What is it?

Okay...obviously, it's a piece of a tree root. But in the hands of a 6-year-old boy with an imagination who comes across it while hiking in the woods -- as Emery recently did -- what do you think it "became"?

Answer next week.

Big Boy

Emery turned 6 years old this summer. Ever notice how birthdays are much more exciting when you're in your sixth year rather than your sixth decade? He's been talking about this event ever since he ate the last piece of birthday cake when he turned 5! He's told me many different ideas over the past year about what kind of party he was going to have when he turned 6. But when the big day came, the only "party" he had was one with family. He didn't seem to mind a bit, though.

We all went bowling and had a great time. I really don't remember the last time I was bowling and it felt pretty awkward. The next morning some of my "bowling muscles" were saying, "What the heck???" It's fun to go bowling with kids now because they have those little guards that pop up and block the gutter and it gives them a little bit of a chance. I don't know what the age requirement is for those, but they ought to be put up for geezers, too.

Savannah and Emery have been bowling before, so they were like old pros. Telling us where to get our shoes, what kind of ball we needed, and how to do almost everything. Emery cracked me up...but then, he always does. His form was "enthusiastic" if not "perfect" and he can really deliver the ball. It was their family as well as Jerry, Jessica, me and Papa Jim.

After bowling we all went out to eat. Emery's choice...Mexican. He's all about the chips and cheese. (Me, too.) Then we went to Chick-fil-A and he opened his gifts and the kids played on the indoor playground for a little while. A good family fun evening to usher in this special date.

Happy Birthday, my little man. I hope I can help you celebrate many more!

The Gift Quilts

Most years recently, somebody has gotten a quilt as a Christmas gift from me. This year I made two of them...one for each of the grand kids. Now I realize that no 3 or 6 year old is going to climb up on Santa's lap and say they want a quilt for Christmas, but I do hope they will enjoy using their quilts. Some time ago I had asked Savannah if we should make her a pink and white quilt. I had already been collecting some pink fabrics. She said, "Oh, yes. And purple (okay) and red (stop right there). So I made her a pink and white and purple quilt. And, actually, when she opened it she was very happy with it. We were sitting on the floor and she wrapper it around herself and curled up in my lap and said, "It makes me want to go back to sleep." That's as good a reaction as I could hope for. The other day we snuggled up in it on her bed for a photo op.

Emery's quilt is a bunch of fish bowls. It was a lot of fun to collect all the different fish and mermaid and underwater fabrics for this one. He was pretty busy with superheros, toys, games and candy on Christmas morning and didn't pay much attention to it. But when we got it out to look at it the other day, he was pretty fascinated. It's like looking in a lot of little windows at the aquarium.