The Todds In Real Life

I'm Not Gonna Brag....

2012-02-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Father-Daughter dance at Tessa's school. I surprised her with a new dress to wear! It cost $7 at Once Upon a Child, but it was in perfect condition and who can resist gold and sparkly?

As per my last blog entry, Tessa has lost her two front teeth. And I was so glad to capture this very cute "kid" stage on camera. I wish you could hear her lisp.

I won't brag. Nope, won't do it. I won't go on and on relentlessly about how gorgeous and handsome these two people are. I won't bore you with a litany of lauds, an account of acclamations, or a series of sycophancies.

Suddenly, I'm feeling relieved of the pressure to brag...

Odds and Ends, but Mostly Odds

2012-02-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

The journey of a tooth (or two).....

First you have all:

Then you have minus one:

Then you have minus two:

After this, you're pretty much "in" with the tooth fairy.

Did you know that we got over 2 and 1/2 feet of snow?

We also were visited by Bella's unicorn cousin, Beatrice (and her plus one).

We got to go as a family to the Denver Stock Show rodeo. The kids were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.

Who really needs an excuse to wear plaid and cowboy boots?

Tessa has started sounding out messages and leaving them for us to find. This was stuck on her bedroom door the other day. It says "I am in here." Or I aminhere. I think she did a great job at her first attempt to spell aminhere. I mean, it's a hard word.

One thing worn, One thing Shared, One thing Gave Away

2012-01-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

It is Sunday morning, and I am thankful for my jacket. Not my warm one. Because today's high is 55, and I am wearing a thin red corduroy jacket with a ruffle on the bottom. I love this jacket because it only cost $7 at TJMaxx, and it is sooooooo cute! I try not to preen or simper unattractively when I get compliments.

I shared a piece of my heart with Anthony today. It was harder than you might think. I had done something wrong. I had spoken of someone I know in a judgemental way. Just remembering my face as I spoke it makes my lip want to curl instinctively. I was proclaiming what "bothered" me about them. With lots of self-righteous indignation, I might add. Anthony wisely said nothing. He just listened. And then, this morning I walked into his Bible class on prayer and heard him read this:

^"9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

And I was convicted in that piercing way that leaves you feeling sensitive and raw. Like new skin grown over a burn--not yet rough with life's using. I felt thankful and humbled. And later I shared this private heart-moment with Anthony on our walk. And I went home justified.

I gave away four quarters today. This small amount of money reflected as riches in my children's eyes. Well--in Jack's anyway. Our church has a worship segment called "Coins for Christ" where kids bring up money and drop it into buckets that goes to a few Compassion children. Seeing their excitement at being a part of something big never fails to make me feel grateful.

Sunrise Snuggles

2012-01-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

I sit alone in the early morning quiet thinking big, deep thoughts until Jack stumbles into the kitchen and into my lap. His little body still smelling of sleep, his curls still warm from his cocoon of blankets. And he lays his head on my shoulder and his fingers twist in and out of my robe--something he has done with his blankets since he was very small. Like a cat kneading a blanket. And my deep thoughts--so wide before--are pulled into sharp focus. A pinpoint sized moment in my life is captured. And we sit together--frozen in time--me, so very thankful and he, drowsy with sleep and comfort. This. Thank you Lord today. Right now. For this.

Right here, Right now...

2012-01-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

I received Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts from my parents for Christmas. I already enjoy Ann's blog (www.aholyexperience.com) so I knew of her book. But I recently decided to try to take up the challenge of writing three things I am thankful for each day. She posts a guide for writing these gifts on her blog at the first of each month. My goal is to chronicle some of those 1000 gifts here. The goal--to be thankful and content right here, right now.

They call me Senor Chocolate Caliente

2011-12-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

I Heart Fall

2011-10-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

This was one of those beautiful Colorado Fall days. The sun was out, the breeze was gentle, and the temperature was in the mid to upper 60's. We decided a bike ride to the park would be fun.

Where's Tessa, you ask? Wellllll.......She kinda sorta crashed. I saw the whole thing and after checking her over, discovered that she was more scared and embarrassed than hurt. She refused to get back on her bike. We were fine with that and all started walking up the hill to the playground. Tessa began......let's call it "overreacting". She refused to walk. So we continued to the playground and she sat pouting.

After about 20 minutes, she brought her bike up to the playground and then walked over to the restrooms nearby to........let's call it "pout".

But eventually she came around. And Daddy's antics soon had the whole crew laughing.

2011-10-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Grandma and Papa,

Today we went for a hike. I liked seeing the rocks. I loved the trip.
We saw a lot of deer.
I miss you!
Tessa

How to Be Saved

2011-10-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

I was raised in a very conservative Church of Christ in Texas. The church was small, and most of its members older. There are things I love about that background. For instance, I know my way around my Bible. I never need the table of contents to help me find Zepheniah. I memorized the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 when I was about 10 (this was for Sunday school). I was instilled with a deep sense of dedication to meeting times at church. You were there or you were very sick or out of town. Things were very black and white. It was either right or wrong (and most of it was wrong, let me tell you). I often feel pity for the Pharisees when Jesus rebuked them. It's as though I used to be one.

Did you know that if you Google "steps for Salvation", the search engine automatically tries to tag "church of christ" on the end? I haven't done my research on this topic--I don't know EXACTLY where or when those steps were first put together. I don't know if the steps are exclusive to the church of christ (although, I've never heard them anywhere else). I came to the Lord by hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and then being baptized. And I don't regret a single step because that was where the Lord in all His infinite grace met me. In the waters of baptism, my 12 year old body became the Holy Temple of God. The Spirit rushed in with the breath of the Most High God. I felt nothing (except embarrassment because my baptismal gown clung to my wet skin in an uncomfortable way). It's funny and glorious how the Spirit is described as a mighty rushing wind. For me, it was like a gentle, warm exhale. My conscience was awakened as never before. It was no longer a rudderless ship tossed about on the sea of my tween emotions. There was evidence--for the first time in my life--of a higher purpose. A real direction to travel in. I began to feel compelled to let go of the wheel. I looked down at my hands and realized there was no wheel. What had I been gripping? I could still feel the ghost of the wood grain pressed against my palms...

"Do you know brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Romans 7:1-6

I knew the law before I was saved. I knew scripture, I knew how to be a nice person. I knew how to act like a Christian. I knew the importance of showing up to church. I KNEW ALL OF THIS. But when I got saved by Jesus, it began to slowly dawn on me that it wasn't that I knew, it was that I was new. I was owned. The wood I had been gripping had pressed into the back of my Savior as He suffered on the cross. Blood had run down it in rivulets until my grip slipped. I was FREE!!!!

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" John 8:36

Pumpkin Festival

2011-10-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

We rolled over to the Botanical Gardens at Chatfield for their Pumpkin Festival yesterday. We try to go every year partly because it's so close and mostly because the kids love it. We spent a lot of time waiting in line. The big day for the festival (Saturday) was rained out so I think everyone just went yesterday instead. It was packed. Pretty much all of my pictures were taken while we waited in some line or another.

The monkey and the princess.

Tessa did a lot of dancing, but if she caught me with my camera out she would stop. So I snuck a few shots:

The perfect-sized chariot.

Jack was extremely excited to ride an airplane ride. I think the whole experience was heightened when four fighter jets passed over us several times. Of course, he picked the airplane with Japanese markings. And considering they looked old fashioned...it was kinda wrong. We waited in line together a loooooooooooong time. So I pulled out my camera, of course. I mean, what's more interesting than standing in line??

I love my monkey suit.

My favorite picture of the day--look at the dimples!

No, not crying---CHEERING!!!!

And to end this post, I will share what I overheard Tessa saying to Jack last night.

"Jack, you need to get your vite-ee-yums so you are healthy. Okay??"
Loud sigh and a head shake.
(To herself)"I have to tell him everything."

It runs in the family.

2011-09-19T17:34:00.001-07:00

Does this seem too good for a 5 yr old? I was blown away that Tessa drew this with no picture to look at. It's an Egyptian sphinx I think. She says it's a queen mummy.

Haircuts!!

2011-09-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

Etc.

2011-09-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Tessa rode Aliana (pronounced Ally-ayna), her "horse" to school today. Aliana is notorious for not listening and running wild into bushes and trees. Sounds like a few horses I've had before...

Jack is my (unsolicited) poop detector. If their is any on the sidewalk, he points it out. Loudly. Oh, and he calls it "poot" with a very hard "t". Which makes me laugh, but not as hard as when he says, "Uh-Oh, Mom!!! It's poo-poot on sidewalk!" And he'll keep repeating it until I repeat it back (thus proving I, in fact, understood him and am not merely placating by saying "really?" or "okay").

Tessa's Joke of the day:

Tessa: What does an octopus have on it's bottom?

Me: Ummmm.....what?

Tessa: A Flower

Tessa's jokes are always followed with rip-roaring laughter. Which, I guess, is half the charm.

May your "horses" take you where you want, may your shoes be free of poot, and may your jokes get the highest audience approval.

2011-08-12T06:14:00.000-07:00

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Five and a half years old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Nugget Alert!!

2011-08-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Teachers use the word "nugget" a lot. Or maybe just the ones I worked with. Or maybe just me. Hmmm. Anyway, I love to find nuggets. I loved to be able to teach a nugget to a student. And nuggets were NEVER math -related. In fact, they weren't scholastic at all. They were other-worldly--only existing in the heart to shine out the eyes.

I stumbled across this blog. Oh, heck. You and I both know that's not true. The Spirit of God LED me to this blog. I know this because it touched me like nothing else has this morning during my quiet time. It shook my heart from its moors and let it drift. I call that a pretty big nugget. And I am thankful. So here is a teaser--a taste. The author of this blog (her name is Ann Voscamp--as she says--"a plain Ann without even the fanciful "e") wrote what she believes. Her creed, so to speak. I am pasting it here straight from the blog to entice you. If you don't find some time to go check her blog today (or soon), you will be missing out.

What I Believe (by Ann Voscamp)

I believe in Jehovah God who created the whirling galaxies, the birds soaring in the sky overhead, the endless crashing waves and all that dances within them. I believe in Father of all who knits together life, made in His very own image, in the secret quiet of our beings.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the One with no earthly Father, with the dust of this earth between His toes, and with our names etched onto the palm of His hands, right beneath the nail scars…Who now sits at the Father’s right hand making endless intercession on our behalf. I believe in the stone rolled away, in the Body being raised, in the first fruits of the dead…and us all following soon, very soon.

I believe in the Cross as our only Hope, our only Claim, and our only Foundation. I believe that in the pounding surf of life we have only one thing to cling to: the feet of our Lord, hanging on that tree, His lifeblood flowing down, washing us whiter than snow.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, moving, whispering, indwelling our very skin. I believe in living by the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, and producing fruit in the Spirit…in the Spirit who helps us in our weakness with groanings that can’t be expressed in words.

I believe in the infallibility of the Bible, God’s Word – a sure Word, a pure Word, the only secure Word. I believe the words on those pages are breathed from the very throne room of heaven, are the love letter penned from the heart of the Lover of our souls; a beacon of light for stumbling feet to find sure footing on a dark path.

I believe there is more than believing. There is living what I believe.

So go there now. The blog is www.aholyexperience.com

Ladies Day

2011-08-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Our church recently had a Ladies Day. My mom was the key note speaker. It was such a huge blessing to hear her speak. She has spoken at many retreats and functions, but I have never been to hear her. Until now. I wrote a reflection for the newsletter about my thoughts I had that day and thought I would post it as a blog:

=========================================================

(Not So) Great Expectations

I wasn’t surprised by the numbers. Out of a church of hundreds of women, 30 came the Ladies Day. I had been expecting this. The multitude I desired to praise God with—the need for a stage or a microphone—wasn’t going to happen. Don’t think I hadn’t prayed. I had prayed that God would bring who He wanted there, that He would open hearts to His truth. But I prayed these things with not-so-great expectations. Like a child asking for bread but receiving a stone, I obediently began to raise the rock to my lips. I guess we’re eating gravel again, I thought. Do you ever do that? Does God hand you precious, life-giving bread and you look down and see a handful of dirty rubble? I seem to put on glasses of self-importance, low expectations or pessimism when I stop trusting God. They color how I see His gifts, His path for me, and even His people.

Well, I got my glasses knocked off on Saturday, praise Jesus!!

I sat in my chair literally God-smacked as I listened to precious women from our very own congregation testify to the Lord’s grace in their lives. The theme was discovering your God-given gifts and having the courage to use them in the church body. These women… they spoke openly about their journeys. They revealed weakness and fear and stumbling. They were transparent and relatable. I was feasting—my cup was being filled to overflowing.

And it didn’t stop there. The key note speaker was my own mom, Cindy Burden. Her story of salvation is so closely tied to my own. In fact, my earthly tent had been a home for the Holy Spirit a few years before He took up residence in my mom. Do you know the meaning of the word “Namaste”? It sort of means, “the spirit in me recognizes the spirit in you.” It’s a common form of greeting in India. But have you ever experienced it with another Christian? It’s as if you just know what they are and Who’s they are. I was awed by the sudden sameness I began to see between my mom and I. What had never been there before was suddenly glowing between us and reflecting light off of everything. Our relationship became something I had never allowed myself to hope for in the past. It became filled with love. And not just any love, but the supernatural kind—beyond feelings or obligations. There is nothing common about it. It was then that I truly believed God works miracles today—not just the garden variety of healing or the saving of a life, but the greatest kind there is—the saving of a soul. And as she spoke, I was swept up in a wave of thankfulness that I was there to hear it. When my mother’s words drew our gaze back to the point on her path when dark became light, I remembered how bright my own walk had become.

So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:30-35)

Too Cool for School

2011-08-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Camping

2011-08-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

Camping is like childbirth. Somehow you forget the pain and lack of sleep and do it again in a year. We always leave a camping situation thinking "not again". But there we were a few weeks ago. It actually was a great time for the kids. We adults enjoyed most everything but the sleeping. And rather than going into the details, I will just show pictures of our two favorite things from the trip.

The first was the beach. Well, it wasn't technically a beach, but it was a swimming area at the lake. Jack loved playing in the water. We spent most of a day there.

The second funnest camping event was definitely the campfire. Lots of marshmallows and hot dogs. Some friends of ours came and their kids and ours spent all their time setting things on fire.

It was short. It was sweet (not really). It was local. And I think summer would not be summer without a good camping trip.

You Cut WHAT???

2011-08-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

My parents were in town and we were all hanging out in the living room when Tessa came in with only one pigtail. Her hair was left so chopped up that we knew we couldn't "save" it. So we went to get it cut. This is Tessa before:

And this is after:
I think she was a little concerned about the change, so we went out for ice cream after getting it done. This girl likes her options, let me tell you.
I must say, the shorter hair just goes better with her personality. It's got more pizzaz.
Here's to you and your 'do, Tessa.

Summer is OVER!!

2011-08-03T14:11:00.001-07:00

Today was Tessa's first day of Kindergarten. And it was also the last day of summer vacation for us. No more pal-ing around for the three of us--we three muskateers. We must save our unlived adventures for Fall break. I wanted to get a few pictures of Tessa all ready to go to school. She couldn't help but pose. And Jack spent the morning trying to just be a part of the things unfolding around him.

We walked to school. What a blessing to live so close! I love this little neighborhood. And it was a nice morning, too.

But we were so excited to get there that we left waaaaaaay too early. That just meant we had to kill time on the way. And if we hadn't stopped to enjoy our walk, we might have missed....

This fellow! The kids were thoroughly charmed by this crawdad. And there were two of them--bonus!

After we (reluctantly) left our pinchered friends, we spied a baby beaver swimming in the lake.

Jack says, "Baby....EEEver! Awwwwwwww Cute!"

When we finally approached the school building, there was a crowd of parents and kids. Tessa thought it was weird and said so. I think she was just nervous.

Soon she got into line and stood stoically watching the others. Except when I called to her to wave.

She was really brave today.

And then they waved goodbye and headed away into the building. It was so moving....even Jack thought he should go:

The Renaissance Fair

2011-06-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

There was a big swing. Everyone wanted to ride it. At first it looked fun! And NOT SCARY!

Up and up they went. All smiles and anticipation.
I wish I had gotten a better shot of their faces. The ride operator turned to me and said, "Now THAT is the look of pure terror." They were fine once they got off. Tessa did mention that the swing made "my whole body freak out, mom!"

Westlands

2011-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

We had to drive East to get there. :)

If only the water area had shaded seating. That would be my only complaint. The kids had none. Tessa "dove" right in.

She must have run around for 10 minutes straight. I was beginning to think she had snuck some coffee this morning when she quickly announced that she had to go potty. I guess she just had to run around some first, and found once she started, she couldn't stop.

Jack has recently developed a little caution in his personality. He mostly started off by taking it all in...

And taking it in some more...

Then he got brave enough to touch some water.

Well, that is a slippery slope because pretty soon he was wading with a little daring splash.

Then he got REALLY brave and stuck his foot into a waterfall.

I remember when Tessa was the same way. She never would let a drop hit her face. She now spends more of her time underwater at the pool than above it.

So sweet!

Lair O' the Bear

2011-06-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday, we decided to go on a hike. We couldn't have asked for better weather as it was in the low to mid 70's with a light breeze. We chose a trail called Lair O' the Bear Trail. It is a popular mountain biking/hiking trail. Which was the only downside: watching out for bikers. Here's the kids at the start:

Jack is a hand holder. He will hold my hand everywhere we go and throws fits if I am carrying too much and can't at the moment. Sometimes, he prefers to hold Tessa's hand, and she lovingly obliges. (Don't you know we were holding our breath waiting for her to refuse.)
In fact, this whole day was one of those rare brother/sister days where they really played well together and Tessa watched out for Jack in a sweet protective-motherly way.

"Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas--that's what my grandma taught me." Lord Chesterfield

Here is my 5-going-on-15 year old daughter giving me the "Mom, could you BE more lame right now?" face.

There are lots of fun big rocks to climb on as you walk along:

And there are frequent points where the path allows access to Bear Creek. Which, by the way, is a great place to get rock throwing out of your system (unless you are Jack and that "system" is a black hole).

At the beginning of the hike there are tons of shaded picnic tables and restrooms. We were able to score one right under a huge tree and right next to the water. It was also just a hop and a skip from the restrooms. We had a peaceful lunch and then drove home. If you are looking for somewhere simple and entertaining to hike with your kids, I highly recommend trying out Lair O' the Bear. And to make it really fun, Morrison is just down the road and you can have lunch there at Beso (my favorite place to eat in Morrison).

DANGO

2011-06-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

I guess I have to explain the title. Because I'm not sure anyone who reads this email will know what that references for me. DANGO (stands for "Doings and Goings On") is the name of the email/newsletter that the physics department at ACU sent out. It has had different "editors" over the years, and we have known two of them pretty well. Neither of them reads this blog. So....anyways....that's all I have to say about that.

Summer is here! Of course, "summer" is loosely defined as "when there is no longer school" because we sure wouldn't know it by the temperature. Doesn't bother the indominateable Tessa who either has a high tolerance for pain or was born part eskimo. Last night, she sat in the cold pool as the sun set and the temp gauge went into the low 60's/high 50's. I made her come in and stripped her down right inside the door and dressed her in dry clothes. She immediately ran to jump in her Daddy's lap. As soon as her ice-cold feet touched his leg, he let out a high-pitched squeal. I'm positive that squeal just served to confirm to Tessa that "it was worth it".

So, Tessa lost her first tooth about a week ago:

The tooth fairy visited our house. And with a little photo-shop, we were able to capture her on film!!

Tessa was just floored by this picture. She speculated all day about what the tooth fairy did and where she went, etc. Then she found another loose tooth next to the, well, hole for lack of a better term. She has been wiggling the heck out of that tooth hoping to make it come out sooner.

Of course, the picture thing was a bit much for Anthony. He doesn't want to "lie" to our kids about the tooth fairy or santa or anything like that. I put lie in quotes because this is such a grey area. Yes you can melt it down to black and white, but you would be doing this sitaution a diservice if you did. There's so much more to it than that.

And besides, when Anthony told Tessa that he was born with several extra feet on his head that came loose and fell off and the "foot fairy" came to his house....well....he lost all credibility as far as I'm concerned.

Jack went on the potty for the first time on the same day that Tessa lost her tooth. But, as you can see, he still makes stinky diapers and we are nowhere near potty training:

I just love this guy's little body. His little pot belly and his skinny arms are to die for. And who can resist a nibble on that neck? I sure can't. :)
Yesterday, the kids begged to put on swimsuits and take their towels out to the deck. This is what they ended up doing. Now that's what I call "laying out"!

Ahhhh! The sweet life! Nowhere to be, nothing to do, no bills to pay, no dinners to cook. Just you, your disney-themed beach towel, and a sippy of apple juice.

Libraries

2011-04-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

As I crouch down on hands and knees to clean out the debris underneath Tessa's bed a question pops into my head:

Are library books for kids worth it?

When I finally find the book (not even in her room as it turns out), I discover one of the pages is torn. It dangles out by the smallest fiber of paper. Hurricane Jack has far reaching effects--we are still picking through the rubble, discovering new and unforeseen losses every day.

And it's not just the long searches for books, or the embarrassing confessions to librarians that (yet again) my son tore up one of your books. It's not even the fines. Because, if anyone knows me AT ALL, they know I NEVER have fines. (If I were Queen of somewhere, it would be a country called sarcasmville.)

The worst part about the library is the actual "going there" part. I can't seem to keep Hurricane Jack under control. He's like a little toy soldier until he sees the elevator. Then he becomes more like an IED with a homing device. And Tessa will sometimes get offended because Jack pushed the button when she wanted to do it. But let me assure you right here, faithful readers: She. Could. Care. Less. I call it "Brother-wants-it-so-I-want-it-itis".

Once inside the elevator, it transforms from a metal container used to lift and lower people into a game console. Maybe you've heard of it? It's called: Nuclear Fission In A Box. Eat your heart out Superconductor.

After a short(?) ride up, and about three presses of the alarm button later, the doors open into a hall and the Daytona 500 highlights play as we head towards the library.

There is this one librarian who wears glasses and a pencil in her hair. (Is that a cliche or a stereotype?) I can see her face actually pinch in on itself when I show up. She probably looks that way because Jack's favorite thing to do in the library is pull books off of the shelves and place them, one by one, into the return slot. He's very single-minded about this and will sometimes act like he's going to behave so that I will look away for a split second. All he needs, people. All he needs.

Tessa just came downstairs in a princess dress and WAY too much sparkly lip gloss (now a prized possession that she found in her Easter basket). She says to me, "Ah, when are we going to go to the lirary?" The typos were on purpose. She actually said, "Mom, when are we going to go to the library?", but, for some reason, she doesn't let her lips touch together when they have gloss on them.

I tell her, "As soon as I inish I cah-hee." ;)

Wanted: Replacement Mother

2011-03-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Family of four in need of replacement mother.

Erratic hours
On call 24/7
Days off subject to last minute cancellation

Must be able to:
Function coherently on very little sleep
Communicate effectively with 2 year old
Negotiate sibling skirmishes
Be extremely diplomatic about friends
Play barbies ad nauseum
Patch up wounds without flinching
Distribute large quantities of snacks from purse at a moment's notice
Dress a man and two children (and yourself) and get them out the door in time for church
And don't worry about a little sand in the car

A sense of humor is a must
Tasteful wackiness is acceptable
But please don't get carried away
You will, above all, be required to set a good example
Creativity is encouraged
You should be subtly intelligent and discreet
It is not necessary to play a musical instrument (but it is a "wow" factor)
You must be willing to sing at the top of your lungs when the situation calls for it

Have a poker face ready at all times
Be clever at answering the "why's"
Be a natural at improv
Know what to do when the muddy dog gets in, the cat gets out, and the 2 yr old is running off with a sharpie in his hands
At the same time

Must sign up for the long haul
Meaning birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, grandchildren and family reunions
Never lose sight of the important things
The big picture
The little details
Love
And most of all Jesus.

Bending Down

2011-03-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was struck with the effiminate nature of the phrase "bending down" today. No--more specific than that--it's a motherly phrase. We women who have small children have a special knowledge about bending down. We do it more than anyone else--to wipe noses, to tie shoes, to clean faces, to hug, to pick up, to put down, to kiss, to wipe away a tear. We bend down out of neccessity--you really have to get down there if you want to get all of the chocolate off your two-year old's face. We bend down out of convenience--it is so much easier to bend down to listen to your child's story than to try and decipher the words from on high. We also (and this is my favorite) bend down out of love--for the heart gets a thrill when, because we bent down, we meet them on their level and we see their joy and we can feel it in their sticky embrace that threatens to adhere like glue to our hearts and forever mar the smooth surface with texture and color (and maybe a little grape jelly, too). And I can't help thinking how the Lord has said he leads us with cords of human kindness. That He is like one who lifts a little child to the cheek and then bends down to feed us. This fact about the Lord's character is a secert present that waits to be opened by each mother. It's pretty wrapping being all we could see until we first lifted that tiny bundle to lay it sleeping in a crib--THEN and only then were we able to open the gift and see what was inside--an image of our King bending down...

Superman Lives Here

2011-02-24T14:47:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for the joy of little boys. One in particular. He's my Superman.

It's not commonly known that Superman has a thing for cookies and milk.

Up, Up, And Away!!

The Bees Knees

2011-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

I went to a MOPS play date Tuesday morning. It was at Little Monkey Bizness. We (the kids and I) have finally grown into that place. Tessa is still under the age cap of 6 and Jack is finally talented enough with his appendages to really get on/under/through all the equipment. I can go and sit at a table and sip a cup of coffee while reading a book almost peacefully. Or I can chat with the other moms and get in that much needed daily dose of adult conversation.

This particular play date was unique because Tessa and Paul were able to be together. Paul has carried a torch for Tessa since laying eyes on her in the Fall of '09. When MOPS started this last Fall, however, Paul's enthusiasm got the better of him. They regretfully had to separate Paul and Tessa because of too much PDA. Nothing scary or gross, just a lot of hugging and kissing and holding hands, etc. So it has been since last September that Paul has seen Tessa really. It was like 6 months were really one day.

Jack may have found love that day. Like Charlie Brown and the Red Haired Girl.

And what girl can really resist that face?

Look Out Ladies! Five Is the New Four!

2011-02-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

Well, she did it. She went and turned five on me. Didn't even ask or give me a chance to get ready for it. If only she hadn't done it so fast--almost before I could get my feet under me after the whole "turning four" fiasco. And make no mistake, she is already planning SIX. I'm onto her and her wiley ways. My Baby Girl. My Scooter. My Princess. My Ballerina. My FAVORITE girl in all the world. My Silly. My Stinker. My Honey. My Darling. My Tooty-Pants. My Tessa Jane...

Playing Hookie From Church

2011-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

We got about a foot of snow last night. We were so out of it--we didn't even know it was supposed to snow at all, let alone a foot! So we decided to NOT drive all the way to church. Instead, we figured it would be fun to go sledding. We were the very first people on the best sledding hill in Roxborough. It was a pretty amazing view:

My parents bought this sled for Tessa last year. She was just not big enough to quite use it. But now, she is a pro. In fact, she did almost all the sledding by herself. She even lugged it back up the hill. She really enjoyed the deep snow.

Jack wasn't so sure. He could barely walk but he was willing to give it a try since everyone was laughing and having a fun time.

So daddy "secured" Jack to the front of the sled and off they went:

Jack may look like he is smiling in the following picture, but I can assure you--he is not.

And to add insult to injury--mommy just stood there laughing and taking pictures.

He may never recover. In fact, WE may never recover from laughing at these pictures! Poor Jack.

Boogie Down

2011-01-05T17:06:00.001-08:00

What do YOU do when it's too cold to play outside????

First Snowman of the Season

2010-12-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

Look Ma! No fever!

2010-11-02T14:39:00.001-07:00

We finally emerged from our fever-ridden life today. Yesterday, Tessa's fever was around 99.6 all day. And today--back to normal!! She is the last of us to catch the dang-blasted flu. So she was the last one to feel cruddy and have to stay home from things. We missed trick-or-treating this year. Oh well. Maybe next year. Here is Tessa dressed up for the Halloween Parade at her preschool:

So, to celebrate, we went to the park and I took pictures because it was such a sunny bright day!

I have no idea who this little girl was. But you know how kids are--instant besties for the duration of park time.

Cavalia

2010-11-02T14:20:00.001-07:00

We took Tessa to go see Cavalia recently. This was probably the most beautiful show I've ever seen involving horses. If you get a chance to go, I highly recommend it.

The horses were very friendly with the performers. They were also very gorgeous (the horses) and well trained. These people must practically eat, sleep and breath horses.
They started off the show with a large puddle in the arena. A woman came out and danced in the water. Then out came this white horse that she danced with and that drank water from her hands.

My favorite act was the woman who signaled about 10 horses to do tricks with just her voice and a lunge whip. It was mind blowing. I have lunged many a horse in my day. This was impressive.

The dressage was a breath-taking study in restraint and composure. Almost like ballet.

There were stunt/trick riders. And lots of acrobatic feats while performers bounced around on the end of wires over the horses' heads.

Tessa was very excited about going. She wanted to pose for a picture before we left.

And her anticipation was high while we sat waiting for the curtains to lift.

As usual, Anthony could hardly contain himself. He's so dramatic.

I had a blast and hope Tessa remembers it for a long time.

Planes, Trains, and Rental Cars

2010-11-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

We recently traveled to Michigan for a few family reunions (Anthony's side). To make life more interesting, we took the train to Chicago. Which we half enjoyed and half didn't. It's not nearly as glamorous as you might think. Think really old airplane glam. Because it's like they took the bathrooms and accessories from old airplanes and put them on the train. But we did have a sleeper car. And the kids really enjoyed getting to color and bother one another.

When we got to Chicago, we took a taxi to our hotel. The kids really enjoyed the hotel room.
Jack liked holding the room key.

The next morning we went to Shedd Aquarium. We all enjoyed getting to see the sights there.

And this is why I need an SLR camera and a class on how to use it:

We got to watch a dolphin show.

And I was lucky enough to have Oreos from our hotel room in my bag for a snack when the natives got restless.

We rented a car in Chicago and drove the 4 hours to Grand Rapids. When we got into the hotel there, the kids acted like they had never seen a TV.

But the fun really started when the kids got together. I swear, all we as adults did was watch the kids having fun. I would like to propose an idea. Next time we all get together like this--maybe the adults should go out together one night. Without the kids. Why should they have all the fun??

Swimming was probably Tessa's favorite part of the whole trip. It's all she wanted to do, and she got to do a lot of it!! I think she was more sad to leave the pool than her cousins. She did draw several pictures of herself with her cousins and grandparents when we got home.

We flew home, and Tessa was about as bored as you could get. She was too short to see the TV's (and, frankly, too young to watch what they were showing). At one point, she looked out the window and asked why we had stopped. I tried to explain to her that we were going really fast above the clouds, but the ride was so smooth she had a hard time believing me.

Jack started out the flight in my lap. Then Anthony's lap. Then both our laps. Etc. He kept trying to unlatch the seat trays. And he was thoroughly annoying a guy sitting in front of us. Fortunately, he totally passed out about 40 minutes into the trip.
At this point, I was rocking a raging flu and couldn't wait to get home so I could collapse on the couch. Which is where I stayed for the next 72 hours. Everyone else caught it, too. Today marks the first day no one has a fever since we got back last Sunday (the 24th). Thank God for the little things.

2010-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

What's been going on?? Glad you asked....

Let's talk about Jack. He will be two this December. He might be entering the "terrible two's" a little early. He's such an overachiever. He is really turning out to be a sweet kid. He aims to please, and he listens really well. His teachers at "school" think he is the cutest and best behaved kid they've ever seen. I'm pretty sure I'm not exaggerating. ;) Jack loves to do whatever Tessa is doing. So he tries really hard to color pictures and dance around the living room. This usually lasts about 5 minutes before he can't help himself and starts throwing crayons, writing on the walls with the markers, and pushing his ballerina sister. Not a very good dance partner. He loves dirt and bugs, spitting, throwing things, feeding his dinner to the dog, and showing off his belly button. He hates waking up, broccoli, being told no, and sitting still. Such a heart breaker!

Tessa has been doing great in pre-school. She is learning so much every day. Her teachers are very impressed with her coloring, drawing, and writing skills. She has been experiencing several firsts lately. She had her first kiss. Which I saw. I admit, this is not the ideal first kiss--one where your mother is watching. But it was innocent and sweet. Here is the boy she kissed--our neighbor, Aidan.
Tessa also got her first broken bone! She fell and broke her collar bone about a week ago. So we are currently in the process of being careful while that heals. And, she received her first stitches on her ear a week ago. She was bit by a dog we adopted from the Denver Dumb Friends League. The dog was great until it got too aggressive with playtime. So the dog went back immediately and was replaced by Sally. Sally is a kitten who needed a good home. She is fitting in really well. She purrs and loves to hang out with Tessa. She even lets Jack carry her around in various less-than-glamorous positions. And she doesn't try to eat my kids. So it's all good!
That's about it for the kids. I am currently getting to know a new friend the Lord has placed in my life. Her name is Christina, and she is amazing. I am blessed by her every moment we spend together. I am also busy staying on top of book club, MOPS, women's bible study, two life groups, and housework. Whew! I need to learn to say NO! Anthony is usually in various states of "swamped" at work. He is such a valued person there--I know they appreciate him and the things God has gifted his brain to be able to do. He is also involved in a men's prayer group, the Worship Renewal Team at church, and teaches often. We stay busy! Hope you and yours are well!! Have a great day!

This Daughter of Mine

2010-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Life is full of surprises--the unexpected. And time, which is supposed to be linear and constant, seems to speed up and slow down and, sometimes, stop altogether. She grins like the Cheshire cat, this child of mine. Speeding up time with every centimeter she grows, every letter she learns. Rocketing us into unadulterated adulthood. Forcing us to forget the wonders of our own youth as we become captivated by hers.

And yet...there are moments when the second hand seems to loose its momentum as its cyclical journey to the 12 creeps to a crawl. You see, we are late, and she has discovered her shoes are on the wrong feet. Which must be set right--no matter the cost. And let us not forget holding open the door for this giddy girl as she spies a fallen leaf--the first one of fall. And we watch, our arms laden with bags, as she stoops to examine the curl of its edges, its delicate yellow.

For all the fluctuating speeds of time, she commands the ability to stop its ticking right on a dime. With a kiss, a hug, a mere smile. And I like to think that time in heaven is not immune, but stills while the Father leans forward to hang on the breath of her bedtime prayer.

Are you feelin' me???

2010-09-06T19:08:00.001-07:00

I'll Have Two Scoops, Please!

2010-09-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

Jesus is like a bowl of ice cream. And, it seems, to me, that everyone tries to mess with the bowl of ice cream.

Some people fashion an eating apparatus (we'll call it the doctrine spoon) advertising it as convenient and able to deliver the ice cream in easy to consume bites. And they get so behind their product, that they begin to say you can't eat the ice cream without the spoon. Then people will fashion different types of spoons. Some that have a twist where others were straight. Some that are multi-colored. Some might even be coated in something like, I don't know, let's say chocolate. Then they all shout at one another that their spoon is better, or the original, etc.

Some people will say that this is a wicked and depraved generation that will not accept just the ice cream. So we better cover it up with nuts or syrup or whipped cream. THEN, they will slowly become a people who say you cannot enjoy the ice cream to its fullest potential unless it has those toppings.

Some people will extensively study the ice cream. They will learn the facts about it until those facts are coming out of their ears. They look at it from all different angles. They study it in different lights. They write theories about why it tastes the way it does.

But do you know what a little kid does when you give them a bowl of ice cream? THEY CONSUME IT WILLY NILLY. Sometimes without a spoon. They get it everywhere. And they know nothing about the ice cream except that they have tasted it and it was GOOD.

At that time Jesus said," I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matt 11:25

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt 18:3

And, as with all analogies, if you pick at it too much you will miss the point.

By the way, the picture on the following "video" doesn't change.

Tessa the Superstar (said with dripping sarcasm)

2010-08-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was the recital for Tessa's ballet class which she has been attending all summer. Every Tuesday, I would drive too far so Tessa could be a part of something she loves. However, she does NOT love performing in front of an audience. Since every parent in the room had been forced to sit through 80 minutes of agonizing round after round of little ballerinas by the time Tessa came out...well...it was no surprise that she provided some comic relief. But eyebrows raised, jaws dropped, and laughing turned to murmurs of surprise when she executed her turns on the very tip or her tip-toes.

As Dave Kellett says, "You can't choose what you're famous for in life."

Last Night in the Kitchen

2010-08-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

ME: Jack, do you want a gummi bear?

JACK: Yeah!

ME: Can you say please?

JACK: Yeah!

ME: OK. Say please.

JACK: Yeah!

ME: No, don't say yeah; say please.

JACK: Yeah!

ANTHONY: Well, maybe he'll be good at sports.

Todd Camping Trip 2010

2010-08-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

We made it!! We went camping and made it through two nights and two days. We actually were scheduled to stay tonight, but figured sleeping at home would be better for all of us. So we made a day of it in Estes, and then drove back to Roxborough. Here are some highlights:

First morning. (It was pretty cold at night, so Anthony was wearing an attractive shorts/long johns combo. Shong johns? Short Johns?)

Jack before coffee:

Jack after coffee! (and a little dirt--he must always taste and see that what the Lord made is good)

We brought ONE toy. Apparently, my dad is famous for entertaining himself with dirt and a stick growing up. Since we knew there would be plenty of THAT...

But all they wanted to do is play with the one toy. Tessa, being bigger and meaner, basically took it from Jack over and over again. I think he began to lose interest.

Us. After the first night. We might not do this again until kiddos are bigger. Or until they invent some kind of portable, invisible, fence. 'Cause we are exhausted from chasing Jack.

There were lots of wardrobe changes. Mud, water, rain, swimming, and general food and dirt eating were to blame. Lots of bending over going on:

I would yell to Jack to come back, and he would plug his ears. Here's a picture to prove it. Where did he learn to do that??

Morning two after night two. More sleep = more silly:

Well, Jack got more sleep anyway.

Kids didn't know why we were making them sit on a rock.

Waiting for the tram.

Looking out of the tram. Tessa said it was just like flying. I couldn't help thinking "box of death" while we ascended.

Waaaaaaay up high.

Chasing chipmunks in order to feed them peanuts trumped the awesome view for the kids, at least.

Here is why Jack was not allowed to feed the chipmunks anymore.

Tessa thought they could talk, but had their mouths full so they didn't.

She was really good at sitting very still so they would come up to her. Probably thought it was only natural since that's what they do with princesses in Disney movies.

Going back down. Jack heard me tell Tessa she wasn't tall enough to reach the straps. He then grabbed two and held them all the way down while making faces at Tessa. Probably to get her back for the toy truck.

Last stop, go carts!! Poor Jack had to watch.

Asleep at the wheel. After this, we went and packed up the tent and drove home. Poor guy slept the whole time.

Something Else We Did

2010-07-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

My blogging road is paved with good intentions.

And until I feel the LEAST bit creative, here are some pictures from the Denver Aquarium:

Where they had...

LIVE mermaids perform!!!

Which made Tessa feel:

And since he's so cute (and a little scary in this picture, maybe):

Calf Ropin' and Diapers

2010-06-28T12:56:00.001-07:00

Whenever I change Jack's diaper, I always feel the urge to throw my hands up in the air.

Hiking, Museums, Rock-n-Roll, and Renaissance

2010-06-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

We have been blasting through summer, I tell ya. Blasting! One thing seems to lead to another. Weekends are simply two days set aside to plan totally fun things to do that we just can't enjoy any other time of year. Up and coming : camping with a 4 year old and 18 month old! We just don't know when to quit, people.

Here are some shots from a hiking trip I took the kids on. Tessa's favorite part of the hike was climbing where Jack couldn't and laughing down at him. Jack's favorite part was the dirt. But he did really great! He hiked all the way by himself on his own two little feet.

I recently drove the kids to meet friends at the Littleton Museum. It has a working farm and an old house and schoolhouse built in the late 1800's. The kids just loved hanging out together. Here are some highlights:

Jack immediately stuck his finger in with the turkeys and it got bit! He spent the rest of the time at a safe distance.

Lookin' at the sheep.

The girls: Tessa, Audra and Hannah.

Then along came a cat, and we gave up on the group photo.

We also met the same friends (plus their plus ones) at an outdoor concert featuring a Beatles cover band. It was hot, and lots of eating ice cream ensued. Sticky rules!

We like to call him Linus around here. 100 degrees, and he wants his blanket!

Jump for joy!!

Today we traveled to Larkspur for the Colorado Renaissance Festival! And money can't buy the wonder and excitement Tessa experienced when she first glimpsed the castle. She also saw the procession of the king and queen on their way...uh...somewhere. She got to have her hair done, and we bought her a sword and cape. She is currently outside fighting a dragon as I type. And she is a Musketeer. Who needs Disney World??

We just had to get princess hair.

Then we bought a sword and cape. Because, well, I'll get back to you on that one.

And we topped the day off by riding an elephant! I would have TOTALLY been the one up there, but I was wearing a maxi dress. Not elephant riding duds.

Jack thought the elephant riding was hilarious!

On the way out of the park, we stopped to get these shots. Anthony is having to hold each kid up to their "necks".

Tessa's princess is named Nancy Noeneck.

Jack's knight is named, Sir Hangsalot.

Longest post ever. ;)

The Day Of The Lord

2010-06-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Expected, Typical, Everyday, Ordinary

2010-06-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yes Summer has its conventions. Especially if you are in a young family. For what would these dog days be without a rambling shuffle along a path with the difficulty level of "piece-of-cake"?

Made exceedingly more fun by a shoulder ride, a stick, and a camera case.

Usually, "pooped-out" carries an entirely different significance at our house. (Jack says, "Hey! I heard that.")

And we could not consider ourselves connoisseurs of calidity if we didn't drop anchor at the fountains for a little welcome wet. If only so we could strike a pose in our new beachwear.

(However, food stuck on the face does slightly diminish one's authority as a cover girl, am I right?)

A little rehearsal in the privacy of the back yard can increase the odds of those little faux pas never happening again.

And since synchronized swimming is only a spec on the horizon for us presently, we will settle for synchronized sitting.

Hey guys! Look over here, Mommy wants to take your picture!

OK. Now everybody wave! Wave to mommy! C'mon Jack! Wave!!

Tessa: (in a ventriloquist voice) Jack, wave your hand like me.

OK. Let's try clapping. Everybody clap. Yeah!! Clap your hands, Jack!!

Oh. Jack was waving that time. Let's try clapping again. Everybody clap! Yeah!!

Maybe another time.

Lost doesn't even BEGIN to cover it.

2010-05-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

So we stayed up late last night to watch the series finale of Lost. Late meaning, after 9:30. Que Lastima! (I don't know how to say "Coulda waited and got sleep instead" in Spanish). Actually, I was totally with it until the last 20 minutes or so. I dug the characters finding each other and "remembering" what they meant to each other. But the ending was a let-down. Because it was too confusing! Nothing got explained, no loose ends were tied up in a pretty bow. The explanation they gave didn't make any sense. We walked upstairs to bed shaking our heads and trying to offer up ideas about what it meant.

I thought this was funny. How they got the little figures to look like everyone when none of them has a nose is beyond me. And why does Hurley have a scale?

Bye-Bye School, Hello Summer!

2010-05-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday was the last day of "school" (said with tongue in cheek) for Tessa and Jack. To commemorate the day, I tried to take a picture of them together right before loading up in the van to go. Here's how THAT went:

OK! Let's try standing together! Tessa, put your arm around Jack.

OK. He kinda walked away on that one. Try holding him tight.

(Struggle, struggle, squeal, push) Tessa says, "Oh forget it!"

Oh well. This is the best we could do. Done and Done.

It was a fun day for the kids. They got to play water games that involved changing into swimsuits. And there was mention of shaving cream, but I never found out how that factored in exactly. On a personal side note, NEVER get shaving cream in your hair and then immediately jump into a swimming pool. What happens is some kind of insane chemical stripping that no conditioner can touch. Frizz central will ensue. Maybe for days. What? I had a bad camp experience...

So now, ALL of my scheduled activities that involved childcare are over for a few months. Bring on the cross-eyes and lip drumming! I'm ready!

Our summer plans are in their infancy right now. We 'rents are in negotiations about a family vacay. It's in the word flinging phase right now. From me: fun, tradition, meaningful, needed-for-sanity. From Anthony: budget. (And sometimes variations like "travel budget" and "money")

Until that treaty gets signed, we will be filling the standoff time with trips to the park, the library, the pool, the zoo and long nature hikes. I have a love/hate relationship with summer.

2010-05-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,

Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,

With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,

Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.

They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while

Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.

And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy

Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

Angels must dream of little ballerinas...don't you think?

2010-05-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

So a Duck Walks Into a Bar...

2010-03-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

And he says to the bartender "Got any grapes?"
The bartender says "No, I don’t have any grapes."
The duck walks out, sorely disappointed.
So the next day, he walks back into the bar, asks the same question, gets the same answer.
The day after, he walks back into the bar, and again, asks the bartender, "Do you have any grapes?" The bartender, having still not figured out why this duck seems to think he may have some grapes, says to the duck, "No, and if you come back in here tomorrow and ask me if I have any grapes, I will nail your bill to the bar!"
The duck frowns, turns around, and walks out of the bar. So the next day, the duck walks back into the bar, and asks the bartender "Got any nails?"
The bartender says, "No."
So the duck says, "Got any grapes?"

OK. And my favorite part is picturing the duck frown. It's a strange world in here--wanna join me?

I have to ask. How many things do you do with and to your kids for your own selfish reasons? I can say, at LEAST one. I have been reading Charlotte's Web to Tessa. She really is too young to sit and listen to a chapter book. I'm sure any moment while I am reading to her, she will walk away without so much as a "so long". But so far we have read two chapters and she is hanging in there. She even remembered today what happened in the first chapter which we read yesterday. There are a few colored pictures and I make voices for the characters. I think those are the only things keeping her there so far. Oh and I told her it was a big girl book. "Big Girl". A very temporary bribe but one I am not ashamed to use.

Knock, Knock.
Who's There?
Orange.
Orange Who?
Orange you glad I didn't talk about a sick kid??

Need a New Nightmare

2010-03-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well! A lot has happened in the last month or so. And by "a lot" I could mean a lot of dirty diapers, snotty noses, play dates, morning (and afternoon) coffee breaks, laundry, sleepless nights, grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese. But hey, this is an exciting blog. Those of you who got on here thinking this was going to be a catalogue of "what-my-kid-did-that-was-cute-today" can just keep lookin'.

OK. I guess I'll drop the act. Wish it was true sometimes, though.

Still, there has been SOME excitement that was out of the ordinary this past month.

Tessa turned 4. Her birthday party was a blast and still talked about by Tessa as if it were yesterday. Well, that's mainly because in her world, anything happening before right now is yesterday (or sometimes "last night").

Jack learned a few new words:

kee-kee (kitty, kitty)

ba (ball)

papa (papa--he's so proud)

wow (wow)

whoa (whoa)

And, last but not least, the highlight of all highlights: I drove by myself to TEXAS with the kids. And that is why I need a new nightmare. Because once you've driven 14.5 hours with two kids, you realize that, while nightmarish, the experience is no longer a figment of a warped imagination. It is a REALITY. Which is less scary--usually. The trip was supposed to be a grand time of family fun. And while some of it was just that--the virus that attacked Tessa and I stole 4 of the 6 days we spent there. It was--in a word--miserable. The trip home was like driving through my very own personal--

But we made it through somehow. On the wings of prayers, actually. When we finally drug our bodies into the house, I crawled into bed and closed my eyes and I could still feel the highway rolling beneath me. And all I could think was : NEVER AGAIN. Or at least not while I have to play goalie with all the toilets in the restrooms because Jack's hands are as fast and as determined as hockey pucks to splash a home team point. And not while Tessa is young enough to wake up in the middle of the night merely to sit up and throw up all over me and the bed. NEVER AGAIN.

By the Numbers

2010-02-12T08:53:00.001-08:00

Number of hours of sleep: 3

Number of Tessa's fever: 101.4

Number of dirty diapers changed : 1 (today so far. Not bad, but I wondered to myself--where is Jack getting sand to eat? You moms know what I mean! Sorry for the TMI.)

Number on clock when Tessa threw up in her bed last night: 3:34

Number of times last night's crying, puking, cleaning, changing, etc. woke up Jack : 0 (you DO realize Tessa and Jack share a room, right?)

Number of times Tessa mentioned her Princess Ballet Class she was going to go to today : 15 (give or take a few hundred)

Number of times I've stopped typing this post to zone out: .........oh, sorry--What was I saying?

Och, weel! Ye dinna ask for more!

2010-02-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog. Don't feel bad about it though--I don't!

We have been busy and I got out of the habit. And this is an attempt to begin the roll of things again. So here is what you missed if you don't live in the green house:

Jack turned 1!!!!!!
Jack started walking!
I got the pile of laundry under control!
Tessa went ice skating for the first time!
We have started cleaning out our garage.
Jack went to his first day of Parents Day Out and did great!
God answered my prayer that Jack would do OK at aforementioned PDO!
Anthony and I bought Rock Band 2 and are ADDICTED! Seriously, we need help.
Tessa begins her first ballet class next week!
Tessa turns 4 in two weeks and will be having a Princess Party!
Jack had his first chest x-ray because he had a 104 temp. It was NOT fun.
I was alone in my house Wednesday for the first time in 18 months or so!!!
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Sorry. I was remembering how wonderful yesterday was.
Jack has switched from bottles to sippy cups!
My squeezebox quit working and I don't know why. This makes me sad.
I recently made a big batch of P-Dubs Cinnamon Rolls. This makes me very happy!

And since I didn't post anything about Christmas, here is my favorite picture from that holiday:

Because you can lead a kid to Santa, but you can't make them like it.

Life

2010-01-13T19:44:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, it's tons of fun...

until this happens:
Hang in there!

Daddy's Girl

2009-12-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Last night, Anthony made Tessa mad by insisting she put on lotion after her bath. She has been scratching her skin off, and she really needs it. So a battle ensued and Daddy won.

Then I overheard this on the monitor:

TESSA: Tessa doesn't love Daddy anymore.

ANTHONY: Oh. Well, that hurts my feelings.

TESSA: Silence

ANTHONY: Well, if you don't love me anymore I guess there's no point in me reading you a story tonight.

TESSA: Well, Tessa loves Daddy a little bit.

At least Jack loves Daddy.

Jump Street

2009-12-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

My Thursday Mommy Club went to Jump Street this last week. It cost me $4 for Tessa and Jack and I were free. Here is some of the fun that happened there...

Can you count how many times Tessa wipes it?

Jack spent a lot of time making out with himself.

OK. I finally got Jack doing peek-a-boo on film. It's brief and followed by Tessa referring to herself in the third person. Maybe she's practicing to be queen some day.

Speaking of queen, she found a loyal subject. This poor kid was somehow manipulated into doing this for WAAAAAAY too long.

Date Night With Tessa

2009-12-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted about date nights with Tessa in a while. Probably because they have been pretty run-of-the-mill. However, last Friday was a special one. We went to Disney On Ice at the Pepsi Center. It was a very extreme date for Tessa. She was surrounded by little girls in princess dresses. She got to meet THE Cinderella. She also got to see the new princess, Tiana, who is brown (Tessa's words, not mine).

At dinner, Tessa showed off her ice-eating skills:

Before the show, there was a display of princess dresses:

This is what it looks like when your excitement bubbles over and you can't help but share it with strangers:

The show itself was lots of fun. Tessa was so overjoyed by Prince Eric skating with Ariel, that she couldn't find words. She just turned (she was in my lap) and hugged my neck before turning back to the show.

She also loved Tinkerbell:

They had Cars and the Lion King, but these paled in comparison for Tessa with the princess factor.

In fact, sometimes, I think the night got a little overwhelming for her. What do you think?

A Sign of the Season

2009-11-30T12:31:00.001-08:00

Does time blur together for you, too?

I sometimes feel like my thoughts are a long tangled string of repetitious obsessions. They stumble over each other in my head and fight to get priority. Some are highly emotional. Those always surface strongly during a dramatic scene in a movie or because of a poignant line in a song. I will linger over these and let the feelings steep until they permeate all of me. They leave a sense of emptiness and melancholy behind when I am forced to get out of my now tepid mind soak and re-enter reality, shivering and dripping. Some of my thoughts are starkly logical. They are thoughts about cold hard facts and they usually involve numbers. Like the dollar amount I spent on something or the number of calories I just ate or the ounces of water I've drunk subtracted from how much I need to drink in a day. The minutes I have left until...everything: lunch, nap time, I leave to get Tessa from school, dinner, Anthony gets home, bedtime. Numbers that surround schedules of what is coming and what needs to be done and with whom.

And before I know it, a day has passed. Two days, three. A week. And the knots get tighter and the thoughts multiply like rabbits.

"How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" Psalms 13:2

"For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him you will find Him." 1 Chronicles 28:9

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10

Chilly Tradition

2009-11-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to the 26th Annual Downtown Littleton Tree Lighting. I'm not sure that is the official title, but I capitalized it anyway. So. It was pretty cold--but it could have been so much worse. The Christmas tree was beautiful, and Tessa really enjoyed seeing Santa and REAL reindeer. We had candy canes and hot chocolate. We wore hats and gloves and scarves. We held lit candles and sang carols. We cheered and jumped around when the tree was lit. We skipped all the way back to the car while holding hands (me and Tessa, that is). Jack spent the whole evening immobilized in his snow suit. He was warm, but stiff. Still, it was past his bed time and he was content to just quietly watch the festivities. And he gave the appropriate smile when I whipped out the camera.

When Tessa reminds me of Trisha

2009-11-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

My little sister, Trisha, has always had the lions share when it comes to being photogenic. The girl doesn't take a bad picture! And can she ever ham it up with the silly faces! Looking at these photos reminded me of several silly-face shots I cherish that I have of Trisha.

Here is how the conversation went:

ME: Tessa, did you eat some of the cookie dough?
TESSA: Did I eat any cookie dough?
ME: Yes, you. Did you eat some of it?
TESSA: Mom. This is me you're talking to. Do I look like I would eat any cookie dough?

ME: Alright. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't have any.

TESSA: ....

ME: Ha! Very funny! Well, since you're so good at making faces, why don't you smile so mommy can take a nice picture.

ME: OK. Now try a nice smile.

ME: Now that you've gotten THAT out of your system. Let's try again.

ME: I give up.

TESSA: OK, I'll smile.

And, yes, Tessa is topless. Those of you who didn't already know, Tessa just doesn't wear clothes at home. Ever. She had been running around the house for over an hour wearing only Big Girl Panties. She even helped me bake cookies in them. Hence, the conversation about cookie dough snatching. Which she did.

Roads and Rubber

2009-11-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder what you will do when the "rubber meets the road"? I guess I always thought the rubber meeting the road would be pretty big. Like loss of a job big. Or really bad hair day big. Suffice it to say, I was thinking B-I-G.

But I have come to realize that the Lord puts roads and rubber together in our lives to help us get movin' again. And boy have I been movin'. Anthony has been working 70 hour weeks for about a month now. He will be done a week from Tuesday. So that is when I can expect my next stop-to-fill-'er-up. In the mean time, I feel like God has been taking care of me like one of those mid-air refuel planes. I'm not stoppin', but somehow I'm not running out of gas. These little refuels have come in the form of good advice (thanks mom), encouarging words from friends (thanks Erla), moments to sit around a table and eat and laugh (thanks life group and Phillips), play dates at the park (thanks Christina), or fun nights out with no point (thanks Kristen A).

The biggest thanks goes out to Anthony whose sensitivity to a stay at home mom has been off the charts. He has come home from a long day and jumped right into dirty diapers, bath times, and countless rounds of pretending to be the prince while Tessa is the princess. Well, you are my prince, Anthony.

So it might not be BIG on the grand scale of things, but my tires are squealing. The Lord is moving me down that road that eventually ends in His perfection.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, Anthony.

Thank you, Lord.

Supermom

2009-11-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

Seventeen minutes into the movie, Nanny Diaries, this afternoon and I had to stop and look around. I was literally being swallowed by a pile of laundry waiting to be folded on the couch. Supermom I am not. So when I reached base camp of Mt. Big Girl Panties, I stopped to take a breather. I am hopeful I will reach the summit before it gets dark. From my vantage point, I could see five dirty dishes (coffee cups, cereal bowls, etc) that needed to be carried upstairs and washed. And there was that mysterious smell in the kids' room I keep forgetting I need to investigate. I always notice it when I go in there in the middle of the night to resettle Jack. And then I don't notice it in the morning--probably because I'm sleep walking at 6:00 AM from having to resettle Jack all night. Anthony always helpfully suggests things from his side of the bed like, "Turn the monitor off and sleep--they'll be fine."

What a girl really wants to hear is "You stay in bed--I'll go take care of it."

But really, when daddies watch kids...

Stuff happens.

At least I'm not having to drive to work every day in the rush hour traffic.

Press Play on Video and Then Play Music!

2009-10-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

Note: Wet spot is from sitting on snow--not what it looks like!

2009-10-31T05:57:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when it's snowing and cold outside?

If you are a mommy, you can:

1. Try to remember who talked you into kids. (Lucky for them having kids has turned your memory into something closely related to your skinny jeans--they're hanging right there in the closet but you just can't get into them!)

2. Put your feet in a tub of hot water and turn on beach sounds on your ipod and c-l-o-s-e your eyes (But not where kids could get into the water. And you will need to keep one ear open to hear your children. Oh, and you will have to get up every 12.36 seconds to fetch a sippy, bottle, or princess shoe.) Oh forget it!

3. Bake all morning and then eat all afternoon (for the kids).

4. Watch movies. (This has a catch because you're a mommy. All movies will be kid friendly--aka cartoons.)

5. It all just goes downhill from here.

What do you do if you're a kid and it's snowing outside?

1. Watch your big sister play in it.

2. Play in the snow.

3. Contemplate life.

4. Then remember how great you have it.

5. Lose your mittens and revel in it.

6. Have a snack.

Before

After

7. After you get changed into clean clothes because you got food all over them, give your mommy a leg hug and melt her heart.

8. Paint a picture.

Trunk or Treat

2009-10-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Actually, trunk or treat was moved inside the church building because of weather, so it was mostly "Table or Treat" and occasionally "Chair or Treat". Same rules applied. Get as much candy as you can. And it was fun to see the kids in their costumes. Most of us dressed our daughters up as cats or princesses and our boys as super heroes. But there were a few surprises. Like little Luke was a sock monkey. And I saw one girl in pink and turquoise camo with "Major Trouble" embroidered on the chest. One mom came with a printout of one of her sons' heads as a mask wearing a sign saying he was home with strep and would you please give him some candy. Now that's a cool mom. And hey, at least that kid was sick unlike when Anthony gave up trick or treating in order to watch Buck Rogers. Needless to say, his parents didn't wear his face on their heads.

Tessa begged to go to the store to buy a princess costume. I guess she was tired of being a cat. Jack was Charlie Brown, obviously. You wouldn't believe how many kids came up to us to ask who he was. Tessa was telling some of them because she was watching the Great Pumpkin movie earlier today.

When we got there, all she did was covet other girl's princess costumes. She even forced them to stand in pictures with her. You can tell Cinderella here was NOT thrilled by this. And Tessa's smile says something--is it guilty?mischievous?

Jack is going: Where's the pumpkins full of chocolate flavored formula?

My super hot man with the kids:
And then we tried to get a picture of the kids with me. Here is what we have about 5 different shots of:

And finally, we settled for a perturbed kitty cat and a befuddled Charlie Brown.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Festival

2009-10-18T19:23:00.001-07:00

Last year the weather was horrible during the pumpkin festival. This year, it was terrible again, but the powers that be got smart and rescheduled it for this last weekend. Which was some of the best fall weather we have had all season. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was just the right touch of warm on exposed skin. In fact, the only bad thing I can say about our experience was that I forgot to check the battery power level on my camera before we left the house. So we didn't get as many pictures as we had hoped. But I will share what we have...

Kids who dress up get in free. So Tessa got to break in her kitty costume. She gave us a few poses before we left.

We were going to dress Jack up, but ditched the effort at the last minute since we knew he would be in a back pack all day. As it was, he was absolutely thrilled with the new experience.

These pictures really capture the blue of the sky that day. They also capture the pure joy experienced by our little kitty.

Cute is as Cute Does

2009-10-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Isn't the first year of life fun to watch? They learn so many things in so many cute ways.

Jack clapping (in his own way):

Jack checking me out while I get his bottle ready:

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Yeah, lots of kids do it. But not as adorably as mine!

2009-10-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

Double Down

2009-10-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

No bread for buns. Two slabs of fried chicken instead. Swiss and Pepper Jack Cheese, the Colonel's sauce, and bacon. It's called a Double Down and it is being marketed in the Northeast. Is your mouth watering? Naturally.

Still...

Let's see just how far we can take our gluttony and just launch American obesity into the stratosphere. The CEO of KFC, Roger Eaton, has one major difference with drug dealers: what he sells is legal. And let's face it--food is a drug here. As much as movies like Super Size Me tried to implicate the fast food companies, I think the real blame lies with each individual person who is out of control.

Still, who came up with this sandwich? Do people just sit around and try to come up with the most fat and calorie ridden products possible? Is it just me, or has food prepared in restaurants just gotten worse and worse?

I am currently on a diet. I know, bad word. Still, I am amazed at what is OK to eat on a regular basis. Not much. Even things you think are healthy have tons of sodium or other hidden calories thrown in (i.e. Rotisserie Chickens from the grocery store, steamed veggies that come as sides in restaurants).

I would report nutritional information of the DD for a good laugh, I'm sure, but it isn't available yet. Until then, watch out out there.

Zing! Zang! Zoom!

2009-10-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

We went to the circus! It was much easier to take the two kids than we had expected. But we decided it was better to have tried than to stay home just because the baby might cry. Still, we were pretty worried that one of us would be wheeling Jack around the perimeter of the arena the whole time--but he did awesome! Even when he got tired, he was happy to just sit in our laps and watch the show. Tessa, of course, was amazed. She had her first cotton candy, and she saw her first trapeze act. It was tons of fun.

We showed up early and got to see the animals behind the scenes! (Jack was in the stroller.)

Tessa's cotton candy came with a hat. All the kids in the audience were wearing them, and Tessa probably has her on in bed right now--she likes it that much.

Needless to say, we were all pretty tired and hungry when we drug our feet in the door at 6:30. But it was a FUN day!

The Hardest Thing About Being A Parent

2009-09-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

There are so many things about being a parent that are difficult. Bordering on impossible. You learn some pretty sweet skills pretty fast. Like balancing. And I mean balancing everything: babies, diaper bags, food, phones, car seats, TIME. You also learn to look before you leap. Or at least, in our house with lots of stairs, you learn that. Anthony and I have both fallen down numerous stairs because of toys. Once, Anthony fell down the stairs while holding a baby Tessa, but that was because of his own feet. He still knows how to make my heart stop!

Still, in spite of all the lessons you learn, the hardest one to face is this: you can't be a perfect parent. It's even harder for me than the thought of letting them go when they grow up. I just wish I could be perfect for my kids. Because being imperfect means something less for them.

Like I wish I could just keep my house clean. This morning, Tessa let the dogs in. It's been rainy and they were covered in mud. And you know what?? I haven't even stopped to clean the floor (or the walls for that matter) all day. And since we're on this subject...I just watched Jack eat three stars off the floor. If it had been one--well, no one's that fast. Two is definitely arguable, yes, sometimes TWO is quicker than you realize. But THREE??? Are you kidding me? What kind of mother are you? Well, if you didn't know before, I guess you know now!!!

Some fun video clips for the grandmas and grandpas. The music this time is in honor of Jack the mover and shaker. You go little man!

Tessa entertaining Jack:

Jack crawling:

This is Tessa's idea of a funny face. Her humor is subtle.

And here she is trying to be like the Pantene commercial girl.

What To Do When You Are Home Sick

2009-09-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

1. Dance in your pajamas to princess music.

2. Build a fort. (Make sure it has a really cool tunnel entrance that adults can barely fit through.)

3. Have a tea party. CHEERS!

4. Go for an hour with a medicine mustache that's bright pink. PEACE!!

First Day of School

2009-09-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Yay! School is finally here again! What a life saver for mommy! For some perspective, here was Tessa last year on her first day of school:

And then this year:

Incidentally, she has strep right now. In fact, she had it in this picture (unbeknownst to us at the time). She will be contagious until tomorrow at lunch. Don't all y'all come over at once, now, you hear? Hey, don't worry about Tessa. This is an excuse to stay in her pajamas all day and watch hours of TV. She is lovin' it. Also, she is thrilled that her medicine is pink and sparkly. At least I don't have to hold her down to get her to take it, huh?

She never has had strep, but here's a funny co-inky dink. A few days ago Anthony had pulled out his photo-album/scrapbook that his mom had made him of his life. In it were pics of him after having his tonsils yanked. He said that he kept getting strep until they were removed. Hmmm.

Pictures

2009-09-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures we had taken last week. Which one is your favorite??

And the First One Said to the Second One There, I Hope You're Having Fun

2009-08-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well, the day is done just about. We had a fun one. I met a good friend at a park this morning and our kids ran off some energy. After that, everyone had lunch and then a long nap. Don't you just love pictures of babies sleeping?

This afternoon, we put together a bike we got Tessa. We had been going around with her on her tricycle, but it was WAY too small. So we upgraded her. She was ecstatic. Usually, Tessa is very patient with how long it takes to sometimes put a toy together. She has always had a knack for finding something to occupy her time until we finish. This bike was just more than she could handle. Her little monster side came out several times during the hour and a half it took Anthony to assemble it. But, we were able to eventually unify girl and princess bike:
The following video is just so funny. And don't worry, we stopped her in the end before she hit the street.

This next video clip just shows Tessa biking along. In the beginning you will hear a few loud motorcycles go by. Tessa comments on how those people were also riding bikes. We were practicing across the street in a cul-de-sac. At the end of the video, I had to stop Tessa from running into a parked car.

After the cycling was over, we went upstairs to take a bath. The kids played dolls together:

And Tessa shared Ariel:

And Jack tried to eat everything:

Yes, the music was pretty loud in the background. We have always rocked it to the oldies during bath time. I don't really remember how that tradition started. Be it the Beatles, Monkeys, or McCartney--we scrub a dub dub to it all.

Kooza

2009-08-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you I haven't told, Anthony and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last this last May. We had originally intended to go on a cruise, but it kinda fell apart when we had Jack. I know it's not impossible to be away from your baby while nursing for a week or so, but it's NOT something I wanted to do. So instead, we bought tickets to the best shows Denver had to offer for the rest of the year. One of those shows was Kooza by Cirque Du Soleil.

We went last night, and those performers never disappoint. It was so much fun. So funny, I was crying at times. There was one scene where a guy had a man from the audience come up on stage, and he proceeded to pick every pocket the guy had (he would show the audience each time he removed an item). He also removed the man's tie without him knowing it. I kid you not. It was hilarious. The poor guy was just returning to his seat when they called him back and he handed it all back. Even after the guy was aware his pockets had been picked, the performer was still able to pick a few of them again. I guess if I was up there, I would be a little distracted at standing in front of a packed crowd.

There was a man who danced with a woman while riding a unicycle. Sounds funny, but it was unreal how good he was.

Then there were these two guys who rode this two-wheel looking thing that rotated like a huge fan. Hard to describe. Anyway, there were a few moments that I was SURE they were going to fall and really get hurt. They were just flinging themselves through the air at impossible heights with no safety netting or wires or anything. It was stunning.

My favorite performance was by a man who built a tower out of chairs and had immense strength. It was breathtaking. Literally. I can't even use words to describe it. Sorry.

Lucky me, I get to go again with a friend on Tuesday. Which is great because we missed the very first act. We forgot to get cash for parking. Oh, and I forgot my wallet. Oh, and Anthony doesn't have an ATM card. So we had to drive around for a while. Did you know that they stop asking for money at events around 15 minutes after the show starts? Yeah. We got into the lot for free because we were lame-o and forgot our cash. So for future engagements, if I was REALLY cheap....(sorry, I fell out of my chair with laughter).

Conversations

2009-08-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

As parents, we often get a front row seat to some of the best comedy in the world. Our kids. And especially our kids when they start talking. I am well aware of my own legacy of "things I said" when I was a kid. You know, the funny, embarrassing, clear truth that only kids speak. Like yesterday, for example. Tessa said (about a black woman she saw), "Hey look mommy! That princess is black and brown!". I hoped the "princess" part softened the statement somewhat.
Today, Tessa walked up to me with a scarf on her head and said, "Hi mom!". At this point, she looked up at the ceiling and batted her eyelashes and put on a coy smile. I said, "Wow! You sure look pretty, Tessa." Her eyes got wide with excitement and she said, "I just got married! Here's my prince." She was gesturing to the empty air beside her. But anyone could see that her prince was there. Here she is in her wedding scarf.

Her prayers are probably my favorite conversations. She squeezes her eyes shut and rambles on about all that had happened to her that day. Tonight, she told Jesus that she wasn't tired yet, but it was dark outside. She asked him to make Bella and Casey sit down, and then she mentioned something about the moon having to sleep outside. Her prayer pretty much ended when she started telling Jesus how many princess gummies she ate that day. She was concentrating on showing him "three" with her fingers. This has been a hard trick for Tessa to pull off, and she usually looses all train of thought in the process.

He Swallowed a Canary

2009-08-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Since we got back from Utah, the days have been flowing by. We've been busy with fun things, though. We took part in a meeting at the church building that was set up for feedback and thoughts concerning the direction our church should take. I've never been a part of something quite like that before. It was nice to hear what other people had been thinking and hoping. I hear we will be seeing some big changes soon. I have no idea what those changes will be, though.

I also started a book club. It's really fitting for me, actually. I love to read and am constantly reading 3 or 4 books at once. I also LOVE hanging out with friends. So I got a group of girls together and we have settled on our first book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo:

So far it is a very thought provoking and interesting read. And considering the wide range of religious backgrounds in the group, I am sure there will be a lot to talk about and think on. Yay! That is exactly what I had hoped for. That and making closer bonds with some of the women in my life. A worthy adventure.

We've also been to the doctor lately for Jack. Here's the thing. I am about to talk about his...ahem...privates. So skip to the next paragraph if you want to. It's strange, really. Jack's skin on his "little bottom" (as Tessa calls it) was trying to re-attach around the top of his, well, you know. They don't take as much off with the circumcision as they used to in our generation (thank you Priscilla for the info!). I guess it was causing trouble for men in the bedroom and so they changed their procedure. This can cause some trouble for the little guys that fall into Jack's category. Shall we say...robust? Anyway, I had to have my super handsome pediatrician expertly set it right. I SOOOO could have done what he did. I paid $20 for peace of mind. OK, and I got to see Dr. Krawcek. Whatever.

So, I have to say, before you watch this video, that this procedure happened AFTER Jack was making these sounds. Although, I think he has gotten louder and higher since that Dr.'s visit. (hahahaha).

Oh yeah, and Jack has two teeth! He got them about a week apart. I am posting a picture, but the second tooth is very faint. It is obvious now, but not so much when I took this shot.

That's food on his face. And boy does he love to eat! I should mention that he has dropped to the 60th percentile with weight according to our last doctor's visit. So my little tub-man is growing! Or shrinking. Whichever.

Tessa has been doing all things Tessa. She has been a terror and a wonderful example of why girls are so wonderful. All in the same day (sometimes in the same 10 minute stretch!). I am having to threaten her with time out constantly. It works 90% of the time. She almost always relents or does what she is told if you hang time out in the air over her head. We have a "responsibility chart" for her on the pantry door in the kitchen. She loves to mark off when she does things. One of the items is apologizing. I will pick her up to let her mark off "getting dressed" and she will lean her head on my shoulder and say, "I'm sorry, mommy" for no reason. It sounds exactly like it does when she is actually apologizing for something. Same intonation, same body language--everything. The girl is GOOD at manipulating.

But seriously, girls--aren't we all? ;)

Todds In Real Life

2009-07-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

A little of what's been going on lately...

I rented Enchanted for Tessa. She calls it "The Princess and Dragon Movie". I can't get the songs out of my head. And if I start humming them, Tessa wants to watch the movie. She loves this movie, which is so sweet. When the prince catches the princess, Tessa literally brought her hands together under her chin and sighed. Her eyes were big, and she was...well...enchanted.

Jack has just been the ultimate hang-out kid. He just loves being anywhere where he can watch us. Tessa is his favorite view. He will stare with his mouth hanging open and drool trickling down his chin as she whirls around the living room with her "prince". All she has to do is pause for a moment and make eye contact with him to send him into gleeful wiggles.

He has learned a new trick in his swing the last few days. Normally, he only sleeps in the swing. But yesterday, he discovered that, not only could he sit up rather than recline, but he could grab the pole of the swing to stop it. This had provided long stretches of F-U-N for Jack and pleasant quiet stretches for mom.

Here's he's saying, "Check it out, mom! I'm not laying down!!"

And then, "Oh yeah. Did you see that? Huh? Check it. That's my hand stopping the swing."

As a matter of fact, the kid likes swings in general.

We have had some good rain lately. This brings out the snails which in turn brings out Tessa. She is constantly carrying them around. I had to get a picture of her "family" which she named Daddy Snail, Mommy Snail, and Baby Snail.

Casey got a haircut. I have a before picture, but I haven't taken the after shot yet. I will post the change as soon as I do. Anthony had a good time acting like he didn't recognize Casey when he got home from work. Much to Tessa's consternation.

Worth a Blog

2009-07-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

This was forwarded to me by my mother and I just had to share the fun:

Jesus vs Santa

2009-07-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that right. It is supposed to be SANTA, not SATAN. See, the thing is, this debate comes up a lot at my house. Especially in the last year. Mostly because Tessa is getting old enough to really get excited about Santa. The argument is that Anthony doesn't think we should include Santa in our Christmas celebrations...and I do.

Now, let it be noted that I grew up in the kind of religion that denied Christmas as Jesus' birthday. It was considered wrong to celebrate Jesus during the Christmas Holidays. AT ALL. You weren't even supposed to sing the songs about Jesus that are associated with Christmas--even though we did anyway. So Santa was accepted with open arms at our house.

Let me just say that my ENTIRE family has been freed from that horrible binding religion. We are all seekers and lovers of God's word, but we no longer pervert it out of a sense of fear. Amen!

Anyway, so I grew up with Santa and the excitement that his "visits" brought. I listened for reindeer and left out cookies and milk. I found out the truth about Santa when I was 7, I think. I wrote a letter to my mom telling her I knew. I didn't want her to feel sad that some kid on the bus had opened my eyes sooner than she might have wanted.

Anthony also grew up with Santa. He remembers the Christmas excitement being a little more subdued at his house. He feels like he would be lying to Tessa (and later, Jack) if he said there was a Santa. He says his conscience would bother him. That Tessa would find out the truth and then get...I don't know...disappointed. He admits he didn't feel cheated or lied to by his parents. And I didn't either for that matter.

Now I believe in celebrating Christmas as Jesus' birthday. Why not? I also feel very passionately about making Jesus the focus of the holiday. I just think it would be sad and not as "Christmasy" if we didn't mention Santa. Mostly, I feel this way because my family loves to celebrate, and Santa was just part of the traditions we practiced. And if we need to get rid of Santa, why even have a tree? How far does this need to go to be good enough?

What do y'all think?

A Snake, You Say!

2009-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

So I love to wax on about how much Tessa is like her father. And for the most part it's true. But yesterday showed two colors there. She spends much of her day outside in our back yard getting into trouble. Mostly, she ends up with dirt EVERYWHERE and a few scrapes and bruises. But yesterday, she also ended up with a snake. I don't know how she caught it, but she did. And she brought it into the house to show me no less. I am not the least bit frightened by snakes, but I would not like one slithering around loose in my house. She desperately wanted to show her daddy, so we agreed to put the snake in a Mason jar (how fitting) and keep it there until he got home from work.

While waiting, I asked her what the snake's name was. She hesitated and thought about it awhile. I suggested "Sammy" and she nodded and whispered, "He's my best friend."

Then she proceeded to take her "best friend" and shake him near to death in his jar. I had to put him out of reach before he turned belly up. My mom mentioned the likeness of Tessa's actions to this little girl from Finding Nemo:

When I mentioned how fast she must have been to catch a snake, she told me that only little girls can catch snakes. Oh.

So that evening, after daddy got home, we went into the back yard to let poor Sammy go. Tessa spent some time looking at him:

And then she held him for awhile:

After he slithered away under the fence, she had a moment of separation anxiety, but it was short lived and forgotten at the mention of Popsicles. See! She is SO my daughter!

2009-07-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

When you feel a little breeze,

Or notice a tickle, or need to sneeze

Or find your things are rearranged

Or something seems a little strange

Look very closely and you might see

Sparkly dust, or a buzzing bee:

Behold! A fairy with gossamer wings

Has come to show you wondrous things!

Depends Day!!

2009-07-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

So that is what Tessa kept calling "Independence Day". Too funny. Hope yall had a great 4th. We had a blast with our friends, the Bradleys. Their youngest, Collin, is the object of Tessa's affection. She chased him up and down the football field the whole night. All you could see was her pink jacket as it flew by in the dark. She actually began the night terrified of the fireworks and the loud noises they made. She would not remove her hands from her ears for anything. She even chased Collin with them stuck to the sides of her head. But...eventually she mellowed out and got used to the popping sounds. Here are some pictures from the night:

Yes, it was very cold and breezy. Last year was pretty cold, too come to think of it. I love Colorado!!!

And just because I thought it was cute, check out this progression. Somethings never change.

Don't Be a Square, Go To Heritage Square!

2009-07-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

I am a member of a lovely MOPS group here in Littleton. Last March, they organized a trip to Heritage Square. You could sign up for a seat to see Pinocchio in their music hall. So I signed us ALL up. Anthony was lucky enough to play hookey from work and off we went. It turned out to be tons of fun.

First, we took pictures outside the play:

I never did zoom out enough to get the whole sign board. But who cares? You can see the part that matters anyway. And little Jack just stood there waiting for me to focus the camera and everything. Just kidding.

The play itself was pretty good. Lots of audience involvement. The kids loved it. Tessa was enchanted. Jack was hungry and then grew tired of trying to squeeze the fun out of chewing on my car keys--so we had to leave before it was over. We went to a souvenir shop and looked around. I swear, they had the same exact stuff that was being sold when I was a kid. Like the gold flakes in a bottle of water or the beaded jewelry. There were Colorado mini license plate key chains with your name on them, t-shirts that said things like "BYOX: Bring Your Own Oxygen" (which I totally would have fallen for had I been on a trip to Colorado from another state. Heck, I might just go back and get it.), and polished rocks, etc. The list goes on and on. I think I even spotted a metal recorder like the one I bought in Estes Park when I was 14 with pretty much ALL of my spending money. Only to never play it.

After the play, we let Tessa get her face painted. Now this little girl does not like strangers to touch her--ever. But when you explain to her that the result will be the Little Mermaid on her FACE....Well, I think the outcome is obvious:

She was more than a little proud of her cheek that day.

So after the face painting, we bought Tessa an armband for unlimited rides. Of course, she was not going to let the woman selling them put it on her arm. She just started convulsing all over the place. When the ingenious little lady offered to put it on her ankle instead, Tessa was so surprised she actually quit moving for a moment. This meant that for the rest of the day, we had to tell the ride operators that the band was on her ankle. And she would stretch her leg out and point her toe daintily to show them. *eye roll*

I was more than a little shocked that she rode as many rides as she did by herself. She didn't even scream with her arms outstretched while the ride was moving like some of the other kids. Except for that one time that I mentioned we would go eat lunch after her ride. She must have thought I was leaving her to go eat with Anthony and Jack while she had to sit in the hot sun on a ride because she flipped out and threw her head back and wailed, "Luuuuuuuuuunch!". I had to remove her from the ride and we did the walk of shame back to the line.

Here she is on the banana ride. This ride allowed the passenger to control the banana by lifting a lever to make it go up or back down. Anthony said I reminded him of the parents he used to see when he worked at Jungle Jim's Playland shouting, "Push UP, honey!!!" to their kids from the sidelines of rides. Well, fine. I slipped right into that cliche like a warm bath, I did. And it didn't help either. Tessa would only let go for a split second to push up on the lever before releasing it to grab onto the handles again. This just caused the banana to "bounce" which startled her some and made her hold on even tighter.

I rode the ferris wheel with her. This was the fastest moving ferris wheel I had ever been on. Which made it very...ummmm...thrilling. Tessa loved the view and tried to point out something new every time we hit the top (which was like every 6 seconds). She would also lift her arms up in the air on our way down. I don;t know where she learned that one, but she seemed to enjoy it. I, on the other hand, kept a death grip on her t-shirt.

Here was the balloon ride. Not only did she ride it by herself, but she didn't hold on with both hands.

She also rode some paddle boats with Anthony.

Me and Jack stayed behind because they wouldn't let babies on the boats. He was pretty happy at first.

And then he got a little bit cranky:

Well, that's it for now. I would change the songs, but I am honestly enjoying them too much!

Back from the land of Buckle Bunnies and Twisters

2009-06-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

OK. So maybe Texas is not the land of Buckle Bunnies. It's so much more! :)

We got back on Monday night from our trip to visit the Burden side of the family tree. And just in case you haven't spent time in Texas during the summer...let me assure you--it's still H-O-T. I guess that's why we felt we had to compensate with swimming, Blue Bell ice cream, and lots of yummy snow cones. The perfect summer remedies.

All in all, it was great fun (except for the driving there and back part--yuck). Our kids got to experience some firsts. Tessa rode her first horse (not to be confused with the afore-mentioned pony ride). She also rode her first tractor with her Papaw on the farm. Anthony and the kids got to experience their first Cleburne PRCA rodeo at the Sheriff's Posse arena. In fact, that was Jack and Tessa's first rodeo ever. The Burden blood in Tessa vaulted her into the arena for the 10 and under calf scramble. She traversed those waves of churned up dirt like she was born to be a cowgirl. That is until the scary looking clown tried to direct her into line. That's when the logical Todd blood kicked in. She turned her nose up at that clown and marched right out of the arena. (Hey, I don't trust clowns either. ) And Anthony got to enjoy his first true redneck moment while in Scurry. He got to drive a riding lawn mower down a highway. I'm so proud right now. *sniff*

All of the Texas excitement fueled Tessa like protein as she threw her little 3-year-old body through every activity there was to do. When we weren't throwing her in the deep end of a pool, or squirting her in the face with water guns, she was pretending that she was the princess in some over-dramatic fantasy land. When she did finally sit down for a moment one evening after dinner to watch a little golf on TV, she just passed out. That's what I do when I watch golf, too.

So anyway, by the time we got back to Colorado, Tessa had the legs of a true summer kiddo. They became casualties of mosquitoes and concrete. Look away if you are squeamish. Luckily she has band aids on her knees. Just be glad you weren't there when she discovered what happens to scabs in the water. EEEEEEWWWWWW!!!

Ice Cream and Girl Cooties

2009-06-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, Anthony took Tessa to pajama story time at the library. After that, he took her out for ice cream. He said that she started screaming "ICE CREAM" before they had gotten into the parking lot. We have only gone for ice cream at this place once before, and it was weeks ago. I guess the experience was memorable for Tessa.

They had tons of fun!

Here is what's going on today:

ME: Hey, Tessa, give Jack a kiss.

JACK: What? What's going on? What did you say? What? What?
TESSA : He, he, he.

JACK: Ahhhh!! Help!! Girl Cooties!

JACK: I'm melting! Meeeeeellllting!
TESSA: Mom, tell milk breath over there to chill.

JACK: Mmmfrphmm!
TESSA: Honk.

I couldn't think of a caption for this one. Why don't you and then leave it as a comment. :)

How can it be SUMMER already??

2009-05-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

I keep asking myself that question. How can this be? I used to sit around and long for summer. I had a million plans of all the fun things I wanted to do--all the places I wanted to visit, etc. Right now, my only plans involve groceries and butt paste. My how the mighty have fallen.

Luckily, I have some great friends who help me out of my stupor for occasional play dates. So Thursday, I went to the zoo with my great friend and ex-coworker, Christina. We spent the whole visit chasing our girls--literally. If it wasn't for men, or women without children, I think shock collars for children would have been invented somewhere in the 1700's. We moms would probably be able to cure cancer if we thought it would somehow also make our kids behave and sleep soundlessly through the night.

As it went, I only got a few good shots off. Here's one of the girls watching seals.

Yesterday was a busy day. Anthony got home from D.C., and we all went to City Center Park for a little R&R. Tessa loves being at this fountain, but she WILL NOT get in the water. She hates being splashed. This video is a 38-second slice of pretty much all she did. She gets mad at me at the end because she didn't want to be filmed. So don't tell her I put this on the WORLD-WIDE WEB, OK?

When we got there, she was very excited to get going.

But as she neared the fountain, she stopped to gather her courage.

Jack watched from the sidelines--probably wishing he had teeth for the millionth time.

Eventually, Tessa made her way to the edge of the splash zone.

And even laid down in a puddle so she could get her hair wet.

But, eventually, she decided to come chill and lay out on her towel.

Jack was just excited to get to stand on the picnic table.

Here are a few shots of the two contemporaries:

Anyway, after a nap, we were off again. This time, it was to our date night. I mean for Tessa and I. We are trying to do this once a month. We went to see the new movie, Up, in 3-D. Tessa loves going to the movies, and she was fascinated with her 3-D glasses until about 20 minutes into the movie. Then she took them off and started chewing on them. I guess the blurry scenes didn't bother her. Here we are before the previews started:

It was another fun night for us girls. I will let you know how it goes when it's Daddy's turn in a few weeks.

For now, I am going to go assist my husband. We filled the wading pool outside, and apparently Casey has knocked Tessa over in the water twice. She is not a happy camper.

Pre-School Musical 2

2009-05-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

So Tessa had her end-of-the-year music program at school, and it came with as much drama as it's predecessor, High School Musical. Things went better this year than last. She actually stood on the stage for quite a while before she lost herself in the role of "crying extra". She had to exit stage right.

Here she is in the beginning. As you can see, the ill-fitting hat finally got the better of her.

Nothing a few cookies can't cure!

Hangin' with her good friend, Owen, afterwards was F-U-N!

You can tell she digs a man with a sense of humor.

Diapers and Discipline

2009-05-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

I am getting so bad at keeping up with my blog! Time has not been my friend lately. Neither has the sandman for that matter. We have had some fun times in the last few weeks. My famous parents visited our humble abode a few weeks ago. Tessa finished her second year of pre-school at Great Escape--which she LOVED! I was sad to pick her up on that last day. It has been nice having two days a week with just me and Jack.

Oh well. Two kids are such a blessing. Just call me the Diaper Genie Mom. Or how about Drive-Thru Window Mom (which is a mom who is constantly throwing things towards a child in transit like food, drinks, toys, markers, paints, shoes, clothes, etc.). My least favorite lately has been Sheriff Mom. This kind of mom spends all of her time enforcing the law of the land. She rides through the town with her shotgun strapped on her saddle and a six shooter in her side holster ready to take down any perp who dares to defy justice. That perp is ALWAYS Tessa and SOMETIMES Anthony. :) Seriously, there have been some showdown moments around these here parts. I am at a loss as far as discipline is concerned. I am sure every parent has been here--OK, honestly, it doesn't help to know that. Every parent is not HERE trying to keep the peace.

So, let's just look at some misleading pictures. These pictures will make you think my little 3-year-old is nothing but sugar and spice. Sort of like how magazine pictures make you think there are hundreds of perfect people out there. HA!

And since we are on the subject of cute...
WHAT??????
Do you like my bubble??

Future Politician

Need a Little Color in Your Life?

2009-05-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

Right now, I am listening to my husband trying to settle our daughter for bed time. She is very good at causing diversions. Every night he asks her, "Which princess are you?" and she will answer, "I'm princess (fill in blank with Snow White, Cinderella, etc.). The Anthony will say, "Oh! Well, princess (whoever), I'm prince Charming!" and Tessa will say, "OH! Hello, prince charming!". Then Anthony says, in his best prince charming voice, "I bid you a good night princess (whoever)." Tessa LOVES this.

Jack, meanwhile, is wrapped up in his swaddling blankets rapidly falling to sleep. My mom thinks the swaddling is a form of torture. She reminds me that at Odyssey Harbor, it was called a blanket restraint. Odyssey Harbor was a home for troubled children. So Jack is referred to as "poor Jack" after bedtime.

Lately, when Tessa is painting and decides to do something she knows she shouldn't, she calls it doing a "craft". So when I asked her what she was doing today, and she responded with "a craft", I decided to investigate further. Here is what I saw:

Date Night

2009-04-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I wish I was writing about a date night that I had with Anthony. But we haven't had one of those in a while. Actually, I went on a date with Tessa. Ever since Jack came along, Tessa has had less "mommy-daughter" time. Not in a bad way, though. She has always been an independent person. Still, I miss the days where she and I would run errands together or watch TV together or play on the playground. Just us. Right now, it's always "Mommy, Baby Jack is crying" or "Mommy, Jack is hungry". You get the idea.

So anyway, we got gussied up last night and went on a date. We went to dinner, where the waiter told Tessa she was pretty (she loved that!). Then we went and saw the new Disney Earth movie. I don't think I could have planned a better night for the two of us. We shared a small popcorn and some kitkats. We laughed at the funny parts together. We ran to the car and talked about how much fun we had on the way home. It was a very special time. That's why I put the you and me song on the juke over there -->.

Here's some pre-date pics:

Do we know how to have a good time, or what??

Things that three year olds say...

2009-04-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

In the last six months, we have crossed some huge threshold with Tessa and her vocabulary. She pretty much knows how to say most of the things she needs to say in her daily life....and then some. She continues to surprise us with phrases she says that we know we never told her. She also keeps us on our toes by seeming to be busy, but really she's listening to every word we say. Little pictures have HUGE ears in our house. And a time delay from when those ears hear something and when the mouth repeats it. So you might be in the middle of the grocery store when she says something very loudly that maybe should be said very quietly.

I wrote down a few of the things she said today that I found funny.

"Mommy, poop is NOT food!"

(She said this to me from down in the yard while I was standing on the deck looking down at her. She was pointing at some dog poop on the ground. I am still pondering the implications of this statement, and I'm not sure I want to know.)

"Mommy, you're doo-doo."

(This was followed with loud laughter that slowly faded when she noticed mommy wasn't laughing along. We had to have a talk about name-calling. But I totally laughed later when I told Anthony about it.)

TESSA : "Mommy! There's a spider in here!"

ME : "Oh! Really?"

TESSA : "Yes. I wanna POP that spider!"

ME : "What? Why do you want to do that? Leave it alone, it's not doing anything to you."

TESSA : "Why?"

(She then wandered back into the living room for a few minutes only to return holding one of her books.)

TESSA : "Mommy! I wanna POP that spider with this book!"

MOM : "Tessa, don't hurt the spider with your book."

TESSA : "Why?"

(She wanders into the kitchen, and then comes running out and says the following as she streaks by:

TESSA : "I'm gonna POP that spider. It's OK, I have this!" (this refers to the fly-swatter she pulled off the wall)

I was able to grab a quick shot. Yes, she is topless. She probably felt like she would be more aerodynamic this way.

I don't know the fate of the spider. I wasn't being "nice" to it. I HATE those icky little creatures. I just didn't want spider guts on something that I might touch later.

Jack is ever growing. He is almost 16 pounds, and he is a very happy little guy. He turns just about every woman he encounters into a baby-talking, face-making mess. He is almost rolling over. He's drooling enough to soak up several bibs a day. He's always gnawing on his fist or a toy or my thumb. He sleeps an average of 8 hours a night. His favorite word is "Goo", and he is very ticklish. His eyes have turned out to be very deep blue, and his hair is coming in a light brown color. I'm still his favorite person, but he doesn't discriminate. He got his 4 month shots and had a night and day of fever and crankiness. But he's back to his cheery self again.

He also loves holding his big sister's hand. Awwwwwwww! Yes, she has no pants on. I have no idea why--I just can't keep her clothes on.

We had a great Easter, and Tessa enjoyed the Easter egg hunt (up until the end when she fell and hit her head pretty hard).

The painting queen still sits on her throne. She is very serious about her craft. Very...organic.

I guess that's all I have. Sorry about the huge delay from the last post.

Doggone It!

2009-03-27T12:07:00.001-07:00

OK. I just had to write about this!

Anthony took Bella to ANOTHER vet visit. He let me know that they have to reset the splint every week ($25 a pop). While he sat around for the hour it took to re wrap Bella's foot, he was suckered into buying a "bag" to go over the cast. Now, this "bag" looks like a product out of the North Face catalogue. It's weather resistant, has a rubber sole for traction, and it comes in a stylish black color with green accents.

I did NOT ask how much it cost.

Where I come from, a "bag" is an empty wonder bread bag with a rubber band around the top.

Do You Believe in Magic?

2009-03-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

Last night was one of those "magic" nights for me. Those come along about every two or three nights around here. It's when both kids sleep soundly through the night, and the first time I crack an eye, it's at least 5:30 AM. So here I am enjoying a cup o' jo and writing on my blog. It's pure heaven.

On another bunny trail...each night I put Tessa down for bed, she asks for a story about the Princess Tessa and her magic Sparkly Shoes. Maybe I am teaching her to be self-absorbed. Maybe I should title the stories: Princess Not-Tessa and her magic Golden Rule Shoes. But I bet that wouldn't fly. Anyway, she loves these stories and when I say "the end" she always smiles and says, "Good reading, mom!". You know those little Nintendo DS things you can buy that have the commercial for the brain game. You know, the one you play each day to strengthen your brain? And then it tells you how old your brain "acts" based on your score? Well, before I started the Princess Tessa stories, mine was at, like, 98 years old. I am happy to say, all of this creative thinking on my feet has moved me back some. To, like, 79 at least! Well, that is what it would probably be if I actually had that game and actually played it.

Speaking of games, hide and seek is a true winner in our house. And it's great right now. Because we have about 3 places to hide in our living room/kitchen/dining room part of our house. Tessa, however, will never tire of hiding in all three of those places over and over again. I can't help but feel like it won't be long before she discovers that fact. So last night, Tessa and her daddy played hide and seek. And I was feeding Jack (did you really have to ask? i mean, what else do I ever do?). Tessa had the hiccups the whole time they played. Which was a little sad because she is actually starting to get the idea of the whole hiding part of the game. So no matter where she hid, we would hear these loud hiccups. Hiccups behind the ottoman, hiccups in the coat closet, hiccups behind the dining room curtains. And it was so funny, that Anthony would look at me and we would both loose it. Poor Jack probably felt like he was getting a milkshake for dinner. (too much?) Pretty soon, Tessa began telling Anthony where to hide. He would tell her, "I don't know--maybe I'll hide somewhere else." And then Tessa began hiding in the exact same spot Anthony just hid. You could tell he was beginning to get worn down pretending to look for her. Who knew hide and seek had so many layers of difficulty?

Tragedy Befalls Prince, Belle Promises Support

2009-03-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Like I mentioned before, Tessa doesn't really nap right now. She does "quiet time" instead. Quiet time = Mommy time.

But while she is in her room, she is NOT quiet. Anything but. Here is the scene of the tragic accident:

The Human Tornado struck the tiny room ruthlessly, destroying everything in its path. The poor prince didn't have a chance.