2 More Conversations, Olympics, and more

Convo #1: I am snuggling Tanner after he woke up from his nap, rocking him in front of a sunshine filled window. I am having a "mommy moment" thinking how sweet this is, how cute he is and how much he is growing.
He tells me, "Boobs warm, boobs soft." and snuggles in tighter with a grin on his face, closes his eyes, and sighs. Men.

We have been loving the Olympics this week. We watched every night. Jeff and I have stayed up late to watch all the skating, skiing, and snowboarding. I need to figure out when the bobsledding and luge events are because I really want to watch them. The summer games don't ever really draw me in. But there is something about these winter events that I can't get enough.

Convo #2: Enjoying the games with Annika. Watching the highlights of Shaun White's gold medal runs (which I loved seeing the night before) and watching the women's snowboard event. I ask Annika the daredevil if this is something she would want to do. She replies, "Yeah, they go really fast, and the tricks look really fun. But I wouldn't use a board like that. Mine would be bright orange with black skulls on it." OK. Planning big she is...going for her own lines first. I love that she is that way.

Phoebe got her progress report yesterday. I am so proud of her. She is way above average for reading and spelling. There was a note that she should get individualized help to encourage her. She is making homework way to easy for me. She brings home her vocab lists to read and spell and does it perfectly the first time. We don't practice. I would love if the other two are this easy, but I'll probably have to get my act together and work with someone on this stuff. But for now I am basking in the glow of my oldest's talents.

We went to the zoo last Monday. I am here to say, I like the zoo in winter. We bundled up and packed our lunches. Very few people were there. Most of Brookfield is inside buildings so we just walked from one to another and kept very very warm. It was a great day. I didn't have any babysitting kids. So it was great to spend just the day with my lovely children. An excellent memory.

I'm FINE

Me: How is your diaper.
T: FINE!
Me: Do you want some juice?
T: I'm fine.
Me: What are you playing with that toy?
T: It's fine.
T: Dad-da fine. Bee-bee fine. fine water. Da-ka fine. Mama fine?
Me: Yes mama is fine. I now realize how often I say fine.
T: FIIIINE!!!!! .....Da-ka naughty.
Me: Oh really?
T: (nods head vigorously) Da-ka naughty. Me fine!

February 4th

Just a few thoughts from today...
1. Our entire family just spent an hour recording sound bites into a play microphone and listening to them in fast forward to sound like chipmunks and then rolling on the floor laughing.
2. Tanner stole a box of floss to suck on...Miiiint.
3. I babysat four two year old boys for the first time today and it went well.
4. I really really like to vacuum.
5. Jeff's homemade cherry wine is very good.
There you go.

NIcole

On facebook everyone has been doing urban dictionary entries for their name. I was curious but skeptical. As I have been reflecting on my past and my self for awhile now I was afraid I would find evidence to support my thoughts. I was expecting selfish, naiive, contrary, spineless, over confident, ugly toad. But I found this:
A Nicole is someone who is ominipotent. A Nicole is gorgeous, intelligent, mysterious, witty, hilarious, out-going, creative and seductive, yet she is also tough, street-smart, experienced, brave, enduring, and mainly a wonderful mother. Nothing and nobody can compare to a Nicole in any aspect. Mess with a Nicole, or her family, and you will regret ever being born.
I would personally like to thank whoever paid urban dictionary to write such things. Although I can still see how that definition could point to less than desirable traits, I appreciate the effort to cheer people, mainly myself (the selfish part).
Now I will look up my other family members.

Riiiight

Tanner never did say yes, he'd just nod his head. But now he says "Right." And he drawls it out in this little monotone. It is hilarious. I laugh every single time. So does everyone who hears it. Here is a little clip...

Caroling

My sweet sparkle princess is still in bed this Sunday morning. But she has been up for quite awhile. Singing. She has been singing every Christmas song she knows this morning in her sweet little voice and is trying to teach Annika all of them. It is one of the happiest ways to wake up ever. Their excitement for Christmas is so fun this year. I love that they love all of the processes and fun extras.
They have been waking up on weekends before me consistently this fall. They like to make me cereal and pour me juice and bring it to me to wake me up. They get very excited about this as well. And are quite proud of themselves, and for good reason. They hardly ever have any messes. Now we are trying to work on that they make breakfast for themselves and THEN me. :)

disappearing acts

See I already forgot. I had a better title. I had more interesting stuff. It's gone-O. Along with all of my chocolate, my book of phone numbers, the list I made of all the stuff I have to get done this week, my new black cardigan, my fave sunglasses, my fave screwdriver, the cord to the computer so I can upload photos, and my hopes of ever being on top of it all again. If only I had the chocolate.

Does this have anything to do with the fact that I am working more, planning more, and trying to do more every day? Does it mean I am trying to do too much? Maybe. But I don't know what I could cut out, because the reality is that I actually want to add more. As each one of us adds more activities, they all seem to drain on me. But time itself is pulling a disappearing act on me.

As are my babies. Where have they gone? I have these KIDS now. It hit me the other morning as they all put on their own shoes (even the Tan man!) and walked their little selves out to the van ahead of me to take Phebes to school. As I followed them, I truly saw them. Not a baby in the bunch. And yet they are. They always will be.

Tanner said, "Das mah mom," pointing at me the other day. First sentence. Made my heart melt. Phoebe cried that I went to work and she went to dance tonight. Annika has crawled in bed with me the last two nights. Yes, they are my babies. I guess as long as I can find that, who cares where my lists are.

But I still need to find the chocolate.