My friend Jamie and I were sitting in London's room the other day and playing with Barbies with our girls. We noticed that two of the dolls had on thong underwear. Are you kidding? Are we the only ones bothered by this? I have no problem with them for adults, but on a doll??? These toys are for little girls and our toddlers do NOT wear those underwear. Sorry Mattel, but a Barbie with a thong should be called "Skanky Barbie".
After we expressed our disgust, we decided to take action! We removed the outfits entirely and replaced them with different Barbie clothes that were not trashy and did not set a bad example for our three year olds. I had to alter the dress code on a few of the dolls since some were wearing half shirts, earrings and belly chains. Yikes! I just want my daughters to enjoy being little girls and free from the pressure to look and dress older for as long as possible. If that means I maim and destroy a few of the toys in the process, so be it.
On a more humorous note, London and Zoe were playing together and London grabbed a tape measure and asked Zoe if she could measure her. Zoe said "yes". London held it up to Zoe and announced "small". It was simple and sweet and totally made me laugh. After our nap today, London was asking about skunks and why tomato juice gets rid of the smell from skunk spray. It was random. Then we lay there together and pretend to draw on the ceiling with our finger and name the colors we're using out loud. She reminds me that I used to have a good imagination and helps me to dig it back out. My girls have helped me find so much happiness by living in the moment with them. I am content with a simple life where we go to the park, have a picnic, play and sing songs on the way home. That is enough for me.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Potty Humor
So I'm standing in the feminine hygiene isle at Target and both my girls are in the shopping cart consuming mass quantities of goldfish and fighting over one sippy cup of water. I'm trying to choose from the multitude of options and a lady is standing near me doing the same thing. London looks up and says "mommy, what are those?" I look at the woman, look at London, pause, and then scramble for an answer. "Umm, it's something we use to keep us clean sweetie." Seriously, what do you say??? I was laughing at this point and so was the woman next to me.
Later that day, we had to stop by the bank to deposit some checks. When we entered the front door, a bank employee offered to help us in the area with cubicles. I gratefully accepted and we sat down. London was in her Tinkerbell costume and quickly joined her sister on the floor to draw on some paper. I began my transaction and then heard an unmistakable sound. "Pfffttt!" Pfffttttt" Tinkerbell was laying on her tummy under the chair and drawing, and farting in the cubicle! "London! We don't do that here" I admonished her. Oh boy. I looked at the employee and apologized and said "she's three years old, what can I say? I'm so sorry". He started laughing and told me it was fine. Unfortunately, the smell began to permeate the small area and my degree of embarassment sharply rose. "London, that stinks!" At this point, the bank man and I are laughing out loud and cannot contain it. Tinkerbell is happily giggling now that she's relieved her tummy and Zoe is watching the entire scene.
Next installment soon...
Later that day, we had to stop by the bank to deposit some checks. When we entered the front door, a bank employee offered to help us in the area with cubicles. I gratefully accepted and we sat down. London was in her Tinkerbell costume and quickly joined her sister on the floor to draw on some paper. I began my transaction and then heard an unmistakable sound. "Pfffttt!" Pfffttttt" Tinkerbell was laying on her tummy under the chair and drawing, and farting in the cubicle! "London! We don't do that here" I admonished her. Oh boy. I looked at the employee and apologized and said "she's three years old, what can I say? I'm so sorry". He started laughing and told me it was fine. Unfortunately, the smell began to permeate the small area and my degree of embarassment sharply rose. "London, that stinks!" At this point, the bank man and I are laughing out loud and cannot contain it. Tinkerbell is happily giggling now that she's relieved her tummy and Zoe is watching the entire scene.
Next installment soon...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
London's New Adventure and Small Wars
So little London went off to her first day of dance class and of preschool this last week. I wasn't sure how either one would go but it turns out that she loves both and had no problem jumping right in. It was a relief that she adjusted well but also a sharp reminder that she is getting older and that's just tough sometimes. Little Zoe is determined to keep up with her sister and does so many things that I would never expect, like stealing her sister's glass cup and using it properly, climbing on the couch and bouncing, and wearing a purse and beads and then walking around the house saying "bye bye". It's hilarious and painful at the same time because they are growing up and the second one goes way faster.
Watching the two of them play together is pure comedy and then comes tragedy shortly after because an animal was taken or a bracelet was not shared. Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! The sound ricochets off the wood floors and echoes through the house. "Oh no, what happened now" I think to myself as I head in their direction to break up the latest quarrel. I question London and get the facts and then dispense justice accordingly. Now it is midnight I was supposed to be asleep two hours ago but this was the only time I had to record their shenanigans and fit in a little bit of my own time before we start the race again tomorrow. It's all worth it.
Watching the two of them play together is pure comedy and then comes tragedy shortly after because an animal was taken or a bracelet was not shared. Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! The sound ricochets off the wood floors and echoes through the house. "Oh no, what happened now" I think to myself as I head in their direction to break up the latest quarrel. I question London and get the facts and then dispense justice accordingly. Now it is midnight I was supposed to be asleep two hours ago but this was the only time I had to record their shenanigans and fit in a little bit of my own time before we start the race again tomorrow. It's all worth it.
A Lost Dog and a Dented Bumper...
Wow, there's a lot to catch up on. Most recently, I was attempting to assist a lost dog that I met at the playground. She was a darling boxer who followed me up the play structure and after drinking a sand pail full of water, lay happily between me and my girls near the slide. After many inquiries, I decided to put her in the back of my vehicle and take her to be scanned for a microchip in an attempt to locate her owner. She jumped right in, more readily than my own dog, and off we went.
Unfortunately, the stray did not have a chip and so I decided to return her to the park in hopes that she would find her way home or be picked up by her owner. As I backed up to leave the shelter, I heard a crunch and my heart dropped to my feet. Oh crap! I had backed into my friend's car, the friend who was kind enough to come along to help watch my kids so I could run into the shelter with this dog. My brain reeled and I could not believe what I had done. After apologizing profusely and freaking out, I told my friend that I would have my insurance fix our cars and she said not to worry about it, that her car was not a big deal. What??? She was serious and I kept telling her that I could just get it taken care of, but she meant it. At that moment, I felt like I had been given a get-out-of-jail card and was amazed at her graciousness. This is something I will always remember for the rest of my life. What an incredible gesture.
As my girls and I drove the dog back to the park, I was crying and feeling so stupid for getting myself into the whole situation. We returned the darling boxer and said goodbye and then I went home to fester over the whole thing for the rest of the day. Now I am completely paranoid about backing up my car and check everything 18 times before going. The good news is that the dog was returned to her owner the next day through an ad and her story had a happy ending.
Unfortunately, the stray did not have a chip and so I decided to return her to the park in hopes that she would find her way home or be picked up by her owner. As I backed up to leave the shelter, I heard a crunch and my heart dropped to my feet. Oh crap! I had backed into my friend's car, the friend who was kind enough to come along to help watch my kids so I could run into the shelter with this dog. My brain reeled and I could not believe what I had done. After apologizing profusely and freaking out, I told my friend that I would have my insurance fix our cars and she said not to worry about it, that her car was not a big deal. What??? She was serious and I kept telling her that I could just get it taken care of, but she meant it. At that moment, I felt like I had been given a get-out-of-jail card and was amazed at her graciousness. This is something I will always remember for the rest of my life. What an incredible gesture.
As my girls and I drove the dog back to the park, I was crying and feeling so stupid for getting myself into the whole situation. We returned the darling boxer and said goodbye and then I went home to fester over the whole thing for the rest of the day. Now I am completely paranoid about backing up my car and check everything 18 times before going. The good news is that the dog was returned to her owner the next day through an ad and her story had a happy ending.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Church Bingo
I really like going to church with my husband because we get to hear a great message and it's like free baby-sitting for an hour! Seriously, it is a nice little break except for one thing. The electronic signs on the wall that light up with numbers every so often. I'm referring to the parent notification system. When we drop our kids off at Sunday School before the service, they give us a number that we keep with us and if there's a problem, the number shows up on that digital sign I mentioned.
The first time I took them both, I was a nervous wreck and could barely focus on anything but that board. I started wondering which number was for which girl and what if I went to the wrong section and had to run to the other room to find my girls and console the one crying? Deep breaths and constant reminders that it would be ok helped a little as I tried to listen to my pastor's message. Numbers started to appear on the sign like a bingo game and I wondered if I would be next? That was a rough hour for me even though our numbers never did light up.
The next time we went it was so much better. Scott and I dropped the girls off quickly and without a lot of fuss and set off with our numbers in hand. I sat down next to him and reminded myself to enjoy this time. We had a great hour and I only periodically thought about the sign. It's like systematic desensitization for me. I guess the more you do it, the easier it gets. Same thing with kids club at the gym! Sometimes we just need that hour of personal time and have to learn to unplug from the constant management mode. Scott and I laugh now when the numbers light up and we both look at each other and say "bingo"!
The first time I took them both, I was a nervous wreck and could barely focus on anything but that board. I started wondering which number was for which girl and what if I went to the wrong section and had to run to the other room to find my girls and console the one crying? Deep breaths and constant reminders that it would be ok helped a little as I tried to listen to my pastor's message. Numbers started to appear on the sign like a bingo game and I wondered if I would be next? That was a rough hour for me even though our numbers never did light up.
The next time we went it was so much better. Scott and I dropped the girls off quickly and without a lot of fuss and set off with our numbers in hand. I sat down next to him and reminded myself to enjoy this time. We had a great hour and I only periodically thought about the sign. It's like systematic desensitization for me. I guess the more you do it, the easier it gets. Same thing with kids club at the gym! Sometimes we just need that hour of personal time and have to learn to unplug from the constant management mode. Scott and I laugh now when the numbers light up and we both look at each other and say "bingo"!
What is that smell in my car?
Yesterday we went shopping at Trader Joe's. Zoe lasted for about two minutes in the cart before protesting loudly in the food sample section and throwing her miniature pizza slice to the floor. I managed to pacify her briefly by holding her with my right arm on the hip and pushing London in the cart with my left hand and foot. Steering around corners was tricky. We checked out and just when I got Zoe buckled into the car, I realized I forgot to grind the coffee beans. Oh crap!
We all went back in and got the job done, then back to the car. London informed me she had to go potty so I buckled Zoe in a second time and then pulled out the portable potty and a plastic grocery bag to line it with. We set up shop in the bushes in front of my car and she began playing with bark while I urged her on and reminded her every two seconds that we had to hurry because the sherbet was melting in the car. I ran back and forth between re-assuring Zoe that she was fine and asking if London had pooped yet, to which she responded, "no, but it's coming". Five minutes went by and then we got our results. I closed up the bag, loaded my three year old in the car and then realized there was no trash can near us.
I put the bag of poop in my car and rolled all the windows down to offset the smell. London kept asking to roll the windows up and I kept telling her we couldn't because of the poop bag. Ick. It smelled all the way home and then we dumped it in our garbage can outside. I feel sorry for our trash collectors!
We all went back in and got the job done, then back to the car. London informed me she had to go potty so I buckled Zoe in a second time and then pulled out the portable potty and a plastic grocery bag to line it with. We set up shop in the bushes in front of my car and she began playing with bark while I urged her on and reminded her every two seconds that we had to hurry because the sherbet was melting in the car. I ran back and forth between re-assuring Zoe that she was fine and asking if London had pooped yet, to which she responded, "no, but it's coming". Five minutes went by and then we got our results. I closed up the bag, loaded my three year old in the car and then realized there was no trash can near us.
I put the bag of poop in my car and rolled all the windows down to offset the smell. London kept asking to roll the windows up and I kept telling her we couldn't because of the poop bag. Ick. It smelled all the way home and then we dumped it in our garbage can outside. I feel sorry for our trash collectors!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Moment to Daydream...
What would my alter ego be if I had one? This thought entered my mind the other day while I was picking up cottage cheese and goldfish off my kitchen floor. Would I be wild and daring or just another variance of who I am now? Black leather superhero outfits and an English manor to call home, complete with a butler that is oddly similar to Michael Caine? Hmm...I know I'm biting off Batman-the one with Christian Bale, or even Lara Croft. They are exciting and I especially love that they are incredible at martial arts. Don't get me wrong, I'd still be married to my darling husband and be mom to our girls. This is my imagination, I can do what I want here and the logistics don't apply!
There are other options that would be good too. A professional ballroom dancer with an emphasis on the latin dances. I say this because I am terrible at that sort of thing. When I say terrible, I mean completely and utterly bad to the point where it is just embarassing. I know my friend Lisy will laugh and nod her head in agreement when she reads this! I am laughing with her. The next choice is to run a ranch and raise our family among the open land and the specific smell of horses that makes me breathe deeply. I could ride every day and my husband would help put the girls on their horses as we all go out together. Riding is so peaceful and clears the mind much like surfing. Everything else fades away and it restores the soul.
Scott has mentioned living in Europe and having a flower shop, which I could totally go for. We'd live near the coast and eat fresh fish all the time and traipse up and down the cobblestone streets. Our home would have french doors that open out to a view of the coastline and gauzy white curtains that blow from the sea breeze. We would have bicycles with baskets that are parked together in the courtyard next to a fountain.
I am perfectly happy to stay in our little home that we have created in California. I was reminded during the fires a few years ago that it didn't matter where we were as long as we were together. It's just fun to imagine what else we could do if we ever wanted to live somewhere else. Do other people think about this too? It would be interesting to hear responses on this one.
There are other options that would be good too. A professional ballroom dancer with an emphasis on the latin dances. I say this because I am terrible at that sort of thing. When I say terrible, I mean completely and utterly bad to the point where it is just embarassing. I know my friend Lisy will laugh and nod her head in agreement when she reads this! I am laughing with her. The next choice is to run a ranch and raise our family among the open land and the specific smell of horses that makes me breathe deeply. I could ride every day and my husband would help put the girls on their horses as we all go out together. Riding is so peaceful and clears the mind much like surfing. Everything else fades away and it restores the soul.
Scott has mentioned living in Europe and having a flower shop, which I could totally go for. We'd live near the coast and eat fresh fish all the time and traipse up and down the cobblestone streets. Our home would have french doors that open out to a view of the coastline and gauzy white curtains that blow from the sea breeze. We would have bicycles with baskets that are parked together in the courtyard next to a fountain.
I am perfectly happy to stay in our little home that we have created in California. I was reminded during the fires a few years ago that it didn't matter where we were as long as we were together. It's just fun to imagine what else we could do if we ever wanted to live somewhere else. Do other people think about this too? It would be interesting to hear responses on this one.
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