Friday Funnies

M: Okay kiddos, lunch is ready.

A: It is?

M: Yup.

A: Ohhhhhhhhhhh, Momma. You're a hero!

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Mimi gives Asher a handful of m&m's.

A: I know you love me, Mimi.

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A man at the grocery store asked McKlayne her name.  

Me: Her name's McKlayne.

McKlayne: No, I'm Princess Klayne

Bringing Up Boys

A first happened in my kitchen tonight.

After a rough week of potty training (more on that later)and being locked up in the house all week, Char and Asher went to pick up dinner. And this is the conversation that these two had on the way:

C:  Hey, buddy, do you know where we're going?

A: Yeah. Chick-fil-a. {grumpily}

C:  Aren't you so excited to eat Chick-fil-a?

A: No. I don't want to eat Chick-fil-a.

C: WHAT?! It's your favorite...what if tonight you just eat poop? (see where the conversation goes when I'm not around?)

A: WHAT!?!?!

C: Or what if you just eat worms?

A: Yeah. I want to eat worms.

The rest of the car ride home, he talked about how he wanted to eat worms. As soon as he bounded through the door, he announced that he was eating worms instead of chicken tonight.

Char went out to dig up a worm from our compost pile as I pleaded with Asher about how disgusting it would be and how it would make him gag and throw up.*

My protesting did not phase him.  If anything it only fueled the insanity.

And...so like any good mother would, I pulled out the Flip so that I could record the silly escapade as he chickened out:



I will no longer be accepting compliments from Asher when he tells me, "You're a really good cook, Momma."

(Now, go back to 14 seconds into the video and look at how disappointed Asher's face is when Charlie didn't put the worm directly into his mouth.)

*Charlie has convinced me that he cannot get a tapeworm from eating an earthworm.  Only time will tell.

Friday Funnies

If you've had a week like us (it's potty training week in the Apel home) then you're definitely due for a little humor:

Charlie was grilling in the backyard.

M: Asher, will you take this plate to Daddy?  Ask him if this will work for the chicken or if he needs the cutting board.

Asher opens the back door and holds out the plate.

A: Daddy, will this work for the chicken? Or do you need a diving board? Oh,I mean...do you need a diving board for the chicken? Oh. Whoops. Here we go again. Will this plate work or do you need a cutting board?

I love that precious boy.  I don't want him to ever stop mixing up words....little cutie.

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Asher was typing a bunch of keys on my cellphone:

M: Don't you be calling anyone, Mister.

A: I'm not.  I'm just texting.

M: You're what?

A: Just texting.

M: Who are you texting?

A: I just texted Daddy.

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I was carrying McKlayne out of church on Sunday morning and felt her diaper.  (Charlie had gotten her dressed that morning and it was a new dress.)

M: Hey, honey, where are her bloomers?

C: I don't know. I didn't see them.

M: Oh.  Nevermind.  Here they are:

Friday Funnies

 Meet Ryan Price. (Formerly known as "Ry-Ry" to Asher. He recently graduated to calling him "Ryan Price"-most always with his first and last name together.) If Asher were to have one, Ryan would definitely be on his "Top 10 Favorite People" list. Partly because he's an incredibly gifted piano player. And if you know our Asherboy, you know how dear music is to his soul.

Ryan plays the keyboard at our church, New Life.  We've known and loved Ryan for a long time...way back before we were even married he was in our Hope Group as a silly, but thought-provoking college guy.  It's been neat to see how much Ryan has matured (in most areas) and how he loves the Lord with all that he is.

Ryan and his adorable wife Sara have become good friends of ours.  Here they are at Asher's circus birthday party.  (I will post about this soon.)  They kindly obliged to take all the pics for our photo booth.

They are also the ones who took our awesome family pictures when we were originally starting the adoption process (I don't think I've mentioned that yet here on the blog.) The Prices LOVE adoption. (If you're adopting, go check out Ryan's "Photos to Adopt" post here.)   In the last couple months, our plans have changed a bit, as we believe that God is calling us to go the foster (with the intention to adopt) route.  Ryan and Sara are also taking foster training with us right now.  (We should all be certified in June! Woohoo!)

Anyway...sorry....I got side tracked from the Friday Funnies with my long introduction.  Now that you know Ryan and Sara...

A few weeks ago, I was busy cleaning the house while Asher was making "music" back in his room. Since the Hendrick's gave us Hayden's old (complete!) drumset there has been a bunch of music-making going on in the Apel home.  I walked back to his room to return some lost toys, when he was pounding on the keyboard.  He proudly said, "Look, Momma, I'm being Ryan Price."  and this is what I saw:

Friday Funnies: Nursing Home Edition

We've been visiting a nursing home with a few friends and their young children for a couple months.  

Our first visit upon arriving at the nursing home each week is to "the lady in the blue chair".  We follow the same routine each time with Ms. Alma.  As soon as we walk in, we see Ms. Alma in her blue chair, she greets us and Asher runs up to give her a hug.  She lovingly slaps his cheeks so hard with excitement.  (I wish I could have recorded the expression on Asher's face the first time we went to visit this sweet lady. Asher's "What on earth on you doing to me, lady?" look slowly turned into a sweet little sheepish grin as she told him "what a pretty little girl" he was.)

Lately, Asher's gotten so bold as to correct her by saying, "Hey, Lady! I am NOT a girl! I am a BOY!!"  But, sweet Ms. (Hard-of-Hearing) Alma just replies with more hard slaps and, "Yeah, you sure are! Pretty girl!!" 


Same.Routine.Every.Time. (But, Asher hasn't quite figured out that she can't hear his desperate rebuttal.)

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I try to "prep" the kids before each visit.  Any time "nursing home" is mentioned Asher immediately says something about "the lady in the blue chair".  I tried to capture the scripted conversation that goes on between us each time we talk about visiting the nursing home, but for some reason it's just not the same when the camera is rolling.  Maybe I am a little irritating with all my prompting? :

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Ms. Alma's not the only one who thinks Asher looks girly.  Megan and I were chatting with some ladies while painting their nails.  We were pointing out which kids belonged to whom, when Ms. Mildred cut me off, "Did you say that was your son?  Well, you listen to me--don't you go letting him be a sissy!!" 


I politely tried to reassure her that he was ALL boy but she continued, "Well he may run around and act like a boy, but he looks like a sissy!  The first impression paints a good picture, so don't let him look like one!"  


How do you argue with that?  (Luckily for Ms. Mildred, Megan was painting her nails.)  And sweet Ms. Helen kindly cut in and said, "Well, he sure is pretty enough to be a girl, anyway..."

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While visiting Ms. Leona, (who gave us permission to come visit her for "just a little while,") Melissa and I were gushing over how great she looked for being 97 years old.  Asher quickly took notice and wanting to be included in praising her himself, walked up and said, "Wow, you have a really great imagination!!!"

After a few minutes of conversation we sensed that it was time to move on, so we started saying our goodbyes.  When it was Asher's turn he leaned in to give Ms. Leona a tight embrace around the neck and unintentionally sent him and Ms. Leona flying across the room in her wheelchair.*  After that, it was, indeed, time to make our exit.

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We made our next visit to Ms. Cleo.  (She is definitely one of the kids' favorite residents for her constant "I love you, I love you, I love you's", her willingness to go outside and feed the ducks with them, her continuous hand squeezes and her love for singing songs, especially Old MacDonald. Oh, and McKlayne likes her for her 'pretty necklace(s)'.)  


Last week, Asher picked up her aged hand and brought it right up to his eyes, "Whoa! Those things are WRINK--LE--YYYYY!!!"  Sweet Ms. Cleo just responded with "I love you, I love you, I love you."

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Bloopers:

(Ashley, what is up with the "dirty" kisses?)

*Disclaimer: No elderly were injured in the makings of this Friday Funnies.

What's a Mother to do?

When....

her thoughtful three year old proudly presents a carefully crafted beaded necklace just for his "Momma to wear"?

She wears it, of course.

Then...when packing up to head to Kroger the three year old says, "Momma, where is your necklace I made you?  Will you PLEASE wear it to Kroger?"

The mother (vainly) hesitates and squirms a bit...then see this face:

"All the mans and ladies will like it.  Especially William," (William is the produce guy.) the three year old assures his mother.

The mother gets many double takes from other ladies and "I feel sorry for you" gazes from college girls at the grocery store.  But, as the proud three year old marches right up to William to show off his mother's new necklace, this mother is even prouder.  "I made this necklace for my Momma.  Doesn't she look beautiful?"

I love you sweet, Asherboy.  Thank you for my beautiful necklace.  It perfectly accessorized my pink cardigan, how did you know?

Happy Golden Birthday, my Charlie!!

As I am praising the Lord for creating you 29 years ago, I am thankful for the many moments that you've invested in the three little lives that live in this home.  


Going along with the all things 29 on this golden day, here are 29 things (in no particular order) that we adore and are for thankful for about you:

#29 Moments like yesterday--when after several weeks of "doing nothing" but holding a sick baby, you tell me, "That's the most important thing you could be doing right now...I don't care that the cleaning has been neglected....you are doing exactly what I want you to be doing."  God continues to show me his goodness and grace through you, Char.  When I fail or think I am such a failure, you remind me of how loved I am--despite my faults.

#28 Moments of tireless sword fighting, chasing children in circles around the trampoline, and playing with little boys the way that only you are able.

#27 Moments that you lead this family to walk in faith through prayer as we ask the Lord for direction over what goals and priorities we should be living for.

#26 Moments that you lavish us with affection--from holding a child on your lap to rubbing your feet all over mine under the covers.

#25 Frequent moments that you tell your girls how precious and pretty we are to you.

#24 Moments of peace that you allow me each evening after dinner, as you give the kids their bath while I clean up the kitchen.  I notice just how thankful I am for these on the nights that you're absent. 

#23 Moments when you build forts...yours are always way better than mine...period.  Maybe that' why I don't have any pictures of your masterpieces. (Sorry you know how competitive I am.)

#22 Precious moments spent singing our princess "her song" before bedtime.

#21 Romantic, detailed moments of planning and preparation for at home dates or sweet surprises. I'm glad that you are the romantic for where I am weak, you are so gifted.

#20 Moments spent each evening following rigid nightly routines of flying children to bed, performing puppet shows and Rubber Ducky impersonations--so many things that only Daddy can do just right!

#19 Unforgettable moments that you spent last summer teaching Asher to swim...you're an expert swim coach.


#18 Selfless moments each morning when you retrieve McKlayne for her early feeding.

#17 Again, the selfless moments that you spend reading Asher & McKlayne books that I have deemed "Daddy books".

#16 Moments that you dish me (and all of our female friends) out "not too much" Blue Bell.  (Yes, this made the list...it is that important to me....and you do it perfectly--every time!) No picture needed...you know what I'm talking about.

#15 Moments when Asher's whole face lights up because you tell him how proud you are of him.

#14 Moments that you allow us to be included in your work because we love any moment that we can get with you....even though it usually takes longer than it would if you were working alone.

#13  Imaginative moments where you inspire creative play...and the fruit of those moments...sometimes I can't believe the stuff that comes out of Asher's mouth.

#12 Relaxing moments that we spend each Tuesday night watching our shows.  How I look forward to this every week!

#11 Faithful moments that you spend as my steadfast running partner...though, I'm not always thankful for that in the moment.

#10 Silly moments that you let me talk you into something absoultely ridiculous and you still participate with all your heart.

#9 Moments that you give me a break and cook up one of your specialties...love these...even if it is just scrambled eggs.

#8 Moments that you teach us-be it letters, the meanings of words, or the truth from God's Word.

                        

#7  Moments upon moments spent working hard to make this house perfect for us.

                        

#6 Moments when I am so exhausted from a day with the kids that you jump in enthusiastically to take over.

#5 Moments when you save the day (you always seem to know which days need saving) with my beloved lime water.

#4  Rebellious moments when you abandon the schedule and all the rules.

#3 Late moments in bed spent pillow-talking that go on and on...even after one of us has declared that it's "time to go to bed."  These are some of my favorite moments with you, my kindred spirit.

#2 Moments of discipleship that never really end because we're watching (and mimicking) every little thing you do.

#1 And all the moments that we try to give you some peace...

but come back for more.... 

because we just can't get enough moments full of you.

We love you.  Happy Golden Birthday, Charlie!