Category Archives: Kid Stuff

Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature rising.


By the time the clock strikes 6:00 in the evening, the daily grind with children is nearing its end.  The day is all downhill from there, right?  Not as long as those pretty little blonde haired wonders are still awake. 

At 6:00 PM EST on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, Anna opened the backyard gate only to let Brew (our four-legged pal) explore the wild blue yonder.  I looked like a not so secret agent in search of a star witness in a high profile case.  Oh, I exaggerate.  I just ran up and down the street yellin’ like a true Southerner, “Brew!  Herrreee Breewwwww!”  My children traveled ten feet behind me wiping tears from their eyes.  Because, being the good mama that I am, I told them, “Well, we’ve lost Brew now.  That’s why you don’t open the gate.” 

Or the window, as was the case the last time Brew hoped for a newfound freedom.

So, we recovered Brew and I consoled the children.  As soon as I caught my breath, I commenced to making dinner.  Little did I know that John Henry would use this time to brush up on his “Dial 911” skills.  My phone rings and the lady on the other end from 911 dispatch, or whatever they’re called, informs me that there was a hang up from my number.  Hmmmm.  I told her it must have been one of my children.

“We still have to send someone out to make sure it’s okay,” she explains.

Sure enough an officer shows up at my door, and John Henry runs up the stairs. 

After handing over my license for…..for what?  A record check?  To log me into the system as a potential criminal mama?  The officer realized the only threat to society was us taking up the time of our city’s finest.

There is no doubt that by now, I am on the C.I.A.’s radar.  From the T.S.A. personnel at the airport finding these items in John Henry’s pockets….

To Anna setting off the house alarm while I was taking a shower causing ADT to leave messages on my landline, my cell phone, and my husband’s cell phone.  ‘Cause I was in the shower!

To the events of yesterday evening.  I’m on the radar.  I’m sure of it.

It’s times like these that I see a new series airing called “Baby Borrowers”, and I think, where do I sign up?  I’m just funnin’.  No really, I am.  You know after talking about sweet family time with the children in yesterday’s post….Jesus loves you high and low talk,  that I would never consider letting anyone borrow my children.  Now, I might be open to one of you opening your home to my beautiful blessings.  So, if interested, please comment. 

Ain’t got but one scripture to tie into this one – “This, too, shall pass.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

Hallelujah, Amen & Selah.

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Step aside Simon and Garfunkel.


We initially assumed that John Henry was the only one with musical talent – or, at the very least, a passion for it.

Then, Anna impressed us not only with her song writing ability, but with her preference for the folk genre.

Stay tuned.  Next time, they are sure to do a remake of “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land.”

I know.  What to do with all this talent?

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Sweet Interruptions


So, I was in the kitchen the other day.  No, I wasn’t whipping up one of my incredibly famous meals from scratch.  My wonderfully pink Dell laptop rests on my kitchen counter, and I was all consumed.  I do understand that it’s cool to go Mac, but Dell and I have had a successful relationship for many years now.  He has been faithful and true – and my software works as it should on him.  To toss him aside for a trendier model just seems unkind.

So, I was in the kitchen. 

I hear John Henry calling from the family room, “Mom, would you come in here with me, so I know where you are?”

I saved my draft and met his request.

A couple of days later, it was pretty much the same scenario.

“Mom, would you come in here, so I can see you?”

“Yes, son.”   And, so I did.

I wonder how often God calls us to come be with Him, and we are too frenzied with other things.  I can assure you it happens all the time with yours truly.  Don’t get me wrong.  I dust off my Bible at times and read it the old-fashioned way.  I do, however, like the accessibility of reading the Bible online – on my wonderfully pink Dell, no less.  I’m always swift to pray for my family and others.  I usually serve when there is a need.

But, I often don’t take the time to slow down – take my eyes off of the consumptions of the day – and just be with Him.  No appealing.  Just a little girl enjoying time with her Father – and a Father enjoying His little girl.

I think our Heavenly Father call us often.  “Hey, Dusty, would you come in here with me, so I can see you?”

Gotta run.

“Coming John Henry!”

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The rewards of a college education.


My friend to Anna:  “Where is your daddy?”

Anna:  “He is flying er-planes.  He makes the money.”

Me:  “And, what do I do?”

Anna:  “Nuffing.”

Nice.

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Silver teeth and locusts.


I taught three and four year olds yesterday at church.  Anna, my new student, informed me, “You’re not a teacher, you are mom.”  I’m not sure how she’ll take it when she discovers that I actually once did teach young minds.  The day’s lesson was on John the Baptist and how he spent many a day in the desert, consumed his share of wild locusts, and talked to people about their sin.  Their edible craft consisted of a cracker, some peanut butter, a few pretzels and a few m&m’s.  It was pretty much craft heaven for the little sugar connoisseurs.  They were to assemble the “craft supplies” into a wild locust or as one kid pointed out, a “cricket”.

Before I let the kids devour their locust, I suddenly thought to ask them if any were allergic to peanuts.  I may as well had asked them to explain e=mc2.  However, one boy asked, loudly (either he thought I was hard of hearing or he had no volume control), “DOES IT HAVE SUGAR!?!?” 

“Yes.”  I explained.

“MY DENTIST SAYS I CAINT EAT SUGAR‘CUZ I GOT A SILVER TOOTH!”  He EXCLAIMED.

Hmmmm. 

And, when I later asked Anna what she learned at church that day, she was quick to tell me “about peanut butter and a cracker.”

I’m just so relieved that she is soaking up the Gospel.  And, I’m further relieved that the others are taking care of their silver teeth.

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I also hide under beds and in closets.


Getting my kids motivated to get ready for school is no easy task.  The other morning, I politely asked them in my sing song voice, “Go get dressed for school.”  (Kind of sing it when ya say it.)  A few moments later, I notice they are having too much fun in Anna’s princess tent to attempt taking off their PJS (much less the princess gown.)   So, again I say, patiently still, “Okay guys, get out of the tent and get dressed for school.” 

More moments passed.  And, you mommas know what happens to your voice once more moments pass.

Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and crack every windshield in the house with one growl, I exclaimed, “GET OUT OF THE TENT AND GET DRESSED BEFORE I SPANK THE BOTH OF YA!” 

Well, you know the whole “spank” suggestion works….although neither were shaking in their PJs.

As Anna walks by me, she stops and says, “You’re a monster.”

Rrraargh!

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Take one Happy Meal and call me in the morning.


Yesterday was a boo-tiful (as Anna would say) day to be outdoors.  We set out our beach chairs and imagined that the ocean was only a few feet away.  Then, Anna thought it would be fun to play in, or on, her little red car.  The only thing more fun than riding inside the little red car is riding on top of it. 

So, she did.

Except, the car kept traveling throwing my little 32 lbs. onto the ground and the back of her head into the corner of a brick column. 

We left the beach and headed to the Emergency Room that pretty much took 3 hours of my life that I’ll never get back.

One staple to the back of the head…..finally…..and we were done.

My brave little beachcomber and car climber whimpered only for a second.  Then, I did what every mother does when her child has a bad day – took her to McDonalds.

And, that’s all I got.

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The weekend that was.

The Takle family had quite the event-filled weekend.

First, this guy graduated from pre-school.

Yep.  A real, live graduation filled with entertainment from the graduates themselves….and, a little sister who insisted on being included.

We then prepared for a big wedding weekend.  Falon, who used to care for my children, tied the knot with her Tulsa police officer.  The ring-bearer and flower girl aren’t much for rehearsals.

But, they did love the dance floor.

They didn’t want to see their Falon go, so they did what they knew to do.

Eventually, even they could not overcome the weight of their sleepy heads.

But, this one did manage to fall asleep with his arm still clutched to his ring bearer pillow.

It was a good weekend. 

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Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness