Just wanting to make note that Simon is a gentleman. We've not gone out of our way to teach him this, it just seems to come naturally to him. In the wintertime, he insists on helping Ella get out of her coat, which she is usually reluctant to comply (feminist?). As I fumble for keys to lock the door behind us when we leave the house, he makes sure to hold the door wide for me and whenever a guest leaves our house, he always beats them to the door in order to open it for them and give a proper goodbye. Tonight, our friend Amie came for dinner, and, right on time, he headed to the door and opened it wide for her. Once she was out the door, he waited and watched through the storm door as she got into her car and then as she drove away, he waved and then closed the large door. Then he locked the deadbolt and came bouncing back into the kitchen.
What did we do to deserve this guy?? He amazes me with his goodness!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
signs of summer
A fond memory of my own childhood is catching fireflies (or lightening bugs, whichever suits your fancy). I've loved introducing this magical wonder to our kids and we've had fun pretending to be kids again ourselves jumping around in the grass trying to catch the bugs in the dwindling sunlight. Ella has kept them in her room in a jar (the first firefly we caught early in the week passed away several days ago and his carcass still sits motionless in the jar.) Last night at the kid's grandparents' place, we caught quite a load and put them all in a sippy cup which sits next to Ella's bed with the other dead one to remind them of what's to come. Tonight as we put the kids to bed, I heard Bryan say, "Poor bugs." to which I had to chuckle, knowing that he must have inflicted much worse torture on various creatures over the course of his childhood.
Later, after books were read and I spent some time quietly chatting to Ella in her bed, she posed the question, "what if I were to drink down all those lightening bugs and then they were all in my belly?" She giggled to herself, knowing it was a silly question, but we had quite a time coming up with all the possible outcomes to this scenario like:
1. Her eyes would glow so that she could never fall asleep because it was too bright.
2. Her belly button would blink like a stoplight.
3. Her teeth would glow in the dark.
4. Strands of light would shoot out of the tips of her hair.
5. (Ella's favorite) If she tooted, light would shine out of her butt!
We had quite a laugh tonight.
Later, after books were read and I spent some time quietly chatting to Ella in her bed, she posed the question, "what if I were to drink down all those lightening bugs and then they were all in my belly?" She giggled to herself, knowing it was a silly question, but we had quite a time coming up with all the possible outcomes to this scenario like:
1. Her eyes would glow so that she could never fall asleep because it was too bright.
2. Her belly button would blink like a stoplight.
3. Her teeth would glow in the dark.
4. Strands of light would shoot out of the tips of her hair.
5. (Ella's favorite) If she tooted, light would shine out of her butt!
We had quite a laugh tonight.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
vintage treasure
I found a basement sale online this past week and was giddy at all the amazing vintage treasures. I bought this little beauty for Simon's room. It's an old piece of painted glass from a pinball machine, circa 1950(ish). So excited to hang this in his room!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
a note to ella: thunderstorms
Ella Dear,
There is a thunderstorm tonight. As I sat on the couch in the dim light with your daddy after you had already been tucked in your bed, I watched the flashes of light outside the window and wondered which rumble might wake you up. You are a heavy sleeper, but when there is a thunderstorm, it is sure to wake you. The thunder startles you when you are alone and you need a little snuggle and the comfort of your daddy or me to let you know you are safe. Once you finally awoke tonight as the storm moved in closer, I charged up the stairs at the sound of your whimper, and I must admit, I was happy you finally woke up because it gave me a chance to hold you close while you were sleepy and scratch your back which you are always willing to lie still for. You are my sweet girl and I love you. One day, you won't be afraid of thunderstorms anymore...you might even get a little excited at the sound of one just like your mommy! But until then, I don't mind you waking up in the night for a little bit of snuggling. I don't mind one bit.
All my love,
Mommy
There is a thunderstorm tonight. As I sat on the couch in the dim light with your daddy after you had already been tucked in your bed, I watched the flashes of light outside the window and wondered which rumble might wake you up. You are a heavy sleeper, but when there is a thunderstorm, it is sure to wake you. The thunder startles you when you are alone and you need a little snuggle and the comfort of your daddy or me to let you know you are safe. Once you finally awoke tonight as the storm moved in closer, I charged up the stairs at the sound of your whimper, and I must admit, I was happy you finally woke up because it gave me a chance to hold you close while you were sleepy and scratch your back which you are always willing to lie still for. You are my sweet girl and I love you. One day, you won't be afraid of thunderstorms anymore...you might even get a little excited at the sound of one just like your mommy! But until then, I don't mind you waking up in the night for a little bit of snuggling. I don't mind one bit.
All my love,
Mommy
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
silhouettes
I've been getting all kinds of creative urges and ideas over the last couple of months and have just felt all out inspired lately! I find myself noticing beauty in all kinds of objects and places and feeling a real urge to DO something. Life is crazy busy right now and I've got lots of design work going on, but I just had to do something with this creative compulsion! So I found these frames on clearance at tj maxx and liked the shape and detail...I've been wanting to do some silhouettes of the kids so here's what I came up with.
Nothing beats the sweet profile of little kids noses and lips! Now, if I just had a decent color of paint on the wall to do these little red beauties justice!
Nothing beats the sweet profile of little kids noses and lips! Now, if I just had a decent color of paint on the wall to do these little red beauties justice!
knock knock...what the HECK?
Ella loves telling knock knock jokes. I don't quite know where she picked it up from, but for her, the ultimate fun is telling a good knock knock joke. And now that Simon is really speaking more clearly, he has now started telling jokes too. Today's lunchtime was a solid fifteen minutes of knock knock joking.
Ella's jokes sound like this:
E: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
E: Refrigerator.
Me: Refrigerator who?
E: Cup. Cup.Cup.
Simon's are the same every time:
S: Not not.
Me: Who's there?
S: Boo.
Me: Boo who?
S: sshwhwshshsww whwhshshs..... (with a big grin and a giggle.)
In further news, we were playing in the back yard after dinner and Simon and Ella were happily digging in the sandbox together. It was a serene moment where they were engaged in a game together without fighting and I was contemplating the value of that sandbox and it's simple entertainment. All of a sudden I hear Ella say, "What the HECK??!" She sniffs her hands. "This sand smells like POOP!!"
I ran over to inspect the conditions, and, yes it's true, some foul animal has been using our sandbox as a litter box. And the worst thing about it is, I'll bet it's a possum. Ughhhhhh....Our serene moment came to a screeching halt and we all sanitized ourselves in the kitchen sink and promptly headed for a bath. A very gross way to end the evening.
Ella's jokes sound like this:
E: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
E: Refrigerator.
Me: Refrigerator who?
E: Cup. Cup.Cup.
Simon's are the same every time:
S: Not not.
Me: Who's there?
S: Boo.
Me: Boo who?
S: sshwhwshshsww whwhshshs..... (with a big grin and a giggle.)
In further news, we were playing in the back yard after dinner and Simon and Ella were happily digging in the sandbox together. It was a serene moment where they were engaged in a game together without fighting and I was contemplating the value of that sandbox and it's simple entertainment. All of a sudden I hear Ella say, "What the HECK??!" She sniffs her hands. "This sand smells like POOP!!"
I ran over to inspect the conditions, and, yes it's true, some foul animal has been using our sandbox as a litter box. And the worst thing about it is, I'll bet it's a possum. Ughhhhhh....Our serene moment came to a screeching halt and we all sanitized ourselves in the kitchen sink and promptly headed for a bath. A very gross way to end the evening.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
kids' faves
Some of the kids favorite things right now:
~ being chased around the house
~ pretending to do kung fu
~ tomato soup in a coffee mug with grilled cheese
~ visiting the three outside cats down the street (who are almost always sleeping and won't let us pet them)
~ pretending to BE kitty cats (lots of meowing and crawling around)
~ band aids (even if there is no blood present)
~ baths (Simon calls it "bots" and basically asks for one every time he poops...think it's time to potty train?)
~ watering anything outdoors, even if it's dead
~ rain boots
Just a handful of fun tidbits that make the days interesting.
Addendum:
How could I have possibly forgotten the most recurring favorite??
~ Gum. Gum. And more gum. Or as Simon requests all day long: "Mo num pees" (More gum, please)
~ being chased around the house
~ pretending to do kung fu
~ tomato soup in a coffee mug with grilled cheese
~ visiting the three outside cats down the street (who are almost always sleeping and won't let us pet them)
~ pretending to BE kitty cats (lots of meowing and crawling around)
~ band aids (even if there is no blood present)
~ baths (Simon calls it "bots" and basically asks for one every time he poops...think it's time to potty train?)
~ watering anything outdoors, even if it's dead
~ rain boots
Just a handful of fun tidbits that make the days interesting.
Addendum:
How could I have possibly forgotten the most recurring favorite??
~ Gum. Gum. And more gum. Or as Simon requests all day long: "Mo num pees" (More gum, please)
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