Our Little Turkeys

So many things for which to be thankful - this year and every year. We are thankful for family and friends and for the memories of those we no longer get to see. We are thankful for our health, a home, and the ability to provide for our family. We are thankful for having little turkeys of our very own.

Who knew little turkeys were so talented and smart? Of course, we speak of the human kind. Someone I know raised a turkey chick (which she still visits at the farm) and she said the thing about the rain is true. But, even more interesting, the turkey pecked the heck out of his feet because every time he looked down, he attacked those strange things he saw below him. NOT KIDDING. She said he perpetually had cut feet!

Well, the four year old turkey will stay out in the rain, without looking up, I might add, and doesn't come in. She dances around in her boots and rain coat and twirls her umbrella and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Never fear - poor Hallie has already heard us make reference to her as our turkey. She knows she earned the title because she was born a week before Thanksgiving and was 9 1/2 lbs. She also will tell you that Anna has to be a turkey too. This is because they are sisters and she can't be anything but a turkey or 'they won't match'. So wise. She has learned and changed so much since turning four. Just recently, when she saw little milk in her bowl of cereal, she asked if "there was any milk in my Kix?" Her dad told her that he didn't give her a lot because she didn't like it. She held up her hand to clarify and said, "3 year olds don't like a lot of milk but 4 year olds like lots and lots and lots of milk."

The 3 month old turkey is discovering those strange things below her but only kicks them and watches with a quizzical look as they are repeatedly pecked by the other members of her household. She also throws her socks like a horse throws a shoe. As soon as it's cold enough, the footie pajamas are coming out - I'm not trained as a sock wrangler. And, as far as rain goes... no worries. Even if we left her out in the rain, her eyes wouldn't fill. That's because, a week ago, at 3 months and 2 days, she rolled from her back to her front - on both sides. Let's see a regular turkey do that!


Yes, turkeys make you sleepy and sometimes you feel like you can't have any more. But then, you find room for just a smidge and, you go to bed happy. Of course, the best part about turkeys are the leftovers. So, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we laugh (often secretly) about the days fare. Then, each morning, we get to wake up to more turkey (very amusing turkey, by the way) and have our fill again and again. We are most thankful for that.

Birthday #4

I don't remember turning four but I know that I started "remembering" when I was four. Recently, I was asked to retrieve my earliest memory. Though I can scrounge up a few, the most vivid is that being made to wear masking tape (bearing my name) on my back at the Presbyterian Church preschool. I didn't regularly attend but, on that day needed day care so off I went. I'm quite sure it was a navy blue sweater and I played with weird blocks. Anyway, the common thread in all the memories shared that day was 'emotion'. So I guess extreme disgust was my emotion. Hallie has already proven to have an astounding memory as some of you have witnessed. She may remember a few things prior to her fourth birthday but I am quite sure she will have solid memories of this birthday because of her emotions; love, joy, happiness and security. This is a little girl who knows she has a loving family and is just happy to spend time with them. Oh yes, she loved her presents, but she loves her family. She knows they love her and knows her place with each member. She can even keep them straight! When her Auntie called and was wishing her a happy birthday, Hallie put her hand over the phone and said to me, "It's your sister' When Grandma called and asked to speak to me she replied "It's your mom" when asked who was on the line. Aunt Suzie called and left a birthday message to which Hallie excitedly responded "Aunt Suzie's singing to me - that's so ni-ice". When she was a year old I set up a picture wall (thanks for the idea, Rick and Vikki) to help her put names to the many faces of her HUGE family. She may get a few second cousins (or, once removed-I'm not sure) confused but she pretty well remembers everyone else she's met at least once. By the way, she'll remember where you were and what she did with you too. She knows Emily lives in the mountains where it's cool and thinks that Uncle Rennie should always drive with Grampa Chuck. Nope, no problem remembering and I'm sure I know why. Her memories will be those that come from love and warmth and a sense of belonging. Will she remember that she checked her bones before she went to sleep on the 19th and saw they had grown the morning of the 20th? Probably not. That's my job and my joy. But, her memories will be beautiful just the same.
No one said it was easy to have small children - especially when it comes to managing birthday parties. But, thanks to everyone's help and love, we pulled off a great party and Hallie has successfully, and with much fanfare, turned four.
Fabulous cake by deCroupet's

A Busy Week!

The week began with, what one might call 'Parental Irony'. Anna decided she might try to sleep 4 hours.... and......Hallie decided to be congested and cry from an ear infection most of the night. Do ear aches never come in the daytime? Must be something about lying down that brings on the pressure because all of Hallie's have been established after a wailing night of little sleep. Remembering being a child, not only do they come during the night, they come around Holidays. Hallie was actually aware enough at 3 to be excited for Halloween and all it's events. We enjoyed Mickey's Halloween Treat at DCA and carved a jack o'lantern so at least she'd had something, right?

In all our wisdom, we knew that logic wouldn't hold so we hoped she could go out for some Halloween. So, not waiting to see if the ear hurt again the next night, she stayed home and Dad took her to the doctor. Ear and eye infections, possible cold and two prescriptions later, she could go to school and trick or treat a little bit at night. Thank goodness. Of course the antibiotic is gross - not even bubble gum flavored - and after Halloween we lost the power of "you have to take this or you can't go out for Halloween" but she got better at it and we discovered that putting it in orange juice isn't so bad. She also thought her vanilla shake tasted a little funny, but Daddy told her it was because it had melted a bit. Medicine down, Anna and I took Hallie and several heavy bags to school for the Halloween parade and party (of course, I also had to bring stuff since I'm the room mom). Anna was good, Hallie was ecstatic, to say the least, and she was very cooperative when I took her home early. She and Anna went to 'trunk or treat' at church that evening and finished off with a Halloween video. Sure we would have survived if Halloween was cancelled for us but, we're glad it didn't have to be!Hallie finished out the week at school and Anna and Mommy visited Daddy at work when Mommy went to get her flu shot. After a stop at Grandma's classroom, Anna went to TGIF with Daddy while Hallie went to the beauty salon and to pick up an early birthday present - a camera from Grampa Chuck! Saturday brought Sea World and lunch with Shamu (Mommy was super jealous) and Sunday brought Hallie a trip to the movies for The Santa Claus 3. Next weekend we rest - well, after the annual power shopping trip, that is...

PS In honor of Halloween - just shows...anything can be scary!