To be equated with a Disney Princess

"Snow White was so lovely that her vain and jealous stepmother, the Queen, feared the girl's beauty would someday outshine her own. So she dressed Snow White in rags and forced her to work as a scullery maid."

I've come to expect that i can't get through one page of a story without receiving at least two vocabulary questions. Which is great. And an avenue for the most glorious and unanticipated compliments. Behold:

T: "Mommy. What's a scullery maid?"

Me: Not precisely sure, and deducing a definintion from the illustration on the page, i replied, "Oh, it's just someone who scrubs the floors and cleans the bathrooms and does all the yuckiest jobs in the house."

T: (With the brightest eyes and a smile of pride)"Hey, that's like youuuuuuuuuu!!!!"

My heart melted when i noticed how he was delighted to realize that Snow White and I are kind of like the same person. I think i might kiss him for this one for, like, 3 weeks straight. Maybe longer. Yes, quite possibly longer.

slow morning

It's early yet - and seems even earlier than it really is due to my late-in-pregnancy sleep deprivation, the effects of which are emphasized all the more by a squirmy nighttime 18 month old who decided to wake extra early this morning. (And she had a really smelly diaper. That somehow makes it worse. I dont know how, but it does. Stop asking me questions.)

But it's okay.

After breakfast and morning prayers, a bit of tickle torture, and bribery with chocolate chip cookies, we're all hanging out in the office. Thomas is lying on his belly, swinging his feet in childhood contentedness, drawing in his favorite coloring book. (He's also admiring the Darth Vadar costume advertised in the latest Toys R Us flyer. I think it's okay if i ignore his comments of awe for the time being.) Rosemarie is swapping red crayons (aka "wed cudders") for blue and orange ones from the purple box on my lap, and has temporarily forgetten about the markers in a nearby drawer. And for that i am grateful. (I hate markers. I already hate laundry, and i hate markers for making me hate marker-stained-laundry even more. I'm grouchy. Where's my coffee?)

And did i mention that my Christmas shopping is officially complete? So is St. Nick prep, and the mid-December birthday boy is taken care of. (Curb your jealousy, if you can). The last of the gifts arrived in the mail yesterday - the kids' big ones (over which i am completely excited!) - and all that is left to do is bake the goodies for distribution to Godparents. So if you come over to my house before the grand Holiday, don't snoop in the hall closet. In fact, don't even turn its doorknob. You'll risk blankets and packages and homebirth supplies spilling out all over you. Nobody should have to deal with that kind of emotional trauma.

So for now, peace reigns at Providence Cottage. The steady, gloomy rain outside adds to the peace and slowness around here. Maybe the dampness will give the husband an excuse not to work outside until dark and we can have a movie night or sit by the woodstove and read? Perhaps the kids will be happy coloring all morning long and i can sneak in a lazy nap? Maybe they'll pile up on top of me just as i'm drifting off and soothe my annoyed jolt with sloppy kisses? (*sigh*) It's a good life, mine.

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Eco-Theology

We've had a dry autumn, and we frequently grumble about it at the dinner table.

Joe: "It would just be nice if the fruit trees could get a good watering-in before winter hits. It hasn't rained in FOREVER!"

Thomas: (Interupting adult conversation with abandon - as usual) "Umm, yes it has, Daddy. It's been raining for, like, 3 years. Or maybe 10. Actually, it's been raining forever."

Joe: "?"

Thomas continues: "Because Jesus is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.... and He shall rain forever and ever!!"

Pic of the Litter

After a long and quiet labor, our 2-year-old JRT, Lucy, gave birth to 7 (SEVEN!) adorable little puppies! She's a five-pounder, so we were naturally shocked at the number of pups. But what do we know? So long as it never happens to me....

Lucky little Thomas, on waking at 3 a.m., got to go out to the garage with daddy to check on the laboring Lucy. Despite the middle of the night burst of excitement, the good boy went back to bed and awoke again at 8 to tell me that Lucy had a homebirth. ;)

These purebreds will be up for sale on craigslist(dot)com or in the local paper once they're weaned - incase anyone is interested. (It'll be just in time for Saint Nick's day - wink wink nudge nudge).

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Tired of reading the travel mug post?

At 33+ weeks pregnant, i've become a minimalist.

Here are some recent fall photos of the kids to hold you off until i make time to post any worthwhile reflections:





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