the new book (as dictated by Jonah)

Thursday, we made a book to bring to the library. I decided I'd rather make a different book. So we made it into a new book and just got books at the library. We got some fun books! And on the way home, we thought we were going to make a book and bring it to the store to get a cover and to get it printed. And that's how it began. Friday, we worked on the book some more.

On Halloween, which is Saturday, we are hopefully going to take it to the store. The book should be done before Jo Jo and Kaitlyn will get here! Jo Jo will be here in 13 days from Friday, which is today, when we wrote this blog. Kaitlyn will be here in 11 days. I think that's probably it!

on setting and accomplishing goals

So we have set family and personal goals each year for over 5 years now. Some years have been more successful than others, but each year we've approached the process in a slightly different way. In 2011, I had the idea (which I still think is pretty great) to come up with 12 larger goals and work on one a month. I still had some daily and weekly goals, but not as many as usual. Instead, I came up with a list of 12 things I wanted to learn to do or wanted to be better at, but that by themselves would not make great year-long goals.

One of my goals was to learn to crochet. I've "known how to crochet" since college, but I've never known more than the basic stitch and never known how to read a pattern. This goal never ended up happening, because April 2011 was the tornado, and the next 2 years were chaos. First we had the tornado and all of that. Then we were moving. Then Caroline was born (and she was not a particularly sanguine baby). Somehow, it was years later and I still don't really know how to crochet.

Well, let me tell you what: I've crocheted a beanie and accompanying Yoda ears this month for Jonah's costume! I've learned single crochet, double crochet, single crochet two together, and all kinds of pattern-reading skills. It may be 4 years late, but I'm feeling pretty pleased. After I finish Miriam's Halloween costume and the quilt I've been making all year, I might actually go get a crochet pattern and make something cute. Maybe.

the Mayses, the Mays family, the Mays's house; never the Mays'

Thank you, Mrs. Mills, for teaching me how to pluralize (and make possessive) a last name that ends in -s. Little did I know that I would need to use this information at least every year at Christmas time.

This author shares my loathing of superfluous apostrophes.

Dear Dad,

A friend of mine lost her mom this past week. She wrote online today that they had a tradition of speaking on Monday nights after her late class. She went to call her mom last night, and had already dialed the phone before she realized. I got to thinking about one of the last phone conversations we had.

We hadn't talked on the phone, not really, for years probably. It was too difficult for us to hear and understand each other that way. I still remember, though, when I called you during Jonah's music class. It was March maybe. I was thinking about Grandma Hunt and wanted to ask you about her. We talked for almost an hour. It was a comfortable and easy conversation. With a few exceptions, you could hear me and I didn't interrupt and it was perfect. It was then that you told me that she was very musical, and that she always found a way to make a home or a room more beautiful: flowers, art, something. You told me that she hated fighting and about how she drove down to Ajo in the old car. I don't remember what kind of car, but I definitely remember that the make and model was part of the story. It was the first time I really remember you speaking about her at length, maybe because most of the kids knew her well and the stories didn't mean as much to them. I really appreciated it, though, since I don't remember her when she was well. It was an absolute blessing that we could talk that day. It's funny now, though, that I once thought talking on the phone was difficult. I'd give quite a bit for the chance to try again.

Daddy's snake (as dictated by Jonah)

Monday and Tuesday Daddy a day off work. And on Saturday, he found a snake! He decided to keep the snake. Then he went to the pet store with Caroline and got some mice for the snake to eat.

[Caroline interjected at this point: "Say that we saw fishes and kitties and birds!" "I can't," said Jonah, "because I didn't see them.]

A couple mornings after, we tried to think of a name. I don't know who thought of this really, but Daddy says that Mommy said the snake should be Byron. I have no idea what they were talking about anyway, though, so we still don't have a name for him. We might just call it snake. The End.

"I want to say something on the blog too," as dictated by Caroline

Hi. I love you so much, whenever I go out to play. Daddy and Mommy come in my way so I know how to go to the splash pad. And all the Meredith I know what she says all the times I go to North Carolina. Dixie has his food. And all the summer isles and all the in some sections of Meredith and some Uncle Quintin and the queen of Mama. Mama is some friend's king.

I really do feed them

Jonah obsesses over exactly what the next three meals entail at any given moment.

Caroline wants to clarify that I will actually be buying more graham crackers (or applesauce or string cheese or whatever it is) before taking even a single bite out of the first graham cracker out of the box.

When Miriam signals that she is all done and ready to get down from her high chair, it's pretty clear (she tries to climb out, even if she's strapped in). But every time, she also grabs all the food she can get the minute I start to unbuckle her. The girl just likes to carry around a snack for later.

Caroline

This girl shows her emotions so clearly. Only she could pull of dejected while holding a giant cotton candy.

This next picture says, "Look! Daddy caught me a snake!"

She has changed her mind about 7 times on her Halloween costume. I'm buying fabric Monday, so she's going to have to settle in. Main contenders are Elsa (again), Baba Yaga, Pocahontos, and Mace Windu. I guess it will be a surprise!

Miriam recently

She still doesn't talk a lot, but what she does say she says with gusto. New words include Roll Tide, down, ball, dog, shoes, and teeth. But to really understand her, you need to speak her language.

Shoes = let's go somewhere. She loves to get dressed and grab her shoes. She knows that when we put on her shoes, we're leaving the house. That said, she hates wearing shoes. As soon as they are actually on her feet, she refuses to walk. She will sit and cry until I take them off and she can walk happily again.

Teeth = I'd like to brush my teeth and/or suck on someone's toothbrush. It can also mean that she needs some more toothpaste on her (or  my) toothbrush.

No = NO! Except when it means yes. The only way to tell is to look at her legs. If she's kicking her legs in excitement, it means yes. Otherwise, it means no.

Down = Either up or down, depending on where she is and what she wants. I think this may be the one she's most proud of. She really loves the ability to ask to get down when she sees something she wants.

Her hair is just long enough to hang in her eyes. She finds it hilarious to pull clips and hair ties out, especially while riding in the car, so she often looks just like this:

Yesterday, I found her standing on the piano. The picture is fuzzy because although I definitely wanted photographic evidence, I didn't want to stand still in the process of rushing over to pull her down. She's a pretty precocious little thing.

Jonah's list for the blog (as dictated by Jonah)

It started on Monday. I made a list for the blog, and now I can remember almost every detail of the days before I type this in.

Tuesday: Raining. Lost my digging spoon. Pancakes for breakfast. For lunch, burritos. Quiet time: audiobook and school. Friends came over to our house. Phone not working; no audiobook. Mommy went to the store to get new socks.

Wednesday: I woke up first. For breakfast, Malt-o-Meal. Went to landlord's house. Read on porch.

Thursday: I can't remember what we had for breakfast. We had ice cream after lunch. Made map and hid picture for Caroline.

Friday: Woke up. Cleaned the house. Had toast for breakfast. Wrote on blog (right now!). The end.