When we go to Mali...

Tonight Harley asked me if we were going to see friends from France again... 'I don't know Harley... I hope we do.' So then she flipped through a book she was looking at and smiled... 'Can I bring this with me to Mali?'... Oh the confused mind of this girl... her world is so big, so small and so confused... I have explained many times the geographical logistics of where we are and where we were, but it is not in her head. Then later she asked me, 'Can we have lots of parties here like we did in France?' Oh the priorities of my daughter. Every other day she asks me if it is a party day so she can dress up... we were invited to a Baptem, (A baby dedication party that lasts all day) this weekend and she is SO excited! I hope it meets up to her expectations...

Big Shoes

Harley loves shoes... and clothes. These shoes belong to Kadjatu, the girl who works in our home. she leaves them on the porch when she comes in to work. Harley helped herself to them today and walked around the yard feeling very grown up.

Our girl loves ramen...

Filling summer days with crafts and games...

Harley asks us regularly for ramen to eat. She just LOVES IT! We need to find some ways to make it more healthy, but it is great to have something that your kids just love to eat anytime.

Eat up!!!

Harley pretty much does whatever she wants. The word we say to her more than any other is, "Ask!"

We would love to crack that nut, and see what goes on inside of her head. We have spent more time repairing things or cleaning up after Harley than the three boys... combined.

Sometimes it's just funny.

I hope you enjoy this video.

Go to www.jefffrazee.com/harley_watermelon.m4v for a quick down load (19.6 mb) to watch on your computer or iPod.

or

www.jefffrazee.com/harley_watermelon.mov to watch on-line in HD (720 x 1280). This takes a little longer.

Fr Antics

. Okay, So here's her newest thing.
. Yesterday I served Zechariah and Harley their lunches outside. I knew Harley didn't really like the salami lunch meat I gave her, but that's what she said she wanted.
. I went inside for something. When I came back Harley had stuck her lunch meat to the cat. I've got to admit it looked really funny. I went to get myself some lunch, and when I came back Harley was giving a bite of her lunch meat to her great grandma (Granny)! I'm guessing Granny didn't see the lunch meat stuck to the cat.
. With Harley, it's always a weird balance trying to discipline her and not stifle her creativity. The boys clued into it way sooner. I think Harley is just as opposed to asking if she can do anything as she is to getting punished. It sure will be interesting to see how this all plays out as she gets older.

Antics

Yesterday, the kids were playing, and Heidi and I had some time to talk. We talked for about 15 min., maybe less. I came out to find Harley with a trash can in the sink. She had filled it with soap and water... of course, it was a full garbage can. The doors to outside were left open. The fridge was open, and she had broken a block of cheese into little cubes. I noticed that there was a tube of diaper rash cream on the table... then I found the chair... she had covered one arm of the chair with cream.
Oh! to harness all her creative energies!

Harley's Crazy Dance

This was shot in October of 2008. I love finding out kids playing by themselves. It's like you walked in on them practicing who their going to be. Harley loves to dance. I've got four or five more clips like this one. I really want to cut them together in a fun way.
Right now Harley is learning self-control above everything else. She has fast and dramatic emotional responses to a lot of things. So we make her calm down and explain herself, ask for what she wants, and move on to the next thing if the answer is no.
I hope I'm sending you a super cute video of Harley dancing with a group of Malian girls in a couple years.