Speaking
of Caelum...well, was anyone? I think it must be hard to be the middle
child. I can't speak from much experience, as the very spoiled and well
loved on baby of four, but I do know it's hard to be a younger
sibling. I remember wanting to do what Rachel did, and being told that I had to wait until I was older. That's hard to hear, especially when it's
something SO AMAZING like getting my ears pierced. For Caelum, it's playing soccer, doing VBS in the summer, and being tall enough for his Cars bike.
It's crazy to think that he's only three and a half because he is so very capable and brave. But he's three! He's just a little boy still: setting up picnics and feeding Horsey, making a mess with paints or food, and needing monkey blankie to go to sleep. I'm glad that he's still a little boy and I don't want him to grow up quickly. I'm glad he chose to have a unicorn painted on his face at our church's BBQ, especially since he specified that it could shoot ice out of its horn.
He says amazing, hilarious things. We went to Panera for breakfast the other day, and Owen was hassling me for another chocolate chip bagel. Caelum turned to him and said, "Food is not your god, Owen." He loves to ask for new prayer requests when we pray at night and has been very faithfully praying for my Aunt Phyllis who is in bad health. Caelum also has a "shark 'maginary friend" who is always up for some antics or teaching him complex rules to a new game. He (Caelum, not the shark) still loves to cuddle and has sweet chubby little boy arms, but he's barrel-chested and drops his shoulder to tackle. His new favorite game is being "Josh" who plays for Clemson. Owen is Dabo and makes Caelum run drills. It's fantastic. They are going to love attending a real live Clemson game this fall. Going to the First Friday Parade got them all fired up...for making silly faces with Mantis, if nothing else.
Last weekend, we went to the fair and there were some very cool stilt puppet creatures that looked like Skeksis from The Dark Crystal. I grant you, they were a little scary, but I was shocked to find Caelum had hidden in the bushes and did not want to be within 50 feet of these things.
Caelum wanted to go on every ride (he's a ball of contradictions, that one), but of course he was not tall enough for most of the cool ones. Not even the Ferris Wheel. If you look very closely in this picture, you can see Zach, Caelum and Esmé waiting while Owen and I went on the Ferris Wheel. It was Owen's first time on one, and he loved it, but don't tell Caelum how awesome it was. And don't worry, he got to go on plenty of lame kiddie rides.
Caelum's been getting a lot of, "You can when you're older." Each week starts off with a morning at Classical Conversations, where Caelum is still too young to officially be in the class. He spends a few hours in the back of the classroom at his own desk or playing on the floor with the other younger siblings. They'll do puzzles or workbooks or play with blocks. Then he participates now and then. He is quite capable, if I can brag a bit. When he plays the review games with the big kids (5 to 7 years old), he's able to answer most of the questions. All that information is sinking into his little brain. This year, CC has been going much better, as Caelum is content to do his own thing and then participate in things that look interesting to him (science projects, art, and so on). Also, I think this year's tutor is much more welcoming toward him. It sets a whole different tone.
When we're doing school at home, Caelum is more excited about it than Owen. He asks what he gets to do next, and when it will be his turn to do math and reading. I'm learning that I really need to plan just as much for Caelum as I do for Owen. He's not content to "just go play;" he wants in on the school action.
The other weekly activity that Caelum is still somehow too young to be in is Kids Camp at our church. It's a great program where the kids learn about music, play games, and memorize some verses and catechism. Having taught Caelum's Sunday School class, I know he could totally handle it, but he has to be four to be involved. So, we've been doing special outings instead while Owen is at camp. The favorite so far was the mall where he could go on a little ride with his sister. It was pretty sweet.
Speaking of sweet, Esmé and Caelum were taking a bath together the other night and I caught a sweet kiss on camera. Be still my heart. He's wonderfully protective and kind to her, and enjoys having a sister much more now that she's so interactive. I'll hear him repeatedly saying to her, "Can I please have that? Can I please have that?" when she has yanked a toy away from him.
Also, Caelum just about saved her life the other day. I didn't realize the gate at the top of our stairs was down, and of course, Esmé scooted as fast as she could toward the stairs. Caelum grabbed her shoulders and was holding her back, yelling, "Help, help! Esmé's going down the stairs!" Good boy, Caelum. We sure love you.
I see you rocking in the background there, Owen. Your post will come soon enough. Like a month or two.
