If child number 1 had been born 50 years ago, he's have been beaten daily to break his spirit. He needed to be born to good-natured very stubborn people who could go head-to-head with him on a daily basis without resenting him and getting angry. Or peace-loving idealistic types who'd gently shape his behavior by their own good example? (You scoff, ( Read more... )

( Well, after 8 years of marriage, three kids and two cars, we are finally starting the Search for the Orendorff Home Base. (Maybe it should be called the Orendorff Command Center. Hmm. Nothing says I know you're not really interested like a good ol' livejournal cut!) )

Abby has suddenly gone from drawing mostly scribbles to drawing the early stick figures (a circleish face with arms and legs).

Teddy has the most beautiful skin ever (of my children), he glows like a peach, all pink with golden highlights, just beautiful. Plus he's so bald, except for a little blond fuzz ( Read more... )

Abby (playing with blocks): Mommy! It's the Entire State Building!

( Abby had a marble James wanted. )

James (about a carnation): This flower has doodles of petals!

James: Put a pyramid at the end of that sentence.

Abby: I don't want to wear my zucchini bathing suit!

I borrowed a book from a friend called Unconditional Parenting. I'll be writing some thoughts about it here as I digest it ( Read more... )

James: If gravity pulls me to the ground, why doesn't it pull the kite ( Read more... )

I was watching James play a computer game. He was doing badly, and said to me "I'm getting whipped up." (Jason had told him earlier he was getting creamed.)

Also, "'completely naked' is one of my favorite words!"

( Sleep )

Abby has made herself a tool out of two stacked 4x4 duplos (the big legos). On the center of the bottom there is a small hole. She sticks her finger in the hole, twists the blocks around with the other hand, and calls it her "finger-nail sharpener."