"But Mommy, Why?"

Ever since Mya turned three she somehow discovered that it is crucial to ask the question, "why?" for everything....and I mean everything! Now the thing about Mya is that the answer that I give her is never good enough. The conversation usually goes like this, "Mommy, why is it snowing?" I say, "Because God made it snow." She says, "Why did God make it snow?" I say, "Because it is cold outside." She says, "Why is it cold outside?" Now this could go on forever, but instead, I end up saying, "I don't know," just to get her to quit asking the question "why?" She seems to be more satisfied with this answer.....or maybe I am more satisfied giving this answer because she has nothing more to say. As a mother, I have extreme guilt for offering up the answer "I don't know" because I am not educating her on anything. I am just trying to get her to be quiet. Well, this has been going on for months and it always happens when we are in the car. Sometimes I get tired of it because she won't accept my answers.

Tonight we were driving to the mall and Mya started with her questions. She asked why there was dirt in the car. I told her that the dirt was from her shoes. She asked why the dirt was from her shoes. I told her that the dirt came from outside. She asked why it came from outside. I told her that the dirt helps flowers grow. She asked why the dirt helps flowers to grow. I said, "I don't know." Then.....my intelligent husband chimed in from the driver's seat and said, "Mya, the dirt provides cellular nutrients that plants need to grow and without it is impossible for the plant to sustain life."....................silence. Mya was totally satisfied with this response and didn't ask anything else. She just sat in silence and was content. Why didn't I think of that answer? Geez!

Merry Christmas!

It is official! I am writing to you from our new laptop. I can't believe it but I am working on a computer that I don't want to throw out the window. Yipee! Dan's parents got us a laptop for christmas and we are so grateful. The picture on the screen is so clear and crisp. I love it! Now hopefully I can keep up with my e-mails and blogs. We had a wonderful christmas and we hope all of you did too!

The Ballet

My sister in law and I took our daughters to see the Nutcracker this evening. The girls were so so excited to go. They were extremely well behaved. They particularly enjoyed the intermission because they could practice dancing like the ballerinas. So cute! And then as Mya put it, "Hey, the movie is starting again!" They made it through the second half just as well. We had so much fun having a girly evening.

My Daughter

Tonight we took the kids to the church because I needed Dan's help moving tables to set up for our MOPS meeting in the morning. When the girls stepped into the garage and looked outside, they saw that it was snowing and that there was snow on the ground. They were so excited. Our usual routine is that Dan puts Mya in the car and I put Sara in the car. So I let Sara look outside and enjoy the snow and then I picked her up and put her in her car seat. Just as I was buckling her in, I heard Dan say, "Julie, you really need to see what YOUR daughter is doing!" I figured she was outside catching snowflakes on her tongue or something fun like that. You see, Mya is the type of child who is very experiential. She needs to experience things with her senses. If it is raining outside, she has to feel it in her hand. She can't not experience something that is interesting to her. Anyway, back to my story....so I looked up to see what Mya was doing and I saw her laying on her back in the driveway making a snow angel. I couldn't believe my eyes and all I could do was laugh. Dan and I just stood there and laughed at her with amazement. It was a neat sight. Mya is the child that would stop to smell the roses when no one else would. She has been talking about making snow angels for months now, and I guess when she saw some snow on the ground she decided it was time to make a real snow angel. There is a lot to learn from Mya. We should never be too busy to experience the cool things in life like making snow angels when it snows outside.

Celebrations

• Tonight we finished our 13 week Dave Ramsey financial class. Yipee! We have learned so much from this class. The best thing that came out of it was the goals that Dan and I have set together. We are really really on the same page and have zero disagreements about how we should spend our money. With an envelope system and financial goals there is nothing to fight about. It has been wonderful for our spiritual and marital life.
  
• Yesterday Dan took me to Columbus for the night. We spent the night at the Hilton at Easton. I went shopping and only spent my allowance money in my envelope. I stayed right on budget and got two shirts that were on sale. It was a successful shopping trip. We had a wonderful dinner, sat in the hot tub, watched movies, and slept in. It was awesome!


• I have decided to grow my hair out very long. I hope that I don't grow it out for years and then decide to cut it off. Hopefully I will like it long.


• Yesterday I ran a race and had a very good time. I averaged 8 1/2 minute miles and ran 6 1/2 miles. Dan, my dad, and the girls followed me in the car for most of the course. It was so fun having people cheer for me.


• My girls are just so so cute!
  

Conversation

Today we were getting ready to leave for Wal-Mart and Sara was throwing a fit. I asked her if she wanted to go to the store and she said, "No." Mya replied by saying, "Well, I guess we will have to leave her here then."