Dandelion Wishes

Our front yard is littered with what are, according to Chloe, "the most beautiful flowers in the WORLD!"  Little yellow petals are scattered about among the clusters of clovers we call our lawn.  While I actually think the little things are kinda darling (I do love yellow!), I'm sure Chloe would be shocked to find that the world refers to her beloved beauties as (gasp)weeds.  Weeds or not, they are certainly a great source of entertainment for kids.  What other flower can be used as paint in its prime, and into a great alternative to bubbles when it has morphed from yellow to little white tickles?   And as an added bonus, no one yells at you when you pick them. 

Well, the kids were playing in the front yard while I was enjoying reading Huckleberry Finn from the front steps.  Chloe picked a dandelion ripe for blowing when I called out, "Make a wish!"  "A wish? What kind of wish?"  I told her any kind of wish, and filled her in on the deep-rooted tradition of dandelion wishes.  Excited about this new aspect of her blowing game, she began twirling around and around wishing for a wish to wish!  Finally, she yelled, "I know! I got it! My wish!"  "What is it??"  "I wish that we could move back to Raleigh, and that Raleigh could move by Sher-lotte!  Is that a good wish, Mommy?"  "That's a perfect wish, sweets."  I don't think either will happen in the near future, but I do love how her little mind works!

The Summer Highlight Reel

As promised, our summer in one post or less!

June

The Highlights: Our annual trip to Buckwheat Farms in Apex to pick strawberries.  Chloe still talks about the "funny goats" and the horses she got to pet and feed strawberries.

Taking an impromptu week-long beach week, just Mommy and the kids.  It happened to be the same week as the annual Forrest family beach week with Grandma Kepley, so we had a blast with Jillian and her whole family.  Chloe got to play with Ava, on the beach.  Chloe + Ava = BFF!

Our first trips to the pool with friends. 

Eating LOTS of "ice cream on a cone."  "Choclit on banilla, please.  That's my fav-rit!"

A short, yet special, get together with Nana and Ed at Ann and Dean's house.

Spending an entire week at Mimi and Grandpa's house.  Chloe couldn't wait for us to leave, and constantly asked, "Are you going to New York City now, Mommy?"  or "Go to New York City! See you next week!"  not stopping until we finally left.  The highlights of her week included going to the beach with Grandpa and riding a boogie board, and going to the pool with Mimi and riding a golf-cart.

The Lowlights- Going to the pool the first couple of times.  Chloe would hold so tightly to my arms while wrapping her entire body around mine, that I thought I would drown.

Having to leave Mimi's house to return to this prison we like to call "Home."  She still complains about not getting to live with Mimi forever.

July

The Highlights: An Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration in Apex.  Chloe liked the moon bounce, painting, water run, and playing Lucky Ducky the most.  She also particularly enjoyed her patriotic sno cone.  (I don't know why.  It was rank.)

Fireworks! Chloe loved our escapades to view the fireworks in the Wal-Mart parking lot (2 days in a row. Thank you, Mother Nature.), and enjoyed every second of the show.  She reminisced "Remember America's birthday party, Mommy?" for weeks afterward.

The church picnic on the future site of College Park Baptist Church!

Filling her picnic basket with our lunch nearly every day, and going to a park after my workout.  I would let her pick the park most days, and she would describe her desired locale, "how about the park with the climber in the sand?" or "how 'bout merry-go-round park?" or "let's go to park by water-lake!" or "let's go to the park with the bridge today!"

Watching the new ducklings grow from babies to "little girls" to "big girls" all in a month's time.

The Durham Bulls baseball game.  Patrick’s company has season tickets to the Bulls, and we got to go.  We got to watch the game from the 2nd row, just behind 1st base.  The kids had a blast. Chloe liked Wool E. Bull, the cartoons on the big screen, and the music more than the game. She really got into the YMCAing and clapping and rooting and such.  We were certain we would only stay for a short time, and were completely ok with that, but the kids loved it so much we got to stay until the fireworks!  This time we got to watch them close up! Chloe loved them, and was absolutely giddy while watching them.  She squealed with delight, and smiled so big I thought her face would break.

Going to the pool and JUMPING in with Melanie and the other big girls.  Un-be-lievable.  Truly.

AUGUST

The Highlights- Mama and Daddypa's surprise party.  Chloe loves nothing more than a birthday party.

Going to the Science and History Museums with Carrie, her bro, and her boys.  Tons of fun!  Chloe really liked the butterfly room this time.  She was especially thrilled with all of the big blue ones.  (Cause Blue's my favorite colorrrrrr!)

Tootie and Ally and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.  Thanks to the constant commercials of the rat and all his promises of fun on PBSkids, Chloe has been begging to go for some time.  Thankfully, it didn't disappoint, and she had an awesome time! It helped (my nerves, especially) that there was only one other little boy there for the entire first hour of our outing.

Playing with Ally.  I was almost sad she doesn't have a big sister.  She just loved having Ally here to play with and talk with for the week.

A Mt. Airy trip complete with Pilot Mountain, Speedy Chef, and Tootie's house.  Chloe LOVED the mountain, and found a perfect rock to bring home and add to her collection.

A day in the old neighborhood.  Lunch at the old pizza place, a drive by the old house, playtime at the old park (which has been completely renovated and is incredible, I might add.  Figures.), and a sprinkled doughnut, hat, and balloon from the old Krispy Kreme.  In Chloe's words, "You're the goodest Mommy of the world, Mommy!  What a fun day! Thank you so much for the fun day, good Mommy! I love you!"

The lowlights- Tantrums, talking back, and intense anxiety when I leave her in the gym or church nursery.  It's tiring, sad, frustrating, and downright bizarre.  She would normally trade me for most anyone at our church in a heartbeat. Hopefully this will soon past.

Daddy Blog: Tricycle Tragedy

I can still see her desperate face screaming in slow motion, "Daddy, noooooooooooo!!"  I had placed Chloe on the porch and Eli by the fence so that I could watch them as I backed the van out of the driveway to make room for shooting hoops.  Unfortunately the trike that was directly behind the van did not receive the same care.  I heard Chlo's scream right about the same time I heard a strange crunch and scraping sound.  I hopped out to survey the damage.  It wasn't pretty.  But Chloe sweetly and gamely tried to ride the trike afterwards.  She could only go in circles and the trike would occasionally tip over.  I think I should probably buy the girl a new trike.

Opposite Confusion

Chloe loves to listen to listen to this CD over and over again in the car.  She always asks for it ("the yellow one please, Mommy!"), and pretty much refuses to listen to anything else ("but this CD is NOT my favooorrrrite.")  It's gotten to the point where one of my all-time favorite CDs is even starting to get on my nerves, but that's another story.  We were listening to it again yesterday, when she yelled up to the front seat, "Mommy, can you put it on a softer song, please?" So, I turned it down.  "Mommy, I can't hear it!"  I turned it back up.  "But, can you turn it to a softer song, please?" Very confused, I put it on the next song.  "This is not softer."  So, I put it on the next song. "This one is not softer, either!"  So, I put it on the next-next song which just so happened to be her favorite of all (It Is Well With My Soul).  "Thank you, Mommy!  This is very much softer!"  And she began to belt it out.

Then today, the kids were playing games while I ate my lunch and watched the news.  Chloe was playing Cootie, and Eli was playing Old MacDonald.  Old MacDonald is a game of matching baby animals to their mommy, complete with animal sounds and songs.  As they were playing, Eli was getting frustrated because he couldn't figure things out.  So, Every couple of seconds, I had to ask Chloe to please show Eli how to do this or please show Eli where that was (because verbal commands throw him for a loop).  Finally, she looked at me and said, "Mommy, I think Eli should just get a softer game for him."  To which I replied, "It is kinda loud, isn't it?"  She looked at me like I was an idiot, and replied calmly, "No, Mommy, it's not too loud, I just think he needs a softer game to play."  Then the lightbulb went off.  Softer= Easier.

War Between the States

Yesterday Chloe was doing her United States puzzle when she yelled to me in a high-pitched, slightly patronizing voice,

"Mommy! Look! Little tiny state is crying."

I look in to see her waving the puzzle piece with Vermont and New Hampshire over her hand, repeating "Wah! Wah! Little state's crying. Wah. Wah." over and over again.

I had to ask. "Why is he crying, Chloe?"

"He's sad because I wanted to put big state in first!"

And she triumphantly places Texas right where Texas belongs. Then she laughs like it's the funniest thing in the world.  Admittedly, at that very moment, it was.

Tarheel Born and Bred, aka, Indoctrination Starts at Birth

I was subbing in Chloe's class today (all 3yo), and during free time, Chloe and two other kids (I won't use there names since I don't know their parents or if they would mind) were sitting at a table with me playing with floam. When I hear:

Boy: Teacher! Teacher! Look at this!

Me: Oh, cool! Is that a boomerang?

Boy: No, it's a wolf.  (looks at me like I'm stoopit) See here's his eye (points at something nonexistant), and here's his little eye.

Me: Oh, I see! (not really)

(time elapses)

Boy: Teacher! Look, I made another wolf! (points to indention) See his eye, and his other eye.

Me: Cool, Boy! Why do you like to make wolves so much? Do you like the Wolfpack?

Boy: (expression of intense pain fills his face) No! I don't like the Wolfpack! I like the Tarheels.

Me: (turns to Chloe) Did you hear that Chlo? Boy likes the Tarheels!

Chloe: (looks to boy, excitement all over her face) I like the Tarheels, too! I don't like the Wolfpack! Eli likes Wolfpack.

Me: (to boy) Yup. Chloe's brother and Daddy both like Wolfpack, but we like Tarheels.

Boy: (very serious) Good. I like Tarheels.  I wish that other team would just stop playing and go away.

Daddy Blog: Positive Reinforcement

I had just returned from my PE exam review class.

Chloe:  "Were you a good boy at school, Daddy?"

Me:  "Yep!  I was a good boy!"

Chloe:  grabs my arm "Thank you, Daddy.  Thank you for being a good boy at school." Gives me a big neck hug

Daddy Blog: Sweet Lunch Maker

Wormy was sweet enough to help me make my lunch this morning before work.  She threw away trash for me and helped with the agonizing lunch decisions.  Chlo was worried about my first choice: "I don't like sandwiches."  But then she brightened, "But Mommy likes sandwiches."  Next I opened the pantry and wondered aloud, "Let's see, what else...?"  Chloe helpfully offered, "Chocolate chips, Daddy?"  I decided instead on potato chips which seemed to please Chlo.  She then instructed me, "Just eat all of them," nodding her head with her ultra-serious look.  Next was the fruit.  She again applauded my selection as I plopped two oranges into my bag.

Pretty soon I'll be able to hand her my lunch bag and she'll make it for me.  The extra benefit of that arrangement would be lunches heavy on chocolate chips.

Christmas Remix, Part II

Chloe will be an angel in our church's Christmas pageant on the 23rd.  She seems to be really looking forward to it.  We have been practicing the song "Away in a Manger" in order to get ready for the big day, and  as her confidence of the words has increased, she has really begun to belt it out.  I noticed for the first time yesterday that she was singing "The little Lord Jesus asleep on the bed." so I said to her

M: Chloe, Jesus was asleep on the hay.

C: What's that?

M: Well, hay is kinda like grass.

C: Sleep on grass! That's silly.

M: No, his mommy and daddy didn't have a lot of money so when Jesus was born, he had to sleep on the hay with the animals.

C: No.  Jesus not sleep in the grass, Jesus sleep in a bed. (gets excited) Mommy, Jesus can buy a bed!  Jesus not need to sleep on the grass!

Christmas Remix

Chloe is really, really into Christmas this year.  The songs, the lights, the advent calendar, the gift buying and wrapping.  She just loves it all.  She has especially had fun with the Christmas tree.  I let her help decorate this year, and had a beautiful 6inch area of tree completely covered by blue bulbs (her favorite color.)  Until I rearranged a bit, that is.  Every day at some point she stands in front of the tree, admiring its lights and ornaments and the presents underneath.  And nearly everyday she busts into song, singing in her own Chloe fashion, "Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, your leaves they are so tasty." I'm just waiting for her to give ours a try.

And, I do realize how incredibly un-Christmas her carol of choice is.  I mean can you get any more pagan than actually proclaiming your love and adoration for a dead tree?  It reminds me of our pastor once defending our putting up of trees (a tradition with well-known pagan roots) by saying something like "We're not worshipping it or dancing around it or anything like that." Hmm... maybe not at your house, but, well, anyone care to Rock Around the Christmas Tree with us?

Tastes Like Chicken

A couple of weekends ago Chloe and I took a girl's day to visit Jillian and Emmy.  We had a lot of fun just hanging out in Salisbury. In the afternoon, Chloe was completely exhausted from all the fun, and fell asleep on the couch.  She awoke, quite confused, to Lance licking her face.  When she fully came around she said, "Lance, don't taste Chloe anymore, Ok?"

Backseat Driver

It's been over a year now since Chloe first learned the rhyme "Red means Stop, Green means Go, Yellow means you better go Slow!" from Ms. Sue at Storytime.  Now that she is almost 3, she has learned exactly what this rhyme means, and takes every opportunity to correct my driving.  It's helpful when I'm not paying attention, and long before the car behind me has a chance to honk me along, I hear "It's green now Mommy! You can GO!" And at other times it's kinda funny.  Like when I make a right on red I hear "Oh No Mommy! It's not green, it's RED! Red means STOP!" or when it's yellow and I do just the opposite of what the little song tells me to do.  Sometimes though, it can be a little annoying.  This is usually as I wait forever to turn left onto our street which happens to be a pretty busy intersection.  The light is as green as green can be, but we just sit there with Chloe yelling "Go Mommy, it's green.  It's green Mommy, you can go now.  Green means GO, Mommy!....."  Ack, I don't even want to think about what she will be like when she's sixteen.

Wormy's Words: Househunting Edition

After going through several houses, she seemed to get the hang of what to say...

"Ooh, I like that.  Good closets.  Pretty floor. Good potty."

Upon seeing a disgusting 1970 something oven that hadn't been cleaned in 20 years

"Cute Oven, Mommy! Great cabinets! Now, let's check the yard."

After seeing a Buddha in the master of our new house

"Funny monkey.  Look Mommy, I pet the monkey... ooh ah ah ooh ah ah"

In our new house

Me: "This will be Eli's room. (walk down hall to next door).... this will be Chloe's room."

Chloe: "I don't have a bed, I'll just sleep on the floor."

Me: walking to master "And who will sleep here, Chloe?"

Chloe: "This Mimi and Grandpa's room!"

Me: "Where will Mommy and Daddy sleep?"

Chloe: "Mommy Daddy sleep at old house."

 Running around in the woods behind the new house

"I like new yard! It's fun! (falls down, cries, runs to me) I not like new yard anymore! I want old yard again!"

Ever since we looked at the house we bought and Chloe saw there was no bed there, she has insisted on sleeping on the floor of her room with no pillow for nap everyday.  Her little brain is just a mystery to me.

A Case of the Gimmes

It cracked me up yesterday when we were doing some grocery shopping and Chloe was near tears begging for me to buy things for her.  Ashamedly, I admit I gave in to her pleas and bought the rotisserie chicken and the watermelon she so desired.

Do As I Say

Overheard and seen via the rearview mirror while driving home from the store this morning.

Eli: (repeating over and over, getting succesively louder and more annoying) Mah-Moe, Mah-Moe, Mah-MOE, MAH MOE, MAH MOE......

Chloe: (sweetly) Don't say Mah-Moe, Eli.

Eli: Mah-Moe

Chloe: (a little annoyed) I said don't say mah moe, E!

Eli: MAH. MOE.

Chloe: (very frustrated) Eli, look at me, look at my eyes.  Don't say Mah-moe.  Do you understand?

Eli: Mah-moe, mah-moe, mah-moe!

Chloe: (exasperated sigh, wags finger in his face) Eli, no more. DON'T SAY MAH-MOE! Ok?

Eli: Mah-moe

Chloe: (grunts and looks out window)

Silence, lasts about a minute or so

Chloe: OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah, OhBaDoeBah.......

(In Raeford) Everyone's a Cummings or a Goins

I was moving furniture around by myself this morning, generally making a monstrous mess of things.  Eli was hanging out by my kneecaps, and Chloe was playing in her room. A loud noise from the living room sent Chloe running out to investigate. 

Chloe: Mommy, what's coming on in here?

Mommy: Huh?

Chloe: What's coming on?

Mommy: Oh, you mean what's going on!

Chloe: (pauses, pensive, replies) No, what's coming on.

Mommy: Oh, ok.  Well, I'm moving the couch. 

Chloe: Ok, Mommy.  You move the couch. (returns to her room)

Not a Trace of Doubt in My Mind

I really hate to admit it, but it's true.  I know I should have no other gods, I know there are no other true religions, I know that God is sovereign and omnipresent.  He controls all things.  He knows the plot from beginning to end before the play is even written.  I know this.  Still, I just can't shake it.  I believe in the jinx.  Like God, it never fails me.  The words "Look how good the kids are being, Honey" are always immediately followed with screaming and blood.  "I can't believe they went to sleep so easily" answered with piercing yells from the back corner of the house.  "He hasn't been sick in so long!" ended with snot and crankiness by evening.  My Husband likes to tease me about my belief, uttering aloud my innermost thoughts at the most inopportune (ie quietest and most peaceful) times.  Yet, after Tuesday night, I think even he is beginning to go the way of Solomon.  After a round of intense storms left the kids unawakened, he remarked about how great it is that our little girl, though scared unto panic by leaves and feathers, sleeps through the worst blusters.  Enter storm 2.  The result? Two toddlers, scared and wide awake until two in the morning, and one Daddy wondering how this can be.  The jinx, that's how.

Wormy Knows All

We were playing our favorite game "raise your hand if ____" when I paused to ask Chloe what her favorite color was.

me: "Hey, Chlo, what's your favorite color?"
chlo: matter-of-factly "pink."
me: "what's eli's?"
chlo: "eli's is blue. what's mommy's?"
me: "my favorite color is pink, too!"
chlo: "no. it's not pink, it's white."
me: "oh really? I didn't know that. well, what's daddy's?"
chlo: "daddy's is red."

Religious Studies 101

I walked in while Chloe was passionately reading her Bible outloud. I notice she is on page one and hear, "...no an-u-muls.. no people.. no flowers.. there was Nothing!"

Thank You for Our Daily Breads

Last week when Patrick was saying nighttime prayers with Chloe: "Thank you for mommy, daddy, eli, mimi, gampa, uncabee, memaw, lissa, papa, our house, and for eat muffins. A-men."

Today as Patrick and I were giving thanks for our lunch, Chloe was sitting nearby playing and apparently listening intently. Upon hearing "Amen" she quickly yelled "Nooo! Mommy! Thank you for eat crackers!" (She had eaten some on the way home in the car, and we had neglected to retrospectively thank God for them for her. We won't do that again.)