More Books

Ezra's top five activities include being outside, reading books, exploring/learning, playing with bear, and playing with mom and/or dad.  This list can be interchanged, but generally it follows this order.

Ezra is more likely to wander around the grassy field at the park looking for pine cones and "fluffies" (dandelion seed heads) rather than play on the playground equipment.  Ezra is more likely to empty the kitchen utensil drawer and explore its contents than empty his toy bucket.  Ezra is more likely to read a book than play with trucks.

His fascination with books has been apparent for awhile.  We go to the library often and check out between 15-20 books per visit.  We are likely to read about eight a day, often the same three books six times over again.  His favorite two words come in handy with this favorite activity: "more" (as in "more books") and "up" (as in "pick me up, Mom, so we can read").  Lately, his favorite type of book is the picture/concept book (A, B, C's or 1, 2, 3's or colors).  He likes to play a Q&A game with me based on the pictures.  For example, we look at a page with a red tulip, a yellow banana, a green ball, a blue car, etc. and I ask, "Where's the ________?"  He loves it; I guess he gets a sense of satisfaction even at this young age in feeling informed and prepared with a right answer.

I enjoy reading most any book to Ezra, but after checking out easily 200+ books in the last six or seven months, I definitely have some "mommy favorites".

I have several in the "clever" category.  These books do not necessarily have great story lines or memorable characters, but they do use a completely new twist to explore a common idea.  For example, Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal uses a lively interchange over cloud shapes and explores two equally valid perceptions.  Orange Pear Apple Pear by Emily Gravett has darling illustrations and a five word text (!) combined into witty combinations.

Owen by Kevin Henkes is a little mouse boy with a well-loved blanket (something tells me this dad had a little one with a similar story!)  I love the tone; it is so connected to the emotional attachment with a snuggly thing.  Neville by Norton Juster is a story of a boy who moves to a new place and doesn't like it...never heard that one before, right?  But, it has such a pleasant, wholly unexpected resolution.  It made me smile, and I think it sends a very positive message about using initiative to solve your own problems.  Here's another commonly heard story, with a happy surprise ending:  Wolf! Wolf! by John Rocco is a clever Aesop's Fable adaption.

Happy Reading!

Thanksgiving!

We hosted Thanksgiving for ten people and it went wonderfully well!  I had fun decorating the table with Mama Bear's pretty special occasion tableware, plus some Liezel creative touches.  My sweetheart and I decided to brine our turkey (a 25 lb. bird) using this Food Network recipe: Alton Brown Good Eats Roast Turkey; it was perfect.

We contributed other traditional hot foods (mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, stuffing), but our guests made the dinner exceptionally good.  Tanya brought a delectable traditional Ukrainian holiday vegetable side dish.  Mara wowed us all with special corn bread muffins, jello salad, Medjool date-bacon-and-ricotta-cheese wraps and two amazing desserts.  There was a lot of umming at our table.

We broke with tradition (slightly) and used green pumpkin seeds as our "kernels" for counting our blessings.  I reviewed my journal a few days before Thanksgiving, and (wow!) it has been an incredible year.  Picking just three kernels to mention at our Thanksgiving table was difficult.  Among a great many things that I am very grateful for this year, I mentioned:

1. Dallin.  My sweetheart, my best friend, my helper, my team-mate (and we make a really good team), and super-dad.  We survived the first year of being parents (together).  We moved again and survived that transition (together).  We made a whole new year of memories and adventuring (together).  I would be a mess without Dallin and all his help and great love.
2. Ezra.  My little sweetie boy is my sunshine during the day and is most excellent company.  Being a mom is not for the faint of heart, and it has not been easy, but I don't know what I would do without my little Ezra.  He is clever and cute and soooo fun.
3. Roslyn and John.  I am so grateful they are having a wonderful time in China.  I am so grateful they are serving a mission and seeing a whole new world.  I am so grateful they have this opportunity.  I am so grateful they are in good health.  I am so grateful for their immense generosity in letting us live in their house.                  

Oh, and another great perk of our Thanksgiving was seeing the cousins together (after an almost 3-month gap).  Happy, busy boys!  

Indeed!

Political cartoon clipped from The Economist, November 3, 2012, p.8

Growing Up

Yesterday Ezra and I went to the children's garden at our local botanic garden.  They have a nice set-up with paved walking paths, boardwalks, small drawbridges, activity centers, exploring zones, and interesting plant material.
There were about twenty other kids around, so like a good protective mommy of my little tike, I tried to take Ezra's hand and guide him safely to the boardwalk.  He would have none of that; big boys don't need to hold mom's hand.  I think I looked very much like first-time mom hovering nearby, cautious and perhaps a bit too apprehensive.  All the other moms seemed to have this relaxed, healthy-distance-casual-observance stance.  I suppose I am still adjusting to my little guy becoming not so little.  He is a confident walker, and craves his independence, so I am coming to terms with backing off a little.  I have the feeling this will be a continual readjustment; the balance between protecting Ezra and giving him the opportunity to grow and stretch.

This is me trying really hard not to be an overprotective helicopter mom.

Called to Serve

Last Sunday I was set apart as a Sunday School teacher for the youth ages 14-15.  I have never had a calling with the youth, but I am so excited for the opportunity!  Starting in January, the curriculum for the youth will be completely new.  The curriculum is called "Come, Follow Me", and is modeled after the way the Savior taught.  There is no prescribed lesson manual, there is, instead, topics for discussion, and doctrinal questions arranged into monthly units.  The teacher must now rely much more on the Spirit.  The youth are invited to participate and help teach and bear testimony.  From my observations, this new youth curriculum is to the youth of the church as Preach My Gospel is to missionary work.  Simply put--the Spirit is the key.  My lesson preparations must allow for teacher-student conversations that allow the Spirit to teach.  It is a humbling mandate, but such a thrilling challenge!

This short video introduces the new curriculum to newly called teachers.  I get teary-eyed every time I watch it.  My goal is to help the youth become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.