Mouth of Babes...

At dinner, E was sharing that the new neighbor kids had to go home b/c they were heading over to their dad's for a few days. She explained to me that their parents are divorced and that they don't even have to take their toothbrushes when they go over to their dad's b/c he already has everything they need. She then asked, "Why do moms & dads get divorced, anyway?"

I said, "Well, there are lots of reasons. Sometimes it's because they fight all the time and can't be nice to each other. Sometimes it's because one of them has an addiction to something like drugs or alcohol." She interrupted here and said, "Or, to, ummmm, wait a minute, what's that called? Ummm, it's like Chuck E. Cheese's...oh yeah, gambling!"

Why she connects CEC to gambling I have no idea, but since we've never been there (and I don't intend to start) I didn't clarify.

I continued, "Or sometimes it's because the mom or the dad goes out and gets a girlfriend or boyfriend, and you can't do that if you're married." M burst into laughter. When I asked what was so funny she said, "Daddy could NEVER get a girlfriend!" I said, "Oh, and do you think I could get a boyfriend?" "No way, Mom! You're too OLD!"

I tried to salvage the discussion by assuring them that they are forever stuck with two parents who have every intention of being together always, but I think I lost them...

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Seattle Center - December 09

As we were looking for some amusement over the holidays, we realized that if we bought an annual pass to the Pacific Science Center, our family would only have to go one and a half times to pay for it. Sold! Of course it's a bit of a commute, and there's parking to find, but we're adventurous like that. ;) We've been twice since December. Here is our first trip:

The dinos just make me laugh. I remember seeing them for the first time on our 8th grade trip to Seattle about 100 years ago, and I thought they were SO COOL. They've got some serious staying power, though, b/c our girls are just as enamored with them as I was back in the day.

P sat here w/the girls and said, "Hey, E, this is what the world is like for you, huh?!" It does create a little more empathy for the kid who can't keep her dangling feet still at dinner...

Love the Butterfly House!

P kept accusing me of acting like a tourist and taking way too many pictures,

but hey, you gotta admit, these are some pretty cool pics...

Documenting the Love

Children of mine, sometimes your mom is pretty dense. After all kinds of (strong) hints, I finally realized that when you ask if I've "blogged anything lately?" you're not just asking what's on this website, but essentially, if I love you enough to want to document and share our family's life with the people we love. Duh.

So, I am resolved to do some catching up - and more importantly - some keeping up! Let's start with Valentine's Day...

E and I had fun coming up with this outfit for the occasion (after I explained what it meant to be dressing for the occasion). She was a little disappointed that she seemed to be the only first grader in her class to dress thematically for the holiday, but she sure enjoyed the compliments!

(And yes, this is our front porch. Can you tell how much the girls love to tromp around outside? We're prepared for just about any outdoor adventure that involves water, mud, sticks, rocks, and/or shells...along w/a healthy dose of imagination!)

M chose to go a more subtle red w/sparkly heart route. As a cool 5th grader, can't say that I blame her. And look at that hair! I must've forgotten to tame it w/some product that morning. Remind you of anyone in the '80's or early '90's? ;)

Now this just cracks me up! I said, "How 'bout a kiss for the camera?!" thinking one of them would smack the other on the cheek...you gotta be careful what you ask for with these two!

Thrilled to be Average

If there's one thing I can point to as evidence of my good mothering, it's that my family has never eaten dinner around the television. Yes, I'll let the girls "picnic" there for lunch sometimes, but dinner? Out of the question.

As we were heading out to pick up our pizza tonight (c'mon, give me a break...I worked two whole days in a row, and besides, it's on sale) I said, "When we get home, let's get some soda out of the garage. And then I just want to sit down." E chimed in, "And watch tv?!" And I said, "Sure. Happy Friday."

The girls immediately started clapping, shrieking, and jumping up and down. M exclaimed, "Are you serious?! You mean you're telling me we're going to eat pizza and drink pop and watch tv just like an average American family?!?"

I laughed and laughed at that girl. And it felt almost as good as sitting down did...

For My Age

I promise I will stop posting things people say about my age, getting older, etc etc. But this one...

I was visiting outside our home with our church's young missionaries yesterday afternoon. Our neighbor girl came out to walk her dog & I introduced them. After she left, they asked, "How old is she?" I said, "A freshman - 14 or 15, I guess." The newest Elder said, "Oh, wow. For a second there I thought you meant a freshman in college. High school just seems like such a long time ago."

I couldn't help but laugh. I mean, really? A whole year, maybe two, has gone by since you graduated?! I said, "Oh yeah. Tell me about it. I bet you were born the year I graduated from high school." And yeah, pretty much, they were. This same Elder looks at me, squints his eyes and says, "How old are you?!" "36." "36?! Wow! I would have never guessed that! You hide your age really well!"

What. The. Heck?! I couldn't do anything but laugh and make a joke about how I just act immature so I seem younger. But really? Just how old & decrepit am I supposed to look at 36? I wasn't offended - it was just funny how your perspective changes as we age. I remember being younger and hearing someone died at 65 and thinking, "Well, at least they had a long, good life." Now, I gasp - that's way too young to die! So I get where he's at in his head...but it still made me laugh!

Pretty

This morning, M gave me a big hug and said, "Mom, you must've been a really pretty teenager." Laughing, I responded, "Oh, and I'm not pretty now?" (And in that moment, in my pj's and glasses, not so much).

"Well, yeah, you are, for an old lady, that is."

That stinker. :)