The real story behind Small Fry, her tears and the key?
We were outside in the back yard. I was trying (and failing) to get some photographs of MckFlurry alone on this little green table in the tall grass. Yeah, that didn’t work. Stellan was playing with a house key. I didn’t want him to a) put it in his mouth or b) lose it, but I didn’t have the free hands to do anything about it. So I asked him, “Sweetie, would you give that key to your sister?” He did. It was as easy at that. I went on, continuing to fail miserably at my photo shoot idea for a few more minutes, and then Small Fry was crying. Stellan had tried to take the key back from her, apparently with as much brute force as a one year old can muster. I wrapped up what I was (failing at) doing and went over. Camera around my neck, I bent down and dealt with the crisis. As I squatted down, Small Fry asked, “Mama, will you take a picture of me cryin’?” Um, sure. If you want me to. So, I did. She stopped crying after that. Small Fry wanted to see the digital result on the back of my camera (aren’t modern kids so funny that way?) but I told her the picture was way too bright and didn’t really turn out.
So then, with fortitude I believe only a girl could muster, she willed herself to start crying again on the spot. I kid you not. Real tears and everything. “Try it again, Mama!” Oh dear, what kind of monster have I created!? I kept my laughter to myself the best I could, snapped this photograph, and then hugged the tears right out of her eyes once more. She trotted away, with the key (which is now lost, thankyouverymuch), and that was that.
Kids are so funny. And so are you guys!!
I had a blast picking some winners from my Name That Photo contest with Small Fry’s crying/key photograph. In no particular order, here are the runner’s up:
God help me, which car is mine? by Dorsey. I enjoyed this lighthearted poking fun of my own embarrassing car experience.
Small Cry by Rachel Boldman.
You’re going to miss THIS! by snas. Indeed!!
I really thought that was my Powerwheel…How embarrassing! by ida. Another spoof. Honestly, I never would have thought of that connection! Y’all are clever.
Small Fries do cry. by Lindsey. Hehe. Yes, they do!
Am I my brothers’ key-per? by jlynnmom. Funny stuff!
But I was only trying to unLACH him momma! by Vicki. Great play on words!
And my favorite caption?
Finder’s key-pers, losers weepers. by Natasha. (Who was honest enough to give cindim credit for the inspiration!) So clever! Great work, everyone!!
Homeschooling is going great! And it’s, uh, strikingly similar to our life before Big Mac was in Kindergarten. Which is great with me. I loved our little life together then, which is one of the reasons I wanted to keep teaching Big Mac at home once he got into Kindergarten. Yesterday’s, er, lessons involved making sock puppets out of Dad’s socks and going on a rocking adventure where we learned about agriculture and history.
More on the latter later.
In other news, MckFlurry is one month old today. After months (and months) of wearing only my glasses, I finally ordered new contact lenses to replace the ones lost when my husband didn’t remember I’d stored them in drinking glasses at a hotel last spring. There is a fascinating discussion right here about the proposed mosque to be build near Ground Zero. And our family is planning a (unique, rustic, outdoorsy, relatively far away) family trip. Big Mac has been filled with so much anticipation that yesterday he could not stop himself from packing up six cardboard boxes full of things he’ll “need at the cabin” and stacking them into our car. Our car is now full and there is no room for me to put anything else in. I’ll have to work on that as well as with Big Mac on the concept that you can’t really pack stuff for a trip ahead of time that you’re going to need in the days before you leave. Oh well. It was downright adorable to see him packing, as it is to see him reminding his siblings when each new day breaks how many days are left before we leave.
I wanted to encourage you again, as I did the other day on Twitter and Facebook, to consider voting for The Little Light House in the competition they are in to win $500,000 for their school. Through my blog, I have become friends with some women who are involved with the amazing school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school is for special needs children and is completely tuition free. Yes, they run solely on donations! The prize money would do spectacular things for this special school, which uses a Christian based curriculum for its little students. Here is a short video about the school so you can acquaint yourself with them a little more.
To be a part of the voting (Which ends tomorrow!!), just visit The Little Light House’s website here. Thank you!!!
Have a great Thursday, everyone!!
I wanted to help the school. When I clicked I found out I had to be on facebook. I do want to do that. What a shame I could not vote without facebook. I am disappointed in kohl’s.
I love the sock puppet. It reminded me of making a cute cow sock puppet out of one of my kids’ dad’s socks when the youngest two were little. Everyone had great fun being the cow and taking turns in character to the delight of everyone else! So enjoying all of your photos of sweet Lachlan (have I told you how much I love his name?). I love all of your children’s names. Maybe it is my irish heritage that brings me a fondness for irish names.
too cute! Wait till she turns 7. Girl drama at 7 is crazy!
Thanks for sharing.
Brandy Kiker
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.31bybrandy.com
Small Fry, you are a winner! Keep it up.
I thought you were going to say that you bumped her with your camera….because I guess I’ve been known to do that! So glad she didn’t get hurt! And I’m so glad she wanted the photo taken.
I’m going to check out the Little Lighthouse now.
That is too funny! Crying on demand,,haha! You’re gonna have to watch that one
And let me tell ya, Kindergarten for us last year was really a breeze and my oldest who will be homeschooling 1st grade this year starting on Tuesday, learned so much and we really didn’t do anything much different than what I would normally do. It really just goes to show that you don’t have to send them to a school for Kindergarten for them to learn what they need to. You CAN teach them what they need to know at this age without a teaching degree!
I anticipate that 1st grade will be similar, though we will do more focused learning time than we did for Kindergarten. I’m excited and a little nervous because there’s so much I need to do to stay organized if I’m going to continue to homeschool especially with 3 kids.
Thanks so much for sharing the story of The Little Light House with your readers. I teach in the Orange Class at LLH and am happy to own as many orange things as possible!
I’m also just remembering that I became a regular reader of yours through a prayer request on Bring The Rain. I found her site because I had a student with Trisomy 18 (although I must say that her diagnosis is NOT claimed by her parents and they are believing for total healing!) and wanted to learn more about children with that diagnosis. A google search led me to Audrey’s story, and then to you…and now you’re helping to support our school. We certainly do appreciate it!
PS. My student’s name…Audrey Belle. She’s 5 years old and is doing remarkable things!
Yes I think your little girl has a future in theater for sure haha! Adorable!
“Try it again, Mama!” Too funny! Kids crack me up
You have some beautiful children. I love your blog. It’s about time I stopped lurking. =) Nice to meet you.
The picture taking thing reminds me of a few years back I took a picture of my niece with a disposable camera and immediately after she asked to see it assuming all cameras had viewing screens on them! Big Mac is so creative! I wish my son would do arts & crafts with me!
MckMama, I keep meaning to ask you, and you may have it on here, but it is easier to ask instead of searching everywhere (I have 3 under 3, with my baby being 3 days younger than MckFlury, so nap time, is kinda precious time for me to search internet/blog worlds), anyways back to the question
what is the curriculum that you are using for homeschooling?
I have to point out again that Park51 is not a mosque. And regardless of one’s opinion about the situation, everyone must admit that it is not a mosque, rather a community center which features many things, among which will be prayer rooms. This article does a great job explaining Park 51′s location and purpose without adding opinions for or against it. http://counterwording.org/2010/08/the-ground-zero-mosque-neither-a-mosque-nor-on-ground-zero/
She is such a cutie. I can’t wait until my daughter gets older. I have no doubt she will be just as dramactic (in a good way)
That cracked me up about Small Fry’s crying
I have three girls so there is no shortage of drama around here.
And thank you for the plug for the Little Light House. I have a friend with a little guy there and it’s just the most amazing school!
Have a blessed day!
MckMama….Thank you so so much again for talking about The Little Little Light House and bringing it to the attention of your readers! What a blessing you are friend!
Love the story about Small Fry…..she is good! ha! And happy 1 month little man…it is truly crazy how fast it goes…glad you are soaking it all in this time!
have a great holiday weekend!
MckMama! The Little Light House loves and appreciates you! Thank you for encouraging your friends to vote for this amazing school!!!!
Sweet !!!
Thanks for giving us ” the rest of the story!”
Love from NC.
That is hysterical. What a little character she is! That tool will come in useful for her when she’s a teenager!
Happy one month birthday Lachlan! My kids always ask to see their pictures right after I take them too. Are there acting lessons in Small Fry’s future?
There just might need to be!!
Hey, MckMama, I’m from Tulsa, Ok, and I want to thank you for supporting the Little Light House! You’re so kind!
What a funny story! : )
I can’t believe SF is able to cry on the spot just so you can take a picture! WOW. Perhaps she has the theater in her future!
How sweet about BigMac packing. Happy 1 month to Lachlan! 
Have a great holiday MckWeekend! 
A future in theater!
Hehe.
What an adorable story about Small Fry and the picture! Aren’t kids astounding?
I voted for the Little Light House – what a great school!!
Thanks for voting, Laura!!!
thank you so much for voting!!!
Cute story about Small Fry–kids say the darndest things, huh! I have to share with you the cute thing that my little Xander told me this morning. I’m still dealing with morning sickness at 14 weeks, and I was having a pretty rough morning today. We took big brother to school then went to get gas. Before I got out of the care I was wimpering (feeling sorry for myself, terrible, I know), and Xander says, “I’ll drive your car all. by. my. self. and go get Daddy from work so he can help me get an n&m for you so you can feel better and stop crying. Then I’ll drive Daddy back to work.” He was insistent! When we got home, he didn’t want to get out of the car because he was going to drive it to get Daddy! He did get me an “n&m.” He poured it onto my hand, then picked it up and shoved it in my mouth. He’s so sweet with the biggest heart!!
That’s precious!
I also loved the Finders Key-pers caption! Too clever…
And what a neat video about the Oklahoma school…I enjoyed looking at their website and YES I voted for them too. Good luck!!
Oh my goodness, Small Fry is such a drama queen! (in the sweetest possible way.) That story is so funny. I think that digital cameras have definitely changed the way children function.
Off ALL the great stories you’ve had to tell, this Small Fry story is one of my new favorites, for some reason!! Thanks for sharing!
Okay, that story about the tears is adorable, haha!!!
Oh. my. gosh. Small Fry ASKED you to take a picture of her crying?! That is hilarious. Seriously. So funny.
Great captions! I didn’t have enough creativity to come up with one
Ha! That’s a GREAT story! She started crying again to get the perfect shot. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right?
Your story made me smile this morning. Have a great day!
http://kandilandblog.blogspot.com
Yup, she’s one determined little girl!!!
That was the cutest story!
I would love to be able to vote for that school but I used up all my votes for my school because we could really use the money, too! HAve tons of fun on your trip!!! 
not sure if you know this already Melissa but you can vote 5 times for each school and you get 20 votes total!! Did you use all of your votes on 4 different schools or might you have some left to vote for The Little Light House?!!?!
Poor little small-fry!
Hi-LARIOUS. Small Fry is my kinda girl!
absolutely love that small fry wanted you to take another pic when the first one didn’t turn out! that’s great!
like mother, like daughter… in so many ways!
southern love and prayers from alabama
Okay that story about Small Fry and the key and mustering up the tears again is hysterical!!! Way to go Small Fry
And I’m excited you liked my caption. I used to be really bad at “Name This Photo” contests so it’s encouraging to know I might be getting better.
Happy One Month Birthday Flurry! How did that happen already???
ha! i agree with you about the name that photo contest… but i seem to only do well when there isn’t a prize at stake. HAHA!
That’s hilarious! But very believable to a mother of 2, 3, and 4 yr old girls. I dread pms with an unholy dread.
Oh I didn’t even think about pms in our daughters!! Oh dear.
“daughters” ? So does this mean that there are more babies in the future?
I’d also like to know about that one! lol
I think she is including Miichelle with Small Fry, as well as all of our daughters in her comment.
Of course, I could be wrong.