Spidah

We went to a really fun bug-themed party for my friend's four-year-old last weekend. We decorated bug jars, ate kid-friendly food, and then went on a bug hunt (the plastic variety) outside. The kids had a blast, and we enjoyed the cake (a dirt cake, of course) as well. Logan took his little treasures, the bugs, home in his decorated jar, and Auden has been fixated on them as well. He's especially interested in the spiders--big, florescent-colored doozies that would never appear in the natural world...well, if they did, I'd probably squeal to see one. You know it's a big deal when Auden adds a new word to his repertoire: "Spidah!" he says excitedly when he's fishing them out of the jar. Then, he plucks it up, puts the huge abdomen in his mouth, and bites down. Just like a scene from Fear Factor.

Logan is still being Mr. Bossypants lately. His new thing is explaining that he's "the boss," and if you displease him or say a bad word (which is "No," by the way), you will not be allowed to go to his birthday party. My response to his threats doesn't seem to phase him: "I've got news for you, kid. I throw your birthday parties. No mom, no party." It's really funny though, how your own words become twisted around and spit back out at you in the voice of a toddler who can't quite say his Rs or Ls yet.

We finally went to church this Sunday, after a four-month hiatus. The sermon was about the need to help anyone in need at any time, that life is a test to see just how kind you are, even when you're at your worst. I've failed that test a few times at least. I recall in particular the time when I passed a man sitting outside a restaurant, clearly mentally disturbed, homeless. My first instinct was to go buy him some food or ask if he needed some help, but we were headed to my folks' with the boys, in a hurry, and, frankly, the second thing that ran through my mind was to wonder how safe it would be to get involved in the situation. I probably should have gone with my first instinct, since my avoiding the situation rankled me...still rankles me. But that's the choice I made that day.

After the service, I took a couple of wish lists for needy families, as I have done for the past few Christmases. It's nice to be able to help. Still, I'd like to be more open to helping others when it's not as convenient or comfortable.