Me: "Ashton, what are you doing?"
Ashton: "Making fart sounds with my armpit."
Me: "Well, that's pretty disgusting since you are still eating."
Ashton: "If I had water on my hands it would sound a lot better."
This was part of tonight's dinner conversation.
Sidney: "Ashton, don't leave the toilet seat up! I just fell in!"
Ashton: "She fell in what?"
Me: "The toilet, Buddy. She fell in the toilet!"
Ashton: "Why?"
This dilemma starts early in life and continues through adulthood...Sidney has no idea!
Me: "Sidney, we need to start your insect report that is due Friday. Any idea what insect you want to write about?"
Sidney: "Yes! The dung beetle. It eats poop!"
...winner, winner chicken dinner! We started the report on the dung beetle this evening!
Ashton: "Mommy, your eyes are really blue."
Me: "So are yours, Buddy. You got your blue eyes from me."
Ashton: "No, I didn't. I came with my own eyes."
Deep conversation while swinging in the backyard - spider style!
I definitely had quality time with the kids tonight...these conversations put a smile on my face at the end of a long day! Funny isn't it? How is it that dung beetles and toilet seats that are left up make your day?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
My Beautiful Birthday Girl
My greatest surprise in life turned greatest joy, Sidney, turned 8 this weekend. Mother's Day to be exact. She's such a ball of energy, full of passion, a creative little mind. She's perfect.
You'll remember that her birthday cake was to be the coolest thing since sliced bread - it's Wheel of Fortune, how could it not be? When we arrived at the bakery she was filled with anticipation to lift the lid on this sweet, creative treat. What she saw was nothing less than a total rockin' cake! ...especially for a Wheel Watcher!
Yes, it's definitely a famous event...the 8th birthday of Sidney Noelle Marshall, aka: super Diva!
While she had a massive headache that kept her down most of the day, the drugs kicked in just in time for presents and cake. (Although she still hasn't had any of this cake) It was kind of sad, anti-climatic and disappointing that she has been looking forward to this day since the day after her last birthday only to be miserable on the day of her big event. Most of her time was spent on the couch while her friends took over the playroom, and her brother heisted one of her Nerf dart guns.
She watched most of it unfold, tried to participate in as much as she could, but overall did not enjoy her birthday party like an eight year old should. She certainly needs a re-do!
Lucky for her, her momma is a firm believer in the idea of a birthday month! We'll take the new Schwinn for a spin, have a hunk of the Wheel cake and party like the rockstar she is!
You'll remember that her birthday cake was to be the coolest thing since sliced bread - it's Wheel of Fortune, how could it not be? When we arrived at the bakery she was filled with anticipation to lift the lid on this sweet, creative treat. What she saw was nothing less than a total rockin' cake! ...especially for a Wheel Watcher!
While she had a massive headache that kept her down most of the day, the drugs kicked in just in time for presents and cake. (Although she still hasn't had any of this cake) It was kind of sad, anti-climatic and disappointing that she has been looking forward to this day since the day after her last birthday only to be miserable on the day of her big event. Most of her time was spent on the couch while her friends took over the playroom, and her brother heisted one of her Nerf dart guns.
Lucky for her, her momma is a firm believer in the idea of a birthday month! We'll take the new Schwinn for a spin, have a hunk of the Wheel cake and party like the rockstar she is!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Marry Me
"Ashton's Mom! Ashton's Mom! Ashton's Mom!" These are the words that rang out as Ashton & I entered his preschool classroom at daycare this morning. Each time the beckon for attention became louder.
"Yes, Alyssa?"
"I'm going to MARRY Ashton! I love him!"
For a split second my mind rushed back to Father of the Bride. You know, the part where Steve Martin visualizes his grown daughter as a young child informing him that she is getting married? This scene at daycare would have fit like a glove into that movie!
"Yes, Alyssa?"
"I'm going to MARRY Ashton! I love him!"
For a split second my mind rushed back to Father of the Bride. You know, the part where Steve Martin visualizes his grown daughter as a young child informing him that she is getting married? This scene at daycare would have fit like a glove into that movie!
"Wow, really? You're going to marry, Ashton, huh?" Alyssa's face lit up and her smile took over the room. "Yep, and I can't wait!" "Well that's good, Alyssa. See you tomorrow."
Little Alyssa...I can definitely wait for that day. Hopefully I won't be like Steve Martin, though, when the day comes!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Cake
Sidney is turning 8 next weekend and I can hardly believe it. It doesn't seem that long ago that we brought our Tarheel home from the hospital. Or, that we were celebrating her first birthday in our new home. Seven years later, the house is dented and dinged and Sidney is a bright, beautiful little girl.
This is a girl who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing until she gets it. Exactly how she wants it.
She is an avid Wheel of Fortune watcher and insisted on a Wheel of Fortune birthday party. That is what she shall have. The focal point of this party will be her cake.
I've done much research online - looking at cakes, pictures of the Wheel set, determining what is doable and what requires more planning than I have time. I arrived at what I thought was simple, yet cool. Effective yet creative. I cut and glued pictures to a piece of paper laying out each item and documenting "do's" and "don'ts" for this very special cake. I handed the storyboard over to Aaron to take to The Cake Lady. Yes, that's her name, The Cake Lady.
After he delivered the drawing I checked in with him to see what her thoughts were on the design. What he said didn't leave me extremely confident that Sidney would find this cake to be all she hoped it would be. He said and I quote, "she'll do the best she can." What?! What does that mean? She'll do the best she can? How about, "I'm totally going to rock this cake. Pat & Vanna's set can't compare to this cake." ...No, rather I got a 'best I can do' comment. Swell!
I get it from a selling perspective. Underpromise and overdeliver is far better than the alternative scenario. But, for the record, this cake better rock it! ...stay tuned for pictures to follow!
This is a girl who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing until she gets it. Exactly how she wants it.
She is an avid Wheel of Fortune watcher and insisted on a Wheel of Fortune birthday party. That is what she shall have. The focal point of this party will be her cake.
I've done much research online - looking at cakes, pictures of the Wheel set, determining what is doable and what requires more planning than I have time. I arrived at what I thought was simple, yet cool. Effective yet creative. I cut and glued pictures to a piece of paper laying out each item and documenting "do's" and "don'ts" for this very special cake. I handed the storyboard over to Aaron to take to The Cake Lady. Yes, that's her name, The Cake Lady.
After he delivered the drawing I checked in with him to see what her thoughts were on the design. What he said didn't leave me extremely confident that Sidney would find this cake to be all she hoped it would be. He said and I quote, "she'll do the best she can." What?! What does that mean? She'll do the best she can? How about, "I'm totally going to rock this cake. Pat & Vanna's set can't compare to this cake." ...No, rather I got a 'best I can do' comment. Swell!
I get it from a selling perspective. Underpromise and overdeliver is far better than the alternative scenario. But, for the record, this cake better rock it! ...stay tuned for pictures to follow!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter Sunday
Chocolate Bunnies. Peanut butter eggs. Jelly beans. Easter eggs. Marshmallow Peeps. That's Easter, right? ...not so much.
I have grown tired of commercialized holidays - annoyed that my kids have expectations for "things" with each holiday. That's our fault as parents. We let it happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-gift. I'm just anti-gluttony.
All week I've been reminding the kids of what Easter means. "What happened on Good Friday?" Sidney: "Jesus died on the cross for us." "What happened on Easter?" Ashton: "Jesus came back from the dead." "Is Easter about candy and gifts?" Both kids: "No."
Sunday morning we went to church as we always do. The place was packed. Wall to wall people - no place to sit, no place to park. The sanctuary was so full that it closed and people were routed into our worship center, Resonate. Resonate is a very laid back, modern place of worship. Coffee, iPads, smart phones, jeans and a rockin' band are staples to this Sunday morning gathering place. There were a number of visitors who both purposefully came to our class and those who were directed there due to overflow. When I looked around the room it seemed that people were truly enjoying themselves. This wasn't a fire and brimstone environment. This was all about grace and joy. People responded to that.
It's Easter, it's a joyful time! We don't need chocolate and sugar-coated marshmallows to remind us of that....although they do sweeten the day.
I have grown tired of commercialized holidays - annoyed that my kids have expectations for "things" with each holiday. That's our fault as parents. We let it happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-gift. I'm just anti-gluttony.
All week I've been reminding the kids of what Easter means. "What happened on Good Friday?" Sidney: "Jesus died on the cross for us." "What happened on Easter?" Ashton: "Jesus came back from the dead." "Is Easter about candy and gifts?" Both kids: "No."
Sunday morning we went to church as we always do. The place was packed. Wall to wall people - no place to sit, no place to park. The sanctuary was so full that it closed and people were routed into our worship center, Resonate. Resonate is a very laid back, modern place of worship. Coffee, iPads, smart phones, jeans and a rockin' band are staples to this Sunday morning gathering place. There were a number of visitors who both purposefully came to our class and those who were directed there due to overflow. When I looked around the room it seemed that people were truly enjoying themselves. This wasn't a fire and brimstone environment. This was all about grace and joy. People responded to that.
It's Easter, it's a joyful time! We don't need chocolate and sugar-coated marshmallows to remind us of that....although they do sweeten the day.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Fun & Games: The Sequel
At the urging of a couple of good friends, I bring you Fun & Games: The Sequel. Please keep in mind, it pains me to think about it, let alone write about it.
As the day started on Saturday morning, I was off to the races. But, not before I grabbed a cup of coffee. As I made a beeline to the Keurig, the fish tank on the counter caught my eye. It's not what was happening in it that grabbed my attention. It's what wasn't happening that made me stop in my tracks. Not only was Sidney's fish not swimming - it wasn't in the tank.
I don't know about you, but when I roll out of the feathers, I'm not on my A-game immediately. It takes me a little time to wake up and process what is going on around me. That being said, I wasn't sure where to look for the fish, but I started with a yell to Ashton & Sidney.
"Sidney & Ashton, get in here! Where's the fish?" Sidney thought I was crazy and said, "in the tank" while Ashton turned around and walked away as if he knew nothing about what I was saying. "Ashton, get back here. Where's the fish?" As I turned back to the tank, I looked down to the counter. There was a puddle of water, a pitcher of room temperature water (which was to be used to clean the fish tank), a green spork and a dead fish.
The fish was quite dead lying on the counter. What a fantastic early morning discovery.
My kitchen served as a crime scene and an interrogation room. Is it possible that my sweet angel face boy could have done this to his sister's fish? Isn't this the stuff you hear about serial killers doing at a young age? Does he need therapy? Is there salmonella on my counter now? Did he really kill a goldfish with a spork? ...all I wanted was a damn cup of coffee!
What to do now?
After Ashton finally got through his tears and my anger, he told me he was trying to get the fish into the pitcher. "The fish kept flipping around and it wouldn't stop. I used the fork to try to pick it up." The head was barely attached to the body. "Ashton, do you understand that you should not have taken the fish out of the tank? And, do you understand that Sidney is very sad now?" "Do you understand that the fish is dead now?" More tears. More remorse. I'm glad for the remorse...otherwise, we would be on our way to the child psychologist!
Sidney and I headed off to Pet Supplies Plus to find a new fish. We came home with a pink Neon fish, at the bargain price of $5. Since I'm tired of cleaning the tank every two days, we also bought a bubbler and tubing. This serves a dual purpose. It makes it more difficult for inquiring minds to open the lid!
What started with two ten cent goldfish and a carnival quickly turned into a saga of funny stories. A $30 investment in fish and supplies. A burial at sea. Death by a spork. A pink Neon fish.
It's all fun and games until you have to write a sequel to a blog entry entitled, "Fun & Games."
As the day started on Saturday morning, I was off to the races. But, not before I grabbed a cup of coffee. As I made a beeline to the Keurig, the fish tank on the counter caught my eye. It's not what was happening in it that grabbed my attention. It's what wasn't happening that made me stop in my tracks. Not only was Sidney's fish not swimming - it wasn't in the tank.
I don't know about you, but when I roll out of the feathers, I'm not on my A-game immediately. It takes me a little time to wake up and process what is going on around me. That being said, I wasn't sure where to look for the fish, but I started with a yell to Ashton & Sidney.
"Sidney & Ashton, get in here! Where's the fish?" Sidney thought I was crazy and said, "in the tank" while Ashton turned around and walked away as if he knew nothing about what I was saying. "Ashton, get back here. Where's the fish?" As I turned back to the tank, I looked down to the counter. There was a puddle of water, a pitcher of room temperature water (which was to be used to clean the fish tank), a green spork and a dead fish.
The fish was quite dead lying on the counter. What a fantastic early morning discovery.
My kitchen served as a crime scene and an interrogation room. Is it possible that my sweet angel face boy could have done this to his sister's fish? Isn't this the stuff you hear about serial killers doing at a young age? Does he need therapy? Is there salmonella on my counter now? Did he really kill a goldfish with a spork? ...all I wanted was a damn cup of coffee!
What to do now?
After Ashton finally got through his tears and my anger, he told me he was trying to get the fish into the pitcher. "The fish kept flipping around and it wouldn't stop. I used the fork to try to pick it up." The head was barely attached to the body. "Ashton, do you understand that you should not have taken the fish out of the tank? And, do you understand that Sidney is very sad now?" "Do you understand that the fish is dead now?" More tears. More remorse. I'm glad for the remorse...otherwise, we would be on our way to the child psychologist!
Sidney and I headed off to Pet Supplies Plus to find a new fish. We came home with a pink Neon fish, at the bargain price of $5. Since I'm tired of cleaning the tank every two days, we also bought a bubbler and tubing. This serves a dual purpose. It makes it more difficult for inquiring minds to open the lid!
What started with two ten cent goldfish and a carnival quickly turned into a saga of funny stories. A $30 investment in fish and supplies. A burial at sea. Death by a spork. A pink Neon fish.
It's all fun and games until you have to write a sequel to a blog entry entitled, "Fun & Games."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Fun & Games
My kids were so excited to go to a school carnival with their cousins Aiden & Paige. Junk food. Face painting. Hair color. Games. What kid wouldn't want to go to the carnival? The focal point of this carnival was winning goldfish.
Aiden had lobbied to go to his school carnival for one purpose and one purpose only. To win a goldfish. He had brought his cousins up to speed on the possibility of bringing home a fish in a cup and how wonderful that would be. They were stoked. They each tried several times to get that quarter through the water and into the very tiny cup (a shot glass, really). The first lucky contestant to score a fish was Ashton.
Soon each of them secured their prize and they were on their way. Four goldfish each in their own McDonald's cup. A very exciting day for all.
We're (Aaron & I) not fish people. We have a cat, that's enough. Saying we were unprepared for these fish was an understatement. I headed into Pet Supplies Plus wandering the aquatic isle aimlessly. My mission was to find a cheap fish bowl, a net to transport them from cup to bowl and some food. Mission accomplished! I walked out having spent $15 for these two fish that cost twenty cents. We were officially ready for fish.
We've done a great job of keeping these new additions alive. At least until tonight. One minute Ashton's fish was eating, the next it was arched and floating.
"Aaron, the fish is dead." Ashton comes running over to the counter. "Can we flush it?!" No child should be that excited to dispose of a pet. "Yes, buddy, you can flush it." After Aaron & Ashton had the burial at sea, Ashton came bouncing back into the kitchen to check on the other fish. "Can we flush Sidney's fish too?" "No, Ashton, Sidney's fish is still alive." "I can't wait until it dies...then I can flush it!"
I guess it's all fun and games until your fish dies. ...then it's more fun!
Aiden had lobbied to go to his school carnival for one purpose and one purpose only. To win a goldfish. He had brought his cousins up to speed on the possibility of bringing home a fish in a cup and how wonderful that would be. They were stoked. They each tried several times to get that quarter through the water and into the very tiny cup (a shot glass, really). The first lucky contestant to score a fish was Ashton.
Soon each of them secured their prize and they were on their way. Four goldfish each in their own McDonald's cup. A very exciting day for all.
We're (Aaron & I) not fish people. We have a cat, that's enough. Saying we were unprepared for these fish was an understatement. I headed into Pet Supplies Plus wandering the aquatic isle aimlessly. My mission was to find a cheap fish bowl, a net to transport them from cup to bowl and some food. Mission accomplished! I walked out having spent $15 for these two fish that cost twenty cents. We were officially ready for fish.
We've done a great job of keeping these new additions alive. At least until tonight. One minute Ashton's fish was eating, the next it was arched and floating.
"Aaron, the fish is dead." Ashton comes running over to the counter. "Can we flush it?!" No child should be that excited to dispose of a pet. "Yes, buddy, you can flush it." After Aaron & Ashton had the burial at sea, Ashton came bouncing back into the kitchen to check on the other fish. "Can we flush Sidney's fish too?" "No, Ashton, Sidney's fish is still alive." "I can't wait until it dies...then I can flush it!"
I guess it's all fun and games until your fish dies. ...then it's more fun!
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