Kendall's pic

Last Saturday, Stacie and I had the great pleasure of taking the family to Olan Mills studio for some portraits. Since Chaim and Caden were born 2 years ago, all previous attempts at anything called a family photo has ended in utter failure. Sure we ended up with photos, but generally there is a nose-picker, screamer or wiggler. So, when Stacie informed me of our appointment I was cognitively in agreement with the plan (it had been a while since we tried), but really I was dreading the photo shoot. Getting all three of our boys dressed, and actually looking at the camera would take time, patience, and a miracle.
When we arrive, it is apparent that something is amiss. One worker was operating at a frantic pace. The other one was walking around talking on the phone. Apparently, one of the other studios in town was having problems. When she completed her phone call she slowly began to help us. She finally got us set up to take our picture and I’m thinking, “okay, any minute the boys are going crazy!! Please take the picture quickly while everyone is relatively calm.” Finally, everything is set and, thankfully, the other worker takes over. She’s great with kids and less than 5 minutes later, we have our portrait. I’m thoroughly amazed.
Here’s where the funny part starts. We decide to push our luck a little further. We take individual pics of the boys. Chaim and Caden – perfect! They’re so cute. Caleb’s turn. We try everything. Throw the animals at him. Tell jokes. Tickle him. “say, cheese!” Nothing is working, when out of nowhere, Stacie says, “say, Kendall.” Caleb is suddenly seized with joy and his whole countenance says, “I’m happy.” The photographer quickly snaps the picture. Confused, I ask Stacie, “who’s Kendall?” She says, “his little friend at school.” I astutely recognize that this is not a boys name, and this moment is ruined for me. This picture will be a treasure for years to come. It was perfect. Caleb’s angelic little face with his perfect little grin. All I will ever be able to think when I see the picture is, “Wait a minute. Caleb’s way too young for this!!”

kid stories

“is that jesus?”
For a few months, Caleb has been asking about Jesus. Cute questions, mostly in response to our instructions. “Jesus doesn’t like that, Caleb.” “Jesus wants us to do this, Caleb.” “Jesus loves the little children…” “Jesus will be with you” as we calm him down about turning off the lights at night.
One night, during prayer (‘let’s talk to Jesus, Caleb’) before bed, Caleb asked Stacie, “Where is Jesus, Mommy?”
“Jesus is in Heaven, Caleb.”
“Where is Heaven?
“In the sky,” she said.
Caleb thought for a moment and said, “Can I see Him?”
She confidently replies, “Your Daddy will show you the sky some time.”

Later, while praying (talking to Jesus) before bed, Caleb whispers to me, “Daddy.”
“Yes, Caleb.”
“I don’t hear Him.”
“Well, you have to practice hearing Him, Caleb,” I say.
He pauses and after I begin praying again, “Daddy,” he says.
“Yes, Caleb.”
“I still don’t hear Him.”

So, last Saturday, we were in the backyard a playing. I don’t remember exactly what, but he could tell you. He was instructing me as to exactly what I was to do when the community outdoor warning system test, which happens every Saturday at noon, commenced. “THIS IS A TEST OF THE OUTDOOR WEATHER ALERT SYSTEM…”
Caleb froze, just his eyes darting back and forth, apparently thinking very quickly. He leans in, and very intently, quietly says, “Is that Jesus?”

bathroom fun
Caleb got his first note home from school yesterday. Apparently, the rule is that only one child may go to the restroom at a time, but Caleb and his friend got in unnoticed. When they emerged, the friend had somehow been liberally splattered with Caleb’s pee-pee. He came home with a yellow sticker a note home.

“you bye-bye”
This was about a year, maybe a year and a half ago.
We’ve been working with Caleb to say “please” & “thank you”. He’s got the idea, we’re just struggling with remembering to use them at the right time.

Caleb was at home with Mary Miles one day while Mommy was out. I decided to check on them, during lunch, so I walked home and came in for lunch. Everything was fine and wonderful as Mary Miles is excellent with the boys and they just love her. So, I ate some lunch and started to leave. Caleb had seen me put my shoes on, grab my keys. He had given me my hug good-bye. Caleb saw that I had eaten some chips. Just as I reached for the door handle, He walked up to Miss Mary and demanded with hands on hips, “Chips.” As I continued out the door, I gently reminded him, “say please, Caleb.”
He looked back at me, then back at Miss Mary. With his stubborn look that he MUST get from his mother, he adamantly demanded, “Chips.”
This turns me around in my tracks. “Caleb…”
Defiantly turning to me, “You, bye-bye.” Looking back at Miss Mary, “Chips.”
He gives me that look he obviously got from his mother.

This earned one of our ‘special’ private conversations in his bedroom.

hats
Chaim enjoys getting ready to go to St. Paul’s United Methodist’s Mom’s Morning Out a few days each week. Lately, he won’t leave the house without a hat. He always chooses his own. He allows us to brush his hair, but the hat must be promptly replaced. 4 days ago was the Pooh baseball cap. 3 days ago was fireman hat day. Yesterday he tried to get out of the house with Caleb’s Mickey hat. Caleb let him know that was a no-go. He found a different Mickey ball cap. Today was cowboy hat day. I must say that I, Stacie and his teachers have been eagerly expecting his next choice each morning. His teacher told Stacie that all the other teachers know Chaim and check in to see what hat adorning his beautiful head on that particular day.

“i’m sorry, tete. i’m sorry.”
About a year ago.
The family and Trey are out to dinner at a crowded steakhouse. To keep Caleb occupied, we gave him a pen and a napkin and let him draw and write. He’s really smart and a very good boy, however, somehow he got confused. Instead of writing on the napkin he decided to write on Trey. After a few requests from Trey to stop, I asked Caleb to firmly to quit. He did it again, and I told him to stop and tell Trey he was sorry. Caleb stubbornly refused. I told him to apologize or we would have to ‘take a trip to the bathroom.’ He continued to refuse.
I picked him up and carried him towards the bathroom (the opposite end of the restaurant). Immediately and all the way to the bathroom, Caleb yells at the top of his lungs, “I’m sorry, Tete, I’m sorry…”