passed over

God answered our prayers! The termites passed us over.

Honestly, I know that sounds strange, but they did. The termite guy found them outside (HOA's responsibility) and then went to check the attic. He was delighted that we had attic access, as he'd checked our neighbor's house earlier in the week, and couldn't get into the attic from their condo.

We have the only attic access in the building, and he told me that he found termites in our neighbor's attics - both of them, on either side - but none in ours. He found wings in ours, and said they'd be flying from the neighbor on one side to the neighbor on the other. But they weren't in our attic.

I suppose it's not that surprising as our attic was treated before we moved in, but still . . . I think God answered our prayer pretty obviously.

Now we are praying that the HOA is good and prompt about taking care of the part that's their responsibility. And hopefully the treatment will go okay, because they are going to have to go through our home to do the treatment as - again - we're the only ones with attic access.


In other news, I give you some Sam-isms:

1) "I like choc-lick."
2) "Sam, who was under the bridge, trying to eat the Billy Goats Gruff?" "The Con-Troll."
3) "Daddy has a unicorn-cycle!"
4) "This is my pick-pick truck!"
5) "The fighter-fighters are going to fight the fire!"

Also, Adam taught him how to say "non-Newtonian liquid" last night, after we had made some homemade icing.

Brigid has discovered that she's strong enough to pick up the babies (one at a time) which is impressive, considering that they're about 2/3's of her weight. She only does it with permission, though, when I'm there to spot. She's also started "wrestling" with them, but very, very gently, and it makes them laugh. She sits down beside them and puts her arms around them, and then falls backwards slowly, letting them fall on top of her. It has such sweetness to it, because she is so very deliberately taking a game that she loves to play (she and Sam play "wrestle" - happily and carefully, but much more rough-and-tumble) and tones it way, way, way, waaaaaaaaaay down so that she can share it with her baby sisters. Seeing a four year old be that aware of people outside herself, that able to modify her behavior in consideration of people she loves, able to realize that they're smaller than her, and adjust her actions accordingly . . . well, it's a four year old who knows how to love, and it's breath-takingly sweet.

Sam, also, is the best big brother you could ask a two-year old to be. He isn't as fascinated with his little sisters as Brie is, but he's kind to them, doesn't hit them when they snatch his toys but instead yells at them, "stop, Baby, stop!" (which is a LOT of self-control for someone who's only two), and when he notices them looking at him, he enjoys making faces and talking to them in funny voices to make them laugh.

Jane and Kate, in addition to knowing their own names and "Mommy" and "Daddy" (not to say, but to understand), also, I think, understand "Sam" and "Brigid", because they get very excited when I get them up from their naps and ask them if they want to go find Brie and Sam.

I like how family-ish our family is beginning to feel.


Thank you all for praying for us.