Jason likes to match

One of Jason's favorite things is to dress matchy-matchy with Adam. He even bought himself these Vans so that they could look even more similar. Lately, he tries to pick matching outfits every Sunday for church. I think this last picture is so adorable I think I'll print this one out. 

Swim Coma

We've been swimming a lot this summer. (A lot means every day.) I may not like having a $220 association fee but I like having an easy activity to do with the kids.

Swimming also has the bonus of being a sleeping pill for children.

"Life Force gone. Cannot go on."

She's what, maybe 10 minutes out of the water?

A child's perspective on the house

Frannie said to me the other day, "Mom, I hope we never move."
"Why?"
"Because our house is so cozy!"
"Our house is cozy? Really? Which room is your favorite?
"Your room."
"My room? (I was really surprised to hear this.) Why?"
"Because it is just so cozy!"

I really thought she'd say her room or the living room or basically any place that she plays the most or reads the most.

But her favorite room is our room. And her response reminded me of this post from Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2010/03/reasonably-clean-house-did-you-guess.html

She writes, " Your home has many areas that express family life, but your bedroom expresses the foundational relationship between you and your spouse -- the inner sanctum where the sacrament of your marriage is consecrated and continually renewed with the conjugal gift.

If it weren't for the intimate aspect of your commitment, your family would not be. ...Once you make it a priority to keep your bedroom reasonably neat, clean, and tidy, you will notice that besides gaining your husband's gratitude, your children respect it more as they grow older.

Do you see how that contributes, however humbly, to their understanding of the preciousness of marriage and the home -- and the reverence that both you and your husband have for your relationship? Do you see how this lesson, an unspoken one, will carry its message to a new generation? Who knew that you were expressing so much by cleaning a room?"

Chow Mein

I thought it would be fun to have the kids try new foods so I brought home a can of sardines from TJs.

When I popped and peeled back the lid the kids said EEEWWW when they saw the fish in olive oil with the head and tail cut off.

But I forged ahead and speared one with my fork, flaked it up, and got a nice little heap to go on a cracker.

"There! Try it."

And so they did. And they liked it! They kept asking for more until all three fish in the can were gone.

Later in the day we were in the car and Adam says, "Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have some of that chow mein?"

"Chow mein? We don't have chow mein. What are you talking about?"

"You know, that chow mein. With the crackers."

"Do you mean SAR-DINES!?"

"Oh, yeah, that."

And he still couldn't remember the name and all day long he's been asking me to go to the store to get chow mein.

Answers: 212, 122, 3 1/2, 7?8?9?10?

Questions:
1. How many squats did Francesca do yesterday?
2. How many did you (mom) do?
3. How many hours did Natalie "nap" today?
4. Number of days since your children last received a bath?

Sub-Questions
1. Why did she do this?
2. Why did you do this?
3. Why is this a big deal?
4. Why are you not bathing your children?

Sub-Answers
1. Because she's competitive- although I didn't quite realize how much!
2. Because I'm competitive too and Jason has been having squat competitions at work. I thought I could do between 60-100.
3. Because she's been a major grumpy-pants stinker for 2 days. I'm the only one in this house who's allowed to act like she's on her period.
4. Because they've had swim lessons every day for 2 weeks.

Sub-sub-Questions
1. Is she sore?
2. Are you sore?
3. Is Natalie being nicer?
4. Will you ever bathe the children?

Sub-sub Answers
1. Yes. Now she is. Took 24 hours to creep up on her. (Ben-Gay to the rescue!)
2. Yes. I wish I lived in a one-story.
3. Actually yes. She cleaned up the living room nicely. I'm glad she's feeling better.
4. Actually yes. They finally got shampoo/conditioner/ears-face-feet-booty scrubbed tonight. Francesca even got a coconut oil treatment in her hair. She says she smells like popcorn.

Today was a good day

Finally, finally, FINALLY Adam had a good park day. He typically hates going and whines the whole time. It drives me nuts.

Anyways, today was different! He was a happy boy! The whole time! Natalie too was delightful!

The secret was the scooter.

I let them bring their razor scooters and that made all the difference! Finally park day became like an amusement park and I loved seeing the kids actually happily playing at the park the way they're supposed
to! sheesh this shouldn't have taken so long

Today was also a good day because I hiked up Claremont Wilderness Trail with Lorelei and Sonja. It makes me happy that I've been able to get in a bit of regular exercise and of course doing that with friends makes it that much better!

Two things I wanted to write down

(I wrote this one awhile ago too. These last four posts are all out of order.)

I got a pedicure for the very first time today. (Jason got me a gift certificate for Mother's Day.) Part of why I haven't gotten one before is because I had a sense that I would like it and I didn't want to be always tempted to spend $20 on my toes. The other reason is because I always cut my toenails suuuper short and I thought the ladies would laugh at my feet like "What is there to manicure! You've already cut the whole nail!"

So I've gone 34 years with regular feet, barefoot, and barely lotioned.

My lady noticed...

and she convinced me to spend 5 extra dollars so she could scrub off my callouses. And damn that lady darn near scraped off my natural leather shoe it was so painful. And yes I did scream out and yes others heard me!

But here's the thing: I really do get it. I get why everyone loves the pedicure so much. even more than the manicure. It's that with the soaking, and oily stuff, and exfoliation, and lotion massage and the chair that mechanically kneads your back, and this and that, my footsies felt light as air and super fresh for at least 2 hours.

Now they feel like regular feet again, but the polish is a reminder of my nice experience. I think that's why they like to make sure you leave with some polish!
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Ok, on to the other thing which is completely unrelated. It's just a thought I've had from time to time and I wanted to write it down.

I know that when I first became a mother, people, older people, older WOMEN especially, would often stop me and tell me how much to enjoy my children because they grow up so fast. I remember one time in particular when Frannie was only a few weeks old, an older woman told me this and I wanted to say to her "but there is nothing to enjoy".

Later on I of course found many things to enjoy and yes, I do enjoy the kids and enjoy being their mom very much.

But I often read on blogs from other women how much they don't like older women telling them this. When they get advice to "enjoy every moment" they just find it irritating because it certainly isn't always enjoyable. It seems like just one more demand they cannot fulfill.

But I see it differently now. I believe what people are REALLY saying when they say to enjoy it, is they are saying "don't forget that this is your youth too." Because once you can't have kids anymore, you yourself are not young anymore. The message is twofold. Enjoy your kids. But also in enjoying your kids, you are enjoying your own adult youth.