Additional Lessons From My Brother

We often focus on the negative things that Nathan teaches Audrey. However, Nathan is sometimes a positive role model for Audrey. In fact, just last week she went from eating only one fruit (banana) to now eating apples and pineapples! Thanks Nathan, we know that was your influence.

Temper Tantrum Girl - updated

Audrey is truly a joy to have. She adds so much to our family and we all love her so much. She and Nathan have a great relationship. I truly have never seen a brother and sister get a long so well. (I feel sorry for what my parents had to endure with my other brother and myself!)

As Audrey gets older she also has become much more set in her ways (she isn't even 2!) and independent. One morning sometime before 11 am she decided that she wanted to brush her teeth for the fourth time. I was lacking in patients so I told her she didn't need to brush again and tried to get her out of the bathroom. Well this set her off. She crawled out of the bathroom - apparently walking was too much - screaming and crying. She went into her bedroom, slammed the door and then locked it. Truly this escalation happened in the space of 40 seconds. I unlocked her door, went in her room to talk to her. She didn't mind that I went in her room but was angry that I didn't shut the door behind me. She crawled off her chair went to the door and slammed it again. I tried talking to her and calming her without any success.

So, I decided that maybe I shouldn't have made such a big deal about her fourth brushing of the day and carried her back to the bathroom. By this point I believe she had forgotten what she wanted to do in the first place. But she was still angry. She picked up the bathmat, after a few attempts, wadded it up and threw it in the hallway. At this point I was so amused with the show that I just let her go. Off to her bedroom again and this time shutting the door without locking it. I decided to make a phone call to tell about the tantrum. As I was standing in the hall talking and laughing about it the door opened slowly and it was over. Then was the demand for the phone!

I think we are in for it during the teenage years. Or maybe she is just blossoming early and will be very mature during her teens. Okay a mom can hope can't she?

Lessons From My Brother

This morning I was getting ready to mop the floor in the kitchen and sent the kids downstairs to their playroom. As I was moving furniture I heard it - Nathan's hysterical laugh - for anyone that knows Nathan this means....TROUBLE! The laugh was not coming from the basement but from outside. (Audrey started crawling through the dog door several months ago and Nathan recently worked up the courage as well). I ran down the stairs, unlocked the keyed deadbolt and bolted outside.

Now just close your eyes and imagine this scene. The sky was overcast and a light sprinkle began to fall. I peer around the side of the house and there stands our 20 pound Audrey, bare naked from the waist down. Behind her about four feet was her diaper and about two feet further were her pink Minnie Mouse shorts. Audrey proudly looked up and declared that she was "peeing" on a bush.

After hauling them both inside the house, locking the deadbolt and 10 minutes of serious time-out I started talking to Nathan about the inappropriateness of their behavior. I asked Nathan how they got outside and discussed the danger. Then I asked him what Audrey was doing with her pants off. He proudly stated, with giggles in his voice, that she was peeing on the bushes. I inquired further to see where she would get an idea like that. He responded that in the minutes previous he had to do the same thing.

Michael Jackson Memorial

This morning I turned on the television and was watching a few minutes of the MTV memorial for Michael Jackson. Nathan walked in and I asked him if he knew who was on television. He didn't - not a big surprise. Then he asked, "is that a boy or a girl?"

Pool Days

Our friends the Hatches have invited us to the pool and Audrey and Nathan have really enjoyed themselves! Audrey does like to get in the pool but she spends most of her time being a fashionista! Other than fashion, her main duty is making sure that everyone - Nathan, Drew and Nick all have ample snacks.

We are really enjoying our summer here in North Carolina. It is probably as hot and muggy here as it is anywhere but we still enjoy getting out and seeing the sites you can only see here. Stay tuned as we have a few day trips planned to see some other things North Carolina has to offer.

Nathan "Benjamin Franklin" Beadle

Nathan had his first lesson in the principles of electricity this evening. He unplugged Audrey's baby monitor from the cord and put the electrical connector piece - which was still plugged into the wall - in his mouth. After he put it in his mouth he then asked what would happen if you would put it in your mouth. (A little backwards - do first, then ask??) I stated that I wasn't sure what would happen. He then informed me that you could get stung. He then admitted that he had tested it out and requested a drink of water. As he was chugging his drink of water, he described the sting like that of a bee, stingray or jelly fish (not that he has any real experience, just a great imagination).

Nathan Loves Primary

Nathan made an intuitive comment this afternoon after church. We were having lunch and Tonya asked him what he learned in primary. He said he learned about CTR rings. She asked him if he knew what CTR stood for, and he said “yes, it means Choose the Right, but I want to choose the left.”

Nathan loves and misses his cousins when they are apart!

Audrey Billips

She thinks she's Miss Big Shot!

Stumpin in North Carolina

We went for a short hike this morning and the kids just had to sit on the tree stump that had fallen in the way of the path!