The Wunchie and the Whopper!

We're friends, of course -- what else would we be?

2010-01-23T23:23:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things about Miranda is her warm, convivial nature. Upon meeting someone new, particularly another child, she quickly begins referring to them as her “friend.” “Where’s my friend?” she asks. “Where’s my new friend? And what’s her name?” For her, friendship isn’t bound up in long acquaintances or even name recognition; it often stems from nothing more involved that the mere presence and personhood of the other child. Granted, she gets in your average number of spats with her friends both old and new, but her standard position is one of welcome.

There is something hopeful in this approach to life. In our community we often ask, “What is our reflex? What attitudes and postures are we attempting to cultivate?” If our initial thought about someone is “friend”, our interactions with them will have a fundamentally different tone than if we view them as “foe” or even as a neutral “unknown.” If we normatively grant others the privileged status of one who is included, the very trajectory of our interactions will be realigned.

This point was brought home to me a few months ago, when I was nearly cut off by a minivan as I drove through downtown. As it moved into my lane, I braked and angrily laid on the horn, thinking ugly thoughts about the driver. When the van slowed to let me pass, I saw that the driver was actually a friend of mine from a playgroup. Immediately, my attitude became more understanding and generous; I began to think, “Oh, she’s probably talking to her girls; it’s so difficult driving with kids.” Our positive relationship made a fundamental difference in how I perceived her and her actions, how I responded to her accidental violation of my space. But had she been a stranger, I doubt I would have been as forgiving. This is where I should learn from my daughter.

How can we cultivate this generosity and openness to others? How do we reset our default settings so that the other is spontaneously viewed as friend instead of foe? And how might our lives be different if we succeeded?

My heart belongs to you

2009-11-09T13:48:00.002-05:00

Miranda spontaneously made a heart on the floor last week with some orange ribbon. That's a pretty good job!

Learning her letters

2009-11-03T16:01:00.005-05:00

Miranda was hanging out with me last week while I checked email. She asked if she could do "some writing of her own", so I said sure and pulled up a new document. I asked what she wanted to write, and she said, "I think I need to write Horsey's name." (Horsey is one of her "children", a favorite stuffed animal.) She typed the following letters, naming each one as she typed:

BOMXCAQWSZMT

I think it's interesting, the letters with which she particularly identifies. She's always liked O, Q, X, and Z.

Adventures with H1N1 house arrest

2009-11-03T00:30:00.007-05:00

Miranda was diagnosed with "presumed but not confirmed" H1N1 last week, so she & Billy have spent most of the subsequent time under house arrest. Because of my pregnancy and asthma, I was voted off the island until her fever's gone. Billy's been good to send pictures of how they're spending their time.

Recuperating on the couch with Daddy

Recuperating on the floor

IT prodigy?

Miranda is cultivating a budding artistic talent. Here's a drawing from today, which she says is "a picture of Daddy." She's just recently started drawing little people. She did one of the new baby, which I'll try to post soon.

Who can reason with the wunchie? Part II (or buried in the concreteness of her reasoning)

2009-10-28T16:48:00.003-04:00

So, Monday evening I'm driving home from the YMCA with Miranda and I decided that we would have a little fun. Because of the recent road construction on West Main we'd been using Manchester Street to get to our house for the last couple of weeks. In the process of utilizing the Manchester corridor to get downtown we'd become accustomed to passing some cook murals adorning one of the concrete walls next to the newly relocated Buster's. One of the murals is of a large skeleton that looks like it is emerging out of the wall. Miranda loves this skeleton and had commented on it several times. But we'd never gone to look at it up close.

"Miranda," I said, as we turned onto Manchester, "I think that I'm going to take you and feed you to the Skeleton tonight." "Why are you going to do that daddy," she rejoins. "Because I think it will be fun," I say. So, we pull into the parking lot and drive up to the mural at which point I roll down the window and tell the skeleton that we've brought him dinner. At first skeptical, I finally get Miranda to bite on my joke and she gets a little upset. I tell her that daddy is only making a joke for Halloween.

As we're driving out of the lot Miranda asks me why I took her to the skeleton. I repeat that I was only making a joke for Halloween. She says, "Daddy, it is not Halloween." I reply by saying that it is the season of Halloween. Indignant, Miranda asks me "Daddy, do you see any kids out here trick-or-treating?" I reply that I do not see any kids trick-or-treating. "Then daddy," Miranda replies with a confident sneer, "It isn't Halloween then is it?"

Random bits of preciousness

2009-10-25T22:29:00.010-04:00

Helping Daddy spackle the basement stairwell.

Pink spackle is cool because it dries white, so you can tell when it's ready to sand. Plus... it's pink.

Miranda is beginning to enjoy Indian food again, provided it's not too spicy. Here we are at a local place, sampling the tandoori chicken, chicken tikki masala, cauliflower, basmati rice, pakoras, saag (spinach), naan (bread), and dal (lentils). To cool the palate, a refreshing mango lassi (yougurt smoothie). We brought her little book "Chaat and Sweets", and she told the waitress "Namaste!"

For some reason, she felt obliged to tie up Horsey.

I don't know why.

Holding hands and swinging with her classmate, Taylor. This is a precious picture.

As we left school in the rain, Miranda improvised -- a backpack umbrella.

Leaving the neighborhood flower stand with bargain, end-of-season mums in the basket of her birthday bike. This one found a home at the local bakery -- she loves those guys.

Overheard on the steps.....

2009-10-23T12:27:00.003-04:00

So, I'm coming down the stairs at home yesterday and I hear Miranda (who is in the back of the house with our wonderful babysitter Marie) indignantly retort, as she stomps across the floor, "No, no, he is not going to die until the next chapter....." Hilarious! I have no idea what it was about, but no matter.....think I'm going to change my plans for Christmas and get her that Director's Chair........

Big Sister in Training

2009-10-19T11:02:00.003-04:00

Holding a friend's newborn son. I'm so excited to get her into a Big Siblings' class at our hospital next month.

Sacrifice yourself for the cause, girl

2009-10-18T23:37:00.004-04:00

Miranda is getting better & better at helping me in the kitchen, and just begged the other day to help me cut cabbage. So, against my better judgment, I handed her a real knife & let her rip. Look how intently she's making her little cuts.

Unfortunately, one of those little cuts ended up on her finger. But did you ever see someone so proud of an injury?? Look how she displays her battle scars. Yes, that's a BIG smile behind the wounded finger.

I just adore this kid!!!

Who can reason with the wunchie?

2009-10-13T13:31:00.002-04:00

The other day Miranda and I were riding together in the truck. I'm not sure what prompted it, but she asked me "Daddy, why is my door locked?" I responed, "Honey, the door is locked because it always has to be locked when we're driving to keep us safe." She was quiet for a minute. Then she says, "Daddy, I don't think that you're telling the truth." I ask her, "Sweety, why are you saying that I'm not telling the truth?" She says, "Because of that," and points across the cab of the truck to my door which is unlocked. Busted.......I'm sure it won't be the last time....

Denver Adventures, part 3 -- the seasoned traveller

2009-10-10T21:40:00.002-04:00

I meant to post these first, but just forgot. This was the first trip where Miranda carried on her own bag. She was amazing - -she wore her backpack and pulled her own suitcase for much of the trip, as well as carrying Ulee (the unicorn) and Horsey. Plus, she was stylin' in that awesome little outfit.She's as cute as she can be.

Denver Adventures, part 2 -- The First Sleepover

2009-10-04T21:51:00.006-04:00

We've been wondering when Miranda would have her first sleepover. Littel did I know that I wouldn't even have to be the one to lose sleep over it! Sweet, brave Aunt Ellery hosted the inaugural slumber party with cousins Lauren and Ava while I was in England, and apparently everything went well. Ellery did report that she heard Miranda around 10:30, who said, "I'm just not tired, Auntie Elle." To which Ellery responded, "Well, you're going to sleep anyway." So there.

Pre-slumber activities. I'm not sure what she & Lauren are doing here -- Ali asked, "Did they just stick their landings?"

Yeah, it looks like they're going to get LOTS of sleep tonight...!

Aha, a co-conspirator -- Aunt Ellery!!

What an adorable face!!

Denver Adventures, part 1 -- Ladies' Day Out

2009-10-02T09:19:00.006-04:00

Here is the first post of several about Miranda's trip to Denver last month. She spent over a week with my family during my trip to Durham, and by all accounts she had a great time. One of the highlights was a "ladies day" with Aunt Ellery. Nothing like an afternoon out for lunch and pedicures. Tres fabulous.

All dressed up and ready to go.

Doesn't she look grown up?

Her first time in the pedi chair. I just adore pedicures, and the wunchie seems to be following in my footsteps (no pun intended).

Hey -- I've never had a little flower on my toes before!

What a precious little foot!

And for dessert, a deliciously big cookie!

Woman and Machine.......

2009-09-25T13:06:00.003-04:00

The large storm drain replacement work that has been going on in downtown Lexington has been inconvenient for motorists and harmful for businesses in the area. However, it did give me a chance to snap this photo of Miranda during a recent trip to the Farmer's Market. She's showing her mastery over this machine and excitement about being the subject of yet another photograph.

A "Good Lift"......

2009-09-25T12:23:00.002-04:00

Last night I discovered that Miranda has a secret talent that will hopefully NOT serve her well someday. We'd just completed a trip to the local Kroger and were on our way home when I discovered that she'd successfully "lifted" two $50 gift cards and was examining her "take" in the back seat. I'd seen she was carrrying something when we went out the door, but in my haste to get to the car and steward us safely through the parking lot I did not look very closely. I thought it was just another apartment guide or related article that she frequently grabs. She likes looking at these kinds of things. But no, this time she'd grabbed the real goods and managed to make it out the door. I thought of that scene in "Oceans Eleven" where George Clooney's character tells Matt Damon's character "that was a good lift," after he witnesses him stealing a wallet on the subway. Anyhow, I returned the gift cards and on the way to school Miranda said, "I'm sorry daddy for taking those cards at the store." Our sweet kleptomaniac wunchie.....you better keep an eye on her if she shows up at your door!

Cheerleading Wunchie!

2009-09-03T16:37:00.003-04:00

Our community has had monthly picnics at a downtown park, and some of the ladies got into the school spirit. Miranda was intrigued with their antics, and so was able to join them at their top of their pyramid. You go girl!!

Bringing them up right....

2009-09-03T15:04:00.003-04:00

Maria and I were happy this week to have an opportunity to teach our daughter firsthand about the time honored Christian tradition of snake handling. As you can see, she is a natural at it and we're expecting great things from her...ha,ha,ha...seriously, we really love our home and the rich landscape of plants, insects and animals that the orginal owners of our home created. We've tried to continue adding to the richness of our little ecosystem and doing this with Miranda has been a real treat. She absolutley delights in snakes, praying mantis's, squirrel's, spiders and the various other creatures that we find. Occassionally she will step on or otherwise disable or antagonize them....but she loves most all of them and that has been really neat to see and experience (make sure you click on the picture to enlarge it-unless snakes make you uneasy).

Birthday narrative.....

2009-08-06T15:15:00.003-04:00

Yikes....it has been way too long since I've posted anything on my dear Wunchie's blog. But I guess the week following her 4th birthday is not a bad time to make a belated entry. Here are a couple of pictures from events surrounding her 4th B-day. The one picture is pretty self-explanatory, a picture of Miranda getting ready to dig into the stack of strawberry and whipped cream topped pancakes that daddy cooked for her on her birthday. The other picture is the one that needs a little more explanation. In this picture Miranda is making the biggest deposit of her short life into the piggy bank. I was at McDonald's earlier that day visiting on the patio outside with one of my friends. My friends name is Leo and he is a wonderful older guy who was formerly homeless and is now living in his own apartment and gettting along fine. Leo is a guy that I've known for years and is someone, ably assisted by MANY others, that I've walked with and helped to find stability. So, I'm sitting there talking to Leo at McDonald's and he asks me how old Miranda is. I told him that actually her birthday was today and that she was 4. Leo asks me if she has a piggy bank, and after I reply yes, he reaches into his pocket, pulls out a 20 dollar bill, and tells me to give it to her to put in her piggy bank. I was really astonished and reminded again of the beauty and justice that is always present whenever we give to others. So, that is the story of the second picture...worth a lot more than $20....will tell to her one day, hopefully with interest!

Overheard

2009-07-14T22:56:00.002-04:00

"I've had a very active day, Mommy."
(as she struggles to get her wet self into some clothes), "Mommy, a little help here."
(Mommy) "Wow, it's hot out here." (Munchie) "Wow, Mommy, hace calor. It's hot out here."

Dive!!!

2009-07-03T13:50:00.005-04:00

On their last day of swim lessons, they learned how to jump off the diving board. My girl cannot be stopped!

Exuberance!!! (aka the city pool)

2009-06-23T16:37:00.008-04:00

Miranda began swim lessons this week. As a parent, it seems like you're constantly trying to discern what your child is ready to do -- gymnastics, swimming, art, music, etc etc. So when we purchased a family pool pass this summer, we decided to enroll her in lessons. Today was her second day, and she's loving it.

Hanging out on the side, waiting for her turn

"Mommy, I love this!"

Kicking her feet

Reports her instructor, "She has no fear." (Hmmm...)

Either she's exhausted, or she's imitating the nearby teenagers

Don't go unless you can go in style

We had the best time with our friend Hailey -- laughing, splashing, and making about 37 trips down the spiral slide. My favorite part was watching numerous bigger kids pull Miranda out of line and make her stand against the "You Must Be This Tall to Use This Slide" sign. (She is, just barely.) It was awesome.

Miranda hearts the Psalters

2009-06-14T11:40:00.008-04:00

Overheard

2009-05-27T19:40:00.003-04:00

On our way to Texas this past week for our annual family vacation, we connected in Atlanta and ate at the food court. Terribly upset that I failed to get an egg roll with our lunch, she pitched a mini-fit in line & I got very grumpy.

So on the way back from Texas, in line at the same Mandarin Express in the same Atlanta concourse, Miranda said, "Oh good, I like this food. But Mommy," she says very seriously, "make sure and get the little roll this time. I don't want to go through all that again."

Hyperbole, thy name is Wunchie

2009-05-17T14:58:00.002-04:00

Miranda is developing quite a flair for conversational rhetoric. Here are a few of her latest quips:

(After wrapping me in a jumprope) "Mommy, I'm putting you in jail, and you have to stay there for a really long time." "How long, honey?" "For at least a million years, or maybe longer. Let's just see."
(After entering the home of a preschool friend, Tyler) "Tyler's mommy, you have a wonderful kitchen. I mean, it's just wonderful."
(Upon reaching for the measuring spoons to eat her cereal, and being refused) "But Mommy, I've been eating with those spoons for about... 36 years."

Outdoors in the Springtime

2009-05-12T14:59:00.004-04:00

We've been trying to get outdoors as much as possible, especially on the days without rain. From our new house, it's only half a mile to the Kroger, so sometimes we just walk. Miranda wanted to ride her little tricycle, and since we only had a few items to purchase, she graciously toted them home in the tricycle's trunk. And we're off! Grocery delivery at its finest.

Helping Mommy water the spring flowers.

The finished product.

Belated pics from the Easter egg hunt

2009-04-29T09:26:00.007-04:00

Easter Eggs (aka a photo study of the munchie)

2009-04-13T16:10:00.008-04:00

"I'm reading a bedtime story to my unicorn"

2009-04-13T16:06:00.002-04:00

Sweetie, this is not going to help you become a Pi Phi

2009-04-02T11:32:00.002-04:00

Overheard

2009-03-30T11:36:00.003-04:00

After leaving Miranda naked in the family room while I found some clothes, I returned & found her wearing a pull-up. She said, "Mommy, I decided that I should put on my diaper, so I did. I just decided."
As Billy left for the office one morning, Miranda handed him a scrap of paper and said, "Here, Daddy. Don't forget your boarding card."
"I'm the big sister now." When I asked who was the little brother or sister, she said, "It's the baby in my belly. It's coming out in 2 weeks!"

Thanks, Cookie Monster!! (or, Miranda writes her first letter)

2009-03-25T09:24:00.003-04:00

Miranda and I enjoy watching Sesame Street, and one of our favorite parts is Cookie Monster. Truthfully, I've always wondered just how much kids learn from these TV shows -- I mean, do they really help kids learn to count and spell?

Then one morning, after watching "Street", Miranda wanted to paint. We made squiggles and blobs, and then Miranda said:

"I want to draw a letter." [Note -- Miranda has occasionally "written" an O or an X, but she hasn't started writing her letters yet.]
"Ok, sweetie," I said. "Which one do you want to draw?"
"The letter Q."
"OK, honey, but do you know how to draw Q?"
"Sure, Momma. It's just an O, with the little tail. Remember, that's what Cookie Monster said."

Sure enough, it is! And if you don't believe me, check out the results below.

I'm so proud of her!!!

Catching up on pictures

2009-03-17T11:14:00.009-04:00

I've been stockpiling photos and stories of the Wunchie for several weeks. I'll get to the stories in a few days; for now, some pics and captions.

We've been attempting to garden more extensively, which led to our setting up a new vegetable bed. Miranda enjoyed adding soil & other things and "mixing, mixing, mixing."

Trying to break up clods of peat moss with a long handled hoe. She got a little splinter.

Keeping a close eye on the seeds & bedding plants. She wanted to know which ones "would grow up to be big beautiful flowers."

I love wearing baseball caps, and I think Miranda looks adorable in them, too! Unfortunately, she won't wear them for very long.

Mid-jump in a rainy puddle. Why shouldn't life be fun?

Occasionally, Miranda decides that she "wants to be a baby." So, Marie swaddled her and placed her in her "baby bed."

That looks awfully comfortable.

Wunchie!

Singing a benediction

2009-02-19T11:20:00.009-05:00

A couple of years ago, I did these posts about the songs I was singing when I put Miranda to bed at night. Both by John McCutcheon, one of my favorite folk singers, Feather Bed and One Strong Arm have remained staples of our bedtime routine. A more recent favorite is the classic hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

I'm trying to cultivate an awareness of the blessings I give to Miranda, the ways in which I can, however imperfectly, cover her with a sense of belonging and benediction, and for some reason, the songs which I sing over her at night seem to convey the right message.

And when I heard this haunting Celtic melody last month, I knew it needed to go into the rotation. Lyrics are below, or you can listen to a recording of it here on YouTube. It gently yet powerfully evokes the image of the child at her mother's breast, quietly resting. Her mother can't help but see the future when her child will go away, into the world -- but at the same time, she cherishes those precious, early moments when she can cradle this "flesh of my flesh, soul of my soul." I think back on that first year with Miranda, and how much I loved nursing her, and how quickly she's growing up, and I get teary every time I listen to it.

The lyrics and melody will take me some time to master, but I hope to be singing it over her before going to Durham in March.

**************************************************************
Wexford Lullaby

Lulay lulay, my tiny child
Too soon you'll know the world so wild
Yes all too soon you will be grown
And I'll bide here alone, alone.

The rushing bellows you shall ride
And the light of the North Star will be your guide
But yet awhile, I'll have you stay
Lulay my tiny child, lulay.

For you shall run in meadows green
And sport with otters all in the stream
And you shall chase the dapple deer
And swim with salmon in the waters clear.

To pluck the small birds from the sky
On the tail of the South wind, you shall fly
And take the high hills for your home
Blood of my blood, bone of my bone.

The moon must sleep beyond the tree
So weep sweet maid of Galilee
The sun must rise before the cross
To dry your tears and share your loss.

The darkest hour of the starless night
Must bow to the power of the Eastern light
That heals the earth and makes us whole
Heart of my heart, soul of my soul.

And when at last your course is run
Joy of my joy, my little one
Beneath the sky you'll stand alone
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone.

Yes you shall stand on the coal-black sands
To cross o'er the waters of the Western lands
But now I have you at my breast
Lulay my sweet one, gently rest.

Treading water together......

2009-02-13T10:11:00.002-05:00

After battling with a fever/illness that has waxed and waned over the last couple of
days Wunchie seems to be back to form and is currently receiving swimming lessons from mommy in the pool. She is doing well though she slipped out of the innertube (probably the result of the suntan lotion) several minutes ago and had a plunge that scared her. Apparently she reached for the side of the pool showing good instincts. Anyhow, after reassurances from mommy and daddy she shoved out again into the deep water and continued her lesson. That series of evetns seems like a good metaphor for life; I hope that she and we can stick with that one for the duration. Enjoy the pictures.......

Sweet times at Anna Maria Beach, Florida

2009-02-12T18:20:00.012-05:00

The Cheesy Wunchie

2009-02-09T15:23:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of our Miss Marie.

Really, I don't see what all the fuss is about (aka Miranda's first trip to the dentist)

2009-01-27T16:46:00.007-05:00

There are those milestones in the life of a child (and her parents) where you realize that your little Wunchie is, in fact, growing up. Such a milestone occurred today -- Miranda had her first visit to the dentist. And all I have to say is this -- all you grownups who cringe and quail at the thought of visiting the dentist, be inspired by the serene, trusting demeanor and comportment of my little girl. She was a PRO. No crying, no fussing (although she did want to hold my hand towards the end). She calmly endured teeth cleaning and tartar removal (and we all know how horrible it feels to have those little metal hooks scraping on our teeth!), and requested a watermelon-flavored fluoride rinse at the end.

Calmly surveying the scene.

It always helps to have a friend go first, especially the trusty sidekick, Brachiosaurus. (He got a good report, too.)

Preparing to begin.

The technician demonstrates the "fun little water hose."

The actual cleaning. She was serenity itself. And after they finished, she got a new toothbrush and a toy from the "treasure chest."

I'm so proud of her!!!

The Martin Luther King Jr. March

2009-01-21T09:36:00.002-05:00

Miranda and her friend Isaac opted for some communal transportation Monday morning during the very cold march honoring MLK's birthday. It didn't last long, as they quickly began to fear compression over freezing, but it was cute while it lasted!

See Girl. See Girl Learn Culturally-Determined Ideals of Beauty.

2009-01-08T17:49:00.005-05:00

Someone very witty and bright did the funniest post (on 1/1/09) about ways in which her sons are being taught patriarchy, right under her nose. And apparently, Miranda has been receiving some of the same messages, or at least messages in the same vein. Here is a smattering of the comments I've been hearing lately.

As I'm changing one day in front of Miranda, I lean over to put on my socks. She pokes me in my post-baby belly and says (looking very concerned), "Mommy, what happened to your belly? It's all bouncy! Make it stop!!" (Right, because it's just that easy.) As I straighten up and start to laugh at her, she says, "Oh good, Mommy, you fixed your belly. It's not bouncy anymore." Then she looks at me, very seriously, and says, "Mommy -- don't ever do that again. I don't like it."

I'm bathing with Miranda one night, and shaving my legs in the process. As I complete the first leg, she lays her head against my now-smooth calf, sighs, and says, "I like the soft leg. It makes me happy." As I raise up my other leg to begin, she exclaims, "Oh no -- the hairy one!" I kid you not -- this actually happened.

Coarseness on Sesame Street

2008-11-20T10:06:00.004-05:00

This just heard on Sesame Street, as Telly Monster, Baby Bear, and Abby Cadabby are discussing the book "Action Dog". As they read, they hear sound effects that are clues to what Action Dog is doing. On the page where Action Dog is riding a motorcycle, they hear engines revving and spluttering, and Telly Monster exclaims, "I know, I know -- it's a herd of lactose-intolerant antelope who've just eaten a bunch of cottage cheese!"

How kind of them to give some humor to the over-8 crowd.

Fall 2008, installment 1

2008-11-19T10:57:00.016-05:00

Pictures and title shamelessly stolen from Friday Playgroup Confessions.

Joy and the Bunny.

Maria and Melinda, looking smooth.

You're going over the side, Wolverine!

(left to right) Miranda, Logan, and Noah contemplate the placid lives of pigs.

Coleman sez, I got you!

Tim and Maria with grub for the hungry troops.

The hot dogs were ok, but the BBQ sandwich was great.

Climb every mountain...

Everyone LOVED the mega slide. Why aren't adults allowed on this thing???

Miscellaneous

2008-11-12T11:33:00.006-05:00

Here are some miscellaneous pics from when I was over the pond. (Captions are courtesy of Daddy.)

Billy likes to take Miranda to Kids' Place, an indoor gym of sorts with lots of stuff to climb, crawl through, and generally use to avoid and escape your parents. Miranda can fly through those elements in no time at all.

"Spider Munchie"

"Tunnel Vision Munchie"

"Wunchie down the chute!"

reading with cousin Jessica after "canastics"

"Election Night Jitters"

The Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-22T23:02:00.013-04:00

Miranda's class took a trip to the pumpkin patch last week, which Billy chronicled in great detail. By all accounts, everyone had fun!

Miranda with classmate and carpool buddy Blair.

Climbing aboard the haywagon to ride to the pumpkin patch.

In search of the Great Pumpkin!

Feeding an appreciative goat

Preparing to enter the Haunted House -- alone!

Whew -- made it out in one piece!

Schoolmates Blair and Leighton

How tall am I? THIS tall!

Why did the chicken cross the road? To evade the Wunchie!

(Note Leighton waiting on the other side. Apparently preschoolers hunt in packs, like velicoraptors.)

Thanks, Daddy, for making sure I had such a good time.

(See the rest of the pics on Wunchie's Flickr badge.)

Before potty training, we have pigtail training

2008-10-12T21:29:00.004-04:00

Coming Soon: Wunchie Book Review

2008-10-12T21:15:00.004-04:00

As Miranda and I read together throughout the day and before bed, I've been thinking about the messages she's receiving in the books she reads. With all the discussions about children and TV, I tend to think about the shows she watches more readily than about the books she enjoys. But there are layers of messages in even the simplest of tales, and we'll be exploring some of them in the weeks to come.

Are there any you'd particularly like to discuss? Let me know.

A thanksgiving for my Wunchie.....

2008-10-09T10:26:00.005-04:00

Wunchie,

Today daddy got the opportunity to visit a village called Bai Hua in Sichuan Province, China. Bai Hua suffered a terrible tragedy recently when a devastating earthquake hit it and hundreds of other villages and towns around it. Seven little children were killed at a school that daddy visited, and 700 more people were killed in the village. Overall 90,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake. As I looked at the terrible damage to the school in Bai Hua and the surrounding village, I thought again and again about you and mommy. I am so thankful that I have the two of you, and that you are safe at home. But I was reminded today just how fragile life is and how we can never take anything for granted. We never know what might happen and must live our lives grateful for what we have and for the relationships that bless and grace us each day. So, I just wanted to say that I love you and mommy and am thankful for the life that we have together. I am also deeply thankful for the very special opportunity that I had today to meet the people in the village of Bai Hua and to see how they are rebuilding their lives. Daddy and your Uncle Greg and Uncle Richard are helping to rebuild the school in the village, and we were able to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the rebuilding. It was a great experience. I hope that you can follow along with us in this work when you grow older. Until then I'll try to keep up the work in honor of God and mommy and munchie......please pray for us...we love you...keep going....give mommy a kiss....

Daddy examining damage to one of the classrooms in the school...though ruined, thank God that overall the school withstood the earthquake.

These are school children who are celebrating the beginning of the rebuilding process for their new school....they were saved when the main school building withstood the quake...seeing them was a very moving experience for daddy!

This is a picture of the washroom at the school that collapsed. Seven children lost their lives in the collapse of the wash room...may I never take my wunchie for granted...

Daddy in china......

2008-10-07T23:43:00.004-04:00

Hello Miranda my little wunchie, from China...Daddy misses you and thinks about you a lot every day! I got to spend the past weekend up on the Tibetan Plateau, the highest plateau in the world (referred to as the "roof of the world"), and I wished that you and mommy could have experienced it with me. As I looked at the little Tibetan girls in their pretty little dresses I imagined you adorned in all those beautiful colors, jumping up and down, playing with your Tibetan and Chinese friends...it has been a great picture of peace and reconciliation for me to ponder. We're back in the city of Chengdu at the moment, a city of about 10million people, a huge metropolis, big contrast to the placid scenery over the weekend. One funny thing is that my colleague Greg's nephew Christian is living and working here in Chengdu with our investment company, and he speaks good Mandarin. When I showed him your picture on the blog, he said "Woon...Chie" as if it were a Chinese word...he said it really looked like that....we laughed and I explained the nature of the nickname to him. Anyhow, wanted to say that I love you, that I miss you and mommy, and I look forward to coming home to you soon. Here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy.....will add more soon....can you find China on your globe with mommy and say a prayer for me?..love.....

Daddy

Pictoral Updates

2008-10-05T13:13:00.000-04:00

Trying on Mommy's swimcap and goggles

How do these things fit?
Check it out!!

I set up the fort (a blanket over a table and chairs) and went down to the basement, and when I returned I found this!

Batgirl and Isaac

Evildoers, beware!

It's important that you're able to articulate your feelings on the matter

2008-10-02T16:23:00.000-04:00

While out running errands this morning, I asked Miranda if she's like to drive past a construction site and "see the earthmovers working." She was very enthusiastic, so off we went. To our chagrin, they were sitting motionless in the lot (lunch break, perhaps?), and although we waited for several minutes, they never moved. Miranda asked several times if we could "wait for them to wake up."

Trying to find a positive spin, I asked if she'd like to go see the cows instead. (We live near a stockyard, and Miranda and her carpool friend Blair like to drive by and try to spot a cow. We go a couple of times a week after school. Setting the stage for a future discussion on local food economies.) You can usually see a few cows standing around, or at least hear them lowing in the background. But today... nada. Not a single cow, not a solitary moo could be heard, although we drove around the lot and down beside the pens.

As we pulled away and headed for home, I suggested a picnic lunch on the porch. Miranda sort of sighed, and said, "Well, ok. Let's have peanut butter. But, I wanted to see the cows. And the earthmovers. I'm just so disappointed. I'm really disappointed."

Mommy's little Montessori helper

2008-10-01T11:10:00.000-04:00

Miranda has several friends who are in Montessori schools, and we've been reading some about the Montessori educational philosophy.
One of their main tenets is encouraging children to actively participate in the daily functioning of the household. So, we've been trying to help Miranda find her our routines, adapting what needs to be done to what she herself can do. And we've discovered that eating at her little table enables her to set the table, if I put the dishes and silverware within her reach. Didn't she do a good job? (Note: it doesn't always look this tidy!)

She also likes to "help Mommy cook". I'm not always the best "monitoring mommy" in the world, so I have to be more vigilant in the kitchen. (Even so, she got a little burn on her wrist last month from "helping Mommy stir.") But transferring veggies from a mixing bowl to the casserole dish is a perfect assignment.

I'm realizing that it's as much about educating myself as anything else. I have to reorient my expectations and awareness to fully incorporate her into the preparations. Getting her to enjoy the process of preparing a meal, encouraging her natural willingness to help -- that's what it's all about.

Tomatoes: An Artistic Study

2008-09-30T16:14:00.000-04:00

Reunited (and it feels so good!)

2008-09-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

Miranda and I saw John today, for the first time since he moved out at the beginning of July. We've been by his new apartment and by Gattitown several times this week, and each time we couldn't find him, Miranda cried and carried on, saying "I want my boy John." So today, we surprised him at work, where Miranda ran across the room and gave him a big hug. She's really missed him. In between eating pizza and playing in the arcade, she'd wander back over and hug him again. And we took this picture to commemorate the day.

Family prayer....

2008-09-19T15:11:00.000-04:00

Miranda and I made a very exciting discovery the other day when we walked out our back door and opened the gate to the backyard. This praying mantis was perched on the gate looking at us intently. I've been wanting to have some praying mantis's in the yard so this was a really neat find. Wunchie was sufficiently impressed.....it was pretty funny when we opened the gate later and I found the mantis positioned right above the latch looking down at my hand...it was almost as if he was lying in wait for somebody.......funny.....

Not a care in the world.......

2008-09-19T14:57:00.001-04:00

I think that this photo pretty much sums up how wonderful it is to be a kid and be able to enjoy life, friends, and the moment without the adult concerns that clog our process. The only thing that could make this photo better is if it was taken in a field of daisies......

oh so Wunchie...

2008-09-18T21:35:00.002-04:00

Crabapples!

2008-09-18T21:35:00.001-04:00

Miranda and I have been taking walks through the neighborhood, and have discovered a row of crabapple trees in the park. She enjoys nibbling on the crabapples (I figured they were probably organic), and today we picked about 50 to try and make a cobbler for dessert. I'm wondering how much effort it takes to prepare a fruit the size of a large gumball. (I have a feeling that they won't get peeled.)

One of the fruit trees -- what gorgeous color! And doesn't Miranda look at home beneath the branches.

Welcome to Chronicles of Wunchie!

2008-09-18T21:35:00.000-04:00

Thanks for stopping by! I've decided to start this new blog to keep everyone updated on the daily developments in Miranda's life. There's a link on the sidebar to posts about Miranda on Temperance Girl. Enjoy!