Goin' to the chapel

Last night, Oliver came up to me with a broken earring (hoop) that I let him play with. Told he wanted to give me a ring. I asked him if he was asking me to marry him - he said "Yes". So I accepted, we were laughing. Then I called him my husband - got an indignant "I am not YOUR husband, I'm Nanee's husband". I pretended to cry, and he asked what was wrong. I told him "I thought we were getting married".

He heaved a disgusted sigh and said "OK. FINE. I'll marry you tomorrow".

Smooth talker

Oliver has been big on compliments lately. "I like your laptop, Mommy. It's beautiful!". "I like your cute shirt".... However, the best was a couple of days ago. I was getting dressed when Oliver burst into my closet (I had on underwear) and exclaimed "I like your cute hiney, Mommy! It's beautiful!".

He likes to receive compliments as well... If I tell him he's cute, he'll usually reply "Uh huh. I am cute".

And, I think I've mentioned his chocolate milk dance - he's been doing this since he was a little over a year old. When he wants chocolate milk (and when doesn't he?), he does a bouncy little dance, while chanting "choc choc choc choc". About a week ago, he was doing his choc dance, and I wasn't giving in. So he switched it up a bit. Got right up in my face and said "I LOVE chocolate milk, Mommy! It's my FAVORITE. Mmmmmmm *rubbed his belly*". I caved.

Holidays

This will be brief - wanted to write something before I forget it... Just said good-bye to Grandma this morning (we miss her already!) - had a great week with her here in AZ!

Christmas was wonderful - the kids were so excited - had such a lovely day. But what I don't want to forget is... Little Man didn't get a nap on Christmas, so by the end of the day, he was just done. I found him sitting under the tree just before bedtime, eyes glazed over, mumbling repeatedly "Wanna open more presents". LOL

Happy New Year!

Road Raging

Oliver and I were waiting to exit the freeway yesterday, stopped at a redlight behind a line of cars. All of a sudden I heard "MOVE IDIOT BUTT" from the back. I asked him "Did you just say 'move your butt, idiot?'". He grinned, said "Uh HUH! Like Mommy do!".

Bring a gas mask

Natalie told me the following just now (triggered by me having Oliver pulling my finger, mass hilarity for both kids!):

"I farted a lot in school today. Some were quiet, some were loud. Chloe thought it was funny. Elise said she never farts, she holds it in. We need to let Elise borrow Oliver's 'The Gas We Pass' book, because she doesn't know you have to pass that gas".

She kills me! I should add... She wasn't farting in class to be disruptive - both kids have been pretty gassy this week!

Dinner tonight...

Oliver went on a steak strike. Natalie said she was going to eat his, and forked a piece from his plate - trying to reverse psychology him. Instead of him flipping out, as he would most of the time, he said "eat it all", scooped up all of his pieces, and put them on her plate..

It's a good thing he's cute

Oliver is sleeping with Jon and me this trip. We found out he sleeps very well with us when we were in Baltimore in June, so we decided not to haul along the crib my mom has this time around.

5:30 this morning, Little Man was prying my eyes open. When that didn't work, he resorted to saying "Eat eat Mommy" and proceeded to gnaw on my head.

So I did what any good mom would do. I sent him into the girls' room to torment them. They were already up, but being nice and quiet. I guess they heard him coming, and quickly locked their door. So he started growling outside the door, and when he didn't get a reaction, proceeded to beat on it. Totally wouldn't be funny at home, but I was cracking up this morning!

Tropical Horse

We're in our favorite spot in the mountains for Labor Day weekend - Overgaard, AZ. Having a blast, and Natalie's best friend Trinity joined us this trip! This morning, we took the kids to a town about 30 miles from here, called Taylor, to check out their Sweet Corn Festival. There was a nice kids' area with pony rides and a number of different inflatable bouncers. Natalie kept telling me she wanted to go on the "tropical horse". I reminded her that she and Trinity would be having a pony ride tomorrow at the barn on the property where we stay. She said "No Mommy, THAT", and pointed to the OBSTACLE COURSE.

Wait until she's in 6th grade!

Natalie came up to me yesterday and said:

"Mommy, the kindergartners look so SMALL this year! Aren't they so cute though? I think they are just SO CUTE! Oliver is almost as big as they are".

I told her wait until she is in 6th grade - then kindergartners will really look small and cute!

Classes

Tonight Natalie was asking me about what comes after high school - I told her (as I always do) "college". She asked what I learned in college, and I told her I didn't go, but that I hope she and Oliver both decide to go when it is time.

"So how did you learn how to take care of a baby?"
"Well, I used to babysit a lot as a teenager, and then I took a baby care class when I was pregnant with you"
"How did Daddy learn?"
"Daddy took that class too"
"OH, so did you look at him and think 'WOW, that man looks NICE. I should meet him"?

LOL. I was dying, just the way she said it was hilarious. I told her that Daddy and I took the class together - we were already married. "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH".

She kills me. Such a funny little thing.

Motive and opportunity

Oliver is a little chocolate milk addict. He would drink his "choc" all day if we let him (and we don't), and even has a special dance when he's trying to cajole his way into a cup of it - chants "choc choc choc" and has some little arm motions - I think I have it on video - will have to post if I do. Then when he gets it, his whole face lights up and he says "CHOOOOOOOOOOOOC" as if greeting a longlost friend.

This morning, he wanted some "choc". And has figured out he can reach the pantry shelf on which I have an unopened bottle of Hershey's. I was upstairs getting ready for the day, when all of a sudden, he appeared at the bathroom door with his sippy under one arm, and an unopened bottle of Hershey's under the other - the little stinker dragged both of them upstairs. I had to laugh. He didn't get his choc, but it was funny as hell. He was so pleased with himself!

A rose by any other name

Natalie was driving me crazy this afternoon with Christmas talk. Running commentary for God knows how long on exactly what she wants for Christmas.

I finally told her that Christmas was five months away, and I didn't want to hear about it right now.

Two minutes later... "I really want some Scooby Doo toys for Jesus' birthday. I didn't say the other word, Mommy".

Told her I wasn't falling for it.

Two minutes later... "I really want blah blah blah for that holiday, Mommy. I didn't mention Jesus' birthday!"

Last one was "I really want Santa to bring me XXXXXXX. I didn't say the name of that holiday, Mommy".

ARRRRRRRRRRGH! :-P

Ms. Roboto

I had the kids out running errands Friday afternoon. I could hear Natalie speaking in a robot tone in the back of the van - and Oliver laughing. So I turned down the radio and AC so I could hear her better. I caught the following -

"I AM A ROBOT"
"THE ROBOT LOVES DOGS"
"THE ROBOT IS ALLERGIC TO DOGS"
"THE ROBOT WANTS BENADRYL"

Grammar Patrol FAIL

Conversation in the car last night -

Natalie said "I seened _____" - we couldn't figure out what she was saying she "seened".
Mitz - "Natalie, I never SAW it before"
Natalie - "Me neither!"

LOL

Frugality

I went to a grocery store with the kids yesterday (Natalie was out sick from school, but OK to go to the store for a quick trip). Saved 68% overall (yes, I was cherrypicking sales). The cashier exclaimed "OMG. You just saved over $40". Natalie piped up "That's because my mommy rocks the grocery store".

She's been listening when I crow about savings after my regular weekly trips!

New clean-up song

Natalie has a bright future as a songwriter! She treated us to her newest ditty this morning.

"Mommy said to clean my room
Mommy said to clean my room
Mommy said to clean my room
So I threw everything out the window
So I threw everything out the window
So I threw everything out the WINDOOOOOOOOOOOOW"

*applause*

Forgot two funnies...

From Overgaard.

Natalie loves refried beans, so I sang the "beans beans the magical fruit, they make your hiney go toot, toot, toot" song. I only sang it once, so she gave it her own twist -

"beans beans the magical fruit
they make me stink
and they make me fart
and they make me poop".

And she opened a barber shop. The day we were leaving, I was trying to get ready and then load up the car. The kids were watching a movie, and Natalie had her arts and crafts kit out. All of a sudden, I heard Jon yelling "That's it, no more scissors". Apparently she decided to give Oliver's cowlick a trim - and dude just sat there and let her do it. I walked into the living room, and they were both sitting there with shit-eating grins. I wasn't pleased, but I couldn't help but laugh (I have no poker face, and it's already biting me in the ass). I couldn't figure out where she had cut at first (which is a good thing!), so I asked her to show me. She kind of circled her hand over the top of his head, then said "Don't worry. He still has a lot more". And when asked why she did that? "I was trying to make him more handsome".

Ho Ho Ho!

I just realized I didn't post this year's Santa pics here. They are on Facebook, and on our Christmas cards, but I love overkill, AND I still laugh every time I see this. I really need to get on Mitz to scan the one from the late 70's - I'm sitting sweetly like Natalie, and my younger brother Rich is in full-on panic and rage - just like Oliver. :-)

Santa's face kills me here -


And the other one -

Party prep

Natalie's birthday invitations came today, and she's so excited to pass them out at school tomorrow. As I was snuggling her before bed tonight, we had the following conversation:

Me - "I'm going to go in a minute so I can address your invitations"
Natalie - "OK. Kevin Y has a lot of boogers in his nose. We're going to have to bring a lot of tissues"
Me - "OK, thanks for telling me"
Natalie - "It's really gross. You should see it. I'm just letting you know".

LOL

And as an extra bonus.... Just before I left her room, she asked what Mary's husband's name is. I told her Joseph. She said "Oh yeah. I'm pretty sure Joseph likes to play soccer".

Christmas Time

A Natalie original song -

"Christmas time
Christmas time
it's the greatest time
it's the greatest time.
You get ice cream
and Mommy makes a roast
which stinks up the house*
And Santa will poop in your stocking
if you have bad behavior.**

*she's referring to the poorly executed browning of the prime rib last year. AKA the Great Mesa Smoke-Out-the-House.

**Not one of my finer parenting moments.