Airplane Ride

So the three took their first plane ride over Thanksgiving. H and I were rather nervous about making the cross-country trek. I solicited advice and packed a large carry-on with little games, puzzles, and snacks. I thought I was over-packing, but I think it turned out to be about enough stuff.
They did well and we got several compliments on their behavior. Our only issue was pottying. We had some turbulence on the way to California so the seatbelt sign stayed illuminated for a good portion of the flight. H had words with a flight attendant and passenger over getting up to take them to the restroom. But that was really our only problem. When we returned home, we limited their beverages so we didn't have to get up as much, but also the seatbelt light was not on very much.
H and I are not jumping up and down to get all five of us on a plane again anytime soon, but overall we feel it went well and will go even better next time.

Hair Garage*

Above is the before picture. Below is the after picture.

Elliott has gotten his first big boy haircut. We were all a little tentative, but thought it was time. And I must say, we all love it. He looks so much older, which has taken getting used to, but he also looks so darn cute.


Mazie and Lucia got their hairs trimmed up too.
After the garage we took the children to a jump and play place. They had a great time.
Mazie and Elliott liked the slide, Mazie particularly. She would have stayed all day on that slide. A girl a few years older than her helped her get up the stairs; they had fun together.


We also went to a fishing store and got the three life jackets. Lucia wanted to wear hers in the store.


* H's Grandaddy always called the beauty shop the hair garage.

What we hear

The past six months, during my absentee blogger phase, I kept notes on scraps of paper. I love the language development of this stage and wanted to remember as much as I could about what they said and the way they said it. Below are the tidbits I recorded over the past six months. Some I thought were funny, others interesting.

One of the main things I notice about their language development right now is that they don't choose the correct preposition. They also put words in nontraditional places in the sentence (like the popular "I ate my cereal all").
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Lucia: Shoes not go on your hands. Shoes go on your foots.

Me: Elliott, don't spill your water.
Elliott: I not will.

Mazie, as we were walking into church: Be on your best hay for.

Mazie: I not did stick my hand in the toilet.

Elliott, wanting me to pull his blanket up higher: Cover me up faster.

Lucia: I'm thirsty for gum.

Me: I'll get you some more water, but don't spit it out.
Elliott: I not will.

Lucia, telling me she did the entire puzzle herself: I did that whole time.
Also: I did it whole myself.

Lucia: Be careful. These are fragible and breakable.

Mazie, handing me her doll to watch: You hold she.

Lucia: I'm sorry to step on your foot.
Also: I'm sorry to do it, Mama.

Lucia: Thank you for the juice, Mama.
Me: You're welcome, Sweetie.
Lucia: You're welcome too, Mama.

Mazie, wanting me to get her out of her car seat: Buckle me out.

The various ways they've pronounced guitar.
Lucia: ca-tar
Elliott: tar-guh
Mazie: big-tar

Mazie: We going to save it to later.

I didn't write down who said this one. Trying to ask "What is its name?" one of them asked, "Whose name is it?"

Awhile back, Elliott pronounced yes like the letter Y. He would even say "Y sir." Several times I had to tell people he wasn't asking Why? he was saying yes. One day I even heard him singing "Y sir, Y sir, three bags full."

Lucia calls any kind of bread cornbread.

They still pronounce spoon soon. I drop my soon. I need a soon.
And, they pronounce school sue. Are we going to sue today?

Lucia still does not pronounce her Ls. The Y sound she uses in place of the L is very pronounced too. One of my favorite things she's said was about a shirt that got dirty: "Yets put it in the yawndry."

Mazie: Let it cool off. It's very big hot.

Lucia, instead of saying it is very big, she'll say: It was huge big.

Me: Baby, just keep it for later.
Lucia: Ok, I would.

When H came in from work Elliott asked her: What you been?

One night I overheard Elliott say to his sisters: Let's talk. Hi Guys.

Elliott: I ate my cereal all.

Me: Are your shoes wet?
Mazie: They not are.

Elliott: We need a yawyeyball. (volleyball)

Elliott, with an open box of bandaids, putting one on his toe: Mom, we're getting bandaids because our stomachs hurt.

13.1 X 5

The last weekend of this month we headed north to Nashville for the Country Music Marathon. NanaLin's son Chris ran the full and I ran the half. We loved being with NanaLin and GrandPa and NanaLin's family for the weekend. H was a trooper dragging LEM around the course to try to get a glimpse of their Mama. I felt good during my race and finished in the time I wanted to (12 1/2 minute miles=2:42:12). The thing I felt best about while running was that I had not gotten crazy and signed up for the full marathon!
The children did great on the ride. It is AmaZing how much easier travel is becoming. It is almost enjoyable now. Saturday night we went to the OpryLand Mall where the children got to pet sting rays and eat at the Rain Forest Cafe. The next weekend this area of Nashville was completely flooded and is still recovering.
One side note about Lucia. Her favorite color is orange. It always has been. Mazie and I ran in Target to grab something when we were leaving Nashville Sunday. Mazie saw a pretty orange bathing suit for Lu. So we bought it and gave it to Lu when we got to the car. She held it for the next hour or so of our drive and kept saying things like, "Thank you for my orange bathing suit" and "I love my new orange bathing suit."
We are thankful for safe travels and a safe race.

A Real Snowfall

Maybe you heard. We got a little snowfall. About four inches. This happens in our area every ten to fifteen years. It was a beautiful, perfect snow. It started yesterday before dawn and came down steady until about two in the afternoon.
Mazie Bell making a snowball.

Sibling Injury

We have our first real battlescars. I was cooking supper in the kitchen (where I usually do) and sent Mazie to take something into the bathroom. I heard her scream out in a harsh cry.
When I got to her, I found a terrible mark starting on her upper eyelid and traveling down her cheek. I didn't know what had happened; I just tried to console her for a while. I was worried that her eye was scratched. She was very upset.
After a few minutes, I could tell that Elliott (who'd been the only one in the room with her) had grabbed her face and made a terrific scratch on it.
Maze and I put ice on her wound and applied lots of love. The scratch has faded into a bruise. Everyone asks what happened to her.
I know this is just the first of many wounds and I don't look forward to more of them.

Our First Fish

When we lived in the fish house, we never took LEM out on the pier. They were too young. It wasn't worth the energy. Plus we didn't want them to think that was a place they could go. We kept them completely away from the water because it was so close.
This past weekend we went to Nana and Papa's for a fish fry. We took the kids out on the pier to enjoy some fishing. The time was very high energy. I pretty much ran interference while H helped them fish.
Elliott and Lucia both caught a fish--bream. And, by "caught," I mean, assisted...somewhat. But, they loved it and had a great time.
I was not on the pier when Lu caught her fish, so I only have photos of Elliott. Since we went out on the pier the three have asked to go fishing. I am sure it will be something we do again before too long.