Icky Update

Ichabod has settled in and thinks he's boss of the house. He lets us know what he wants to do, when he wants to do it, who he wants with him and how long he wants to be entertained. He's also an extreme cuddler. He likes to run wild, try to eat the birds, stare at the gerbil, jump after the laser light and generally act like a crazy kitten but once he's settled down, he wants to be with his people. He loves JP and seems to prefer to sleep overnight downstairs with him but during the evening, when we are just relaxing, he likes to crawl up and sleep next to me...usually right on my heart. He also has no sense of privacy. If you leave the bathroom door open, he'll come right in, push the shower curtain aside and poke his head through the opening so he can make sure he's not missing out on anything. He's a funny little boy but we completely love him. 

A Well-Loved Book

Little Ears, Little Eyes

So, I played with my babies again this Sunday. They are the best medicine on the planet. I get hugs and kisses to my heart's content. Baby Girl is a chatterbox. She talks non-stop. She will repeat anything you say or do. Little Boy isn't talking as much yet but you can see him processing everything and he understands a lot of what is being said. He was full of energy, dancing and talking and walking and wanting to read. My camera is broken so I can't use it for pictures which leaves me with my phone. It is slow in clicking so by the time it takes a picture, Bubba has moved on. I don't have any good ones of him from my day with them. As is her custom, Baby Girl likes to wear Tee's stuff when I'm there. She has me roll up the sleeves, then walks around the house in my flip-flops, grinning the whole time. It reminds me that there are little eyes and little ears who are paying attention to everything I do. Right now, they want to be just like me (or their Mama and Daddy). What an honor - but what a responsibility...to have the attention and high regard of a child. I pray God helps me live a life that points my babies to Him.

Ichabod Ollivander of Sleepy Hollow

We have a new addition to our family. Last Friday, JP adopted a black kitty. The Humane Society was giving them away free. He has his shots, is neutered and already litter-trained. He is 4 months old, very long and very skinny. He's boy through and through...mischievous, into everything, full of energy, a little disobedient and endless curiosity. He's also a cuddler. After he wears himself out, he wants to curl up with his people. JP is his favorite, but I'm a close 2nd. He is either cat-napping on our laps or very nearby on the couch or chair. He has a motor that can be heard across town and I LOVE him. I can't believe it. I don't know what is happening to me. First Toby, now Ichabod. A dog and a cat have taken up residence in my heart. And let's not forget Sadie and Daisy. Anyway, since Icky is a black cat, adopted on Friday the 13th, we gave him a Halloween name. It fits him well with his orange eyes and slinking about. Here he is:

And just so he knows he's still the first little black boy in my life...

My Toby with his bunny and ball

Ice-Cream and No-Bakes

To get the kids excited about science we did an edible lab last week. We made ice cream in a ziploc bag and they were able to eat their sweet results after only five minutes. It was a hit and they left my room a happy group of teens. Always a nice way to head into the weekend. For math, we made no-bakes and the kids had to adjust an over-size recipe to a more manageable one. They practiced fractions and quantities. We refrigerated the cookies and are eating them today.

MomMA's Shish Kabobs