...or probably won't play because they were so cheap and chinsy they don't work right. :-P The "snag 'em" game was nearly inoperable, but the "connect four" and the other 2 lame games work fine. Ivan is always delighted by new games to play. 
Sunday, December 25, 2005
The games we play...
...or probably won't play because they were so cheap and chinsy they don't work right. :-P The "snag 'em" game was nearly inoperable, but the "connect four" and the other 2 lame games work fine. Ivan is always delighted by new games to play.
Crazy Fun with the Sock'em Boopers
This toy was Mommy's crazy idea. :-) We're not 'fighting,' we're 'BOPPING!' Totally non-violent, I promise.
The Best Family Picture... under the circumstances
Yeah, it's not very good, but what do you expect if you don't pay a photographer? *giggle*
Season's Greetings from our crazy family.
This is what happens when Mommy knows that none of the "good" group photos of the family are going to turn out, so we might as well have fun sticking our tongues out and making silly noises. *sigh*
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Merry Christmas
The Christmas cantata at Dr. Sue's church was this morning. Despite all the drama from earlier in the week, I did go to rehearsal yesterday and I did sing my solo this morning. I thought I was great as part of the choir, but my solo was bland. I wasn't really there while I was singing my solo - sort of out in space. Ooops. Maybe next time. :-) Michael couldn't make it this morning, so recorded the event on our DVD camcorder and he and I watched it later in the afternoon. All in all, it was a fun event and nice to get to see some people at the potluck afterward. So, Merry Christmas! Go sing some Christmas carols and make your heart happy.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Mommy & Me
Most of you know, my mom flew down to visit the week before Thanksgiving. She had to get home to make a turkey for Dad and Ken, but she spent most of the week before with us. She's so amazing with kids. Mom's patience, tolerance, and creativity is unmatched. I did not inherit it, nor has it rubbed off on me. It was a wonderful week for me, and I wish I had taken more photos and more video. After it was over and I regretted that, I realized that I had been living and enjoying the visit rather than being a spectator observing it as I guess I do more when it's someone else's family. Having her here as a presence in my home was special indeed, and after Mom was home again I missed her deeply. Why do we live so far away? Ha - that's a topic for another time. ;-)
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Friday, December 02, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE!
My dear friend since we were 3 years old, through all the ups and downs and zigs and zags, although we are far apart you will always be a big piece of my heart and soul. We grew up together in a time and place that nobody but the two of us hiking across the 40 acres to greet each other in the Wisconsin sun could know. I wish you a delightfully HAPPY BIRTHDAY. You're far too young to have a midlife crisis yet! *tickle* All my love to you today. I hope today is a real celebration of YOU and that it will be sprinkled with pixie dust and sweet memories. Hugs from afar. -T
Thursday, December 01, 2005
"The Mommy Store"
After all we suffer through and all we serve, with our nerves of steel and our endless hours, you'd think it would take something huge and horrible to break a mother's heart. But really, it's something so small, so tiny, so simple that can crack us in two and make us bleed endlessly.
This morning I was having a tougher time than usual wrangling the 2 year old into her day clothes. She prefers nudity. Go figure. While I was dressing her, I decided to play a little toddler psychology and ask her if she had a nice mommy or a mean mommy. Usually the kids will stop their naughtiness and say they have a nice mommy and then decide to be nice to their nice mommy. Today, however, Bianca grinned devilishly and screamed, "MEAN MOMMY!" in my face. "MEANIE MEANER MEAN MOMMY!" Oh. Ok. Gosh. What did I do to deserve that? I took off her wet, cold, stinky pee-pee night diaper that she didn't want to let go of. That qualifies me as mean, in her 2 year old mind.
So I pressed it a bit farther and grinned back at her and asked, "If you mommy is so mean, why don't you go to the Mommy Store and buy a NEW mommy???" She giggled and relented and we continued on with the morning rituals.
At breakfast I told her that we were going to the gym so she could play with children while Mommy exercises. While munching her cheerios she looked up at me and asked with genuine curiosity, "When we leave the gym can we go to the Mommy Store and pick out a mommy?"
I know it was just a new concept, a curiosity of a toddler's mind. It wasn't that she doesn't love me or that she really thinks I'm a mean mommy. It was just so new and novel, to think, A Mommy Store! and nobody had ever told her about that before. Wow... we gotta check this out as soon as possible.
But to me, in my fragile state of a new morning and a foggy mind, it was a dagger to the heart. I ducked around the corner and cried quietly, half hoping she'd find me, but glad that she kept on munching her cheerios and sipping her milk cup. She wouldn't understand why mommy was crying anyway, and maybe it was silly that I did.
...even sillier to post this for all the world to see just how fragile this mommy's heart really is.
This morning I was having a tougher time than usual wrangling the 2 year old into her day clothes. She prefers nudity. Go figure. While I was dressing her, I decided to play a little toddler psychology and ask her if she had a nice mommy or a mean mommy. Usually the kids will stop their naughtiness and say they have a nice mommy and then decide to be nice to their nice mommy. Today, however, Bianca grinned devilishly and screamed, "MEAN MOMMY!" in my face. "MEANIE MEANER MEAN MOMMY!" Oh. Ok. Gosh. What did I do to deserve that? I took off her wet, cold, stinky pee-pee night diaper that she didn't want to let go of. That qualifies me as mean, in her 2 year old mind.
So I pressed it a bit farther and grinned back at her and asked, "If you mommy is so mean, why don't you go to the Mommy Store and buy a NEW mommy???" She giggled and relented and we continued on with the morning rituals.
At breakfast I told her that we were going to the gym so she could play with children while Mommy exercises. While munching her cheerios she looked up at me and asked with genuine curiosity, "When we leave the gym can we go to the Mommy Store and pick out a mommy?"
I know it was just a new concept, a curiosity of a toddler's mind. It wasn't that she doesn't love me or that she really thinks I'm a mean mommy. It was just so new and novel, to think, A Mommy Store! and nobody had ever told her about that before. Wow... we gotta check this out as soon as possible.
But to me, in my fragile state of a new morning and a foggy mind, it was a dagger to the heart. I ducked around the corner and cried quietly, half hoping she'd find me, but glad that she kept on munching her cheerios and sipping her milk cup. She wouldn't understand why mommy was crying anyway, and maybe it was silly that I did.
...even sillier to post this for all the world to see just how fragile this mommy's heart really is.
A Child's Secret Wish
When I was in the church Christmas program back home as a child, I remember one year an older girl was given a solo for the song, "What Child Is This." At the time I thought it was so beautiful, so angelic, and I secretly wished it could be me singing it instead. I'm sure I wasn't old enough and wasn't a very confident singer either, so I was never considered for a part like that.
Fast forward about 20 years.
Last night at choir practice for the Christmas cantata, Dr. Sue asked me to sing the solo in the Christmas story medley for "What Child Is This." I tried not to smirk or grin funny, but inside I was a little girl jumping up and down with glee that I got chosen!
I admit, it's a simple thing. Most people have solos in the program, and I have taken voice lessons so this is no big deal. The difference is that it will be the teary-eyed, giddy-hearted child in me singing this time. I wonder if anyone will be able to hear that?
Fast forward about 20 years.
Last night at choir practice for the Christmas cantata, Dr. Sue asked me to sing the solo in the Christmas story medley for "What Child Is This." I tried not to smirk or grin funny, but inside I was a little girl jumping up and down with glee that I got chosen!
I admit, it's a simple thing. Most people have solos in the program, and I have taken voice lessons so this is no big deal. The difference is that it will be the teary-eyed, giddy-hearted child in me singing this time. I wonder if anyone will be able to hear that?