video games

Sam likes to pretend play video games. He talks about them a lot (doesn't play them, just likes to talk) the other day he had a Spiderman Band-Aid on his arm and he pulled up his sleeve to show me the band-aid and told me that it was a video game. He had created an on off button and one to move Spiderman. A little while later he said, "oh man!" I said, "what's wrong" and he said" my video game just ran out of batteries, lucky I have some in my pocket." Priceless

I've heard so many people tell me - that they're grown up before you know it, pay attention it's gone in a minute, enjoy it while you can - it doesn't last long. I heard that so much and I believe the people that told me were telling the truth. But you just don't understand it, it's impossible. When you have a newborn and a 2 year old it truly feels like the days of exhaustion will just never go away. And you feel like if someone tells you that you need to enjoy every minute you may just hit them with a sippy cup.

I'm starting to understand now (and I sort of wish I didn't). Sam is too big to ride in the stroller and Ollie wants to walk with Sam. I loved strollering, we used to walk everywhere. There is a itty bitty park a couple of blocks away from our house. We call it the tot lot. It's a little sand park with very few toys in it, mostly stuff other people have donated from their yards. We spent so much time there. It was this strange thing all the kids love the tot lot, we could never figure it out, it really was not a good park. All of my friends would sort of congregate there and meet up. It felt a little like a very family appropriate Cheers bar. You were almost certain to see someone you knew, even in really cold weather. We went to the tot lot last fall and it was a dud, they didn't seem to want to bethere at all. I feel like we are leaving the time of everything being entertaining and it's more challenging to make fun. I'm heading out of the stage of words like "lasterweek" and "yestermorning". Kids music is not always on demand now, now they like catchy mommy music. I thought I would like that and I certainly like listening to my tunes, but I sort of miss Raffi in a very bizarre twist. Sam now has play dates with kids whose moms I don't even know. There is just this sort of exchange at the door . It's not as if I want to stop them, I like them growing up I guess I just don't like leaving what has been so comfortable (and really cute). There has been this huge debate in this house going on for ages now about whether or not to have another little tyke. The thing is - that doesn't keep you in the bubble forever either, you're going to have to leave that world sometime.

It's not as if my kids are now teenagers - it's still great. They are still very creative and play imaginary games. They don't fight and are very kind to each other and their friends. They still dress up in costumes and like to sing and dance, they are in no way acting too cool. I can just understand what wise advice I was being given - Pay Attention, nothing stays still.

2010

So, it's 2010. So far this year is off to a great start. We have had lots and lots of snow. I haven't been skiing yet but we're going Thursday (just to Wintergreen but a little's better than nothing). Our rock climbing class went very well. I didn't expect to get so nervous being so high up but it does sort of freak you out. Well, I guess the most interesting development in the past month has been the cats. Lucy died this past summer (RIP) and we decided it was time to get another cat. So we went to a rescue group and we came home with 2 cats. They were fostered together and when we asked her if they needed to be together she said "no, they just like each other, but they wouldn't be lost without each other". Somehow I think we must have wanted 2 anyway since I am not sure how but that translated into "they really like each other and it's so nice for them to have a friend, so you really should take 2",. At least I think that's what I heard.

One (Charlie) is just the opposite of Lucy, he is gray with white feet and a white chest and Louie is white with orange. They are clearly not related. They are very sweet and very good. Charlie is a little spunkier than Louie. Today he followed us and the neighbors to the Pharmacy and walked right in. He is funny, he is also not as smart as Louie. Louie is very sweet and very lovey. He has a habit of sleeping on your head and he purrs REALLY loudly so it's bit of a nuisance. The poor thing has cat herpes, apparently it's very common - and no, he didn't get it from us. He had been abandoned in a parking lot and they said that it's common for cats born out and about. It makes his eyes runny which is really yucky. It doesn't have any other health implications though. They say it might stop when he is clam and not stressed out, but with the kids loving on these cats as hard as they do, that is probably not going to happen for a while.

Last weekend was Valentine's day. We aren't usually big Valentine celebrators, but we booked a sitter for 5:00. I was invited to the wedding of an ESL student of mine. I have never been to a Mexican wedding and didn't really know what to expect. It was a strangers wedding, so I thought 1 hour for the service 1/2 to reception and an 1 hour at the reception. It started at 1 - we'd be home by 4:30 at the latest. Well, we got the church and it was a mass with a group wedding. There were 5 couples getting married that day. It was standing room only and the service lasted about 2 hours. I am still impressed that my children behaved as well as they did considering the whole service was in Spanish and we were tucked in a small alcove and couldn't see a thing. So I was put in the family photo (very honored) and then we left for the reception.
The bride and groom showed up at 5:30 (clearly, we canceled the sitter). So we had decided that this was our Valentine's - a new experience, a wedding, yummy food - pretty good day I think. Well, we got served our salads and the boys (who had a Sprite and a Orange Fanta and were going truly insane) had been really good and so they started to run around with the other kids. Then, right when the yummy food was on it's way out of the door - Oliver fell and split his chin and needed 2 stitches. It was a shame to leave, I was pretty excited to see the dancing. The groom made us some plates to go (slightly awkward I though) and we headed home. Of course I as worried about Ollie but I seem to have 2 pretty accident prone kids so I'm getting the hang of it a bit. It was fun and I hope I get invited to more. I could make a hobby of different cultures weddings (without the exceptionally long mass and extensive wait for the reception to begin and split chin).