Third Weekend in May, 2006

Cousins and Other Relatives:


• Baby E, Baby GE (Baby G's middle name is the same as Baby E's first name) and Baby JL adore each other. Baby J (9 weeks) looks on while Baby E (9 months) and Baby G (5 months) pat each other's heads, grab each others' hands, poke each other in the eye, kiss each other and try to wrest toys away from each other.
  
  My camera batteries should be recharged by morning, so I'll try to get some shots so I can share the overwhelming cuteness of it all.



• AJ and MM are having a blast with their cousin JC, who is close to their age (slightly younger). SIL The Artist (JC's, William's, and GE's mom) taught them how to play Trouble. I was amazed at how well they did with what seemed to me a rather complicated board game. I was also impressed at nephew JC's ability to quote the entore 23rd Psalm.



• AJ has been constantly telling us all at regular intervals that "Everybody makes mistakes sometimes."



• AJ has also become quite the arbitrator. When several kids got into an argument about trains earlier this week, she was the one who said, "I know! Let's pile all the trains in the middle and take turns picking until they're all picked. That way we'll all have the same."



• MM insists she can't read. But if I pretend I can't figure out a word when we're reading a book, she'll read it to me.



• We're having a good time with our family (although disappointed one of the planned guests couldn't come this weekend--I'll have to blog a story about him to get him back for not coming :) ).
  
  SIL The Artist and I stayed home with 5 of the kids while the rest went to Worship Leader Nephew's college graduation. When they all got back we played Settlers of Catan, which we just finished around 1 a.m. (and which I lost miserably).
  
  It's so funny how different people approach games. JL's parents try to be so "nice" when they play--even creating a rule that you don't HAVE to steal when you land on a 7. (People familiar with the game will understand this subtlety--online version here, but don't say I didn't warn you if you get addicted to it--because you will get hooked if you play it a few times.) I'm a cutthroat player with no mercy in my strategy, but I don't mind losing. I guess I don't get my feelings involved too much.