Toddlers and Scholars

We made it to Kansas on Saturday. All the boys did great–we were very proud of their endurance. We’re busy now wrapping gifts, working on book revisions, and catching up with family and friends. We hadn’t been to Kansas in a whole year! Here are some scenes from our time with the Weavers.

Whew–all done! Exams all graded and papers turned in. Next on our agenda is a long drive to Kansas. We nearly left tonight to beat a snow and ice storm, but then thought better of it. We might try again tomorrow . . .

Other developments:

• A&J are learning to pray before meals. Here was a recent breakfast prayer: “Dear Jesus. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for mamapapaandrewjon’thanben. Thank you for diamonds. Thank you for oatmeal. Amen!” I think the diamond reference comes from their favorite song (Twinkle, twinkle little star).
• Last Monday Benjamin got his first tooth. The next day he got his second tooth. And yesterday he got his third tooth.
• As we tried to pack in one hour flat for the three-week trip to Kansas, Ohio, and New York City, Andrew went back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, adding toys and books onto the heaping pile saying, “me taking that. . . me taking that.

We enjoyed a visit this weekend from friends Sydney and Erin Penner. They’re grad students from Cornell and are expecting their first child, so we had a great time talking academia and diapers.

Lisa is enjoying a panel on global warming on this snowy December night. I’m at home putting the boys to bed and watching “A Billy Graham Christmas” while I do odds and ends around the house. Check out these other, less orthodox Christmas specials.

One of my favorites:

Noam Chomsky: Deconstructing Christmas (1998)

This PBS/WGBH special featured linguist and social commentator Chomsky sitting at a desk, explaining how the development of the commercial Christmas season directly relates to the loss of individual freedoms in the United States and the subjugation of indigenous people in southeast Asia. Despite a rave review by Z magazine, musical guest Zach de la Rocha and the concession by Chomsky to wear a seasonal hat for a younger demographic appeal, this is known to be the least requested Christmas special ever made.