Bedtime Prayers

Every night before bed we all pray together. Here is a transcript of some of our recent prayers.

ALL: "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Angels watch me through the night. Until I wake in morning light."

MOMMY: "Stellan, who would you like to pray for?"

STELLAN: "I want to pray for Nana and Deda."

MOMMY: "OK"

STELLAN: "I pray for Nana and Deda and Uncle Erik and Auntie Stephie and Caleb and Noah and Manny (Glenn and Erika's dog) and Uncle Glenn and Auntie Erika. And the beautiful day. And the beautiful flowers. And the beautiful tractors. And the beautiful fields for the tractors. And the beautiful tracks. And the beautiful trains on the tracks. And the beautiful roads. And the beautiful cars on the roads. And for beautiful blankets to keep me warm. And beautiful beds to sleep in. And for all the beautiful people. Amen."

How precious is that? I want to tape it one day...can't wait to listen to it when I'm old and grey.

Eating Dinner

Whenever we are eating we find it is rather typical that one of the boys eats much slower than the rest of us. Well, last night that happened to be Stellan. Jameson noticed this and said, "Stellan eats like a tortoise". It was so random which made it so funny.

Baby Clothes

JAMESON: "Mommy, what is the baby wearing in your belly."

MOMMY: "The baby isn't wearing anything, it is naked."

JAMESON (with horror in his voice): "Naked?!?! Why isn't he wearing any clothes?"

MOMMY: "The baby is nice and warm and comfortable in Mommy's belly, it doesn't need any clothes."

JAMESON (with some hesitation): "Okay."

.....a few weeks pass.....

MOMMY: "Jameson, what are you getting me for my birthday?"

JAMESON: "How about I get you some baby clothes. I think that's a good idea. I'll get you some clothes for the baby."

A Break

Jameson was spending some time in a break this afternoon (it's different from time out, seems to be much more effective). He had to think about his behaviour and how he could put himself in a better mood. This was all due to the fact that he wanted to change his clothes and I wouldn't let him. That launched him into a whining episode that was lasting way too long and was getting on my very last nerve. (I've come to realize that I can be a very patient and understanding person but once whining is involved I quickly lose it. I guess that would be the proverbial last straw or button.)

He was spending quite a bit of time in this break while I was sitting on the sofa with Stellan slathering lotion on his extremely dry hands. I was quite enjoying this time with Stellan when I heard a little voice from the stairs, "You make my heart sad, Mommy". Well, that did it, I immediately was over on the stairs holding him and discussing the error of his ways. He was obviously repentant and his attitude was much improved. He finished this conversation by adding, "I was wrong, please forgive me."

I'm not quite sure how my four year old has mastered the skill of using mommy's own words against her. (In order to try and teach his heart I've used that same phrase, that he hurts my heart when he does something wrong.) If he has reached this stage already, what is he going to do when he's a teenager?

Quick Thinking

James has recently been quite addicted to cough candies (those are his words, cough drops is what I call them). Anyway, after dinner, while I was still helping Stellan finish up his tomatoes, James mentioned that he finished up his bag of cough candies today. I whispered in Stellan's ear for him to announce, "You're addicted". Being an obedient little boy who is always willing to do anything for a laugh readily repeated it. Daddy looked at him and asked, "Where did you learn that?". (He knew very well where he learned it.) Without missing a beat Stellan proudly proclaimed, "At school".
He's got my back. :)