Monday, January 30, 2012

Logical Conclusions

The boot on the left is one I bought for David for next year, the one on the right is mine.




They are the same size. I actually wore David's boots outside while shoveling the driveway today.

Two logical conclusions can be drawn from this surprising and unexpected phenomenon:

1. My son has freakishly large feet. Or maybe mine are freakishly small.

2. I am the size of a 6 year old boy.

I'm not really fond of either conclusion.

(but will probably buy myself a pair of the boots like David's anyway)

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Some unexpected wisdom from Elton John

Today is Kate's birthday.

I told her that we could do whatever she wanted today.

During breakfast she made her first proclamation:

Kids are in charge today

The conversation went something like this:
(David wanted to get up from the table, I wanted him to sit)

Kate: It's okay David. You can get up. I've decided that kids are in charge today because it's my birthday.
David: Hey! Yeah! You guys can't say "it's time to clean up now" today.
Kate: And, you two have to do all the cleaning.
David: Even the dishes.
Kate: Because we are in charge.
David: And, I'm going to play video games all day.

And so on.

Lots of whispering and giggling followed.

I've been reminded quite a few times already.

Kate: Remember mom. Kids are in charge today.

I think she likes being charge.

My dad tells me on my birthday every year how he remembers the day I was born like it was yesterday.

Seems hard to believe that Kate is already 4. We like to tease her that she started screaming before she was even really delivered. And then didn't really stop for a year or so.

My dad also tells me how my brothers and I are the best things he's done with his life.

Kate was pretty unexpected.
A world without Kate seems like a pretty sad place though.



I hope you don't mind
(I hope you don't mind)
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
- actual wisdom from Elton John, Elton John - your song

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

I had mentally decided this year that I wanted to try blogging every day. I try not to call these mental decisions that happen around the first of the new year resolutions - that's just too much pressure. And they just end up broken. Mental decisions is better.

I think every day for me is just overkill though.
I mean, one day talking about how I want to blog every day, but then there's still 364 entries left.

So, you would probably end up with this:

January 10, 2012: Pizza for dinner tonight.
January 11, 2012: Tired from a long day.
January 12, 2012: Stayed in our pajamas all day today.
January 13, 2012: Pizza again for dinner tonight.

Not really exciting.

The truth is that most of our days are spent going through the motions.

Today, Kate had dance in the morning. The library and a quick trip to the YMCA followed. The kids have been bickering all day. At one point, I politely explained that in no way, shape or form was I going to listen to the two of them fight all day. Kate burst into tears and said, "But mom, David has been mad to me all year."

Some days I long for *something* ...

But, all too soon David and Kate will be in school all day and I'll be left wondering where the time went.

So, that's life. At least for now anyways. Slightly dull, but always full.
And more often then not, pizza for dinner.



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Thursday, January 26, 2012

A mothers art


Yesterday in the car on the way home from the grocery store:

Kate: mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy ....

.... and so on.

She didn't need anything. She was just saying mommy over and over and over again, in a sing-songy voice.

About half way home, I started laughing because I had finally tuned her back in and realized what she was doing -- which just made her sign it louder.

My brain occasionally goes on autopilot for a couple minutes. It just needs a couple minutes to process the day or get caught up, without the constant chatter and background noise from the kids.

But, then it's back.

... And listening to an encore rendition of "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy."

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A Shadow of a Thought

There's this great scene in American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, when the mysterious Mr. Wednesday asks Shadow for a snow storm to distract everyone while he robs a bank (or something like that -- it's been a bit since I've read the book). And Shadow creates a storm, just by thinking it.

I think might have done something like that.

This fall was hard for me.

Lots of changes and me scrambling to keep up and keep it all together.

I remember thinking that I just couldn't handle another winter like last winter -- gray, cold, white.

And so, I think I willed winter away this year.

The sun was shining today and melted most of the snow from this weekend. I didn't even wear a coat. It felt good. I feel good.

And, I just needed this. Not just today, but the past couple months. The snow feels suffocating at times. It becomes a chore to leave the house -- the hats and gloves and boots, brushing off my car, the cold that seeps into your bones. Even if it snows every day for the rest of winter, there's really only a month or so left.

So, the inevitable conclusion is that I am a god. Or at least god-like.

(don't worry, we can still be friends)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

a day in the life

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late
Found my coat and grabbed my hat ...

Except, where are your hats?
And gloves?
What do you mean you can't find your coat?
And shoes.





We have this weird room in our house next to the garage. We tried using it as an office, then a library, but it really works best as a mud room.

As you can see, the kids have their own coat hooks. And their own shoe rack. And we use the white bins for gloves and hats and scarves.

So organized.

In theory.

In practice, we spend an inconceivable amount of time looking for hats. and gloves. and shoes. and coats.

It is a bit frustrating.

And then once we find them, getting them actually put on is another chore.

Kate get your shoes on.
Kate why aren't your shoes on.
Kaaaatttteeeee. Shhhooooeeesss. Nnnnnooooowwww. Pppplllllease.
(that's meant to be sing-songy)

It's a wonder we ever leave the house.

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The tale of reading

Being the story of two children, a book and bedtime

Before David could even really talk, he loved books.
We would put him down for a nap and he would say "more"
And we would stack his books up all around him
And he would look through them, carefully turning each page before finally falling asleep.

Kate hasn't always loved books as much as David, but lately I find her in her room "reading" through her princess books.

Sometimes at bedtime we read all together, sometimes Kate gets books read and then David does.

We have our favorites we read together and have gone through the natural progression of reading - board books, picture books, beginning readers.

This past fall we (and by we I mean I) decided to try some chapter books.

It's been hit or miss. The book has to catch their attention from the start since there aren't pictures to look at and keep them interested. Roald Dahl has worked fairly well. We've read The Fantastic Mr. Fox, George's Marvelous Medicine, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But, even with those Kate would be playing while listening, David would be banging his feet on the wall.

We've tried a bunch after we finished Charlie and just haven't had any luck.

We randomly picked up Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo one day from the library. We all loved it. It's about 2 friends, Bink and Gollie, who are very different but still great friends. It was smart and funny.

So, I decided to try The Tale of Desperaux, also by Kate DiCamillo.
I had read it before and loved it, but wasn't quite sure what the kids would think.

Kate was concerned at first there weren't enough pictures. David didn't want to hear a story about a mouse.

I convinced them to just try it, and if they didn't like it we could stop.

So, I started reading.

And the two of them were mesmerized.

Last night we read how Desperaux, the mouse, fell in love with Pea, the human Princess.

David: (in a skeptical tone) What? He can't do that.
Kate: (giggling) A mouse and a princess?

The story continued:
"Reader, you may ask this question; in fact, you must ask this question: Is it ridiculous for a very small, sickly, big eared mouse to fall in love with a beautiful human princess named Pea.?"

They were both so still and so quiet, as we snuggled under the covers in Kate's bed, listening to the story to see what would happen.

I have no real point to this story, other than that I love moments like those, when the world seems to come together.

At least for a few, quiet minutes.



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