Thank goodness Chris and Claire have adventurous spirits.  They try on each church with excitement.

I was a few minutes early to the service today, giving us enough time to use the bathroom and find the Sunday School room.

As we walked down the hall we passed an amazing sight.  There were thirty to forty elderly women and men standing together in bright white cotton robes with white sashes lining their collars.

One man in particular was breath-taking.  He stood over six feet tall with white hair and a long white beard.  Picture Santa but taller and thinner.

At this sigh my son, Chris, looked up at me and said with as much clarity and conviction as an almost six year old can muster, “Mom, that must be where all the angels gather.”

Maybe it was because the sight was so amazing.  Maybe it was his innocence.  But my breath caught in my throat and my eyes began to sting.

My boy saw his first angels.

At that moment I knew today was going to be a great day.

Angels on Earth, or at least at church

“Yes, he’s an African American just like President Obama.”

“Ya, and did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to ride a bus that light tan people were riding on? And the dark brown people were not allowed to ride it and they kicked him off!!??”

“Really??”

“So Martin Luther King Jr. solved the problem and  just made everyone dark brown so then they could all ride the bus!  Isn’t that cool??”

“Yes, very!”

The conversation BC had with me the other day was so sweet and innocent.  But I think the thing I enjoy  the most is that having this conversation made me appreciate even more that we live in a community where my kids are surrounded by people of all different colors, beliefs, and orientations.  And my kids will grow up to know that no matter who a person is and whether or not you have the same beliefs or skin color, people are people and we can all get along.

For that I am so grateful!

MLK Jr. from a 4 year old’s perspective

Me: Note to self… no more peeing in the ocean in front of my son…

BC on the recent election…

BC:  I wish John McCain won.  I mean I LOVE the way Barack Obama’s face looks, but John McCain’s name is WAY cooler.

Me:  ?????

I Know How Green Is Made

Today you turned 32.  And although you’ve already had a chance to see this podcast, pictures and all, I wanted to post it here so you can come back when you might be doubting the impact you have on our children, or when you are feeling down.

The time you spend with us is profound.  The extra effort you put into getting eClaire to giggle is so wonderful.  The special attention you give BC when you teach him about science, earth, or just how to fix things around the house are forming lasting memories.

When you read to our children in the evenings, you solidify your presence in their lives.

The man you are comes through in the daily actions of your children.  Your daughter is meticulous.  Your son is a gentleman.  Your daughter a so very bright.  Your son is helpful and kind.  Your children reflect you.

I’ve added the video to this post for you to come back to every time you begin to wonder what you really mean to our kids.

You are the best man I know.

Happy Birthday.

Love,

Me

Happy Birthday Hubby!

What the frick??  Seriously?

My solution?  I took his pajama bottoms, looped my finger under the fabric and wiped his butt.  I know, classy!

Unfortunately it was still tickling, so I told him to go into the bathroom and wipe again.  BC then informs me that it’s my fault that his butt was tickling because I didn’t wipe him good enough earlier.

My fault?  That my 4 year old’s butt was tickling??

Again…what the frick??

Once the problem was solved he ran back out to the living room to drop trough and show me his newly cleaned butt.  At this point I was simply laughing too hard to check it again.

Seriously, this was not in the handout when I decided to forgo birth control and become a mother!

I did not sign up for the ‘butthole check’!!!

You little shit.

For weeks he’s been throwing the worst of tantrums at the mention of school.  Let’s not talk about the peel the child off the parent tactic that his teachers had to enact.

Friday?  Fine.

Part (a LARGE part) of me is thrilled.

Part (a LARGE part) of me is pissed.

Now if only he’ll ‘decide’ to take his time-out like a man. 

Stubborn much?

?????? Um, ok.…

I actually disagree!!    I believe this is sexy.  Oh and so is this.  And oddly, this as well…

But my first link is sexy enough to be revisited here.

Huh?  Don’t you agree!  SEXY!!!

Sexy is as sexy does.

The scene: Hubby pulls out our monster CostCo sized bag of M&M’s, giving BC and eClaire their own bowl.  Which just about knocked them over with delight!  (Amazing what a bit of sugar deprivation will do to my kids!!) And here’s the kicker…he leaves the bag, open and on the counter.

Um hello!!?  Doesn’t my dear hunk-a-burning-love know that I lack the ability to resist my M&M’s???

As I pass by this quickly depleating bag for the THIRD time I casually say, “Um, Babe, don’t you think it’s a bit foolish to leave the huge bag of M&M’s OPEN and on the counter?  It’s practically screaming EAT ME!”

Which prompts my WTF moment.

My dear boy, BC, turns to his new hero, Daddy, and says, “You don’t have to listen to her, Daddy.  Just bump her to voicemail.”

Um, hello?  I am standing right here!

WTF??

I say, “Hub, I usually let BC dress himself.”

“Uh, Nette? He ‘s wearing tights.”

At that exact moment I was taking a sip of my tea.

My tea ended up all over my end table. Hub and I laughed until I almost peed. Then I asked BC to pose for a picture.

This is what I saw:

Just as I snorted, it’s the German in me-my mom says, eClaire pushed BC out of the way to say, “Ohh look at me, I’m sooooo cute.“

BC then eeked his way back into the picture to show me his HUGE muscles. And his tights. For the record, those “tights” are just long socks pulled up above his knees. His favorite way to wear them is with a pair of shorts and his Lightning McQueen Water Shoes… Zexy, I know!

Then eClaire is all, “Oh but I’m not just cute. I’m funny too! Look! Look! I’m FUNNY, Damn IT.” Well, she might not have said Damn It today.

And then she was all, “BC touched me!! He looked at me sideways, and I don’t like him.”  I rolled my eyes.

And she was like, “DON’T LOOK AT ME BC!! You ruined my life!! Why did you have to be such a pain in the butt brother!!???” Ahem.… excuse me. I may be channeling my own sibling angst here… I digress. Hi Uncle J… love you!

And then BC’s all, “OH NO SHE DIN’T“

And then eClaire decided she had enough, “MOMMY!!!! Waaaaa! Why are you laughing?? It’s NOT FUNNY!“

Aaaand Scene.
On a more positive note, when BC was asked to get a sweatshirt because it was still a bit chilly outside, he ran into his closet to get his favorite sweater.

Ya.

Bwhaahaahaa!! A future in fashion? I think not. Hey, at least he pulled his socks down, at Dad’s request!

The Evolution of a Meltdown

Here are just two snippets of his conversations:

This morning I say, “Oh, I have to go to the bathroom.”

BC: Is it going to be a solid poop, Mommy?

Guess what I’ve been obsessing about this week?

At the Vet’s office:

Vet: Do you like to dig in the back yard?

BC: Oh yes!  I have a garden.

Vet: What’s planted in the garden?

BC: Root Beer.  Because like later or when I grow up I want to drink beer.

Insert me crawling under my chair and hiding my head under my arms!!!

BEER???  Seriously BC, that’s what you told the Vet we planted in our garden?? Oh my gosh.  Are you trying to send me to an early grave?

Things I overheard