Random Thoughts for Saturday Morning

Encouraged by Kerri’s recent random thoughts post, I offer a mishmash of things I’ve been thinking about lately:

* Last weekend Jason and I and Clara got to attend the L’Abri Conference in Rochester. A highlight for me was getting to visit Toad Hall (wonderful, warm, inviting home of Margie and Denis Haack). While there, I got to meet Joie and Jake’s new bunny, Jack. He and his mother, Honeysuckle, are both ridiculously cute and notably larger than I imagined. People think I’m exaggerating when I hold out my hands to show how big Honeysuckle is. I don’t think I am.

* I am really enjoying Simon’s developing sense of humor. He’s figuring out more sophisticated forms of humor but also being very much four years old. The other day I mentioned to him that Clara needed a bath. He asked why, and I said that she was getting crusty. He replied, “She’s crustier than a pizza!” I don’t think he necessarily got why that was funny, though, because he proceeded to try other things, each time asking, “Is that funny, Mom?”

As another example, he heard someone say, “Me too!” and the next person say, “Me three!” He thought “Me three” was a hoot. It’s such a common thing that people say that I actually forget that it’s meant to be funny.

* Ian can sing the alphabet song almost intact. He skips a few letters throughout, but the tune is actually recognizable, complete with the “Now I know my ABCs” part at the end. So cute.

* The other morning Simon proudly announced that he can get dressed all by himself. I teased him that he was getting so big and he didn’t really need Mommy anymore. He reminded me that, no, he still can’t read by himself. I told him that he was doing so well with his letters and that pretty soon he would be able to read on his own and asked him what else he would need Mommy for. He replied with all sincerity, “I don’t know. What?” Yes, I guess once he can read, my job will be done.

* This morning I made muffins with a mix that I had made ahead of time. I never want to make muffins any other way. Easy, easy, easy.

* That said, there won’t be too many muffins in my immediate future. Starting Monday, I am committing to a two-week sugar detox with a friend (should I reveal your identity?). I keep reading about how bad sugar is for you and I look at my own sugar-eating habits, and, well, something needs to be done.

* Coming up in March, I’ll (we’ll) be participating in Project: Simplify 2012. We did this last year and made great progress but never did quite get done with banishing the paper clutter. I get excited just thinking about it. I do love decluttering. And in April, we are going to try to do the same as we did last April—a month of bringing nothing into the house except that which will be consumed.

* I’ve really been enjoying the MAPP Gathering interviews. They are focused on motherhood and finding a sense of self and are fitting nicely with some thoughts that have been emerging as I am coming out of the fog of pregnancy and the first couple of months of having a newborn. I imagine I’ll be writing one of these days about some of the thoughts that have been swirling around lately, but this is not that day.

* I am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest and Downton Abbey, but I suppose that goes without saying. I mean, who isn’t?