Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
(A conversation with Daddy)
Delaney: Daddy, look at those people on bicycles.
Chris: Yeah. They are probably husband and wife.
(a little while later after spotting two women walking down the street)
Delaney: Daddy, look at those two people walking there.
Chris: I see them.
Delaney: Maybe they are wife and wife.
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(during a bedtime conversation)
Delaney: Mommy, can a woman marry a woman.
Me: Yes, of course.
Delaney: I want to marry a man.
Me: Ok, that’s fine, too.
Delaney: I want to marry a man like you did.
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Gumpa took us for a boat ride again in the channels around his house. We had a blast! We turned around in the choppy sound, and Colin screamed “I wanna go home!” while Delaney was screeching, “More more! FUN!” So again these two illustrate their opposites.
Back in 2008, Gumpa taught Colin how to drive. It seems that Colin’s driving skills haven’t improved much since then. He made several twists, turns and circles on today’s drive. Then again in 2008, Gumpa tried to sink the boat, but ended up making a sound and secure rescue.
But today, we had a beautiful, uneventful ride, and the kids had a great time!
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
Last week Delaney complained several times about a tooth hurting. She complained enough that we decided to make a dental appointment for her. It took us a few days to get the appointment, so of course by the time we actually went to the dentist, her tooth wasn’t hurting anymore.  But we had the appointment, so we went. The hygienist thought her gum was a little puffy around the sore area, but otherwise everything looked fine. The demist came in to check things out. And what did he find? A LOOSE TOOTH! An x-ray showed that her big tooth is pushing up and absorbing the root of the baby tooth, and he expects the tooth to fall out before Memorial Day! I was SHOCKED! She isn’t even five-and-a-half yet! The dentist did remark that it is a little early, but overall her teeth look great. So our newest consideration is figuring out what the tooth fairy brings these days…
And just for fun…
Today I was vacuuming while Colin was sitting on the couch. Here is our conversation:
Colin: Mom, are you going to vacuum the couch?
Me: Why? Do you want me to vacuum you up?
Colin: No.
Me: Why not?
Colin: Because I’m a part of your life!
Sunday, April 11th, 2010
We finally have chickens again, and I’m so excited!! I can’t wait for them to get a little bigger (and a little less fragile) and then to start producing eggs! This time we have five Buff Orpingtons. Yay!
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
My favorite part of spring is planting the garden and watching it grow. So far we have spinach, lettuce, radishes, and onions growing. I’ve started seeds in the greenhouse for tomatoes, cukes, herbs, and a host of other fun garden plants. Our asparagus is in, the garlic is in, and the blueberries and strawberries are starting to leaf out and flower. I love it! This week, even my students are getting into the gardening mode – the will be starting seeds and planting some early-season crops outside. I hope they will love to watch the plants grow and enjoy harvesting the crops as much as I do!
Baby radish peeking through the soil.
Blueberries! The plants are loaded with little buds – it’s going to be a great season!
Saturday, March 27th, 2010
We live on a marshy wetland, and therefore have a fair share of beavers that frequent the area. The kids love to hike through the greenway area along the marshy creek. They love to spot the remnants of beaver activity. The dogs love it, too. In fact, Zoey-the-escape-artist spends hours romping around in the water and mud and muck that surrounds our area. Here are some highlights of a recent hike through the woods.
Zoey is especially fond of the pools left by the beaver’s hard work.
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
One of my most favorite things about spring is hanging clothes on the clothesline. I love the order and the rainbow of colors. It is almost therapeutic to get them up on the line.
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Today as we were leaving school, Delaney was having a total “I’m tired” tantrum about something stupid – so stupid I can’t remember what it was. As she was screaming outside of the car, I was buckling Colin into his car seat. He looked at me completely seriously and said, “Let’s just leave her at school.” I wish, Buddy, but I don’t think that’s legal.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
Apparently our lovely weather yesterday convinced Colin that spring is here. This morning as I was getting dressed, I popped on my “fuzzy” Crocs, to which he promptly stated, “You can’t wear those, Mommy; it’s hot outside!”
Speaking of spring, the mosquito/snake/tick invasion has begun. We’ve seen our fair share of snake hatchlings already this year, and yesterday I pulled three ticks off one dog after a mere 10 minute jaunt through the woods. If this doesn’t signify spring, I don’t know what does!
Baby black racer or baby red-bellied water snake. He was about the size of a pencil.
Baby red-bellied water snake found in my garden. He was about the size of a pencil.
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Yesterday we were running super late. I had a doctors appointment, so we didn’t leave Cary until well after 5. The kids were hungry and cranky and screaming at each other, so I made the management decision to pull in an Wendy’s and grab them each a chicken sandwich. So we pulled through the drive-thru and I placed the order while telling Chris my plans on the phone. Colin was super confused. He couldn’t figure out what we were doing and why we weren’t going to a restaurant. Delaney says, “We’re in the DRIVE-THRU,” but Colin still didn’t get it. He kept asking me how we were going to get the food and when we were going in. He was amazed at the concept of a drive-thru window. After I handed him his sandwich, he opened it. His first response? “COOL!”
Colin has been through a drive-thru before, but obviously not in his living memory. It was hilarious! So that might officially be Colin’s first “remembered” drive-thru experience.
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Today in the car on the way home:
Colin: Delaney, do you know what it means to “observe”? It means you look all around turning head from side to side and look for a bird or a pond or a marsh.
More conversation from on the way home:
Colin: Mommy, can I tell you about the marsh?
Me: Of course!
Colin: Well, we saw a beaver jam where the beavers live. They build jam for their home. And we saw the water and some birds and a crayfish…and…and getting excited we even got to throw sticks in the water!
And just for fun, here’s one from Delaney:
Delaney: I am just so mad at her, she should have said she was sorry.
Me: Well, maybe she didn’t feel sorry, so she didn’t say sorry.
Delaney: but she hurt my feelings!
Me: I understand. But “sorry” doesn’t always solve everything.
Delaney with attitude: Oh YES it DOES!
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
Chris: Colin, did you know that today you are three and three-quarters?
Colin: Me?
Chris: Yes, you. You are three-and-three-quarters.
Colin: Oh, does that mean I get to go to kindergarten?
Chris: You won’t go to kindergarten, buddy; you are a Montessori kid.
Colin: But dad, you go to kindergarten when you grow taller. When you are BIG.
I don’t know where this kindergarten obsession came from. People often ask me if Delaney is in kindergarten, and I explain – as shortly as possible – that there is no “kindergarten” in Montessori education, but the classes are multi-age. I explain that she is in a full-day program which could be compared to a typical kindergarten year. But I don’t know where/when/why Colin latched on to this whole “kindergarten” idea.
Total side note: kindergarten or kindergarden? My spell checker is confused…
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Today Colin overheard me talking on the phone to a friend, asking her to come with me to dinner. Then he heard me telling Chris that several of my friends were busy, and that no one was available to have dinner with me. This is the conversation that followed:
Colin: I’ll go to dinner with you, Mommy.
Me: You will? Thanks buddy!
Colin: I’ll be your friend, too, until you find another one.
Me: Thanks!
Colin: We can go to Chic-Fil-A and eat chicken and be friends.
My sweet boy! Always looking out for his mommy…
