Daddy's Boy

So after a morning of play just like his daddy did when he was a boy... being a super-hero and pretending to ride on rocket ships... this is how I found Thomas in his bed - completely asleep.

His daddy looked just like this last night, but was "reading" a bit louder.

Wordful Wednesday

Veronica:

• Tonight we are spending the night with Grandma & Pa. I was touched that both kids (as much as they've been begging to spend the night her the last several weeks) wanted me to read them their bedtime story. Thomas hopped into my lap and Veronica leaned into me. When it was time for prayer, Veronica asked Pa if he'd like her to hold him. She responded, "No. I'm a Mommy and mommies don't hold their grandpas." As she snuggled in a little closer to my side, I told her I'd love to hold my Pa if I could. However, I was secretly thrilled that she seems to believe no matter what she doesn't need as she grows, she will always need me.
• She's such a little Mommy. She takes care of all of us. She even insisted on scrubbing the floors for me last week! (...and she did a great job!)
• Most of the time she asks us to "button" something even if it needs to be UNbuttoned. I've been working on the terms unsnapping and unbuttoning with her. So, now she asks me to "unsnap button it."

Thomas:

• He tells me this several times a day and it doesn't get old: "You're the coziest Mommy ever!"
• "I don't have active blood, Mommy. My blood's not active. Just Spiderman - he's got radioactive blood."
• "I need to find my west-coast map!"
• "maunch-ster" = monster... there seem to be a lot of them everywhere these days.
• "Are you OK, Mommy?" He's still checking in on me since I was sick last week. "Did that green stuff make you sick?" He was fortunate enough to see my mucous, so he had a lot of questions about that.

Heart Medicine

Judson and I aren't really into the commercialization of Valentine's Day, and would actually prefer not to go out on a day when EVERYONE is going out... just doesn't seem that intimate and special. So, we try to celebrate each other every day. And, I feel we do a spectacular job of this.

This year, was a little different. The kids are really into holidays. So, Valentine's Day being the next holiday, well, it was fun to promote it. With kids, it's easy to make a holiday more than one day too...

On Wednesday we made Valentines and surprised Daddy at the State House on Thursday with them...

Friday, Judson sent me out with some girlfriends to watch the movie Valentine's Day. I narrowly escaped in time for the movie because Veronica wanted to take my picture with Judson. She likes to pose us so that I put my head on his shoulder. Both kids use their toy cameras like I must use mine. They say, "Ready?" and snap a picture. Then, they pull the camera back and look at the back of the camera to see if they got a good picture. Veronica was not impressed with the first picture she got of us. She told Judson he didn't smile. He insisted he did, but I knew she didn't consider his closed-mouth smile what she wanted. So, Judson exaggerated an open-lipped smile for the next picture. "No, Daddy, I don't want a scary smile!"

On Saturday, I had to work so Judson had time with the kids. They did some stellar art on the chalkboard. Check out Veronica's little snowman (bottom left corner)...



...and Thomas's giraffe. See the spots? the legs? the face? I think it's fabulous!

Saturday night, we gave Daddy some much needed downtime and the three of us followed Kay to Bloomington to see her friend's senior jazz trombone recital. It was INCREDIBLE! The music was jumpin' with 2 trombones, 2 saxophones, a trumpet, drums, a bass, a guitar and piano. The kids sat really well through it and were quite interested. (Suckers helped get us through the slow songs.)

On Sunday, we went to church and brunch with our friend, Jim. The kids were extra-snuggly during Mass. Veronica had me hold her the whole service. Thomas held tightly to Judson except for the few times he snuck over to kiss my arm. The did both escape our arms one other time... when they smooched and smooched eachother!

We introduced Jim to the wonders of the Historic Steer-In, 3 blocks from our house. Jim introduced us to his new iPhone. An amazing thing - especially for a person who has never even owned a cell phone! The kids enjoyed seeing themselves on his phone, so he played photographer.

After a quick naptime, Aunt Peggy showed up with Sally. We made Valentine cookies. Veronica really enjoyed rolling out the dough.

Thomas preferred decorating...

...with sprinkles. Blue ones...

Veronica enjoyed being cuddled up to Peggy most of the evening. Thomas gave me a big hug and told me I was the "coziest Mommy ever."

On Monday the kids were still in love with the Valentine's gifts Peggy brought them. Thomas carried his Spiderman book around all day. Veronica brushed my hair. They both needed their medicine (conversation hearts).

Valentine's Day is good for what ails you... the answer is "heart medicine."

Wordful Wednesday

Veronica

• during naptime, v: "I'm just being loud so we can be friends."


• mayonaise = "man-eeze"
• To me, her mother: "When you were a baby, I was your mommy."

Thomas

• from an over-tired T who hates to have his haircut, during a post-haircut tantrum: "BUT NOW MY HEAD IS SKINNY!"


• banana = "panana"


• mayonaise = "pananaise"
• "What's that green stuff? (see below) Did it make you sick?"

Both

I had been sick for about a week. They had lots of questions about why there was green stuff in my throat, etc. Their conclusion, however, was that "Daddy will hold you and hug you and make you better." I agree.

Tuesday's Transcript

The kids are playing in the other room... I'm typing this as it happens...


V: Thomas, you have to come now. Mommy's asked you a lot of times. Mommy has to catch up with you. We can park here. You can go play.

T: Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, it's time to take your sunglasses off for the soccer game!

V: Thomas, it's time to go!

T: No, I'm not the kid. (pause) It's over!

V: OK, let's go! (now talking to the baby in her stroller)... I'm going to buckle you up because you was runnin' away from me. I don't want you running away from me. Thomas can you have a hot chocolate from you.

T: OK. Ladies and gentleman do you have your sunglasses off?

V: YEAH!

T: Then... Get up!!

V: YEAH!

(lots of mumbling I can't hear about necklaces, soccer and sunglasses)

T: Let's go, Sissy!

V: Don't get my stuff!

T: I'm not!

V: Are you takin' my things?

T: I'm just playing with this.

V: I'm going to go get my stroller, Thomas!

T: Did you go here? I'm going to get a lemon at the shop.

now they are watching me type... T: Hey! You're spelling... What are you spelling? There's a T for ta-ta-ta Thomas! You're spelling Thomas. I love that. (runs off)

V: Thomas, can you open the door for me? (pretend door - we don't have one there)

T: rrrrrrrrrr....eeeeee.....

Wordful Wednesday

Veronica

• Me: I'm going to clean. You can either play in the playroom or help me.
  V: I don't want to do THAAAAAAT!;
  Me: You mean you want to play in the playroom?
  V: Yup.
• "hop chop" = cough drop
• "I've got a question..." (usually followed by a statement)
• She likes to play where I make the motions and sounds for her "babydollwithapacifier". She is the Mommy. "I've got a question, Baby. When you bonk your head and cry, I'll give you your pacifier." She says this repeatedly.

Thomas

• Our Mommy is a very good mommy.
• "soak" = sock
• He is very interested in who sings what song and wrote what book.
• "I'm Super-Thomas!"

Both

• "Mommy, DON'T SING!"
• I loves watching them both sound out and read words that aren't even on the page/cereal box/sign.
• Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Crunchin' the Numbers

Veronica insisted on finishing my Sudoku puzzle today.