Emma's Wish List

I'm horrible at doing this! Maybe I'll hop on the bandwagon again. Maybe I'll go find one of those blog challenges to keep me on top of this!

I just have to post this list and a couple of pictures so I don't forget. Afterall, originally I intended this blog to keep track of some of the silly anecdotes that take place around here. So...

Before Emma's birthday, we asked her what she wanted. Her list was simple: a red toy, a yellow bear, a box and cheese. Okay! Thinking it was a fluke, we asked her several times in the following weeks and kept getting the same response! So funny. We have no idea how she formulated such a bizarre list in her head.

Well, thanks to Aunt Abby, her wishes were fulfilled! Emma is such a ham. She was so serious about that list, and THRILLED with each part of Abby's gift.

In other Emma news, I've decided I've GOT to put a stop to my new yelling habit. It's embarrassing to admit that I've become a yeller, but it's true. So the other morning I decided to try the quiet voice approach, and started talking to and reprimanding Emma in a very quiet voice. She promptly stopped what she was doing, looked at me with a very quizzical look and said, "Mommy! What's wrong with you?!" Was this a good or bad reaction? Doh!

Random stuff

My friend Michelle was visiting a few weeks ago... I was so spoiled to see her FOUR times in a week. The last few days I wanted so badly just to call her spur-of-the-moment and meet at the park or go take a hike or stroll around the mall. Oh well... maybe someday we'll get that chance again. In the meantime we'll have to make the most of her short visits! I miss her sweet heart.

This is a picture of Michelle and our kiddos (minus Carson who was a bit camera-shy) on a little hike. What fun!


Emma randomly decided yesterday that she now likes to sing. For almost 2 years now I've been singing to her hoping that she might attempt to sing along. No such luck! She always just sits and looks at me like I'm crazy. Well, all my silly singing finally paid off yesterday. She's been listening, because she knows the words and the tunes to songs. What a nut. She put on quite a show for us tonight. She is such a funny little girl.

I really wish I had some licorice to eat right now. It sounds good.

My sister had a GREAT ultrasound today. Her teensy weensy baby actually looks like a baby. What a miracle. God is SO GOOD. I'm so excited for her I can hardly stand it! I think about her baby all the time. I admit, it sort of gives me baby fever... but we're holding off another 4-6 months or so. (Gosh! That seems soon! Yikes.)

I'm thinking I really want to go to Nashville for the MOPS convention. Maybe someone will leave $500 at my door.

Maybe Gary will let me leave for awhile tomorrow to go Scrapbook! Aahhhh... wouldn't that be nice?

I'm really tired and I should go to bed, but my mind is flooded with random thoughts.

I have so many ideas in my head about projects I want to do and doodles I want to make and books I want to write and pictures I want to paint. Where in the world am I going to get the time and energy to do it all?

I started doing Turbo Jam... but SHHHH. Don't tell. Let's see if anyone can tell the difference.

Scratch the licorice... now I want chocolate ice cream. Nothing fancy, just plain old yummy chocolate. Delish.

Goodnight! :)

Mousecapades

The other day I loaded the girls up in the car and ran back inside to get something. A came back out a few seconds later and Emma was laughing...

"What's so funny, Emma?"

"I saw a mouse!"

Now, hold it. Yes, we've had mice in our garage before and I hate them. They give me the creeps. I admit that maybe they're a tiny bit cute, but mostly I hate them. I don't like not knowing where they are and having them surprise me as they run from one corner to the other. And I really loathe mouse poop. Finding surprise piles of it in corners of my basement or garage really irks me. I seriously get chills and find myself paralyzed. I literally have to calm myself down, take a deep breath and just back my way upstairs when I spot it in the basement. (I know - get over it.) So anyway, I thought maybe, just maybe she was making it up. Although I wasn't totally sure that she'd actually seen a mouse, I didn't doubt it either. I just thought we'd killed them all with the rat poison...

"You saw a MOUSE? WHERE?"
(still giggling) "Over there!"

That's when she pointed to the yellow box of rat poison. I was not happy. Now I didn't think there was any way she was making this up.

"Mommy, it played peek-a-boo with me!"

OH GREAT. Now I knew she'd seen one. With it's head bobbing up and down or scurrying back and forth, of course she thought it was playing peek-a-boo! I was not thrilled. I quickly dismissed it, because I didn't want her to catch on to my fear of mice. As we pulled out of the garage, she sighed and said, "Mommy, I love the mouse." Great.

But then today...

We were loading up in the car and Emma asked, "Where my mouse is?" I said I didn't know, to which she replied, "Mommy, find it!"

I took a deep breath and said, "Emma, Mommy doesn't like mice. Sorry."

She gently put her hand on my face while I buckled her in and said, "Don't be afraid, Mommy. The mouse is friendly!"

Ohhhhhhhhhh sweet, innocent Emma. I laughed so hard.

AND I STILL HATE MICE.

I can't see my pork!

A collection of today's conversations with my sweet little 2 year old:

(Emma received a sheet of temporary tattoo transfers at WalMart today. It features the characters from Over the Hedge.)
Emma: Mommy, I have a 'too?
Me: Yes, but then you have to go right to bed. Promise?
Emma: Yes, Mommy. Promise.
(I rubbed on the porcupine tattoo, with a soundtrack of oooo's and aaahhh's in my ear.)
Emma: Woooooooowww!
Me: Okay, Emma, now it's time for bed. Good night!
Emma: Mommy! Don't cover my pork!
Me: It'll be fine, Emma. Goodnight.
Emma: Okay. Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, Pork.
(As I'm next door in Addie's room, I hear...)
Emma: I can't see my pork!
(pause)
Emma: Where's my pork?!
(I re-entered her room and turned on the light.)
Emma (looking at her hand): My pork! Mommy, you have a pork too?

I was trying so hard not to crack up... it time to sleep!!! (And it was 9:45!) Why was that so funny to me?

- - - - -

(In the car, on the way home from the mall tonight... I'm digging around in the change compartment for money for the toll road.)
Emma: What you lookin' for, Mama?
Me: Money, so we can go on the fast road.
Emma: Ohhhh.
Me: But I don't think we have enough.
Emma: Oh well. We'll look in Daddy's pockets.
Me: Oh... Daddy has all the money in his pockets?
Emma: Yes, Mommy.
Me: Well, Daddy is rich!
Emma: No, Daddy is Gary.

- - - - -

Emma: Mommy, sing the ABC song.
Me: Okay, let's do it together.
Emma: No, it's too hard.
Me: Well then, I'll sing a little bit and then it can be your turn.
Emma: Okay.
Me: "A, B, C, D"
Emma: (silence)
Me: Emma! It's your turn. Copy me! "A, B, C, D"
Emma: Mooooo!
Me: "E, F, G"
Emma: Moooo!
Me: "H, I, J, K"
Emma: Moooo!
Me: Emma, why are you mooo-ing?
Emma: I just like to moo. It will be okay.

- - - - -

(in the car earlier today)
Emma: Go faster, Mama!
Me: I can't, Emma. If I go too fast, I'll get in trouble.
Emma: In trouble?
Me: Yes. The police say I have to go slow here. No speeding!
Emma: No speeding, Mama! Where the police officer? (I was surprised she knew to say police officer!)
Me: Well, they're just driving around. Maybe we'll see one.
Emma: I look for the police officer. (She held her hands around her eyes like binoculors.) Nope!... Nope!... Nope!... Nope!...Nope!... Go faster, Mama!

- - - - -

It's soooo fun that Emma is talking more and more. I still can't believe it. Just two or three months ago she really wasn't saying much. A few words here and there, maybe two-word sentences... but now! It seems like it happened overnight and now she's a little chatterbox. We have the funniest conversations every day. I can't even remember all that I think I won't forget - I need to write it down constantly. I just couldn't wait for this day! It's so fun. I just wish she could stay two forever... minus the temper tantrums, the not listening, the frequent reprimanding... you know, just the cute parts. :)

Garage Sales are fun

I was down at my folks' house over the weekend helping with the first garage sale of the season. I say the "first" because my mom claims she wants to have at least 4 or 5. Riiiight. We'll see about that.

The truth is, I love HAVING garage sales way more than I like going to them. I think it's so fun and interesting. First, even though we wake up feeling sooo tired, it's just so fun getting ready for it the night before. For whatever reason, my sisters and mom and I think everything is funny, and really, there isn't anything much funnier than finding things to put in a garage sale. With us, anyway. Most people probably don't think it's funny, but somehow, it's a regular comedy routine on garage sale eve. Ohhh the stories I could tell... and maybe I will.

But mostly, I love watching who buys what. I always feel just a tad guilty selling my junk to others. I don't want it, so why would someone else? We made fun of Amy's Christmas cactus hand towels, and wouldn't you know it... the first sale of the day! That old man thought they were pretty stinkin' cool. I made fun of Abby for selling half used bottles of bubble bath and shower gel... that stuff sold like hotcakes! I always wonder if these people are desperate for this stuff and they find it for so cheap they can't resist, or if they can't afford it unless they find it at a garage sale, or if they just love a good bargain... or what?! I don't get it. We had PILES of old, outdated, gently used clothes and I can't believe it sold so well.

I just love watching all of the people at garage sales. I love watching them "hunt" for things. I love bargaining with them for the good price. (Really, they feel so much better when they get something for 25 cents rather than 50 cents.) I love watching couples interact. (The fact that women can get their husbands to go garage saling with them impresses me. Gary would rather... do just about anything!) I love watching my mom trying to communicate with the Spanish-speaking customers. Now THERE'S a good laugh!

I loved every second. :)

My mom suggested having the next one on my birthday. C'mon, mom. I don't love them THAT much. On second thought...

ABC's

My friend Cam had this on her blog, and being the copy-cat that I am, now it's on mine!

A is for Age - 28, but I'll be 29 in just a few weeks!

B is for Beer of choice - Uhhh... root beer? I don't drink Beer.

C is for Career - I'm lucky enough to have my dream job - I'm a stay at home mom!

D is for Dog's name - Well, his name was Obie (short for Obadiah) but he has a new home now.

E is for Essential item you use every day - Contacts

F is for Favorite Songs at the Moment - I haven't listened to much music lately...! How sad.

G is for Game you play - Scrabble (or "Literati" as it's called on Yahoo games - come play with me!)

H is for Hometown - Highlands Ranch.

I is for Instrument you play - Piano & Flute

J is for favorite Juice - Raspberry Apple

K is for Kids - Emma & Addie

L is for Living arrangement - I live in a house with my husband and two girls

M is for Mom's name - Kim

N is for Names of your last ex - Umm... this is up for debate! LOL!

O is for overnight hospital stays - Only after having my babies

P is for Phobias - Drowning, moths, mouse poop, mold

Q is for Quote you like -

R is for Regrets - Not graduating from college (my deep, dark secret!)

S is for Siblings - Two younger sisters, Amy and Abby

T is for Time you wake up - Ugh! Somewhere around 6 or earlier. How did this night owl get two early risers?

U is for Unique trait - I have a fairly vivid imagination that makes me see things much differently than others. I can find humor in just about anything!

V is for Vegetable you love - Green beans. Mmmmmmm!

W is for Worst traits - I'm one of those "late" people you all know and love.

X - is for XRays you've had - I think only my teeth at routine dental exams.

Y is for Yummy food you make - I made some mean ribs the other night!

Z is for Zodiac sign - Gemini, but I don't like or follow horoscopes so it means nothing to me.

Being a friend... being a mom

I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with a blog! I'm going to try to be more consistent now though. A few things have slowed down around here with the year ending, and I'm really hoping to get into a routine. I have all these things I want to do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis... right now I'm trying to figure out a way to get my life a little more organized! More to come about that... stay tuned.

Well! My first in-real-life friend is now reading my blog. Hi Michelle! I felt rather anonymous before since the only people who even knew about my blog were people who would find the link from my message boards, or my on-line mom friends. But I'm so happy that Michelle knows about my really exciting blog now. I hope it gives you a giggle every once in awhile!

Speaking of Michelle, I got to spend a few hours with her and another friend today and we had a GREAT time. We did the yuppie mom thing and pushed our strollers around the mall with kids in tow, stopping at Orange Julius to end the day. SO FUN. With six kids all 2 and under, it was a little chaotic at times, but those kiddos were troopers. I wish I did that kind of thing more... I "know" so many other moms, but I don't know if I'm really qualified to call them friends. I don't feel like I'm a good friend. I always feel really intimidated to call people, because I think that they probably don't want to talk with me or hang out with me. I know that's probably not true, but it keeps me from reaching out to girls I'd really love to know better. I call all of these girls my friends, but I rarely see them or talk to them outside of an organized kind of setting (MOPS, church, etc.). I'm really going to work on reaching out and learning how to "befriend" and be a better friend to people. I think I forget that friendship takes work - it's not like we're in school anymore and will just naturally spend lots of time together to grow those deep friendships. You have to work at it. I love the friendship that Michelle and I have... we seem to be able to pick up wherever we left off, even when it's been weeks (or months!) between talking or seeing eachother. It's effortless, and yet there's still sooo much friendship yet to discover! I love it. And Michelle, I'm not just writing this because you might read it someday... I just sort of spewed. That can't surprise you though! :)

Well! I got way side-tracked. What I keep meaning to blog about so I don't forget are a few short little Emma stories. That way I won't forget them.

Short Nap: Over the weekend, Gary's folks were visiting and Margaret was putting Emma down for a nap. She had on jeans and a top - nothing special. I think it was late in the day, so Margaret told her, "You're just going to take a short nap, okay?" Well, nothing gets by Emma. She immediately hopped out of bed to change into shorts. Afterall, she was taking a SHORT nap, right? She cracks me up.

Ms. Understood: (Didja like that, Cam?) Also over the weekend, I had a bout of some 24-hour bug that caused me to throw up a couple of times. Yuck. Well, as a result, I felt all achy and hurty. Yes, hurty. Anyway, we were all eating lunch the next day and Margaret asked how I was feeling, and I said that my whole body hurt. Later that day, Emma grabbed my crotch (!) and said, "Potty hurt, mom?" I almost died laughing. It was just as funny the second time... and still pretty darn funny the third!

Here are a couple of cute pictures from Mother's Day. One of Addie's toes in my flowers... her toes are perfect and so sweet. The other one is my mom and dad with the girls. I wish I would've gotten one with my mom and ME and my girls. Oh well... the other 300 we took on Sunday will have to suffice.




























And then just two cute ones of my girls. I'm pretty biased... but they're pretty cute. Life is good being a mom to them.