Caroline and the bobcat

Caroline is now mildly obsessed with big cats.* The obsession came to a head a little bit ago when the following occurred:

Josh had sent me to bed for a nap. It was delicious. I actually can't remember if the nap was a good one, but any nap is a good nap, right? Before I fell asleep, I heard Caroline come out of her room and into the kitchen.

C (in a very serious voice): Daddy, I need to know something.
J: What's that?
C (holding up a book): I need to know what kind of cat this is. It has stripes like a tiger and spots like a cheetah.
J: Well let's see. (Flipping through the book.) It's a bobcat.
C: Hm. I need to ask Mommy.
J: Mommy is sleeping. It's a bobcat sweetheart.
C: I will ask Mommy. If she says it is a bobcat, that you are right. And if she says that it is not a bobcat, you are wrong Daddy.

After the nap, we confirmed that it was, in fact, a bobcat. She then spent the next week watching bobcat videos with Josh.

*Today, a stray black cat was in our yard. "Look, kids!" Josh said, "A panther!" Caroline said in the world's flattest voice before walking quickly in the house, "That is not a panther, Daddy. Panthers are much bigger."

Dear Dad,

Merry Christmas.

like nobody I know

Tonight, Caroline fell asleep on the floor of her room next to her open closet door. Based on the book in the wedge of light from the closet (and next to her face), we think she fell asleep reading. Not that I've ever done that...

A few minutes later, I was reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to Jonah. Harry was hauled up to Dumbledore's office. He saw the Sorting Hat in the office and considered trying it on. "Maybe he'd better ask first," Jonah said nervously. Yeah, there's nothing worse than a character doing something that's obviously going to get him in trouble. I've been there, kid.

Then, we made it to The Polyjuice Potion chapter. "Harry had better leave now," Jonah said out of the blue. "His hour is probably almost up." I nodded and murmured and then kept reading. A few lines later, Jonah leaned over and put his face next to the book. "I know you can't hear me in there, Harry, but you need to leave!"

Jonah asked me to find some Harry Potter books on audiobook so he can get through them faster. Unfortunately, all the library's copies are currently checked out. I decided it's definitely a good thing, though, because I am really loving reading them together. I can't wait to hear what he thinks of #3!

Santa Claus and the fish

So first, some background: Jonah has never believed in Santa Claus. Josh and I haven't pushed the issue, but we didn't tell him there was no Santa Claus either. When he was a smaller child, he just explained to us matter-of-factly that Santa Claus was just pretend, but fun to think about.

Caroline, on the other hand, has no reason not to believe in Santa Claus. Jonah has been careful to not spill the beans. She did say recently that Santa didn't come to our house last year so Daddy had to eat his cookies. I don't really know what that was about, but it made us laugh. She is very interested in Santa Claus this year, though. She's asked a few times a day exactly when he is coming and what he is going to do while he's here.

Tonight, while taking a bath, Caroline was playing with these 5 little fish. (The little fish are named Bernice, Gerard, Kaya, Jaya, and Raya. Those are today's names. Who knows what they'll be called next time.)

C: But where is the big fish?

Me: I don't know. Maybe it's with the rest of the toys in your room.

C: Maybe Santa Claus came while we were eating dinner and took it away. 

Me: Maybe. Though usually Santa Claus leaves things instead of taking them.

C (nodding solemnly): Not without asking at least. 

The Plog (dictated by Caroline)

Last time when we did Skype or the plog, I forgot what Dolly said. And what I forgot after quiet time for mine was decorating the Christmas tree that we already got with Dada and we climbed on the hay and slide on the slide slide. But that was going to be s-a-o-n-w except that was one year ago. We got seven years ago to North Carolina.

And what I discovered I have my own school. And what I love about cute Mama. I love bubble gum, cake, cupcakes, Dr. Pepper, milk, hot chocolate, and water. That is my favorite drinks. Even juice. What I don't like is Jo Jo's first juice. Jonah and Miriam are doing Skype. And we always forget what Dolly says.

a busy day and night (dictated by Jonah)

Last night, we made sugar cookies. We are going to eat them today. I am not sure when we will eat all of them. In just a minute, we will eat one. Also today, we are trying to get school done before lunch so we can go to Jack's house. Babysitters are going to come over and Mommy and Daddy are going to see the new Star Wars movie.

I made a sugar cookie shaped like a star. I painted it red and I am going to try to paint a yellow "A" on it. When Daddy gets home, I am going to tell him that it is my Alabama cookie, unless I decide to write something else on it.  I would've painted the "A" in white, but Mommy got rid of the white frosting. Caroline made a little turkey with a "C" on it. The turkey is blue. The "C" is yellow. This is really funny: also, Caroline made blue frosting for hers. One quarter of the time, she was stirring. And three quarters of the time she was licking her toothpick. She ended up with a blue tongue, blue teeth, and blue lips. Daddy told her not to eat any more or we wouldn't have blue frosting.

the time we ate kale by accident

I once bought some flat kale thinking it was swiss chard.* I ended up making it with this recipe because I'd never cooked or eaten kale before and I really didn't want it to go to waste. The weirdest thing happened: the kids loved it. They loved it so much that Jonah and Caroline fought over the last bite.

Since then, we've eaten this kale almost once a week. I never make more than a single batch because I'm afraid of having a ton left over, but we always clean the pan. We had some with dinner tonight and even Miriam cleaned her plate. It seriously makes me feel like a rock star. Knowing my kids the way I do, they will eventually tire of kale and all of the sudden one meal I'll be stuck with a ton of uneaten kale and grumpy, hungry children.** But then they'll come back around and we'll go back to eating it and I'll feel like a rock star again.

*I was so confused the next time I went to the store and bought kale on purpose. It's all curly! How could I have ever thought that was chard? Well just last week I found the answer: our store sells two varieties of kale. The variety of organic kale is long and flat and looks like chard. I'm not crazy after all!
**How do I know? Because we've been through the same cycle with smoothies (Seriously, there are so many variations of smoothie! How can you get tired of them all?), trout patties, Nutella toast, and no bake cookies.

dictated by Caroline

Dolly is the most third and my birthday and on my next birthday I'll turn four. In a couple weeks ago, it might be too illustrated and I love my cd Gold Stars. It's all my favorite songs in all the whole world! I'm so grateful for our snowflakes for Christmas and the lights are so beautiful. I like the pink one. It's my favorite color. And it's next and I told Jo Jo that. And I love Dr. Pepper so much. It's my only favorite dessert ever! Miriam is trying to get things like Jonah's water. And school is like acorns, though. And in three days ago, it was too messy. And it will probably be for Miriam's. Before we got into North Carolina, we were in Arizona. And drive and drive for a long time and then said hi to North Carolina. And we were so proud of Daddy making a leaf pile for us. It's so fun! And one time I called it the Witch witch house [Richards' house]. And bonk came the helmet! And Jonah is just sitting right next to Mommy. And Daddy is the greatest Daddy ever!

And my name is Caroline. And Baba Yaga is my whole favorite. And my panda bear cup was all lost so I had to get a princess and the pea cup. Not done yet, Mom! And on my birthday, I'll turn four. Lucky me! And Miriam sits in her high chair and one time I called Daddy because Miriam threw her food on the floor. And I am wearing my skirt with my shirt because I'm so glad to wear them. I'm already dressed now while I'm doing blog. And it is so wonderful that my mom is here to tuck me in. And tonight, the missionaries are coming over!! I love missionaries! I will give as many high fives as there are missionaries. And we're having quiet time as soon as this blog is done.

today on the blog: device (dictated by Jonah)

I don't know how to explain about my device. It is a device that I made out of a necklace and a belt. I wear the belt and then attach the necklace to the belt. Then, I put the top of the necklace around the handle of my bike so I don't fall off it. The reason I made this device was because one time I was riding down a hill and fell off the scooter. So I'm probably not going to ride the scooter for while.

Also, finally my book is made. I have five copies except I gave one to Jack for his birthday last week.  Another book that was made a few weeks ago was a little paper book that I made for Kade. That one I sent already. Actually, I didn't send it. I gave it to Jo Jo and then she gave it to Kade.

Tonight for dinner, we are having chicken wings. The missionaries are coming over tonight. (Daddy's lucky night!)

I got a book from the library. It was a little Lego book. Oops, I shouldn't call it a little book. It was 193 pages long. I managed to read it all the way through in 3 days, maybe 2.

secret paths, Christmas music, and citrus

Usually when considering the fact that here we are, on the opposite side of the country from where we thought we'd spend the rest of our lives, I have two alternating trains of thought:

Thought #1: This is the best place. I had this thought while walking down on secret path to check the mail. Jonah had just finished telling me that morning how he wants to buy this house when we get ready to buy one. Caroline stopped walking down the path, looked back at the house, and said, "I love this white house, Mommy." I had this thought when Josh came home from work happy and enthusiastic and told me how much he loves his job. I had this thought when the produce guy at the grocery store gave my children each a banana and the clerk at the post office was the kindest one I've dealt with in all my years of mid-December post office runs. I had this thought when I left the post office and remembered calling another local post office here when we were still in Arizona and being impressed with that worker too. I had this thought when we went to the library. I love our library.

Thought #2: What are we doing here? I had this thought when Byron told us he was having shoulder surgery. I had this thought when I was talking to my mom about all the baking she was doing and desperately wanted to go help. I had this thought when I peeled yet another disappointing orange. I have this thought every time I think of my last two wards and the beautiful Christmas music they're probably preparing this very moment.  I had this thought when I found out there was no third year LPM teacher for Jonah and that putting the girls through classes will be so much more expensive here. I have this thought when I remember how great it was to have lunch with my sister and mom after those same music classes. I have this thought when I think of our awesome little homeschool support system in Surprise.

Today, though, I'm adding another train of thought:

Thought #3: We can make this work. I'm having this thought right now while Miriam stands on a chair and points to the pictures of our friends on their Christmas card. I think she might even be saying "Jack" and "Scott," but it's hard to tell. She's definitely calling them "Jonah" too. She won't grow up down the street from her cousins or her grandparents or my childhood friends that are bound to have children one of these days, but she will know another support system: a ward, friends, neighbors that are our family here. I had this thought after talking to my favorite citrus locale in Arizona about their citrus shipping options. Now the most important question on my mind is this: exactly how many oranges can I actually eat? The answer is quite a few, especially if I share some box space with grapefruit for my grapefruit-loving boy.

Sometimes, I have a really great day. Then other times, I have a really down day. Some days are both.

(dictated by Caroline)

I think I want to go to um Jack's birthday too. I don't know when we're seeing um my birthday party. I am so excited for my birthday. Miriam did not let me have my dolly. And then Mommy gave Miriam a special present but I found a dolly that Miriam might like. Then after that weekend and next year today and it was my birthday. I really like my birthday. I hope that I have a Frozen movie birthday for my favorite movie. Pocahontas is my very favorite movie. It is very exciting for my birthday. Then I will turn four. I don't know how big I be when I turn four. My favorite food is bananas and oranges and cereal. And my favorite vegetable is carrots and strawberries. And my favorite kind of dessert is cake. I really like pie too. That is what we had at Thanksgiving when we had today. I can't wait to play in the snow. I love my sweet Mommy. Goodbye to my own. I already have a pink dolly with a heart on her shirt. I have another dolly and my other dolly that's new had some clothes. I usually dress up her and I love volcanoes. But my nose smelled so bad one day because I maybe smelled an earthquake. I do like Pocahontas and Frozen and sometime I'm going to watch Star Wars. But I digged with Jonah.

the book is postponed (dictated by Jonah)

Hi. It turns out that the book seemed to be made a year after Kaitlyn made. But instead, it was only like a month. So now, here we are, trying to get it made. We hope it will be done Saturday because my friend Jack is having a birthday on Saturday. I am going to bring one of the copies to his birthday party. There will probably be five copies, and the book has at least eight pages. I am so excited for the book to be made. I guess that is all.

overheard from the other room

[Sounds of Miriam pushing her way into Jonah's room and interrupting J & C's game.]

Caroline: It's the Sift!
Jonah: She's not the Sith today. We're not playing Star Wars right now.
C: I know that she is not the Sift. She has cute eyes and cute cheeks. That is how I know she is my baby.
J: The Sith have cute eyes and cute cheeks. They look exactly the same.
C: But this one is so cute! I just want to pet her cute cheeks.
J: Okay, so you're petting the Sith now. All Sith are cute.*

*Said in the long-suffering martyr voice of an eldest child.