Happy Halloween (and a late WWW)

I got to spend a wonderful five days with the family in College Station to celebrate Kidd's birthday and for some work training.  What a treat!  Tuesday night, we went to a Halloween party and I got to see the kids in their costumes, which was nice since I'm not getting to trick or treat with them tonight.  So, I bring you my version of Halloween 2013.  Presenting Minnie Mouse and Power Ranger Mega Force.

In other news that I didn't get to post last night because I got back late and was dog tired--  a Wednesday's Winning Words:

Like most parents, I sing to my kids.  And like most kids, they tolerate it.  Mine are still young enough to let me most of the time, even ask for it.  Amazing Grace is a song I have always sung to them (who doesn't?).  Well, now that Delaney really knows her middle name is Grace, she is absolutely certain the song is about her so she requests is almost every night.  By itself, I find this adorable.  To top it off, the other night when I was putting the kids to bed, when Delaney asked me to sing it, Justus chimed in with "...and then can you sing Amazing Hayden?"  Poor kid wants a song about him too.  Oh, how I wish in that moment I had more of a creative spirit so that I could have impromptu come up with a tune and lyrics to satisfy his request.

Wednesday's Winning Words: The cure for temper tantrums

I am not even kidding, y'all, I have found. the. cure.  I have a guaranteed method for bringing 2 year olds and 6 year olds alike, out of a full-blown, mid-scream, tears-down-the-face, I-hate-the-world-when-I-don't-get-my-way temper tantrum.  It's 5 simple words:  "What does the fox say?"

I don't know if you have heard that song, What Does the Fox Say?  but if you have not, you MUST immediately drop everything and check it out.  If you have small children, have them watch with you.  It is awesomely bad to adults, but once a kid hears it, it is kryptonite to the common temper tantrum.  Now, to be truly effective mid-hissy fit, you must say it loudly, in the rhythm of the "music" and then be prepared to say what the band says the fox might say (or some variation thereof).  Because, well, that's the best part to a child.  Silly dancing helps too, but that should come as no surprise.

You are welcome.

If, by chance, you are as enraptured by this Swedish group and want to hear more, like a certain part-Swedish person I know and happened to be married to, a great deal of entertainment (although NOT for kids) was derived from Meaning of Stonehenge.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Relocation Edition

As you know by now, we are moving.  So, we have spent quite a bit of time trying to prep the kids for it, even though they aren't really going permanently for a few more months.  Justus has his days--sometimes there are tears and sometimes there are cheers.  We're working on getting him excited about it.  Lately, he's asked a lot about the school mascot and sports teams.  When I went last week, he asked me to pick him up a few things because,

"I'm excited about becoming a Hyena, mommy!!"

He LOVED his hat and pennant, but I just need him to remember they are the Javelinas, not the Hyenas (they sound the same to a 6 year old).  I'm giving him a break.  He's only known the Aggies and Tigers until now. 

 

And, as for Delaney....she thinks we are moving to "KingsBell."  It's really precious to hear her say it.  I've corrected her once or twice, but not too much because I love the way she says it.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Toddler Lyrics

To say that Delaney's vocabulary has taken off would be the understatement of the century.  Regularly, she says things that make me just stop and wonder what happened to my 2 year old and when she suddenly became a teenager.  It's frightening, sometimes.  Really.  My favorite thing lately is that she sings in the car.  Constantly.  And if she doesn't like the song I have on the radio (that I may or may not be singing along to), she will sing louder, as if to prove a point.  Yeah, it's cute.  For now.  So, I thought it would be fun to share with you a few of Delaney's lyrics to some of our favorites.  Feel free to sing along in your head.  You know you can't help yourself.

The Alphabet Song: "...LMNOP, 2RS, TUV..."

Row Your Boat:  "Wo, Wo, Wo your boat, gently down the street..."  Poor girl--we don't have streams, here in this part of Texas.  Can you blame her for getting that one wrong?

Jingle Bells (I think I've mentioned this is a year-round favorite for her):  "Shingle Bells Shingle Bells, Shingle all the way.  Oh what fun it is to ride. HEY!"  That's the entirety of the song, as far as she is concerned.

This must be the early version of that e-card I keep seeing about that awkward moment when you are singing a song you've known since you were a kid and you suddenly understand the lyrics.  I love that she enjoys music so much.  She is constantly bobbing her head to whatever is on the radio and she's now taken to just putting our everyday phrases into song.  It definitely makes me more cognizant of what I'm saying.

And since I've been depriving everyone of pictures lately, and since we're on the subject of Delaney, here are a few recent pics of her.  Don't even talk to me about how grown up she looks.  I know and it's breaking my heart.

Playing dress up at G-Daddy's and Darla's

 

 Playground time!!

Wednesday's Winning Words

Sometimes we just dig in our heels when it comes to our kids.  And sometimes, it's not the right time to do it, but it's done so you can't go back.  You KNOW you know what I'm talking about.  So, yesterday was the day that my husband decided that Justus needed to watch the news in the morning, rather than whatever cartoon he wanted to watch (like he does every. other. day).  Yep, yesterday....the day after the EF-5 tornado reigned down and destroyed Moore, Oklahoma.  The day that the news was still talking about 24 children missing and 91 people dead.  That was the day he thought Justus needed to watch and learn about what was going on in the world.  Now, I agree that it's not a bad idea for kids to watch the news from time to time and I even understand that he was wanting to watch it, so for Justus to change the station would have meant that he couldn't keep up with what was happening. 

What neither of us was thinking about at the time is what that meant for me in taking Justus to school that morning.  It is a short one-mile trip from our house to where I drop him off for school.  Usually, it's a mile filled with whatever song Justus wants to listen to, and made up stories of Jedi Knights or warrior ninjas.  Yesterday, it was literally one of the most excruciating one-mile trips of my life.  So many questions, and because of our "daily grind," so little time.

"Mommy, did God make the tornado that destroyed all those homes in Oklahoma?"

 

"Mommy, why did God let all those people get killed?"

"Mommy, did you see that there are still 24 people they can't find?  Are they under all that trash?  Why did God do that?  Did he just mess up and make a mistake?...."

With the little bit of time I had, we talked about God's plan and how we don't understand it but have to have faith in it and you have to see Him in the aftermath rather than in the midst of the tragedy.  But seriously, how do you get a 6 year old to buy into that?  You would think, having experienced the death of a parent at his very same age, and somehow finding my way back to God, that I could explain these things to him.  I have never felt more useless as a parent.  All I could do after he left the car, seemingly satisfied with my answers, was get teary and pray that God would provide me with the words to answer and comfort my child(ren) when these horrible tragedies, which seem to occur all too often these days, happen and strike his heart.  I wanted to sit and talk with him for however long it took to get him to understand, but maybe the beauty of the moment was that is was just that--a moment.  One brief chance to hit the overall theme and then let him go on his way and either think about it more or not.  How much more explanation would have sunk in anyway?  I am certain had I had more time, it would have been much too overwhelming or he would have just tuned out. 

There are so many tough parenting moments and often, like yesterday, they just strike out of nowhere.  We want to be able to make the most of a teaching moment, but it's just not always possible.  Let us understand that, not beat ourselves up about it, and continue to do the best we can.  After all, we are all just fine and we know our parents didn't always have the right answers...

Wednesday's Winning Words: First date

I don't mean to sound like a high schooler, but I have to say that I am pretty excited about my date tonight!!  The good news is that my date is excited too, albeit a bit nervous, I think.

The Chick Fil A restaurant near our house is hosting a mother-son Date KNIGHT tonight in homor of Mother's Day, so Justus and I are going after taekwondo.  It's his first "official" date.  We had to make a reservation and there will be table side service.  Be jealous.  Pictures will should follow.

This morning, I reminded him about it and he reminded me that he knew he had to have a good day at school AND taekwondo to get to go.  He got very excited and asked me "Is it a real date?  Like the ones I will go on with my girlfriend???"  I said "Yes, it's a real date and maybe one day when you are older and have a girlfriend, you will go on dates with her too."  to which he replied, "but, I already have a girlfriend!  Addison."

PARDON ME???  As I picked my heart up off the floor, he gleefully rushed off to feed the dogs.  When he came back in, he said "Mom, this is the most excited I've been about a date in my whole life.  I love you!"  Heart mended.  Happy day!

Wednesday's Winning Words

I know, I haven't blogged in awhile and this is totally the easy way out, but this has stuck with me since yesterday so I just had to share.  I said that every now and then I would share winning words by other people, so count this as one of those.

So very creepy.  And yet, hilarious!  Kids say the darndest things, don't they??


Creepiest things a child has ever said:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattbellassai/the-creepiest-things-a-child-has-ever-said-to-a-parent

Wednesday's Winning Words: Run for Boston

                                 
Monday during prayers, Justus said "...and please help the people who set off the bombs in Boston and don't let them hurt any more people."  Afterward, I told him that was a very nice thing to pray for and he told me "I don't like that all those people got hurt, mommy."  I know baby, me either.

I'm not even going to go into my thoughts and feelings about this whole thing, in part because I still haven't wrapped my mind around it.  The horrors of the mind that envisions setting of bombs to harm as many people as possible at the end of what is supposed to be an achivement of human perseverence... What I do know is that the innocence of a child's perspective always just hits me in the pit of my stomach.  They have no filter and are not yet jaded.  It's beautiful!

I ran for Boston this morning!  Unfortunately, since I have to run so early, I was alone; but I wore my blue and did it anyway!  I hope you consider being a part of this neat event.  Even if you are not a runner, just go to a local one and show support.   After events like this, people always question, "What's happening to humanity?"  My hope is that we see the humanity in the response, rather than looking at the tragedy as a means to question it.  Don't get me wrong--I am more than fearful about what has become an unfortunately more common occurrence (efforts to do mass damage), but I choose to focus on the goodness of people and how we pull together when something like this happens.  It is really amazing!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Run-For-Boston-417/613135315380603?fref=ts

Wednesday's Winning Words: Life as we know it

So, my morning (once I got to work) went a little something like this:

As a follow up to something that happened late yesterday, I call client university president.  He isn't there, but I'm told he will return my call shortly.

Wait patiently in my office so as to not miss important call from said university president, who I know is an incredibly busy person.  If I miss the call, it may not happen again today.  And this call must happen before I leave town this afternoon.

Cell phone rings.  It's the daycare.  My thought:  "Crap, Delaney bit someone again and is about to get kicked out of daycare..."  I answer anyway.  Just as I hear Katy say "Hi, it's Katy," the office phone rings.  "Katy, can I call you right back? I've been waiting for this call that just came in. Mkay, thanks, bye."

Talk to university president about very important university business.  I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you.  And then I'd lose both my job and my freedom, so it's not worth it.  Sorry.  We had a good 10-15 minute talk, and solved all the world's problems (or so I thought).

Called daycare back immediately because I can envision my either ill or troubled child sitting in Ms. Katy's office:  "Ok, Katy, sorry.  Had to get that.  What's up, is everything ok with Delaney?"
Katy:  Yes, Delaney has some good new she wanted to share, so let me put her on speaker..."

Delaney (in a very unlike her soft, whispered voice):  "I tee tee potty, Mommy.."

me: YAY!!!!!  My big girl tee-tee'd in the potty.  I'm so happy..."

The celebratory conversation of the event (with details you don't want to hear) with Delaney and Katy continued for a couple of minutes...

As soon as I hang up, with a huge smile on my face because Delaney FINALLY went on the potty at school, I click that I need to get down the hall to my boss to discuss my previous conversation of the morning.  Not the one about the potty.

This is my life....giving advise to high level administrators and celebrating potty successes all within the matter of five minutes.  And, I wouldn't want it any other way.

I know so many women who engage in this dual life of outside the home work & parenting, and we don't think anything of it because it truly just is life as we know it.  But, every now and then, something like this morning happens that when I step back and look at it, I gain a little more perspective of how fortunate we are to be able to both do what we love and have what we love at the same time.  It is hard.  Every day, it is hard.  But the rewards from both adventures are bountiful, and I am so thankful to God for my many blessings which include both work and a family.  It's easy to get frustrated in the day to day of either (or both) work and/or life, but I aim to focus more on celebrating the good fortune of having both and for being a better person because of both.  Every woman has to do what is right for her when it comes to deciding whether to be a stay at home mother or work, and I don't judge.  We are not all cut from the same cloth, and the world needs us both.  I am a better parent because I work.  I also think I'm better at my job because of my family.  At this point, I could not imagine giving up either.  I am truly blessed and look forward to many more days of this life as I know it!  I just hope that more strike me as being as humorous as today did.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Spoiler alert

  This is a cautionary tale of what happens when someone spoils your child and then leaves you to deal with it.  I'm talking to you, Ms Shanon!

It's been warm lately and Delaney has adjusted to the flip flop/sandals with the thing between the toes (unlike last year when she screamed when I put them on her).  So, she wanted to wear some of her new sandals to school the other day.  I obliged. 

Me:  Delaney, I love your new sandals.  They are so pretty!

D:  Pretty shoes, Mommy?! 

PAUSE as she looks quizzically down at her feet....

D:  My toes not painted, mommy....

sad face

D:  MY TOES NOT PAINTED, MOMMY!

D:  Ms. Shanon paint my toes???

Me:  Delaney,  you are two.  It is acceptable for you to wear sandals without toenail polish.

D:  My toes not painted, mommy....

Still the sad face, as she walks in confusion to another room. 

She wore the shoes anyway, but it was touch and go there for awhile.  Apparently, she continued to make an issue of it for the duration of the day, because her sweet teacher, Ms. Syeda, offered for us to bring the polish to school and she would paint her toes during nap time!  This kid has the whole world wrapped around one of those little pinkies.

Wednesday's Winning Words

I am without children for a few days, but fortunately I have a two-fer for you in the way of Winning Words.

Monday night, after Taekwondo, we went out to dinner.  As we are sitting there getting everyone everything they needed, Justus blurts out, "Mom....tell me what you want, what you really, really want." a la Spice Girls, circa late 1990s.  After I collected myself from the laughter, I said "I want to know where you heard that."  He said a friend he had played with a Spring Break camp that day had shared it with him.  It was a friend he's had for years (literally, since he was 1), so I texted the mom the next morning so we could share the laugh.  She said her son heard it from a cousin and swore the cousin made it up.  Thankfully for iTunes, she was able to quickly demonstrate that the key phrase was made famous by a great little girl group from the other side of the pond. 

I love when our kids take an interest in music that was meaningful to us at some point in our lives before kids.  We had a similar experience when Justus was VERY into Disney's Cars.  If you have kids, you know that Life is a Highway is the theme song.  I heard the Tom Cochrane gem at summer camp years ago and knew it well.  All of the sudden, here was my son begging me to play it over and over again in the car as he belted it out.  Old memories revisited, all the while making new ones.


Originally, this post was going to stop there.  Then yesterday happened.  Justus was riding to Taekwondo with a friend, so I needed to grab Delaney and get her there to meet them before it was over.  As you can tell, we spend quite a bit of time there.  Twice a week to be exact.  So, Delaney and I pull up to the building, and she immediately starts yelling and pointing "Justus go Hi-ya in there, Hi-ya, Hi-ya..." while simultaneously, throwing front punches and kicking her legs.  She was getting into it!!  Aaahh, my little ninja in the making.  She may be out on that floor before we know it.  Daddy couldn't have been happier---a daughter as a black belt?  Go ahead and try to make a move on her.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Parental Advisory Warning

Justus got his first "incident report" from Kids Klub (school district after school program) last Friday.  On the one hand, I am shocked and thrilled that it took him until March to obtain said report. On the other, I'm a little floored at the nature of the report.  It lends itself to both an opportunity to share a funny story and ask for input from my parent friends.

So, Friday, the Kids Klub counselor approached me with her duplicate form report and said, "Ms. Royal....we had a little incident today.  Justus said the word penis."  She practically whispered it.  I think my response was displeasing to her because when I simply said "ok," (as if to say, "and?") she said, even more hushed, "and other kids heard him." The horror.  I am certain my response at that point was displeasing because as I *kindly* took the report and signed it and gave her back her yellow copy while retaining my white one, I said "Here's the thing:  We teach actual names of body parts in our family because if someone were to, heaven help them, go all Jerry Sandusky on my kids, I want them to be able to report to the authorities what ACTUAL body part was impermissibly affected without using the cute-sy, less offensive, pet name for said body part.  Why did he say PENIS?  Was he injured there? Was it hurting him?  What would you prefer he call it?  Never mind, I will just teach him that at Kids Klub, he must point to it and call it his private part because that is deemed less offensive.  I'm sorry if other kids heard him, but they do in fact have them and I doubt they've never heard it before."  Visibly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken, she went on to nervously tell me that "It's not a Kids Klub-appropriate word."  Noted.  About that time, Justus walked up, and knowing that he had a playdate scheduled for that night, had a sad look on his face and asked me if he was in trouble.  I told him that no, he was not in trouble for calling a body part exactly what it is!

Now, before you get all worked up about us allowing our child to walk around saying "penis" at his discretion, we did discuss why he said it and that it was probably an unnecessary part of the conversation.  We also talked about the public's general sensitivity to the word and how, although he wasn't in trouble with us for using the word, we would prefer that he only use it when necessary.  Also, we clarified that he would be in trouble if it happened again at Kids Klub or school because now we know it is a rule that he should not say it there.  The trouble would be for not following the rules. 

And for the record, he does not go around just talking about it. 

But, this all raises a question--do you believe that young elementary-age kids (K-2nd) should have alternate names that are "more appropriate" for their "private" body parts or do you teach your kids the real name.  Either way, what is your reason?  Clearly, I have an opinion, but I definitely want to hear different people's perspectives on the issue.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Teen hormones are awesome

 

 

Today's entry of winning words comes to you from *Joe.

 

From our local paper's daily front page short:

 

Like my friend, Dana, said:  "aaahh, spoken like a true walking hormone."  How old do you think this kid is?  14?  15?  I would LOVE it if my kid did this.  I would immediately cut it out of the paper and save it to share with him when he turns 30....and just stand back and watch as the horror washes over his face when he recalls such a damn-I-am-so-awesome moment.  Yeah, because I'm that kind of mom!  Don't ya just love teenagers?!?

This begs the question--do you recall some moment in your quest for adulthood where you thought you were being awesome, and now upon reflection, it is an immediate palm-to-forehead moment with a resounding "Why?" in the background?

*As in Joe Cool. Someone get this kid a Camel Light. I don't remember what his name is and I cut it off so as not to...well, I don't really know why. I mean, it was on the FRONT PAGE of the local newspaper.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Late, but totally worth it

Clutter.  Clutter.  Clutter.

Nope, not just making noise.  I feel like it is my state of existence.  Stuff everywhere!!!

One of the things that is keeping me so busy these days is that we are working to de-clutter our house to make it appealing (and seemingly roomier) to would-be buyers! PS--if you or anyone you know is looking for a lovely 4/3 in a nice CS neighborhood, give me a shout!  Kidd and I spent the weekend (thanks, Maurcie for wrangling the littles all weekend) clearing out.  By the end of the weekend (NOT the end of our task) we had a 12x6 trailer full of stuff to take to storage and bags upon bags to go to the Junior League's Bargain Blitz or the shelter.  I am enormously proud of the work we did, but it hardly looks like we made a dent.  Except in the garage, which looks amazing!  Kidd did awesome.  Wouldn't it be nice if I had pictures to show you?  Sorry, I put my camera away in it's place and then forgot to use it for anything.

Anyway, this leads me to my post for today.  No smarmy kid remarks, sorry, but an article that is totally worth reading, especially if you are one like me who is feeling overwhelmed at all the stuff you have. A new perspective is always refreshing.  I don't think I am ready yet to live by the quoted William Morris’ maxim, “Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” but it is certainly a worthy goal.  One that I think will remain in the back of my mind to work toward at the earliest possible opportunity.  I love  Houzz.com.  I could literally spend hours just perusing pictures, but they have great articles too with enormous insight.  So, I hope you enjoy this one.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6079745/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u228&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery2

Wednesday's Winning Words

I have been on this unintended, yet self-imposed hiatus from most social media and it's killing me...but not as much as the time vacuums that are keeping me from it--you know, work, life, meetings, etc.  Regardless, know that I am working on re-entry, but it is a slow process.  If only I could quit everything else and surf the web and write all day....but then I wouldn't have much to write about, I guess.  Anyway, I couldn't pass up a quick opportunity to share Justus' latest obsession with you all.

A few weeks ago, we were discussing his spring sporting activities.  We have a rule--one sport per season per kid.  This obviously doesn't affect Delaney yet, but it matters to me that we set the ground rules on this issue early.  I refuse to have kids spread all over the place all the time, any more than it will already happen.  So, here's how it went down:

Me:  Justus, do you want to do spring soccer, basketball, t-ball....?
J:  Mom, I'm going to be a ninja.  I NEED ninja training!

So, I present to you, the world's newest ninja-in-training.

 

And little sister, "Ninjina" (according to brother Ninja)

 

Now, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but after 2.5 weeks at 2 lessons a week, he still loves it and is convinced it is his life's work preparation (although you wouldn't be able to tell based on the way he acts in class), SOOOO, if you are in need of a ninja in, say, about 13 years, you now know who to call.

Wednesday's Winning Words

I know I should go into a long explanation of why it's been so long since I've posted, but basically there are two words:  work, vacation.  Combined, it just didn't allow for blog updating.  My apologies, but I'm trying to get back in the saddle.  I hope to get pictures posted soon.

As you can imagine, there's been a lot of talk about college football in our house lately.  Justus is still determined to be an LSU Tiger.  When we ask him why, he has come up with various reasons....but most often comes back to "they beat the Aggies."  Harumph.  We expect to resolve that issue in the fall of next year.

Yesterday on the way home from school, he said he was going to go to LSU, but would live in Texas.  We discussed the logistics of that a bit and why that might be difficult even with the advances in online distance learning, and then he followed up with, "Mommy, does Louisiana have a LegoLand?  I'm not sure if I can go to LSU if there's not a LegoLand near there.  I guess I could go there and then come back to Texas to go to LegoLand.  When I get big, I'm going to go to LegoLand all the time."  He also pointed out that he would buy all the Legos that we didn't buy when we were there in December. 

I can't wait until he's 18 and I get to tell him about how he was determining his college choice based on its proximity to a LegoLand!

**On a side note--his trip to LegoLand was intended as an added bonus to the NorthPole Express adventure weekend.  I guess we see what carried more weight.  He hasn't mentioned the NorthPole Express more than a time or two since we went.  Hmmm....

Wednesday's Winning Words

I swear, after this week is over (and I get pictures from Shanon, *ahem*) I will do a post recapping Princess's birthday party.  But, for today, this will have to suffice.

Last night, we had soup for dinner and I am trying to use up plastic wear that we had left over from the party, so I pulled down the bag with the utensils from Saturday.  Delaney was standing there and as I pulled out the pink spoons, she pointed to them and started saying singing:

"Happy Day to Me!" 

"Happy Day to Me!" 

"Happy Day to Me!"

"Happy Day to Me!"

"Happy Day to Me!"

"Happy Day to Me!"

 

 

 

I guess she liked her party. 

Wednesday's Winning Words: Picket Fence

Picket Fence Teeth, that is.

 

That's right, the FIRST TOOTH!

 

Justus was so excited, and has been talking for days about this first tooth coming out.  It's been loose for some time.  The one right next to it is loose too, but that's only almost as exciting.  This morning (since I was gone last night), he tells me The Story of How it Happened.

 

Justus:  Mommy, I was at lunch and was eating my orange skin...

 

Me:  Wait, why were you eating the orange skin?  You know that's not to eat.

 

J:  Well, because I wanted my tooth to come out.

 

M:  Oh, ok.  So you've just been going around chewing on hard things the past couple of days in effort to get that tooth out {reflecting on the fact that I noticed he packed a fruit roll up for his snack on Monday}?

 

J:  Uh huh.  THEN, when it came out, I went to the nurses office and she put it in a special case, and took my picture for the tooth wall, and was really excited for me too! (Kudos to the school for making a big deal over lost teeth!)

 

It was precious how excited he was.  So, the picket fence teeth begin in the Royal household and we have one very excited little boy.  Thanks for the input on Tooth Fairy's current payout, Facebook friends!  Some of you have a VERY generous Tooth Fairy.  We settled on a note from the tooth fairy, sugar free chewing gum, and $5.  First tooth only, the rest will each earn $1 gold coin.

 

*  For those that can't see the picture enlarged, the note from the tooth fairy says:

"While you were sleeping, I came in the night.

Under your pillow was a marvelous sight.

Your very first tooth had come unstuck.

Keep it forever, it will bring you good luck."

 

Thank you, Pinterest.

Wednesday's Winning Words

We are super fortunate to have Miss Shanon who, on most days, picks up Delaney and gets her home for me.  This leaves only Justus for me to pick up.  Less rush = happy mom!  On Mondays, Shanon helps out another awesome family, so I get both kids.  It's the least I can do, right?  As such, Delaney goes with me to get Justus from his after school program.  The girl counselors at Kids Klub are In. Love. with Delaney.  They get so excited to see her coming.  On Monday, Miss Heather was hugging on her and jokingsly asked Justus if she could take Delaney home for Thanksgiving for a few days.  Justus dutifully denied her request, noting that Delaney was his sister and she needed to come with us.

Yesterday, when I went to pick him up, he asked me if Delaney was with me.  I told him no, that Miss Shanon was bringing her home, and he says "But Mommy, she's going to go home with Miss Heather for Thanksgiving.  You need to go get her!"

 

So much for brotherly love.

 

 

We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!!  I am thankful for each of you and for the opportunity to share our family's stories with you.  Many, many blessings!

Wednesday's Winning Words: Manners

We are from the South.  A few things are critically important to our existence as good Southerners:  having good sweet tea, supporting high school and college football, and teaching our kids to use good manners.  Ok, maybe a few other things too, but this is a pretty good list.  Delaney is almost two now (Literally.  In three weeks.  I still can't believe it!), so we have been working on the manners part.  Never too young to start, right?  She is totally good with Please ("Peas) and Thank You ("tank you, mama") and generally even uses them at the appropriate times on her own.  So, we're moving on.  Of course, with her being almost two, we have hit the bumpy road of "NO!" and "MINE!"  I definitely don't do everything right in the life of parenting, but I try to model the desired behavior as often as possible.  So, we've been saying "No, Ma'am" to Delaney when she does something she's not supposed to or gets into something she should be leaving alone.  We believe in encouraging the use of "ma'am" and "sir" when talking to grown ups.

As a result, when she doesn't like something I'm doing or is feeling particularly argumentative, she now says (very assertively), "NO, ma'am, Mommy!"  At least she's polite about it, right?!

What I love most is when she says "No, ma'am, Daddy" or "No, ma'am, Buzz"....and the list goes on.  We haven't quite moved on to distinguishing "ma'am" and "sir".  Baby steps.  She will be a great Southern Belle, one day!