A house full of love

I got the kids little dry erase boards to mount on their bedroom doors, because I thought it would be cute for them to have a little spot to draw & write notes when they were up there playing. We've had them for about a week now, and I've enjoyed seeing the new masterpieces each morning. Sydney likes to draw circles and the letters S and E. Colin's board has said things like "I love you Mommy" and "Colin's room" and "Wake me up at 7".

I should have known it wouldn't take long to get to this place! Buddy--she can't read. And even if she could...do you really think that would stop her??

Polly stepped in it

Sydney is playing with her Polly Pockets, and has built an elaborate "castle" with some of her stacking pegs. I casually peeked in and told her that--hey--see those tall parts right there? Those are called turrets. "Hmmm...okay", she says.

A few minutes later, I hear her telling Polly that she should wait for the prince down by the door, because you don't want to get stuck in the turds. Followed closely by hilarious laughter.

This is the same girl who sings about whether or not one's ears hang low--like a continental "soda".

You can't make this stuff up.

Wiener poopie

Just came across my desk this morning...

Seriously, I just don't know where to start here. Is it the word wiener? The word poopie? The name Jesus in the same sentence with the aforementioned two words????

I would drop everything and go back to college RIGHT NOW to become a television news reporter if I had even the slightest HINT that I may ever get the chance to voiceover a clip such as this.

...oh that I may ever get an opportunity even half as fabulous...

"A complaint about their "leavings"???? HAHAHAHAHAHA! You're welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJ4es4cYIU

I'll second that...

Eric was home early tonight, so he offered to stay with Sydney while Colin & I went on a "date" to the library to get some of his homework done. In the car on the way there:

Colin: Mommy--you know how I know that Sydney's not with us?

Me: How, buddy?

Colin: 'Cause my ears aren't hurting from all that whining.

He's got a point there.

A toss-up

Colin & I read a Bible story each night before he goes to sleep. He always asks such good questions, and it's a really neat time for "just us". We've recently started to let Sydney in on the fun, and she loves the snuggles, and often adds insight of her own. Like tonight's, for example.

We read the story of Daniel being thrown in the lions' den. Colin pointed out that he was brave, and that the angels didn't let the lions' mouths work, etc. Right before we ended with our prayer, Syd pipes up-- "it's a good thing Daniel didn't get eaten by the lions. That would've SUCKED".

So--I'm left to wonder-- when I'm standing at the pearly gates...does the fact that I TRIED to teach Sydney her Bible cancel out the fact that I also inadvertantly taught her to swear?

Proud Mama

Colin,

This isn't so much a letter to you as it is just what I would say if you were an adult right now. Or maybe what I want you to know someday when you're wondering how your heart can be so full of love for YOUR son. I won't be eloquent...it's late, and I'm all foggy in that good way you get when your right on the edge of crying with a huge smile on your face. But here goes.

We just got home from your 1st grade winter concert at school. I need you to know that I am so proud of you, buddy. For me, Colin, the things you do are never just that thing at that moment. Like tonight---all of the parents were there for a cheesy concert with their 6 year olds. I was there to see you be normal. I didn't see you file onto those risers, do the motions (almost correctly!) to the songs, and sing your heart out. I didn't.

What I saw were snapshots of the moments we've shared together on your journey. I don't see you standing on risers-- I see you wearing your special shoes and struggling to get across our living room floor with your physical therapist. I don't hear you singing-- I hear you practicing your articulation and inflection with your speech therapist. I don't see your sweet new haircut, I see myself stroking your head as you wake from an MRI. I don't see you goofing off with your neighbor...honey, I see you being an adorable 6 year old with friends. Friends who "get" you, or at least they SO do for right now!

You are earnest, you are kind, you love music, you overflow with joy. Tonight, you GLOWED. You bounce when you are forced to stand still, and tonight it was like you were going to lift off from the sheer heaven of it all. Daddy was there, your Grandad was there, Shell & the boys were there...people who just love you so much. Tomorrow night you head over to Luke's for your first big "non-family" sleepover. Then...on Saturday, you're headed off to college. Oh--that's right--that's just how it feels in Mama's heart.

You have much to teach me, Colin, and I need you to know that tonight was so much sweeter for having learned so much from you already.

Mama loves you. Sleep well, baby.

Oh--for the record--YES, the kid next to you WAS wearing a fake mustache most of the night. And they say YOU'RE "special"?

Apple, cranberry, or orange?

Sydney has this thing she does when she's in a "mood"--she argues just for the sake of arguing. Just to keep the "angry" going a little longer. Just to screw up her brow and doubt that anyone around her really knows what they're talking about. Just to be...three. It's kinda her version of most 3-year olds' WHY? game. Instead of answering every why question with another why--she answers every argument with another argument. Fun game.

So that you'll know what started this, you should know that Sydney FINALLY went cold turkey with the pacifiers on Christmas Eve. We did the whole, "Santa is gonna take these to little children who need them" routine and whathaveyou. (Like ANY kid would've taken those nasty things...the 3 remaining pacifiers were about 2 years old, and had just about that much gunk and crap in them...eww eww eww. )

You're basically up to speed. Here's the conversation on the way home from Target today.
(and when reading Syd's voice, make it really whiny & angry-like. Not yelling--more like growling...you won't even be CLOSE, but try.)

Syd: Mommy, I want my paci! I need to have my paci.

Mommy: Sydney, when we get home, I'll snuggle you up on the couch with your blanket & you can close your eyes for a minute.

Syd: When I open my eyes will my paci be back?

Mommy: (stifling a smile) No, Syd. The pacies are gone. Maybe you should learn to suck your thumb? You have TWO, ya know.

Syd: I can't suck my thumbs.....THEY HAVE GERRRRRRRRRMS. I'll DIIIIEEEEE.

Mommy: (working harder at the not laughing) Seriously, honey? Where did you hear that?

Syd: I didn't HEAR it. I LEARNED it! (getting really mad, now)

Mommy: Syd--seriously...you wash your hands plenty. So--sorry--where did you learn about germs?

Syd: At school...Ms. Greenwood taught me. Ya know, I don't even like school.

(she loooooves school...remember...arguing just to argue)

Mommy: I'm sorry to hear that, because you're going back on Wednesday.

(****long pause while she works up her next argument****)

Syd: Mommy, do we have Hannukah?

Mommy: (hardly able to contain my interest to see where this is going) Nope--we have Christmas.

Syd: Why don't we have Hannukah?

Mommy: Well, ummm...because we're not Jewish?

Syd: We're not what?

Mommy: We're not Jewish people.

Syd: WE ARE TOOOOOOO JUICE PEOPLE!
I LOVE JUICE!
I LOVE APPLE JUICE
AND CRANBERRY JUICE
AND ORANGE JUICE!!!!!!!
DON'T SAY WE'RE NOT JUICE PEOPLE!!!!

And then I laughed so hard that Sydney forgot to be mad, and laughed right along with me. And these are the moments in time you just don't ever want to forget.

Snow day!

Just a day before the kids are let out to spend ELEVEN consecutive vacation days home with me...they've called a snow day. I don't get what's up with these wuss bus drivers...c'mon...it's not the frontier, for Pete's sake.

So our office here at home is now the site of a large "secret club" fort. Because nothing says "I love my Mom" more than emptying the entire linen closet into a mess for her to clean up.

Awesome.

Let it snow...

We're in the throes of the first of TWO Nor'easter snowstorms this weekend. We've gotten 8 inches in about 5 1/2 hours so far, and it's still snowing. UGH. Eric's out of town tonight, I hate to shovel, the plow guy hasn't called back, our snowblower thing-a-majig is broken--and the only one who knows how to fix it? Yeah--out of town, remember? So--I'm in a mostly FOUL mood, and was lamenting all of the above both under my breath and aloud in the living room with the kids before bed. They were standing with their little noses to the window watching the snow fall, and I spewed out...darnit!!! I have to be out of here at 8:45 in the morning, and I don't know HOW I'm gonna get my car out of the garage and this totally stinks, and onandonandonandon. Until Colin says quietly, "Sydney--it's like God sprinkled our Christmas trees with powdered sugar". Then Sydney...having heard the words powdered sugar...yells, "LET'S HAVE FRENCH TOAST!!!". And then my heart was so full I felt as though it just might finally burst.

Merry Christmas--

The anal picker-upper

A little while ago, I sent the kids upstairs to clean Sydney's room. And by clean, I mean PLOW THROUGH and find some sort of order before even being ABLE to start to clean. Dear Sydney decided at some point today to take out every last piece of clothing, sock, underwear, hair barrette, and EVERYTHING from all 1-2-3-4-5-6 yeah SIX of her drawers and spread it all over the room. Nice.

I just stuck my head around the corner to listen upstairs & see how it was going. Colin is not only giving her a minute-by-minute pep talk (Sydney, it's almost over! Mom's gonna be so proud! You can do it!), but he's also encouraging a level of detail in her efforts that I never would have anticipated or expected. See--I'm also hearing, "okay, long sleeves in this drawer; short sleeves here; put all underwear in a pile and we'll get to those in a minute; jeans here; long pants here; white socks and pick socks separate" and so forth. I also heard him tell her to line up her books on her bookshelf better.

Autism ROCKS. I'm just sayin'.

HA!

While this is an adorable little video clip, it also quite accurately portrays what it must look like when Pooch & I are sitting on the couch watching TV at night. All is peaceful, Mom chomping on snacks, when suddenly...BWAH!!! Pooch lets out a bark that swear-to-God takes a YEAR off my life! Enjoy!

Are they their parents, or what?

A classic exchange last night that was a spot-on portrayal of their parents' relationship:

Sydney: wearing a tutu, talking incessantly, thinking she's hysterical, singing silly songs & spinning around the room. She singsongs, "Colin, aren't I funny?".

Colin: where he once was laughing & playing along, he is now just staring at her. He deadpans, "Yeah, Sydney. You're like a big joke. Except that the joke isn't funny."

(Replace above names with Jen & Eric... and welcome to my life....)

Happy THANKSGIVING!

AARGGGGHHH!!!

And HERE are the pictures after I gritted my teeth and said, "listen, you people--you begged for costumes, and you will wear the costumes mommy bought you and daddy paid for, and you will be happy and this is fun don'tyouknow so you WILL have fun and blahblahblah" right until my head popped off and landed in one of their ghost buckets.

Happy Holler-Weenies!

So, there's what the kids WANTED to be for Halloween. Sydney announced about 1/2 hour before we left to trick or treat that actually, thankyouverymuch, she'd just like to forgo her original costume and be a "hula fairy". See above. COLIN announced that he'd also like to go as something else--himself. Once again--see above. He looked at me and said, "I don't even LIKE candy, geez!". Ummmm...alrighty then.

Tastes like chicken

Sydney: "Mommy, kiss me."

Me: **kiss**

Sydney: "Smell my breath."

Me: "ummm...okay...sniiiif."

Sydney: "Kiss me again."

Me: "Really? Okay-- **kiss**."

Sydney: "Kiss me one more time."

Me: "Okay, Syd--this is it. **kiss**"

Sydney: "HA! I just let Pooch lick inside my mouth!"

Ewwwww....

Ooh Ooh Ooh...just one more!

Okay...looks like that last link thing worked. So--just one more for tonight. Check out http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com/ How very very very cool is this??? PROMISE you won't be able to stop seeing faces everywhere you look! (thanks, dooce!)

HA!

So, I'm gonna try something here. I find so many things just hilarious each day, and I'd love to be smart enough to figure out how to link them here on our little blog--so that ya'll can laugh. I just might be opening myself up to some serious ridicule here, though...as I can pretty much GUARANTEE that many of you aren't going to find even HALF of the things that I find funny to be all that particularly so. (Read that sentence again--it'll make sense. ) So, for what it's worth--here's the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewbaldwin/472963329/in/photostream/ You're gonna be so bummed if it doesn't work, huh? And you're probably sitting there thinking, "what if it DOES work, but I don't get it or think it's funny?" or "what if I'm getting linked to something other than what she meant to link me to?". No worries...here's a hint--Colin's turtle's name is Franklin.

God bless!

One out of two ain't bad...

I'm putting the kids to bed tonight, and it's Colin's turn. We have a good snuggle, pray, kiss, and I lean in for my final words. "Colin, I love you very much". "Mommy?" "Yes, baby?" "I love Daddy better". Ummm...do I laugh or cry? Colin sees my shocked expression, and before I can answer says, "Don't be sad--Sydney still likes you better". Before I can even laugh, it gets better. He pats my leg and smiles & winks. SMILES AND WINKS. Like this is gonna soften the blow?! He may LOVE Daddy more, but he's ME all the way.

Miss me?

Yup...been almost a year. Honestly, I just forgot about this blog thing--and every time I remembered, it just seemed like so much WORK. Finding time to pick. my. nose. in a day is a big thing, and as you know, my nose is always with me. The computer? Not so much...so thus the time problem, see?

All is well. So well. I will make a point of trying to hit this blog with some stories & pictures at least monthly this year. There really just is so much to share, and this is such a great way to do it. Stay tuned for more in September. For now...here's Pooch. He joined our family last December. He's a jack-a-bee. Part Jack Russell, part Beagle, part jackass. He's naughty, loud, and we're pretty sure his parents are related--if you know what I'm sayin'. Look for many more Pooch stories in the future.

Whoops!

Okay... sorry about the long break. Things just get so busy around here, and then a month has passed! I've put some pics of the two little monkeys on tonight. That should give you a CLUE as to why I'm so busy! Yes, that would be them insisting on not only taking a bath together, but doing it in their lifejackets. Whatever...you're only young once, right?!

The Harvest Party was tons of fun and a big success! Because it was so fun, however, I managed to miss capturing most of the action. So, here's one shot of Colin (pumpkin) with our babysitter Kelsey (scarecrow)! You get the idea!

Had the quarterly progress report from Colin's school, and he's really doing well this year. We're thrilled with the progress he's making academically, and his social stuff is really coming along. It's funny how it's so hard to see progress until someone sits you down & points it out! Sydney continues to be dramatic & hilarious. She went with me to Kentucky to see my brother, his wife and their daughters. They both do alot of singing/dancing/acting, etc. and Sydney got to see them perform in two Christmas shows. She is now asking for "glitter cheeks" every morning, dancing to ANYTHING that has a beat, and singing into any cylindrical object she can get her hands on. Too much.

We're good. Eric's wrapping up his jobs before things get too cold around here. I am busy doing everything you see in the pictures, and trying my very best to get enough time alone not to LOSE my grip. We are blessed, and we are happy.

Til next month...