25 September 2010
24 September 2010
You Know You're A Pathetic Mom When ...
... you forget to charge your camera batteries before your child's eighth (impromptu) birthday party. In two hours' time, Nicole and I picked out balloons, bought and stuffed a pinata, cleaned the house, fixed dinner and decorated the cake. I regretted that Nicole had to pitch in and work on her birthday, but she didn't complain even once. She's such a doll that way. If only little girls could stay eight years old forever ...
My personal deficiencies notwithstanding, we did have a great time! We had no games, but the kids played with each other. It's so sweet to watch them have fun together. I managed ONE blurry photo before my batteries quit completely. Here it is:
In the front, we have Grant, Susie, Tommy, Nicole, Scotty (still mesmerized by the cake), Kalia and Megan.
Every September I think back to Nicole's first birthday; it was the complete opposite of this. I think I started planning it when she was six months old, I spent five hours making and decorating the cake, we had decorations galore -- it was just insane. However, I have a lot of pictures to go with the memory. This night will just have to live on mostly in our hearts.
Fortunately I get a chance to redeem myself on Saturday at Nicole's baptism. The batteries are already in the charger.
My personal deficiencies notwithstanding, we did have a great time! We had no games, but the kids played with each other. It's so sweet to watch them have fun together. I managed ONE blurry photo before my batteries quit completely. Here it is:
Every September I think back to Nicole's first birthday; it was the complete opposite of this. I think I started planning it when she was six months old, I spent five hours making and decorating the cake, we had decorations galore -- it was just insane. However, I have a lot of pictures to go with the memory. This night will just have to live on mostly in our hearts.
Fortunately I get a chance to redeem myself on Saturday at Nicole's baptism. The batteries are already in the charger.
20 September 2010
Just So I Don't Forget ...
I was penciling in our calendar for the next few months and marked the birthdays of the kids. I was shocked to find myself writing 8, 5 and 3 for the kiddos. A great wave of sadness overcame me as I contemplated them growing up. As my mom often says, "I wish I could freeze them right now!" I love to watch them play together, hear them giggle, apologize and say, "Can we still be friends?" Since Scotty is so young and interested in causing trouble most of the time, Nicole and Grant generally play their games without him. I think this also is due to the fact that Nicole and Grant have a long-established friendship, whereas Scotty is new in the market.
I remember that when Grant was born, Nicole was so excited to have a playmate. She patiently waited for Grant to get big enough to become a real friend. And now they are absolutely, positively, and completely best friends. They play together every single day for hours at a time. They used to like playing on the computer together (and they still do, just not so much). But several months ago, they began playing "animals."
Together, they have about 30 stuffed animals. Each animal has a name and a story. They play animals every day and the soap opera just picks up where it left off the previous episode. Sometimes Nicole and Grant bring their animals in the car. In that case, the animals tell each other news: Grant says in Froggy's voice, "Hey, Little Love, did you hear we're going to Aunt Shari's?" Nicole answer's in Little Love's voice, "Yes, I know." I recently discovered that Nicole and Grant also have fake names for themselves when they play. Grant is Jack, and Nicole is Coral. But, shh! It's a secret!
I love it when kids act like kids. Oh, why is there such a thing as growing up?!
I remember that when Grant was born, Nicole was so excited to have a playmate. She patiently waited for Grant to get big enough to become a real friend. And now they are absolutely, positively, and completely best friends. They play together every single day for hours at a time. They used to like playing on the computer together (and they still do, just not so much). But several months ago, they began playing "animals."
Together, they have about 30 stuffed animals. Each animal has a name and a story. They play animals every day and the soap opera just picks up where it left off the previous episode. Sometimes Nicole and Grant bring their animals in the car. In that case, the animals tell each other news: Grant says in Froggy's voice, "Hey, Little Love, did you hear we're going to Aunt Shari's?" Nicole answer's in Little Love's voice, "Yes, I know." I recently discovered that Nicole and Grant also have fake names for themselves when they play. Grant is Jack, and Nicole is Coral. But, shh! It's a secret!
I love it when kids act like kids. Oh, why is there such a thing as growing up?!
07 September 2010
Sense of Cents
I don't know if it's the age, or if it's just Grant, but he keeps coming up with the cutest things. Tonight it was all about money.
Preface: About a month ago, we opened up Grant's dino-bank and traded his coins in for bills. He ended up with fourteen dollars and some cents. He felt like the richest kid around. He promptly spent all fourteen dollars on a Webkinz stuffed animal (or two!) and a package of Oreos.
Tonight, as we were putting on his jammies, Grant remarked how unfortunate it was that he only had one pair of glow-in-the-dark PJs. He asked how much they cost. I told him that they were about $10. "Oh, not bad," he said. "I can save $14, and then I can buy them. Then I'll have four dollars left. Then that's enough money to buy Oreos. Then I'll only have one dollar left. Mom, what can I buy with one dollar? Did you know that fourteen is my favorite number? I just love fourteen dollars."
Shortly before the PJ conversation, Grant said to Nicole at dinner, "Nicole, I have the bestest idea! I can invent a machine that makes infinity money!"
Preface: About a month ago, we opened up Grant's dino-bank and traded his coins in for bills. He ended up with fourteen dollars and some cents. He felt like the richest kid around. He promptly spent all fourteen dollars on a Webkinz stuffed animal (or two!) and a package of Oreos.
Tonight, as we were putting on his jammies, Grant remarked how unfortunate it was that he only had one pair of glow-in-the-dark PJs. He asked how much they cost. I told him that they were about $10. "Oh, not bad," he said. "I can save $14, and then I can buy them. Then I'll have four dollars left. Then that's enough money to buy Oreos. Then I'll only have one dollar left. Mom, what can I buy with one dollar? Did you know that fourteen is my favorite number? I just love fourteen dollars."
Shortly before the PJ conversation, Grant said to Nicole at dinner, "Nicole, I have the bestest idea! I can invent a machine that makes infinity money!"
01 September 2010
Grant Said ...
*****
I just so tired. I cannot move; not even an inch.
*****
This game is wousy (lousy). Hey, Mom, what does wousy mean? ... Yeah, this game is wousy.