Blurbs....

David was going out of town for meetings, and was going to be gone one night. Ruby asked him if he was going to eat bagels at the hotel. She then asked him not to. Because if he did, it would "break my heart" because she wouldn't have any bagels to eat. Oh, my dear, sweet, dramatic Ruby. =)

David asked the kids to be big helpers for Mommy while he was gone to his meetings. This did not appear to happen until we were outside, and I was cleaning up the yard of stuff. (How does "stuff" pop up all over my yard, anyways? =P) Anyways, on this trip, I was carrying one of the kid's bikes out to the barn. Ruby then remembered that she had told Daddy she would help me while he was gone, so she proceeded to grab onto the bike and "help" (aka pull down on the bike, making it more heavy, and pull back, making me need to walk slower) me. It's the thought that counts, right? =)

According to my notes, I mentioned something about needing/wanting/something arms that could reach the fridge from an undocumented location (so therefore I don't remember it). Isaac said that I might need "a special machine" to help me with this. That boy and his machines.

I love how Isaac says "large". You know, that really big one over there. It's very large. Things like that. He's just a cutie. =) I also love how he gets his sister's attention, "Hey, gowos" instead of "Hey, girls!" Now to correct that speech problem......

Isaac got his wish and his sisters came out to the top of the playhouse to blow bubbles with him. First it was Jadelyn. Then, Ruby joined them when she was done with her trips around the garden, and after the girls came inside, Alpine the cat joined Isaac. He was well loved that day! =)

David had to bring the nursing home's minibus to the meetings, so he drove it home after the meetings were over. The kids all got to go for a ride, and boy, were they excited! =) Sometime after, we were having a lunchtime conversation. Isaac wants to know when he can go to school (presumably so he can ride a bus). We then talked about how we were going to homeschool because some of the things that are taught in public school are not things that we want them learning right now. We talked about church school and how there aren't any around here. We talked about how Grandpa was a teacher at a church school and how that church school closed down soon after Grandpa went on disability. We talked about how Aunt Tracy worked really hard to try to get that school re-opened for years, as she wanted her kids to go there. We talked about how it takes a LOT of money to re-open the school. The kids were wondering if it would take so much money that if we had it here, it would fill our house. Or at least our living room (I think). Then, Ruby had a solution. We will just go to our bank and ask them for all our money, which we could then give to Aunt Tracy to re-open the school. I had to educate Ruby that we didn't have enough, and how banks only give you the amount of money that you had in the bank. So, resourceful Ruby came up with another idea - we will just go to our bank, then another bank, then another bank, then another bank until we had enough money. Somehow I don't think she completely caught the gist of my "bank education". ;)

Ruby asked Isaac and Jadelyn to not "distract" her with toys on the day that she has to get her cast/have surgery. Because she is going to walk around and walk around, since she won't be able to with the cast on. I wish we could have it over, already. The "anticipation" (to put it positively) is difficult. Quick update: second-opinion-doctor pretty much agreed with the first doctor as to the plan of care. So, we're waiting on the CMT blood test, and if Ruby has CMT, surgery it will be. If not, casting it will be. Results are supposed to be back on the 22nd of December, but I'm hoping and praying for an earlier date. I'm worn out from waiting. =P

Overheard Ruby telling Isaac that she would help him open a container for the ornaments or Christmas lights or something because it was hard for Isaac, and Ruby is older. Oh, being one minute older than Isaac is something that Ruby will NEVER let Isaac forget! =P

Jadelyn drew a yellow-banana-shaped oval and later told me that it was a "banana!" I was impressed. She then pointed to a round green circle that she had drawn and told me it was an "apple". I was getting really impressed. Until she pointed to another green circle and told me it was a "banana!" Rats. =P

Ruby was helping Jadelyn put crayons away when she excitedly said, "Mom, look what we did! We alternated them!" Then, "there,you have alternated crayons, Jadelyn." I love Ruby's organization (except the fact that she hides things all over the house. And sometimes I need those things. And Ruby sometimes forgets where she hid them. =P) and her big-word-usage. =)

Ruby was being the "Mom" for Isaac, and "baby" Isaac just wasn't settling down to sleep like Ruby thought he should. Which prompted this outburst, "I have to stay up late when you keep messing around." Oh, Ruby...you have no idea....=)

I looked out the window last Sunday to see the sweetest thing EVER. Walking from the barn to the house were my three kiddos. Isaac holding Jadelyn's hand, and Ruby holding Jadelyn's other hand. Then, when crazy Hickory would charge at them, Ruby and Isaac would circle around Jadelyn to protect her from having the dog jump on her. Seriously SO SWEET! I love moments like that. Hickory kept pestering them, so I had to go save them. My sweet little heroes! =) Ruby also informed me that while we were at Noah's birthday party, Noah's Daddy was acting like a lion (or Ruby was pretending he was a lion. Or something. I need to not get this far behind in blogging. =P), and Ruby was protecting other kids. Ruby and her no-fear. Except of this surgery/cast/blood-draw business. =P

Ruby had been very excited about Jadelyn's upcoming 1/2 birthday. And she had great plans. To sing "Happy 1/2 birthday to you! Happy 1/2 birthday to you! Happy 1/2 birthday, dear Jadelyn! Happy 1/2 birthday to you!" She forgot that on the actual day, but on the big day we went to Wal-Mart. I had completely forgotten that it was Jadelyn's half birthday. Until Ruby informed the lady behind us in the check-out lane that Jadelyn turned "2 1/2 today!" Ruby, my walking calendar. =) Today, she said, "today is....wait.....don't tell me.....1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11....December 11th!" That girl.

The other day, Ruby came out of her room. Jadelyn was lying on Ruby's new bean bag (for positioning her comfortably when she's casted). Instead of the usual, "Hi, Ruby!" Jadelyn called out, "Hey, sister! I on your Pack 'n Play!" Ruby, of course, quickly informed her that it is NOT a Pack 'n Play, but a beanbag. =P

Jadelyn likes to say "7 clock" when asked when something will happen. If Ruby and Isaac ask her when they can have the toy she is playing with, she will answer, "7 clock", and Ruby and Isaac will then start quickly counting from 1 - 7, inform Jadelyn that it's now 7 o'clock, and then ask for the toy. Well, Jadelyn doesn't always fall for that now. She also answers "7 clock" when asked "why" or maybe even "where" questions. Not helpful to get a response of "7 clock" to those types of questions. Just so you know.

The other day, after Jadelyn screamed (for the millionth and second - or maybe more =P) time in her life, Isaac asked, "why does she always scream?" Ruby piped in, "she's saying, "Mommy, may I have a consequence, please?"" Ha!

Today, I asked Jadelyn what her name was. "Jadelyn", she responded. (Not "Nini! =O) Then, I asked what her middle name was...pause...."Jadelyn", she responded. So I then asked her what her last name was...."hmmmmmm..................Stinky Poo!" Oh, dear. Guess I should be more careful with my nicknames. =O

Tomorrow is Ruby and Isaac's 5th birthday. I simply cannot believe it. 5 just seems so....OLD. =O It was a little sad for me saying goodnight tonight to my 4 year-olds for the last time. How does time pass so quickly?

Grandma...

Today at 12:05pm, my dear Grandma fell asleep in Jesus. Ruby, in particular, has had a lot of questions about this. "Is Grandma still in her bed?" "Are her eyes closed?" "Does she know she's dead?" All questions have been answered to the best of my ability. Ruby gave me a snippet of childlike wisdom (not verbatim, here, 'cause you know, I have memory issues). "Jesus said it was okay for Grandma to die, and that's why she died even though we prayed for her." Yes, even when it's hard, I will trust that Jesus knows what is best. The next thing my Grandma knows, she will be seeing Jesus' face when He comes to call her home. And I'm still incredibly thankful that I was so fortunate and blessed to have that sweet, dear, strong, patient, amazing lady as my Grandma. I love you, Grandma. Thanks for being you.