Perfection

It wasn't the 68 degree afternoon, nor brilliant-cloudless-blue sky that made today perfect.

It wasn't the fact that we saw more of the animals, and closer, than ever before that created a perfect zoo outing.

It wasn't because we were able to ride the train as many times as you wanted, ride the carousel 3 times in a row and follow the exact path of your choosing that we had a perfect afternoon.

It was spending the day with you, in all of your exuberant joy, your delight in the train/carousel/animals/trees/rocks -

the sparkle in your eyes, holding your little hand in mine, and soaking in all of the wonderful parts of your three-year-old self

that made these moments a memory I will cherish for the rest of my days.

An Interview With the Kids About....Mommy.

21 questions, 10 minutes, 2 kids, and a glimpse into their world.






1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
Cali:  Pick up your room.
Mateo:  Dinosaurs.

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Cali:  When I pick up my room.
Mateo:  The Christmas tree.

3. What makes Mommy sad?
Cali:  When Miguel screams at you and doesn't stop.
Mateo:  Like this (Bambi eyes)

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Cali:  By telling me jokes.

Mateo:  Like this "hehehe"

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
Cali:  I don't know.

Mateo:  A long neck baby dinosaur.  (Editor's note:  Ummm...what?)

6. How old is Mommy?
Cali:  32.

Mateo:  3.

7. How tall is Mommy?
Cali:  33 inches.

Mateo:  Big.

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Cali:  Go shopping with me at Hobby Lobby.

Mateo:  Play with toys.

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Cali:  Get groceries.

Mateo:  Play with my toys.

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Cali:  Because she won something.

Mateo:  Ummm...a parade.

11. What is Mommy really good at?
Cali:  Sewing.

Mateo:  A llama.  (Editor's note:  No, wait.  I take back my original "Um...what???", and re-insert it here.)

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
Cali:  Mmmm...I don't know.

Mateo:  Ummm...the cheetahs.  (Editor's note:  I'm beginning to see a pattern here...)

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
Cali:  Be a mom.

Mateo:  To make things.

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
Cali:  Strawberries.
Mateo:  Sprite.

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Cali:  That you help me.
Mateo:  For a prize.

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Cali:  Dora.

Mate:  A pink candle.  (Editor's note:  I'm not even going to ask.)

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
Cali:  Go shopping.

Mateo:  Watch "Go, Diego Go".

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
Cali:  We both have long hair.

Mateo:  We're both little.  (Editor's note:  this one, I'm ok with.)  ;-)

19. How are you and Mommy different?
Cali:  We have different colored eyes.

Mateo:  Cause I'm so little.

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Cali:  Because I love *you*.

Mateo:  Mmmm...with a llama.

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?

Cali:  Little Wal-Mart.

Mateo:  To the zoo!

Light

I want you to remember,

The greatest gift you can give to the world is to shine.  As bright as you can.

Rest assured, this is a choice.  One that must be made each day.  You can choose to be consumed by the darkness of our world - or choose to brighten it.  Some days that may mean as little as leaving a positive comment on a friends blog, or smiling at a stranger.  Others will involve more elaborate plans. You may never see the results of these, whether grand or small.  Do them anyway.

Living a life that affirms all people as valuable can only bring more brightness to this world.  You may not have the dazzling gifts of others.  Of music, or charisma, or leadership, or organization.  But there is no one else on Earth who can share quite the same light as you.  Remember, what to you may be the tiniest, most inconsequential outreach of love - might just change the world for that one person.

Surround yourself with people who choose to live in the light as well.  There will be seasons when the darkness of depression creeps in, and the glow becomes a flicker. These are the days that your loved ones will help light the way for you.

Be intentional about being a candle of hope for others.  Be intentional about sharing the warmth of love. Be intentional about changing the world.

Every day.

It will be worth it,
C.K.

p.s.  This letter is addressed to me, but I love it that it speaks to others, too :-)

Halloween, in Pictures

Thought Process

This sign that appeared tonight on Cali's door inspired the following thought process:

1.) As much as I whole-heartedly agree with the sentiment, why did the 5-year old post a sign prohibiting booze in her room?

2.)  I guess that would explain why one of the party-goers looks a little sad...

3.)  Oh, wait, maybe that says "boys".

4.) Umm, how do I handle this? 

5.)  I generally have a "you can't say you can't play" policy, but should that pertain to rooms?

6.)  Do I really have to deal with this tonight?

7.)  Hmmm...I wonder which face corresponds with which child?

8.)  I'm guessing the one with snaggley teeth would be our resident T-Rex.

9.)  In all fairness, he *does* bite...

10.)  So that probably makes the smiley one Cali.

11.)  Why does she have 80's hairspray-'em-'til-the-wind-won't-budge-'em bangs?

12.)  I wonder what super swell "fashion" trends she will be into when Middle School rolls around? 

13.)  And how much I will grind my teeth down enduring said trends?

By this time, she was yelling for Mateo to come to her room and play.

Which just goes to show that a female, at any age, is a fickle, fickle thing.

Scraps

I needed to create a little something to send as part of a new swap I joined, using scraps of fabric that I already had.  I was stumped.  

I wasn't in the mood to do a zipper.  Zippers are not my friend.  So that ruled out a cute little pouch.  I started a few different other projects, which quickly went into the recycle pile.  Nothing seemed quite right.  I was quickly losing the desire to make *anything*, which is a miserable place to be.

 So, in the wise words of Tim Gunn, I decided to "make it work" and just create from the heart. 

This is what I came up with.

When life gives you scraps, turn them into a scrappy little rainbow bunting :-)

Snapshots

I have been feeling fairly blah lately, and haven't really been in the mood to do much blogging (obviously).   But am almost ready to start climbing out of my cave...in the meantime, here are some snapshots of my favorite kiddos.


In this picture, I am:  In the hay maze at the pumpkin patch.

Some of my favorite things are:
-  Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.
-  my "sticky jump rope"
-  Pepperoni-less pepperoni pizza
-  Finding Nemo and Astro Boy
-  playing Elmo's World games on pbskids.com



In this picture, I am:  Riding a pony at the pumpkin patch, while holding Froggy (our class mascot, who gets to visit a different kids home each weekend, and write about his adventures in his journal).

Some of my favorites are:
-  making up new games
-  drawing
-  cereal and milk
-  playing the sight word game
-  putting on plays
-  running my bakery on Bakery Story
-  wearing boots with skirts/dresses


In this picture, I am:  Riding on a horse drawn wagon at the pumpkin patch.
Some of my favorites are:
-  wearing shorts
-  as long as they have a cargo pocket that I can carry my "monies" in
-  peanut butter sandwiches (without the crust)
-  reading my nightmare book (a collection of 3 Mercer Mayer books - that he has memorized almost word for word...)
-  riding the train at the zoo