Okay, we've had average temperatures for August but we need rain (though we did have a shower this week). Farmers are still cutting tobacco and I can't believe we are already knocking on September's door. (Sorry Vicki...it got the best of me.)
STUBBORN LITTLE BOY. The other day Vicki and Ben ran errands. On their way home they picked Jenna up from school and Nate up from Pauline's. When Vicki parked the van Jenna got out. She gave Ben a moment to unbuckle she asked if he was going to get out. When he didn't respond she closed the door, walked around to get Nate and headed for the house. That's when Ben lost it and demanded that Vicki make Jenna come back to open the door for him and walk with him to the house. After discussing this with an unreasonable boy for a moment she laid down the law when she said, "I am not making Jenna come back here for you and you can sit out here until you are hot enough to want to come in."
Vicki had several trips to make to the van for all the things she bought that day. On the last trip she arrived at the tailgate only to hear Ben's cheerful voice exclaim, "Okay Mom, I'm hot enough now!" And in he went.
HOMEWORK. Jenna has homework now. It's all reading and spelling right now. She came home with a story she is to read for us and her vocabulary words are all used in the stories. She's picking up on it really well but there are a few words that trip her up. She is always anxious to come in and do her homework. I hope it is always this way!
SPEAKING OF WORDS. Nate really doesn't talk in English much yet. While he understands well enough to follow simple directions 99.44% of what comes out of his mouth is still jabber. What brought a smile to my face though was the other night when I was putting him to bed. I had told him to close the doors to his room and he closed one but walked out the other. Figuring he was stalling on his bedtime I took off after him saying, "Nate, get back here and close your door." He gave me this simple reply over his shoulder, "Bear." And after getting his bear he came back and closed his door.
DADDY'S LITTLE HELPER. We had new carpet put down in the children's Sunday School classrooms at church this week. Wednesday night several of us moved all the furniture out of those rooms so the carpet layers wouldn't have to do it. I had Nate with me as Vicki was teaching a missions class for kids (Ben is in her class). That Nate was a good worker. He did not waste a trip. Every time I hauled something he had a toy or chair in his hands and was right behind me. If it was too big to carry he pushed it.
A MOVIE REVIEW. Vicki and I went to see The Village Friday night. There are several twists in the plot which we were figuring out as the story was unfolding but I would never have guessed the ending from early on in the movie (one review said it was too predictable). What was nice was that it is a clean film. There was no language that really stands out in my mind. What violence there is was simply dealt with quickly and in a realistic way and the story moved on. Unfortunately we missed seeing this in Springfield (where admission is $1/$3 on weekends) so it was an expensive treat. If you don't make it to the theater put this movie on your list of things to rent.
Joe
