Someone says - noun, a game played by children (and parents) in which someone gives instructions to everyone else, usually prefaced with "someone says" but occasionally not. The someone is trying to catch the others doing what was instructed, even though the instructions were not prefaced by "someone says." Got that?
usage:
me (walking in the front door): Hello the house!
L (running in from the kitchen): Dada! Dada!! We're playing Thomeone Theth!!!
me: What?
L : We're playing Thomeone theth!!
me: Oh yeah?
M (loud whisper from the kitchen): Simon says.
me: Ah!
Respectable - adjective, used to express disgust (?)
usage:
M: It's dinner time.
L: Mama, can I have a treat?
K: Yeah, can we have a special treat?
M: No. It's time for dinner.
L (pouting): Oh!
K (throwing herself face down on the window seat): That's not fair!
M: It isn't?
K (talking into the cushion): No! It's not fair. You're so... respectable!
M: I am?
K: Yeah.
L (arms crossed, lower lip out): Yeah! You're tho rethpectable!
me: What is "respectable?"
K (looking up at me): It's... it's peer (pier?)
me: Oh. Well, it's still dinner time.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
... you say "stop" and i say "go go go"....
Sometimes the fascination of parenting comes from the study in contrasts it provides:
- there's the difference in approach between parents, which can be stressful and/or cause significant upheaval, but luckily M and I tend toward similar approaches, so we dodge this for the most part.
- and then there's the difference in outlook between siblings.
Maui, May 2011
This one provides us with regular opportunities to marvel that the two children we are somehow responsible for can be so entirely unique.
Wednesday morning I was responsible for getting the girls off to summer camp, which translates into "anything I accomplish is largely miracle." But the girls were on their best behavior so things went more or less smoothly. And we're in the "midst" of our summer (where midst = the 2nd or 3rd day), so it's been beautiful, with blue skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Perfect Northwest weather!
Before their carpool arrived, but after I'd finished sunscreening both girls, L tried on a sunhat that was lying discarded after our 4th of July weekend during which it was not worn once, even though it should have been, and when I said "That looks good. You should wear it today to camp" she said "That ladybug hat would be a good summer hat" and I said "That ladybug hat is a winter hat. It's wool!" and L added "I want mittens." I said.... "Ok, fine."
So L walked out the door wearing a pink knitted wool hat and matching wool mittens. (She'd initially wanted to also pack a backup pair of glubs, but at the last moment inexplicably decided against them.) And though I got what I interpret as one of those "does your wife know you're doing this to your daughter" looks from their driver, L was satisfied. I think she had a second coat in her backpack as well.
In contrast, when K walked out the front door and said "My legs are kind of cold," and I told her (because their ride was waiting, and any change in direction would cost us 10-15 minutes) "They'll warm right up. It's going to be warm today," she hesitated just a second, obviously not quite willing to concede anything, but ultimately she nodded and went on down to the waiting car.
- there's the difference in approach between parents, which can be stressful and/or cause significant upheaval, but luckily M and I tend toward similar approaches, so we dodge this for the most part.
- and then there's the difference in outlook between siblings.
Maui, May 2011This one provides us with regular opportunities to marvel that the two children we are somehow responsible for can be so entirely unique.
Wednesday morning I was responsible for getting the girls off to summer camp, which translates into "anything I accomplish is largely miracle." But the girls were on their best behavior so things went more or less smoothly. And we're in the "midst" of our summer (where midst = the 2nd or 3rd day), so it's been beautiful, with blue skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Perfect Northwest weather!
Before their carpool arrived, but after I'd finished sunscreening both girls, L tried on a sunhat that was lying discarded after our 4th of July weekend during which it was not worn once, even though it should have been, and when I said "That looks good. You should wear it today to camp" she said "That ladybug hat would be a good summer hat" and I said "That ladybug hat is a winter hat. It's wool!" and L added "I want mittens." I said.... "Ok, fine."
So L walked out the door wearing a pink knitted wool hat and matching wool mittens. (She'd initially wanted to also pack a backup pair of glubs, but at the last moment inexplicably decided against them.) And though I got what I interpret as one of those "does your wife know you're doing this to your daughter" looks from their driver, L was satisfied. I think she had a second coat in her backpack as well.
In contrast, when K walked out the front door and said "My legs are kind of cold," and I told her (because their ride was waiting, and any change in direction would cost us 10-15 minutes) "They'll warm right up. It's going to be warm today," she hesitated just a second, obviously not quite willing to concede anything, but ultimately she nodded and went on down to the waiting car.
vive la différence!
Friday, July 8, 2011
... be sure to wear flowers....
... around your neck.
(another in an occasional series based on our Maui adventures now long past but about which I'd intended to write.... pretend this is well thought out, funny, and educational, rather than the obviously slap-dashed post that tries to stand primarily on the merit of the accompanying pictures)
One of the highlights of our May visit back to Maui and my mother, sister and nephew, was watching the girls learn to make plumeria leis. This skill is something we learned early in our childhoods, and being able to pass it along to my daughters means a lot to me.
We picked flowers in Mom's yard, and I was reminded of all the "basic" knowledge I take for granted but which needs to be taught. Like don't stand directly beneath the flowers when you pick them. The sap drips, and it's white which means it's not good for you and it'll stain your clothing which in turn means a melt-down or three in our young family. So that's one bit of info I hope they remember. Another: best to pick the flowers in the morning, before the heat/wind of the day does damage.
I did most of the picking. And then we settled in on Mom's porch to thread flowers onto lei needles and white thread.
K, intent on threading properly
And the result, a hand-made-by-K lei
And a companion hand-made-by-L lei
It was a special morning for me. And I think they enjoyed it too....
(another in an occasional series based on our Maui adventures now long past but about which I'd intended to write.... pretend this is well thought out, funny, and educational, rather than the obviously slap-dashed post that tries to stand primarily on the merit of the accompanying pictures)
One of the highlights of our May visit back to Maui and my mother, sister and nephew, was watching the girls learn to make plumeria leis. This skill is something we learned early in our childhoods, and being able to pass it along to my daughters means a lot to me.
We picked flowers in Mom's yard, and I was reminded of all the "basic" knowledge I take for granted but which needs to be taught. Like don't stand directly beneath the flowers when you pick them. The sap drips, and it's white which means it's not good for you and it'll stain your clothing which in turn means a melt-down or three in our young family. So that's one bit of info I hope they remember. Another: best to pick the flowers in the morning, before the heat/wind of the day does damage.
I did most of the picking. And then we settled in on Mom's porch to thread flowers onto lei needles and white thread.
K, intent on threading properly
And the result, a hand-made-by-K lei
And a companion hand-made-by-L leiIt was a special morning for me. And I think they enjoyed it too....
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
definitions: frigidator / pillow theet
drinking from the firehose edition:
frigidator - noun, an appliance found in most kitchens, used to keep food... frigid.
usage:
me: Dinner!
K (coming in from the living room): What's for dinner?
me: Chicken.
K : I don't eat meat! Member?
me: Yeah, but sometimes you do.
K: Only 'lumi 'lami. What else is there?
me: This is it. Pretend this is salami.
K: No! (foot stamp) I'm going to see what else is in the frigidator.
pillow theet - noun, like a regular theet, but for a pillow.
usage:
M: L, do you want this one with the heart on it? Or the butterfly?
L: What??
M: Do you want this one? Or this one?
L: What Mama?
M: Do you want this pillow...
L: Pillow theet?
M: ?!?
L: That one. With the butterfly. I want that pillow theet!!!
M: Ok. Whew!
frigidator - noun, an appliance found in most kitchens, used to keep food... frigid.
usage:
me: Dinner!
K (coming in from the living room): What's for dinner?
me: Chicken.
K : I don't eat meat! Member?
me: Yeah, but sometimes you do.
K: Only 'lumi 'lami. What else is there?
me: This is it. Pretend this is salami.
K: No! (foot stamp) I'm going to see what else is in the frigidator.
pillow theet - noun, like a regular theet, but for a pillow.
usage:
M: L, do you want this one with the heart on it? Or the butterfly?
L: What??
M: Do you want this one? Or this one?
L: What Mama?
M: Do you want this pillow...
L: Pillow theet?
M: ?!?
L: That one. With the butterfly. I want that pillow theet!!!
M: Ok. Whew!
Monday, July 4, 2011
... god save the.... country?
In honor of our country's birthday, we....
What better way to celebrate what was, in essence the wholesale rejection of the British Monarchy and all it represents? Kind of like when kids turn their backs on their parents' lifestyles, values and dreams.....
And then we walked in the largest 4th of July parade in all of West Seattle (rumored):
Truth in advertising - this photo actually depicts a pre-enactment that took place on 3 July, during our walk to the library, which inexplicably was open on a Sunday! Imagine our shock and joy. Imagine our loud discussions over whether to borrow a DVD of Horton Hears a Who (my choice) and "the printheth movie!!!" (L's choice). And guess which one we came home with?
...made ourselves some crowns:
What better way to celebrate what was, in essence the wholesale rejection of the British Monarchy and all it represents? Kind of like when kids turn their backs on their parents' lifestyles, values and dreams.....And then we walked in the largest 4th of July parade in all of West Seattle (rumored):
Truth in advertising - this photo actually depicts a pre-enactment that took place on 3 July, during our walk to the library, which inexplicably was open on a Sunday! Imagine our shock and joy. Imagine our loud discussions over whether to borrow a DVD of Horton Hears a Who (my choice) and "the printheth movie!!!" (L's choice). And guess which one we came home with?
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