Frequently Uttered Phrases

Sussanah posted recently about the phrases we frequently say to our children. And has a brilliant idea about recording them so they can automatically played back.... saves time and sanity. I think we should also record the phrases our children say most often. Around our house these words are:

1. Mom/Mooooooooooommmmmmmmm/Moooooooommmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy!
2. But Mom/Mooommmm/Moooooooommmmmyyyyyy!
3. Please, Can I _____________?
4. But He/She started it!
5. I had that first!!
6. Just five more minutes?
7. Have you seen my ______________________?
8. That's not fair!
9. Come see what Abby is doing to/on/with eggs/crayons/markers/Vick's Vapor Rub/yogurt/peanut butter/cream/dishwasher detergent/water/toilet paper OR some combination of these items.
10. Where's Dad? (because he's the softie)

The repetition, frequency and combination of these phrases has consequences for Mommy. Should I take two Advil or three? One glass of wine or two? One bottle of wine or two? Do we have any spirits? Are there any narcotics in the medicine cabinet? How many would be too many? Mixing pills and alcohols is bad, right? Really bad.

pink floyd the wall 1982 - Another Brick in The Wall -

J.T. is home today, recovering from the earache. And I am at work feeling blue. I just hate it when one of the kids is sick... they seem so fragile and I just wish I could wave a wand and make them feel better.

My son is in first grade this year and will be seven in January. His teacher says he is very, very well-behaved (He is always so eager to please), but he has trouble staying on task, struggles some with reading and has horrible hand-writing. I feel overwhelmed. Rob and I have read to our children since before they were born. We spend lots of time with them, playing inside and out, teaching them the basics and asking them questions to encourage them to think. But I feel like J.T.'s problems at school must be my fault.... even though I hate the way they structure school now (worksheets, worksheets, worksheets) and I feel that is part of the reason he has trouble staying focused. Who wants to spend all day doing worksheets?!

J.T. is a daydreamer. He can spend hours imagining stories and events and creating whole new worlds for himself. He thinks about things, asks good questions and is very, very bright... yet the simple task of completing a worksheet from start to finish is nearly impossible for him. I don't know what to do! I don't want to quash his creativity, but I don't want his self-esteem to falter because the other kids get it and he doesn't. ARGGGGHHHHHH! Right now, I just want to curl up in a ball and let the world scream on by without me for a few hours. Or maybe I should have Rob go get that wine?

The MeMe

I am accepting Tracey's challenge, though I doubt I'm as good a liar as she is.... she did have help, the cheater. There is momentary calm at the Cannady house, so I have time to play. There is one lie in each of the following categories about moi. You have to find them. Rob and Angel will have to be banned from playing since they know me too well.

Four Things you Might Not Know About me:
1. I suck at grammer. I dangle my participles and splice my commas. I capitalize words that I deem important, rather than use the proper noun rule.

2. I'm adopted. My parents have three children older than me and decided they wanted an even number of children.

3. I love a good argument, debate or philisophical discussion on almost any topic.

4. I love to watch sports, particularly American Football.... and I am very, very vocal in my support or my opposition to a particular team.

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. Babysitter.

2. Martha's Gift Shoppe (Why do people do that? Shoppe.) Worked on Saturdays while going to GSU. I was in charge of everything: cleaning, displays, gift wrapping, bridal registries.... my boss kept her records on manila file folders, old envelopes, etc. Yes I said ON file folders, not IN them.

3. Professional Organizer. Helping people pare down their junk and get their closets, cabinets and offices into order.

4. Secretary. AKA Everything to everbody. A job I have really enjoyed. Having an office all to yourself and working independently.

Four Movies I watch over and over:
1. Philadelphia Story. That Carey Grant is just a lovely, lovely man.

2. Halloween. Love a good horror movie.

3. Love Actually. Okay I'm stuck on the Grant's. Hugh is so wickedly funny. I can forgive him his one indiscretion back in the nineties.

4. Star Wars. This is actually more of a requirement at our house.... so it's a good thing I like it.

Four favorite TV Shows:
1. Top Chef. I don't know why. I love to cook, I have dozens of cookbooks and I like a little drama, as long as it isn't under my roof.

2. The Sleuth Channel. I like mysteries. And they show lots and lots of Magnum, P.I. reruns.

3. Barney. Can't resist that song. I love you, you love me...

4. What Not to Wear. I keep hoping I'll pick up some tips... or better yet, figure out how to apply them to my wardrobe. Not working so far though.

Four Hobbies:
1. Reading, reading and reading. When I have time.

2. Baking. I love to make cookies. Tea cakes (think simple, lightly sweetened, crispy) are a speciality.

3. Crafts. I can sew, cross-stitch, knit, quilt and scrap-book with one arm tied behind my back. I was the star of our 8th grade Home Economics class. You should have seen the beautiful shirt I made and wore to school.... the stitching alone was a masterpiece.

4. Blogging. Also considered a diary/psychiatrist's couch. I can vent all my frustrations and get a laugh from the comments.

Four Places I have Lived.
1. Atlanta. Can't get enough of that city living. Who doesn't enjoy 8 lines of highspeed traffic at rush hour?

2. Metter, Georgia. Where "Everything is Better!" Population almost 4,000 people.

3. In a mobile home for almost 6 years while Rob and I saved for a down payment on a house. Sold it for a pretty good profit, too.

4. Iron Horse Road. Our first true house (and we plan on only) right next door to my in-laws. My dining room and kitchen are Mediterranean Red and my den is Nantucket Grey (actually mossy green).

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
1. Anywhere Hugh Jackman might be. Just so I can stare at him, in all his masculine glory.
2. Reading on my couch... while the kids are at Grandma's.
3. On a date with Rob. Just the two of us enjoying some intelligent conversation, a nice meal and maybe a movie.
4. On the observation deck of the Empire State Building, enjoying the lovely view of New York City.

Four Foods I love:
1. Absolutely anything sweet. Cake, chocolate, cookies, fruity desserts, pies....
2. Corn. I will eat it anywhere, Sam I am, on a plane, in a train, on a car, at the bar.
3. Peanut Butter. I add it to raisin bran, put it on my toast and love a good PB & J. Somethings you never outgrow.
4. Italian. Spaghetti, pizza, Alfredo, crostini.... Low-carb is for pansies.

Can you spot the lies. Some are obvious, some not so much. I'm not tagging anybody, since most of my blog readers have already seen Tracey's post and may choose or not choose to take up the gauntlet. Be kind in your comments please. Because my children have not been gentle with me and do not seem to desire my happiness that much at the moment.

*****Edited at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27th. Why is it than when one says something absolutely stupid like: Things are quiet around the Cannady house.... that it becomes a jinx on that statement being true??? J.T. came home from school with an ear infection. Didn't complain about it to the teacher, but was in tears an hour after school got out. I get to spend tonight up with him as ear infections are of course, most painful at night. And the next five days struggling to get his antibiotics past his gag reflex (which is very very strong -- just like his mother who can't brush her teeth without gagging). It's a horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad day, to quote Alexander.

Scrambled Eggs

What should one do when one's toddler opens a brand new carton of eggs, takes them to the den (whose floor is covered in carpet) and proceeds to crack them... seven of them (but I'm just making a cake!)?

Make scrambled eggs, of course. Even if no one wants to eat them and it becomes a feast for the family dog. The happy result of the scrambled eggs is that mommy decided to add wine to the grocery list for next week. Good wine... maybe two bottles.

But Can He Moonwalk?

Flashback Friday - Rob, circa 1984 in his Leather pants, leather jacket and aviator sunglasses (now back in style). I know he was going for the cool rock star look, but now, he just looks adorable (and reminds me of J.T.). It was apparently Christmas morning, judging by the pile of presents behind him. And (you knew I was going to bring this up, Rob)it might even be the year he got the Atari. When they cost $300 (I know this because I found the box in his parents attic with the price tag still attached)!!! Must have been nice being an only child.

For a Super Princess

Flowers for Ava Rosemeyer on her Fourth Birthday. Please keep Sheye, Crayton and family in your thoughts and prayers today. Ava got under my skin and into my heart when I read about her. Sheye has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are experiencing the things she describes first-hand. Nothing on earth will make this day anything less than hard for the Rosemeyer’s. But hopefully, the beauty of Ava’s life and the fact that so many, many people have been, continue to be and will be touched by it provides some support for them. Please click on Ava’s name to go to her website and light a candle for her.

Things I have done that I might not have had it not been for Ava:

*See earlier post pictures of two very, very muddy children.

*Painted my own nails pink with glitter to make Abby laugh after I did hers.

*Sat on the back porch and just watched the kids play while the dishes were piled high in the sink…. And truly not worried about it.

*Stopped to feel the breeze on my skin, the sun on my face, notice the smell of honeysuckle in the air and not give a thought to what is next, just focused on taking in the moment.

*Tried to quit rushing head-long into the future and stopped to enjoy what is now: Two laughing, beautiful, wild children wrapped in the innocence of childhood, a great love, good friends and friendships, the wisdom of my parents, and the bonds I have with a loving sister and brother.

Thank you Ava. To use your mother’s words: You are Beauty Full.

Please spare a thought and a prayer for the Rosemeyer’s today, and for all mother’s who have had to let their children go…my own mother included.

Best Friends

My dear friend Angel turns 32 on August 20th. We have been friends almost our entire lives, ever since we were in nursery together crawling around on the purple carpet and playing with the oversized cardboard bricks. We have shares joys and laughter and endured our sadnesses together. Together we spent hours playing and pretending at her house and mine. We snuck into the kitchen for late night ice cream and stayed up late sharing our thoughts. I have even made many a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night (you have to have the world's smallest bladder) because our long, dark hallway was too scary to make the trip alone. We experienced the bad 80's perm, the mean high school French teacher and first boyfriends. We have cruised the streets of our hometown in the family sedan singing along to the radio as loudly as possible and dreaming of "the one". Rob swears my voice changes when I talk to Angel on the phone. It does. We have our very own dialect.

We aren't exactly alike. And I have to say I am insanely jealous of her ability to take something inexpensive and make it look tres chic, whereas on me it would just look cheap. I would give my right arm for her gorgeous thick hair and I hate, hate, hate that she can eat one bite of something and put it down with an: I'm full.

For my children, the thing I wish most for them in life is A) the courage to follow their dreams and B) a great love and C) a best friend. Happy Birthday Angel. I loves you! (The picture above is of Angel holding a freshly hatched J.T. for the first time. The quality is crap... it is an old picture that was scanned. I found a new one, but can't get it loaded. I'll post it later.)