9/13/07 ~ First day at *our* home!

"What can I do with her in the backseat of the car?"

I loved that question that Jake asked this morning. It showed that his mind is working and focused on his *job* and making sweet Carmen happy and comfortable.

I must say, I'm having a difficult time referring to this as his *job* because it's such a joyful job, such a blessing in all of our lives...but isn't that what the ideal job SHOULD be?? How wrong is it that society has it ingrained in my head that the word *job* should be equated with something NOT joyful and fulfilling?? OK...so this is my issue and I'll work on it.

:)

So the day began picking up Carmen and Jake reading her books in the backseat of the car. I was smiling the entire time, listening to their precious conversations and their laughter.

At home, I made a special Carmen plate of food for her to eat whenever she feels the urge. She and Jake spent the last hour playing with toys downstairs. She told Jake she needed to go potty (she lets him help her) and now they are upstairs, looking for scissors to cut things out of magazines. They're looking for scissors AND calling for them at the same time. :)

Carmen loves saying that things are her *Favorite*. Guinea pigs are her *favorite* animal. Jake set up the chess board and they started stacking the wooden checkers and the checkers were Carmen's *favorite* thing! The pretzels that I put on her plate (Snyder's Organic Oat Bran) are her *favorite* snack!

She's so sweet and bursting with love and beauty. She keeps wanting to protect Nugget (the guinea pig) from Choco (our Welsh Corgi). And she keeps saying how BEAUTIFUL Nugget is! And now she is sharing her melon balls with Nugget.

"I like her," says Carmen.


:)

On to running and hopping while Jake collects stuff to paint coffee filters.

Jake was always a *rule-follower* and even one who would report anyone who broke any of the rules. So when he informed Carmen to wash her brush before she dipped it in another color, she showed him the possibility of NOT washing his brush! And Jake said, "Hm. That's actually quite pretty!"

We love Carmen because she tells us how it is. That's what we love in free kids. They let you know how to create an environment in which they can Shine. They know they are respected and it's an honor that they trust the adults around them to make sure their needs/desires are met.

She told Jake she was thirsty and was very specific about what to drink. Water from the faucet, not a water bottle. Orange juice with a little water in it (from the faucet).

I love free kids.

Carmen is now painting several coffee filters so that I can, and I quote, "decorate your whole house with them!"

Jake is used to very *directed* play and instructions, as this is how he was in his earlier years. That's why Carmen is in an environment where she is deeply respected and celebrated!

We walked to the garden to harvest a zucchinni for dinner and only found one as big as a baseball bat! So Carmen picked some tomatoes and beans.

Jake and Carmen went to the swingset and to the pond while I made sweet potato fries. Carmen said they had fun and they played *Kitty*. I asked how one plays *Kitty* and she said, "We chased ourselves and ran around."

Jake lured her to the couch with the promise of reading library books. The couch was covered with their cutting and gluing project, so Jake started clearing it off. Carmen, who asks *why* a lot, asked why he was cleaning it off. Jake said, "Because I like to read on a clean couch." Carmen proclaimed, "Well I like to read on a DIRTY couch!"

The sweet potato fries were *not* a hit with Carmen, and I asked her if she would like something else to eat or drink and she said, "Yes. Plain water."

Now Sam is cleaning Nugget's cage and I asked Carmen if she would take care of Nugget while Sam cleaned her cage and Carmen is VERY excited about that, complete with hopping and applause!!

By the way, Carmen keeps referring to Sam as *that other guy*!! And she is SO drawn to Jake...when I asked if she would take care of Nugget, she automatically turned to Jake and said, "Let's take care of Nugget while that other guy cleans her cage!!"