Bella Be Good

Last week we were shopping at Whole Foods. They have a thing called the "Kids Club" where kids can choose from one of about a dozen snacks for free while you are shopping... fruit leather, a piece of fruit, string cheese or Bella's favorite, a cookie. Luckily the cookies are at the far side of the store from the entrance, so our usual routine is (standard mom bribery) "If you are good while we shop, you can have a cookie". Well, let's just say she didn't really hold up to her end of the bargain. So when we neared the checkout line she said, "What about my cookie?" to which I replied, "Well, you weren't being very good. I don't think you deserve a cookie today." She thought about it for a minute and said, "I was a little good, can I have a little cookie?" Another laugh out loud moment... for me and the woman behind us in line (whom I let go ahead of us as we went off to get a cookie).

If you can't be good today, at least try to be a little good. Might get you a cookie after all.

La la la la la la

Don't you love it how kids will just break into song at any given moment. Today at Target (imagine that, we were at Target) Bella saw something about the new Madagascar movie and at the top of her lungs started singing "I like to move it move it. I like to move it move it. Ya like to...move it!" and did a little dance in the shopping cart. I really wanted to join her but thought I'd better not. What a shame that I didn't. A few minutes of laughter and a lifelong memory would have been worth a moment of embarrassment.

Reminds me of the old song from Sesame Street...

Sing
Sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things, not bad
Sing of happy, not sad

Sing
Sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Sing
Sing a song

La la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la

"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney

Yesterday I asked Bella what kind of job she would like to do when she is an adult (if you have read this blog before you know her answers change daily, so it is good to ask often in order to keep up).

Bella: "I want to build things."
Mommy: "What kind of things?"
Bella: "Like buildings and towers and stuff."
Mommy: "Oh, so do you want to be an architect?"
Bella: "No, I think a Buildatect."

The Good Shepherd

I was making dinner tonight when Bella asked, "What are you making Mommy?"
"Shepherd's Pie", I replied. "OH! ... I LOVE shepherds, but I don't like pie" she declared.
Hmmm....I really would have guessed it the other way around. Then again, I can't say that I have met a shepherd that I didn't like. Have you?

October Sky

It's that time of year... my favorite time of year. Autumn! There's nothing better than a sunny fall day. The air is cool, the leaves are bursting with color and the sky is so blue you just want to lay in the grass and spend the whole afternoon daydreaming. So what the heck, I gave it a try. The ground felt cool on my back, the crisp fall air filled my lungs. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it...for about 30 seconds. Then the dog licked my face and the 4-year old jumped onto my stomach. Ugh.

So instead we played tag, we raked leaves and made big piles to jump in, played fetch with the dog. And all of a sudden my daydreams paled in comparison to my reality. Ahh.

Don't Push Your Luck

Yesterday we went to Target to pick up a handful of items. I was speeding through the store to avoid having to stop in the toy or candy department. We were at the very back of the store and had almost everything we needed when Bella said, "I have to go potty". Never fails. I asked her if she could hold it for just a few minutes to which she happily said yes. So I ran to pick up the last item and went straight to the checkout line. As I was paying for everything, 3 people behind me in line and people in both lanes next to us, Bella says, very loudly, "I sucked it in Mommy." Looking back on the situation, I should not have asked her the next question...a confused, "What?" to which she yells out, "My poop! I sucked it back in!" with big smile on her face as if she is waiting for congratulations. I glanced around at all the people around me who were now stifling their chuckles ...what else was there to do but laugh.

I'm not even sure how to end this story...I think I'll just leave it at that.

Secret Schmecret

I was cleaning the house today when I stubbed my toe. I held back the curse words because Bella was in the room, but let out a holler and a grunt. Bella asked, "What's wrong Mommy?" to which I replied, "I stubbed my stupid toe." She looked at my toes and said, "I like your toes Mommy, they're not stupid."

How AMAZING is the mind of a child! All afternoon I thought about how optimistic children are. It is inspiring. So as of today there is a new rule at our house. No more complaining. If you're unhappy with something don't complain about it, DO SOMETHING about it. If you don't know the answer right away, write down the problem and come back to it later. NO more focusing on the negative. Focusing on the positive makes everything brighter. It's as easy as that. Instead of "I hate cleaning the house", how about "I love it when the house is clean!" Then enjoy the clean house. Life is too short to dwell on the negatives. And while we're stewing in the past, we may be missing the here and now.

If you want to live the good life, then just live it!

Sunday, Monday...

Last night I was helping Bella brush her teeth. She tried to turn on her electric toothbrush and it wouldn't start. I took it and tapped it hard on the sink and it started. She looked at me with a big smile so I said,"Mommy's just like Fonzerelli!" Blank stare. "What's Fonzerelli?"
It was that moment that I realized I have become the "Nerd Mom". From now on, I will start to embarrass my kid, just by being myself. Just like my parents embarrassed me and your parents embarrassed you. Next year she will be off to Kindergarten and it will only get worse from there. The way I dress, the way I talk, the car I drive, the music I listen to (although my daughter is a Beatles fan - so let's hope that holds over forever). I will be dorky 'Laverne' to her and her friends when in my mind I think I am Pinky Tuscadero. Oh well, that's just the way it goes I guess.
I think there will still be plenty of Happy Days ahead.

Aaaaaay!

September 12, 2008

...and shoes! I am also thankful for shoes! How could I forget shoes!

September 11, 2008

Today I am grateful for...

My beautiful daughter who is so full of life and quick with a smile to brighten my every day.
My husband who is able to enjoy his passion for hunting, even on this rainy Colorado day.
My sweet, gentle, caring dog who protects me and loves me unconditionally.
My mother and my step father, my father, my sister and my soon-to-be-brother-in-law who love me and whom I love dearly.
My in-laws who make me feel like I have always been a part of their family.
My friends who constantly remind me that life is meant to be fun and enjoyed.
My memories of all the people I love that are no longer here on earth.
My comfortable house, in the gorgeous state of Colorado, in our free and beautiful country, in an awe inspiring world.
My voice, my mind, my heart and my soul and the freedom to express them.

On this day, September 11, 2008, I am thankful.