Tag - you're it!

My friend, Colleen, tagged me to write my six-word memoir. I've put this off for a while, trying to figure out what six words really speak about me. Are they the words that I think I am, or that others see me as? Are those the same words? I don't think that they always are.

Observant.
Mothering.
Thoughtful.
Loving.
Reader.
Friend.

(I'll edit this if I can find the picture that I really want to put here - it's either on a different computer, or belongs to someone else in the family.)

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post
4. Tag five more blogs with links
5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Tag!
Stephanie
Leah
Sarah
Julie
Christine

Best Shot Monday - cherry blossoms

Saturday we had a picnic at a local park and I took some pictures of one of the cherry trees. We were unwilling to brave the traffic and crowds in DC this weekend, so we did this instead. This is my favorite of the photos I took.

Check in with Tracey over at Mother May I to see what else is blooming for Best Shot Monday.

Snippets

Easter pictures are coming. Soon. Ish. In the meantime, last week was Claire's school vacation (today was her first day back), and having both kids around the house lead to many interesting conversations.

C: OK, Ben! We must! go! to! the! jungle!
B: OK, Cware!
C: But first! We need our hats!
(ed: yes, it is quite important to always wear appropriate headgear when in the jungle. Claire's is a new pink and green sunhat, and Ben's is his tan Polo baseball cap.)

C: Mama? What do you want to be when you grow up?
Me: A mommy.
C: But you're already a mommy!
Me: Oh good!
C: Don't you want to be a doctor, or a dancer, or a train?
Me: A train?
C: Then I would always have a toy train to play with.
B: I want to be a train! Tracks!
C: You want to be train tracks?
B: Yep!

Yesterday I managed to find some new, cute, wide-width shoes that didn't cost a fortune for Ben (thank you, Marshalls). He is very excited by his new shoes. So much of today has revolved around his new shoes. We had this conversation in the car.
B: I lub my new shoes.
Me: That's good, buddy.
B: And Nonni lubs them. And Daddy lubs them. And Cware lubs them. And I lub them.
Me: Good, I'm glad.
B: I want to go Ryan's house in my new shoes.
Me: Not today.
B: I want to watch Little Einsteins in my new shoes.
Me: OK.
B: I lub my new shoes.
Perhaps he will become the next Jimmy Choo.

Car Conversation

Claire: I'm just furtending!
Daddy: No, it's purtend.
Me: Actually, it's pre-tend.
Daddy: At least mine is closer.
Claire: No daddy - it's FURtend. Can you say furrr? Say furrr, Daddy!

Like Sunshine on a Rainy Day

When you have a new raincoat and boots it doesn't get more exciting than a rainy day!





This little guy in the hand-me-down frog coat and boots would rather eat fruit snacks in the garage.

Welcome Back!

Today (well, due to the latest delay, very very early tomorrow morning) Uncle Adam comes home from spending 15 months in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne. Claire, Ben, and I couldn't be there in person, but we're there in spirit. We can't wait to see you again!

Love Thursday

Today Claire was standing on her stool ("I think I'll use the panda one today.") making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ben came running through the kitchen laughing, and hiccuping, with a ball in his hand.

Claire: Ben has the hiccups. MOM! *laughing* Ben has the hiccups!
Ben: *holding out the ball for me to see with a puzzled look* This a hiccup?

One of the things I love most about my kids is how much they make me laugh.

Check out Love Thursday over at Shutter Sisters.

*My family thinks I need to add a disclaimer here - I do not make my son sleep in a dog crate. We had returned from a weekend trip to my parents' home, and Ben thought it would be great fun to climb inside and pull the door shut. Generally he sleeps in a cage of the more standard crib variety.

Best Shot Monday - ice

A few weeks ago we woke to a coating of ice on everything. Here is a shot of the dogwood tree that overhangs our deck.

Skate on over to visit Tracey at Mother May I for more Best Shot Monday fun!

It almost made me forget all the whining

So today Claire was talking to me on the way from her school to the grocery store.

Claire: When you and daddy get married?
Me: Almost 8 years ago
Claire: Wow. That's a looooooooong time.
Me: Yep, it sure is.
Claire: Mommy? When I get married?
Me: When you're an adult, and you fall in love, and you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, then you can get married.
Claire: But. But. But Mommy? I love you the mostest.

*******************************************************
In other news, this morning when I was showering Ben found my glasses. He looked so cute when he came up to me as I got out of the shower. "Look me, Mommy!" So I sent him to Daddy so he could see him, too. Then about 90 seconds later I see him holding two completely separate pieces of my glasses. Umm yeah. I definitely should have known better.

So I dug out my old frames that Claire had damaged about a week before Ben was born. Putting them at just over 2 years old. Do you know what that means? That means that they won't just make me new eyeglasses, I have to go in tomorrow for an eye exam. And then pick out the frames. And then wait for them to get made. Because Hour Eyes? Doesn't really make many glasses in an hour. In the meantime I have a brutal headache from these old glasses. I'm sure that by the time my body adjusts to them my new glasses will be ready.

The Pronoun Conundrum

When my boy isn't tantrumming he is awfully cute.

Ben: It's me!
Me: It's you?
Ben: No! It's me!

********************************************************
In other news, I was having trouble with two different laptops, but that will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to my siblings. I was able to use Sarah's consumer perks from Bank of America, and in a few days a lovely shiny new MacBook should be arriving at my door! Meanwhile, my old Dell laptop had become a very expensive paperweight (with about three years worth of digital photos and videos trapped on the hard drive). My brother, David, told me about a nifty device that I could use to take the hard drive out of the laptop and turn it into an external hard drive. For about $30 (as opposed to the $150 that Geek Squad wanted to backup my files for me), I put it together yesterday afternoon, and now it is hooked up to my computer downstairs and I can access all of the old files, and get them organized and backed up onto another computer or DVDs. Hooray!

Don't envy me

Get up and come downstairs with Ben - 4:56 AM
Claire arrives downstairs - 5:23 AM
First timeout of the day - 5:37 AM

I have the feeling it is going to be a very. long. day.

Conversations with Claire

Last weekClaire and I had this conversation on her way to school. (Note: She had been out of school sick for three days.)

Claire: I don't want to go to school.
Me: Then you can't go to dance class either.
Claire: Fine. I'll go. But I'm not going to do any work.
Me: OK.

later

Ben: Kiss! Kiss!
Claire: I don't like you because you're a boy. And I only like girls, not boys. Well, I like some boys. But not all of them.
Ben: Kiss! Kiss!
Claire: Mommy,what day is it today?
Me: Wednesday.
Claire: I can't kiss you today because it's Wednesday, and I only give you kisses on Fridays.

******************************************************************
Yesterday Claire and Ben received some Valentine's cards in the mail (thank you Aunt Heather and Uncle Adam!), and Claire was very excited.

Claire: Ben, want me to help you open yours?
Ben: Ok, Cware.
Claire: *tearing envelope* I will read it to you. Dear Ben. I would like to invite you for a playdate. I hope you have a very nice birthday. And lots of birthday cake. Thank you.

Best Shot Monday - Choochoo!

Dad has been spending some time repairing old wooden toys that belonged to me and my siblings for when Ben and Claire come over. Here is one of the ones he's worked on.
(SOOC shot on the macro setting.)

Make sure that you ride on over to visit Tracy at Mother May I for more Best Shot Monday fun! Then check out her newest project, Shutter Sisters, which is just amazing.

A Mommy Equation

2 sick kids + 4:30 AM wake-up (thanks Ben) + 1 husband on a plane to Vegas

= 1 exhausted mommy

Best Shot Monday - Birthday boy

Last year I was able to take a picture of Ben on his birthday at exactly 9:48 - one year to the minute after he was born. I was about 15 minutes early on this picture, but we had MOPS, and were already late, so here's the birthday boy. I'm glad I was able to capture this expression - I think it shows a bit of his personality.


And as I went through pictures of his last year, remembering the fun we had I came across this one from April, and couldn't resist posting it. I don't remember what he had for dinner, but whatever it was makes some pretty great hair product!


For more great pictures go visit Tracey at Mother May I.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Ben!

Dear Ben,

For nearly twenty months your daddy and I thought we had been given such an amazing blessing (your sister), and we were so excited that you were coming, but we had no idea what we were in store for. We never imagined how much better our lives could get, or how having you in our family was like fitting another piece into the puzzle - the picture suddenly got a whole lot clearer.

You amaze us each and every day with new things. We think you are brilliant, but we're your parents - I'm pretty sure we're required to think that. But you can count to 13! Never mind that you typically start at 3, not 1, and that you are not usually counting anything at all. 13! Genius!

You like to sing, and your favorites are the ABC's (I'm not sure you say a single real letter in there), Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Happy Birthday, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. You will surprise me during the day by strolling in with your guitar and singing me a song.

You still wake up far too early in the morning. Today you decided to start celebrating at 4:30. I was not thrilled. But after you morphed from your usual droning, "maaaamaaaa. MAAAAMAAA!" to true crying interspersed with "ay ahh you, Mama??" (where are you, mama?), I could no longer pretend to ignore it, so up we were. Of course, within seconds of being picked up you sweetly asked, "a gween one, Mama?" requesting your typical breakfast of a green nutri-grain bar. You are irresistible, and you're damn lucky that you are, at that hour of the morning!

You know how to turn on the charm, and you have a laugh and smile that are totally infectious. You melt me every time that you run up to me, and give me a hug or a kiss, and so even though you broke my heart yesterday when I asked if you were my baby ("No! Big boy!"), I forgive you. I love that you are so very ticklish. There is one spot between your neck and your shoulder, and a tickle there makes your legs buckle underneath you as you collapse to the floor, convulsing in giggles. Your feet are ticklish, your knees, your chubby thighs, your tummy, your ears, your neck - almost every inch of you. Frequently when tickled until you can barely breathe, you wait a moment to catch your breath before loudly exclaiming, "Gain! Gain!!" (Again! Again!!)

You fancy yourself a comedian, and you think it is incredibly funny to ask me if all of the people we know are in our house. You will run down a huge list, and you ask each question with a lilt on the end and a twinkle in your eye that lets me know exactly how funny you think you are. Finally, when you can hold it in no longer, you will explode with laughter. Yesterday it was after you asked me if there was a "di-no-roar?" (dinosaur) in the car. I wish I could put your voice on here, so everyone else could experience what I am so lucky to be able to every day.

You have a bit of an aggressive streak, and are currently in a big hitting mode. We are trying to curb this by frequent use of time-outs. So far no luck. Sometimes you will hit, and then put yourself in time out. The problem is that you are so happy-go-lucky, that most often, while you are in time out, you are swinging your legs, tapping your feet, and having a grand old time with whatever thoughts are racing through your head.

One of your more recent habits is that frequently, after I read you a book, you will then climb off my lap to the floor, and sit down to open the book back up and read it to yourself. I watch as you turn the pages thoughtfully, and occasionally say a few words aloud. I hope that you love reading like I do, it will let you experience so many things.

You have become quite attached to your "bwanket", and have to have it for naps and bedtime. We, also have another new bedtime tradition. When we go in your room, you request "snuggiepuppy?" in your most hopeful voice. So I will sit in the glider, and rock with you while I sing the song to you. At the end you reach up to me for a kiss, and say in a quiet voice, "tank you, snuggiepuppy!" I hope you will always be my snugglepuppy, little man. I love you so very much.

Ooooo, snugglepuppy of mine,
Everything about you is my favorite kind.
I love what you are,
I love what you do,
And oooooooo -
I love you!

This last year has been full of all kinds of milestones, and I have loved being right here to experience them with you. I can't wait for a lifetime more. You are an incredible little boy, and you are so very, very loved.

Mama

Best Shot Monday - Pete!

Aunt Sarah (who photo-blogs here and here) and Pete (sometimes referred to as Meat by the kids) were here for the weekend as they had a wedding in town. Here is Pete with the kids last night, shortly before he instituted the rule "no books during football".

Visit Tracey over at Mother May I for more exciting Best Shot Monday pictures!

Best Shot Monday - playground fun

On our last full day in Texas Claire and I (and Brian) were driving each other a little crazy in the confined space of our hotel room while Ben napped, so I got on the internet and found a park nearby that had a playground, and off Claire and I went (after a stop at the drive-thru Starbucks - how I wish there was one of these near my house!) It was just the break (and exercise) that we needed.



Tracy has moved Best Shot Monday over to Mother May I, so check in to see some other enjoyable shots.

And did I mention?

With the new year, comes some new contests. The lovely ladies at 5 Minutes for Mom are at it again - this time helping moms build New Habits in the New Year. So stop by to check out the great prizes to get your year off to a more organized start.

Happy 2008!

Well, we're here in the new year. Like most, I have that sense of a fresh start that typically accompanies the new year. I have dozens of "resolutions" floating around in my brain, but I haven't officially decided on any yet. I did mention on New Year's Eve that I hope to run another 5K this year, so I guess that one is out in the public eye now. The rest are still to be determined.

We made it through the holidays, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Despite Ben getting sick, it was a nice few days. Christmas dinner turned out wonderfully, and although I would do things a bit differently next year, all in all it was delicious. (Many thanks to my parents for their willingness to chop, saute, wash dishes, and assist in whatever other way was needed.) We sat 13 at our new dining room table, and enjoyed a lovely time with both of our families.

We had a short, but wonderful, visit in Texas where both kids loved seeing their Papa Jim and Uncle Dave, and of course, playing with Dolly and Max. The plane ride went more smoothly than I could have imagined - both ways! (Pictures to follow - soon I hope.)

We flew back on New Year's Eve, had a few hours at home, and then off to spend the evening with our good friends. We had a wonderful time, lovely food, good wine, and you have not lived until you've watched six little kids dancing to Abba and Staying Alive about 3 hours past their usual bedtimes. It was a wonderful evening, and I hope will lead to many more in the new year.

Now we are back home, and looking forward to some quiet. Though, that rarely seems to happen around here. So many wishes for a wonderful new year, that is all that you want it to be - and more!