Some naughty ones first.
M & A are in the shower together, and I'm cleaning the bathroom. A screams.
Me: Are you okay? What happened?
A points and stares at M immediately.
E: When you don't give me what I want, you make my life horrible!
Me: Hmm...Would you like to sleep outside and find your own food and clothes tonight?
E: That will just make my life worse!
And some nice ones.
M shares her ponies with E.
E: Thanks, M! You're so genius!
On M's genius ie generosity.
Playing basketball last night with V, he trips and falls on the cement.
Me: Oh! Are you okay?
V: Yea, actually this concrete is pretty soft.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Overheard in Tomooka Town
A, at 16 months, is becoming more fun to play with. Just a few mental pictures from today:
Overheard from M to A: (A ducking to crawl under the dining room table, M following her): "C'mon A, let's be spy kitties!" Proceed to "adventure" under the table for about 10 minutes.
Picture this 1:
I realized that a closed door to the bathroom is no longer enough. Today, I walk into the bathroom and A is "growing" out of the toilet, only waist and above are visible. Good thing the shower and lots of soap for A and lots of clorox wipes for every other surface were less than a step away...
Picture this 2:
E pushing A around in a big plastic storage box. A gets out, E sits, A playfully lifts box, E holds onto the outside edges, A puts box over E, E laughing lies down and her entire body squishes into the box, A proceeds to sit on top of box.
A may be "at the bottom of the pack," but it doesn't stop her from getting on top now and again!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Overheard
Mommy to E: "Do you know what happens when you pick a scab?"
E: "I won't be a girl anymore?"
~ E, in her bed room
E after bumping her head playing forts and monsters:
Nana: Are you okay?
E: Yea, I have to go get the kids! I'm the monster! Rawwr!
E after last day of daycare:
Papa: Did you have your last day of school today?
E: Yea, I'm on summer break!
Papa: V, stop yelling.
V (yelling): Stop doing it so fast!
~ playing marbles at Papa's house
E: We need more farts!
~ E copying how V says forts
E: Vvvv...Vvv...Cincent!
~ E trying to say Vincent with a V sound
E: "I won't be a girl anymore?"
~ E, in her bed room
E after bumping her head playing forts and monsters:
Nana: Are you okay?
E: Yea, I have to go get the kids! I'm the monster! Rawwr!
E after last day of daycare:
Papa: Did you have your last day of school today?
E: Yea, I'm on summer break!
Papa: V, stop yelling.
V (yelling): Stop doing it so fast!
~ playing marbles at Papa's house
E: We need more farts!
~ E copying how V says forts
E: Vvvv...Vvv...Cincent!
~ E trying to say Vincent with a V sound
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Van's Are Cool
I'm loving my new-to-me van. I admit that I hesitated at first when we started looking for a car that would fit three car seats. Partially because I love my old Honda CR-V - compact, but sporty, lots of room in the trunk. I traveled cross country in that cherry red specimen three times, a faithful servant and friend for almost 10 years. Yes, the "soccer mom" factor also crossed my mind for a millisecond, but after some research I was convinced that an SUV was more expensive upfront, not to mention for gas & maintenance. A van it would be.
Now that I've lived with my Honda Odyssey for 2 months, I really dig it! Immediately, there was the "wow" factor just because I moved from a 1999 Honda to a 2008 Honda. We opted for the mid level model with leather interior, which feels luxurious to this mom of three and cleans up so easily. Although the trunk looks smaller, it has a "dip plate" meaning it has storage space that actually delves below the foot plane of the rest of the car. I can fit a double and a single stroller in the dip plate such that I barely break the foot plane and feel like I have the whole trunk to use for groceries, luggage or the rest of the kid junk that accompanies us. Not to mention that when we need to move stuff, we'll have seats that fold down into the car itself. We'll have to try that feature out at the drive-in movies too - instant room for little sleeping bags! Pretty handy, Honda.
We also found a model that has the optional middle row middle seat. It's pretty exciting to be able to take more passengers than just our family. Not that I would put an average sized adult in the middle row middle seat for a road trip, but it works great for kids and petite family members (shout out to the J-crew!). There is quite a bit of sticker shock at the gas station, but with a tank of 19+ gallons, I don't have to stop as often. And I get the full 20 mpg as promised on the sticker - an unexpected, welcome sticker shock! My CR-V only got about 21/22 mpg, so I'm rather impressed on that front too.
Speaking of trips, we'll definitely want to employ these features on some family vacations and road trips - Jen & Allie, SF is first on the list! We'll even have room for a stow away or two. Any other suggestions for where to visit next? =)
Now that I've lived with my Honda Odyssey for 2 months, I really dig it! Immediately, there was the "wow" factor just because I moved from a 1999 Honda to a 2008 Honda. We opted for the mid level model with leather interior, which feels luxurious to this mom of three and cleans up so easily. Although the trunk looks smaller, it has a "dip plate" meaning it has storage space that actually delves below the foot plane of the rest of the car. I can fit a double and a single stroller in the dip plate such that I barely break the foot plane and feel like I have the whole trunk to use for groceries, luggage or the rest of the kid junk that accompanies us. Not to mention that when we need to move stuff, we'll have seats that fold down into the car itself. We'll have to try that feature out at the drive-in movies too - instant room for little sleeping bags! Pretty handy, Honda.
We also found a model that has the optional middle row middle seat. It's pretty exciting to be able to take more passengers than just our family. Not that I would put an average sized adult in the middle row middle seat for a road trip, but it works great for kids and petite family members (shout out to the J-crew!). There is quite a bit of sticker shock at the gas station, but with a tank of 19+ gallons, I don't have to stop as often. And I get the full 20 mpg as promised on the sticker - an unexpected, welcome sticker shock! My CR-V only got about 21/22 mpg, so I'm rather impressed on that front too.
Speaking of trips, we'll definitely want to employ these features on some family vacations and road trips - Jen & Allie, SF is first on the list! We'll even have room for a stow away or two. Any other suggestions for where to visit next? =)
Overheard in Tomooka Town
"Farts are fun. They can take you to new places."
- V, talking about FORTS, in a new fort in the living room
Anytime we say "E, don't do that!" she quickly responds "But I already did it!"
-E, about anything she's not supposed to do, pick a place
V is talking to M in church, and she interrupts him to start coooing back. V stops and says "M, no talking in church!"
- V, St. A's cry room
A new counting song learned at Papa and Nana's church, which is supposed to rhyme:
"1-2-3, Jesus loves you, 1-2-3, going to heaven"
-V & E in the bathtub, so close guys!
Me to Mark: "I was outside with three kids, two shaved ice..."
Mark: "...and Tiger's blood..."
- us, referencing the shaved ice flavors from below zero. He still makes me laugh!
"When Mary says 'awww' that means 'i love you' - she says that a lot to me!"
- V about Mary's cooing sounds, after bedtime stories
Me: "To a baby, 'you suck hard' can be a compliment"
- After feeding Mary, fast asleep for the night (we hope!)
- V, talking about FORTS, in a new fort in the living room
Anytime we say "E, don't do that!" she quickly responds "But I already did it!"
-E, about anything she's not supposed to do, pick a place
V is talking to M in church, and she interrupts him to start coooing back. V stops and says "M, no talking in church!"
- V, St. A's cry room
A new counting song learned at Papa and Nana's church, which is supposed to rhyme:
"1-2-3, Jesus loves you, 1-2-3, going to heaven"
-V & E in the bathtub, so close guys!
Me to Mark: "I was outside with three kids, two shaved ice..."
Mark: "...and Tiger's blood..."
- us, referencing the shaved ice flavors from below zero. He still makes me laugh!
"When Mary says 'awww' that means 'i love you' - she says that a lot to me!"
- V about Mary's cooing sounds, after bedtime stories
Me: "To a baby, 'you suck hard' can be a compliment"
- After feeding Mary, fast asleep for the night (we hope!)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Random Thoughts
Is it cruel or unusual to use my spit so that the kids' hair stops sticking up straight?
Someday We'll Laugh About This...
Argh! Today the kids have been productive...but naughty. Sometimes those two overlap in interesting ways.
Auntie Julia so generously gave her time yesterday cleaning up the kids' rooms. This is great motivation to me to stick to my cleaning too. Thanks, Julia!
This morning, Vincent, Erin and I spent time ensuring that their rooms stayed clean. This involved picking up all the books that inevitably come out at bedtime and as little ones "fall asleep", putting additional outfit options away, and general decluttering. As a reward for keeping their rooms clean, we talked about how their rooms could be painted or decorated with some themed items I had bought at Target on clearance.
I left the kids in Vincent's room playing nicely when Mary needed to be fed. Eventually, I realized the playful babble had become deafening silence. Although silence is rare and enjoyable at the moment, it usually means they are up to no good! And indeed they were. From the top of the stairs I could see two little arms reaching up and tearing wallpaper off the wall! This was completely logical to their little minds because we had just talked about redecorating their rooms. It was a project we have thought about pursuing, but not in that fashion!
After we all cleaned up that mess, I put Mary back to sleep. The three of us went downstairs to start some arts and crafts. I thought this would be a good time to give Erin's bangs a trim. I got out the necessary equipment and had already wet her hair. Then, Mary started to cry, so I thoughtlessly went to her, leaving the equipment up on the counter, out of eyesight. I trusted the other two to continue with their crafts, but they had some new crafts in mind. When I came downstairs with Mary, there were several locks of Erin's hair on the floor. The odd thing was that two spots were cut in different ways - and Vincent had not tattled on Erin as soon as she did something. My suspicions were confirmed when Erin pointed to her partner in crime saying "he did it too!" So much for saving money by doing it myself - we will be off to get a short hair cut in the coming days.
I did end up saving a lock of Erin's golden brown hair. Despite my frustration at the time, I still treasure this time with them - how curious and active they are, and how unique is everything about them from the tip of their toes to hairs on their heads (although slightly less right now). But these two incidents required a time out. I marched them up to their bedrooms and set them down to think about both the wallpaper removing and the hair cutting incidents. They actually did not resist this - phew!
The stories continue - true to our blog title again! As I sorted through mail and clutter in the family room, the kids started playing with some empty boxes I had set up to use for decluttering. It was the classic picture of kids with empty boxes - climbing all the way inside, imagining them as various vehicles or interesting places. Very cute scenes will remain in my mind and memories. As Erin observed me using some small boxes, she also started "cleaning" or rather dumping everything she touched into a big box. A big tin of cookies Mark was to take to the office had been forgotten in the entry way. Erin stopped long enough to ask (leaning her lesson from the morning's events?) if she could put this in the box. Although I said "no, please don't touch those" she proceeded to lift the tin into the box. Literally every cookie slid out of the tin and into the box. I'm sure that wasn't her intention, but those tins are not toddler proof! Another exciting mess to clean up. We are on a roll today! The kids are doing the bulk of the cleaning, however, so that is some progress there!
Another vignette from the day brings us up to the present moment. Both the kids are up in bed for a nap. Little Erin, so independent ("I'll do it myself!") and particular (she knows what she wants), finds the decals, again for decorating her room. By the time I discover she is still awake, she has opened them and started sticking them to each other. It is a fixable predicament, and not a big mess, but what else can my kids get into today???!?
I am sad because I cannot trust them to be in sight or touch of anything anymore. But then again, I don't know why I ever thought it wouldn't be a problem, sooner or later. Perhaps it is misplaced trust, laziness on my part, or just too many balls in the air right now with a newborn added into the mix. We'll get through it, and they will grow (I hope more responsible), and I will trust them again (for better and worse, I'm sure). And someday I'll laugh about this...but not today!
Auntie Julia so generously gave her time yesterday cleaning up the kids' rooms. This is great motivation to me to stick to my cleaning too. Thanks, Julia!
This morning, Vincent, Erin and I spent time ensuring that their rooms stayed clean. This involved picking up all the books that inevitably come out at bedtime and as little ones "fall asleep", putting additional outfit options away, and general decluttering. As a reward for keeping their rooms clean, we talked about how their rooms could be painted or decorated with some themed items I had bought at Target on clearance.
I left the kids in Vincent's room playing nicely when Mary needed to be fed. Eventually, I realized the playful babble had become deafening silence. Although silence is rare and enjoyable at the moment, it usually means they are up to no good! And indeed they were. From the top of the stairs I could see two little arms reaching up and tearing wallpaper off the wall! This was completely logical to their little minds because we had just talked about redecorating their rooms. It was a project we have thought about pursuing, but not in that fashion!
After we all cleaned up that mess, I put Mary back to sleep. The three of us went downstairs to start some arts and crafts. I thought this would be a good time to give Erin's bangs a trim. I got out the necessary equipment and had already wet her hair. Then, Mary started to cry, so I thoughtlessly went to her, leaving the equipment up on the counter, out of eyesight. I trusted the other two to continue with their crafts, but they had some new crafts in mind. When I came downstairs with Mary, there were several locks of Erin's hair on the floor. The odd thing was that two spots were cut in different ways - and Vincent had not tattled on Erin as soon as she did something. My suspicions were confirmed when Erin pointed to her partner in crime saying "he did it too!" So much for saving money by doing it myself - we will be off to get a short hair cut in the coming days.
I did end up saving a lock of Erin's golden brown hair. Despite my frustration at the time, I still treasure this time with them - how curious and active they are, and how unique is everything about them from the tip of their toes to hairs on their heads (although slightly less right now). But these two incidents required a time out. I marched them up to their bedrooms and set them down to think about both the wallpaper removing and the hair cutting incidents. They actually did not resist this - phew!
The stories continue - true to our blog title again! As I sorted through mail and clutter in the family room, the kids started playing with some empty boxes I had set up to use for decluttering. It was the classic picture of kids with empty boxes - climbing all the way inside, imagining them as various vehicles or interesting places. Very cute scenes will remain in my mind and memories. As Erin observed me using some small boxes, she also started "cleaning" or rather dumping everything she touched into a big box. A big tin of cookies Mark was to take to the office had been forgotten in the entry way. Erin stopped long enough to ask (leaning her lesson from the morning's events?) if she could put this in the box. Although I said "no, please don't touch those" she proceeded to lift the tin into the box. Literally every cookie slid out of the tin and into the box. I'm sure that wasn't her intention, but those tins are not toddler proof! Another exciting mess to clean up. We are on a roll today! The kids are doing the bulk of the cleaning, however, so that is some progress there!
Another vignette from the day brings us up to the present moment. Both the kids are up in bed for a nap. Little Erin, so independent ("I'll do it myself!") and particular (she knows what she wants), finds the decals, again for decorating her room. By the time I discover she is still awake, she has opened them and started sticking them to each other. It is a fixable predicament, and not a big mess, but what else can my kids get into today???!?
I am sad because I cannot trust them to be in sight or touch of anything anymore. But then again, I don't know why I ever thought it wouldn't be a problem, sooner or later. Perhaps it is misplaced trust, laziness on my part, or just too many balls in the air right now with a newborn added into the mix. We'll get through it, and they will grow (I hope more responsible), and I will trust them again (for better and worse, I'm sure). And someday I'll laugh about this...but not today!
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