Pictures to follow...

I can't get my pictures off my camera for some reason tonight, but I'm going to post anyway. Here are some random (recent) Smalling stories...

Madeline's favorite sport is basketball and she wants to be a photographer. I had no idea until I read it on a homework assignment she did for school...again, mother of the year is OUT for me! Although to be fair she has never: a)played basketball, b)watched more than 5 minutes of a basketball game on tv or live, and c)expressed any interest in playing or watching basketball. I think that might have been by process of elimination since she is as un-athletic as her mama (and daddy)! In her defense, she has been asking for a camera for quite some time (she's had a few disposables before, but not on a regular basis), so I guess that really should go to the top of the birthday/Christmas list! On a positive note, I did correctly guess her favorite color (PINK-- 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th birthdays, pictured),

favorite food (pb&j), favorite movie (Esther), favorite book (Junie B. Jones), favorite song ("The Battle Belongs to the Lord"), favorite candy (chocolate), favorite pet (cat), favorite game (Princess Monopoly), and where I want to visit (Honduras). The last 2 I did not guess, but was thankful to hear her say: 1)When am I the happiest: with my family. 2) Why I like myself: because my family loves me!

Setting: in Honda Odyssey somewhere on I-65 N, near White House, TN
Me: Noah, what is that you're coloring?
Noah: Oh, I'm just drawing an angel.

Little angel Noah

Me: Really? What kind of angel? (expecting the response of either "it's an angel that's really an....ALIEN!" or "an angel BRAIN", since aliens and brains are all he draws lately)
Noah: It's the angel that visited me last night when I was in my bed.
Me: Hmmm...and what did it do?
Noah: It said, "Do not be afraid. I am with you, and I am God, the Lord."
Me: Were you afraid?
Noah: (incredulous) Not after I saw the angel!

Jack spent last weekend with my parents, which was a nice break for me and a fun treat for them! He had a blast and did NOT want to come home (both of the other kids would have been, especially at his age). My dad was sleeping in his chair Sunday afternoon (some things never change!) and Jack decided he wanted Poppi to read him a book, so instead of asking Poppi, he just dropped the book on Poppi and startled him awake. Dad sat up and said something harmless like, "Jack, please don't do that" in his Daddy voice. Jack pooched his bottom lip out and ran to Dani and said, very distraught, "Dani, Poppi talked again!" As if he, of course, had done nothing at all...mean ol' Poppi just "talked again".

JackE's World

Jack brought me Noah's "reader" this afternoon and read it to me! It goes like this, "I like soup. I like socks. I like milk. I like alligators." Noah has to read it to us 3 times every night, so I guess after 2 days of that, Jack has memorized it! But I still thought it was cute...he loves to be big!

Jack's monkey impression:

Jack believes strongly in his SuperJack powers of invisibility...if he can't see you, then you can't see him! Lately he does this anytime I drop him off at Bible class or preschool.

Jack was trying to look like a pirate, but it turned out looking more like Jim from "The O.ffice" to me. I think it's the hair sticking out at the ears...

The pirate says "Arrr!!"

Madeline's PTA program

The 2nd graders performed "Autumn Songs" for the parents at this month's PTA meeting (it's the PTA's way to get parents there!).

Above is Madeline dancing and singing; right is the entire 2nd grade class singing. They did a great job. She really enjoys music and has a great teacher. Of course, that makes me happy to see my children appreciating music on any level! For some reason I cannot get good pictures on that stage (I'm sure it's me!) but pictures of the boys while we waited turned out pretty clear.

Here the boys are being entertained by taking turns wearing my sunglasses...much more interesting than the toys they brought to play with!

Left: Noah is big into the thumbs-up. He's such a positive kid...his standard answer to "How are you?" or "How was school?" is a very enthusiastic "GREAT!" He is proof that fussy babies can make happy kids!

Right: Jack saying "cheese"...can you tell I'm holding him back because he really wants down to grab the camera and check his shot. This kid is proof that calm, happy babies can make wild kids!

I realized as I looked at my blog, that there are not many pictures lately of Madeline, but here are a couple from this summer.

At a skating party for a friend (her 2nd time skating ever)...

Playing princess dress-up...I'll try to get some better pictures of her soon! She's a precious girl, who is just growing up too fast! She has really hit a comfortable stage in life (I'm SURE it won't last long!) where she is pretty independent when it's helpful but still sweet and loving. She has her smarty-pants moments, but she really has a love for the Lord and a desire to do right. We are so very proud of the little young woman she is becoming.