What a Day for a Daydream....

"You be You".  I say that to my kids every day.  All I want for them is to be wholly and fully who they are.  Not what I imagine for them.  Not what society says is OK for them.  You be You.  No shame, no apologies, no secrets.  That's my dream...

But every day the world tells them the exact opposite.  You be You as long as your skin is just right, you wear certain clothes, you weigh next to nothing, and you love who it's "OK" to love.  You be You as long as you fit in where "we/they" think you should.  Blend in.  Don't be different.  I dread the day when my sensitive son is called "gay" and my opinionated daughter is called a "bitch".  They better not be smart or else they are "nerds".  They better not have challenges or else they are "retarded".  They better not love someone like them or else they are second class citizens. 

I want to KNOW who my kids are; I never want them have to reveal themselves to me.  I don't want to be the kind of parent that pushes my kid to be a doctor, then is disappointed when they want to dance.  I don't want to put my expectations of who they are, or who they should be, on them.  I never want them to have to sit me down and "come out" and fear what I might say. 

So how can I teach them to be accepting of who they are, and of everyone else, when we live in a world that is so intolerant?  How do I teach them You be You?  How do I teach them to fight the good fight?  That's the million dollar question, isn't it...

My answer...every day I will fight the good fight.  Every day I will tell them to be themselves.  I will tell them how much I love them and their individuality.  I will tell them how lucky Baby H  and A are because they get to have two mommies, not just one.  I will make love and family normal to them, no matter what it looks like.  I will teach them to love who they want to love, to wear what they want to wear, and to be who they want to be.  I will show them that good people come in all forms, and all I expect from them is to be good, honest, caring people.  You be You, little ones.   

But I will also have to teach them that the world isn't fair.  Not everyone has the same rights.  Not everyone is nice.  They will never have a time in their lives that they didn't know about child abuse, and that mommy's job is to "find homes".  I will continue to fight the good fight and teach them to make a difference, in any small way they can.  At age five, my son is constantly pulling out toys he hasn't played with in a while to give to "other boys who don't have toys", and his only question about Baby H and her two mommies is "why do they live so far away".  I think he is remarkable, and I am so proud of him.  

My hope for them as they grow up is that they get to live in a tolerant world.  A world where the people in my life that I adore can make the same choices for their family that I can make for mine.  That they grow up with the confidence to speak their mind, and the strength of character to stand up for good.  That they fight the good fight, whatever fight they chose. 

We were all taught as young children that actions speak louder than words, so I must always remember that they are watching.  They are watching my actions, big and small, and taking it all in one day at a time.  I will change my profile picture, and keep placing children in need with all types of families that have love and safety to provide.  I will show my kids daily actions of change, and hope that they grow up to be active in their little piece of the world.

Today, the door was opened, if ever so slightly, for families to finally become "legitimate" families.  Maybe, just maybe, we are one step closer to a tolerant world.  I hope that someday my children read about this day in their history books as a changing day for our country.  I hope they someday feel as bewildered and ashamed at the denial of civil rights of so many people that we love, as I do.  I hope by the time they can understand DOMA, it's meaning and it's impact, it's as shocking and absurd to them as the 1960's Civil Rights movement that I read about in my history books. 

I have hope for them, and today, I gained a glimmer of hope for the bigger picture.  But in the meantime...You be You, little ones.  You be You. 

Reptile Dysfunction

Today in the car on the way to school a commercial came on the radio for Erectile Dysfunction.  Owen asked Did you hear them say reptile?  What kind of dinosaur is that? 

A regular one.

Okay. 

Thank goodness for innocent minds.  And funny boys! 

He cracks me up daily. 

FABULOUSLY NAUGHTY

Piper.  P-Pie.  Piper Patrick.  Piper Delaney.  P Danger.  P Diddy.  Shiggy Smalls.  Oh how I adore this girl!

 

 

 I can't believe that she is almost TWO years old and I have barely blogged about her.  So many things to tell; so many things she's learned; so many things she's taught us all.  But really...who has time for blogging when I have a full time job of trying to keep this kid alive!  No really, she's giving me a run for my money.  Oh yeah and there's that OTHER full time job that I have, as well as the 5 year old not-so-little, the hubby, and everything else that life entails. 

But OH HOW I LOVE THIS FABULOUS GIRL!  She is (almost) always smiling.  She is ALWAYS singing--ALWAYS.  She sings to herself, she sings to the TV, she sings in the car, she tries to out sing her brother...she sings ALL THE TIME.  And the funny thing is that she really can carry a tune.  You can tell what song she has in her head as she sings to herself, but her most favorite song is her own P-I-P-E-R sing to the tune on B-I-N-G-O.  Thanks for that one Nana! 

The other thing she is ALWAYS doing is dancing.  Every time she hears music, even just a commercial jingle, she breaks out into full dance mode. She shakes her booty, stomps her feet, and does the best chicken dance you've ever seen.  She loves her drum set, her microphone, piano, and anything else she can use to make music.   She has a song in her head, dancing in her heart, and keeps me laughing a lot. 

She loves to clean, color, and take good care of her babies by giving them regular check-ups. 

She is also a FABULOUS fashionista.  She loves to get herself dressed in random outfits and wants to wear hats all day long.  She's a girl who knows what she likes, and she will let you know if she doesn't!  She has a pair of shoes that if I just show them to her, she flings herself on the floor like her world has come to an end.  Show her the pair she likes and the tears stop and the giggles start.  Like I said, she knows what she likes. 

She loves loves loves her big brother and copies him all the time.  It's so cute right now, and he loves every minute of it, but that moment is coming when the shift will happen and she will go from cute to annoying.  That moment will break my heart. 

She is a FABULOUS talker.  She says "peas" and" TeeToo" (please and thank you), will ask if your "KAAAYYY???" if you look hurt.  She says "hapagooday!" as Daddy and brother leave for work/school in the mornings.  She loves to drink "juu" and says "Oh-OH" for Owen.  She talks constantly and most definitely knows what she is saying...I just wish I did! 

She is very hi-tech.  She can use the phones, iPad, and knows how to go incognito when illegally playing in her brothers room.  She gets super excited and giggly when given the iPad.  She knows how to find the different shows she likes and sits just like her brother while watching.   

But this girl is also oh-so-naughty. 

 

This is what I get when I tell her to not stand in the tub. 

 

In her short 20 months of life she has put 8 marbles (at the same time) in her mouth, choked on 42 fruit loops, a paci ring, blueberries, a rock, and gold fish.  She has eaten charred wood from the fireplace, bugs, crayons, chalk, shiracha sauce (twice!), and probably other things I can't remember.  What she WON'T eat is food. 

 

 

Unless she dug it out of the trash (don't worry, it was on a doily).

 

 

She can't be left alone or else she will climb...on anything...

BUSTED!

 

If I turn my back for a second, there is no telling what I might find when I come around the corner...

 

 

Basically, she's like her mama and can't be trusted.

 

 

 

But here is why she is FABULOUSLY NAUGHTY...she climbs on to her chair (back to me, so she's just playing) and tells herself "no-no" and sits down.  Then stands up again, tells herself "no-no" and sits down.  

 

She climbs into the kitchen chair in attempts to get on to the table.  I tell her NO, and put her down.  She does it again, I tell her NO and put her down.  She climbs up again, I tell her NO, and swat her leg (not to fret my fellow CPSers, no marks or bruises) and put her down.  This time she climbs up, tells herself NO, pats her own leg, and climbs down.  I just laugh.

 

She stands on the couch, I tell her to SIT, she smiles.  I tell her to SIT, she smiles.  I stand up, she sits, and smiles. 

 

She climbs on to the kitchen table, bites into each apple, puts them back, and walks away. 

 

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. This girl is FABULOUS.  She makes me laugh all the time, keeps me dancing, and bring such joy to my life and to our family.  Her naughtiness is one of the best parts of her sweet little (OK big) personality.  Sometimes I just can't stand how much I love her.  FABULOUSLY NAUGHTY and all. 

 

This is her personality, captured in one sinlge snapshot.  I hope she is always this confident, happy, and just a little bit naughty. 

 

We really are peas on a pod.  And I wouldnt have it any other way.  









Merry Christmas!

When putting Owen to bed the other night he decided he wanted to read the Christmas books to me.  He has a set of 4 books, each about 5 pages, and each about a different Christmas character.  One book is Rudolph, one is Santa, The Abominable Snowman, and Hermey the Elf.  He has the books memorized and wanted me to pretend that I didn't know the story so he could "read" it to me.  He started off with the Santa book. 

This is the Santa story.

Oh, OK, Santa has a story?

Yes, all Christmas guys have a story.  Like Rudolph...(singing) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, he'll go down in His Story...see, like that...but this is Santa's story.

Oh, OK...as I grab for a tissue and pretend to blow my nose to keep from busting out laughing at him.  That kid is so dang funny, he just keeps me laughing all the time! 

I sure love that kid. 

From the Mouths Of Babes...

Today Owen had a potluck Thanksgiving lunch at his school for all of his classmates and parents.  Piper and I went and enjoyed the food...and about fifty 4-year-olds!  Most of Owen's friends were leaving with their parents after lunch, so of course, he wanted to come home too.  Here was how that conversation went...

OWEN: Mom-I want to go home with you and P Pie.
ME:   No sweets, you gotta stay here because I have to go home to work more.
OWEN:  But I will be really good!
ME:  Owen, I have to find homes...
OWEN:  But I will be like Daddy!
ME:  What does that mean?
OWEN:  I will do everything you say!

ME:  Well who can argue with that!  Comm'on...let go home....

I'm teaching they young and teaching them right....heeheehee....

I love that kid!

First Day of Pre-School: 8-6-2012

Today we dropped my favorite little guy off on a new adventure....Pre-school. There were no tears, just giddiness and excitement. We had to remind him to hug us and tell us goodbye. As he trotted off to the playground to find his old friend Riley, and meet many new ones, I knew his little world had just expanded. As we drove around to the playground to get one final peek--he was holding hands with Riley on the slide. He is right where he needs to be. Take care him new world. He is my most precious gift.

We sure are proud of you Owen!  I love you kid...

Mickey's Rocket--Owen's 4th Birthday Cake

So every year I make Owen's birthday cake from scratch...whatever he wants.  I started off with pretty high standards of cakes past, and probably shot myself in the foot in the process.  This year, Owen wanted Mickey's Rocket.  Seemed easy enough.  EEESH.  I think this one got the best of me! 

So here is what Mickey's Rocket looks like for those of you who don't have a Micky obsessed kiddo:

I had lofty aspirations to have it standing tall, surrounded by sand and moon rocks.  Apparently I have watched Ace of Cakes too many times and thought I was Duff.  Let me assure you, I am No Duff! 

I started off making a prototype out of cake. It leaned a bit, so I thought I would add dowel rods.  That didn't work so on to Plan B....

Plan B was to make it out of Rice Krispie treats. That didn't work either. At first they didn't stick together, then they were too hard. OK---Plan C.

Plan C...carved football cake!

I bought a football shaped pan and molded from there. The cake was of course orange. I cut off the end of the "football" to create the rocket ship shape.

 I iced on the stripes, and made red "sand" out of food coloring and sugar.

Mickey's rocket landed on Mars, surrounded by the red sand and Moon rocks (cake balls) made by EE. Shredded Twizzlers made the flames of the rocket, and Owen's Mickey friends finished it off.

Overall, it turned out OK...for the third try! The kids loved it, so that's the most important part! Now...what to do for next year....

Happy Birthday Owen! My Sweet 4 year old boy!!