Deep Thoughts by G-Bean

Lately we have had some lively discussions with our resident red-head. The questions are definitely getting more difficult. I feel like I need more time to collect my thoughts! Here are these blue eyes full of wonder waiting to absorb any information I give her as fact. No pressure right? I do not relish in this type of authority. I do not profess to know it all, nor do I want too. But when she asks, I can practically hear the Jeopardy music begin to play. Let me give you some examples.

-Question: Mom, where did I come out of and HOW?
-Answer: G-bean, I myself often wonder about that. Mommy was very happy (medicated) at the time and can't remember all of the details. But you came into this world in style.

-Question: Mom, can Daddy grow a cool mustache? Can I have one too?
-Answer: Well, Dad can grow one, but he starts to creep out the neighbors. And girls
can't grow mustaches. [RETRACTION] Actually honey, there are some women who can grow
some really nice ones, but don't stare directly at them. If mommy ever grows one when she gets old, it is your responsibility to wax it.

-Question: Mom, do you and Daddy have "True Love's Kiss"? (She watches Enchanted ALOT!)Answer: Some days. And the days we don't... Well, we just have to work a little harder for the magic.

-Reaction: That's not like the movie.

Mom Reaction: Yeah that stuff is propaganda.

Question: What's propaganda?

*And to think, we have only just begun to answer life's mysteries.

Whenever we go to Maja & Papa T's house (aka grandparent's house), it's always an adventure. A few weekends ago we had a game night & sleepover. We love going to their house because we hunker down in their kitchen and cook like mad scientists. Everyone gets to come up with their own concoction for us all to sample. G-bean specializes in veggie dips. We dance, visit, bake, bathe, and whatever else we can think of. On this particular rainy weekend, we made chocolate chip cookies while bathing E. E had the ingenious idea of combining 2 of her passions, eating hot cookies in the bath. Meanwhile, G-bean got a "mani & pedi" from one of her favorite aunts. Maja danced around like a crazy lady and our faithful Jack dog stood watch (hoping E would drop a cookie).

Since the men of our family are clearly outnumbered, they tend to make themselves scarce once all the 'hens' gather. Instead of running for the hills, they headed out for a round of golf. The weather did break for a little outdoor recreation. The girls even got to feed horses and pet a 'baby horse'. It was a great escape! Thanks again.

Okay, I am just going to say it... Every night I tuck in my children and every morning I tuck in my muffin top! I only enjoy the night time routine. Summer is a painful season. It's baring it all at the neighborhood pool in hopes that your kid will learn to swim before people realize that is not an innertube built into your suit. Let us strip away the layers of fleece & wool only to see what hibernation, children & a long winter have left behind. Speaking of behinds, the other day while donning my summer duds I compared the look of my backside to 2 pigs wrestling in a blanket. Sorry, I am a visual person.

Never fear, I am a firm believer that I got myself into this mess, so I can exercise my way out of it. Hence the Sunday night re-dedication to fitness. Here is a week in review. Monday went fairly well until we got kicked out of the 'Mommy gym'. Yep, E formed a union of kids with an aversion to mothers working out. Tuesday, G-bean and I attempted to do Pilate's, which became a demonstration in how flexible 4 year olds are and how 30 year olds should feel lucky to fasten their own bra. Upon completing 50 minutes of pretzel impressions and back bends, G-bean hovered around me for the rest of the day concerned about my back. Is my age and lack of physical prowess that obvious? Wednesday hmmmmmm Wednesday. I ate a back of chips while watching a fitness show. As if that wasn't ambitious enough, I attempted to clean my house to the beat of my workout mix. I think I broke a sweat. We did go for a bike ride, but due to the 90 lbs of fun (kids & trailer) hooked to my bike we had to avoid major hills. To the average passerby, it looked like I was pedaling in slow motion on the slightest grade. Today...well I've got an hour before bed maybe I'll come up with something. I just flexed and I think I pulled something- let's call it a day.

The point of this whole diatribe is this, fitness is exhausting. It's one more area of life that you have to exert yourself and hope for results. Sounds like marriage and kids! Sometimes I feel like I could see more results by banging my head against the wall for 3 reps of 12.

So I am asking for ideas, because my whole sit & be fit routine isn't working. Plus, I know my path in life is paved with baked goods, so how do I find the balance and my 16 year old behind?

What's My Motivation?

Random Tidbits

Ever since our little Nancy Reagan launched her "Just Say NO" campaign, things have been a little testy around here. Everything receives one answer. E would you like some juice? NO! E is the world flat? NO!! E do these pants make me look fat? NO!!! Yep, that expanding vocabulary I mentioned is now contracting to a mere 2 letter word. Goodness we are getting creative around here.

I made my first bid on Ebay, which is the closest I'll ever get to online gambling. I lost of course. I knew I should have gone to MIT.

R & I watched Dan in Real Life again. I love that movie. Perhaps because it foreshadows our future with daughters. R is looking forward to being a "murder of love" and greeting boyfriends with a shotgun. I on the other hand, look forward to the organized chaos and endless drama.

G-bean is devastated that school has ended as am I. She is comforting herself with our summer's supply of Popsicles and long rides on her bike. She is all about 'circle toast' (English muffins), character band-aids that cure everything, sporting tank tops & pig tails, decapitating tulips and mothering E. G-bean has been quite confused as of late wondering if no really means no due to E's new one word wonder. Yes G-bean, no means 'don't ask again', maybe means 'drop it' and yes means 'yes & remember how cool I am when you are a teenager'. See clear as mud!

R & I celebrated our 8th anniversary! To quote the infamous Micheal Jackson, "And they said it wouldn't last." It was a glorious occasion. We went out to dinner and grocery shopping. It doesn't get much hotter than that. Ooooh maybe if you threw in a sink full of dishes, poopy diaper change and detailing my car that would really turn up the heat. Now that makes my heart go pitterpatter. You might even consider that foreplay. We have actually been courting one another for the past 15 years. We don't count the spitballs in 3rd grade. So half of my life, I have been with this strange fellow named R. I think he's a keeper.

We have a revolving door at our nudist colony. E has figured out how to take her clothes off at nap time. Now she winds down by stripping and wakes up in the buff. As for G-bean, she has decided that it is now kosher to sleep in pajamas...at age 4.

That's us in a nutshell this week... or shall I say that's us in the nut house this week! I have to go, R just invited me to watch Pride & Prejudice. I think...No, I know it's a trick to get me off the computer...but I'm falling for it. Doogie Howser signing off.

Latest & Greatest

Life under our big top is rolling along. Most days, I am lucky to keep up. Let's see the cliff notes... Palm Springs with R's family, my 30th b-day, family gatherings, Cinqo de Mayo party, Jazz playoffs, basketball tournaments, fieldtrips, co-oping at G-bean's school, speaking in church, playdates, soccer, etc. Hmmmm I am sure there is more...perhaps I blocked it out. This is what I do know about the latest and greatest for our little ladies.

Miss G-bean the dancing queen is still styling her way through life. She wakes up at 6:45am every morning and quickly dresses herself in her latest fashion creation. She then proceeds to the living room for her morning dose of "shows" while eating breakfast with dad. E & I show up on the scene at a more reasonable hour. G-bean loves to write her letters and draw pictures. She has now found a way to combine both passions... making signs. She has posted a sign on her door to keep E out. E only has permission to enter at bedtime. Oh the things cartoons teach. Her new catch phrase "Things are about to get crazy in here". She is quite the little mother packing her little sis all over the house. When she wakes up from her nap, she sneaks across the hall and breaks E out of the porta-crib. She tips it over, E rolls out giggling and it's off to play. I love this age, because G-bean is my little helper and friend. When we cook, she ties on my apron and helps plan the menu. The other day we sat in a patch of sun on the carpet and read cookbooks like romance novels. We like to crank up the music and practice our new dance moves. She is absolutely thrilled that she now has the 'longest hair' in our family. I think she has developed the Pantene hair toss. It's so fun to have big girl conversations and see the world through her eyes. She likes to point out things that only 'big girls' get to do. My most favorite thing of all is the bond I see with G-bean and E. When we close the door at night, we hear nothing but giggles and the squeak of bed springs until they both pass out from exhaustion.

E is our little Muppet. She waddles through her day with her Monkee's mullet and toothy grin. E has her pudgy hands in everything. Her mantra 'Leave nothing untouched or untasted'. She likes to motor around the house mimicking her big sis by attempting to ride scooters, try on sparkle shoes, and chew on Barbies. After a hard days play, she has 2 ways of sleeping: 1- like she has fallen out of the sky without a parachute, 2-like a rhinoceros that has been tranquilized. She is quirky. She is climbing everything! We keep finding her on table tops, scaling high chairs, and on top of boxes. In her spare time, she is still fighting the tartar war by rummaging through our toothpaste drawer. G-bean posted a sign on the drawer discouraging such behavior, but E conveniently can't understand signage. As a result, E eats about a tablespoon of Dora toothpaste a day. There has got to be some nutritional value in that. She has learned that infamous word that makes a parent's blood run cold... "NO". Fortunately she is still testing it out. I love her expanding vocabulary. For better or worse, she understands everything we are saying. Yikes!

Even though life feels crazy, this is such a magical time. Glad we could share it with you!

Welcome to Suburbia!

Soccer season has kicked off once again! We have dusted off our theme song of "Busta Move" and we are rollin' on out to the field. G-bean's dedication to the sport has increased slightly. While she still hugs her best friend M, dances around and makes grass pies on the field (most of the time), she has had moments of greatness. E on the other hand, mans the sidelines as cheerleader and guardian of halftime treats. It's a family affair!