"momma, what happens if god dies?"
"god doesn't die, he's like a rock - he's not really alive or dead."
"like wood?"
"um . . .ya"
"but then he'll burn up"
"momma, jojo is like god - he makes people"
"well who made jojo?"
"jojo made himself. He's magic like that."

Today missy and I started music class. I'm really grateful for this time. Not only is it time with just the two of us, she loves it, and she's getting to see other kids. She's been around other kids since birth, but at big brother's playgroup I'm fine with her staying out of the fray and on my lap. But it's not doing much for her socialization. She was very clingy at class today, but by the end I think she realized that no Hellion-child Pirate was going to bowl her over.She loves music so this is all good. And I work up a bit of a sweat too.

My son won't let us take down the Christmas tree. He wants to leave it up until it's "really really old". I like it. It bugs me to see trees at the curb on the 27th, so I'm cool. I just have to make sure that it's hydrated. I don't really need a fire right now.

My son just left for an overnight. Yes, he's 4. Yes, this is at least the third time. Yes, it's just as hard this time. Okay?

Okay so I'm getting a very weird vibe from my former employer.

I left there when missy miss was born, with the option open to work days 2ish a week. So I called when she was 3 months old or so and we had it set up that I'd call when I wanted to work, or they'd call when they needed help, or something. Turns out the only work that anyone wanted me to do was crappy stuff like maintaining the website and virus proofing the boss's home computer. But it was paying and for 6 days a month it wasn't so bad. No one said/did anything more than "congratulations" when I became registered. But then, one of the more frustrating times I was working (removing poker programs from said home computer), I saw a proposal going out - with my name on it as a staff architect. Oookay.

So I didn't call and offer myself for a while. And I started working on designs for another company - more in line with what I "want" to be doing.

I was slowly pulling away. And then I ask one more time if they want help, and I get the "no, we're putting up a whole new website!" line. So I don't contact for a while.

I thought boss was also a personal friend - I used to chat with his wife (a doula) all the time on all things baby/boob/birth. I sent them a Christmas card, and have for the last 5 years.

Yesterday I dropped an email to him asking how things were, yadda yadda, and by the way, can you send me contact info for these 2 window guys for our fun!! vacation house which we're finally building!!

Today I get a terse email from some new employee there whom I've never met with just one guy's info.

If I was pissed first, why do I feel dumped?

Today I was told that Bambi isn't real, that he doesn't talk to rabbits, and that talking birds are silly. Sigh. I guess 4 makes you a really big smart kid.

Today we got a card telling us "your boys are beautiful". 

Four years ago today my life changed. I became a mommy. I can't believe it.

We've had lots of cake in the last few days and he spent yesterday largely in bed. 
I guess just burning off the cake?

 

Learn something new every day.

Today I learned that 2 giant lobster pots and 2 kettles full of boiling water still do not even begin to heat half a tub of cold water. But my hair was nasssteeee.

Day 2 of no hot water. Thank heaven it's 53 out and we have fireplaces.

Oh my. It's been a while.

We were preparing for the holiday house tour locally, and then had an open house. 1200 people wanted to see it just to see it. Four wanted to see it to buy it. Hey it only takes one right?

Anyway, I've been making snowflakes. They give money to the salvation army.

Much more success today. I love this one but without his face so directly in it we found a better one. Still aren't they perfect?

I need to update after vacation. Two days in Charleston, 2 in Savannah, 3 in Atlanta. Very fun. The first vacation in a long time where I wasn't dying to get home at the end. Rented a "rockin, rockin Crown Vic", saw alligators and rednecks, ate lots of turkey and southern food, much sweet tea. We're finally all back in place with clean laundry and a day at school and skating lessons. I think life has settled.

Just in time for me to have jury duty tomorrow. Sigh.

Oh and how do people get super cute pictures of two kids for their holiday cards? I need to trick them. I'll enlist my husband's help for the second attempt. They primarily turned out like this. Maybe I use it and call it artsy.

I hope I don't jinx us by saying that we're mostly healthy now. Babygirl still has the stuffies, so she can't eat/drink and breathe at the same time, but compared to a fever of 104.7, this is easy peasy. Still on nasty Augmentin, which causes even nastier diapers, but we'll live.

Nino is done with his antibiotics and is no longer complaining. We've had many head knocks all around this week but other than some starting-to-brown bruises, we're fine.

I'm also in much better shape this year for christmas already. I have found some wonderful things and am hoarding them. The kids are getting a play kitchen. I ought not to buy a single other thing for them, but know that's impossible. I've also discovered how much I love H & M's kiddo stuff, so if you're in the buying mood for my kids, go there. I only bought socks and gloves because I was running late. I'm going back.

On the other hand, I have no clue what to buy anyone else. I want to buy things that are fun and not clutter. And not spend so much money. Not so hard, right?

Upon watching Curious George order 100 dozen donuts.

"Momma, some donuts have frosting on them?! Can we try those some time?!"

Sometimes it's nice to control a view over the counter.

I think we had about 13 hours without illness. Nino is still on antibiotics, but feeling fine. Missymiss ran up a pretty good fever today and has the telltale head lumps. Everyone is asleep now.

I'm in the process of watching the really long Thorn Birds. I just read the book. It's a bit weird to watch a movie in several days.

And the Carter's outlet rocks. Expect to see photos of Ms Thing in her new $3.99 Turkey outfit. Pants *and* shirt for that. And several other christmas treats.

Wonderful weekend, too much food, fun time with visiting friend. "Momma, I sure do miss Julie" about 3 hours after she left.

Happy Halloween!

First event is already over - Nino and his school had a parade. It was rockin'. Now I love him going to a big old public school, they get totally into it. My niece's school doesn't even reference halloween. They won't even read books about Jack O Lanterns.

When I dropped him off this morning, halloween music was playing over the PA system (outside too!), the principal was a lion, every kid was in costume, and Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty are teaching today. I just love it.

Look at this adorable, erm, scary, bat! One of his ears doesn't stand up quite right. We'll work on it before tOt.

Only my child would ask to see a picture of a house with a waterfall in it. And when I show it to him (fallingwater), he asks to go there some time. And I say "okay". No big whoop. I've been there like ten times, what's one more?

I'm just heartbroken for two strangers.

While waiting for a car repair, I met Mary. She was saying something to me about how hard she finds it to make decisions, like about her car battery, without her husband. And not that she is a pushover, but just emotionally knowing she couldn't run it by anyone. He died a month ago from Alzheimers. And her son has kidney cancer that's running through his whole 41-year-young body.

Then in walks newlywed, new homeowner lady, who was shopping online for her new house. Her 58 year old mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers two years ago, and she already has forgotten how to eat and speak.

I actually cried driving away. And then called my mom.

Today, I got everything done (four slings out, vacuum the main floor, try to kill some worms, go to gym) early so I went to the mall. I kind of hate the mall, but there's this smallish mall nearby that has gymboree and the children's place, and I had $100 american express gift cheque. Did you know that they give you cash? So $21 at gymbo, $14 at the cp, $3 at dunk's, and $62 in my wallet. Woohoo. And I suppose I've started christmas shopping. Each child has a new outfit now.

I am also on a quest to find a case to put my ipod mini in while I exercise that keeps it on my person somehow. Damn having a discontinued ipod size.

Today we found a cup with milk in it under Nino's bed. It stank. When I say stank, I mean that I had to open windows, put rose water on all the lightbulbs, run the dishwasher with baking soda, twice, and several candles are still burning. Anyway, at the peak, he came in and told me it smelled like hippopotamus. I about died. He clarified, saying sea water, which was kind of true (in the worst possible low tide way) but hippo is funnier.

He has also already put in a request to Santa for a SpiderMan spin brush. Now, looking at the ad, I see a fire truck and space man as well. I'm sure Santa will be able to find one.