This is an easy way to display your child's artwork.

Tie string from one end of a curtain rod to another.

Use clothes pins to attach your child's artwork to the string.

Capturing a thought
And hoping to display it in words
Is like capturing a sea gull
And hoping to show its velvet flight
By stuffing it- wings outstretched
And hanging it in a window
By a thread.

-EB White's thoughts on writing. His words make me feel better about the times I fuss over a blog post in a futile attempt to get the words just right.

Of her own volition, Norah has been downsizing her tents
in order to share them with her favorite indoor camping partner.

Norah's Charlotte

This tiny spider spun its web inside our back door. I saw it every time I went downstairs to do laundry and whatnot, but it took me a while to get around to doing anything about it.

In the meantime, Norah was keeping tabs on the little spider, diligently, first out of fear and suspicion. But, that quickly turned to interest and fascination, which eventually morphed into concern and affection. She actually got attached to the little lady, so attached in fact, that when I finally did get around to cleaning off the web and smashing the spider, Norah launched into hysterics screaming, "You can't kill my Charlotte!"

Well, that was just precious to me. And, you may call me crazy for doing so, but I decided to let her have her way. We don't really use the back door anyway, I reasoned with myself. That was why the spider was there long enough to weave its way, no pun intended, into Norah affections in the first place. I also knew, sentimental as she was about this eight-legged buddy, Norah was still fearful enough of spiders not to get close enough to actually touch it. So, I figured there was little chance in her being bitten or anything like that.

So, for the next few weeks, I let her "keep it." Norah would sit on the foot of the stairs right in front of the door and watch her spider. She'd talk to it lovingly when she thought I wasn't around. She'd shout its current status up to me.

"She's caught another spider in her web!"

Several minutes pass.

"I think she's eating it!"

A week or two ago, she told me she thought her spider had made an egg sack. I was doing dishes at the time and said something like, "Oh, that's nice." But, didn't go investigate.

A few days ago, however, she ran upstairs saying the eggs had hatched, the eggs had hatched... and the baby spiders were "Everywhere!" Well, with that, I figured it was about time that I check things out. I was beginning to doubt myself for indulging Norah as long as I did.

"What was I thinking letting her keep a spider as a pet?!"

Turns out, Norah was right. The little devils had hatched and were getting ready crawl all over our basement. In the nick of time, I convinced Dwayne to put down the can of Raid and get a cup to remove them mercifully, so Norah wouldn't be traumatized. He rolled his eyes and agreed to take them outside and let them "go free."

Oh, the things we do, the things we avoid doing, the kinds of things we thought we'd never agree to, when we are parents.

My husband wrote today's post:


I have so many fond memories as a child playing Kings in the Corner at Grandmom Gerda's house. It was a highlight of our vacations to Florida. We played with a normal deck, on just a table, and scoring was based on how many cards you had in your hand.

Now that Norah is of age, we have started playing this version of Kings in the Corner. It has cool chips and a stand in the middle to hold the different cards. I think that it says something of the generation gap where we now need devices to facilitate proper play, and so forth, but that's not the main point.

The main point is that children love to play games with people they love. I did, and it was pretty fantastic. Norah does, and I think its wonderful. Generation gaps change a lot of things, but the real foundational truths don't change with the fads.

Jumpseed

#41 out of 100

The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard
that food came out his nose.

~Garrison Keillor

When Avril laughed for the first time, it was at Norah.

And, I'll never forget the look in Norah's eyes. It was like a child in a story book who finds out their beloved Teddy is a real bear. At that moment, Norah was given permission to believe in magic.

Now my oldest is intoxicated by the power she has over her little sister. Of her own volition, she makes herself a clown to entertain Avril. "Baby... Baby. Look!" But, she doesn't need to say that, since "Baby" is usually already staring at her, eyes following everywhere she goes, absolutely transfixed.


Norah's adding new tricks to her bag everyday. She's taken to yelling "Boo!" out of nowhere, realizing that if she waits long enough, she makes the baby, not to mention me, think she isn't going to do it anymore. Norah does it so fast. Her sister and I both jump sky high, since we're off our guard. That's when Norah peals over in laughter and after a sort delay, Avril gets the joke, realizing there is nothing to be scared after all and she smiles.

And, as much as I like that they play together, when Norah is doing something childish to get a rise out of Avril, I can't help but warn her to "Be careful." Norah's response is always the same.

"Mom. It's okay. Pleeease don't worry. She likes it! See!"

And, it is always so.

Avril never fails to grin from ear to ear and gush and bring her fist up to her mouth. But, that's usually when Norah strikes again, "Boo!" since that's when Avril and I least expect it.