Random Thoughts and Quotes 2010

If I have to play dinosaur train one more time today I might just become extinct myself. Just saying... CA

When getting ready for photos with my sisters yesterday I asked the kids how I looked. N replied, "Well... you don't look like an idiot" (great, just the look I was going for!)

N had his first solo in choir show yesterday. Turns out he didn't even want to sing the song. When asked why he said, "Because it was 'I don't want to grow up'. And I do want to grow up"

L: "mama, why did you tell us that?" Oh, I was just screwing with your heads. L: "But, why ?" Just kidding honey. Noah: "whew, that's good I thought you were gonna screw our heads right off!"

"i was eating so fast that I ate my boogers. They went down into my tummy, and that's why I have a cold" The divine Ms L

N: Mommy do you have an I-phone.
Me: No, I do not.
L: Of course not sillies, it's an EAR phone.

‎"but why do I have to wear pants, I want to feel the flow" Ms L

"mommy, can you give me some privacy? That means GET OOOOUUUT." Ms. L.

On the wall outside of the Kindergarten room is a row of self portraits by the kids. In the middle of it all: a T-Rex named Noah.

N: "Mommy, you are a genius" L: "that's right, and Daddy's a Buddhist."

If Noah is Encyclopedia Brown, then Lucy is Ramona.

"I don't want a time out, I want to live!" Says Ms L

If a puffin ate a cow, he would be big enough to take over the WHOLE world" ~ N

"Actually Mommy, it's not an necklace. It's a highly decorated tail of a Mamenchisaurus. Which as you know, was a plant eating quadruped dinosaur" ~N

Good morning world. The kids and I are making Green Eggs and Ham this morning. Mmm fresh spinach from the garden.

Noah quote of the week, "mama, I am never mischievous with my body"

N "Finally the bad dreams popped out of my head and are letting the good dreams have a turn"

Ms L reports she had a "furious" dream last night. There was a Moose-chipmunk that chased her around her bedroom.

"Hey kids your beans sprouted let's plant them and maybe you'll grow beanstalks." "NO!! We don't want giants in the house. Please don't let the giants come" And chaos ensued...

Today's invisible pet is a vulture. it lives on Noah's shoulder and his name is Pink-Black. When asked why, Noah patiently explains, "because vultures are pink and black" (the unspoken "duh" is loud and clear)

Me to Lucy after her bath, "mmm, you smell good honey." Lucy, "no I don't, I'm not a pizza"

"Mom, I use my fingers to put my spaghetti on my fork. You see, that way I am using good table manners" Noah

That spot in the back of your knee, that ticklish spot? Yeah, that's your knee-pit... according to Mr. N.

I don't know which was funnier today: Noah singing "Ring of Fire" in his best Johnny Cash voice or when he said, "They're really Rockin'out Mama" while listening to Journey on the stereo.

Bowling with the 5 and under set takes a looooong time. Pretty sure there's at least one ball that's still slo-o-o-wly rolling down the lane .

Thanks for dinner. It was Yum-credible!" Noah

what should we do for Daddy's birthday?" "Play pin the tie on the Patrick!" - says the ever creative Noah

2010 Nutcracker

So every year I get the kids an ornament for the tree. I started this for N's first Christmas and so far I've managed to uphold the traditions. (I'm great with ideas, but confess that follow through is not always my strong suit when it comes to family traditions)

So this year comes along and L and I are headed to Freddy's and she says, "I want a nutcracker" "Really," I reply. I'm a little slow on the uptake and at first I think she means a metal v-shaped devise used to, well, crack nuts. After a few minutes of her insisting she really wants one, I begin to figure out what she means. "I want to dance with my own nutcracker" Ah-ha. The memories of the multiple viewing of her ballet video come crashing into my brain. The memory of her fascination the last time we were at the store with the nutcrackers.

I hem and I haw and I stall for a minute or two. And then I take a deep breath. "Okay," I say, "you can have a nutcracker." I surprise myself with this response, as I can be a stickler for the traditions I do manage to follow. (ask me to tell you about day one of this years cookie baking) But, I realize that this is her first year of really getting into the magic of Christmas and who cares what she wants.

We get into the store and after forcing her to get the groceries we need first, we finally find our way to the ornaments and nutcrackers. I never realized how difficult a choice it would be to pick out just the perfect one. She picked them all up, inspecting and rejecting many out right . But then there were big ones and little ones. I asked if she wanted one she could hang on the tree (okay, maybe I hadn't given up on the ornament that easily), but no she insisted it had to stand with the animals. (Nativity scene? No, the stuffed animals....duh) Finally she chose a red one. It came with a littler one at its feet. "I'll share that one with N."

She carefully took $2 out of her little pink purse and paid the over-worked and cranky clerk for the nutcracker. (the clerk apparently didn't understand my expressive eye-brow raising signals, which said, "She's paying her share, I'll pay the rest. Isn't she sweet?") And home we went.

She carefully put the nutcracker on the floor and proceeded to lie at stare at it for awhile. She rocked it a bit, and then danced for awhile. All in all a good afternoon.

Until... N came home.

I had forgotten that N had been with us the first time we had seen the nutcrackers. I had forgotten that he too was interested in them. I blissfully believed he would be ready to head off to the store and get an ornament with me. SIGH... once it was established that the nutcracker was indeed L's and not everyone's, there was a quick avalanche of tears. (really, over a nutcracker? Does no one see how ugly these things are but me?) So, N gets the choice. Ornament or nutcracker. He chooses a nutcracker. By now I don't even bat an eye when he chooses one dressed in camouflage.

Ho ho ho. One week until Christmas. Hope your week is a good one.

The World's most powerful computer.

Inspired by Calvin and Hobbs. We present The world's most powerful computer. Starring N in his very own tattered box!

Halloween 2010

It was a busy Halloween. So many costume choices, what to wear, what to wear. I wish I had a photo of Noah in his storm-trooper costume and giraffe mask. (it's the costume I was silently rooting for) Finally the lure of the sea chanties and dancing princesses could not be resisted. The kids went for outfits they've been known to wear on a daily basis. Ahhh... comfort in the everyday wear. (I think it's like me wanting to stay in jammies all day)

Happy Halloween from us!

I'm a banana slug

Went for a walk today in Tryon Creek State Park with our friend Darcy today. It was a lovely crisp fall day and perfect for a walk.

Princess L was not inclined to go for a walk, or a hike, or leave the house for that matter, but we went anyway. First there was the refusal to wear her boots, then the discussion over which jacket/coat/sweater she wanted to wear. Then there was the tear filled episode over the car seat. Yes, the car seat. We recently moved N into a booster seat in the car and switched L over to his old car seat. Because N had outgrown his car seat L got it into her head that she had also grown out of hers. Well, not the case at all. Patrick has just always like N's better so we switched them, thus leaving hers at home, at the ready. But, nothing could convince her it wasn't too small. I continued to buckle her in anyway, and off we went. (When talking about our day at dinner this evening, she promptly told Daddy about the too small car seat)

We arrived at the park and she still didn't want to wear her boots (even if they are pink), it wasn't raining and appeared dry and it was only Monday, so I let it go. Off we went. It wasn't really a hike it was a meander. A lovely meander at that. L stopped to look at leaves and to pick up piles of dirt. She spotted a banana slug and while squeamish remained fascinated by it for the remainder of the walk. She wouldn't be hurried for anything. (a lesson for me in there somewhere I'm sure) and really just wanted to "be".

There was time for Pooh sticks off the Red Fox Bridge. Or in our case Pooh Leafs as leafs were more abundant then sticks. I'm pretty sure L's favorite part of the game is the dropping of the item and not the waiting to see it pass under the bridge. Why? Because as soon as it hit the water she's run to the other side and declare herself the winner (with nothing in sight yet) and then say, 'let's play it again!' And so we did...a lot. No matter, I like Pooh Sticks/leafs.

All in all for someone who didn't want to go she was a trooper and had a good time in spite of herself. Although at bedtime tonight she insisted the only thing she did all day was , "miss my brother

, N". Clearly, it's taking time to transition into this new life. But, we'll get there.

She did sing a lovely LONG song all the way home. It had many many verses about slugs, bats, monkeys, spiders and worms. I could only remember bits and pieces of it. What I could remember I share with you below. Enjoy!

I'm a banana slug

sticky, dirty slug

I'm beautiful, but I don't like to be touched.

I'm a little bat

I'm hanging upside down

I see a beautiful princess

but I'm too short....

I'm a little monkey

swinging on a tree

I fell and I have a princess Band-aid (c) on my knee

Struggling

Hey y'all. I'm struggling with my new role as a stay-at-h0me mom. Which means I'm struggling to find things to write about, as I don't want this blog to become a whine-a-thon. I really enjoy writing and I love to write about my kids. But, I'm not quite able to put pen to paper or even fingers to the keyboard with much joy right now.

I knew the adjustment to they stay-at-home lifestyle would be difficult. I always said I wasn't the stay-at-home type. But, I also said I'd never be a mom, and if I was I wouldn't be a good one. Both of those statements turned out to be false, so who's to say I could n't make the next leap? I mean, obviously, I am a mom and I think I'm a pretty good one . But, I think part of the secret to my success was knowing my limits. But, I truly believed things and times had changed and I would LOVE the new chapter in my life. Oops, I don't love it. And that breaks my heart a little bit. Because, I really wanted to love it. I really wanted to jump in with both feet and relish the experience. But, I'm a fish out of water and it's hard.

This is a choice that I made and even proposed. This is what is currently best for our family and it's not forever. I don't think of it as a jail sentence, and I know Ms. L and I will find out groove. I just hope I don't lose my own groove in the meantime.

Kindergartener!

Too tired... oh so tired....

look for real post soon.

zzzzzzzzz