Mothers and Children

I have big brother's shoes to fill.

He has style.

I think I want to be a car washer when I grow up.

If I do a good job on the hub caps, 

maybe Grampa will hire me again.

Is this a little like being a firefighter?

Hurry, Grampa, get to the "Fee-fie-fo-fum" part.

We were having dinner at Matt and Megan's to celebrate Mothers' Day.

Nolan was enjoying going out onto the deck.  

Daddy told him he could not keep opening and shutting the screen door.

Nolan, being two, had to see; what happens if I do.

Daddy explained he was going to have a time out.

Nolan was horrified, but Daddy picked him up and assured him, 

"It will be hard, but you'll be able to try again."

And then he held Nolan for his time out.

When it was over Daddy asked if he would like to try again.

Nolan said, "Yes," and confidently went back outside.

This is a timeout that actually works.

I'm concentrating on my nap.

A mother's dream becomes a reality in her children.

It's so beautiful to watch your children parent.

The patience, the time invested, the support, creativity and compassion

demonstrate a love that is the model for future generations.

News from the California Gentlemen

Happy Mother's Day, Gramma Mousie!

I was able to teach a piano lesson to the boys online for Mother's Day.

There is nothing as precious as the mind of a child.

And to be able to imprint on their heart the desire to learn

is a gift to the one who gives and the one who receives.

We both achieve our purpose.

Abraham Lincoln said, 

"Teach the children, so it will not be necessary to teach the adults."

Three Little Piggies

 by Gramma

Once upon a time, there were three little piggies.  As they got bigger, Mommy Piggie said, "It is time for you to have a house of your own.  The piggies packed their bags and put them on their piggie backs.  They went off to make a house to live in.

The first little piggie made a house of straw.  He said, "This is a good house for me.  I will feel the wind in my straw house when it is hot.  I will be happy here."

The second little piggie made a house of wood.  He said, "This is a good house for me.  I will paint my house yellow with a red door and it will look good that way.  I will be happy in my house."

The third little piggie made a house of bricks.  The bricks were big and it took a long time to make, but he was happy with his strong brick house.  "This is a good house for me.  I like the fireplace in my house."

Along came the wolf.  He saw the first piggie's house made of straw.  He called to the first piggie and said, "Little piggie, little piggie, let me come in."  The first piggie said, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin."  The wolf said, "Then I will huff and puff and blow your house down."  And the wolf huffed and he puffed and blew the house down.  The first piggie ran fast to his brother's house.

The wolf ran after him and saw the second piggie's house.  He called to the second piggie and said, "Little piggie, little piggie, let me come in."  The second piggie said, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin."  The wolf said, "Then I will huff and puff and blow your house down."  And the wolf huffed and he puffed and blew the house down.  The two little piggies ran fast to their brother's house.

The wolf ran after them and saw the third piggie's house.  He called to the third piggie and said, "Little piggie, little piggie, let me come in."  The third little piggie said, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin."  The wolf said, "Then I will huff and puff and blow your house down."  And the wolf huffed and he puffed, but the third piggie's house was still standing tall.  So the wolf huffed and puffed again.  But the house was still standing tall.

The wolf looked up at the roof and saw the chimney.  He went up the side of the house and got onto the roof.  He looked down the chimney and said, "Little piggie, little piggie I am going to come in and eat you and your brothers up."  The piggies made a fire in the fireplace and put a big, black pot of water on it.  The water got very hot.  When the wolf came down the chimney, he fell into the pot of hot water.  

The piggies had wolf stew for dinner that day.