If my daughters ever ask me what to look for in a good life partner, I will tell them that you need to find someone who has a good sense of humor and a strong sense of self. These qualities are particularly essential if children are part of the family equation, as evidenced from the scenarios below:
Example of Why One Needs a Good Sense of Humor
John and I have a tradition of bringing the girls to Five Below and having them pick out gifts for our birthdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day. Not only is it hilarious to see what they pick out; but, it is even better to hear their rationale for the presents. The latest trip to Five Below was for Father's Day. Alice and Angela agreed on a super soaker for John (along with a stuffed Spongebob Squarepants, a set of electric blue headphones, an unheard of movie and a lollipop). Given the enjoyment it gave him in the pool, I have to say their selection was spot on and it was five dollars well spent. In particular, he took great delight in dousing Angela's butt which was peeping out from her little boy shorts. She mostly found it funny, but at one point, she got frustrated as it kept breaking her concentration. Seeing this frustration, John, of course, only sprayed her even more. Angela reached her breaking point and yelled, "Jackass" at him. Our reaction was probably not the best one. We cracked up. There is nothing like a three year old calling her dad a "jackass" on Father's Day. I guess it is only fitting. She crawled into bed with me on Mother's Day just to moon me.
Example of Why One Needs a Strong Sense of Self
On weekend mornings, the girls like to snuggle with us in our king sized bed. It sounds cozy and sweet. However, it loses those feelings when one realizes it is around 6 in the morning. Weekend snugglefest is our way to snag a few extra minutes in bed. Sunday morning John was a bit more grogy than usual (late innings on a Yankee game). He stretched and yawned when the girls hopped into bed. The yawn must have sounded melodic to Alice's ears. Afterwards she commented, "Daddy, you sound just like a princess." Yep, nothing like having your masculinity called into doubt even before that first cup of coffee.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A Random Day
Gosh, it has been so long since I posted on this blog. Lord, knows it certainly is not due to lack of material. Yep, nothing like being greeted by your three year old mooning you on Mother's Day. "Happy Mudder's Day, Mommy. Look at my butt." See, this is totally blog worthy material. Unfortunately, the random busy nature of my days take over and destroy my writing/thinking time. Here has been the day so far:
7 a.m.- woken up by Alice who I swear is a Golden Retriever in human form. No one who is 100% human would be that energetic and cheerful in the morning. "It's good morning time, Mommy!" Bed bounces. "Angela is crying for you." Thankfully, hubby is up and gets the three year old for me. Three year old is in major snuggle mode which would be sweet if she did not feel so hot. Fever is now on day three.
7-8:30 a.m.- breakfast time. I have to admit I love how every morning I ask Angela what she wants for breakfast and she replies, "I can't think." I then list everything we have that is suitable for breakfast. She rejects every offering until I reach the last thing. She then tells me she wants the first thing I said was an option. Both girls request dresses for their attire (how did I get such girly girls anyway?). The drive to school is detoured about two times due to road work. I am stunned when Alice starts to sing along to the Go-Go's "We Got the Beat". Thank Disney for my shock. I drop Alice off and take Peanut with me to the grocery store (fever= no school for her).
8- 9:30 a.m.- thanks to the hands free phone in the new car I can call the doctor en route to the grocery store. Get an appointment for 9:45 a.m. Reassure Angela that it is fine she has no pants on (she is wearing a dress). Run into store for few needed items. Got to love speed shopping while pushing the stroller. It should seriously be an Olympic sport. I then dash home to use the bathroom and put the perishable stuff away.
9:45-11 a.m. At the pediatrician's office on time...whew...Angela is all smiles and energy which now makes me look like a psychopath for requesting a sick visit. Nothing definitive so we have to wait and see if the fever/cold morphs into anything more serious. On the plus side, I found $20 in the elevator. We then went to the dollar store for some fun. We leave with $5 and two bags of fun stuff.
11-11:50- Angela watches television while I do some stuff around the house. We leave to pick up Alice from her kindergarten enrichment class and drop her off at the town's kindergarten. Whoever told me it was called "stay at home" motherhood lied. It is "stay in car" motherhood.
12:30- 2:30 p.m.- Lunchtime for Angela and me. Clean up pee pee accident (hers not mine, thankfully). Snuggle. Sand the spackled bits in the master bedroom. Amused when Angela offers to read to me while I am in the bathroom. I guess she figured if it helps her along it might assist me.
2:50- dismissal from kindergarten. In the car again. I let Alice play with her friends for a bit as it is finally not raining and Angela who fell asleep in the car is still passed out in the stroller. Angela does wake up when I put her in the car. I then have to listen to tantrum about not wanting to go home and wanting to go home.
3:30-6- Make chocolate covered bananas with kiddies, break up about three fights between them, reprimmand Alice for about 10 different things, reviewed numbers with Alice, made vanilla pudding, cut up apples for apple butter which is cooking in the slow cooker...and now I am in the present time. Off to feed a hungry pug and kids...better post this before something else comes up.
7 a.m.- woken up by Alice who I swear is a Golden Retriever in human form. No one who is 100% human would be that energetic and cheerful in the morning. "It's good morning time, Mommy!" Bed bounces. "Angela is crying for you." Thankfully, hubby is up and gets the three year old for me. Three year old is in major snuggle mode which would be sweet if she did not feel so hot. Fever is now on day three.
7-8:30 a.m.- breakfast time. I have to admit I love how every morning I ask Angela what she wants for breakfast and she replies, "I can't think." I then list everything we have that is suitable for breakfast. She rejects every offering until I reach the last thing. She then tells me she wants the first thing I said was an option. Both girls request dresses for their attire (how did I get such girly girls anyway?). The drive to school is detoured about two times due to road work. I am stunned when Alice starts to sing along to the Go-Go's "We Got the Beat". Thank Disney for my shock. I drop Alice off and take Peanut with me to the grocery store (fever= no school for her).
8- 9:30 a.m.- thanks to the hands free phone in the new car I can call the doctor en route to the grocery store. Get an appointment for 9:45 a.m. Reassure Angela that it is fine she has no pants on (she is wearing a dress). Run into store for few needed items. Got to love speed shopping while pushing the stroller. It should seriously be an Olympic sport. I then dash home to use the bathroom and put the perishable stuff away.
9:45-11 a.m. At the pediatrician's office on time...whew...Angela is all smiles and energy which now makes me look like a psychopath for requesting a sick visit. Nothing definitive so we have to wait and see if the fever/cold morphs into anything more serious. On the plus side, I found $20 in the elevator. We then went to the dollar store for some fun. We leave with $5 and two bags of fun stuff.
11-11:50- Angela watches television while I do some stuff around the house. We leave to pick up Alice from her kindergarten enrichment class and drop her off at the town's kindergarten. Whoever told me it was called "stay at home" motherhood lied. It is "stay in car" motherhood.
12:30- 2:30 p.m.- Lunchtime for Angela and me. Clean up pee pee accident (hers not mine, thankfully). Snuggle. Sand the spackled bits in the master bedroom. Amused when Angela offers to read to me while I am in the bathroom. I guess she figured if it helps her along it might assist me.
2:50- dismissal from kindergarten. In the car again. I let Alice play with her friends for a bit as it is finally not raining and Angela who fell asleep in the car is still passed out in the stroller. Angela does wake up when I put her in the car. I then have to listen to tantrum about not wanting to go home and wanting to go home.
3:30-6- Make chocolate covered bananas with kiddies, break up about three fights between them, reprimmand Alice for about 10 different things, reviewed numbers with Alice, made vanilla pudding, cut up apples for apple butter which is cooking in the slow cooker...and now I am in the present time. Off to feed a hungry pug and kids...better post this before something else comes up.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Bathtime Bubbles
I love the fact that Angela and I have conversations- real conversations that actually make sense. Now is when the real fun begins as I learn more about how she views the world. Sometimes I am surprised by her mature understanding of things and other times ....well, words fail me because all I can do is laugh. An example of this occurred tonight during bath time.
Image- happy little naked girl splashing in the tub. A HUGE fart (with accompanying bubbles) is heard.
"Angela, was that you?" I asked smiling.
"Mommy, my butt burped!"
Yep, that is a moment the experts don't mention in all those parenting books, which is sad. At least, for me, those are the moments which make the job worthwhile.
Image- happy little naked girl splashing in the tub. A HUGE fart (with accompanying bubbles) is heard.
"Angela, was that you?" I asked smiling.
"Mommy, my butt burped!"
Yep, that is a moment the experts don't mention in all those parenting books, which is sad. At least, for me, those are the moments which make the job worthwhile.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Things I Love
This is more a post for me. My kids do many things that put a smile on my face (and stuff that makes me wonder why I am missing handfuls of hair; but, we will save that subject matter for another posting). I know all to well that one day they will no longer do these things either due to maturity and/or boredom. John and I often bemoan how Alice no longer pronounces "cookie" as "coomie" because it was just so freaking cute when she said it. I realize that new silly things will take the places of the former ones. However, I fear that if I don't record this current list of silliness, the memories may, at best, become a hazy recollection or, at worst, be forgotten. So, pardon the selfishness here and bear with me.
I love...
how Angela needs to wear a "pretty dress" at all times. Right after her feet hit the floor in the morning, she is in the boxes of dress up clothing looking for something to wear. And it is not just the dress. She works the accessories (crowns, fairy wings, magic wands) too.
how Alice still pronounces "music" as "musquick".
how both girls love to dance with each other and how Alice tries to work on ballet/tap/jazz moves with her sister.
how Angela calls the play walrus in the bathtub a mermaid. His name is apparently Petey.
how Alice loves doing arts and crafts and is constantly making new things for my fridge.
how Angela calls the dog "Pudgie" instead of "Puggie".
how Angela pronounces her name- Angelahaha
how Angela cannot pronounce her name properly but has no trouble saying the word "gingerbread".
how Alice gets so excited if I let her set the table in the evening.
how both girls enjoy helping me bake/cook (although this sometimes can create some of those missing handfuls of hair moments).
how both girls try to run and hide when they hear the garage door going up (indication John is home from work). However, they are so excited to see him, they quickly leave their spots to give him a hero's welcome.
how I will sometimes find Angela in the glider of her room with a book on her lap entertaining herself.
how Alice is learning to read and how often she surprises me with a word that I didn't expect her to know.
how after I read Angela her book before bed she will say, "The end" and then say, "My turn." She then "reads" me the book.
how both girls are pretty good about saying "please" and "thank you" regularly.
how Angela likes to run and hide from John whenever he goes to give her a bath.
how Alice thinks that every morning John would forget to put on his pants if she didn't remind him to put them on. (I particularly love how John goes along with this ruse every morning).
how they give each other big hugs after being separated for a time.
how both girls look out for each other. It warms my heart because I know how great it feels to have someone in your life who constantly has your back. (Thanks Megan)
I love...
how Angela needs to wear a "pretty dress" at all times. Right after her feet hit the floor in the morning, she is in the boxes of dress up clothing looking for something to wear. And it is not just the dress. She works the accessories (crowns, fairy wings, magic wands) too.
how Alice still pronounces "music" as "musquick".
how both girls love to dance with each other and how Alice tries to work on ballet/tap/jazz moves with her sister.
how Angela calls the play walrus in the bathtub a mermaid. His name is apparently Petey.
how Alice loves doing arts and crafts and is constantly making new things for my fridge.
how Angela calls the dog "Pudgie" instead of "Puggie".
how Angela pronounces her name- Angelahaha
how Angela cannot pronounce her name properly but has no trouble saying the word "gingerbread".
how Alice gets so excited if I let her set the table in the evening.
how both girls enjoy helping me bake/cook (although this sometimes can create some of those missing handfuls of hair moments).
how both girls try to run and hide when they hear the garage door going up (indication John is home from work). However, they are so excited to see him, they quickly leave their spots to give him a hero's welcome.
how I will sometimes find Angela in the glider of her room with a book on her lap entertaining herself.
how Alice is learning to read and how often she surprises me with a word that I didn't expect her to know.
how after I read Angela her book before bed she will say, "The end" and then say, "My turn." She then "reads" me the book.
how both girls are pretty good about saying "please" and "thank you" regularly.
how Angela likes to run and hide from John whenever he goes to give her a bath.
how Alice thinks that every morning John would forget to put on his pants if she didn't remind him to put them on. (I particularly love how John goes along with this ruse every morning).
how they give each other big hugs after being separated for a time.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Nursemaids
Yesterday I finally admitted defeat and raised the white flag to my foe of the last few weeks- a sinus infection. Unfortunately, motherhood has changed the format of my sick days. Prior to children, I would retire to bed for a novel reading/frequent napping cycle which would last about 24 hours. Now, with a 5 year old and a 2 year old at home, that is a mere pipe dream experienced while doing laundry, emptying the dishwasher, driving kids too and from school....you get the idea.
Still, after picking up Alice from Kindergarten, I was beat. The chills seemed to penetrate my core. Exhaustion weighed my body down. Kids or no kids, I needed to lay down on the couch with a blanket (or twenty) and a cup of tea nearby. The girls looked a bit confused when I headed into the living room and stretched out. I explained to them that mommy was sick and had to take medicine to get well. And with those words, Alice and Angela became my nursemaids.
If laughter is indeed the best medicine, I overdosed on it. Alice, my future CEO (read: VERY bossy child), solicitously covered me with a princess sleeping bag. She got me a glass of water and repeatedly offered me an apple. All the while, she kept barking orders to her sister. "Angela, get Mommy a pillow." "Angela, get me a toy to give to Mommy." Following each order, Angela, in true younger sibling fashion, shouted, "NO!" She would then go and do what she wanted to do in order to restore my health. These actions included sharing her pillow pet with me and providing me with imaginary tea and soup (both where delicious by the way).
I have to admit I kind of enjoyed the novelty of my little ones caring for me. I wondered if I were getting a glimpse into the future in some ways too. I could imagine grown up Alice and Angela arguing over my aging body regarding my care. It also solidified for me that these two are a force to be reckoned with when they decide to work together for a common goal. Now that I think about it, I better get to bed. I don't want to incur their wrath by being sick one second longer than they deem acceptable.
Still, after picking up Alice from Kindergarten, I was beat. The chills seemed to penetrate my core. Exhaustion weighed my body down. Kids or no kids, I needed to lay down on the couch with a blanket (or twenty) and a cup of tea nearby. The girls looked a bit confused when I headed into the living room and stretched out. I explained to them that mommy was sick and had to take medicine to get well. And with those words, Alice and Angela became my nursemaids.
If laughter is indeed the best medicine, I overdosed on it. Alice, my future CEO (read: VERY bossy child), solicitously covered me with a princess sleeping bag. She got me a glass of water and repeatedly offered me an apple. All the while, she kept barking orders to her sister. "Angela, get Mommy a pillow." "Angela, get me a toy to give to Mommy." Following each order, Angela, in true younger sibling fashion, shouted, "NO!" She would then go and do what she wanted to do in order to restore my health. These actions included sharing her pillow pet with me and providing me with imaginary tea and soup (both where delicious by the way).
I have to admit I kind of enjoyed the novelty of my little ones caring for me. I wondered if I were getting a glimpse into the future in some ways too. I could imagine grown up Alice and Angela arguing over my aging body regarding my care. It also solidified for me that these two are a force to be reckoned with when they decide to work together for a common goal. Now that I think about it, I better get to bed. I don't want to incur their wrath by being sick one second longer than they deem acceptable.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Shock Value
I woke up with the girls on Sunday morning. Before we went downstairs, both girls wanted to see John who was pretending to be asleep. Alice kept saying, "Boo!" over and over again in the hope of scaring her father into wakefulness. Angela took a different approach and yelled, "MOO!" at him.
I am not sure if she was shooting for shock or she got confused. Regardless, she "woke up" daddy whose laughter could not be contained.
I am not sure if she was shooting for shock or she got confused. Regardless, she "woke up" daddy whose laughter could not be contained.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Why John is Most Likely Going to Buy a Gun
Given the unexpectedly beautiful November weather we are experiencing, I decided to take the girls to the park in our town. I was not surprised by the number of people there. I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the number of high school kids there. I did not have a problem with it. I have to admit that I have always been impressed with the level of politeness displayed by the local kids. Angela was particularly enthralled by a group of high school boys. I noticed her keen interest while we were sitting on one of the benches having a snack. When they moved over to the swings, Angela stood up to have a better look.
"Angela, do you like the boys?" I asked her.
"Yes, Mama, " my two-year-old replied. "They cute."
I am so not looking forward to the teenage years.
"Angela, do you like the boys?" I asked her.
"Yes, Mama, " my two-year-old replied. "They cute."
I am so not looking forward to the teenage years.
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