My little rock star.

History Repeated

The excitement of a new pair of underoos has been passed from one generation to the next.

How Clara gets her way.

"Okay, Mom. I will humor you and let you take a couple pictures of me."

"I will turn on the charm for just one."

"Now you are just making me mad..."

"and extremely frustrated."

"I know I will get my way if I try this method. PLEASE, NO MORE PICTURES!"

Back when I was doin' time...

Steve usually puts Thomas to bed. He runs the gamut of night-time rituals with Thomas while I get to nurse and rock Clara to sleep. Tonight, Steve had his EQ meeting, so it was up to me to get both kids in bed.

.

I had already gotten Clara to sleep and was laying in bed with Thomas reading him stories. We finished the 3 books he had chosen rather quickly, so he asked me to tell him about the night he was born. He loves this story and has me tell it to him quite often. His favorite part is when I say, "and I said AAAHHHHHHH! and you popped out!" Lucky for me, he has never asked where he popped out of.

.

After I had finished telling him his birth story, he rolled over to face me and with a completely serious look on his face he said, "Mom, tell me about when you were in jail."

.

It is so nice to know that my son has such high regard for me.

.

Sorry I don't have a picture to post with this entry. Unfortunately, I don't have one of me wearing my striped prison uniform.

Bathroom Humor

Thomas: "Look, it's where the toilets go."

Saturday Morning With Thomas

Yesterday morning, I woke up Thomas at 5:45 and took him to the Hot Air Balloon Festival. I had read that they were going to be launching 25 balloons at 6:30 am, and thought that Thomas would love to see it. I was worried he may be a tad cranky because he is not someone who enjoys getting up before he is ready. We wasn't, he did great. I didn't even tell him where we were going until we were in the parking lot of the golf course. He was thrilled. We went and found a spot on the grass and waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally a van pulled up right in front of us and started to set up. It was so much fun to watch the men set up everything. Thomas was mesmerized by the whole process, and I was too.

After we had been there about an hour, the announcer came across the speakers and said that they were not going to be launching any balloons due to the "high" 5 knot winds. It was okay, we still got to see this team set everything up and get the balloon ready for roped-rides.

oh ***#@!&^

This afternoon, we were at Café Rio (my nemesis). I was buckling Thomas into his car seat while he was wearing a balloon tied around his wrist. When I tried getting his arm in, I realized I was going to have to get the string untied - the knot that I made sure I tied super-duper strong so his balloon wouldn’t go flying into the air when we went outside.

Me: Oh, crap! I can’t get this balloon off.
Thomas: Mom, we don’t say crap in this family.
Me: Your right, Thomas. I am sorry, I shouldn‘t have said that.
Thomas: We don’t say crap, stupid, shut-up, or fat.

It was one of those mom moments where I had to bite back the laughter. I love his little list of no-no words he keeps on hand for moments like this. He knows he is not allowed to say these words, and 92.75% of the time he is pretty obedient about it. When he has caught Steve, me, or even Grandma Barb (just once, she's a pretty decent lady) saying one of these choice expressions, he has called us on it with extreme glee. I think he rejoices because he gets to now say the offensive remark without fear of getting reprimanded.

Oh, why can‘t he say fat? A couple of weeks ago I made the mistake of asking him if I looked pretty or fat in my dress for church. He said fat. I made a new rule right then and there; No Saying Fat. He took me seriously, so I am just going to continue letting him think it is a bad word.

My fantasy vacation arrived today.

Look what was in my mailbox today! This was that apron that Sarah made for me. I love it! She is so clever!

My fantasy vacation was to take the kids to Disneyland. I know, not really a fantasy. Let me explain...

Last year Steve and I decided to take Thomas to Disneyland for one last vacation as an only child. We were really excited to take him. We thought that 2 3/4 was the perfect age. He watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV every morning and he was really "into" everything Disney. We booked a suite at the Hyatt and bought 2 day park-hopper passes.

We arrived at the Hotel and Thomas saw the gold statue of Mickey in the lobby. He was beside himself and just wanted to stand and admire his buddy. That night we went to bed and around 2 am there was a LOUD buzzing noise. Both Steve and I jumped up and tried to figure out where it was coming from. The phone wasn't making the noise, it wasn't the alarm clock...it was the fire alarm, it took us a minute to figure it out. (In our defense, it was the middle of the night and I was 7 months prego, my mind wasn't working right). We threw on our clothes and grabbed Thomas in a blanket and made our way downstairs with all the other guests. By the time we made it down the MANY flights of stairs, the alarm had stopped. We made our way back upstairs, after showing Thomas the Fire Engine and trying to make the whole experience exciting rather than terrifying. The next morning we found out that someone was in the elevator smoking and it set off the alarm. Brilliant.

The next day, we made our way over to the park. Thomas was getting excited. He was thrilled to ride the Disneybus that picked us up from the Hotel to take us to the park. We entered the Magic Kingdom and decided to start off at the California Adventure Park. The first ride we went on was the Monster, Inc ride. Thomas loved the movie and we thought it would be fun to see the characters come to life. Little did I know how utterly wrong we were. We got on the ride, it was dark, and all of a sudden alarms started going off (nothing like a little alarm to re-stimulate terror). Thomas was TERRIFIED to put it mildly. We spent the whole ride trying to calm him down. After the ride ended, we got him in control and decided it was best to just walk around and see the sights. Eventually we tried to go on another ride and just started crying and trembling again. He was so afraid of the rides and would not ride anything but King Arthur's Carousel, Dumbo, Teacups and the Bugs Life kiddy rides. Never before had I seen $250 flush down the toilet so fast. We spent 2 days walking around the park just looking at things. I mentioned I was huge and pregnant, which even added to the fun.

So, my friends (and apron friends wondering why in the world I would want to go to Disneyland on a fantasy vacation). That is why I chose that destination. I want do-overs. I want to take Thomas again and give him the trip that we imagined and created in our heads. I spent my childhood going to Disneyland because my Grandpa worked there, so it was a family thing. I want him to have the same feelings I have for the park. Unfortunately, Steve has made a vow that he is not taking our kids again until the youngest is 5. I keep thinking maybe one day I will trick him into going, but he is pretty smart. I don't think it will happen.

Until then, I will just wear my Mickey apron and dream of the day when it will happen.

I might be sitting on a gold mine.

I should have posted pictures from our recent trip to SLC, but I have been too busy and have not had a chance to sit down and blog. I found this picture and was shocked to see that my son can levitate. I quickly googled levitation and found the above DVD being sold from some company back in the Midwest. I think I am going to order it and make Thomas watch it so he magnify this talent. I figure we are living in the perfect city. Maybe he can open up at one of the downtown hotels and find his following. Then after a year or so...The Mirage!

It's apron time again!

I have been working on a few different swaps the last few weeks. Every time I finish one I think I am going to post a picture for all my apron-loving-ladies in my swapping groups, but by the time I get around to it, I am in the middle of another one that I will need to post, so I just wait (how is that for a run-on!). I have made 3 in the last 3-4 weeks, but I was an rushed idiot and forgot to take a picture of my fall apron I made for the sassy apron swap. You will just have to trust me, it turned out really cute, however it did remind me of a turkey. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad.

First, I wanted to post all the adorable aprons that I have received and neglected to post and link. These swaps are so much fun. It is so much fun to get these packages in the mail.

This was my first apron I received. Val made it from reading my profile on swap-bot. I mentioned that I love red and yellow and have a thing for polka-dots. This apron has been used many times. I should have washed it before I took a picture...but didn't.

This on was from Lilla. This was a swap done on Booming Aprons for the Halloween Swap. It was really fun because instead of your partner being a secret, you were encouraged to email each other and get to know each other. She is great and I had a lot of fun getting to know here through her blog. She is really talented! I love the little witch appliqued on the side of the apron. I like to wear it when I am a little grouchy. It lets everyone know to back-off!

This apron was sent by Tracie. She had me as a partner for the Hittin' The Trails Apron Swap. I love this apron because it has rhinestones on it. When I wear it I like to stuff my bra with toilet paper and sing like Dolly Parton. It just feels like the appropriate thing to do.

This lovely apron was sent to me by Shawnee. When I saw her name on the outside of the package, I was thrilled. She is one of the "mothers" of the apron swaps. I knew it would be a good one, and it was. I love this it. I like how it fits and makes me look 10 pounds thinner! This is where I would have posted the Fall Apron I made, but you will just have to use your imagination.

I made this apron for the Vintage Apron Swap over at Garboodles. I channeled June Cleaver and created it after seeing one similar to it on the Internet. I love chicken scratch embroidery, so I trimmed the bodice and pockets with the checkerboard pattern. I think this was one of my favorite aprons I have made. I love the way the skirt was full. It really did look like I broke into Beaver's house to steal one from his mom.

This was the apron that was made for me in exchange for the gingham one. I can not even begin to say how much I love this apron. Robin read my blog and saw the little dress I made for Clara and then made me an apron out of matching fabric. I love the pattern, it is an old McCalls 1960 pattern. If you want to see some incredible work, check out her blog and her etsy shop.

This was the final apron I made for this round of swaps. The theme was "What I Wish I Would Have Done On Summer Vacation." The gal I made this for wanted to travel to Greece. I searched the web and found the picture below of one of the Greek Islands. I used it for my inspiration. I really like how it turned out. I even made it out of white sheets, so it has a "toga" effect.

How a 3-year old sees the election.

Thomas has found a couple of favorite new words.

Ba-Rock The Bama

John Da Cain

Every time an election commercial comes on he goes shouting both contenders names throughout the house. He says it like he is an announcing some WWF match.

He is so perceptive!

Those Lips!

I will never forget the day we found out we were having a boy. Steve and I always thought our first baby would be a girl, but as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was a boy. Steve had the same thoughts, but didn’t want to believe his intuitions until the ultrasound technicians confirmed it for us. I was so happy that our first one was going to be a boy.

I was also terrified after the ultrasound. His lips looked HUGE on the pictures. I remember staring at the prints and picturing this little boy with huge lips. I then saw glimpses of his future. He was the teenage boy with the enormous lips that girls were afraid to kiss because they thought they might get swallowed by them.

Then he was born. His lips were plump, but they were beautiful! They placed him on my stomach and my eyes focused right in on his adorable pout. His lips are one of my favorite features on his face (along with his eyes and ultra-white fake tooth).

I was going through the pictures from our recent trip to Salt Lake and came across this one. I had to laugh because of my earlier fears that are no longer existent.

Just because we love her.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

There is a nice overpass about a half-mile away from our house. It just opened up about 2 years ago, and it is pretty much the best way to get over the freeway and into the money-sucking valley of fast food, strip malls, and the grocery store. There is something about this overpass that makes me feel like I can fly my mini-van down the hill at warp speeds while raising my hands above my head with the kids and shouting “WEEEE.” It’s a great overpass! I have never gotten a ticket there (or anywhere else in a moving vehicle), but I was able to have my fun on it before it became the neighborhood speed trap.

I don't really feel sorry for the people who don’t know about the cops sitting at the bottom of the hill with radar detectors in their hands and dollar signs in their eyes. Most of them are going way too fast. Plus, the traffic stops are something to look at and discuss when traveling home from errands.

So, here was today’s conversation…

Me: Oh, it looks like they got someone.
Thomas: Why did that police man stop them?
Me: Because they were going way too fast down the hill.
Thomas: What is the police man going to do with them?
Me: He is going to give them a ticket.
Thomas: So now they can go to the movies!

I really should explain to him the difference between movie tickets and traffic tickets, but these conversations are just way too much fun, and I hate to take away his innocence. I have been trying to explain to him that cops are nice people, so this little conversation helped the "good cop" definition. Hence, for right now, I am just going to continue letting him think that the nice policemen are handing out tickets to the movies.

Do I really need a title?

Yesterday, I had to run to the grocery store for some $30.00 cucumbers. Have you ever had them before? They are the ones that are really only $.79, but by the time you walk around the store and the three year old reminds you that you are out of things like green Jello, chocolate doughnuts, and ice cream sandwiches (did I mention I was on Weight Watchers?) those 3 cucumbers end up costing you quite a bit more time and money than expected.

The item that made the trip even more fun was the triple pack of pool noodles. No, we don’t have a pool, but Kid Fitness uses the pool noodles to do exercises with, so we had to get them. I was fine with the new exercise equipment because it only set me back a buck due to the summer clearance going on. However, they were a little hazardous throughout the grocery store. If you ever want to have some fun shopping, give two noodles to your 3-year old, and the other one to the 9 month old baby.

That is all I am going to write. I am going to let your imagination do the rest.

Oh, who is Kid Fitness? You are so missing out if your Public Television Station doesn’t get this fabulous show! For some reason Thomas is quite impressed with this kid friendly Richard Simmons wanna be jumping around in tights. So impressed that I now have to make him a Kid Fitness Halloween costume.

She's been out as long as she was in.

Clara's expression is the exact way I feel about her being 9 months old! Complete Shock! She is getting quite the little personality and I am beginning to see the feisty red-head-ed-ness come out in her. She knows what she wants and knows how to get it! She is still only crawling and cruising on the furniture (thank the heavens!). She can let go of whatever piece of furniture she is holding onto and stand unassisted for a split second.

One of my favorite things to watch is her interactions with Thomas. She absolutely adores him and tries to mimic the things he does. She loves to wrestle with him and can actually put up a good fight. Every morning, when she sees Thomas, she grabs him in a headlock and kisses his face. I am so happy they have each other.

Here is the part where I write that I want time to slow down. However, no matter how many times I say it, hope it, or wish it, it's just not happening!

Kind of the first day of school.

Today, Thomas had his first day of school. He still has 2 more years before kindergarten, so I decided to do a "joy" school with some gals I know. He was very excited to go, and I was thrilled that it didn't take an act of congress to get him to stay without me!

I had clothes all picked out for him, but he insisted on wearing his Superman shirt. I probably should have combed his hair before he left, but to tell the truth the thought didn't even cross my mind until I posted this picture. Oh well, I'll make sure to do it for the first day of real preschool next year.

Question

Why does a baby fall asleep 1 mile away from home after crying for 60 + miles?