grown up Mim

Miriam has been very interested in talking about her life when she's grown up ("like ten or fifteen or something"). So far today,we've had the following conversations:

M: Jonathan is my favorite name for a boy. So if I have a boy child, I'm going to name him Jonathan. If I have a girl, I am going to name her Violet. If I have one. And if I have ANOTHER girl, I will name her Snowflake.

Me: What if you have another son?

M: I'd name them Jonathan and John.

Violet, Snowflake, and...hm. And Rainbow! And then with the three boys, I would name them Jonathan, John, and...hm. I could always name one of my kids Flower.


M:  I'm ready to have a job when I grow up. I'm thinking about the job to scan people's groceries. I'm thinking I'll have a job in a grocery store.

Me: Ah, that would be a nice job.

M: Well Mom, there's so many stores, I don't know which store to pick!


M (while running errands in town): When I grow up, I'm going to buy the house next door and be your neighbor! And if they aren't moving out of the house next door and selling it, maybe I'll buy one of these houses instead.*

M (again, later): Mom! There are only two houses next door to this one. That means either Jonah or Caroline or I can't live here and be your neighbor! ... Oh, maybe we could just build another house right in the middle for someone else. I'd live in the big one in the middle, of course.



*As someone who had detailed plans about buying my parents' house and turning the back porch into a giant aviary, this makes me laugh every time.

the kids and the kids

Last week, we all had Monday off of school and work, so we made the most of it and went to visit our good friend Amy and her farm. Amy's goats had kidded a few weeks before, so there were baby goats aplenty..even some bottle babies!

This is the exact sort of adorableness that led to the frantic fence building of last spring so we could bring Lena and her babies home last April. And now, this April, we should have a kid or two of our own on the ground if all goes well!

I also went and helped Amy (watched, really) when one of her goats delivered quadruplets! It was fascinating, inspiring, and extremely educational. New life really is miraculous.