Drum Roll Please....

From this point forward, we will be posting on our new blog called Jottles  Click on the link and surf on over to our new blog!  See you there!

Nap Irony

Stephen's last post on J&T:

Anya is my little pickle. Her tenacity constantly amazes the other members of our family and myself: when she decides to do something, it is nearly impossible to change her mind. The following story is about a time when her tenacity became, well, tenuous.

Every Thursday afternoon I, Stephen, take care of the kids, while Rebecca works for a few hours.  For the most part these afternoons have a routine: lunch time, play time, Fisher’s nap time, Easton’s reading time, Anya’s reading time, quiet time, play time. Usually, Easton and Anya resist naps and opt for quiet times, stating that they aren’t tired. Last Thursday was no different. 

After putting Fisher in his crib for his nap time, I went downstairs to begin reading time with Easton and Anya. Letting them know what to expect the rest of the afternoon, I told them that after reading time they would have a longer quiet time. I encouraged them to take naps during their quiet times, because they seemed tired.  In a pleasant, matter-of-fact tone Anya responded, “I’m not tired.”  Past experience has taught me that there is no way I can persuade (or force) my kids to take a nap, when they don’t think they’re tired. So, I replied in an understanding-father tone, “If you’re not tired, you don’t have to take a nap. But, you will still have a quiet time.”  “Okay,” she squeaked as she skipped to the couch to read her book. 

For those of you who don’t know, Anya is a great reader…when she is not tired. Whether or not she would admit it, she was tired last Thursday, and my need for patience increased exponentially as I struggled to guide my tired pickle through a book of 36+ words (oftentimes encouraging her to sound out each letter and to put the sounds together in order to decipher the words). The more we read, the more difficult it became for Anya to “put the sounds together.”  Even after encountering a word several times, she would still read it as if she had never seen it. 

After a long, hard struggle (spending 40 minutes reading 36 words), we made it to the last word of the book, which we had seen at least three times. Working hard to finish the book, Anya sounded out each letter, “N-A-P.”

“That’s it,” I said.

She continued, “N-A-P.”

“Good,” my encouragement echoed. 

“N---A---P.” The sounds slowly made their way out of her mouth.

Keeping my eyes on the prize, I coached, “Okay, you have the right sounds. Now put them together.”

“N-----A-----“ For some reason the last sound did not escape. I curiously looked down at my little pickle, whose head was nestled on my shoulder. She was falling asleep. Instead of waking her to finish the book, I asked Easton to get Anya’s blanket.  When Easton realized what had happened, he and I exchanged grins.  Then, I carried Anya up the stairs.  As I laid her in the bed, she slowly whispered one last time, “N-----A------P.”  I smiled and thought to myself, “You got it, Pickle.”

J&T Countdown: Protagonist

Here's the last countdown post; the next post will be the announcement of the official new blog address.  I know you're just about to explode!  Ha!

So I'm the Protagonist, if anyone is wondering.  Also, if you're unsure about what a protagonist is, here's Webster's take on it: The main figure or one of the most prominent figures in a real situation.  So the reasoning behind that is that I'm telling my story from my point of view on J&T.  All the characters and events I share about on J&T is from my perspective, so the way I figure Protagonist is quite appropriate!  So a post that comes close to summing me up would have to be Simplicity.

J&T Countdown: Ally

My wonderful husband, my Ally, my charming dishman, my best friend EVER has written his share of posts on J&T.  Here's a sweet, thoughtful post he took the time to document from June 2009 called The Best Weekend Ever!  Just a little inside note: Stephen has a fresh post ready to publish on our new and quickly approaching blog.  Get ready for the exciting new blog address! Coming Soon!

J&T Countdown: Kiddos

Love 'em!  I love my children to pieces!!!  Here's one of the million reasons why: Proverbs 17:22.

J&T Countdown: Fish Fry

Our little guy, Fish Fry, has got some funny stories!  This one from March 2010 is a funny story that definitely captures his personality!  Check out Fisher's Secret.

J&T Countdown: Shepherding Our Children

A core value on J&T centers around parenting I guess because once you're a parent that becomes apart of EVERYTHING you do.  Here's a fun look back at Shepherding Our Children from March 2010 called Child's Heart, Mommy's Joy.

J&T Countdown: Princess

Boy howdy, do I have a lot of good stories about my Princess!  There's so many fun ones I can hardly choose.  So I decided on this one that made me smile: Washing Hair.

J&T Countdown: Hoopla and Hilarium

Here's a funny from August 2007 when Mr. Beaver was not even two years old!  My Ally wrote this Hoopla and Hilarium post Easton Meets Q-Tips.  In fact, he read it to the kids the other day and they asked if he would read it again.  Treasured stories forever.

J&T Countdown: The WORD

All the way from December '09, Even Pretty People Poop.  Not one of my better titles, but a very raw dose of honesty and a generous dash of truth.

J&T Countdown: Jots by Tots

This is one of my favorite subjects to share on J&T.  I love the things kids say!!  So adorable.  Here's a fun and random Jots by Tots from September of '09 when Mr. Beaver was three going on four; here's to Batman!

J&T Countdown: Hip Tip

This Hip Tip is something we did this past winter (2011) as well as two winters ago when I posted Sunshine on the Inside (click on link to learn more).  Great activity for young children.  In fact, we use ours in the Spring and Summer outside on our little hill as a slide.  Resourceful and fun!

J&T Countdown: Mr. Beaver

Our little five and a half year old is discovering his capabilities everyday and soaking up every ounce of knowledge and opportunity to develop.  It is so exciting!  He is a very special and talented little boy.  Although I am discovering that he is much more than a builder, his crafty, ingenuity has always astounded his biased parents.  Here is a look back at Mr. Beaver at age 4 in February 2010.  He did this on his own without any instruction, help, assistance, nuffin'--just him and his creative self!

J&T Countdown: Reflections

To say the least, Jots and Tittles is a full collection of my reflections.  I must share the post, God the Builder, from February of 2010 because I had no idea that it would spark 76 comments!  Check out the link if you're interested in reading some rather profound comments!

J&T Countdown: Top Picks

So here we go, counting down to Jots and Tittles' new blog address.  I must confess, it's a bittersweet thing for me.  I've looked back over the last four years worth of posts (600 of these babies, by the way) and I'm gonna miss it; J&T is such a savory history of the memorable times as a new parent for me!  Instead of writing new posts for the countdown, I have decided to reminisce a few of my favorite posts in each category from over the years.  Top Picks are the posts that are some of my favorites anyways.  So let's start with April 2, 2009 New Neighbors.  Click on the link and enjoy!

Jots By Tots

"Upon my word, you give your opinions very decidedly for so young a person."

Lady Catherine, Pride and Prejudice

Princess gives her opinions very decidedly, no doubt, but she does not like to claim them; clever girl!

"I like that shirt," I pointed to a girl's ruffled shirt in the coloring book Princess and I were coloring in together. "I would wear it!"

"Yeah," she hesitated, "but my kids don't like me to wear ruffles."

"Oh, but do you like ruffles?"

"Weeeell," she tiptoed around my question, "my kids just won't like it if I wear ruffles."

"Ahh, I see."

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If you didn't know, Princess has a slew of children.  Every one of her dolls are her "kids" and they are an integral part of her life and her opinions.  Just a little FYI (wink, wink).

A few days ago, out of the blue, Easton stated plainly, "Everything God gives us is God's."

***************
I could take a daily dose of one of those kind of reminders!  What about you?  Eh?


I grow more in love with my family everyday! 

A thankful heart and a full glass.  Yours Truly!

J&T Announcement

I am not sure if you've noticed but my blog is full of pictures and therefore, slow.  I have been wrestling with what to do about it for a while; not just the slowness but just blogging in general.  I do love it!  For a ton of reasons, updating extended family about the kids, documenting the kids' funny, insightful, and plain lovable moments, for me to process: my life, my crazy brainy weirdness, my world, my everything, just to camp out in cyberworld to make a cozy corner to call my own by personalizing the blog's look and using my own personal terminology and themes and topics , et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!!!

So, heads up, faithful readers, I'm going to be changing the address to my blog and starting a new blog.  Which means that figerts.blogspot.com will be retiring.  The new blog will basically be the same thing; the biggest difference will be the blog's web address.  More on that in the future!  Until then, in honor of the all the topiX I write about on J&T, I will be devoting one post per topic as a way to count down/transition from figerts.blogspot.com to the brand new blog address (which is yet to be announced).  Here are the topiX I'll be writing about and in no particular order.

Post topiX Count Down (once each topic has been covered, I'll announced the new blog address):

1. Ally
2. Fish Fry
3. Hip Tip
4. Hoopla and Hilarium
5. Jots by Tots
6. Kiddos
7. Mr. Beaver
8. Princess
9. Protagonist
10. Reflections
11. Shepherding Our Children
12. The Word
13. Top Picks

P.S. Have no fear!  Change is hard at first but it will be okay!

"Every time I find the meaning of life; they change it." -Unknown but funny!

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." ~ Robert C. Gallagher

Homeschooling Outing

All Ready To Go!

 Two minutes from our house is the Tibetan Cultural Center

This is a preserved mandala; we are going to make one of these for our craft!

5 Minutes to Vent

I haven't done this in a while.  I don't really like to use the blog to vent.  But I can't hold it in any longer!  I am in that horrible phase in my psychological cycle where I am looking for a change.  It's so distracting and annoying, but it's like the change monster inside me will not settle until I find the PERFECT change.  Blah!

Just saying!

That's all for now. And thank you.

Happy Easter!!