Someone sent me a picture of her son and nephew today that reminded me of something that happened a few years ago.  I love remembering stuff I had forgotten!  My daughter Devin, when she was about 2 and a half, liked to pretend that she was a dog.  She'd get under the table with her plate, cozy up on the floor with blankets... you get the idea.  One day my mom was visiting and dragged her in from the backyard, half dressed and wholly indignant.  Nudity was nothing new here.    Apparently, however, Devin had decided to take the doggy game to the next level.  Yep.  She was outside pooping in the backyard.  And furious at my mom for stopping her.  My mom said she was even lifting up her leg over a bush at one point.  I said we had to give her credit for authenticity.  My mom said I should lock my doors more.  My older daughter said, "Wow, Nannie really freaked out today!"  Kind of makes me wish I had a fence some days.  It's okay though, those neighbors have moved.  On both sides of us.  And across from us.  I'm sure it's totally unrelated :)

Here is Fido, asleep in her dog house.

Regret

I was in the grocery store today, and the line was held up for a minute because the checker had to go get another checker who could speak Spanish.  I wasn't really paying attention to what was going on because I was trying to unload my stuff quickly and get home before the school bus.  When I finally did start noticing what was going on I realized the people- presumably a mom and daughter in front of me- were being told that the store could not accept their WIC check.  The check was issued from NY, and the store can only take checks from VA.  I glanced at the total on their order, it was only 24 dollars.  The woman told the checker she was not able to pay for the groceries without the WIC check, and asked her to put the things back.  Milk, orange juice, cheese and some dry beans.  I was about to tell the cashier to just add it to my stuff, but I hesitated. Was it too weird?  Would the woman be offended?  Was it stupid?  And in that moment of debate, the cashier cleared the items, and the people left.  They just walked out with no milk, and no food.  I really wish I had spoken up.  

The other day I took my two littlest boys to our Weekly 'Toddlin' Time' class.  As I went to the back seat to unbuckle my son Declan I noticed he was staring at me.  He looked at me intensely, and then his face got all sort of soft and lovey looking.  Wow, I thought.  This is it!  Look at the look of complete love on his face. This is what it is all about.  What a deeply rewarding and wonderful moment.  I stood there for a while, in the freezing January cold, just looking back at him, not wanting this magical moment of mother-son bonding to come to an end.  Then he says, "Mom, I can see myself in you's glasses." Zonk!

You know though, that was not our most exciting and memorable Christmas play with the 4Rs. When my daughters were 3 we decided to make a big celebration out of the evening.  We loaded everyone up in the car, invited the grandparents, and headed out to dinner and then the play.  During our dinner at Ruby Tuesday Lauren had a small accident.  Well.  No time to go home, no time to stop somewhere.  So, the solution was to take off the tights and underpants under her dress.  You can totally see where I am headed, can't you?  

I told her to be careful, and leave her dress DOWN all evening.  Well, of course she didn't.  The first time, my lovely daughter - front and center- accidentally twirled her dress up.  When she realized she was getting a big reaction from the audience she kept doing it, until the teacher grabbed her, and made her stand in the back.  I'd like to say that I can't imagine a Christmas play being more memorable than that one, but I don't want to jinx myself.  We still have one more play to get through. I am starting to think that preschool is going to be glad to see the last of us!  

Here they are- dresses down!  

Lauren,  the infamous dress-twirler (The blond in the waaay back, singing)

Her partner in crimes and misdemeanors, Devin (also singing)

The pretty blond girl to your left is their life-long buddy and best pal Katie.

All of my kids have gone to the same wonderful preschool.  Every year this school does a Christmas play, that all of my kids have been a part of.  Except Collin.  Collin decided that there was no way he was going to get on that stage, in front of those people.  Not for fruit snacks.  Not for promises of a Scooby Doo marathon.  He hid behind some pews (the play was held in a  local church to accommodate all families).  About half way through the play, I sent my older daughter over to him.  The teachers had cautioned all of the parents to keep their distance from the kids, because they tend to be more successful without parents.  Plus, my daughter is wonderful with Collin and he has a special bond with her.  She came back after a moment and told me, "he wants you".  Well, I fell for it.  I thought that maybe he just wanted a quick reassurance and then he'd hop right on stage and do his part.  Foolish, foolish soccer mom.  I get over there, and he tells me it is time to go home, and refuses to participate.   The teachers, seeing this commotion on the sidelines, encourage me to encourage Collin.  Well.  Long story short, but guess who ends up doing the "Reindeer Pokey"?  Judging by the MANY comments from friends and neighbors, my performance was a solid 10.  

After this, Collin darts over to another pew and almost knocks over a large stand of advent candles.  Thanks to Dave C. for catching them before they crashed to the floor.  At this point, my other son looks over, and realizes that I am nearby and decides that he's more scared than he thought he was, and hurtles across the stage and jumps off into my arms, crying hysterically and disrupting the whole play.  It was a night to remember.  I wish I could forget!

Come on, Collin!  Mommy will buy you a pony!  Two ponies!  And a dinosaur!  (See the giant candle holder? He knocked it down while trying to get UNDER that pew.)
Declan as an elf, before stage fright set in.

Come on Collin!  You put your right hoof in, you put your right hoof out...

I am looking through the papers in Lauren's backpack today.  I pull out one interesting drawing and ask her to tell me about it.  "Well mom," she says, "the art teacher told us to draw  huge jar and then draw something in the jar that normally wouldn't fit into a jar.  Everyone at my table drew a picture of their house.  I drew four monkeys on a trampoline.  Because four monkeys on a trampoline would definitely NOT fit into a jar."  Indeed not.

Cross your fingers!!

And hold your breath!  Both my boys went to preschool today in UNDERWEAR for the first time! (Minus the turkey hats shown here!)

No pull ups!  No safety net!

(By the way - look behind the boys and see my older two children wrestling!  )

You're probably wondering why I haven't posted anything for so long.  Well, I think I figured it out.  It's the tail of the dinosaur.  (This is in no way related to the hair of the dog :)  The mom thing.  It's 31.  (You know, 24/7?)  It's everyday, all day.  I think back to when I was in college.  Although I had the typical college fun it wasn't all easy.  I was responsible for my tuition, room, board and books all on my own.  So I had three jobs and a full class load.  But, come Friday night, there WAS a break in the routine of work and classes.  I used to picture myself as Fred Flintstone at the rock quarry...  Hearing that bird whistle blow, popping out of my quarry digger and sliding down the tail of my dinosaur on my flat, prehistoric feet, yelling QUITTIN' TIME!!! And you know, that's a pretty good feeling.  Being off the clock.  Good enough to make a chubby caveman in a tigerskin suit dance like a ballerina, all the way to the Flint-mobile.  These days this chubby soccer mom rarely dances out to the minivan!  (Maybe if I had that orange suit??) 

Anyway, things get busy, during the holidays, and the interminable school break (23 days, thank you very much PWCo Public Schools!).  And even though I can make time to do it, I find a lot of nights I don't have the gumption.  Although I truly don't ever want to be off the mom clock, it does sort of get in the way of doing other things.  Some days ANY things. But, I want to do better, and I do really miss reading all of the blogs I usually follow!  So, to better blogging in 2009 :) 

[Note to self.. check amazon.com for orange tiger-skin suit]