Dump Trucks & Tortillas

A Composer

Josiah surprised us with his first musical composition last night - a Christmas carol.

"The Babe"

for alligator xylophone

Sleepy Boys

I find these guys snuggled together almost every night.

The Sweet Pea is No More

You may know that we sold our trusty old VW camper van a while back.

 These are pictures of our last camping trip in it, back in September.

 Don't Chris's eyes look a little sad?

Perhaps he knows it is the end of an era.

Sweet Boys

The boys have been more helpful than ever lately.

Here they are chopping up some veggies for some soup.

We learned this trick of boys helping chop up food with butter knives from Cousin Jonathan.

I found this sweet note from Josiah thumb-tacked to my pillow.

"I 'heart' you mom"

As Josiah hopped out of the car to go to school the other morning, he said, 

"Bye, best Momma in the world!"

Boys

Most nights before bed, Chris reads a few chapters of 'Moby Dick' aloud to the family.

We are almost 500 pages in now, and the story is starting to get more interesting.

Last night at supper, we were talking about how old Herman was a good writer.

Caleb said, "I don't think he knows what he's talking about!"

Chris said, "No, I think YOU don't know what he's talking about."

Caleb smiled and said, "You got me!"

 Did I already show you Josiah with some of his spider web decorations?

His cute comment of the week:

"Mom, 7+7=14, because 2+2=4 and 5+5=10, so....14!"

"Wow, did you learn that on Starfall or Schoolhouse Rock?"

"No, I was just thinking about it."

Interview with a 4 Year Old

On Saturday, we celebrated Caleb's 4th birthday with a Jungley Monkey Party.

Josiah said, "Remember, Caleb, a birthday is not all about the presents."

Caleb replied, "No, the presents AND the envelopes!"

 Caleb continues to be a delightful creature.  

Tell us about yourself, Caleb...

"It's feelin' dood to be four."

"My whole name is Taleb Tobias Shibley."

"I just like to play with Flippeez."

(the lovely hat modeled by brother Josiah below)

Who are your best buddies these days?

"Poppa and Mama.  And Daddy.  And Lydia.  I love everybody I know!  Even Jonathan and Dave and Madison and Shannon.  Type everybody I know!"

You forgot somebody very important - your best brother!

(Covers mouth and cracks up.)

"Josiah!  I fuh-dot about him!"

 What are you thinking about doing when you grow up?

"Being at the old house.  I will get all the monkeys under the old house."
"I will have 100 tids (kids) and no pet and you for my wife."

"My favorite book is 'Wemberly's Ice Cream 'Tar' and 'Roary the Race Tar' is my favorite movie."

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

"Under the old house."

Come on, somewhere else.

"Tay with you."

 

 And here is the birthday boy on his real birthday, Sunday morning before church, in all his glory.

Caleb now knows all his letters and can count to 29 with only a few missing numbers.

One of our favorite things that he does is when he pretends to be a skunk.  

He turns around and wiggles his little bottom and says, "'Tink! 'Tink! 'Tink!"

We love you, Caleb!