Lessons on emotions

Sitting at the kitchen table feeding Jack.  Sadie walks in and climbs on top of a chair in a cowgirl skirt and a big black bow in her hair:
"Are you hungry, Sadie?"
" Nahhhh...I'm not hungry, I'm disappointed."
I'm caught off guard by such a grand articulation from my tiny 3 year old.
"Why are you disappointed, Sadie."
"Because I can't play with my toys."
"You can play with your toys, baby."
"I can't do it because I need to get in the hop-tub."
Apparently, Sadie wanted to go swimming, but it was too cold so she set her heart upon the "hop-tub."

Standing at the sink, washing dishes.  Sadie walks in and hides behind my leg. She's twisting her feet and leaning against the cabinet below the sink.  Her face is drooped into what my daddy calls a "puppy dog face."

"What's the matter, Sadie?"
"I'm sad."
"Why are you sad?"
"Because my daddy makes me sad."
"Aweee....how did daddy make you sad?"
"Because he make me sad and he's not my best friend."
"Who's your best friend?"
"Daddy not my best friend anymore."
"Daddy's not your best friend?"
"No. He won't let me have the ball and he's not my best friend.  My heart is broke."
I peer into the living room and see Jared laying on the floor tossing a ball into the air.
"Jared! You better let Sadie play with that ball! You broke her heart and she says you're not her best friend anymore!"
He chuckled in amusement and called out to Sadie, who played ball for a few minutes and then snuggled next to him on the floor.

roadtrip: its not all kicking and screaming

TodaysMama Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

• A DVR (i'm dreaming on this one, but its a "wish list" right?)
  
• Lovely (by Sarah Jessica Parker)
  
• Painting lessons
  
• A nice camera (again, "wish" ing)
  
• A purse that doubles as a scaled-down diaper bag that dosesn't LOOK like a diaper bag.
  

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

•  I treasure handmade gifts.  Paintings, jewelry, childrens clothing, hair clips, blankets it would pain me to choose a favorite!
  

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

• Vinyl lettering
  

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

•  I honestly loved getting new clothes
  

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

• Sadie has made it quite clear that she wants a "choo choo train" and a scooter
  
• Jack will get something with balls
  

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

• Can it be a drink? If so, hot chocolate!!!
  

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

• I can't say exactly because they might read this! A shadow box project and decorative wall art.
  

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

• 'White Christmas'
  

9. Favorite holiday song?

• 'Silent Night'
  

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

• I love baking for the holidays.
  

When you're done creating your post, make sure to email them a link to your post at info@todaysmama.com with “Wish List Meme” in the subject line.

Will it survive?

So the tree survived the drive home.  But can it survive THIS:

First he unraveled the ribbon from the ornament, then he ate it.  Like an apple.  In fact, he said "Ahh-pull" as he bit into it.  Yes, that is soot on his face.  He ate a candle before I caught him.  Of course, that was before I heard the crash of half the lights and ornaments being pulled from the tree.  Lest you think I'm a neglectful mother, all of this occurred within two minutes of me putting underpants on my two year old. Sad looking, isn't it?

this is what happens when...

When its 9:30pm and you're tired.  There's a Saint's game on, but you're missing it because your wife insists on putting up the Christmas decorations tonight.  Home Depot has the bungee cords you need so that you can strap the tree to the roof of your car, but does not have a viable Christmas tree.  So you make your purchase and drive to another store to purchase the tree.  The tree place is closed for the night.  Your wife's throat lumps and she is about to cry.  The store workers have compassion upon her and allow you to purchase a Christmas tree, but you must act quickly.  You hastily pick a tree and while she is paying, you strap it, with your newly bought bungee cords, to the roof of your car.  Its going on 10pm.  Your kids need to get to bed.  You want to see how the Saint's game turned out (though you know they stomped the Patriots. Who Dat!) Your wife is thirsty, tired, and wants to start decorating the tree.  She pulls out of the HEB store parking lot a little too quickly.  And there, on Texas state Highway 281 your tree shoots off of the top of your car like a launched missile.  You scream explicatives and slap the dash as you watch cars dart around your newly purchased symbol of the Christmas season.  Your wife pulls over and you run out onto the 6 laned highway and rescue and recover the Christmas tree.  Your wife is on the roof of the car unlatching the worthless bungee cords.  However, you are not moving.  You are thinking.  She wonders why you are not moving.  She is cold and wants to get home.  You inform her you are contemplating the method of transport for the tree.  The decision that will allow you to get home to your Saint's game and warm bed? Shove the Christmas tree inside of the car.  Sit ontop of your children in the back seat of the car.  And then have your wife drive carefully home.  But not before stopping at Sonic to reward your hard work, perseverance, and cleverness.

Favorite part of the day.

I like TV. Most people consider that to be lowbrow, but I can't help it. I mean, I love to read and listen to classical music, and attend the theatre, and go to art museums, and write poetry too, but sometimes I just want my brain to be sucked out by good ole' american TV. I do NOT, however, like the commercials and its nearly impossible to catch every luscious moment of dry wit during 30 Rock with two children begging for your attention. So, thus enters my favorite part of the day (or night). The part where Jared and I put our kids in their cages beds and plug our laptop into our big beautiful TV and watch our favorite TV shows off the internet; the ones we missed while cleaning up poo, cooking dinner, and bathing babies. 

For my birthday, I bought myself an extra large, super soft throw for the couch.  I nuzzle into the corner of the sectional with said cuddly throw, sometimes a yummy treat, and my sweet hubby.  I'm giddy with excitement and anticipation.  What sort of inappropriate HR nightmare will Michael Scott get himself into this episode? How manipulatively crass will House be as he attempts to properly diagnose a medical mystery? When will Mr. Shue find out that his wife is faking her pregnancy?  SHHHHH!!! Its starting!

And then, ::thump, thump, thump::
Pause.
"Do you hear that?"
"No. That was me tapping my foot on the couch."
"No. Sadie's awake."
"Well go check on her, then." I say, slightly annoyed at the interruption of my brain sucking session.
I feel bad that I'm annoyed so I follow Jared up the stairs just to make sure Sadie's okay.
She's got the light on, toys on her bed, and she's reading to herself.  My heart smiles and projects itself onto my face.  Jared and I look at each other beaming and head back downstairs.

We start the shows again.  A little later I hear "MAAAAAMAAAAAAAA!"  The shows are over now.
I run up the stairs and see Sadie.  "POOOO POOOO! I gotta go POO POO!!"
We go to the bathroom, handle up on business, and Jared returns her to her room while I shut things down in the kitchen.  I head up the stairs to hear laughter.  Jared and Sadie are tucked into her little bed talking and laughing.  I decide to join them and wiggle my way through the covers and jam myself between the wall and my Sadie bug. 
"Mama, you want to cuddle with me?"
"Yes!"
"I gonna be the choo choo train and we gonna go to the tunnel, right Mama?"
"Sure, Sadie!"
"Choo choooooooo"
She's smiling because she's smooshed in a love and adoration sandwich. Jared and I can't help but smile and exchange glances back and fourth when Sadie does or says something cute. 
"I love your eyebrows, Mama."
"Well, I love your nose, and your eyes, and your hair," I list off, "and your lips, and your hands, and your feet..."
"And my boogers? You love my boogers, Mama?"
We roar in laughter as we answer.
Jared says "Eweeee...boogers. No, silly."
I say "Yes, Sadie. I love your boogers too."
Somehow the thought of not loving even this child's boogers makes me feel sad.  I mean it.  I love every piece of her.  Even her boogers.  And if one day Jack asks me about his boogers, I'll tell him the same.  I love every bit of you.  EVEN the boogers.

Come to find out, my favorite part of the day isn't really my favorite part at all.  My favorite parts are all the parts that I get to love and be loved by my little family.  Nothing on TV can beat that.

California

There were three less people in our family last time Jared and I went to California for a visit back in 2006. Its hard to believe Sadie, Addison, and Jack were mere wishful thinking at the time.

Uncle Dale and Aunt Laura flew us out to visit them (and finally meet Addison!) in September. Anyone who has known me for a while has most likely heard stories of my summer/winter visits to California. And if you were listening, you probably figured out that those summers/winters hold some of the best memories of my life. Everyone should have happy places that they can retreat to and find refuge from the storms of everyday life. I am fortunate to have a couple of safe harbors where I can be myself despite any shortcoming, personality flaw, or failure. My family in California is one of my "happy places."

While there, we did lots of fun things. Of course, we didn't go there for the fun, we went there to spend time with our family. It doesn't hurt that they live in a place I'd call paradisaical, but i'd visit them if they lived in hell or even somewhere like the westbank of New Orleans (aka hell).

One of the first things we did was to visit a farm. I forgot the name, but the name didn't matter. This place was so cool! It was a working farm and you could buy what they grow at a little open-aired market at the front entrance. The pumpkins weren't up for show for a few days, but feeding the animals kept us plenty busy. Here, Jack is enjoying a pony ride.

Sadie, however, did NOT enjoy the pony. At all. Not. one. bit.
I love John Deere tractors. Not for any practical reasons, but more so for the image of being a cowgirl workin' the farm. This comes from a girl who once pointed out a horse that turned out to be a sheep. Here we see two cowgirls (Addison and Aunt Laura) workin' the farm on a mini John Deere.

Two of my cousins, Lexi and Addison.

Speaking of "fun things, Uncle Dale let Jared go for a ride in this thing. I think it goes 0 to 60 in like 3 seconds. We went to the Santa Barbara zoo while we were there. It was small, but BEAUTIFUL. The weather was perfect...not too hot, not too cold, blue skies...pacific ocean on one side, mountains on the other. They even had spa-like music playing in the background. We were able to get up close to most of the animals. Here are my two favorite monkeys:Sadie and Addison were great buddies. Where one was, the other followed. If one left, the other missed her. The air conditioning vents are in the floor of my aunt and uncle's house. Sadie thought this was quite amusing. Sadie really enjoys being outside. She'd take Addison's watering can and "water her garden" in the back yard.Jack liked to water the dogs.
We also took a trip to Disney while we were there. My cousin Cait goes to school near by and she met us there.
Little Minnie.This was the pinnacle of of the whole day. We stood in line for a very, very, long time because I knew it would be worth it to her.Waiting in line for Finding Nemo. L.A. was around 101 degrees that day, which is unusual. San Antonio was unusually cool. Of course, that's how it works, right?
Jack was pooped by the end of the day. This is how he rolled out of Disney.
It was a wonderful trip that felt waaaay too short. It took me a couple of weeks to shake the "sad to be home" blues. Thankfully, Uncle Dale, Aunt Laura, and Addison are coming to visit us here in San Antonio soon. Knowing that helped.