Rooster Stew

Warning! If you have a weak stomach or get especially attached to animals and hate to see them eaten, do not read this blog!

Edmund was out of control! Our alpha rooster had not only taken over the flock but the children as well. No one was allowed into the backyard unless armed with a broom and B.B. gun. We couldn't go in to feed them, we couldn't go in to gather the eggs, and we certainly couldn't go in to play. Benjamin, tried the ole' "I'm bigger and faster than you" tactic but to no avail. As my son reared up against the rooster's oncoming attack and attempted to intimidate him, Edmund stuck his ground and flexed his muscles, attempting to spur Benjamin with the very adequate spurs on his feet. (He scared poor Benjamin to death but no one got hurt during this face-off-- or beak-off if you prefer!) We decided enough was enough. We would win this war and get a nice tasty meal in the meantime!

9AM Ryan and Benjamin shoot Edmund with the pellet gun
(skipping the gory details)
9:30 Ryan plucks Edmund leaving feathers all over the backyard
10:30 Ryan skins Edmund and gets him ready for a nice long soak in the boiler
11:30 We put Edmund on to boil
6:00 The Pool family enjoys a nice bowl of "Rooster Soup" (otherwise known as chicken and dumplings for you city-folk!) for dinner as we sit around and remember what a mean-hearted little rooster he was!

Benjamin the Sage

We have the funniest five-year old on the planet! He is always talking my ear off about random things and I LOVE to listen to him-- The way he puts ideas together and comes up with such creative ways of fixing something or making something better, the way he offers such wisdom to his sisters or I, the way he can jump from making a rabbit trap to thoughts about his future wife-- this kid cracks me up continuously.
A few days ago, he brought up his future wife. I soon found out her most endearing quality in his eyes would be that she would laugh at the funny things he said. He told me, "and the best thing about her, she will laugh at my words." (Isn't that all why we married who we did, because at some point they laughed at the right time at something we said and it made us just know they were THE ONE for us? :)

Yesterday Benjamin was in the kitchen talking to me while I did the dishes. Our time together went something like this:

Benjamin plays with the toaster oven and takes the grill out and begins telling me how he could use that part of the toaster oven for his rabbit trap.

When he is done with that he comes over and starts rubbing my back and tells me what a good Mommy I am; "Mommy, you are the most special Mommy ever!" (melt my heart please!)

Then he goes through the knife drawer (this kid has a fascination with sharp objects) and starts explaining to me what he could cut with each knife-- a tree branch, a steak, make into a spear, etc. When he comes to the Whet Stone in the back he says, "what's this?" I explain to him it is a Whet Stone and that it is used to sharpen knives. So then he asks me, "So is that called Whetting the knives?" ......hmmmmmm........he had me on that one!

So then he moves on to his future wife. He wants her to look like me (melt, melt again) but be from the Philippines. He is fascinated with the Philippines since we pray for our pastor from S.A. who goes there several times a year to help out the missionaries there.

And from there we move on to the hog he wants to catch, the rabbit trap again, and finally he asks me if I think God will let him go into someone's heart with Him after he gets to heaven!

I love this kid!

Turning over a new leaf...again!

I actually made it through a whole day without getting sick or taking a nap once! Praise God for feeling better! Just when you think you are forever going to be "lazy" and discontent in the tummy forever, a new phase of pregnancy begins and you begin to remember how great life can be!

Family updates

A few holiday updates on us:

The girls were baptized on November 23 at our new church here in D.R. It was quite an experience! They were so excited! It was precious. All of our families came -- both sets of grandparents AND great-grandparents and most of the aunts and uncles! It was a wonderful time of celebration for the girls and hopefully a time of honor for our parents and grandparents. We asked them to share some Godly wisdom or God-experience with the our family in order to pass on the legacy they are to our children. Many of them shared.

Ryan was able to baptize the girls and even Benjamin and I were in the water too! The pastor had asked if we minded being a "teachable moment" for him and we readily agreed. Not at all that we are a family to be put on a pedestal but as a reminder that God uses families in mighty ways for His glory. Benjamin wants to be baptized soon as well. We are working through a book with him to make sure he has personalized salvation before we go ahead with the baptism. What a blessing! My sister got some pictures but I am so bad at downloading I will have to post them later.

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We had our second baby appointment on Thursday. Everyone got to see our Little Willbe wiggling his arms and legs around and even turning to the side! I am 12 weeks along and beginning to feel more "normal" finally. I was pretty green there for a few weeks. For those of you who want to know-- we will NOT be finding out the sex of the baby before his birth-day but we all refer to him as a he. Benjamin specifically asked God for a baby brother and four weeks later we found out I was pregnant so, we will honestly all be shocked if it is a girl! But, we know God will give our family whatever HE knows is best so we will be blessed either way-- just shocked!

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The girls and I participated in a "Live Nativity" last night at our church. It was so neat! I have never done one before-- what a great Christmas tradition to begin! The girls loved it and made the cutest little angel (Maya) and shepherd (Sarah) you ever saw! Benjamin was supposed to be a shepherd too but got croup really bad the night before so Ryan and he stayed home and went to bed early! The girls are begging me to let them do all three nights next year-- I only signed us up for one this year since it was our first time and I had no idea how they would do. I am so thrilled they loved it too!

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We are just about where I wanted to be with our schoolwork! Sarah will officially be a third grader in January. Maya will finish first grade and Benjamin, kindergarten. They are all doing very well. I have been wanting to post some of the girls' writing but haven't gotten to it. I am pretty impressed by their abilities since I have never really formally "taught" them writing skills. They still spell phonetically most of the time but their punctuation is perfect! Even putting in quotations and commas when someone is speaking. As I never "taught" them this I am assuming it is from all the reading we have done since infancy that has made the difference.

My goal for months to come is get more organized! I have been working under a pretty non-existent routine for the past few months and we need more order around here. I figure, I need to work really hard at training the children (and self-disciplining myself) these coming months before #4 makes his appearance this summer. We start a new Sonlight curriculum in January which I am very excited about! If any of you (Beverly) feel like God has given you a special home-management gift, please let me know, I could use some help!!!

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Until next time, whenever that may be.....
Merry Christmas!