Ameliaisms

Amelia singing to herself, "Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, HEY!" then turns to me as if to explain "We just say the 'HEY!' because its hard not to."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tess was picking out her clothes one morning before school. She showed me a tunic she wanted to wear and asked what pants would go best with it. I said, "Tess, your straight leg jeans would look really good with that."

Amelia was sitting on the bed watching. After I said that to Tess, she cocked her head to the side and her brow wrinkled in confusion. She picked up her legs and lined them up in front of her. She looked down at them and asked, "Why are those pants for straight legs? Aren't my legs straight?"

I answered her smiling, "Yes, Amelia, your legs are very straight." Then we had a fashion lesson as I explained the difference between, bootcut, straight leg and skinny jeans.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love old movies. One of my most favorite channels is the Turner Classic Movie channel. We don't have that channel right now because it wasn't included in the very ESPN package that was way more necessary. However, we have the FOX movie channel on preview. I have been able to record some of my favorite movies. I lay in bed watching one of them one evening on a small television in our room when Amelia came in an plopped down beside me. She snuggled up next to me and lay quietly watching the movie for a few minutes. Never quiet for long she spoke, "Momma, did you know that the color came out of your T.V.?"

I explained how that was the way most films were made long ago. She didn't seem very impressed, kissed me and soon left me to watch the large, colored programming downstairs.

Somewhere we can keep an eye on you....

Papa, Eric's dad, shared this story with me and I wanted to pass it along to you.

Amelia, my 5 year old, was visiting with her Papa the other day and they had a conversation that went like this:

Amelia: Papa, we have got to get you in a nursery home.

Papa: A nursery home?

Amelia: Yeah. A nursery home. That is where old people go. Where they can keep an eye on you.

Papa: Why do I need to go there?

Amelia: My class went to sing a nursery home and Jay's grandpa was there. He got to hear us sing. I didn't get to sing to you because you weren't there.

Papa: Well, you can sing to me here.

Amelia: It isn't the same. They will take care of you there.

Papa: Would they feed me?

Amelia: I'm not sure about that. You sure do need to go to a nursery home.

The Kids Are At It Again.....

I was folding clothes when I heard this conversation:

Tess: Ty! What are you doing?

Ty: My leg is bleeding. I fell.

Tess: That's a lot of blood!

Ty: I know. I need a band-aid.

Tess: Well, Ty, you are going to have to go bleed somewhere else. I have to get over there.

We may have to review the Good Samaritan.

________________________________________________
We took Cole, my nephew, out with us for Ty's birthday. I always enjoy having him around. He just blends in and is like one of my own. He must have been given some good sports information this week. He wanted to share with us.

Cole: I love the 39er's.

Me: The 39er's?

Cole: Yeah, they have that great running back, umm "What's-his-name".

Me: "What's-his-name"?

Ty: Yeah, "What's-his-name" is AWESOME!

After we clarified the fact that he was talking about the 49er's and that the NFL didn't have a new team, Eric filled us in and told us that the running back's name is Anthony Dixon.

_______________________________________________

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Introduction

I want to let you know about my new blog "Anna Becoming" (Click here or use this address: http://www.annabecoming.blogspot.com/ ) Its first entry will explain why I started a new one. I will keep you posted if I decide to close Anna's Notes.

At the risk of sounding like the old Bartles and James commercial,

"Thank you for your support."

Yes, I remember that commercial. Two old guys, one never spoke. No, I have never purchased Bartles and James products.

Anna

Travel Stories

Today we had the privilege of picking my mom up at the Memphis airport after her flight home from New York. She has been traveling a lot lately. She recently went on a trip to Italy. Sometimes it is hard for the kids to keep up with where she is going to and coming from.

Tess was in the bathroom with me this morning while we were doing our hair. She said, "Where has Nana been? Paris or France?"

I am glad school is starting. Maybe there will be a geography class.

_________________________________________________________

I took all of the girls with me to pick Mom up. Ty was with his granddad and Eric was mowing. I thought it would be good to have another "girl day" before they start school again. It would be fun.

Before we left Corinth this morning, Amelia was already asking, "Are we there yet?" I tried to explain to her that it would take a long time. I encouraged her to play with the toys she brought along. It didn't help. Almost every 15 minutes she needed to know, "How much longer?"
When we were almost at the airport, I told her we were getting really close.

She grabbed her arm rests, threw her head back and said, "AAHHHHH! I wish I had stayed with Papa. This is taking for-ev-er!"

I said, "Oh, but we are having such a good time!"

She said, "No we're not! WE ARE TRAPPED IN THIS CAR!!!!"

Well that made Tess and I laugh. That made Mimi laugh. We made it out of the car. We weren't trapped and she is okay.

_________________________________________________________

When we get close to the airport, I try to watch out for planes so I can point them out to the kids. I spotted one and said, "Look at the airplane!", and pointed it out to Tess.

She looked up, smiled and said, "OOOOOOOHHHHH".

A few seconds passed and she turned to me and said, "I really don't see it."

She was faking wonder for her mother. She is a kind kid.

Bonus Points

Last evening my kids participated in a Challenger soccer camp (plug for my step-dad's company). They had a great time. We were a little anxious about having so many ages (4-12 year-olds) on the same field at the same time. Nikki(sp?), their coach did a great job though of managing all of them. The kids looked engaged and happy the whole time.

I was really impressed to see the older kids looking after the younger ones. As a parent of one of the smallest players, I was particularly touched to see big old boys stop play to let my Mimi kick the ball during the practice game. Big sister, Tess, always grabbed Mimi's hand to run to where the coach directed them. I saw another player, reach down and help a little one stand after they had fallen.

When the kids got home, I made a point to praise Ty and Tess for being so thoughtful and taking care of their little sis and her friends. Tess said, "Oh, Momma, Nikki said we get extra points if we are nice to the little ones." This deflated some of the pride I was feeling about how good my children were. But, all in all, I am glad they were nice, even if it was for points. (Still not for certain about what the points are for...)

Nikki made it seem so easy. Just give them bonus points. They got rewarded for doing what they should have done anyway. But this way, the big kids felt good about the points, Nikki felt good because they minded, and the little kids felt good because they didn't get run over by a faster-than-lightning 12 year-old. The whole team wins.

Nikki taught them more about the team effort when they were playing a practice game. In soccer the kids have a tendency to clump around the ball during a game. Everyone wants to be a part of the action. It is hard for them to learn to stay in their position. When they learn that, there are players all over the field and that helps the team. Nikki helped them with this by yelling , "Banana!" every time they crowded together. This was their signal to yell, "Split!" and break up over the field. That way every spot is covered.

This got me to thinking about how great the world would be if we acted like those kids did last night. What great things might happen if we stepped back and let someone else take a good shot at success every once in a while instead of pushing and shoving to get our chance? How much better the world would be if the older, wiser ones grabbed a younger one's hand and helped them navigate rough terrain? What if we all stopped running and slowed down to help someone who had fallen and was down in life? Further still, what if we split up so the whole field is covered? You do your part with your talents and I'll do mine and we will work until the job is done.

So...Ready! Set! GO! Banana! Split! Bonus Points!!!!!

_____________________________________________________


"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." Matt 5:7

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust detroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

For more of my sports analogy, how to play fair, and bonus points, have a gander at these:

Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 25:34-40
I Corinthians 9:24-27
Romans 12:9-21
II Timothy 4:8
Revelation 4:9-11.

A Dozen Years

It is now after midnight so my 12th anniversary was yesterday. We had a great day and were able to, thanks to some very special people, able to go out ALONE to Florence. We ate at Dale's, one of our favorites, went shopping at Target, and the mall. We finished up the evening at Krispy Kreme getting donuts and coffee. It was a lovely evening spent with a dear man. We even got to hold hands without someone behind us saying, "Ewww! Stop that!"

I spent the whole day thinking more than usual about how blessed I am and how thankful I am to have Eric in my life. We weren't always so happy and had to struggle for a long time. The joy is greater now, I think, because we can compare it to those difficult times. Our marriage is a testimony of how God can turn a man-made mess around into something beautiful. What we would have missed if we had given up!

A thank you to the Jefcoats for loving on our older children and to the Lewises for holding our small one. It is much easier to have a good time when you know that your dear ones are taken care of  so well and you know that they are happy.

A little dizzy with love,
Anna