Driving through Louisville yesterday, we passed an accident scene. It was over, mostly cleaned up, but cars were lined up in the shoulder and folks were still standing around with the police. Brynn asked what was going on and we told her there had probably been an accident.
A few miles down the road...
Brynn: We should pray for those people.
Me: What people?
Brynn: The people on the side of the road.
Me: Oh. Yeah, that's a good idea. Right now?
Brynn: Yes. I'll pray. (folding hands, looking at her lap) "God. Thank you for those people, the ones we saw on the side of the road. We think they had an accident, or maybe they were driving too fast or did something wrong when they were driving... like driving too fast or throwing something out of the window, like a sucker stick or Diet Coke or a tissue. Amen."
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Breakfast
I kept a friend's 11-month old little boy yesterday. It was around 4pm, and Jacob was on my lap clapping and bouncing as I did the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Enter Brynn, wearing her apron and looking serious.
Brynn: Mommy, its not play time right now. It's breakfast time.
Me: Oh. Good, I'm hungry.
Brynn: (arranging plastic food on plates) What would you like for breakfast?
Me: Eggs please.
Brynn: No. How about strawberries and toast?
Me: Okay, that sounds good too.
Brynn: What would you like to drink?
Me: Diet Coke.
Brynn: I'm very sorry, Mommy, but we don't have Diet Coke.
Me: Well, what kind of restaurant is this?
Brynn: (after a moment of consideration) Chinese.
Brynn: Mommy, its not play time right now. It's breakfast time.
Me: Oh. Good, I'm hungry.
Brynn: (arranging plastic food on plates) What would you like for breakfast?
Me: Eggs please.
Brynn: No. How about strawberries and toast?
Me: Okay, that sounds good too.
Brynn: What would you like to drink?
Me: Diet Coke.
Brynn: I'm very sorry, Mommy, but we don't have Diet Coke.
Me: Well, what kind of restaurant is this?
Brynn: (after a moment of consideration) Chinese.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Family Vacation
We left early Monday morning and set out for an adventure in Indianapolis. Every time I tell someone where we went on vacation, I get the wrinkly nose and the cocked head and the skeptical "Really?" Yes, really! Indy is a great place to go for a couple of days with kiddos! The children's museum there is one of the largest (if not the largest) in the country, and it kept our girls entertained for over five hours. We dug at a construction site, sent billiards into a crazy maze of gears and pulleys, served ice cream in a real (use your imagination!) ice cream shop, rode the carousel, dug for fossils, toured an awesome dinosaur exhibit, and learned about all kinds of things. Jim and I really enjoyed it as well... Jim was fascinated by the train exhibit, and I loved the amazing sculpture of blown glass that started in the basement and went up to the fourth floor.
We had a bit of an adventure finding our hotel, but that was only because Indianapolis is very much like another city I know, in that the streets change their names at nearly every intersection. Always fun. We eventually found it, and didn't even have an argument in the process. (Remind me to write about The Times Square Fight sometime.)
We had dinner at the Old Spaghetti factory--my choice. This is one of my favorite places to go in big cities (I love the spinach-cheese ravioli), but I'm starting to wonder if it is mainly the quirkiness of the decor and the promise of spumoni that makes me think this is such a great restaurant. Our server was not so nice, and flat lied to me when I asked if the salad was romaine. He said yes, it was. The lettuce in my salad was white, people. White is the definition of iceberg lettuce, not romaine. I do not like iceberg. It is, as my friend Liz calls it, "the polyester of lettuce." Also, there is not one other item in this salad. Just a heap of white lettuce on a plate and dressing on the side. Not my fave. But the entree was delish and the lamps were cool, so it I guess it was good. I'm just wondering if maybe I've built the whole Spaghetti Factory experience up because of how cool it was to sit in the bed seats or on the trolley car when I was a kid. Must give this further study.
Tuesday we went to the zoo. Brynn's top three at the zoo (in order) were 1. getting popcorn, 2. seeing the elephants by the waterfall, and 3. the Enchanted Mill water play area. I liked the lions, the giraffes, and a ham of a polar bear who did everything but stand on two legs and beat his chest in his efforts to entertain a very appreciative audience. Jim liked the meerkats and the butterfly habitat. Katykins has not shared her favorites with us, but I would guess the elephants or the polar bear based on her squeals of delight and clapping hands.
Back at the hotel in the late afternoon, we went swimming. This was a monumental event for our family, as Jim is not a fan of getting in a pool for fun. In fact, I don't think he has been in a pool since we were engaged 15 years ago--wow. But after seeing how much Brynn loved it last summer, he decided he would try to get into it. So we bought him swim shorts and pool shoes and prepared for a fun family swim. It was a beautiful outdoor pool (which I prefer to the indoor variety), and not another soul was in sight so we had it all to ourselves. Brynn was super nervous when we first got in, but was kicking across the whole length of the pool with her floaties and a kickboard by the time we forcibly removed her from the water to go inside. We had a blast, and I feel safe saying we have converted Daddy to the joys of swimming. Yes!
We went out for dinner again that night and finished by splitting an extremely decadent dessert four ways. Yum! Wednesday morning we wandered around Circle Center Mall downtown for awhile. We shopped a bit and had a snack in the arts atrium which sits above a major downtown intersection. Then we piled into the car again and headed home. I admit I was bummed when it was over, and even more bummed to see Jim head back to work yesterday. It's good though. It couldn't have been that great a time if you're not disappointed to see it come to an end, right?
I hope you all (okay, the three of you reading this) have as much fun on your summer adventures!
We had a bit of an adventure finding our hotel, but that was only because Indianapolis is very much like another city I know, in that the streets change their names at nearly every intersection. Always fun. We eventually found it, and didn't even have an argument in the process. (Remind me to write about The Times Square Fight sometime.)
We had dinner at the Old Spaghetti factory--my choice. This is one of my favorite places to go in big cities (I love the spinach-cheese ravioli), but I'm starting to wonder if it is mainly the quirkiness of the decor and the promise of spumoni that makes me think this is such a great restaurant. Our server was not so nice, and flat lied to me when I asked if the salad was romaine. He said yes, it was. The lettuce in my salad was white, people. White is the definition of iceberg lettuce, not romaine. I do not like iceberg. It is, as my friend Liz calls it, "the polyester of lettuce." Also, there is not one other item in this salad. Just a heap of white lettuce on a plate and dressing on the side. Not my fave. But the entree was delish and the lamps were cool, so it I guess it was good. I'm just wondering if maybe I've built the whole Spaghetti Factory experience up because of how cool it was to sit in the bed seats or on the trolley car when I was a kid. Must give this further study.
Tuesday we went to the zoo. Brynn's top three at the zoo (in order) were 1. getting popcorn, 2. seeing the elephants by the waterfall, and 3. the Enchanted Mill water play area. I liked the lions, the giraffes, and a ham of a polar bear who did everything but stand on two legs and beat his chest in his efforts to entertain a very appreciative audience. Jim liked the meerkats and the butterfly habitat. Katykins has not shared her favorites with us, but I would guess the elephants or the polar bear based on her squeals of delight and clapping hands.
Back at the hotel in the late afternoon, we went swimming. This was a monumental event for our family, as Jim is not a fan of getting in a pool for fun. In fact, I don't think he has been in a pool since we were engaged 15 years ago--wow. But after seeing how much Brynn loved it last summer, he decided he would try to get into it. So we bought him swim shorts and pool shoes and prepared for a fun family swim. It was a beautiful outdoor pool (which I prefer to the indoor variety), and not another soul was in sight so we had it all to ourselves. Brynn was super nervous when we first got in, but was kicking across the whole length of the pool with her floaties and a kickboard by the time we forcibly removed her from the water to go inside. We had a blast, and I feel safe saying we have converted Daddy to the joys of swimming. Yes!
We went out for dinner again that night and finished by splitting an extremely decadent dessert four ways. Yum! Wednesday morning we wandered around Circle Center Mall downtown for awhile. We shopped a bit and had a snack in the arts atrium which sits above a major downtown intersection. Then we piled into the car again and headed home. I admit I was bummed when it was over, and even more bummed to see Jim head back to work yesterday. It's good though. It couldn't have been that great a time if you're not disappointed to see it come to an end, right?
I hope you all (okay, the three of you reading this) have as much fun on your summer adventures!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tidbits 6/12/08
My mom and stepdad (and their little dog too) came for a visit earlier this week. Though it was only a 24-hour thing, it was lots of fun to see them. It's been quite a while since Ronnie was able to come with mom, as their little canine can be a bit high-maintenance and he usually stays home to care for her. We weren't sure how Dawson (our lab wannabe) and Chrissy (miss high-maintenance) would deal with each other if they had to share space. And our space is not that big. But it went realy well, and no dogs were freaking out overnight. They joined us for our church picnic (the parents, not the dogs) and we had a great time eating too much food and enjoying a cool breeze under the trees while oodles of children blew bubbles and chased balls down hills. Good times.
******
I work in Mom's Day Out program at a local church. It's about 12 hours a week and really a good fit for us right now as I am trying to stay home with the girls. Today was our last day for about a week and a half. I was putting out the blankets the children sit on during their rest/movie time, and came across one I thought might be Ryan's but wasn't sure. I didn't spot a name on it at first, so I held it up. "Ryan, is this your blanket?" He smiled sweetly and nodded. "What you do," he explained slowly and carefully, "is look for the name Ryan." Huh.
******
Since the girls and I are off next week, Jim has taken a couple of days and we are going on a little mini-vacation... to the Indianapolis Zoo and the children's museum. We are very excited and hoping to all be healthy when the time comes. Jim is dealing with a sore throat/cough thing right now, and we are praying it doesn't make its way through the house over the next few days. Our first family vacation! Look for stories in about a week or so.
******
I stumbled onto a cool blog called Stuff Christians Like. It made me laugh and it made me think and then it made me laugh some more. If you think you might be offended by a harsh/sarcastic look at the silly things Christians get into, do not click the link. And please do not email me if you find something there you don't like. I've only read a few posts so I can't speak for the content on the whole site. But if you DO decide to check it out, you must start with the one about the sidehug. It's funny cause it's true, people!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Katy did not swallow a battery.
I decided to spare you the agony I endured for hours last night by telling you the end of the story first. I'm nice like that. Our tv remote has lost its back, the part that covers the batteries. So two AA batteries are always exposed and occasionally pop out, particularly if a 1 yr old finds the remote and bangs it up and down a few times. Now I am a diligent caregiver to my child, so I try to keep it up where she can't reach it. But that thing sees a lot of action so sometimes it gets left down low. This happened last night (my bad), and Katy found it.
She and I were the only ones home, and it was quiet. At a particular time I saw the remote with both batteries intact. Maybe five minutes later she comes toddling into the kitchen to turn in a battery. I take it and go to put the whole thing up, out of reach. But when I find the remote, it is batteryless. Obviously the other one fell out on the floor. I search. I search some more. It is nowhere to be found. I look at my child. She is calm, grinning, not choking. Not only is she not choking, but she never made so much as a peep during the time when I know this thing came out of the remote. Still, its unsettling. But Katy is a hider. There is a purple pacifier somewhere in this house right now that we have been searching diligently for for about two months. She just walks around and drops items in the most random places. Baskets, shoes, toyboxes, etc. So I try not to panic, and keep looking. About this time, some guests (expected) arrived and I had to shift my search into low gear. When Jim returned, I pulled him aside to fill him in.
Me: She couldn't have swallowed it, right?
Jim: No.
Me: But how do you know?
Jim: She chokes on milk.
Me: You're right. She looks fine.
Jim: Yes.
Me: But where is it?
Jim: It could be anywhere. You know how she is.
Me: Maybe.
(he almosts leaves it)
Jim: But?
Me: But it is a battery. I mean, a penny would be one thing. If she got it down, she'd probably be okay until she, you know...
Jim: Right.
Me: But is a battery.
He goes for the flashlight. He does a very impressive search of the general vicinity. This should make me feel better, but the more it doesn't show up, the more I think she had to have swallowed it. Even though I completely agree that she couldn't have swallowed it without choking, which I would have heard. Our guests weigh in, saying there is no way she could have swallowed it. "Triple-A, maybe," one guest jokes.
Dude. That is so not funny. I do a quick mental check to see whether or not we have any AAA batteries in the kid zones. I think we are good.
We have a fun night with our friends, and eventually they all decide to go play football out in the street. I have to stay inside with the kids (sleeping) anyway, so I resume my search and call Julie. She knows I'm nuts and can generally talk me off a ledge or two. Some anxiety sufferers have drugs. I have Julie. I have a conversation with her that is similar to the one I already had with my husband. She doubts Katy could have swallowed it, but wonders about Dawson (our dog). Now I have something new to freak out about. You should know that I was belly down on the floor for this entire phone conversation... phone propped to my ear while I searched under everything in my kitchen with a flashlight.
Me: You know I prayed that I would find it.
Julie: Good.
Me: I asked Jesus to just please throw me a bone on this one, and let me find it tonight.
Julie: Good.
Me: Because He knows how I am, you know? He knows I'm just going to make myself sick worrying about it, even though I know everyone is right that she couldn't have swallowed it. But every month in Parents magazine, there is a little blurb about some mom who "learned the hard way" about some home accident or choking/burn/laceration danger, and the unthinkable happened... because she was just SURE that could never have happened at all. I have to be diligent! But I prayed and hopefully....
Julie: What?
Me: Oh my gosh!
Julie: What? Did you find it?
Me: (near tears) Its about two inches back under the stove. This is right where she handed me the other one. She must have dropped it.
Julie: Good! Katy didn't swallow a battery!
Me: She didn't! Woohoo!
Julie: Now you can sleep tonight.
Me: Yes. I found it. All is well.
And that is the story of a lost battery and a mom's worry and an answered prayer and a restful night's sleep. The end.
She and I were the only ones home, and it was quiet. At a particular time I saw the remote with both batteries intact. Maybe five minutes later she comes toddling into the kitchen to turn in a battery. I take it and go to put the whole thing up, out of reach. But when I find the remote, it is batteryless. Obviously the other one fell out on the floor. I search. I search some more. It is nowhere to be found. I look at my child. She is calm, grinning, not choking. Not only is she not choking, but she never made so much as a peep during the time when I know this thing came out of the remote. Still, its unsettling. But Katy is a hider. There is a purple pacifier somewhere in this house right now that we have been searching diligently for for about two months. She just walks around and drops items in the most random places. Baskets, shoes, toyboxes, etc. So I try not to panic, and keep looking. About this time, some guests (expected) arrived and I had to shift my search into low gear. When Jim returned, I pulled him aside to fill him in.
Me: She couldn't have swallowed it, right?
Jim: No.
Me: But how do you know?
Jim: She chokes on milk.
Me: You're right. She looks fine.
Jim: Yes.
Me: But where is it?
Jim: It could be anywhere. You know how she is.
Me: Maybe.
(he almosts leaves it)
Jim: But?
Me: But it is a battery. I mean, a penny would be one thing. If she got it down, she'd probably be okay until she, you know...
Jim: Right.
Me: But is a battery.
He goes for the flashlight. He does a very impressive search of the general vicinity. This should make me feel better, but the more it doesn't show up, the more I think she had to have swallowed it. Even though I completely agree that she couldn't have swallowed it without choking, which I would have heard. Our guests weigh in, saying there is no way she could have swallowed it. "Triple-A, maybe," one guest jokes.
Dude. That is so not funny. I do a quick mental check to see whether or not we have any AAA batteries in the kid zones. I think we are good.
We have a fun night with our friends, and eventually they all decide to go play football out in the street. I have to stay inside with the kids (sleeping) anyway, so I resume my search and call Julie. She knows I'm nuts and can generally talk me off a ledge or two. Some anxiety sufferers have drugs. I have Julie. I have a conversation with her that is similar to the one I already had with my husband. She doubts Katy could have swallowed it, but wonders about Dawson (our dog). Now I have something new to freak out about. You should know that I was belly down on the floor for this entire phone conversation... phone propped to my ear while I searched under everything in my kitchen with a flashlight.
Me: You know I prayed that I would find it.
Julie: Good.
Me: I asked Jesus to just please throw me a bone on this one, and let me find it tonight.
Julie: Good.
Me: Because He knows how I am, you know? He knows I'm just going to make myself sick worrying about it, even though I know everyone is right that she couldn't have swallowed it. But every month in Parents magazine, there is a little blurb about some mom who "learned the hard way" about some home accident or choking/burn/laceration danger, and the unthinkable happened... because she was just SURE that could never have happened at all. I have to be diligent! But I prayed and hopefully....
Julie: What?
Me: Oh my gosh!
Julie: What? Did you find it?
Me: (near tears) Its about two inches back under the stove. This is right where she handed me the other one. She must have dropped it.
Julie: Good! Katy didn't swallow a battery!
Me: She didn't! Woohoo!
Julie: Now you can sleep tonight.
Me: Yes. I found it. All is well.
And that is the story of a lost battery and a mom's worry and an answered prayer and a restful night's sleep. The end.
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