Kids' Corner: Introducing Curio

Sage:
Wednesday morning we heard some noises in the basement. We went down in the basement and we saw a little kitten. We tried catching it. Finally we caught it. We were looking around for it in the basement and I noticed that it was in the box that we were trying to catch it in, so we tipped it up and it was caught. We named it Curio and we petted it and played with it. Then we gave it to somebody to take care of it. Then, the next day, we got it back to keep. It was furry and cute. I like holding Curio, and it purrs when I pet it. It has soft, fuzzy fur and pointy claws. It likes chewing on lots of things: blankets, cushions, paper, and it licks you when you stick your finger in front of its mouth.



Ian:
I think it's funny when Curio gets stuck under the couch and when it falls asleep on my lap. Nora is very excited about Curio. She chases Curio every time she sees it. Curio thinks this is not so good. Lucy is a little too overexcited about Curio--she gets overenthusiastic and accidentally hurts Curio while playing with him/her. Now that Curio is here our house has a center attraction--every time we get home from a trip, every time we haven't seen Curio for a little bit, we go over and pet her when we get back. My favorite thing about Curio is that it is soft to pet, and the bottom of its paws feel like rubber.



Lucy:
I like Curio and I want him to lick my finger. I like to play with Curio--I give him baby toys and he tries to catch them. I pet Curio--you pet him with your hand, like this [makes petting motion]. I need go potty.

Nora:
[trying to say "Cat"] Khuht! Khhht! [delighted squeal.]

Dad Fills in the Blanks:
No, we weren't planning to keep it, but the kids were so enchanted that K.'s resolve began to erode even after somebody took it (temporarily) off our hands. Once the kids named it I think we were doomed. We won't know its gender until Tuesday when we take it to the vet, but we're pretty sure it was feral--it hissed at us when we first found it, but didn't take long before it warmed to human company. It seems to regard K. as its mother, nuzzling and staring at her when it gets thirsty--very sweet, actually. I have no idea how it got into our basement. Seeing it go moon-crazy every night, I would believe anything.

Baptism Day

On May 31st, I turned thirty-one -- and Ian was baptized. What a wonderful present, to see my first child begin down his own spiritual path and make his first covenant with Heavenly Father.


It feels like baptism photos always look dingier than the occasion felt in person. Somehow there's a bright, shiny sense of the day that isn't captured by normal light. But S. and I are very proud of Ian's preparation for his baptism, and love the sweet heart and good desires he so often shows.

Here are all the happy relatives that were able to be there for the occasion...


We've also got a few photos of the fun we had while family was in town. We visited Longwood garden, some playgrounds, wading pools, and ice cream parlors, and the local library. After all the bustle, most everyone left and only S. and I, S.'s parents, and Lucy and Nora stayed around. (Ian and Sage went with my parents to spend a week in Michigan.) We took a couple of more grown-up day trips to visit Gettysburg and Valley Forge together.

Johnny and Uncle S.

Nora and Lana playing in the fountains. (They're 1 month apart in age.)




My dad and sister

All the bigger cousins in a treehouse at Longwood


Lucy and I demonstrate how they slept at Valley Forge

Longwood in the Spring

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn:
God's in his heaven--
All's right with the world!

(Words by Robert Browning, Pictures by K.)