We took the kids to see Santa last Thursday and Zachary was so excited. He had written a list out and brought it with him. The list is a pillow pet, Star Wars Legos, BeyBlades, and a DS. We waited at StoneBriar to see the same Santa we have for the past 5 years and when it was our turn Z was gung ho and Rylee freaked. So Z and Santa went over the wish list.
The following weekend we went out to Cedar Creek lake to have our Jost Christmas. The Jost family is Chad's Mom's family so we stay with Chad's Uncle and Aunt and his cousins, their kids, and his grandma and her husband all squeeze in together for some serious family bonding.
His Aunt and Uncle had arranged for a visit from Santa for all the kids. Zachary was SOOOO excited again. Santa brought gifts for each of the kids to keep them happy until Saturday. Santa took each child on his lap and asked what they wanted for Christmas.
Z's present was at the very bottom of the sack. I really think he was worried that Santa was not going to call his name - he paced and then sat and stared and he tried his very best to be patient. Finally it was his turn -- grinning from ear to ear he sat on Santa's lap and waited while we took pictures.
Santa then turned to him and said "Zachary - what do you want for Christmas?"
Z looked at him, cocked his head, and squinted his eyes "Um Santa -- I already told you."
OOOPPPS!!
Not sure if he was worried that Santa had already forgotten his carefully thought out list or if he was suspicious that Santa didn't really know who he was -- doesn't matter to me. All the adults laughed as Santa had the reindeer in the headlights look and tried to recover.
Merry Christmas my smart boy!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
She Does Have a Thing for Toy Story
Rylee was playing with our Little People Manger set. She put one of the wise men on top of the camel and said "YeeeeHaw Cowboy!"
It Sounds Like a QPM But It Wasn't
A sweet little conversation I had with my daugher...
Rylee: Mommy I want gum.
MK: No baby you can't have any gum.
Rylee: I want gum pleeeaasssee!
MK: Rylee, I said no. You can't not have any gum.
Rylee: No Mommy I want gun.
MK: Oh gun?! I thought you said gum. Yes, you can have the gun.
Rylee: Mommy I want gum.
MK: No baby you can't have any gum.
Rylee: I want gum pleeeaasssee!
MK: Rylee, I said no. You can't not have any gum.
Rylee: No Mommy I want gun.
MK: Oh gun?! I thought you said gum. Yes, you can have the gun.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Listen to the Music
While I know someday I will miss the intensity with which my son loves me and wants to be with me, last week I was frustrated by it. I was going on an overnight trip to Chicago so I would see him Wednesday morning and pick him up from school Thursday afternoon. He started crying and was worried he wouldn't get to say good-bye. He didn't trust me. We had been going over this scenario for about ten minutes.
There we sit the two of us in the dark - he tucked in his bed after prayers crying and me sitting beside him tickling his back trying to find the words to assure him he would see me in the morning, we would talk Wed night from my hotel, and I would pick him up from school Thursday.
He tried to say something in his crying voice when I was distracted by an odd noise. Rylee sleeps with a humidifier on and I thought it was doing something. I made Zachary be quiet so I could figure out what exactly was the noise.
From Rylee's room we hear PPPBBBPPPPTTTT and PZZZZBSSSST -- Rylee is making raspberry noises or a Z declares "Tooting Noises." She is doing it to entertain herself -- she doesn't know we are listening -- and she is almost making a song out of it.
I try to keep a straight face and turn back to Z to address his concerns and he is trying his darnest not to break out into a full on laugh. He is covering his mouth and giggling. His trying to cover and her harmonic noises makes me giggle and soon Z and I are quietly laughing at the zerbert tune from the other room. All concern has left both of us -- soothed away by my daughter's melody.
I kiss Z on the forehead, tell him I will see him in the morning, and he blows me a kiss and while still chuckling at his little sister, says goodnight.
I smile as I go down the stairs -- I am lucky to have children with so much love and so much musical ability.
There we sit the two of us in the dark - he tucked in his bed after prayers crying and me sitting beside him tickling his back trying to find the words to assure him he would see me in the morning, we would talk Wed night from my hotel, and I would pick him up from school Thursday.
He tried to say something in his crying voice when I was distracted by an odd noise. Rylee sleeps with a humidifier on and I thought it was doing something. I made Zachary be quiet so I could figure out what exactly was the noise.
From Rylee's room we hear PPPBBBPPPPTTTT and PZZZZBSSSST -- Rylee is making raspberry noises or a Z declares "Tooting Noises." She is doing it to entertain herself -- she doesn't know we are listening -- and she is almost making a song out of it.
I try to keep a straight face and turn back to Z to address his concerns and he is trying his darnest not to break out into a full on laugh. He is covering his mouth and giggling. His trying to cover and her harmonic noises makes me giggle and soon Z and I are quietly laughing at the zerbert tune from the other room. All concern has left both of us -- soothed away by my daughter's melody.
I kiss Z on the forehead, tell him I will see him in the morning, and he blows me a kiss and while still chuckling at his little sister, says goodnight.
I smile as I go down the stairs -- I am lucky to have children with so much love and so much musical ability.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater vol 3
Entry 3 of the blogs that I am cheating to create. I am going to take a complete shortcut to blogging and use my Facebook status’ as prompts for the happenings in the Martin house over the past several months where I was too busy/tired/uncreative to update our journal.
June 18th - Wicked - amazingly cool fantastic!!! Date with my husband - even better!!!
I had an actual date with Chad. Sadly they are few and far between these days. It has also been a long time since I have seen a musical that I did not already know the story so I was giddy watching the plot unfold.
Chad then gave me the book for my birthday -- must say I am glad I saw the play first. I can not say too much since Chad is getting ready to read the book.
June 23rd - Instead of "The End" when we finish a story, Rylee says AMEN. Not sure if this is a comment on my storytelling or on my praying!! :)
July 3rd - 2 minutes into fireworks and Rylee throws the blanket over her head - she did finally remove it to eat ice cream. It was great family fun!!! :)
July 8th - Walking out of daycare this evening Rylee says "Oh no Mommy it's raining! My hair my hair! Mommy my hair!" I may have a princess on my hands.
FINALLY a little blogging on Rylee. She is a sweet girl that is ALL PINK GIRL. She does funny hysterical stuff every day and I miss capturing it here. She and Z are going to look at this and wonder why she is rarely mentioned -- It is because I am lazy honey! Sorry!!
She loves to accessorize with hats, gloves, and necklaces. She would change her shoes every few hours if she could. She knows what she wants to wear. And is quite able to express her like or dislike for an outfit.
One day I had what I consider a super cute outfit all picked out for her (jean capris and a fancy top) and she used this devil voice at me "NO PANTS! NO PANTS!!" I figured she wasn't in the mood for denim so I got my second choice of bottoms out -- khaki capris and she busts out with that same scary guttural devil voice "NO PANTS! NO PANTS!!!" I look at her and ask her not to use that voice and what does she want to wear. She turns her head so her chin is over her shoulder, keeps her head low but looks up, smiles (and I swear she was batting her eyelashes) and says "A dress please."
She uses the word "cute" to describe outfits and must have a bow.
I am proud though -- she does have her "pincess" pull ups but really likes her YeeHaw (Toy Story) pull ups better. Tidbits like this give me confidence that perhaps we will find some common ground through the years!
June 18th - Wicked - amazingly cool fantastic!!! Date with my husband - even better!!!
I had an actual date with Chad. Sadly they are few and far between these days. It has also been a long time since I have seen a musical that I did not already know the story so I was giddy watching the plot unfold.
Chad then gave me the book for my birthday -- must say I am glad I saw the play first. I can not say too much since Chad is getting ready to read the book.
June 23rd - Instead of "The End" when we finish a story, Rylee says AMEN. Not sure if this is a comment on my storytelling or on my praying!! :)
July 3rd - 2 minutes into fireworks and Rylee throws the blanket over her head - she did finally remove it to eat ice cream. It was great family fun!!! :)
July 8th - Walking out of daycare this evening Rylee says "Oh no Mommy it's raining! My hair my hair! Mommy my hair!" I may have a princess on my hands.
FINALLY a little blogging on Rylee. She is a sweet girl that is ALL PINK GIRL. She does funny hysterical stuff every day and I miss capturing it here. She and Z are going to look at this and wonder why she is rarely mentioned -- It is because I am lazy honey! Sorry!!
She loves to accessorize with hats, gloves, and necklaces. She would change her shoes every few hours if she could. She knows what she wants to wear. And is quite able to express her like or dislike for an outfit.
One day I had what I consider a super cute outfit all picked out for her (jean capris and a fancy top) and she used this devil voice at me "NO PANTS! NO PANTS!!" I figured she wasn't in the mood for denim so I got my second choice of bottoms out -- khaki capris and she busts out with that same scary guttural devil voice "NO PANTS! NO PANTS!!!" I look at her and ask her not to use that voice and what does she want to wear. She turns her head so her chin is over her shoulder, keeps her head low but looks up, smiles (and I swear she was batting her eyelashes) and says "A dress please."
She uses the word "cute" to describe outfits and must have a bow.
I am proud though -- she does have her "pincess" pull ups but really likes her YeeHaw (Toy Story) pull ups better. Tidbits like this give me confidence that perhaps we will find some common ground through the years!
Friday, November 12, 2010
I Love You Dad and Thank You
I am very proud of my Father – Lieutenant Colonel James Barry Leonard. He served two tours in Vietnam – 1964/65 and 1967 – and saw things that people should not see. I do not know the true extent of horrors that he saw and he will never tell me. I know a few stories – that the jungle was so thick the leaves of the trees actually intertwined allowing my dad and his soldiers to walk on top of the trees and have hand grenades thrown at them from underneath. Or some times Vietnamese kids would wander into their camp with a bomb attached to them. I have heard nasty stories of rats and leeches and yet I have not even scraped into the really bad stuff. I remember watching Platoon when I was about 14 and bawling to think my dad had seen any of that in real life.
I often wonder what my dad would have been like had he not gone to war. The impact of war on him had to have been profound. In his sleep one time home on leave, my dad threw my uncle’s cat into the Christmas tree when it crawled on him and really hurt the cat. He said in his dream it was a rat. Mom said he still was having nightmares when they were married. But I guess I should not spend too much time thinking about how it changed him. My dad is my dad – in all of his flaws and in all of his goodness and his service in the military made him who he is.
I also recognize how lucky I am. I am very aware of the soldiers that do not come home or come home with wounds that can not be fixed – physical, mental, and emotional.
I recently learned that my dad did not leave the military by choice. It makes a lot of sense for me to hear this now – I could never figure out why he left and my mom said that it was a RIF (reduction in force) and he was essentially laid off. Mom said that dad thrived in the military – the structure, the discipline – was all up his alley. He was successful and respected. He had chosen a career as a military officer and that was taken away from him. In 1973, he went into the reserves and never went back into active duty. I remember his retirement in 1993. He had “served” for 30 years and now knowing it was not his choice to leave I wonder if that retirement moment was bittersweet.
I did spend a little time thinking that had he continued in active duty that I would be full-fledged Army brat. My life would be totally different. I am quite happy with how my life turned out so the selfish part of me says “thanks Dad for taking one for the team – because your dreams did not turn out – mine did!” I suck sometimes.
Every Veteran’s Day I send a note to my dad to say thank you. I thank him often for being a dad but once a year I think him for choosing to be a soldier. It is not a role I could ever take or a job I would ever want. But he volunteered and was good at it. He and the millions in the military service across the years deserve all of my appreciation. I am grateful to all of our military. So this year instead of delving deep into my appreciation I had a little story to include in my note to my dad:
From: Martin, Mary Kate
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 10:28 PM
To: Dad
Subject: Happy Veteran's Day!
Hey Dad -- thank you so much for all you did for me, and the rest of our country. I apologize for the late well wishes -- was in Chicago yesterday and today and just now getting to my email.
I do have to tell a story on your grandson.
After I picked up the kids from school, it started raining. On the days that it is raining, I usually drive to the front of the house to pick up the mail and then drive around to the back to park. Lazy I know but the kids get a kick out of it.
Anyway, I drove around today and of course no mail. I said out loud -- "Oh yeah it is Veteran's day - no mail" and Z asks what is Veteran's day.
I tell him we take time to thank all of the soldiers that protect us and fight for us so we can live the great life we have. He said oh ok. Not sure he understood. So I ask him if he knew Gramps was a soldier and on Veteran's day we thank Gramps too for all he did. Z said wow -- Gramps was a soldier. I said that I had pictures of Gramps in his uniform. And Z made me promise to show him.
So we get inside and so begins the hustle and bustle of being home -- dinner, clean up, homework, etc. In the middle of all of it, Z asks to see pictures of Gramps as a soldier and I only have time to show him two with promises that I will show him more later. He asks lots of questions that I tell him he will have to ask Gramps directly because I can't answer.
We finish our night time routine and it was time for us to head up to bed. As we climb up the stairs, Zachary says to me "Mom, there are some very bad men out there. But I don't want you to worry because Gramps and his Army friends will take care of them."
I could have cried. I loved it -- thought you would want to know.
I really was quite taken with Zachary's words. And in true JBL short - sweet - to the point - no emotion fashion my dad's response was:
From: Dad
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 12:58 PM
To: Martin, Mary Kate
Subject: Re: Happy Veteran's Day!
Thanks for telling me of Z's confidence in me and my Army buddies. It is heart warming. See you all soon.
I love my dad - I got his short temper and lack of patience, ability to talk for five hours straight barely needing a breath, and a bit of a self righteous attitude. I also got his work ethic, fantastic memory, and prioritizing my life with God as number one. While my dad is not afraid to say I love you or I am proud -- that is the extend of the detail he will go into. So despite the lack of gushy response to my email, I imagine he was as touched as I was thinking that Zachary feels safer knowing Gramps and his friends take care of all the bad guys.
Thank you Dad and thank you to ALL our military, past and present, for keeping us safe from the bad guys.
I often wonder what my dad would have been like had he not gone to war. The impact of war on him had to have been profound. In his sleep one time home on leave, my dad threw my uncle’s cat into the Christmas tree when it crawled on him and really hurt the cat. He said in his dream it was a rat. Mom said he still was having nightmares when they were married. But I guess I should not spend too much time thinking about how it changed him. My dad is my dad – in all of his flaws and in all of his goodness and his service in the military made him who he is.
I also recognize how lucky I am. I am very aware of the soldiers that do not come home or come home with wounds that can not be fixed – physical, mental, and emotional.
I recently learned that my dad did not leave the military by choice. It makes a lot of sense for me to hear this now – I could never figure out why he left and my mom said that it was a RIF (reduction in force) and he was essentially laid off. Mom said that dad thrived in the military – the structure, the discipline – was all up his alley. He was successful and respected. He had chosen a career as a military officer and that was taken away from him. In 1973, he went into the reserves and never went back into active duty. I remember his retirement in 1993. He had “served” for 30 years and now knowing it was not his choice to leave I wonder if that retirement moment was bittersweet.
I did spend a little time thinking that had he continued in active duty that I would be full-fledged Army brat. My life would be totally different. I am quite happy with how my life turned out so the selfish part of me says “thanks Dad for taking one for the team – because your dreams did not turn out – mine did!” I suck sometimes.
Every Veteran’s Day I send a note to my dad to say thank you. I thank him often for being a dad but once a year I think him for choosing to be a soldier. It is not a role I could ever take or a job I would ever want. But he volunteered and was good at it. He and the millions in the military service across the years deserve all of my appreciation. I am grateful to all of our military. So this year instead of delving deep into my appreciation I had a little story to include in my note to my dad:
From: Martin, Mary Kate
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 10:28 PM
To: Dad
Subject: Happy Veteran's Day!
Hey Dad -- thank you so much for all you did for me, and the rest of our country. I apologize for the late well wishes -- was in Chicago yesterday and today and just now getting to my email.
I do have to tell a story on your grandson.
After I picked up the kids from school, it started raining. On the days that it is raining, I usually drive to the front of the house to pick up the mail and then drive around to the back to park. Lazy I know but the kids get a kick out of it.
Anyway, I drove around today and of course no mail. I said out loud -- "Oh yeah it is Veteran's day - no mail" and Z asks what is Veteran's day.
I tell him we take time to thank all of the soldiers that protect us and fight for us so we can live the great life we have. He said oh ok. Not sure he understood. So I ask him if he knew Gramps was a soldier and on Veteran's day we thank Gramps too for all he did. Z said wow -- Gramps was a soldier. I said that I had pictures of Gramps in his uniform. And Z made me promise to show him.
So we get inside and so begins the hustle and bustle of being home -- dinner, clean up, homework, etc. In the middle of all of it, Z asks to see pictures of Gramps as a soldier and I only have time to show him two with promises that I will show him more later. He asks lots of questions that I tell him he will have to ask Gramps directly because I can't answer.
We finish our night time routine and it was time for us to head up to bed. As we climb up the stairs, Zachary says to me "Mom, there are some very bad men out there. But I don't want you to worry because Gramps and his Army friends will take care of them."
I could have cried. I loved it -- thought you would want to know.
I really was quite taken with Zachary's words. And in true JBL short - sweet - to the point - no emotion fashion my dad's response was:
From: Dad
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 12:58 PM
To: Martin, Mary Kate
Subject: Re: Happy Veteran's Day!
Thanks for telling me of Z's confidence in me and my Army buddies. It is heart warming. See you all soon.
I love my dad - I got his short temper and lack of patience, ability to talk for five hours straight barely needing a breath, and a bit of a self righteous attitude. I also got his work ethic, fantastic memory, and prioritizing my life with God as number one. While my dad is not afraid to say I love you or I am proud -- that is the extend of the detail he will go into. So despite the lack of gushy response to my email, I imagine he was as touched as I was thinking that Zachary feels safer knowing Gramps and his friends take care of all the bad guys.
Thank you Dad and thank you to ALL our military, past and present, for keeping us safe from the bad guys.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater Vol. 2
Entry 2 of the blogs that I am cheating to create. I am going to take a complete shortcut to blogging and use my Facebook status’ as prompts for the happenings in the Martin house over the past several months where I was too busy/tired/uncreative to update our journal.
May 22nd - On Vacation! On Vacation! See you work folks in JUNE!!!
May 28th - my chi flat iron is the most useless waste of packing space when visiting a humid location
We took our first just us family vacation in May. Chad’s company owns a condo in South Padre on the beach so we headed south for the Martin Family Vacation. I have to tell you I was dreading it – not the vacation but the drive down and the drive back. Someone I work with is from Brownsville and she makes the drive all the time – she said it usually takes her about 10 hours going fast with bathroom stops. Add two children with multiple bathroom stops and food stops and get out and let the feeling back in your butt cheeks stops – I thought for sure it would be a 14 hr trip.
Chad in his brilliance said – let’s stop in San Antonio and go to Sea World. After a rocky start, the kids ended up enjoying Sea World. Rylee fell in love with puffins – squealing, shrieking, in love and Z fed dolphins and sea lions and walked away with a stuffed Shamu he named Sparkles.
The kids loved the beach and the pool and we had a great time. The last day Rylee had a fever that kept her down that day – poor girl and Chad and Z went to see the turtles.
We did attempt one “nice” dinner where we all dressed up and went early to avoid the crowd and it was not as smooth as we wanted. The restaurant didn’t have a booster seat so Rylee would constantly stand up and try to jump from chair to chair. Neither kid would eat the fancy fish sticks because they were real fish sticks as opposed to Van de Kamps. Just a gentle reminder of why we don’t do formal dinners as a family.
The drive home we thought we would try to make it to Austin and when we hit Austin we decided to just go home. And we made it in about 10 ½ hours so my friend here at work must be a pokey driver.
As always – vacation is fun but when it is over you are ready for it to be over:
June 1 - Happy Birthday to my wonderful brother Jamey -- I love you! Hopefully this declaration of love and birthday wishes in a very public location will make up for the fact that not only didn't I send you a gift --- you aren't even getting a card. Course you probably find this more embarrassing -- public display of affection and all. Oh well what are big sisters for???!!
Don’t see enough of my brother…love that I am related to someone so cool. There were times growing up I questioned whether both of us would make it to adulthood alive. I was bossy (SHOCKING!) and self righteous and he was ornery and possessed every stereo-typical trait a little brother could have.
Some wicked battles growing up but it all seemed to turn out ok with some good memories to boot. I hope Z and Rylee get to know their uncle and the amazing man that he is.
June 13th - Food for thought from Zachary over dinner -- "I think they should call Earth Texas"
Chad is very proud of his Texas born son. He seems to have a grip on the mentality already.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater Vol. 1
So begins a series of entries that I am cheating to create. I am going to take a complete shortcut to blogging and use my Facebook status’ as prompts for the happenings in the Martin house over the past several months where I was too busy/tired/uncreative to update our journal.
May 1 - Drama this AM with Z getting four stitches but washed away by the fun lunch with friends!!!
Z mysteriously fell down on the tile entryway and cut his chin open – actually he busted it open. Chad and I had this deal long before children that I would deal with vomit and he will deal with blood. Sadly for Chad, he has had more vomit in his life than he could have expected and fortunately for all of us we have not had any real blood situations up to this point.
I heard the fall (I was upstairs) and Chad was in the kitchen so by the time I got down there Chad already had Z in our bathroom. There was blood and I peeked. It actually looked to me as if the edge of something (I am convinced our staircase) actually punctured his chin.
Kudos to Z for being so very calm despite the nervous parents. No question that he needed to go to the ER and get stitches and he just held that bundle of gauze under his chin.
I stayed at home with Rylee and finished getting ready for our company (we had a play date for lunch that day) and Chad took Z to the hospital. This trip was their second time to go to Centennial so they were old pros at this scenario.
I should let Chad jump in here and give a description but Reader’s Digest version is they had to strap him down and burrito him/mummify him and stitch up his chin. He didn’t cry – brave boy – and he came home with four stitches or whiskers as we called them.
May 1 - Drama this AM with Z getting four stitches but washed away by the fun lunch with friends!!!
Z mysteriously fell down on the tile entryway and cut his chin open – actually he busted it open. Chad and I had this deal long before children that I would deal with vomit and he will deal with blood. Sadly for Chad, he has had more vomit in his life than he could have expected and fortunately for all of us we have not had any real blood situations up to this point.
I heard the fall (I was upstairs) and Chad was in the kitchen so by the time I got down there Chad already had Z in our bathroom. There was blood and I peeked. It actually looked to me as if the edge of something (I am convinced our staircase) actually punctured his chin.
Kudos to Z for being so very calm despite the nervous parents. No question that he needed to go to the ER and get stitches and he just held that bundle of gauze under his chin.
I stayed at home with Rylee and finished getting ready for our company (we had a play date for lunch that day) and Chad took Z to the hospital. This trip was their second time to go to Centennial so they were old pros at this scenario.
I should let Chad jump in here and give a description but Reader’s Digest version is they had to strap him down and burrito him/mummify him and stitch up his chin. He didn’t cry – brave boy – and he came home with four stitches or whiskers as we called them.
By the time our friends showed up a lunch he was over it. Wish I could have recovered from it that fast!
May 9th - After each Cootie piece he wins, Z says quite seriously "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner." Love that kid!! It is a happy Mother's Day!
I first heard “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” from a colleague of mine who was in sales – I have never heard it before Chris said it. The statement cracked me up so much I guess I used it with Z. When he said it during our friendly game of Cootie, I posted the above to Facebook specifically for Chris. I was amazed at how many people commented and knew of this goofy saying. You have to admit it is kind of catchy and I bet you’ll say it a few times in your head!
May 16th - I am disturbed by the utter gooey sticky-ness a milk soaked Kix ball has.
How I would LOVE a maid! I am too much of a messy person to have a house with kids – they just compound the issue. I am convinced that Kix Cereal was meant as torture to us non-neat housekeepers!
Rylee is allergic-ish to wheat – she tests on the low reaction scale - so I was buying her corn and oat based cereals and then enters our life Kix and Kix with Berries (meaning Kix with pink colored balls).
When Kix balls get wet they are just like a dollop of glue. They stick to tables, chairs, hands, PJs, floors, etc. Rylee would get up from eating breakfast and her bottom would be covered in these Kix balls like dingleberries.
God forbid you miss one when you are cleaning up (like those folks that are not great housekeepers are inclined to do) and it dries. Depending on the surface the Kix ball has dried to, you may have to get out some serious weaponry to remove it.
Needless to say Chad has asked that I discontinue bringing Kix into our home.
Monday, November 1, 2010
I Stand Corrected
Zachary asks me "Mom do you know who had the very first Thanksgiving?"
I am fully expecting this to have some sort of tie back to Star Wars but I go with Pilgrims.
He said "Yes Mom! That is great -- and who else?"
In my very politically correct way I answer with "Native Americans."
Z shakes his head and sighs. "No Mom -- it was the Wampanoags - they are Indians."
Just schooled by my kindergartner.
PS - I did google it to make sure it wasn't a name from Star Wars!
I am fully expecting this to have some sort of tie back to Star Wars but I go with Pilgrims.
He said "Yes Mom! That is great -- and who else?"
In my very politically correct way I answer with "Native Americans."
Z shakes his head and sighs. "No Mom -- it was the Wampanoags - they are Indians."
Just schooled by my kindergartner.
PS - I did google it to make sure it wasn't a name from Star Wars!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Who's Child is This?
While there are many stories that should be published since nothing has been documented since June (leaving TLC, starting school, starting soccer) I am only going to recap a few. These stories will have you questioning whether I can truly be related to this boy:
* He only wants to drink water - he doesn't want milk unless cereal is involved, he doesn't want juice and definitely doesn't want cokes -- they are spicy. Me the queen of DDP has a son that only drinks water. Not complaining here folks just amazed!!!
* Walked into AlphaBest (after school care) on Tuesday and didn't seem him. The director smiled when she saw me and said that Zachary was in "time alone." We haven't put Z in a time out in YEARS so I was surprised and a bit horrified and asked what happened. She laughed and said that he was frustrated by the Lego's he was playing with and got mad. So I asked what did he do? (imagining throwing them or stomping on them - you know things I would do) She said he went to Time Alone. I said "But did he yell or throw or something?" She said "No he went to time alone." (Who's on first people?) I asked for clarification. She said when he started getting frustrated he went to her and said "I am too mad at the Lego's to play with them right now - I need to go have some time alone to calm down." That is right -- my son put himself in time out. If only Mommy could learn that kind of anger management.
* This kid wakes up in a good mood. This point really does call into question if we are related. I am not pleasant in the morning for an hour or so after I wake up. Even if I get enough sleep - I still need some time before anyone talks to me. The minute Z is awake - he gets out of bed and starts talking. He is a full speed before his feet can hit the floor. It is exhausting and quite unreal. Even Chad needs a little time to wake up and he is a thousand times perkier than me in the morning.
* He is anal retentive. Not in an Alex P Keaton way but there are things that go a certain way and any deviation from the routine can cause concern. I know I am quirky and have one or two OCD tendencies but WOW Z can get crazy about things that catch me off guard: closet door must be open always, only eats red vitamins, shoes must stay downstairs, his blanket must be cool, must color within the lines, must color realistically, and has to sleep on stuffed moose when his hair is wet.
* He doesn't eat pizza, rice, spaghetti sauce, cereal marshmallows, mashed potatoes, goldfish and any fruit other than mandarin oranges, bananas, and grapes. He does eat broccoli, biscuits with grape jelly, mac n cheese, and waffles. He is picky about his chicken nuggets too. Only certain kinds will do.
* The lines of reality and imagination are a little blurred for him. I know I have blogged about his life in England (which he still does mention by the way) but now it is all Star Wars all the time. He talks constantly about Star Wars. Interesting since he has never seen the movies. He doesn't know the stories so he makes up his own. He does seem to know who are the bad guys (DarK Vader -sic and General Grevious) and the good guys (Luke and Anakin) but he has created history and characters and plots for Star Wars. I am think George Lucas should pay us some money - Z is very thorough in his story line. The only concern I have is when he is so deep in his imagination -- I think he forgets where he is. He has light saVer -sic battles down the aisle of Target or is having a serious dialogue with the other Jedis in the shower and forgets to wash or is flying/fighting something on the soccer field as the team goes by with the ball. I am far too grown these days to get lost in my imagination like he does.
Please understand I love each and every quality my son has (well - truth be told the food situation is challenging) and I see everyday how I have a loving, sensitive, imaginative, generous, and giving boy. I think the reason I question who's child is this is because I am amazed and blessed that I get to call him my son!
* He only wants to drink water - he doesn't want milk unless cereal is involved, he doesn't want juice and definitely doesn't want cokes -- they are spicy. Me the queen of DDP has a son that only drinks water. Not complaining here folks just amazed!!!
* Walked into AlphaBest (after school care) on Tuesday and didn't seem him. The director smiled when she saw me and said that Zachary was in "time alone." We haven't put Z in a time out in YEARS so I was surprised and a bit horrified and asked what happened. She laughed and said that he was frustrated by the Lego's he was playing with and got mad. So I asked what did he do? (imagining throwing them or stomping on them - you know things I would do) She said he went to Time Alone. I said "But did he yell or throw or something?" She said "No he went to time alone." (Who's on first people?) I asked for clarification. She said when he started getting frustrated he went to her and said "I am too mad at the Lego's to play with them right now - I need to go have some time alone to calm down." That is right -- my son put himself in time out. If only Mommy could learn that kind of anger management.
* This kid wakes up in a good mood. This point really does call into question if we are related. I am not pleasant in the morning for an hour or so after I wake up. Even if I get enough sleep - I still need some time before anyone talks to me. The minute Z is awake - he gets out of bed and starts talking. He is a full speed before his feet can hit the floor. It is exhausting and quite unreal. Even Chad needs a little time to wake up and he is a thousand times perkier than me in the morning.
* He is anal retentive. Not in an Alex P Keaton way but there are things that go a certain way and any deviation from the routine can cause concern. I know I am quirky and have one or two OCD tendencies but WOW Z can get crazy about things that catch me off guard: closet door must be open always, only eats red vitamins, shoes must stay downstairs, his blanket must be cool, must color within the lines, must color realistically, and has to sleep on stuffed moose when his hair is wet.
* He doesn't eat pizza, rice, spaghetti sauce, cereal marshmallows, mashed potatoes, goldfish and any fruit other than mandarin oranges, bananas, and grapes. He does eat broccoli, biscuits with grape jelly, mac n cheese, and waffles. He is picky about his chicken nuggets too. Only certain kinds will do.
* The lines of reality and imagination are a little blurred for him. I know I have blogged about his life in England (which he still does mention by the way) but now it is all Star Wars all the time. He talks constantly about Star Wars. Interesting since he has never seen the movies. He doesn't know the stories so he makes up his own. He does seem to know who are the bad guys (DarK Vader -sic and General Grevious) and the good guys (Luke and Anakin) but he has created history and characters and plots for Star Wars. I am think George Lucas should pay us some money - Z is very thorough in his story line. The only concern I have is when he is so deep in his imagination -- I think he forgets where he is. He has light saVer -sic battles down the aisle of Target or is having a serious dialogue with the other Jedis in the shower and forgets to wash or is flying/fighting something on the soccer field as the team goes by with the ball. I am far too grown these days to get lost in my imagination like he does.
Please understand I love each and every quality my son has (well - truth be told the food situation is challenging) and I see everyday how I have a loving, sensitive, imaginative, generous, and giving boy. I think the reason I question who's child is this is because I am amazed and blessed that I get to call him my son!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
More &!@* My Five Year Old Says
These are three phrases Z has uttered recently:
1. “There sure are a lot of hos on the moon.”
2. “The scariest thing EVER on earth is Mommies!”
3. “Does Dad go party in the middle of the night?”
These three statements made me laugh out loud (he doesn’t like when I do that) and have to dig for clarification. While I feel compelled to explain the context of each comment, I feel it really takes the magic out of them. So if you want to just have the giggle – go back and read them again and stop after #3. If you are looking for the story behind them, keep reading but I warn you they are not as funny with the explanation.
1. Zachary has quite a fascination with space – he can name all of the planets (acknowledges Pluto but he does clarify it is actually a dwarf planet), he know comets, and galaxies, on and on. He has a very cool space book with fold out pages and real pictures. During dinner, Z was “learning” us about space and throws out the statement “There sure are a lot of hos on the moon”. I make my confused face – “Hos? On the moon?” He says “Yes, my book has pictures. There are hos everywhere!” In my mind I am picturing cheap prostitutes leaning on moon rocks, smoking cigarettes and wearing clear platform heels. I am visualizing thousands chatting amongst themselves and I laugh VERY loudly at my own twisted vision. Zachary calls me out of my reverie and asking what is so funny. I told him I wasn’t sure what he meant by hos on the moon and he gets his book to show me the craters on the moon. Indeed there sure are a lot of HOLES on the moon.
2. This next moment happened in the car coming from school turning from Preston onto Gaylord – the location is not relevant in the least it is just that for some reason I remember exactly where I was when this conversation took place. We were talking about things that are scary – spiders, snakes, places where there are spiders and snakes. (side note: he recently has quite a fear of spiders and snakes) He then asks me “Do you know what the most scariest thing is? More scarier than snakes and spiders?” I tell him I have no idea and he informs me “The scariest thing EVER on earth is Mommies!” I absolutely snort with laughter – and say “Yes Z, some times we Mommies are VERY scary.” His response was “I know! I know! Especially the ones with white tape.” I stopped laughing. Do what???? White tape? Hindsight is 20/20 and I realize now it was obvious but it took me a couple of minutes to catch on to what he meant. Light bulb goes off as we wait at a red light – “oh honey you mean MUMMIES!” I giggle. And he gives me that “duh” look and says just like a kid from The Goonies “That’s what I said – Mommies”.
3. We recently were on vacation in South Padre island staying in a condo owned by Chad’s company. We were getting ready one morning and Z comes in to the bathroom and asks me “Does Dad go party in the middle of the night?” Followed by my laughter. Again with my soooo wrong visions – Chad sneaking out in the middle of the night to go party with the teenagers on the beach or go drink beer by the pool with the bachelor party boys also staying in the complex. I tell him no that Daddy does not go party at night. He then says “well are you partying in the middle of the night?” I tell him I am way too tired to party at night. He then says more to himself “I wonder who is partying in the middle of the night?” I am trying to think of what is he hearing that makes him think there is a party or that we are go to a party in the middle of the night. Only one night was there lots of noise coming from the pool until about 1:00 am. As Zachary wraps up his getting ready process, going to the bathroom, washing hands, etc, he turns to me with much more seriousness than a five year old should have and said “Mom, we need to figure out who is partying at night.” I ask why and if they are disturbing him. He gives me that look that indicates he thinks I am totally crazy and says “No, but we need to tell them to flush because it is gross to leave it sitting in there.”
I love the &!@* Zachary says.
1. “There sure are a lot of hos on the moon.”
2. “The scariest thing EVER on earth is Mommies!”
3. “Does Dad go party in the middle of the night?”
These three statements made me laugh out loud (he doesn’t like when I do that) and have to dig for clarification. While I feel compelled to explain the context of each comment, I feel it really takes the magic out of them. So if you want to just have the giggle – go back and read them again and stop after #3. If you are looking for the story behind them, keep reading but I warn you they are not as funny with the explanation.
1. Zachary has quite a fascination with space – he can name all of the planets (acknowledges Pluto but he does clarify it is actually a dwarf planet), he know comets, and galaxies, on and on. He has a very cool space book with fold out pages and real pictures. During dinner, Z was “learning” us about space and throws out the statement “There sure are a lot of hos on the moon”. I make my confused face – “Hos? On the moon?” He says “Yes, my book has pictures. There are hos everywhere!” In my mind I am picturing cheap prostitutes leaning on moon rocks, smoking cigarettes and wearing clear platform heels. I am visualizing thousands chatting amongst themselves and I laugh VERY loudly at my own twisted vision. Zachary calls me out of my reverie and asking what is so funny. I told him I wasn’t sure what he meant by hos on the moon and he gets his book to show me the craters on the moon. Indeed there sure are a lot of HOLES on the moon.
2. This next moment happened in the car coming from school turning from Preston onto Gaylord – the location is not relevant in the least it is just that for some reason I remember exactly where I was when this conversation took place. We were talking about things that are scary – spiders, snakes, places where there are spiders and snakes. (side note: he recently has quite a fear of spiders and snakes) He then asks me “Do you know what the most scariest thing is? More scarier than snakes and spiders?” I tell him I have no idea and he informs me “The scariest thing EVER on earth is Mommies!” I absolutely snort with laughter – and say “Yes Z, some times we Mommies are VERY scary.” His response was “I know! I know! Especially the ones with white tape.” I stopped laughing. Do what???? White tape? Hindsight is 20/20 and I realize now it was obvious but it took me a couple of minutes to catch on to what he meant. Light bulb goes off as we wait at a red light – “oh honey you mean MUMMIES!” I giggle. And he gives me that “duh” look and says just like a kid from The Goonies “That’s what I said – Mommies”.
3. We recently were on vacation in South Padre island staying in a condo owned by Chad’s company. We were getting ready one morning and Z comes in to the bathroom and asks me “Does Dad go party in the middle of the night?” Followed by my laughter. Again with my soooo wrong visions – Chad sneaking out in the middle of the night to go party with the teenagers on the beach or go drink beer by the pool with the bachelor party boys also staying in the complex. I tell him no that Daddy does not go party at night. He then says “well are you partying in the middle of the night?” I tell him I am way too tired to party at night. He then says more to himself “I wonder who is partying in the middle of the night?” I am trying to think of what is he hearing that makes him think there is a party or that we are go to a party in the middle of the night. Only one night was there lots of noise coming from the pool until about 1:00 am. As Zachary wraps up his getting ready process, going to the bathroom, washing hands, etc, he turns to me with much more seriousness than a five year old should have and said “Mom, we need to figure out who is partying at night.” I ask why and if they are disturbing him. He gives me that look that indicates he thinks I am totally crazy and says “No, but we need to tell them to flush because it is gross to leave it sitting in there.”
I love the &!@* Zachary says.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
&!@* My Five Year Old Says
As I buckled Z in his car seat after school yesterday, a small sliver of gold shiny-ness in his nose caught my attention. I mentioned to Zachary that he had something in his nose and he responded:
"Yeah -- it's glitter. From the duck."
"Yeah -- it's glitter. From the duck."
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Punny RePost
I am stealing one of my status updates from Facebook because I am being snotty and irrational. Zachary is the KING of unintentional puns and each one he drops makes me laugh out loud. I learned this appreciation for word play from Andrew who is the KING of intentional puns.
I have also read that if you have to point out a pun then the pun loses it punch and humor. I am notorious for putting a "(HA!)" after my puns which to pure pun appreciators really does detract from its funny / clever appeal.
So last Thursday Zachary had a beautiful pun moment and I was dying to share his inadvertent cleverness. So what do I do??? I post it on Facebook and I avoid putting my standard (HA!) after it to keep the pun true.
The comments that were posted in response were more about his actions and naptime stories rather than the hilarity of his pun causing my irrational witchy unnecessary indignance. Instead of appreciating the sweet remarks friends and family made I am stomping my foot saying but isn't his PUN funny??? I think my attitude takes more away from the pun than if I had put a little (HA!) next to it. Or perhaps it is not nearly as funny as I, Zachary's biased mom, think:
This is for Uncle Andrew -- Tonight at Kindergarten Orientation we learned that they do not take naps. Zachary stands up and throws his fist in the air and says "YES! I am so tired of naps!"
No -- it is definitely funny. So I will make light of the situation and let those that don't catch his word play stay in the dark and let those that enjoy his unintentional cleverness enjoy the brilliance. (HA!)
I have also read that if you have to point out a pun then the pun loses it punch and humor. I am notorious for putting a "(HA!)" after my puns which to pure pun appreciators really does detract from its funny / clever appeal.
So last Thursday Zachary had a beautiful pun moment and I was dying to share his inadvertent cleverness. So what do I do??? I post it on Facebook and I avoid putting my standard (HA!) after it to keep the pun true.
The comments that were posted in response were more about his actions and naptime stories rather than the hilarity of his pun causing my irrational witchy unnecessary indignance. Instead of appreciating the sweet remarks friends and family made I am stomping my foot saying but isn't his PUN funny??? I think my attitude takes more away from the pun than if I had put a little (HA!) next to it. Or perhaps it is not nearly as funny as I, Zachary's biased mom, think:
This is for Uncle Andrew -- Tonight at Kindergarten Orientation we learned that they do not take naps. Zachary stands up and throws his fist in the air and says "YES! I am so tired of naps!"
No -- it is definitely funny. So I will make light of the situation and let those that don't catch his word play stay in the dark and let those that enjoy his unintentional cleverness enjoy the brilliance. (HA!)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Mommy Math
Zachary says to me tonight "Mom I love you so much" and I respond with a "Zachary I love you so much there is no number high enough to count how much I love you."
He laughed and said "How much Mom - like a hundred?" and I told him "more like a million times a million times a million billion gazillion."
He stopped laughing and made his serious face to say "that is definitely more than a hundred."
He laughed and said "How much Mom - like a hundred?" and I told him "more like a million times a million times a million billion gazillion."
He stopped laughing and made his serious face to say "that is definitely more than a hundred."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Ok Maybe Not but There are Sprinkles!
Zachary loves the cookies that you buy from the store – you know the ones that are the sugar cookies with the bright frosting and sprinkles. We were down to one and I told him I would put it in a baggie and save it for him. He worried constantly that someone else would eat it.
So tonight after eating a very good dinner, finishing his homework in record time, and completely picking up all his toys AND his sister’s toys I told that I thought he should get his cookie and sit down to eat with Chad who had just gotten home and was eating dinner.
Zachary said that he thought that maybe Daddy would want the cookie. I was stunned – I mean he LOVES these cookies and he had been panicking that someone would eat it. I thought it was so “sweet” (HA!) that Z was offering this prize cookie to his hard working Dad.
I think Chad was also taken aback. He told Z that it was such a generous offer but that cookie really had Zachary’s name on it.
Zachary said oh ok and went to the pantry retrieved the cookie and came back. He stared at it for a while and then told Chad "Daddy I don’t think they put my name on it."
So tonight after eating a very good dinner, finishing his homework in record time, and completely picking up all his toys AND his sister’s toys I told that I thought he should get his cookie and sit down to eat with Chad who had just gotten home and was eating dinner.
Zachary said that he thought that maybe Daddy would want the cookie. I was stunned – I mean he LOVES these cookies and he had been panicking that someone would eat it. I thought it was so “sweet” (HA!) that Z was offering this prize cookie to his hard working Dad.
I think Chad was also taken aback. He told Z that it was such a generous offer but that cookie really had Zachary’s name on it.
Zachary said oh ok and went to the pantry retrieved the cookie and came back. He stared at it for a while and then told Chad "Daddy I don’t think they put my name on it."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Raising Couch Potatoes
I read somewhere (I am thinking Newsweek) that we shouldn’t give today’s parents such a hard time about letting the TV babysit their children. The writer said that while growing up his mother made him go outside all day long to play unsupervised in the neighborhood. Essentially she was letting the outside babysit him. The writer continued by commenting no parent these days will say “Go run around the outside all day without any supervision” because of the ugly things that exist today.
I do remember living in NJ and mom letting me run around outside without her. My only real rule was I had to stay within the col-de-sac. We moved when I was five so I was younger than Z when I ran around with my friends.
I also know I had tons of freedom in Broken Arrow – riding bikes, running from friend’s house to friend’s house, going to the pool – all with out supervision.
To summarize, according to the writer parents of the good old days were just as guilty as us parents of the here and now about letting their children be “babysat” while the parental units try to get something done around the house.
Do you think they felt as guilty?
I do remember living in NJ and mom letting me run around outside without her. My only real rule was I had to stay within the col-de-sac. We moved when I was five so I was younger than Z when I ran around with my friends.
I also know I had tons of freedom in Broken Arrow – riding bikes, running from friend’s house to friend’s house, going to the pool – all with out supervision.
To summarize, according to the writer parents of the good old days were just as guilty as us parents of the here and now about letting their children be “babysat” while the parental units try to get something done around the house.
Do you think they felt as guilty?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Well, She Does Speak the Truth
This story is long overdue for documentation. Back in December, Rylee was just starting to make sounds like she was talking. She could say MaMa but it wasn’t necessarily in reference to me but to almost anything. One “word” that she said in reference to herself was money.
Now I am not sure if she was saying some sort of “mine” or “mommy” or what but it came out money. If you picked up her toy it was MONEY at the top of her lungs or if she wanted a snack moneymoneymoney. Anyway, we were amused by our daughter’s choice of words.
For Christmas, we went to the afternoon mass (during the blizzard I must mention!) and because it was Christmas we were in the overflow in the gym. We were sitting in bleachers and I was struggling to pay attention because I was trying to make sure Rylee didn’t plummet down the concrete steps. However, I did try to listen to the homily.
Fr. Jim talked about a Mexican Tradition of acting out what the Holy Family had to go through right before Jesus was born trying to find a place to stay. The tradition is called Las Posadas. The participants knock on doors and are refused a place to stay. Fr. Jim then tries to bring it home to us saying “what will the answer be when Jesus knocks on our hearts? What do you think Jesus will hear when He knocks on the doors of Hollywood? What do you think Jesus will hear when He knocks on the doors of Wall Street?”
It is at this moment that my darling daughter decides to answer Fr. Jim yelling like the 17 month old she is:
She responds “NO MONEY!”
Good thing Fr. Jim, the congregation at Prince of Peace, and God have a sense of humor.
Now I am not sure if she was saying some sort of “mine” or “mommy” or what but it came out money. If you picked up her toy it was MONEY at the top of her lungs or if she wanted a snack moneymoneymoney. Anyway, we were amused by our daughter’s choice of words.
For Christmas, we went to the afternoon mass (during the blizzard I must mention!) and because it was Christmas we were in the overflow in the gym. We were sitting in bleachers and I was struggling to pay attention because I was trying to make sure Rylee didn’t plummet down the concrete steps. However, I did try to listen to the homily.
Fr. Jim talked about a Mexican Tradition of acting out what the Holy Family had to go through right before Jesus was born trying to find a place to stay. The tradition is called Las Posadas. The participants knock on doors and are refused a place to stay. Fr. Jim then tries to bring it home to us saying “what will the answer be when Jesus knocks on our hearts? What do you think Jesus will hear when He knocks on the doors of Hollywood? What do you think Jesus will hear when He knocks on the doors of Wall Street?”
It is at this moment that my darling daughter decides to answer Fr. Jim yelling like the 17 month old she is:
She responds “NO MONEY!”
Good thing Fr. Jim, the congregation at Prince of Peace, and God have a sense of humor.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
I think I Would Prefer J.K. Rowling
My husband is incredibly creative. He “oozes” it actually. I have always hoped that our children will inherit this trait and Z is showing signs of creativity in his imagination. However, crazy mother that I am starts to twist this interesting streak into something to worry about – roll your eyes with me - of course I have.
It started with me trying to talk about “stranger danger” with Z. I told him that if anyone he doesn’t know approaches him when Daddy or I are not around to not talk to that person and to never follow that person anywhere. He told me not to worry he will uses his karate on them and kill them. Hmm. So I try to tell him I am serious and that he should not use his karate on anyone unless he is in class and I don’t like him saying he will kill anyone but don’t go anywhere with strangers. He responds with “I am serious Mom. I will use my karate and get him.”
So I have been tossing the scenario in my brain – can he tell where his imagination ends and reality should begin? I am frustrated because I do not feel that he took away from our conversation the dangers of strangers but rather had an elaborate play in his head where he is some superhero karate dude.
Then adding to world that is Zachary’s he has recently announced that we, the Martins, are his second family. He says he used to live with his community helper family (HUH?) in England (which he explains is "an island with a king" --???) when he was little. He added his community helper family in England call cookies biscuits, fries chips and dogs lickers (don't know about that last one!).
What the heehaw???? He loves to share stories of his other life with the community helper family all the while throwing in tidbits about England. I am thinking he must be learning about England in school or else they have changed Boom-a-rang from Cartoon Network into some sort of discovery channel because I did not teach him those things about England.
He is quite open about this other family with people he meets or friends we see. The people we know just smile and look at me saying “he has quite an imagination doesn’t he?” Those that we don’t know haven’t a clue how to process the information and smile and move on.
I am trusting this is a phase kind of like having an imaginary friend which I have heard is actually a sign of intellect and creativity. That is what I have heard. So I am choosing to believe that while I haven’t actually taught him about stranger danger that his stories of his other family and karate heroes are signs of a successful career in the future in the arts some how.
As my friend's mother said over the weekend “Maybe he’ll be the next Stephen King!”
It started with me trying to talk about “stranger danger” with Z. I told him that if anyone he doesn’t know approaches him when Daddy or I are not around to not talk to that person and to never follow that person anywhere. He told me not to worry he will uses his karate on them and kill them. Hmm. So I try to tell him I am serious and that he should not use his karate on anyone unless he is in class and I don’t like him saying he will kill anyone but don’t go anywhere with strangers. He responds with “I am serious Mom. I will use my karate and get him.”
So I have been tossing the scenario in my brain – can he tell where his imagination ends and reality should begin? I am frustrated because I do not feel that he took away from our conversation the dangers of strangers but rather had an elaborate play in his head where he is some superhero karate dude.
Then adding to world that is Zachary’s he has recently announced that we, the Martins, are his second family. He says he used to live with his community helper family (HUH?) in England (which he explains is "an island with a king" --???) when he was little. He added his community helper family in England call cookies biscuits, fries chips and dogs lickers (don't know about that last one!).
What the heehaw???? He loves to share stories of his other life with the community helper family all the while throwing in tidbits about England. I am thinking he must be learning about England in school or else they have changed Boom-a-rang from Cartoon Network into some sort of discovery channel because I did not teach him those things about England.
He is quite open about this other family with people he meets or friends we see. The people we know just smile and look at me saying “he has quite an imagination doesn’t he?” Those that we don’t know haven’t a clue how to process the information and smile and move on.
I am trusting this is a phase kind of like having an imaginary friend which I have heard is actually a sign of intellect and creativity. That is what I have heard. So I am choosing to believe that while I haven’t actually taught him about stranger danger that his stories of his other family and karate heroes are signs of a successful career in the future in the arts some how.
As my friend's mother said over the weekend “Maybe he’ll be the next Stephen King!”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I was inspired today...
OK – I know these seems totally and completely random for me but it struck me so much that I wanted to share. I have pulled these sentences out of context from Richard Rohr’s daily meditation and the point of the meditation was more about sharing in Christ consciousness but the bold sentence lead me in another direction.
We have to let go of the passing names by which we have tried to name ourselves and become the “naked self before the naked God.” Your bare, undecorated self is already and forever the beloved child of God. When you can rest there, you will begin to share in the universal Christ consciousness, or the “mind of Christ.”
It is so hard for me to wrap my brain around that bold sentence. Naked to me is pretty much the most vulnerable position you can put me in – to stand before God naked with my sins, my bad decisions, my anger, my hurt is a frightening prospect to say the very least. It is not as easy as one would think to remember how very loved we are by our Father – ironic huh? We love our children unconditionally and yet there are many moments in my life I forget that I am loved unconditionally with all my flaws and in my nakedness by God.
As my dear friend Debra has said – There is nothing I can do to make God love me more and there is nothing I can do to make God love me less.
We have to let go of the passing names by which we have tried to name ourselves and become the “naked self before the naked God.” Your bare, undecorated self is already and forever the beloved child of God. When you can rest there, you will begin to share in the universal Christ consciousness, or the “mind of Christ.”
It is so hard for me to wrap my brain around that bold sentence. Naked to me is pretty much the most vulnerable position you can put me in – to stand before God naked with my sins, my bad decisions, my anger, my hurt is a frightening prospect to say the very least. It is not as easy as one would think to remember how very loved we are by our Father – ironic huh? We love our children unconditionally and yet there are many moments in my life I forget that I am loved unconditionally with all my flaws and in my nakedness by God.
As my dear friend Debra has said – There is nothing I can do to make God love me more and there is nothing I can do to make God love me less.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Jan-Feb Z nuggets
How do people get up...?
Tonight, as we were finishing up reading the heart touching story of "The Littlest Angel", Zachary says, "mommy, I have a question." (Here we go- the realization that the littlest angel was a boy; and why was the little boy in heaven, and how do people get there... ooooh how to answer this?)
Zachary continues, "How do people get up into monster trucks?"
---
The morning of Cain-ita and Abel
One morning, as we were running late out of the door, a fire truck and ambulance siren could be heard in the distance. Mary Kate has encouraged Z to say a prayer for the people the rescue workers are going to help. So- Zachary stops in his tracks and says, "we've got to pray, daddy!" and proceeds to start a very sweet spontaneous prayer out loud. In the meantime, Rylee takes out at full speed for the alley. It's Monday- the trash truck is coming down the alley. So- I am chasing my demon daughter running into harms way 'round the car while NOT supporting my angel son making me proud of his spontaneous prayer. Lovely.
---
Adult stuff
While keeping both kids all weekend, I was explaining to Zachary why I was not going to Play Super Mario Bros (gen 1 recently rescued from SA) because of all the housework. Z replies, "Daddy, you've got to learn me all of this adult stuff because I'm just not going to know it." I'll try...
---
Par-tay
As we were shopping for invitations at Target, Z started inviting random people to his birthday party. Two accepted.
Tonight, as we were finishing up reading the heart touching story of "The Littlest Angel", Zachary says, "mommy, I have a question." (Here we go- the realization that the littlest angel was a boy; and why was the little boy in heaven, and how do people get there... ooooh how to answer this?)
Zachary continues, "How do people get up into monster trucks?"
---
The morning of Cain-ita and Abel
One morning, as we were running late out of the door, a fire truck and ambulance siren could be heard in the distance. Mary Kate has encouraged Z to say a prayer for the people the rescue workers are going to help. So- Zachary stops in his tracks and says, "we've got to pray, daddy!" and proceeds to start a very sweet spontaneous prayer out loud. In the meantime, Rylee takes out at full speed for the alley. It's Monday- the trash truck is coming down the alley. So- I am chasing my demon daughter running into harms way 'round the car while NOT supporting my angel son making me proud of his spontaneous prayer. Lovely.
---
Adult stuff
While keeping both kids all weekend, I was explaining to Zachary why I was not going to Play Super Mario Bros (gen 1 recently rescued from SA) because of all the housework. Z replies, "Daddy, you've got to learn me all of this adult stuff because I'm just not going to know it." I'll try...
---
Par-tay
As we were shopping for invitations at Target, Z started inviting random people to his birthday party. Two accepted.
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