Mini Me

You know that whole little bit about little minds being like sponges? Absorbing EVERYTHING they see and hear? I'm starting to hear what I sound like and it's scary sometimes!

I have a Mini Me... YIKES!




Big A to Little A about touching his Lego creations...

"How many times do I have to tell you not to break my Legos? Ten? Eighty? Six thousand?"

And then a little while later...

"That's IT! You're DONE touching my Legos!"

Big A when something wasn't working right for him...

"Oh! For crying in a bucket!"

Hmmm.... If I could just be positive and upbeat 100% of the time so that's all I heard out of my Mini Me....

If anyone has any suggestions for how to accomplish that, PLEASE send them my way! For the time being I'll just keep plugging along trying to do the best I can and being the best mom I know how to be. As long as I keep seeing the completely loving and affectionate side of my Mini Me as well, I'm good!

Quote For The Day

Little A on burping...

"Excuse me! I just had a tooter in my mouth!"

One Boy And Two Girls

While walking in from Target just now, Little A was analyzing the situation...

Little A - "We have one boy and two girls."

Me - "That's right! Or one son, one daughter and one mommy."

Little A - "Yeah!"

Me - "Or one son and two daughters because I'm a daughter too."

Little A - "NO!"

Me - "Yes, I'm Grandma's daughter."

Big A - "You're God's daughter."

Me - "THAT'S RIGHT!"

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday, B!

Yesterday was B's birthday and we celebrated ALL weekend. Friday we had dinner with his parents and Saturday we had dinner with my parents (B's favorite.... Prime Rib!). There was lots of good food and LOTS of cake!



Yesterday I got up early and prepared B's birthday present.... A scavenger hunt! When we picked Big A up from school the kids and I gave B two birthday cards. The first card had a note in it that read:

A Birthday Scavenger Hunt

To gather your present

Here's your task

As well as the question

That you must ask...

You'll start with a hint

Then let it be said,

"Do you have something

for Uncle Fred?"

(Okay, so it didn't really say "Uncle Fred". It really had B's name there...)

The second card had Hint #1 in it which read:

Hint #1

Daddy takes daughter

And Daddy takes son

Then Daddy works there

Two days, not just one

Anyone have a guess as to where this hint took B? He quickly figured out where to go and went in to ask if they had anything for Uncle Fred. At stop #1 (the church office) he collected two CDs and Hint #2. Here he comes with his first gift and second hint.

Hint #2

Now and then

Here and there

Go to the place

That's like these pair

Any guesses? B didn't have any either. He was STUMPED! But I couldn't help him so I sent him back inside to ask for help and with the help of the church secretary they figured out that he was supposed to go to In-N-Out where he collected a $20 gift card and Hint #3.

The kids enjoyed listening to Daddy read the clues (so much so that they actually tried repeating some of them to Grandma later in the day) and driving around to see what Daddy would collect. Big A called it a nature hunt.

Hint #3

Asian, Mexican

African , Colombian

Even one called Pike

That's downright American

There are 6 in this town

So you won't go without

The one that you want

Is the one to the South (and West)

B got this one with NO problem as he is a Starbucks fiend. There he picked up a $20 gift card and Hint #4.

Hint #4

Burgers and milkshakes

Burritos and fries

Zucchini and French toast

And a star that has eyes!

Again B had no problem. He LOVES Carl's Jr and used to work there (See? It STILL puts a smile on his face!). He picked up yet another $20 gift card and the final hint.

Hint #5

You've gathered some goodies

Don't complain about lunches

You can go feed the kids

Or eat alone a whole bunches.

Now the game's almost over

We hope you had fun!

Happy Birthday! We love you!

YOU'RE NUMBER ONE!

To pick up your very last final treat

Go to the place where we love to eat!

We have breakfast and lunch but not ever dinner

No potatoes just salad to try to get thinner.

B had to think about this one for a second, but it didn't take him too long to figure out that we were talking about Marvin's. Here he picked up a goodie bag filled with Monster drinks, dark chocolate and a couple of toy airplanes (thanks to the kids!) and a final note that read:

CONGRATULATIONS!

That's it! You've done it!

You've completed your hunt!

Now come out and get us

So we can have lunch!

The kids and I had fun keeping secrets from Daddy and planning this special game. There were times that I didn't think B was enjoying himself and it took him a few stops to get over the embarrassment of going up to random people in random places asking if they had something for him, but it was good for him!

Happy birthday, B! We hope you enjoyed your weekend and your scavenger hunt!

Which Came First...

The chicken or the egg?

There is a family of chickens that lives in the bushes in the parking lot of a store near our house. Every time we drive by the kids yell, "CHICKENS," or "NO CHICKENS," depending on what we see. Today the chickens were there and the kids were very excited. I turned to Big A and said, "Big A, which came first? The chicken, or the egg?"

Big A - "The chicken. There had to be a chicken to lay the egg.

Me - "But then where did the chicken come from?"

Big A (Thinking for a second...) - "A farm!"

Me - "Okay, the chicken came from a farm. But where did the chicken COME from?"

Big A - "OH! GOD!"

Confessions Of A Slacker Mom - Frogs

You may or may not know this about me, but I'm afraid of frogs... I mean REALLY afraid of frogs. I'll exterminate a spider in the house or trap a mouse... I can look at other bugs and snakes and fish and crawly things and be a little squeamish... But I. Hate. Frogs.

I guess my parents were on the list of people who had no idea about my dislike for frogs, although I'm not sure it would have made a difference if they DID know. For Christmas Grandma and Grandpa bought Big A a Frog-O-ScareSphere. That's right, friends... A little tank for aquatic frogs that would be kept IN MY HOUSE. I'm embarrassed to admit that I sat right on their couch and cried and shook when Big A opened it.

The Frog-O-Sphere comes in a box with a set of rocks and a tank. You have to send away for the frogs, the bamboo and the living rocks or pick them up at Brookstone. A few days after Christmas Grandma picked up the frogs and took them to her house to set up the tank. In an effort to keep me from going completely crazy at the idea of lugging home two kids, all of their belongings, leftovers for B and a Frog-O-Sphere complete with frogs, my mom suggested that she bring the frogs home the next day when she picked Big A up from school and I willingly agreed.

The next day when Grandma picked Big A up from school the subject of the frogs somehow came up and Big A's teacher said she'd like to have them in the classroom for a week for the kids to look at. Well... A week turned into a month and a half and at the beginning of this week Big A finally started asking when the frogs could come home. B told him that if he got a green day, they could come home. (This is the ONE time that I prayed for red! Okay... I'm joking... But I wasn't sure about having those frogs home!) It took Big A 3 days, but the frogs finally came home today, and I'm adjusting.

Welcome home, Froggy and Swimmy, welcome home!


I know, I know... They're TINY, they're in an enclosed tank, they don't make noise, they can't get out, etc...

But I'm still afraid of frogs. So there you have it... Now you know...

Random Ash Wednesday Ramblings

Last night Big A and I were talking about Ash Wednesday and the fact that we'd be going to church to get our ashes, etc. I know I've said this before, but I'm continually amazed by how much Big A is learning about religion and how much his faith is developing daily.

He said, "I need to figure out what I'm going to give up for 40 days." (Really? I had NO idea that he knew anything about Lent and giving something up!)

Me - "I have an idea! Why don't you give up red days?"

Big A - "MOMMY! It has to be something that I LIKE!"

Me - "Oh... Well, I was just thinking that red days would be a good thing to give up and then you could really focus on getting green days. What's something that you like?"

Big A - "Movies!"

Me - "Do you think you could give up movies for 40 days?"

Big A - "Yes."

Me - "But if you did that, it would mean you couldn't watch any movies when we go on vacation." (That would be a bummer since they got new DVD players from Santa.)

Big A - "Oh! Okay, not movies. I don't know then."

Me - "Okay, well we'll think about it."

So what are YOU giving up for Lent? I've got some ideas, but I haven't settled on anything yet.

_________________________________________

Speaking of Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, I read a friend's post on Facebook yesterday that really intrigued me. It said, "I've already given up (almost) every vice I had, thanks to my efforts to get healthy. So this Lenten season I am going to give instead of give up! I'll give away at least $5 a day in a random act of kindness to someone or something to which I feel led to contribute."

What a great idea! This is the second awesome story of giving I've heard this week. The other was from my sister. Her church is doing something called "Kingdom Assignments" in which 100 people willing to do God's work are each given a $100 bill. They take the $100 and use it however they see fit. In the past people have handed out $20 bills at Target in low income areas, grown the money and used it to start Children of Grace which serves AIDS orphans in Uganda, etc.

My sister said that when the program was reintroduced in church on Sunday, her hand was the first one in the air and by the time she left the service, thanks to donations from her loving friends and church family, her money had already doubled. She has decided to use her money to purchase pajamas for the Crisis Nursery. She is also going to try to get businesses, family members, friends and other local organizations to donate funds or pajamas. What an awesome undertaking!

Terri and Karen, I commend you! I think your willingness to give to others in need is wonderful!

We Should Have A Day Off For EVERY President...

Raise your hand if you agree!

Okay... So maybe every president wasn't George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, but really... I'm all about more days off. Besides... Who decided that John Tyler, Rutherford Hayes, Harry Truman or any of the other 39 presidents were any less important than Washington and Lincoln?

I had a long weekend (Friday and Monday off) made even longer by the fact that Little A was very sick last week so I was off Thursday and half of Wednesday. It was GLORIOUS!

But going back to work??? Not so much! Big A wasn't feeling well today and I have to say, I was almost (stressing the ALMOST) hoping he'd come down with something more serious. I shouldn't say that, I know I shouldn't... But a little more time off would be great! I guess I should quit whining... We're going on vacation soon enough, and I really need both kids healthy.

Fine, I'll suck it up and get ready to go back to work tomorrow... I'm going to be SO far behind but the time off was nice while it lasted.

We really should push this day off for every president idea... Who's with me???

Cupid Was Here!

Last night, while we were nestled in our beds, Cupid visited us!

He left a trail of hearts and Hershey kisses from the kids' room...

Down the hall... And right to...

THEIR VALENTINES!!

I expected them to start eating chocolate as soon as they opened their eyes, but to my surprise, neither of them did. Nor did they run right to the presents.

Little A woke up first and in typical Little A fashion, came in with her blankie, sat down against the pile of pillows next to my side of the bed, and played iPod. Big A came in about 20 minutes later and said, "Mommy, who put all of those hearts and chocolates on our floor?"

I pretended I had no idea what he was talking about and made him show me all of the stuff. He was excited, but still nobody ate any chocolates and it wasn't until after ALL of that, that the decided to open their presents.

Oh! And THEN they had some chocolates...

Before breakfast! Who wouldn't smile about THAT??

As I was putting the kids to bed tonight, Big A said this was his "BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER!" When I asked why, he said, "Because we got to go to church today!" I guess Big A's TRUE Valentine is God. Way to go, Big A! I love your faith!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Let Them Eat Cake!

As a child I remember my mom sometimes eating pie or popcorn for breakfast and washing it down with a can of Coke (two thumbs up, I must say!). I also remember that I was never allowed to eat that for breakfast. Such a double standard, huh? Now when B has diet Coke with his breakfast and the kids ask why they can't have soda with breakfast and daddy can, the only answer that really works is, "Because he's the daddy. When you're an adult you can have soda with breakfast."

Tonight at dinner Big A said, "I can't wait until I'm a Mommy (Yes, he said Mommy. No, it's not a typo.) so I can make decisions about what to have for dinner."

Me - "Do you not like what we're having for dinner?" (It was spaghetti, one of his favorites!)

Big A - "I like it, but when my wife goes to a meeting and I'm home with the kids, I'll let them eat cake!"

I love it! A boy after my own heart! Other than the fact that I'd probably get arrested for malnourishing my children, I have NOTHING against cake for dinner! You go, Big A! Let them eat cake!

Mommies Can't Get Sick (Part II)...

But Kids Can... And kids do... And mine are...

I told you about Big A and his ear, but I failed to mention that Little A has been coughing for the past two and a half weeks. The reason I didn't mention this is because I'm so used to her coughing that it didn't really alarm me. Well... It didn't alarm me until her energy level dropped and she spiked a fever... And then it started to worry me just a little bit.

So this morning, after a LONG, sleepless night of coughing and gagging and coughing and making strange noises and coughing, I packed both kids up and took them to the doctor. Turns out that the ear that was bugging Big A on Friday which was NOT infected then, is quite infected now.

As for Little A? Well... My Mother's Intuition was right and I did the right thing by having her checked out. She's got walking pneumonia. It's nothing an antibiotic, a lot of rest and a lot of fluids won't cure, but she's feeling pretty awful.

We left the doctor's office, prescriptions in hand, dropped Big A off at school and headed to Target. Can you tell that Little A didn't feel well? Poor baby girl! (Notice the warm blankie, Auntie Ann??)

On the bright side, it appears as if my achiness yesterday is just going to be chalked up to exhaustion, and I'll take it! I've got to be strong and healthy so that I can help my little girl get strong and healthy!

Mommies Can't Get Sick

Today started out like any other day... Alarm went off, got up, went to work, worked all day, etc... At some point I noticed that my neck was hurting a bit but I figured I'd slept funny on it, no big deal. As the day wore on I realized that the other side of my neck was hurting and by the time my work day was over I had full blown body aches. You all know what THAT means...

As much as I love coming home to my kids, I was dreading it just a bit as I was totally zapped of all energy and not looking forward to three more hours of dinner, playing, baths, and bedtime. I picked up McDonald's on the way home figuring that at least ONE of my Mommy duties would be easily fulfilled. My plan from that point was to eat dinner, give the kids a bath, and then have a movie night. I got home, snuggled the kids, passed out burgers and we ate.

Then it started... Big A started complaining that his ear was hurting and and it was clear that he was in a great deal of pain. He kept rubbing his ear on his shoulder, holding it, and groaning. Of course it was too late to call the doctor and all I could do at that point was console my crying boy, give him some Motrin, and put a warm compress on his ear. I gave the kids quick baths, took care of Big A, got him situated in my bed to watch TV for a bit and then came downstairs with Little A to work on writing the letter B (she ASKED to do it!!).

I was sitting at the table with Little A when it hit me... Somehow, somewhere, I'd gotten a second wind... An unexpected burst of energy that only a Mommy can muster. Big A's problems had made me completely forget about myself as the kids' needs will ALWAYS take priority over my needs. I'll never understand where this extra energy comes from or why (Okay... Maybe that's not ENTIRELY true... Thanks, God!), but I do know one thing... Mommies can't get sick!

Practice Makes Perfect

Lately I've been feeling guilty that Little A doesn't know her letters yet or how to spell her name. I may be wrong, but it seems like at this point, Big A knew all of his letters (the more I think about it the more I'm sure I'm wrong, but still...). I have wanted to sit down and work with her, and this afternoon we had the perfect opportunity!

We had a bit of down time before heading to a friends' house for dinner so we played Pictueka and iPod and then it dawned on me! It was a perfect time to work with Little A! I went online, found practice writing sheets, printed the 'A' sheet, and off she went!

She was SOOO into it!

And she was a natural!

Big A decided that he wanted to practice letters, too, so he wrote the alphabet.

I know he can write his letters, but I was amazed at how well he did!

Then Big A decided to 'chalk'. He was writing one letter of the alphabet at a time and having me look at them. The next thing I knew he'd written 'in' and was calling my attention to that. I asked him what it spelled and he sounded it out. I used the opportunity to have him read some words so I put a letter in front of the 'in' and he read bin, fin, pin, sin and win.

When Big A was finished and had moved on to something else, Little A took her place at the chalk board and impressed me with a bunch more As!

Keep up the good work, kids! Practice makes perfect! You'll be reading and writing in no time!

Big A's First Communion

Today was a big day in our home, as Big A received his Fist Communion. Ever since completing his Communion classes two weeks ago, he's been waiting for this big day. He was SO excited!

This morning when he woke up we were snuggling in his bed and he said to me, "Mommy, today's my special day!"

I said, "Yes, it is."

He said, "Mommy, you don't sound very excited."

I assure you I WAS excited! And pleased, and proud, and all of the other emotions that come with watching your child accept Christ and share in the blessings of God's gift to us.

We were surrounded by family and friends for this special day and had a nice lunch afterwards to celebrate.

Intern John passed out certificates to each child.

This was a fairly large class, 9 kids. One child received his First Communion at the earlier service.

Pastor Newt welcoming Big A to God's table

Intern John welcoming Big A to God's table

Our friend, Anna, also received her First Communion today.

Big A with his special cake. The cake says, "God Bless You Big A".

Grandpa Jim and Sinda

Mommy and Daddy

Uncle Bob (Big A's Godfather), Auntie Terri (Little A's Godmother), and Cousin Matthew

Grandpa, Grandma and Grandma Jeri

Jamie and Josie

It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine, fellowship and the love family and friends. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

Congratulations, Big A! We are SO proud of you!