Meet The Kids: Part 3

Today started with a fancy shirt.

Not fancy in my book, but fancy in Sparky's book.

So I decided it was high time for you to meet her a little more up close and personal. You know, since it's been a little over six months since I did Meet The Kids: Part 2.

My, how time flies!

Now Sparky was not wearing said fancy shirt. Her sister was. I'm not even sure any more what started the conversation about the shirt being fancy, I just know that I made a snide comment about her probably thinking it was fancy. She started listing all the reasons why:

• It has a V-neck (amazing, but I never knew that V-necks made something fancy!).
• It's bunched up under here (meaning gathered under the bosom).
• You might not see it in the picture, but there is a little bit of stitching that goes mid-way down the V kind of under the armpit. Not really a dart, but some stitching almost like a baseball sleeve...makes it fancy.
• There's a tie at the bottom.
• The sleeves have a cuff.
• The fabric is fancy (no way, here, because it's 100 percent cotton that gets thrown in the washer and dryer).
• It's pink. Bright pink. The deep V might have had something to do with it too, but hello, that's why we wear undershirts.

Do you see why I had a little bit of trouble shopping with her for a fancy dress for Senior Banquet? Feel sorry for me yet?

Okay, down to business.

Meet Sparky, my child with the most nicknames. I don't even remember where they all came from, but a few:

• Pebbles — had the Pebbles' (from the Flintstones) ponytail going on up on her head and pulled it off quite well.
• Sleestak — Remember the show Land of the Lost? Saturday morning cartoons if you're anywhere around our age. They were the reptilian things and the sound they made was kind of specific. Sparky made that sound when she was little.
• Shag — she picked at carpet fibers.
• Beaver — she chewed on wooden blocks.
• Mountain Girl — she could climb up us, and as she got older, she could shimmy the door frames and walls in the halls. She also climbed out of her crib when she was a teeny, tiny thing and probably wasn't even tall enough to clear the top rail. She got mad because we took her pacifier away and the adrenaline was enough to get her up and over. She had a toddler bed that night.
• Spark Plug — a version of Sparky, for the way she plays ball (a picture from about a year ago, because I don't have any recent ones).

This girl, who loves to hook her own worms, will also hook her brother's worms, and kisses everyone's fish before releasing them, decided today when we were all out running an errand that she would never need to buy her own car. She could just drive our second one (that we don't have now). Then she told her dad that way she could take the money she would have used to buy a car and buy a boat. There was some fist pumping going on in the seat next to me. If I hadn't been driving I would have just closed my eyes and wished it all away.

What would you like for people to know about you?

I'm more athletic than my brother.

Which brother would that be?

Typically both of them, but Buddy. (They just got back from the Awana skating party, and people were commenting about him, so she's having some issues right now.)

What else would you like for people to know about you?

I love softball, fishing, camping, my newfound birding, and gum. Oh, and my favorite color is green.

What type of music or artists do you like to listen to?

Uh, Christian music. Not to make Chatty all mad or anything, but I don't listen to the Jonas Brothers all that much anymore.

What do you like to watch on tv?

Sports, especially baseball and hockey.

Anything not related to sports?

Not really. I only watch Disney Channel when I'm bored. Oh, I like Deadliest Catch, American Idol, and Meerkat Manor.

Do you know what it means when someone talks about bucks and points?

(Serious laughing.) Uh, yeah.

Do you like to shop?

No. Unless it's at Dick's (sporting goods). Or Play It Again Sports. I like that place too.

Do you like being the only child with really blue eyes?

Definitely, yes.

What do you think about having a twin sister?

I'm glad that I have twin, because everyone's always saying they wish they had a twin, and if I wasn't a twin, then I would always wonder what it was like to have a twin, and now I don't have to wonder, because I know.

What do you think about having two younger brothers?

I think it's cool having two younger brothers. One's the sporty one and one's the cuddly one.

Do you think Buddy is stronger than you?

I'm the one that can do push-ups and he can't! And when I make an arm muscle you can actually see mine. (I think I hear some fightin' words.)

Do you think Buddy is taller than you yet?

No, I was wearing flat shoes.

How do you feel about being so short, and knowing that everyone will be taller than you, at least until I start my old-age shrinking?

(Giggles.) As in normal life or in sports-wise?

Whichever you want to answer.

Normal life, it's you and me together. Sports-wise it's pretty cool, cuz you're like this little bitty person and it makes you stand out more.

Are you glad you are taller than Grandma? (4'10", although she always said she was 5' when I was growing up. Ha!)

Yes, that was my life goal.

Do you think Caboose is funny?

Extremely.

Do you want to learn to drive?

Uh, yes and no. My last experience in the vehicle was kind of freaky. But everyone else I know is learning how to drive, so I kind of want to learn.

What kind of car do you want?

Punchbuggy. I would except for the whole safety issue. It looks like half a ball, and I could paint it like a softball.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Missionary.

What do you like most about Michigan?

It snows.

What do you like least about Michigan?

Their softball season lasts a month.

Why do you like gum so much?

It tastes good, it lasts longer than candy, you get to blow bubbles with it, and it takes care of bad breath.

When I was snapping these pictures, she took the gum out of her mouth.

But I got one with the gum wad anyway! In front of, surprise, a softball shirt.


You might also be interested in these posts:

Buddy — Meet The Kids: Part 1
Chatty — Meet The Kids: Part 2