Jacob says …

We walked around the campus tonight and decided to shoot baskets while we waited for Gene to come home from work. We met a nice lady on our walk and her puppy, JoJo. She let Jacob walk the dog for a spell, which prompted Jacob to plan ahead for his future dog. He says this.

"I can't play basketball and have a dog!"

"Why not," I ask somewhat confused as I watch him shoot hoops.

"Well, I could if I had a wife. I mean, if I can get one. Then she could stay home with our dog and watch me play basketball on TV."

Snow Day

Jacob was super eager to go out and help Gene shovel the walk this morning. He swept off the porch and made a path through the yard and cleaned off a path beside the cars partly, all before Gene got outside. I was watching from the window as moms often do, seeing a little boy not so little anymore. Gene was shoveling the big path down the driveway, working his way up and down the path. Every couple of seconds. "Dad, look at this, my shovel stands up in the snow by itself." "Dad, I want to help sweep off the cars." "Dad, I've got this." "Dad, I have a great idea. Let's scoop the snow this way." "Dad, I am tired. I am going to have to take breaks." He stands on the front porch for two, maybe three seconds. "Break time is over. Back to work." Gene: "I wish I had a snow blower." Jacob: "Maybe we can save our money for one. It really would be best if we had one." "Mom, I am so cold, mostly my hands are so cold. I have to come inside. Can I have some hot chocolate?"

things my son says, part 2

It's great having another reader in the family, generally. In this week's Sunday bulletin, there was a blurb about an upcoming girls night out. When Jacob read this in the bulletin, he says to me, "Mom I really hope you are going to go to this girls thing. Then we can do something FUN with dad."

Things my son says

Sunday's message was addressing the question that comes from Luke 14:28-35. When it comes down to it, are we really willing to follow Jesus if it costs us everything? (It does, by the way). Jacob was drawing during the service, so I expected he was also listening somewhat. I later asked him what he thought about giving everything up for Jesus. His reply, "Well, I did sing today."

For perspective, it might help to know that Jacob's least favorite part of Sunday worship is the singing.

All I Want for Christmas is …

Jacob has lost more teeth!

Turns out I lied …

To my mother, even. Horror of horrors. I guess iphones do manage to record video. How did I miss this? And, yes, I should be grading. I have 10 more Feature Writing Grades to final, 25 senior seminar grades to tally and 10 from Advanced Media Lab.

Footage from tonight's basketball courts.

Homecoming

The boys spent the last two days in Marshall with grandparents because of the in-service meetings that canceled school.

As usual, the return home from, well, any other location, can be a little crazy. As the boys were tearing back and fourth through the house, things quickly got out of control. Both boys wound up spending some time in their rooms.

Despite being offered an opportunity to calm down and stop digging in deeper, Jacob decided to keep his mouth running, which earned him a chore. As he sat folding a basket of clean towels, the whining and "nobody loves me" proclamations entertained me while I was making a quick dinner before Jacob and I left for Cub Scouts.

At one point, my precious son, clearly the house slave, says, "You know, this isn't a very good way to welcome me home!"

Thankfully, Gene saved the day by singing the special song we had prepared for his homecoming -LOL. Jacob tried to stay mad, but dad's singing was just too much fun.

Jacob

Jacob was grounded from the Wii and the computer until Friday. He turns 7 today actually. We always let the birthday boy choose a restaurant for his birthday. Tuesdays are crazy normally because of Cub Scouts and this week Gene has softball and I have a 7 p.m. meeting at church.

Jacob suggests that we go out to eat Wednesday instead. Suspecting nothing, mom walks into the trap.

"Oh honey. I would hate for you to miss your birthday dinner."

"That's OK. I don't mind. I think it would be less crazy."

"OK. Well, is there something special that I could cook at home tomorrow instead?" mom asks, still not sure if he's really OK with this idea.

"No, I don't need anything special."

Mom's heart swells with pride at her selfless son.

He continues. "You know, what I'd really like is to be ungrounded from the Wii and the computer. I mean, it's my birthday."

Geesh! This kid is clever.

Maternal Moment

Everyone knows I love my kids, but I'm also a big whiner. Raising kids is hard work and it's often relentless. Sometimes I worry that I lack some maternal genes because I don't wear the badge of selflessness proudly and certain mom things do not get me all a-flutter. My mom, the original mama bear, swears each baby has a scent of the gods. I remember her spending hours smelling her grandsons. Yeah, I do their laundry, and I know what they really smell like.

Tomorrow, my baby turns 7. I made his sugar cookies on sticks (stupid box and its stupid ideas) and I color coordinated the frosting with the craft sticks (oh, my little darling loves the organization I sought in my former childless life). Thankfully, there were only four colors of sticks. Everyone knows I am far from being a gifted baker and/or decorator, but Jacob peeked out of bed and he thinks my cookies rock.

As much as I adore baking, tonight I felt a strong tenderness toward my son as I sewed his badges on his Cub Scout uniform. (By the way, I also lack advanced sewing skills). As I thought about those beautiful brown eyes and his unbelievable ability to make me laugh and marvel one moment and on the verge of losing my mind the next, I found myself smiling. My little storyteller has devoured stories I've read and books I've treasured. He shares deep insights about my God and reminds me that someone is watching. I can only hope that he feels cloaked in love tomorrow as he puts his Cub Scout shirt.

Famous last words

My son, Jacob, in his flag-football uniform. And so it begins …

hello blog

My life, as usual, is a never-ending battle of tasks. My sanity lies somewhere in the middle of the whirlpool.

So last night was my son's first program. The kindergarten and first grade classes performed about seven songs in the middle school's gymnasium.

I must say it does something to a mom's heart watching her child in a group of his peers. Standing alone from his family, already more independent than a mere nine months ago.

Thankfully, he is quick to show his youth and continued need for his mother, if only for a little longer.

And then Jacob said …

My voice sucks this week, so I was thrilled when Jacob picked out an "I Spy" book to read for bed Friday night.

Somehow, the topic of marriage came up with my 4-year-old as we hunted for the various objects on the page. He informed me that he was going to do something (wish I remembered that part) when he was married.

Me: Who are you going to marry?

J: Riley.

Me: Why Riley?

J: She is my favorite girl at school.

Me: Why?

J: She's very pretty. (Pause.) I need to marry a really pretty girl.

I am wondering how to reply to that when he says this.

"Boys can't marry boys, right mom?"

Uhhh?! Is this a random 4-year-old type of question or has he been talking to someone on the playground.

I sort of nod my head as a response. He continues.

"Boys can't marry boys that would be silly. Girls get the babies."

Just who is this child?

Me: "What do you mean?"

J: If you are gonna get a baby, you need a girl. God puts babies in their tummies."

I can only imagine the look on my face as I try to nod in agreement. Perhaps he wasn't quite sure where I stood on the issue.

J: Well, wasn't I in your tummy, mommy?"

Mom, please don't kill me

Well, the boys needed haircuts, and they got them. I think they are adorable, but there is no doubt in my mind that my momma will hate them. Admitedly, Jared's is a bit shorter than I expected, but his hair is a lot thinner than Jacob's. Anyway, it was a NUTTY week, and the deed is done. Perhaps they will have some length by Thanksgiving?

Man Training

Me: Who did you play with today?

Jacob: Dagan

Me: What did you do?

Jacob: We chased the girls. They wanted to talk to us, but we didn't want to hear it.

He's only 4 years old, folks!

A conversation

Jacob: "Mommy, God didn't make any bad choices did he?"

Me: "No, Jacob, he didn't."

Jacob: "He did good things all day every day. I am going to do good things all day tomorrow," he pauses, "or most of the day."

Editor's Note: Yes, I realize my 4-year-old son is terribly smart. And I am a brilliant writer … just ask my momma.

Bunk Beds

There is no more crib in my babies room. Almost five years ago, Gene put together that little bed with lots of love and cussing.

"Did it make you want to cry to take the bed apart," I ask Gene.

"No, I wanted to cry putting it together. It was much easier to take apart."

Now my little boy of four years sleeps on the top bunk and my little boy of two years sleeps on the bottom bunk.

Before they sleep, however, they giggle, they get out of bed again and again, they dance, they turn up the CD player too loud, they fight and they drive mommy NUTS.

Finally, perhaps realizing it's not a good idea to push mommy one inch further, they nestle in to sleep. And the little boy of four years who earned two naughty notes today and the little boy of two years who screamed most of the morning, suddenly become the purest little angels ever … until the morning.

Jacob

Two naughty notes in one day! Now that's a Jacob Cassell record.

"Hey Gene and Regina

Just a note to let you know that Jacob is sitting in my office right now because as I was talking to one of the other children, he came up and slapped me on the behind. He thought it was funny, but I did not and then since he was mad at me he just started saying the word 'but' over and over again.

This is my note to you that I promised Jacob I was writing because of his choices"

Then Mrs. Betsey had to add this in writing.

"You guys. I love this kid. Now he's sitting here trying to bribe me with the promise of pictures that he will draw for me. He has apologized to me without prompting. He has suggested that since he has said sorry maybe I could just put this note 'in someone else's cubby.' His little mind is always working."

His second note described his recent run-in with disrespectful behavior. Tonight, we talked about these choices. I told him to stop something, and he told me he "could do it if he wants to."

I made my little boy lock eyes with me and repeat the following: "I am 4 years old and I have to do whatever mommy tells me to do. I have to do whatever daddy tells me to do. I have to do whatever my teacher tells me to do. I do not get to do what I want."


aaauuuggghhh

What would God say

I'm on my way to pick up my youngest son when Jacob suddenly announces "I didn't throw rocks at Ms. Beckey's car today."

Of course, I immediately realize that he did. But, playing his game, I say "Oh, who did that?"

A pause and then an enthusiastic, "Nathan!"

"Who else?" I probe.

"Just him. No one else."

"Hmm. I wonder what God saw."

Another pause and then a plead, "Don't ask Him!"

I guess his guilty conscience had gotten the best of him because he did fess up. Even at age 4, Jacob knows that the same God who chases away the monsters he fears at night is with him all day long.

Tuesday night was my weekly Bible study, and the funny thing is that the message was very similar. We're studying the dramatic life of the apostle Paul, who at this point has spent two years in prison because he was not afraid to proclaim the truth of Christ.

Beth Moore, who is an amazing Christian woman who writes these studies for women, went back and studied a U.S. court case that gave a detailed account of how a person must prove they have a religious conviction.

See the U.S. Supreme Court is looking for convictions, not preferences or philosophies. We have to be the same when people are watching us and when they aren't. Over and over again, Paul shared his testimony. He didn't change it or relent from telling it. He was so convicted that he simply did not have any choice.

I hope if I were on trial for my faith, there would be enough evidence to convict me. Our high court says that our conviction must permeate every aspect of our lives, not just our behavior on Sunday mornings.

Ahh, the Sh@! saga continues

We are having a relatively "normal" dinner when this true account occurs.

Jacob: "Oh, sh@$"

Gene and I are mildly surprised but through a nod agree to do nothing and let it pass. Two more seconds tick by.

Jacob: "Mom, Dad! Did you hear me? I said sh@!"

Shoulders are shaking and we are desperately trying to let this pass. Not sure what to do at this point. Without being able to talk, we again try to move forward with dinner.

Jacob: "Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@! … Sh@!"

There has to be a moral of this story. One might ask where we went wrong. I'd love to blame preschool, I really would, but this word belongs to me and Gene both.

I say it on a very regular basis and immediately catch myself, to which I have sometimes in fact responded with the very thing that led me to cringe in the first place.

Gene and the blazing cupcakes, another tragic slip.

However, the question is in this very situation at the dinner table, what should we have done?

Parents?

He sleeps

My oldest son was not a very nice boy at preschool today. He was
hitting and kicking his friends at preschool which is not a "safe"
choice.

And, apparently, he is a monster at nap time. They only need him to be quiet for 20 minutes so that the other children can go to sleep. Umm, this is not happening.

And, I believe it's important as parents to stay consistent with punishment and I was pretty much determined to take away privileges at home.

Turns
out, he decided to take them away himself. He feel asleep in the car.
I'll have to let you know how the story ends. Generally, I am a bit
concerned with my 3-year-old goes to sleep at 5:30. I kept thinking he
would wake up, but this has not been the case.