Words make it all worth it

I didn't get breakfast in bed. I didn't get jewelry or clothes. I got something a whole lot better...

From Bud:

1. Mom is really fun

2. Mom is thoughtful

3. Mom is very funny

4. Mom is very nice

5. Mom is very strong

6. Mom is very fast

7. Mom is very smart

8. Mom forgets a lot
(Thanks Bud. He giggled when I read this one. He loved that he could tease me with it)

9. Mom is pretty
(Awww, that's so much better then the time he told me my boobs look weird)

10. Mom loves a lot of people

(Especially a certain little boy and his sister)

The best thing about Mom is she makes me feel better when I am sad. She likes to help us when we need help. Her favorite foods are chili and...

stir fry. Mom knows a lot about reading books. I wish she didn't have to cook so much. (clearly I have not hidden the fact that I hate making dinner) I love when we go to the park.

From Babe:

Yes Babe, I am 5...don't ever forget that!

I do love blue!

Clearly I love chili...too bad they hate it!

Can you guess Babe's favorite song for me to sing to her? (It says Twinkle, Twinkle in case you can't read the teacher's cramped writing)

I do so very much love the restaurant la Iguana! I'm glad she knows it! :-)

She's a fun game player

How can I argue with that? :-)

Bud insisted on calling me "Mother" the entire day. I told him he didn't have to call me Mother just because it was Mother's Day but he informed me that: "I have to! It wouldn't be polite if I didn't!" Well, how could I argue with that! So "Mother" it was...all day! 

The weather left a little to be desired yesterday but that didn't stop us from taking a bike ride to the park and it was the perfect excuse to snuggle on the couch and watch the Rangers win game 6 to force a game 7 watch cartoons until Babe fell asleep leaning up against me. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day!

Lily

Overheard conversations - Bud and babe style

I put the kids to bed last night but neither of them was interested in actually going to bed. I was in my room and I was certain I'd have many visits by each of them. I heard Babe's door open, and Bud must have been standing at his door too. The following is the conversation I overheard:

Babe: Bud, I'm not going to hug you or kiss you, I'm just going to sleep in your bed!

Bud: That's ok Babe. Did you turn off Anastasia?
(meaning her movie playing on her tv - yes my 3 yr old has a tv in her room...I'll do ANYTHING to get that child to stay in her room and sleep. Take your judgement elsewhere or I'll send her to your house to sleep.)

Babe: Oh, thanks Bud!! ... Ok, I turned it off!

Bud: Well get in here then!!

I didn't hear a peep out of them for the rest of the night! I love those two! They may sound like an old married couple but I wouldn't trade their friendship for anything although if it would mean Babe would sleep better I might reconsider my position! 

Lily

Conversations with Babe

(Babe - reminder, she is 3 - was lying on my chest trying to go to sleep when she pointed at my boob and the following conversation ensued)

Babe: Is this fake?

Me: (Looking at her finger on my boob and then at her) Uh, no (I’m very articulate)

Babe: Why?

Me: Uh, because (See, I told you)

Babe: What are they then?

Me: Uh, real.

Babe: Why?

Me: Because I want them to be?

Babe: Well, I want them to be fake.

Me: Good to know. Go to sleep.

And now I better start saving for more than just her college education. (You know, for her therapy bills when I refuse to let her have breast enlargement surgery when she is 16.)

Lily

Conversations with Bud

(This conversation occurred in the grocery store as we cruised the aisles.)

Bud: Hey Mom

Me: Yes Bud?

Bud: You see this guy right here? (pointing to his bicep) Well, he’s got a brother and he lives right over here (pointing to his other bicep).

(I swear I feed this child. Please ignore his protruding ribs and resist the urge to contact CPS.) (Thank you.)

Lily

Conversations with Bud

Scene: In the car this morning, Bud droning on and on talking about Pokemon when he suddenly stops.

Bud: He is a Stage 2 Pokemon but he can evolve. Mom, when my nostrils get all stuffed up…uh, I’ll get back to Pokemon in a minute. I have more to say about that. But, Mom, when my nostrils get a lot of snot build up…did you know that Onix can do 20 damage…uh, mom, did you know that when my nostrils get full of snot it makes me have to cough. Superior can do 20 damage to Onix but Onix can do tail slap...

(At this point I fell asleep and swerved off the road from an overdose of Pokemon related discussions.)

(Oh Pokemon, please release my son from your evil grasp!)

Lily

Conversations with Smidge

Smidge hurt her knee and has been limping walking around with an immobilizer for a few weeks now. I asked how it was going and what follows is our conversation...

Smidge: It still hurts and now like my shin is hurting from the brace I think and my upper thigh from the weight of the brace so that’s not fun. BUT I could bend it more so that’s very good. And I think I figured out a way to help with the slipping (cause the dumb thing starts off at the right spot but then after you walk like 10 steps it slowly slides down your leg a little) I put an ace bandage under it right by the bottom to help it (and hopefully take some of the strain off my shin too) so far it is helping but ask again later please.

Me: How annoying! Good thinking about the ace bandage though. But just think, you’re thigh will be ripped by the time you are done wearing the brace. Then of course your other leg won’t be so you’ll be all lopsided but hey, one strong leg is better than no strong legs, am I right?

Smidge: I’m not sure you are….I mean sure it will be kinda cool to have one side all hulk like but how will I find  pants that fit right?

Me: Excellent point. But! If you are ripped that much you could probably just wear shorts all the time. Problem solved!

Smidge: You my dear are a problem solver if I ever did see one… well done

That conversation was followed by this conversation just minutes later…

Smidge: What are you doing for child care during the summer?

Me: We have to find someone for July and August. I have no idea who that is going to be! (And yes, I’m fully aware that time is a’tickin.)

Smidge: Whatever you totally have lots of time to find someone. Like a Whole month…well ok not a whole month but like 2 weeks (Ok, so this conversation is a few weeks old, you caught me. Writers block is a bitch.) and that’s lots of time to find a care giver for your kids…worse comes to worse you just set up like a play area in the backyard and leave some toys and food in a box for them, you know like you do with a dog.

Me: My kids are terrified of bugs so I’d just leave them locked in the house. That way they have access to the pantry and stove. Bud is totally old enough to make grilled cheese or macaroni!

Smidge: Even better! Plus then you could just put on a movie for them or nick jr and that should keep them out of trouble. My mom used to use the TV as a babysitter ALL the time…and I turned out just fine ;-)

Me: I use Nick Jr as a babysitter all the time so they would totally be fine. Plus Bud knows how to work the TV so if they got bored of that he could just change it. As long as I left drinks out for them they would totally be ok.

Smidge: Then there you have it a perfectly good plan…problem solved once again, we are on a roll today

Me: Man, at this rate we should really try to tackle more serious world issues. I mean, we might be able to achieve world peace at the rate we are going.

Smidge: Or hunger! That would be a big one

Me: Oooh! See! Man, we are just SHARP this morning! I think that deserves some chocolate! 3 Musketeers bar it is!

Smidge: I have peanut butter cups! But I’m saving it for later…right now I got myself some tea

Me: Tea does fit in well with the whole world peace thing. Good choice.

Smidge: It’s very adult of me right…and I’m sure you agree that the 6 sugars I put in there doesn’t make it any less adult like

Me: No, not at all! When life gives you tea, make sweet tea. Isn’t that the saying?

Smidge: Yeah I think that’s it

Happy Tuesday Peeps.

Lily

Thought Vomit Tuesday

So you might not know this about me but I think about some really random crap. (I know! Hard to believe, right!) Most of the time I spare you guys the details but I have come across the perfect platform to spew my mind vomit all across the Internet. 

Thought Vomit Thursdays was brought to my attention by Josey over at “My Cheap Version of therapy”

 (Go ahead and click the link. She’s fun. The first link will bring you to her home page, the second will bring you to her first TVT post.)

Here goes…

*****************************

It’s been a while since I Thought Vomited and while it’s not Thursday, the day begins with a T so it still fits nicely into my TVT label that I use for all my Thought Vomit Thursday posts. Things like this are important to me people!

SO! Let’s vomit, shall we?!

We might be buying a new car tonight. At the least we are going to the car dealership to see what kind of deal we can get. Swagger wagon HERE I COME! I’ve decided that if I really do get a minivan (it all depends on the deals we can swing) I’m going to own that bitch! I shall not duck down when driving past people I know. I shall not shudder each time I say I drive a minivan (ok, this one might take some time). I shall not cry each morning as I get the kids into the car minivan. Instead I will honk my horn and wave to all that I pass, I will throw back my shoulders and hold my head high when I say I drive a minivan (again, that one will need work), and I will only cry as I get into the minivan when I hit my head on the door I swear I’ve never done that before.    Twice. So bring it on Swagger Wagon! Bring. It. On. Sniffle, sob, sniffle

Umm, I have a son who’s old enough to lose a tooth. When did that happen?? Said tooth hasn’t actually been lost yet but it’s wiggling something fierce! One good tug and it’s out of there…but then we need someone willing to actually give it one good tug. I can’t squish a bug, you think I’m going to rip bone matter out of my sons mouth? Bud won’t do it himself (no matter how much I pester him to) and my husband said he could do it but doesn’t want him to be fearful whenever he has a loose tooth. It’s totally normal to have loose teeth dangling from your mouth when you graduate high school, right?

So tell me your loose tooth stories. Did you yank that sucker out? Put a string around it and slam the door? Inquiring minds want to know!

Babe is getting too smart for her own good. As I’ve said before, it makes me fearful for the teenage years. Her new word is Stupid (yeah, it goes over REAL well) and the other day she clearly called me “Stupid mommy” so of course I told her “Nut uh, you’re stupid” and stuck my tongue out at her. I told her we don’t say stupid because it’s not nice. She looked me right in the eyes and said, “I didn’t say stupid I said Snoopy.” Then she turned and walked away. Touché little girl! Touché!

I think that about does it. It was a short bout of vomiting but fun nonetheless. Peace out.

Lily

Glimpses of the teenage years

Yesterday morning my husband and I were in the kitchen doing our normal morning stuff. I suppose we were talking too loudly because from the top of the stairs (2 rooms and 1 floor away) we hear the following from Babe...


What's going on here you guys?

(pause)

Can you stop talking so I can go to bed here?

(pause again...mind you we aren't talking because we are trying our hardest not to laugh at her)

Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell a mommy girl that I can eat

(doubled over trying not to laugh audibly) (I normally say to her, Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell a Baby girl and baby girls are yummy. I want to roast that baby girl and fill my tummy.)


AHHHH!!! NO KITTY

(Ranger might terrorize her a little bit)


(She then walks into the kitchen)


(rubbing her eyes) Can you guys quiet down so I can go back to sleep?






I can only imagine what the teenage years will bring if this is her thought process at a two year old.




Lily

Conversations with Smidge

Smidge and I just had this conversation.

Smidge: I saw a clown this morning in the subway…like Fully Dressed Clown. Just walking around like he wasn’t dressed like a clown

Me: Like, red nose and all?

Smidge: YUP!!! Red nose, big shoes and just so you get the full picture polka dots on his jacket and pants

Me: Did he have a flower that squirted water? Because really, that makes the clown (in my opinion).

Smidge: No I don’t think he did…MAN does that mean I didn’t see a clown today in the subway, cause that kinda made my whole work day worth it

Me: No, you are entitled to still say you saw a clown. But I feel you’d be at fault if you didn’t at least add that he was a “poor excuse” for one.

Smidge: You know what when I passed him he wasn’t smiling either now that I think of it…ok agreed let’s start over…

I saw a poor excuse for a clown this morning in the subway…like Fully Dressed Clown but without a flower and not smiling. Just walking around like he wasn’t dressed like a clown.

Me: I miss the city.

*********************************

I’ve decided that “Conversations with Smidge,” just like “Conversations with Bud,” must become a reoccurring event. You’re welcome.

Lily

Conversations with Babe

Setting: She is sitting on my kitchen counter with her flannel pajama top unbuttoned.

Me: What’s with your shirt being unbuttoned? What’s your name, Guido?

Babe: No.

Me: Is it Vinny?

Babe: No.

Me: Is it Joey?

Babe: No, it’s Chico. 

Where does a 2 ½ year old even come up with that? Priceless! 

Lily

Love is...

This was Bud's contribution to the bulletin board outside his classroom in February. I hope this doesn't say something about my parenting.

In case you can't read it it says

"Love is when my Mom lets me play on her ipod."

I think I will just focus on the fact that "love" and "mom" are in the same sentence. 


Lily

They should have played the National Anthem

Ok, this is it for hockey for a while so allow me a hockey post just one more time. 


Bud had his LAST hockey practice on Saturday. What made all the driving, all the early mornings, all the MONEY worth it? This smile right here...

Our conversation after his practice:

Bud: LOOK MOM! I GOT A BRONZE MEDAL!!

Me: WOW, Bud! That is awesome!

Bud: I didn't know I was going to get a bronze medal. It's ok that's its not gold. 

Me: Yeah, it's ok that's it's not gold. It's just really cool that you got one!

A bit later, outside in the sunlight.

Bud: MOM! LOOK!!! It really is gold! Out here in the sun it's GOOOOOLD!!!! I got a golden medal!

Me: Awesome!

Bud: Can a brick break my medal?

Me: What?

Bud: Can a brick make my medal break in half?

Me: I don't think so Bud.

Bud: Good.




Lily

Thought Vomit - Monday Edition

So you might not know this about me but I think about some really random crap. (I know! Hard to believe, right!) Most of the time I spare you guys the details but I have come across the perfect platform to spew my mind vomit all across the Internet. 

Thought Vomit Thursdays was brought to my attention by Josey over at “My Cheap Version of therapy”

 (Go ahead and click the link. She’s fun. The first link will bring you to her home page, the second will bring you to her first TVT post.)

Here goes…

So many things went on this weekend but none of them are really blog worthy on their own. Rather than regale you with the play-by-play of my new sandals (SQUEEEE) or my frying pan (woot woot) or the laugh-out-loud play-by-play of our game of Bubble Talk with our friends, I’ll leave you with these snippets of conversations and thoughts from the weekend.

Conversation Snippets:

Said by a 45-ish year old man to another man at a bowling alley last night

You just said “cockeyed!” (giggle, giggle, giggle) (I wish I was kidding)

Babe on why she cried in the shower

The water was shining in my eyes.

Bud on “winning”

Bud: Mommy, what number were you up the stairs?

Me: Um, I think I was third.

Bud: Ok everybody, third is the best, second is the worst. (Babe was second, of course.)

Some minor thoughts on my weekend:

Why are pots (not from Wal-Mart) so expensive? I think it should be illegal to charge $165 for a frying pan.

Bed, Bath & Beyond is like Toys R Us for grown-ups. Everything is shiny, all the best toys are WAY HIGH on the wall, and it has everything you EVER need! (Except pretty flannel sheets. I can’t be the only one who likes flannel sheets even in summer, right?)

The sandals in the box in my size were brand new. I mean, I wasn’t at a second hand store or anything but I mean no one even tried them on before! They were still wrapped in plastic with all the shoe stuffing in its proper place. I don’t know if I have ever come across shoes in this state! I think the angels were singing. But because they were wrapped up so nicely I only tried on one. I’m getting a little nervous about the fact that I didn’t try on the other one. Lazy Mistake # 374 for the year.

Good friends are worth the wait. It took 8 years and two kids but we finally have a good “couple” friends with kids that play together nicely. The kind of friends that will volunteer to watch your kids for you so you can go out (even if it’s only to the bowling alley to sub on your in-laws league), the kind that make plans to go out on your anniversary together because you got married 1 day apart, the kind that you can sit on the couch and giggle with while making said plans, the kind that will play stupid board games with you every weekend and laugh the entire time, the kind that has a son who your son thinks is the best thing since sliced bread (and vice versa). Yeah, we got lucky with D and L.

Hope you had a good weekend too.

Lily

Conversations with Bud (in the car)

Bud: Who came up with the word “water”?

Me: Someone came up with it a very long time ago.

Bud: What is their name?

Me: I don’t know. They didn’t keep records like that back then.

Bud: But why can’t we ask them now?

Me: Well, that person has been dead for a very long time.

Bud: Was it a president?

Me: hehehehehe No, it wasn’t a president.

Bud: But they are dead now?

Me: Yes, definitely.

Bud: How did they die?

Me: I don’t know. I don’t even know who they are.

Bud: Were they really old?

Me: No clue Bud.

Bud: Maybe they got a cold.

Me: Well, that’s possible, people back then died of weird…No, probably not a cold Bud. We don’t die of colds now. We just get sick and then get better. No one is dying of a cold now.

Bud: What about a cough? (dramatic cough into his elbow)

Me: Nope, not going to die of a cough. We have medicines now that protect us from dying from stuff like that. You don’t have to worry about getting sick and dying, ok Bud?

Silence.

Me: Bud, did you hear me?

Silence.

Me: (in my head) Thank you portable DVD player for saving me from that conversation going any farther.

Lily

The Apple doesn't fall far at all

(If you haven't read my Valentine's post from yesterday read here so that the following makes sense.)

There is no denying I am my mother's child. I received this email from her this morning about the conversation she had with my father yesterday.

Mom: Do you want to do anything for Valentine's Day?

Dad: No, you?

Mom: No.

Dad: That's why I Love you.

~~~~~

Mom: rummage through my card drawer and come up with a pretty rose card with a blank message. I write something sweet and sentimental and leave it on Dad's dresser.

Dad: takes the card and crosses out his name to mine and mine to his and leaves it on the Kitchen counter.

Ahh, true love after 37 years!

My mom said it best, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Lily

Conversations with Bud

This conversation took place this morning in the car.

(Some background: my sister-in-law, Bud’s aunt (Mrs. B), is a first grade teacher in Bud’s school.)

Bud: I really want to have Mrs. B next year.

Me: Well, Mrs. S might loop with you so you might have her another year.

Bud: Well, I really want to have Mrs. B because she has flat paper.

Me: Ummm, what?

Bud: She has flat paper and Mrs. S makes us hold ours.

Me: Ummm, what?

Bud: Mrs. B has flat paper and I like that better.

Me: What the freak are you talking about? And saying the same words over and over again will not make me understand. I’m not sure what you mean Bud. What kind of paper does Mrs. S use? Isn’t all paper flat?

Bud: Well. Mrs. S uses books but Mrs. B uses flat paper. I don’t like holding my book open.

Me: Lazy much?  Gotcha.

Lily

Halloween 2011

Well I survived my inadvertent Halloween party!! I successfully fed 17 people (plus a few party crashers – my in-laws and my 15yo sister-in-law and 5 of her friends – can they be considered party crashers if I invited them in?) AND my house is in one piece! YAY!

I even dressed up!!! That was one for the record books! (No, I will not be posting a picture of my costume. I borrowed a Renaissance dress from my friend at the last minute and only had time to put it on before everyone was out the door. I did not have time to contemplate my choice and my pride prevents me from posting any pictures of my wench-like appearance.)

To distract you of the visual of me whoring it up let me conclude with pictures of a very dashing pirate and a very delicate pretty Tinkerbell fairy.

Everybody Dance Now!
(You're welcome for getting that song stuck in your head. It's in mine now so it's only fair you go around singing it too.)

That darn bird wouldn't stay; It didn't make the cut for trick or treating. And he didn't like the safety pins I used to keep it on there either. I believe his direct quote was "OWW, those pins are killing me."

What? Doesn't every fairy wear a pirate hat?

Meet Joe.
Since he wasn't orange my friend said he couldn't be Jack, so he's Joe. Either way, he was very tasty! 

Scary fingers anyone?

My mom made these for my party (I did help but if it wasn't for her they never would have been made. Thanks Mom, they were a big hit!)

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Lily

Already?

This weekend we noticed Bud was spending a lot of time wrapped up in a blanket. At first I was totally oblivious, until my husband clued me in. My boy is apparently a pervert discovering parts of his body. Desperately trying not to laugh I explained to him that it was not ok to play with your peepee, especially when other people are around, and he certainly wasn’t fooling any one by wrapping himself in a blanket after his father explained to my naïve mind what 5 year old boys do under blankets.

I thought we explained well enough that it was not an ok behavior. Apparently I was wrong. This is what came home in his daily folder yesterday…

In case you can’t read the picture it says:

“I’ve noticed that Bud has been putting his hands in his pants. Today he was sitting on the fish carpet with his pants to his knees and his shirt pulled way down. If you would remind him at home, I will remind him at school. This is a common interest of boys his age."

I'm glad they don't have detention in kindergarten. 

Lily

NHL, here we come!

“Mom, I wasn’t the best skater out there, but I did really good.” – Bud, after hockey practice.

How can you not love this kid?? I was so proud of him! He had a smile on his face the entire time and didn’t give up, even when he couldn’t stay on his feet for more than a few seconds. Even if he got a little mad when the coach “tagged” him while playing tag on the ice, he still had a really good attitude about the whole thing! (I don’t know who he gets his competitive streak from! It certainly couldn’t be me! Nope! Not at all!) He sometimes gets upset (slight understatement) when he’s not the best at something, or if it’s hard, but he just loves being on the ice so much that he can’t help but smile and have a good time.

As for myself, I took the easy way out and got there early and dressed him in the lobby area. I totally chickened out, but whatever. And I’m really glad I didn’t go into the locker room because I definitely would have gone into the wrong one. When we were there a few weeks ago they used a different one and I definitely would have used that one, instead of the one that they were supposed to use. See! My fear was not without merit. However, I did end up going into the locker room with Bud right before he went on the ice but that was because the coach told me to follow him so he could give Bud more equipment. And yes, there were other mothers in there. Crisis averted. But I’m still making my husband do it from now on!
Overall, it was a very good experience. I’m looking forward to the season. 

Lily

Conversations with Bud

Bud: (showing me his piggy bank) Mom, do you see all the money in here?

Me: Yeah, that’s a lot of pennies money!

Bud: I’m going to save all my money to buy a smart phone.

Me: WHAT?

Bud: Yeah, smart phones are so cool!

Me: What do you know about smart phones?

Bud: You can play games on them and make phone calls! They are SO COOL! It’s like your iPod but only better!

Me: (mumbling under my breathe) You’re 5!!

Me: And are you going to get a job to pay for the monthly data package charge?
  

Bud: But Mom, I already have jobs! I am a police man, a farmer, and a doctor! Don't you remember? (oh, how I wish I could show you how he talked with his hands while he was saying this! No doubt, he has Italian blood!)

Me: You are too young for a phone, especially a smart phone.

Bud: Well, when can I get one? When I’m 6?

Me: When you are a parent you can buy a smart phone.

Bud: Yessss!

Lily