Milo and Otis

Megan's favorite movie, hands down.

May Day

Baby Chicks

Victoria and Calvin had lots of things to show Megan when she spent the morning with the Hilgendorfs. One of their favorites had to be the "new" baby chicks. Victoria's gotten quite good at catching them so the little kids can pet them, too. Megan felt the need to pronounce them "soft!" every time she touched one. They were.

"Shhhh!"

Megan's been sitting in church with us during the songs and announcement time. We're trying to teach her how to be quiet at the appropriate places so that she can join us for the entire service. Some of our instructions must be making sense to her. At home when we talk about church, she nods her head knowingly and says, "Go to church. Quiet in church."

Last Sunday, she was sitting between the two of us. We were all a tad bit scrunched. She sat straight and tall with her back against the back of the pew. Her legs were not quite long enough to get past the edge of the bench, so her feet stuck straight up to show off her bright pink rain boots. She peered out from under her bangs very seriously. I wish I'd had a way to take a picture of the scene unobtrusively. She looked so cute that I had to lean over and tell her, "I love you." She tore her concentrated gaze away from the back of someone's head long enough to wrinkle her nose and say, "Shhhh!"

I was so properly chastised that I almost laughed out loud.

The Beginning of Why

Megan asked what may have been her first 'why' question a few weeks ago. We were all in the car on the way home from Bible study at the Letelliers, and she had plenty of time and opportunity to notice the darkness outside. She may not have even meant to ask why it was no longer light, but I answered anyway. I explained all about the rotation of the earth in relation to the sun, and Curt chimed in to make sure we knew this view was heliocentric. Megan thought our responses were funny enough to ask the same question repeatedly. (Curt finally turned on the kiddie music.) During the next couple of weeks, we went through the exact same dialogue so many times that she eventually memorized her part. It sounds something like this.

Megan: "Why's it dark, Mommy?"
Sarah: "Why is it dark, Megan?"
Megan: "Da earth."
Sarah: "The earth does what, Megan?"
Megan: "Turns awound fom da sun."
Sarah: "That's right, Megan!"
Megan: giggles
Sarah: "Who thought of that, Megan?"
Megan: "Copp-ern-i-cus!"
Sarah: "That's right, too, Megan!"
Megan: "Good job, Megan!"
Curt: "Say heliocentric, Megan."
Megan: "Good job, Dad. Dat's wight!"


*****

You really had to be there. (Don't you hate it when people say that? sigh :)

Easter

Church on Easter morning was a good reminder of the price Jesus Christ paid to give us the gift of salvation and the necessity of His sacrifice. Our pastor preached from the passage in Luke about Jesus' conversation with the travelers on the road to Emmaeus. What an incredible God!

Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!

*****

We have several late spring/early summer traveling plans in the works already. So, going to either "home" for Easter did not seem practical this year. Instead, we were invited to join our friends, the Clippertons, for their family celebration Easter evening.

We drove to St. James for supper and had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Clipperton's mother and aunt when we arrived. Alan, Angela, Lydia, and Ezra were there, too. Megan and Lydia got to play together, and the rest of us enjoyed wonderful food and conversation. Aside from seeing our own families, I can't think of any other way I would rather have spent the day. Thanks, again, Clippertons!

_Th-ee Wishes_

Megan has started "reading" to herself more readily. Her bookshelves are stuffed with favorites. Listening to her repeat the highlights of any particular story (even when she's reading upside-down) always makes me smile.

In this picture, she's reading the story of The Three Wishes. (But she's still working on pronouncing her r's.)

Middle C

Megan and I were banging on the piano one morning when I decided to show her how to find middle C. She thought looking for three black keys and then two black keys was loads of fun. Eventually, I left to do other things. Megan continued to pound away for a bit. Soon she got quiet and turned around to find me. She put on her saddest face and said, "Mommy, I lossd it."

Icey Pops

Megan was unreasonably fond of this winter's icicle crop. Curt obliged her eclectic taste buds by bringing the coveted treats inside with him when he got home from work. Some days, the frozen water turned out to be taller than the girl who tried to eat it.

Jezowskis Visit

Josh, Emily, and Davey Jezowski joined us for an extended weekend mid-February. We thoroughly enjoyed their company and conversation (as usual). Megan and Davey played well together, and that made both sets of parents glad. We hope to return the favor sometime in the not-horrendously-distant-future.

Stan turns 60.

We attended Stan Friesen's 60th birthday party on February 15. Gladys surprised him with a room full of family and friends on his big day. After a delicious meal at the Hi-Lo Club several people told stories about Stan. Most of them made everyone laugh. Gladys thought ahead and brought a digital recording device, so he can go back and hear those nice things again and again. We count Stan and Gladys among our good friends even though we've known them a relatively short time. We felt honored to be included in the festivities. Thanks, Gladys!

Hannah Okerman

I got to go to a baby shower for my friend, Joy Okerman. She and her husband, Andy, recently welcomed their fourth child, Hannah Joy, into the world. Cute, cute, cute.

Princess Megan

Megan made a Princess crown in her CBS class. It's made of paper, tape, markers, and stickers. And it's falling apart already. But Megan seems quite attached to it. She asks sometimes for "Pin-cess Megan." Wearing her crown makes her look quite regal.

January Photo Shoot

Megan and I went on an adventure upstairs for a photo shoot. Some of my favorite poses turned out a little fuzzy. Perhaps next time. :)

Megan goes sledding.

Megan's first sledding experience did not turn out to be a smashing success. She did not seem to mind it terribly. In fact, she liked the snow part. But the light sled kept tipping her into the dense snow as Daddy tried to haul her around our house. The second time we got enough snow to play in, Curt dragged both of us around in a bigger sled. My presence as ballast kept us from tipping, so Curt could go much faster. We kept going till Curt got tired of doing all the work. Megan ate some snow and attempted to mimic my snow angel. It did not turn out quite right, but it was cute, anyway.

January 2007

"Cool Shades, Babe"

We did not get enough snow to blind, but Megan just figured out how to keep her sunglasses on. Sortof. She tilts her head back and holds the sides tightly to her ears. Outside, the glasses don't stay on long enough to keep sun out of her eyes, but she sure looks schnazzy!

NE Christmas, Part III

Saturday and Tuesday turned into music days. The guys moved a piano from the parsonage into the church building so Kim and Judy could play duets on Sunday. Several others who had talent took advantage of the side-by-side pianos. Those who had other talents practiced special music selections for the Christmas program on Sunday. I practiced my listening part.

NE Christmas, Part II

I really enjoyed giving my gift this year. I got Kim's name for the family exchange, and I had fun picking up little stuff here and there throughout the year to add to her pile of presents. I contacted some of her friends and family and asked for them to write letters to Kim telling her what she means to them and remembering good times. I thought she would open the book, see what was inside, and go through it on her own later. Instead, those of us who had written and were there took turns reading our letters to her out loud. Dad Gwin read the letters from people who were not present.

I think she liked it. :)

NE Christmas

Megan really enjoyed spending time with the Gwin side of her family at Christmas. We arrived after supper on Thursday evening (Dec. 21) and got to stay through Tuesday afternoon (Kim's b-day, Dec. 26).

"Oh, Honey"

I found Megan in the middle of our room nonchalantly attempting to chug a two pound bottle of honey. Thankfully, it did not start out full. Great stickiness abounded.

Megan took an unexpected bath. I was reminded yet again to put food stuffs higher than I thought she could possibly reach.

When did her arms get that long, anyway?