Was I sticking my tongue out?

Jaden

My sunshine

June 12, 2013
8-years old

Headed to school I looked at my Jaden so cute in her cheerful, little hat and asked, "Why do you
pull it down so tight like that?"

She says, "I like it like that." Who am I to argue? Jaden has such a great sense of style.

I grabbed my camera and took a quick picture. When she looked at it she asked, "Was I sticking my tongue out?"

I took a closer look and said,"No, it's just poked through the gaps where you're missing teeth."

She looked at me. I looked at her. Then the cackling began.

I guess you'd just have to be there. 

Eating holiday dinners every day as a family

Jaden 7-years old
Marcus 5-years old
January 2013

During major holidays I spend long hours in the kitchen cooking meals large enough for a family of eight. Whatever's a favorite of each person; I make. There's no stopping me and there are moments when I wonder what exactly I got myself into.

When it's all said and done I'm exhausted.

However, the tiredness and achy feet dissipate completely when I sit down to eat with my family. I enjoy sitting across from my kids so I can watch them eat each morsel, or dissect questionable pieces. For example, carrots are not loved, but sweet peas are picked off the plate with the utmost care until each one is gone. 

Tacos, pico, corn and Japanese tea cups

Foods like Pico de Gallo must be homemade for taco's or quesadillas. Pasteurized American cheese can rot for all my kids care, but Feta and blue cheese is scraped from the plate. My kids are food connoisseurs and there is nothing in between, but once again it's about eating as a family.

It's a gloriously silent time away from the T.V. or the computer. No phones. No interruptions. 

The only sounds are chewing, talking, and laughter. We are miles away from anything else and life seems to stop for a single moment. There's no one but us. 

While eating with the kids I realized just how much my kids like to sit down as a family to eat. It's not from my parental instinct, but my 7-year old flat out said she wants us to sit down every night-- together-- to eat dinner. It was a shining moment.  

Action shot

I think of her statement often and realized there are two ways to make this happen more regularly. The first is to do housework, and food prep, before the kids get home from school and cook the meal as soon as we get home.

Granted, we get home from school by 3:35 p.m., and sit down for dinner at 4:45 p.m. It's early but the kids don't care. They love it. They are very hungry from the early lunches, and snack-free afternoons at school, and are ready for a hot meal.

The second is to let the kids be more involved with setting the table--using fun dishes also helps.

For instance, when my son saw the gravy boat he said, "I love holiday dinners," even though it wasn't a holiday.

When we had tacos he said, "This is just like the holidays," because I let him help me set the table, and use the kid's favorite tea cups.

We have a couple of spills, but who cares? My kids want  to sit down for meals.  I get it that this will not be the case for long; however, I love that I don't have to force my kids sit down for dinner. There are no threats, scolding or harping to get them to the table, so if they want it to be a holiday dinner; I'm cool with it. 

No recess in college? Say it ain't so.

Jaden
7-years old
January 1, 2013

On the way to school

While driving Jaden asks, "In college, is there recess?"

"No baby," I answered, but was curious where this sudden interest in college came from? Perhaps it's my continual talk of education. Not just for the kids, but for myself.

"Noooooo! Why? I want recess." Her disappointment was apparent.

I thought back to my college years, and was slapped in the face with reality. College was recess. All four years of it. If I had only known that then I think I would have enjoyed it more.

She's going to love college if she goes. I just hope not too much. 

Is the middle toe bad?

My Chunk
5-years old
December 11, 2012

Is the middle toe bad?

Several weeks ago I heard Marcus say from the living room, "Ooooh, that's a middle finger!" 

From the tone of his voice I knew, that he knew, it was bad and something not to be done. I stood in the kitchen wondering just where or how the kids had seen that? Was it on the road somewhere, or had they seen it in a movie? I also wondered who explained it to the kids that it was bad?

Needless to say, I was surprised.

Before I know it, he's yelling into the kitchen, "Hey mom, what about the middle toe? Is that okay?"

I got quiet. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts. I asked, "What do you mean?"

"You know, if you use the middle toe, is it bad?"

No buddy, it is not bad. 

This is the original posting from Twitter: OMG! I just heard Marcus say "Ooooh, that's a middle finger." "Hey mom, what about the middle toe. Is that okay?" hahaha

Lioness Isis: Boldest Big Cat at Brookfield Zoo

Jaden 

4-years old

2009

While living in Chicago the Brookfield Zoo became our stomping grounds. Marcus was much younger, perhaps two and half, and he was still hanging in the stroller more often than not.

Our first trip to Brookfield Zoo was in February 2009. It was cold, but we loved it. From that point on, there wasn't a week that passed that we didn't visit the zoo for an afternoon outing.

There's jeans, and there's genes

Jaden Jordan
7-years old
12/30/2012

There's jeans, and there's genes

I will not lie; I bought two pair of skinny jeans from Wal-Mart today. The kids were with me and they were even patient enough to wait for me to try them on.

As I put on a pair Jaden says, "Those make your butt look___."

"Look like what?" I ask.

"Look big."

"Is it the jeans?" I ask as I pull them off.

Jaden takes a look. "No, it's just the way your butt is. It's big"