I don't hit.

Max says, "Type my name!"  I oblige.  Max also says, "I not happy (if) you eat me."  I don't eat him.  Max says looking at the computer screen, "Two my name, you want you name Mom?"  I do.

Yesterday:

Max: People like me.  I don't hit (pronounced: heeeeet.  Like a Latino. In fact, I often wonder if he would have any speech issues if we lived in Mexico, spoke Spanish and drizzled Dulce de leche on everything we ate. Yum.)

He proceeded to prove how much everyone "liked" him by waving at every alpha-male with facial hair, bulging muscles and a skeleton tattoo in our vicinity.  Okay, they weren't all skulls and crossbones.  These men were scary though.   I certainly wanted to remain anonymous and had they looked at me the wrong way, I would have tossed my purse in their direction and ran.   But I think he may be right.  Do you know that everyone of those hard-looking men smiled sweetly and waved back?   Amazing.


I like my conversations with Max.  Sometimes they are the best ones I have all day.

And, no, I don't wash his face or comb his hair. What would be the point?

Do you ever have those days...

when good people, doing good things, annoy the ever-living crap out of you?  And friendly people make you want to run for cover?  Or when you are just plain ornery and anyone with half a brain and some talent make you feel grumpy?  


Just wondering.  Not that I feel that way...

A post about Max

"Mom,  I wanna bog about ME." (While watching my write the previous post about Kate.)

E:  Okay.  What's your favorite food?
M: Haw Dog
E: What else do you want me to write about you?
M: Um....Poopy. (Big grin and runs off.)


And that's the end of the post about Max.

Dear Kate,

You climbed in bed with me last night--a bad dream.  You said the book you were reading, A Wrinkle in Time, "freaked" you out.  I reached out and pulled you in bed.  I held you close and listened to your breathing as you fell asleep.  It's been awhile.  I remembered when you were first born and we would sleep together.  You would lay curled up on my chest.  You fit neatly between my chest and my belly button.  I liked to have you there. Your Dad would wake up and tease me because you were never in the bassinet that I insisted was essential.  I would watch your chest rise and fall, rise and fall.  I would marvel at your tiny legs tucked so neatly underneath you.  I would gently run my index finger down the length of your back and stroke your head, your ear, your cheek. I would stare at your sweet face and wonder who you would be come.  Sometimes I would cry--loving you so much hurt.  I felt so vulnerable.  I realized I would do anything--and more than I thought I was capable of-- for you.     I wondered...would you ever twirl around for me in a pink tutu?  Would that fuzz on your head grow long?  Would you be stubborn?  Would we giggle over a chocolate chip cookie one wintry afternoon?  I would imagine us together--older.  But I could never really see.  It was beyond the scope of possibility in those quiet moments that you would grow or change.
You made me--reinvented me--a newly minted mother.  Last night, you could not fit on my chest.  I put my arm around you and held you close.  You needed me.  I layed awake and marveled at the beauty of you--arms, legs, ears, fingers, dirty nails--inhaling your "stink" as you would call it.   I find I am astonished at how much I love you.  It still hurts.

Disneyland and California Adventure

Max was not at all thrilled to meet Woody.  While Woody was a hit, Buzz Lightyear remains his favorite.

Jackson refused to stand near this "fairy".

The kiddos with Jeff and Meredith.  Meredith did not swallow a bowling ball.  She is 9 months pregnant and one tough lady.

The scary thing is that in 13 years this will be REAL.  

You know, you have to see Mickey.

Jeff and Meredith can now tell their child that they have already taken him  to Disneyland and they have the picture to prove it.

Woody doesn't scare Max or green faced army guys. Nope, just fairies.




Thank you again to our fabulous hosts: Jeff and Meredith.  I couldn't have fulfilled my insane desire to take all my kids to D-land without you both.

P.S.  Interesting announcement from Jackson on the way home:

Jackson:  Sometimes I dream that I am kissing (insert girls name here)
Me: (Calmly) Oh, really.  Where are you kissing her?
Jackson:  On her forehead.
Me: Oh, okay.  You know that you really shouldn't do that in real life, right?

So soon.  Really?

Assorted ramblings.

Writers block/laziness or trying to accomplish all my 2011 goals in January (because we all know that is about how long I remember them.) All decent, if I say so myself, excuses for the sad lack of blogging this month.  I do have some pictures and things that only Grandparents appreciate so I will post those one of these days when January is over and I have accomplished the following:

1) Turn spaghetti arms with Relief Society flab into She-ra worthy examples of perfection.
2) Organize entire house.  Clean out closets.  Attack the junk drawer and junk cupboard and junk closet and that other junk drawer, the one I pretend doesn't exist.
3) Teach children exceptional organizational and bathroom habits.  No more pee on the floor!
4) Re-decorate girls' room, master bedroom, family room and Max's room.
5) Lose 10lbs.  Eat right. Figure out how to run and pay bills at same time.
6) Write The Great American novel and win Pulitzer.  Write thank-you speech.
7) Achieve perfection.  Make life look like blog pictures.
8) Figure out how to have more energy on less sleep.
9) No new wrinkles.

I'm looking forward to the end of January.



Overheard in the elementary school front office while waiting for Max to finish speech therapy:

Woman#1:  When I got pregnant, I gained 55lbs.  I only weighed 90lbs (May I interject here that 20lbs of that must have been boobs.) so I guess the baby needed it or something.


Woman #2: Wow!  That must have been hard.


Woman#1:  Not really.  I was in my skinny jeans 2 months after the pregnancy.  I didn't even have to work out or anything,  It just fell off me.


Woman#2:  (Mouth gaping open) 


Me: Looking for something to throw at her.


Woman #1: (Continuing) I didn't even have one stretch mark, thank God.  I did have some vaginal reconstructive surgery though.  My doctor called it plastic surgery but I don't know why.  It was so necessary.

I have this funny feeling that me and Woman #1 with her brand-spanking new ahem will never be friends.

Christmas time with the Reynolds

Taking a look at the Petrogyphs near Laughlin.  They were located off Christmas Tree Pass so we had to check it out because of the name.

Max & Santa.  Not sure Max was impressed.