Can You Tell Me How to Get....

....how to get to Sesame Street?
Well, last Friday, you could get there via the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis. Yup, Elmo and the gang came to do a live stage show - Elmo Makes Music! It was great fun.
This was Miss Keira's first live show and, after some initial crying and clinging to mama, she loved it! At one point, she was yelling down to Cookie Monster and Zoe, "Hewwo! Hewwo! Hiiii! Hiii!", all while waving furiously, totally convinced they could see and hear her. She was loud enough that maybe they could hear her, but since we were front row balcony, I'm pretty sure they couldn't see her.
Even big brother Quinn had a good time, despite initial protests about going to a "baby show". The threat of being left at home, alone, out of the fun was too much. He reluctantly came along. And had fun.
Soon enough, he'll learn that momma always knows best. Of course, if he's like most kids, he will fully appreciate me in, oh, about 30 years or so. At best.
After the show, Keira was most proud of singing the ABCs along with Elmo. "A-B-Shee-Q-R-P...Elmo!" she squealed.
She was also proud of sitting in her own seat. But, she has a little problem with pronouncing the "s" sound. She tends to make it a "sh" sound. So, imagine my initial reaction to her claims: "Mommy sheet! Gege sheet! Kiki sheet! Own sheet!" And by the way, the "n" on the end of "own" is none to clear either, so think about that.
Needless to say, we've been practicing "ssssssssssssseat, sssssssssseat."
Of course, being no PhD in speech pathology, the results I get are like this: Sssssss-sheet.

Oh well, one step at a time.
At least now we know how to get to Sheshame Shreet.
In the shhpring time, no less.
Shhuper!

Shop Until You Drop

Until you drop off to sleep, that is. Let me explain.....

For the past few weeks at bedtime, Keira has been asking for The Crayon Box that Talked as her bedtime story.

We got the book a month or so ago, courtesy of Quinn's preschool Scholastic Book Order. Love those Scholastic book orders! I remember loving Scholastic book time as a kid, too - when mom said that yes, I could get such and such book! Oh the thrill! Anyway, this particular book was one of Scholastic's 95cent features - where you take a chance on the book because the description sounds cute, knowing that if the book turns out to be a dud, you really aren't out much coin.

This one has turned out to be a winner. In Miss Keira's eyes at least. She likes the illustrations, as do I. And hopefully she likes the story as well. It is about how, even though the crayons are all different and none look the same as the others, they all end up working together to make something fabulous. Oh, if only the world worked this way as well.

But tonight, the winds of change were blowing. As you'll note in the picture to the right (and maybe you noticed in a similar photo I posted a few days ago) Little Miss is perusing a Hanna Andersson catalog. We have a big hunk of pottery in the corner of our family room that plays host to a wide variety of catalogs - LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn, Cherry Republic (go now and order their cherry salsa; I'm serious; you will thank me later!), China Books, Asia for Kids, etc.

Yet for the last couple of weeks, Keira pulls out HA's catalog and checks it out. She does this on a daily basis. Sometimes only for a few seconds. Sometimes for several, several minutes. The shopping bug bites early, I guess.

Anyway, tonight she brought the catalog upstairs with her at bedtime, along with her new best buddy, Meow-Meow (the beanie-baby kitty that was in her Easter basket from grammy and gramps - thanks so much!). Fine, drag it along, I think. What's a little more clutter upstairs? Just means a little less clutter downstairs!

So, after bath-time, changing into PJs, and brushing teeth, little Vera Wang toddles into her room, grabs the catalog and her blanket, points to the rocking chair and says "Read story, mama."

And my friends, that's how it happens. That's how you end up reading a catalog to your daughter as a bedtime story.

That's also why parents end up getting second and third jobs. Not because college tuition is so expensive, but because moms who don't have any better ideas, allow clothing catalogs to be used as children's literature.

"Summer 2008," I began, "by Hanna Andersson. Home Sweet Home collection...."

Excuses, Excuses!

Yes. I know, I know. It's been a while.

I hate to be someone full of excuses....that's why I prefer to think of them as reasons why I haven't posted in a while.
And you'll have to admit, some of the reasons are pretty darn cute - like Quinn and his 4 days of birthday-partying (preschool, with grammy & gramps, again with the preschool gang, and again with g & g and the rest of the family).

Of course, some of the reasons are pretty nuts....like the whole thing with the preschool gang. (Why, again, did it seem like a good idea to invite 11 preschoolers over? Why? Actually, the Pirate Bash was not that bad - the kids had fun and it was over in 2 hours. But I digress....)

Additionally, in no particular order, there was Palm Sunday, Pirate Party Preparations, and Easter.

The Easter Bunny and Easter Baskets and Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Dinner.

Birthday cake and birthday presents and birthday, birthday, birthday.

Running the kids here. Running the kids there.

So as not to seem as though I'm blaming all my bloggy-slothfulness on the kiddos, I do have a few problems of my own. Addictions, really. Mostly to the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. I recently discovered them and I can't put them down.

I also have a little problem with the TV. I think it secretly calls my name. Sends subliminal messages. Before you know it, I'm watching Survivor (every episode, every season). Or maybe sneaking a peak at American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. I'm not really addicted to those last two or anything. Really. But I do have a problem staying away once I see them. Once the effects of the writers' strike being settled really kick in, and my TV choices grow exponentially, I'm done for.

And also on a TV note, there's this: the NCAA Basketball Tournament. What a great time of year. Even though the Boilermakers are out (and I am totally stinking it up in my pools!), there are all those games on TV, all the time. It's just too much. Who can resist?!
That, and it always reminds of tourney time five years ago: me and hubby, a lovely L&D room at the hospital, narcotics coursing through my spinal column, our first child about to be born, and hubby and I watching a few bball games. Then later, a warm little boy, all 8 lbs 4 oz of him, snuggled close to me. And watching more basketball. Ahh, the memories.

So without boring you even further with the blah-blah-blah of Excuse-ville, enjoy the photographic version of the madness.

Oh yeah, and did I mention it was sunny and 60 here today? Good for swings, slides, and scooters.

And good for mommy's state of mind.

Not good for blogging.
It's trade-off I'm willing to take.

Nursery Rhymin' With A Twist

Overheard 3 days ago, Quinn to Keira, while he was helping her put on her socks (sometimes she specifically requests that Quinn help her and not any sort of grown-up):

This little piggy went to Target, this little piggy stayed home.....

I knew he was a momma's boy, but this confirms it.

How Dare He?

Oh, he dared alright. He said it. My husband said those words every mom dreads hearing: Maybe she doesn't need a nap anymore?!

Spoken like a man out of the house about 40+ hours a week, eh?

Any self-respecting SAHM knows that kids need naps until they are, oh, say...well, forever, I guess.

A mom of teenage boys once told me that you spend the preschool years convincing them they need a nap; and then you spend the teen years trying to wake them up sometime before noon! Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

But back to hubby's comment. Keira. Not needing a nap anymore? Hummph. He may have a point. But I don't want to admit it. I made my arguments for why she needs a nap. But in reality, it is ME who needs her to nap. I need that period of time commonly referred to as the nap but is, quite honestly, a period of sanity rejuvenation. I'd really like it if both kids napped, but I'm happy to settle for one napping while the other one gets a little quiet time (in the form of Scooby-Doo, playing card games with me, reading books, whatever). The morning usually consists of refereeing arguments and such; and it simply can't go on all day as well. Hence, the necessity of naptime - an afternoon respite from that which pushes us (me) to the edge.

Besides the obvious benefits of nap-time, there's also this unheralded power: the way that just uttering the words "Keira, it's almost nap-time" transforms her into Little Miss I-Can-Get-Along-and-Stop-Being-A-Pest-To-My-Brother. All I have to do is say those ever-powerful words, indicating that a nap is imminent, and suddenly there is peace and harmony in the Spiderman Tent. It is truly amazing. Maybe they should try this at Camp David sometime..."I'm sorry [insert name of warring countries here] - if you two don't work this out, you'll have to take a nap!" Bada-bing, bada-boom. No more fighting. Problem solved. Ahh, if mothers ruled the world.
So anyway....

Back on the homefront, Keira is still taking naps. For the time being. She's not happy about the arrangement. She is fighting it tooth and nail, baby and blanket. But it's happening.

For now, I'm winning the battles.

Who wins the war remains to be seen.

That's One Small Step for Mom

...and a giant leap for Q. A giant leap right into kindergarten!

Yup, today was the day: kindergarten registration. Q and I went to his future elementary school today and got him all signed up. He's one physical, one immunization record, and 5 months away from the really big day!

I can't believe that baby #1 is about to head off to school! Of course, thinking back - as I occasionally do - and realizing that, if our family planning had gone according to my schedule (instead of SomeOne else's), we would have an 11 year old right now and not a nearly 5 year old. So, in reality, this seems just about right to me. Perfect, as a matter of fact.

Anyway, think he has what it takes to make it in the big time?

Is It Just Me.....

Is it just me, or do dads always come home just when you are having a "mommy-moment" courtesy of, say, a 2-year old flinging half-eaten Goldfish everywhere? Why don't they come home as you joyfully play hide-n-seek for the 10th time that day? Or when you are all happily making and baking animal-shaped tortilla chips? Or when you lovingly help put together the Dora puzzle for the 28th time that day?
Why?
Why?
Why?








Is it just me, or does it somehow seem funny to see a woman driving a car with a "Kids First" license plate and an "NRA MAMA" bumper sticker? Does a pistol-packin' mama really put kids first?

Is it just me, or is it also ironic to see another woman in another car, with "In God We Trust" license plates, smoking a cigarette while hauling a couple of small children in back? I'm glad she trusts in God....she'll need Her help when those kids get asthma or other assorted diseases, courtesy of mom's second-hand smoke.

Is it just me, or does John McCain really never move his jaw when he talks? Are his teeth permanently clenched? Does he have ventriloquism talents I'm unaware of?

Is it just me, or is anyone else out there sick of the pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? People: listen up. Do NOT put an apostrophe in plural words! See what I just typed? Words. Not word's. Don't put on your website "Let us manage your photo's!" or sign Christmas cards "The Hacker's" or write on my grocery list that we need "apple's". Arrrgh!! Save the apostrophe for possessive words or contractions. I could go on and on, but since I'm not an English teacher - just an annoyed citizen - I'll leave you with these links in case you need to brush up! :-) So check here or here or here if you feel so inclined. And I'm only offering this help because I love ya.

Lastly, for now anyway, is it just me, or are these two of the cutest bikers around?

HBD, Daddy-o!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Quinn says: Stop horsin' around and get out the cake already!

Keira says: Don't bother me til there's cake.

Wife says: I'm so happy being married to a much, much, much older man....who isn't offended that his cake was lovingly made my the grocery store folks instead of me....and who is happy having Jimmy John's crew make his bday dinner. A man after my own heart.

Hope your day is a good one! We love you!

As Promised

In my last post, I mentioned that there'd be bright and shiny faces here soon. And, I'm a woman of my word.

So without further adieu (and because it is after 11 and I'm really addicted to the book awaiting me upstairs), here they are........

If, like me, you grew up in the 80s, you'll recognize instantly that their futures are so bright, they gotta wear shades.

Peace!

Send Spring...STAT!

Sigh. What a week. Although I like the change of seasons, I've had enough of winter.

Couple that with all the sadness going on around here, and I think a big ol' dose of spring would do us all some good.

As I posted about earlier, our dog passed away about 2 weeks ago. Also recently, we've had a couple of friends experience the loss of a loved one and some personal tragedies.

And now, just last week, one of my grandmothers passed away. (At the age of thirty-something-something, I was lucky enough to have both of my awesome grannies around until just last Wednesday.) Anyway, Granny S was a fabulous person and I'm not sure I did her justice in the remarks I prepared for her funeral. But we loved her so much and she will be greatly missed.

Since my hubby lost his oldest brother this past fall, we've had our share of discussions with Q about death and dying. He asks a lot of questions and he's trying to make sense of it the best he can. And I'm trying to help - not hinder this - the best that I can. This weekend, we had the added element of a graveside service after the funeral. He hadn't been to a cemetery before, so there was some more explaining we had to do. He thought it looked like a big rock garden. Which is more or less the case.

Before we went to the cemetery, when he saw the hearse and the pallbearers, he asked: How will they know how to get grandma to Heaven?

I got all teary at this. It sounded so sweet. So innocent. And I could hardly speak.

Thankfully, one of my sisters was nearby and she told him that God would take over. That seemed enough for him.

So, with all the hub-bub going on, I haven't downloaded any new pix of the kiddos. In the meantime, if you are really desparate for a new photo, go here and then click on the Conner Prairie album. There are 22 photos in all and you'll have to go all the way to #21 to find Miss K. And, it isn't even a great photo. So don't say you weren't warned.

The photo was taken by an Indymoms.com photographer at Conner Prairie a few Fridays ago. We had a little cabin fever so I took the kids out for a bit of play at CP's Discovery Station. The photog apparently couldn't resist Keira's charms. But here's what I liked most of all. When she asked for her name (we are using first names only, she said), I said, "Keira". She replied: Do you spell that K-E-I-R-A? I nearly hugged her. She may be, so far, the only person who got that right the first time. Yippee!! (Hey - it's been a bleak month - I take joy where I can find it!)

Hope you all are faring better. And soon, more bright and shining faces here!

Tag! I'm It!

I've been tagged. And for a change, it's not by Quinn during a chase scene in our basement.

I've been tagged by cc at This Good... to join in this book meme.

This is my first official blog-tagging of any sort. As you can imagine, my readership is limited, I think, primarily to my friends and family who don't post comments (ahem, ahem) and aren't bloggers. But, I do have a few blogging friends, so I'm not a complete blog-o-sphere loser. Anyway, here goes.....

These are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the 5th sentence.

4. Post the next 3 sentences.

5. Tag 5 more people.

Well, I'm sitting in the family room and the nearest reading material doesn't qualify - Sunday and Monday's Indianapolis Star, this week's TV Guide, and 3 children's books on Chinese New Year.

But wait - here is a qualifier....Walt Disney World with Kids 2008. I have this book on loan from a kind friend, who also recommended the book The Pillars of the Earth [way before Oprah did], which is upstairs, bedside, with way, way, way more than 123 pages...explaining why it has been bedside for months now!

Anyway, here are sentences 6, 7, and 8 from page 123 of WDW with Kids:

...(The exact time at which you can get another Fastpass is printed on your
current Fastpass ticket.) Periodically, there's buzz that Disney may change the
system and let people get multiple Fastpasses, but at present, it's still one to
a customer.
Fastpass is so popular that Disney is always looking for
ways to expand the system, and you never know when they'll be offering some new
perk....

Hmmmm...this is all Greek to me at this point. I think I'd better get cracking on this Disney stuff between now and June!

OK, so who to tag....

How about Liene, Jenni, Cybil, Sarah, and Mary? Let's see what reading material is sitting around out there. Can it possibly be more thought-provoking than WDW Fastpasses???

Playdate Flunkie

For the first 3+ years of Quinn's life, I was a working-outside-the-home mom. Which meant that he was a daycare kid. So, when I wasn't at work (evenings, weekends) I was trying to cram in some quality time in a variety of ways - none of which involved scheduled playdates. He was already happily playing with his buddies for 8-10 hours a day. Who could ask for anything more?

Then, one day in the summer of '06, I took leave of my corporate job (in the pharmaceutical industry...go ahead, hate me now, but at least it wasn't the health insurance or tobacco industries!). I became a stay-at-home mom. I did my best to entertain and educate. But Q kept asking when he could play with so-so and so-so again.

I shall schedule a playdate, I thought! Of course! I felt all so SAHMommy like.

I contacted mothers of 2 of Q's friends from daycare, only to discover SAHM Playdate Lesson #1: Hard to schedule playdates with son's friends from daycare because their moms still work! Duh! I took leave from my job, and apparently leave from my brain, too. Anyway, luckily the moms seemed to have Fridays off, twice a month, so we worked something out.

And then, Lesson #2. Prior to that first playdate, one mom asks what she can bring - bagels for the moms? Snacks for the kids? Yikes - I have to feed people??!! I think. Guess this just isn't 3 boys playing in our basement for a couple of hours, eh? I politely declined helplful mom's offer (to appear that I knew what I was doing) and made a note to buy some pastries and sort-of healthy kiddo snacks.

The playdate ultimately went off pretty well, and we got invited to a few in return, so all was not lost.

Fast forward to the arrival of Miss K. Quinn was fully entrenched in preschool and our playdates with his buddies consisted primarily of meeting at parks or museums and the like.

But now I feel the need to be sure Keira is being properly socialized.

Luckily, we've met all sorts of wonderful people through the miracle of adoption and K has a handy-dandy playgroup of her own now. Although I usually feel like a thorn among roses, the girl with 2 left feet in a roomfull of ballerinas, a SAHM flunkie in a room of PhDs.

Why, you wonder? I seem so competent online, you think? (I'm trying to keep a straight face here.)

Here's why....Super SAHM #1: serves fabulous, freshly brewed coffee (and has tea for those who prefer). It's like Starbucks in there. Me? When I host a playdate I ask - Diet Coke? Or ice water?

Awesome SAHM #2 actually does the cool crafts I read about but think, yeah right - who really does those? Me? I get out paper and stickers. The Crayola Color Wonder paints if I'm really feeling in the groove.

Cool SAHM #3 brings Rice Krispie treats for all the other playgroup kids. Heart shaped. With sprinkles. That her girls helped make. Me? I hand out prepacked Teddy Grahams.

I could go on. But you get the idea here.

Mysteriously, luckily, graciously, we are continued to allow to associate with all those who are in the know. Perhaps the SAHM PhDs feel sorry for me. Maybe they were once in my shoes. Maybe they hope to turn me from Eliza Doolittle (Mommy Do-little?) into My Fair Lady? Maybe they take pity on my kids, the hapless victims of my ineptitude.

Or maybe they are just that nice. Which is probably the case.

Anyway, we are so thankful to have found such friends. And I hope a little bit of their great mommy prowess rubs off on me... probably just about the time I decide to head back to work.... Where, when asked to please get my PowerPoint presentation ready for such-and-such committee review, I'll say PowerPoint? What 's that? Can I turn in my Crayola Color Wonder graphics instead?

My Funny Valentines

Here they are, the sweetest Valentines I could ever hope for.

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I find myself wondering, daily, how did I get so lucky?

We Will Miss You, Doggone-it!

All Dogs Go To Heaven.

It's a movie I've never seen, but I believe in the concept.

And today, dog-heaven had its population increase by one. By one very fine canine.

Our dog, Odie, passed away this morning. He lived nearly 15 years. He was a Humane Society Hound. We adopted him in 1993 when we lived in southern Indiana. He was part black Lab, part Chow, but 100% lovable.

We didn't know many of our neighbors at the time. But once Odie became ours, we knew the whole block. He was a real kid-magnet in his day. We were one of 2 kid-less couples on the block, but we had the only dog. So believe it or not, our house was often kid-central. Our neighbor girls made him the Grand Marshall of their 4th of July Parade one year. They even had a birthday party for him once or twice. They gave him dog treats and homemade dog toys. And he always had a front-row seat for their frequent talent shows.

When we moved a few years later, and a few years after that, we were still one of the only kid-less couples on the block, but the ones with a dog. Again, Odie helped us get acquainted with our new neighbors. Obviously his social skills were superior to ours.

Odie endured the addition of a cat to the family, and then eventually a baby, and lastly a toddler. He was a good, faithful friend.

In his prime, he loved a good game of frisbee or chase (or chase the cat) and looked forward to long walks. Recently though, he had a hard time getting around and he developed canine cognitive dysfunction - aka Alzheimer's in dogs.

I never really knew such a thing existed until, after several frustrating months/years, we discussed his behavior with our vet.

I also never knew having a dog would be so great.

And I never knew I'd miss one so much either.

Worth 9000 Words? You Decide!

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's the case, here are about 9000 words for your perusal. I couldn't come up with any better words on my own today, so you are specially treated to these visual ones. Hope you enjoy a look at how we managed to get through that eternal month known as January.

Oh, Rats!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Happy Chinese New Year!
Welcome to the Year of the Rat.

And in our case, we are calling it the Year of the Mouse. As in Mickey and Minnie. Thanks to grandma and grandpa, we are heading south in a few months to the Big Mouse House. It should be a fun way to kick off the summer.


In the meantime, we are hoping to survive the rest of the crazy Indiana winter.....although with wild weather from China to the southern US, and everywhere in between, what's going on here doesn't seem so bad.

Nonetheless, we are counting down the days until spring.

And the days until our Week of the Mouse.

And the days until I no longer have to answer questions about exactly when we are going to see the Mouse. (This is the part where hubby says I told you we shouldn't have told them about it yet....!)

Blessings and peace to you and yours this New Year!