Oh the Mind of a Child...

Ben is learning to lie. Having read a few child development books, I knew this was coming because he is learning that I can't see directly into his mind and read his thoughts - although I think I come pretty close most of the time!!! So here is what happened today while Ben was doing "quiet time" with Emily.

"Ben, you put sunscreen on Emily - where is it now?" Blank look back. "Ben, I know you put sunscreen on Emily because I can smell it. Where is the sunscreen?" A little bit of curiosity now. "Where is the sunscreen?" Pause - I don't know. "Ben, you also have sunscreen on because I can see it glistening on your arm and you also smell like sunscreen." Smells his arm and looks back at me with defiance in his little eyes. "Ben, where is the sunscreen?" I don't know. "Ben, where is the sunscreen?" I don't know!

So - I decided to change tactics since that one wasn't working. "Ben, where did you get the sunscreen from?" A bottle. "Where was the bottle located?" I don't know. (Do you see the same pattern!?!) "Ben, where did you put the bottle when you were done?" I don't know!
Well - I can't even remember how this ended because it was the end of a long morning (It was 1 pm!). I did eventually find the bottle of sunscreen, but I can't remember where also. However - knowing that these times are coming - any (moral) suggestions for my sweet little stinker who is more like his father than I know what to do with would be much appreciated!!!

SO - this little boy totally loves Baby Emily. Every prayer includes her to grow big. Heck in this picture he is even letting her wear his shin guards! If that isn't true love, I don't know what is! (Please also notice the cowboy boots with the shorts - I'm really going to miss that look and the smiles it brings to people's faces when we go out...)

The time has come to retire Ben's beloved cowboy boots. We have passed them on to a little boy at church and hope he may have as many happy memories as we have had. Our little cowboy was a bit devasted when Friday we put on the boots his feet hurt so bad he couldn't even take a step. I wonder how long they have been pinching... We went to the store to find new ones, but boots are not the typical target/walmart fashion in the middle of the summer. Although this is Texas, so you would think... Oh well - we will continue returning to the store to find more cowboy boots. This means no more Owen's Farm, rodeos, zoos, etc until we can find more boots! And we best hurry because his 4th birthday is in less than a month and he wants to ride a bucking bronco! Good luck Matthew with your "new" cowboy boots. May you love them as much as we have and may you wear them with shorts as is a RIGHT for all little boys.