Checklist Before Chicago

Tomorrow morning I leave for a four-day trip to Chicago.  (Owen says, "You're going for one night, right?...How are you going to be gone for three nights?!") I'm having a bit of separation anxiety, so let's just talk about my kids for a moment.

Right now, Caelum is just about topping out his cute quotient.  And yes, I'm a ridiculous mom so I can use terms like "cute quotient."  Not that I even remember what "quotient" means.  Something mathy.  Turns out I would need math someday, just like all those teachers told me.

Anyway, as I was clearly getting to, Caelum is at what has to be my favorite age.  He's walking, "talking," getting into stuff, teasing, dancing, and exploring.  Yet he's still a baby.  He still wants to be cuddled and held...just not that much.  He likes to give open mouth kisses, feed himself, and fill up diggers with loads.  He tries to sing along when we have family worship each night and he can beat out a rhythm on the djembe.  The kid is amazing.  He's tough as nails, too. He'll fall down, take an elbow to the head, and get stuck in a small space-all within about 30 seconds-and then he'll be up and climbing on a kitchen chair in the next moment.  He puts the "bruise" in Zembruski.

Yet as entertained with Caelum as I am, Owen has been absolutely amazing me each day.  He's a pretty complex guy, and he's thoughtful and hilarious.  We were talking about how Jesus is going to come back one day and he said, "Can he visit us at our house?" I said I hoped he would.  Owen said, "Does Jesus have a car?"  I said I didn't know for sure, but I didn't think so.  Owen said, "Oh. Maybe he has a pick up truck."  

Owen has really been rocking out hard with his acoustic guitar and his electric guitar.  He's developed some sweet moves, and he's great at identifying what instruments are playing whatever song we're listening to at the time.  He sings really well, and we've found a violin version of "Party Rock" that gets a lot of play in our house right now.  I tell you what, my kids are amazing.

And don't even get me started on that Zach...