So we have been embracing the joys of nature lately:) and nobody enjoying it more than Eliza Jane. Eliza was completely ecstatic when she found a ladybug. She carefully crafted a loving home full of sticks, twigs, grass, dirt- everything a ladybug could need to happy. She named the little buggie Dotty. We all doted on dotty. She wanted to bring Dotty inside, but I convinced her Dotty would be happier outside in the fresh air, where her family could visit if she got lonely.
Well she stayed happily in her new home for a whole day, and then in the middle of the day I heard a heart wrenching sob. I ran as fast as you can when you only have 2 weeks left of a pregnancy. I saw the tears and the pain, and I looked for bumps, bruises, or blood...nothing.
"SHE'S GONE!!!! DOTTY'S GONE"
SOB SOB SOB
I tried everything to cheer her up, maybe she just visiting her family I consoled to no avail. I had exhausted myself and still more tears (Eliza does not cry gracefully, she shrieks, or wails) everyone was trying to cheer her up, but she could not be consoled. She was determined a bird had eaten Dotty.
Enter Jared...
With more energy than a nuclear power plant, more determination than a 2 year old and more than enough tickles to get the job done, he came in and tackled the sobbing 4 year old.
He launched into a series of doctor questions trying to find out what hurt...tickle here, tickle there, and finally a little giggle (he was on the trail to making her forget about Dotty).
As soon as the giggle was out, the sobs returned. DOTTY'S GONE FOREVER!!!
I sat on the couch worn out watching Jared attempt what the rest of us had given up on.
Trying a new tactic he launched into a story about his tragic history with pets. Starting with his dog Tiger (one of Eliza'a favorite stories from Jared's past)
"Remember Tiger Eliza? My doggie? She RAN AWAY FROM ME!!!"
More tickles, More giggles
"WHY!!! WHY ELIZA!!! Why did Tiger run away!"
"Daddy...it's okay" Eliza comforted
"We looked everywhere, but she was GONE GONE GONE FOREVER!"
Giggle giggle, tickle tickle
Then Jared pulled out the ultimate weapon used on our kids...food. He began spoon feeding her noodles as he told her about his rabbit that he left in the sun, and the rabbit died... so he got a new rabbit... the gold fish...
The food and the tickles and the stories were doing their job beautifully. Her tears dried, she was talking about how to take care of pets and how she was going to catch new bugs and use a special house that keeps bugs safe instead of a kitchen bowl.
Then she looked outside and saw Dotty's empty home, the tears almost surfacing. More noodles, tickles, more talk about how to care for pets.
I knew what I had to do, I hurried outside and removed Dotty's home forever so the pain reminder would not steal the peace of our home any longer.
Finally a happy four year old.
I smiled at Jared "Amazing" I said, and it was, truly amazing
So grateful for a loving Daddy who can charm smiles out of even the most cranky child.
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| Eliza and Daddy working on the sandbox |
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| Boy time, pocket knives and woodcarvings |
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| Branding the trees |
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| Miriam Earhart |
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| Lucy carrot |
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| Playing sand |
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| Lucy |
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| More flying high with Miriam and the homemade airplane |
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| School time |
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| Koala Lou |
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| Daddy's chalk manicure |
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| This one daytime nap cost me staying up till midnight... |
