has taken my voice. Initially I’d planned to take all the kids to Mara’s dentist appointment, then on to the doctor’s office where the younger three had post-ear-infection follow-ups. But I really wanted to be in the room with Mara, who was getting fillings and I couldn’t leave the other three in the waiting room alone during that whole process. Besides that, my lack of voice would make for an incredibly exhausting outing, herding four children across the mayhem that is the hospital parking lot (under renovation) on a morning where the temperature is still in the 40’s, then taking them all to another dr’s office. . . Since Daniel now works from home, I decided to put on Mary Poppins for the younger three and take Mara alone. It was a risky plan, because Daniel can’t really “watch” them while working. But thankfully, he only had to step in once, and Mara and I returned before the movie had even finished. She was a trooper and didn’t complain at all about her filling. She got two princess stickers from the dentist and brought them home and gave them to Carissa.

Before I left with the younger three, I had time to get Mara ready for some schoolwork. She was amazing! and very determined. She did something like 13 worksheets while I was gone and read 2-3 reading assignments, then took a math test when I got back! Eight of those worksheets were math lessons. She is determined to finish her first grade math before my birthday. She said, “I didn’t play at all–or do anything except worksheets! Wellll, sometimes I sat and *thought* about other things!” (Girl after my own heart!)

Micah did about four math worksheets today. I couldn’t help laughing that he solved the word problems in his head and crossed out the word “Workspace” and wrote “No thanks” in the box.

Thankfully all the littles’ ear infections have cleared up. Though here I am with yet another sinus infection. The doctor says, “It seems like you’ve been sick all winter!” (Tell me about it! UGH!) I am grateful for another antibiotic, but starting to wonder what is wrong with my immune system?

While I waited for my prescription, the kids and I went to the thrift store: two pairs of shoes for Micah (one StrideRite Clone Wars! Score!! and a pair of Crocs) and cowboy boots for Mara. A 16×20 picture frame still in the original plastic wrap for $5! And of course, books. I love books! Two more Clifford books, Madeline’s Christmas, another Eric Carle book, two Thomas train books for David, three Magic Tree House books, a 10-in-1 reader for grades 1-3, an Andrew Peterson/Corey Godbey book on the genealogies in Matthew with the CD, DK book on Whales, and Ladybug Girl Goes to the Beach (wow, by far the girls’ favorite!). There were a few more books too. Altogether $14. Can’t beat the prices! Tonight Daniel sat and read Stop Train Stop and Ladybug Girl to all the kids. And even though he insisted that Bingo was Ladybug Girl’s mom, instead of her dog, the kids loved every minute. I wanted to take a picture, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment. . .

Carissa’s journal arrived today. She has been begging me for weeks to buy her a journal like Mara and Micah’s! Well, today it came. She immediately put her princess stickers from Mara on the first page and wrote a small entry about going to the doctor. Looks like she will be as much a writer as Mara is, and I really do need to get working with her more consistently on her reading!

The kids played so nicely. Mara and Micah were upstairs playing quietly for the longest time. When Micah came down, I asked, “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re playing a story!” he replied (Always!) “Mara’s Firestorm and I’m BatGuy and we’re pretending it’s our honeymoon.”

“Oh, what’s a honeymoon?–How do you play ‘honeymoon’?” I asked, wondering what his concept of a honeymoon involves.

“Well, it’s like our first date. The first one didn’t go so well. But now we’re playing that we’re going camping, and this is a lot better!”

Upstairs in the boys’ room I found a queen-size blanket spread and propped throughout the room like a tent. And a campfire made of paper taped to a cardboard base. . . They were going camping.

Downstairs the littles were hungry. David went and opened the fridge and pulled out the bag of carrots and said, “Me hungry! Have some carrots?” Of course I agreed and he served himself and Carissa.

They sat in the kitchen on their little stools with cups of water and bowls of carrots and chatted the evening away. . .

Tonight at dinner David motioned to Carissa. “Me eating wiff my friend. Rissy my friend! She does kind things for me!”

Love that boy!

Every. Day.

Treasures!