Daily dose of Perspective (click here to go to the site)

My sister-in-law is friends with Matt Chambers.  Ken went to school with him, also.  So, I was notified that they are looking for donations to help the family with Christmas presents, etc.
I read today's entry and it just broke my heart and made me smile all at the same time.  I love when people dealing with tragedy can seem so calm and positive. 
I often need this daily dose of perspective to keep it in check. 
I've added this site to my links section to keep checking in to see how they're doing.  Sad stuff.

A High, and then a Low...

This morning, I was getting ready for work and I had this sweater dress-type thingy on.  It tends to protrude in all the wrong places...
Macy says, "Mommy, you look beautiful!".
Then, she follows it with, "You look like you have a baby in your belly."....grumble...smile...grumble...ha. 

Good stuff.

btw - Both girls prematurely opened a gift after realizing some were finally wrapped under the tree.  I was folding clothes on Saturday and heard paper tearing and all sorts of shocked gasps --you would have sworn there were 5 kids in our living room. 
I ran to the room to find both girls hovered over their princess horse with princess barbie.  I threatened that elfie is watching and that he'll tell santa if they open any more until mom and dad say they can on Christmas morning.  Later that day, little miss sassy-pants (jorey) ripped open one and blamed Macy with a totally straight face.  We're in trouble.............

Sing Along (or don't) and I'm NOT going to be nice to Santa

Today was the "Concert" for Macy and Jorey's daycare, Leaps & Bounds.  They get together at a local elementary school, have cookies, milk, juice, and SANTA after they sing their songs.  It's cute because the toddlers and infants go first.  Most of the infants just look like they're annoyed.  The toddlers look scared out of their minds, and then the Young preschoolers and Pre-K classes have a few singers, a few criers, and a few pouters.  This year, Jorey told us she was going to be nice to Santa (as he has scared the livin' daylights out of her many times in the past).  Well, you take a look at the pic and decide what you think!  ha ha.  She was not having it.  She asked me why "Macy doesn't have any cotton balls on her boots" (see her poofs on boots for reference) and then didn't sing a word of the song, Jingle Bells, that she had been singing around the house the 2 weeks leading up to the concert.  She stood there with a look on her face that resembled a foul smell.  Next, Macy's class was up.  She sang quietly and would not smile at us.  My camera is weak, so I wasn't able to get the pics of her trying to keep the smile off her face as we waved at her and made dorky faces to try to spring her to life a little.  I wonder what people think when they see Ken and I together...nerds!

Feminine Supply or a Cheese Stick

So, the girls are curious.  Jorey is especially curious.  At a certain time of the month, they always want to know what's happening and I've been able to avoid any serious conversation, thus far, pertaining to any serious details.  The other day, I was unwrapping a certain, slender, feminine object...and Jorey walks up with a smile on her face and asks, "Mom, are you eating a cheese stick?" 
Boy, oh, boy....

Cookie Day: Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever! - Oh, and let's try to pack in the hunt for a perfect Christmas Tree!

Well, it was the 2nd annual Kath/Fry girl Cookie Day.  We joined at our place to make way too many delicious treats.  The elders, Natalie, Kenz, and I, planned to join forces on Friday to get all the baking done so we could spend Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday cooking.  Well, we ended up packing a few too many activities our venture...to the point where we had to make a cookie that said, PIT PIF.  Pain Is Temporary, Pride is Forever.  It was so funny.  We were all just totally exhausted both nights.  The girls were starting to "mass produce" just putting a glob of frosting on 10 cookies at a time...now, there were still many entertaining points.  Macy still piled hers really high!  She can put more sprinkles and doo-dads on a cookie than anyone I've ever seen.  I can still remember when I was little, we had these silver balls that were so hard and didn't taste like anything - I'd line the cookies with them from top to bottom because "they were pretty".  I remember my mom telling me that we might want to just put a few on each cookie.  :)  Jorey got into the flour - Dad, then made an even bigger mess by helping her realize that clapping her hands would produce a great cloud of flour.  But, this was a great time to hang out with my sisters and daughters in the same day.  I know we're making memories that we'll be able to cherish for a long time and that sweeping and mopping the floor 3 times to get all the sprinkles up is all worth it!

Ken tried to get in a fight by insisting that we go try to get the Christmas tree this weekend.  I realize there were only certain days that worked and that's why we were able to agree upon this day when there were already not enough hours in the day.  :)  We go to Hampton Tree Farm every year with Mary Ann and Ken Sr.  It's a good time - we always get a chuckle out of Mary Ann because she can take as much time as we'll all allow - she brings her yard stick and ribbons and just really makes a science out of it.  I believe it could be related to the year that we went there late - they were really low on trees and they needed a small one.  We mocked her tree because it was like Charlie Brown's.  ha ha.  Since then, we go earlier in the season, we go to the "secret spot" and then we end up with the pick of the crop! 

Oh Boy. I got a married smooch and I'm gross.

Every now and then, my eldest has a slight flare of emotion.  A zesty outburst, if you will.  I had snapped this photo about a month ago, while she was feeling this need to be zesty.  I was holding it - feeling like she would never do it again and this should not be used against her.  Well, I must show it.  It's amazing how angry she gets.  (those that know her will agree that Macy is a 98% happy kid - usually goes with the flow...but when she doesn't.........)  Yesterday, I dared to tell her she had to share the keyboard with her sister...who, in her defense, had been continually turning the keyboard off and on in a blatent attempt to frustrate and annoy her.  I was on the phone with my mom, Orange Gramma, when all of the sudden, out of the happy and peaceful city we typically reside in, she zested...and she yelled her typical "I don't like you" -- to which I reply, "Well, I still love you and I'm sorry you feel that way." --She then screamed, convulsed a few times, sat, stood, stomped and then came at me with the FUNNIEST insult, yet.  "And you're GROSS!".  I really almost laughed.  I said, "What?".  And she repeated, with even more zest, "You're Gross!!!!!".  Awesome.  3 minutes later, she apologized and told me that I'm not gross and that she loved me.  Good to know!  :)

Then, today happened.  Two of my favorite moments, to date, since becoming a parent.  First, we went outside to play today for about an hour...too cold to stop and quit moving, so we just ran around and went for a walk, and then played in the back yard on (what Macy & Jorey call) the park.  Macy was climbing over one of the walls and got stuck in an uncomfortable situation...I helped her get off and she looked up at me and kindof had a half smile when she told me, "I smashed my balls!". 
"Huh?".  Before I could respond with anything intelligent, she asked,
"Mommy, what are balls?" 
"Boys have them and girls don't." 
"Where"  Now, I know I shouldn't have, but really - what is a mystery going to do but make her look like a moron in 12 years when she never thinks to ask again, I forget I told her a strange story, and she then tells her friends that boys have balls in their ears...or some other version of innocent ball talk.  I one time believed that Worchestershire Sauce got it's name because I guy walked into a bar and said, "What's this here sauce."  Not kidding.  My dad probably told me that when I was 4 and then I was 25 when I re-told the darn story...now it's likely that the whereabouts of male anatomy is going to spring up in conversation before Worchestershire sauce, but you get my drift.  So, I simply stated that their balls are by their wieners.  I know...I'm a bad mom.  But, she was satisfied with the answer and just curled up her nose.  Then she asked if an unnamed 5-7 boys have balls.  I said, "All boys do.  We don't really need to talk about that, though...those things are private."  Oh, brother.

Fast-forward today to a time when we're going down for naps.  Every time I put them down, Jorey trots over to Macy's room, they take out every stuffed animal and book that her room holds and have a little pow wow on Macy's bed.  (side note, Jorey told me her first lie on Friday when she stated that she had slept and woke up --later, after consulting with my eldest, they did not sleep and played the entire time - I have now wisened up and go up there 3 times in the first 15 minutes to confirm that they are in their rooms, as they should be).  So, I go up to find her heading back to her room to get more "goodies" to pile on Macy's bed and I get her back in her own bed.  I go back in to tell Macy to get to sleep and she wants a kiss.  We have quick smooch and she says, "No, I want to give you another one."  So, she grabs my face with a hand on both face and pushes her lips up against mine and then kindof twists her head - the smooch lasted about 4 seconds.  Then, she pulls away and says, "There, now I gave you a married kiss like you give Daddy."  wow...I love my kids.  Can I keep them this age for all time?   Na...I'm sure there's more good stuff coming.  I can't wait to see what's next.

Tonight is the Night. The first of Many.

Macy took her first shower.  My little, sensitive Sally, who generally has a bit of a panic attack when water gets in her eyes, just took a shower 2 hours ago.  She smiled the whole time and embraced the whole ordeal.  Even when the water was flowing down her face, she smiled.  Amazing.  I'm now just remembering my fascination with mowing the lawn.  It would be 'so fun' I had said.  I dreamed of one day cutting the grass.  Maybe this sense of pride and accomplishment is similar to that desire that I once had and because it's new, it seems like a treasure that first time.  Who knows, but it made me laugh out loud a couple times because you could tell she was happier than a bird with a french fry to be taking it, rather than the bath.  Nice work, Macy.  You're a big girl!  And, speaking of big girls, I can't leave out my little lady Jorey.  She is an official panty wearer.  That was the first sentence out of her mouth to everyone at our Kath Thanksgiving gathering at Great Granny Kay and Papa Eddie's house.  They would say, "Well, hello Jorey!  How are you?".  She would respond, "I'm wearing panties.".  ha ha.  So fun.  And, I have to say...she really did a doozy on me when she caused the "Pile and the skid mark" from the previous post, but this was the end.  She has been dry nearly every morning and has yet to have an accident at daycare or during waking hours.  It's unbelievable.  It makes me happy!  I love you goyles so much...and I'm proud of every big step you're taking toward becoming our little ladies!