Validation

S: "Mommy?" S said as she sat on the potty this evening.
Me: "Yes?" I was hanging out with her as she finished her business.
S: "You the best Mommy in the whole wide world. Me gonna keep you forever."
Me: "Thanks, S! You're the best S in the whole wide world and I'll keep you too."
S: "Ok. And I keep Daddy with you."
Me: "Well, I certainly hope so."

Sunny days are here again!

To celebrate the first day of Spring we painted birdhouses. It was warm enough that we plopped ourselves right on the front lawn and had at them with what seemed like gallons of blue, green and pink paint. It was a great treat, having had a long brutal winter indoors. In order to keep the Salad happy during those days, nay - weeks, spent inside I had to pull out all the stops. Here are a few of those stops:

We melted crayons to make super cool Valentine's.

We took baths on non-bath days just to "paint" with shaving cream.

We went sledding down our front yard.

We made snow men out of cotton balls, snow flakes out of coffee filters and snow cones out of, well, snow, of course.

We poured vinegar onto baking soda to listen to it bubble.

We blew bubbles in our bedroom.

We used food coloring to learn how blue and red make purple and blue and yellow make green.

We cut construction paper with toddler scissors.

We homemade macaroni and cheese and pink chocolate chip pancakes.

We watched daddy use Mr. Richard's snow blower.

We used sidewalk chalk on cardboard.

We painted and built model trains.

We learned how to break dance.

We read and re-read our library books.

We made pine cone bird feeders, covered in peanut butter and 6 year old oatmeal.

We looked at our baby pictures. We took more pictures.

We ate mini turkey meatballs off of toothpicks.

We got tattoos on our bellies. Just fake ones. Geez.

We played cars, blocks, puzzles, trains, catch, and dress up.

We visited Poppy and Grammy.

We built forts.

We made home made playdough with koolaid.

We took naps. We didn't take naps. We went to bed early. We slept late. It's exhausting to keep Fruit Salad content.

And so with a happy heart and weary body, I welcomed spring.

Ode to a Dog

Aunt Jen's doggie Shadow is starting to show her age, having a hard time getting up and down the steps. She's having some health issues too, so my sister called one night about 2 weeks ago and asked us to come over for a visit. She wanted pictures of the Salad lovin' on Shadow, hopefully not, but probably, for the last time. I explained we were going to Aunt Jen's to visit the dog because she wasn't feeling well. I told them it might be the last time we got to see Shadow*, so we should treat her gently and lovingly. Here's how part of that conversation went:

We want to make her happy, I said. Let's talk about how we could do that.

A: "I could make funny faces at her like this." (fingers pulling apart lips, wagging tongue)

S: "Maybe we could buy her a new bowl and fill it with pancakes or french fries or peanut butter or something."

M: "Mommy, I love doggies . . . and babies."

A: "Mommy? When Shadow Girl goes at God will she be with Mom-Mom?"

S: "Will Mugzy Baby go to live with Aunt Jen when Shadow Girl goes to live at God?"

Me: "No S, Mugzy Baby is Aunt Jo's dog. She'll live with Aunt Jo."

We ended up going for dinner, new blanket in hand, to feed her treats and rub her belly. And we were all happy.

*I am pleased to announce that Shadow Girl is still very much alive and wagging as I write!

Best laid plans

of moms and babes often go astray. The quote ran through my head as I trudged 3 cranky toddlers back to the car after what should have been a great playdate at the park. How could I have known as I sent the perky email the night before to our friends "Hey ladies, let's meet at the park at the library for playing and picnicking. Tomorrow at 10:30ish?" that things would fall apart so quickly.

First, I missed the entrance to the parking lot closest to the park. No big deal, I thought, I'll park down by the library. In retrospect, the walk probably did the Salad in right off the bat.

As soon as we got to the play area and met up with our friends, the whining started. They all wanted to swing. Story of my life - there are NEVER enough swings. Thankfully, Peter was able to entice M to play in the sand pit and S got distracted by the roundabout. You know that treacherous metal spinning thingy?

Later, I was catching M and S at the bottom of the slide and A was digging around in the sand with Peter, Colin, Quinn and Ryhs. Suddenly I heard her wail and come running for me. Apparently Ms. Amy corrected her gently for tossing sand at Peter and it upset her. At this point, I think maybe it's time for lunch and realize I have forgotten it in the car. Dreading making the long haul to the car with the Salad in tow, Ms. Amy and Ms. Carol offer to watch them. A is still holding a grudge and won't have any parts of it. So off A and I go to fetch lunch. I haven't even made it to the picnic area before I am met at the entrance of the park by S who has to pee. A goes off with our friends and I make yet another trek to our car so S can use our emergency potty. Like deja vu, I haven't quite made it back to the entrance of the park before I hear A wailing again, running towards me with open arms. She missed me, she said. I scoop her up and finally we sit to eat.

I was offering strawberries to everyone, when S thrust her hand into the container, flipping it out of my hand. Strawberries flew. I tried to brush it off, since there's no use crying over spilled strawberries. But in my mind, I'm thinking God's having a laugh at my expense. We finish up lunch and the 8 toddlers scatter like ants while the 3 moms clean up. Suddenly a familiar wail hits my ears. A is crying. A.G.A.I.N. Sigh. I still don't really know what happened, but what I could make out between heartbroken sobs was that "she wanted to get off the big spinning thing and that bigger boy wouldn't let her off."

I'm teetering on the edge by this point. And then it happens. A bumble bee lands on S's arm. I brush it off before it stings her, but the was the end. She demands to leave "Right now!"

I was happy to oblige.



Could this angel really have caused such a fuss?
Indeed.
She did.

In which she renames a weed

"Goldy-lions!" sweet little S exclaimed as she plucked a dandelion from the library lawn. Certainly more appropriate, I thought. 'Cause they are gold. But they are not dandy.