From the Mouthes of Babes: Circus Edition

Ringling Brothers came to Reed Arena this weekend, so we thought it was high time that Eli experience his first circus.  We bought tickets with some of our friends, and had a great time.  The circus was, as always, exciting (and at times so stressful--I thought I was going to have a heart attack FOR the guy on the high wire), but my favorite part was definitely watching and listening to the kids' take on things.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the night:

En route to the show J and I overheard this exchange in the back of the car:

E: Can you ride on a baby tiger?

N: No, you can't ride on a baby tiger, unless it's at least 30 years old.

Norah: (at first the sight of the tightrope walkers): Mommy, why are those boys wearing sparkles?


Eli: (upon seeing the oriental knive diver produce a black, blindfold/face-sock from at his waistband and hold it up for the crowd to see) "Momma!? Is that his underwear!?" (This, of course was exclaimed at a volume level of about 110)

At the close of the show, the ringmaster put a beautiful blonde woman into a cage, then covered it with a sheet.  After briefly pausing to achieve optimum dramatic effect, he pulled the sheet away to reveal a massive Great Dane.  Eli was utterly astonished, and shouted in accusatory disbelief, "He turned her into a DOG!?!" (as if to say, "Did anyone else just see that!?  Are they just going to let him get away with it!?")

And finally, after the confetti popping, show-stopper of-a-finale, when the performers took their last bow, Eli shouted at the top of his lungs with total sincerity (and no prompting), "THANK YOU!!!"  Funny, sweet, little boy.

This was definitely my favorite trip to the circus thus-far.  Both kids are at an age where they were old enough to sit (relatively) still and watch the show.  (We bought 2 rows of 6 seats, so the adults sat in the back row, and the kids all sat in front of us below, which was super fun to watch.  Of course, they also spent a lot of time in and out of our laps, but it was nice to sprawl out--I would definitely buy tickets that way again)

N absolutely loved watching all of the animals perform-- the puppies and kitty cats, and the quick-change artist, in particular.  Eli's favorite, of course was the motorcycle cage.  He sat perfectly still for that part, and watched in awe, just saying "How do they do that?" over and over again.  Good times!

Spring Training

Spring has sprung in Robinson County, which means that we have been doing a little bit of this...

And a little bit of this...

And a WHOLE,

Lot

Of this!

I never realized how much patience my parents must have expended in teaching me to ride a bike with no training wheels (and I hope the same holds true for our kids some day when they look back on this time of learning)...but I have grown to appreciate it now, as an adult!  (Someone, please tell me teaching her to drive a car will be easier)

But in the end, seeing that smile

And hearing her proudly proclaim, "I can ride a bike with TWO wheels!"to nearly everyone we meet (whether we know them or not) makes it worth every second.

 

Although, I will also admit, finally seeing her riding away, so innocent, independent and care-free, was amazingly bittersweet.

(Cue the internal Abba soundtrack...and the waterworks--at least for me.)

"I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness and then I have to sit down for a while.
The feeling that I'm losing her forever--
and without really entering her world.
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter--that funny little girl!


Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute--the feeling in it--slipping through my fingers all the time.  Do I really see what's in her mind each time I think I'm close to knowing? She keeps on growing, slipping through my fingers all the time..."

Go Iron Pigs!

Norah surprised us when she informed us this spring that she'd like to put gymnastics on hold (we currently have a "1-extra curricular activity per kid" rule in our house) and try her hand at softball. Knowing that our life-long good friend (and father of one of Norah's buddies, Kambrie), Brent was coaching, we decided to go all-in and get the full "t-ball family" experience. 

It took some major convincing to get Norah to like her team name (Seriously, who thought it would be a good idea to dub them the Iron Pigs?  I don't care if it IS a legit minor league team...why would anyone want to be referred to as a pig?!) Thankfully, by the time the uniforms came in, she was the second most enthusiastic Iron Pig I've ever met.  (Eli takes first prize, as he started practicing his "Go Iron Pigs!" chant almost immediately after he learned it was N's team name.  He proudly wears his hat almost everyday, regardless of whether or not it's a game day)

He has be the most supportive little brother a sister could ask for.  He loves to help me line up the helmets in dugout, readying them for the players coming in from the field.  And he loves to pick up any wayward bats, placing them neatly on the rack.  He knows the names of most of N's teammates, and routinely will cheer for them when he deems it necessary.  I think his favorite player, besides his sister, of course, is a little boy named "Diego".  (I think he gets a kick out of shouting, "Go! Diego, Go!")

Brent quickly recruited Jason to assist in coaching.  (Maybe I'm partial, but I think he is an awfully handsome coach!) Now that it is toward the end of the season, he is responsible for pitching to the kids  (I had no clue they got to hit without the tee!) and most of them are doing really well with the transition to hitting pitched balls (our daughter, included, who is currently 2 for 2--guess those whiffle ball drills on the camping trip really did pay off!)

Brent's wife, Jamie, and I are also sharing the team mom duties.  That basically means we're the dugout maids.  We keep the kids in batting order, make sure they have on the appropriate headgear (hats for fielding, helmets when batting) and keep up with the gloves and bats.  It sounds pretty mundane, but it's a lot more stressful than I would have guessed it would be.  (Still, it is fun being close to the team and getting to know all of the players.)

I present to you, the 2011 Iron Pigs.  (And one, wayward Mudcat) Aren't they a good looking bunch?  One of the other moms made each player a bucket with his/her name on it.  Before each game, we attach the buckets in their batting order (which changes weekly), so the players know where to sit, and have a place to put their discarded hats and gloves when they are batting.  It has been a HUGE help!  (Our dugout runs like a well-oiled machine!)

Norah's first trip to the plate, pictured left. Yeah, she shanked it...the bat, I mean.  On her very first swing.  Thankfully, no one was standing behind her!  And she didn't give any repeat performances...I think it was just first-time jitters.

First time fielding.  The coaches
 told her to play third base.  (She took them very literally.)

Patient Eli's inaugural post-game snow cone of the season.  He pretty much loved it.

Norah with her prized snow cone.  We are

 starting to wonder if the tee ball board members are financial geniuses.  I think about 75% of our team (our daughter included) signed up to play based on the promise of free snow cones after each game.

A More A-peel-ing Approach to Hot Dogs

Eli has always been a good eater, quantity-wise, but was a little more picky/hesitant to try new things than his adventurous sister...until recently.  It seems that with the milestone of his third birthday, Eli has decided to become a "clean plate ranger", and in doing so, has discovered that he  likes all sorts of new foods, such as gucamole, salsa, tortillas, soup, and even baby spinach.  There isn't much he wont try these days, and 9 times out of 10, he likes it!  

One of his old favorites is a classic, plain and dry hot dog.  He's never been a big bread eater (he's more of a "where's the MEAT?" kind of guy), so Jason and I weren't too surprised to witness his new banana peel hot dog eating technique, which thankfully he hasn't made a habit of since.  Still, seeing as how it made me laugh...I thought it was photo worthy!

The Big Reveal 2010

Step 1: Get a couple of cardboard boxes. Cut out some "windows" and glue on the "engine".

Step 2: cut out some "wheels" and give them a good painting.  Cut out and paint a "slow moving vehicle" sign while you're at it.

Step 3: Acquire some John Deere green paint.  Helpful hint: Lowe's can color-match your son's prized toy tractor.  (Don't disclose how ridiculously overpriced said paint was)

Step 4: Add a bright yellow pinstripe, a John Deere logo, set of straps, black-painted paper towel roll smoke stack, a couple of dollar store tap (head) lights.  Glue on the aforementioned wheels and slow-moving vehicle sign...

Step 5: Insert one very happy little boy, and you just might have the cutest little tractor driver in the state of Texas.

When Eli started (at random) telling people that he wanted to be a "tractor driver" for Halloween a couple months back, my wheels started spinning.  If you know me well, then you know I LOVE coming up with fun, creative costumes for my kids, so deep down, I'll admit, I was stoked at him for thinking outside of the box (little did he know the box would BE the costume)

Truth be told, the REAL step one of this operation was "Get husband on board with the idea".  Jason procured the boxes and did most of the work for Eli's costume.  He even cut a hole in the top of the engine, just under the smoke stack so that people could drop candy down it, and it would fill up the box below.  Eli LOVED showing that feature off at our church's Trunk or Treat! His cute smile and unique costume got him tractor loads of attention (and photo ops).

Norah, on the other hand, went with a more cliche costume request.  And, if I'm still being honest, I cringed when (after flip-flopping between a good 15 ideas) she finally landed on "Tinkerbell".  I decided if I didn't want her to get lost in the sea of other Tinkerbells out there, I'd just have to do my best to make her stand out :)

 I couldn't find any Tinkerbell patterns that I liked, so Gramps and I found a shirt pattern that fit her, and made the rest up as we went along.  (Although I will admit, I nearly pulled out my hair figuring out how to make her shoes!)

Still, I think it turned out pretty great, and Norah made a particularly pretty pixie.  And most importantly, she LOVES her costume.  She has worn it some nearly every day since I finished it a couple of weeks ago.  (I had to wash it TWICE before she even wore it to Trunk or Treat!)

Her favorite features were her shoes (whew!  It was worth it!) and her wings (which she LOVED pointing out to everyone, were painted with glitter glue, so they would sparkle)

Thanks to a donation of left-over fabric from a friend (who was Tinkerbell last year), her costume was almost completely free.  (Briarcrest Cleaners donated the hangers for her wings...I didn't have any wire ones on-hand) and I had to buy a pair of .50 knee-highs, also for the wings, so thankfully, that helped balance our Halloween budget after Eli's green paint almost broke the bank.

One other fun surprise for Norah, was when she reached Trunk or Treat, one of her favorite friends, "Mr. Foree" (our preacher) was dressed as Captain Hook. She was so proud to take her picture with him in their "coordinating costumes".  It was a fun year.  And, believe it or not, Norah has already decided what she AND Eli will be next year--and I LOVE her idea...and Eli even says he's gung-ho!  (I'm still trying to decide if I should go ahead and get started now while the fabric is all clearanced out, after Halloween, or if it's too much of a gamble to think that they'd not change their minds 20 times by this time next year!) Time will tell!

Our Little Gymnast(s)

 Jason and I decided that since 1) this is Norah's last year at home (prior to kindergarten...we aren't literally kicking her out of the house next year), and 2)she spends 90% of her time in my hip pocket, it would be a healthy thing for her to have some instruction from some people other than us prior to taking the plunge into public school next fall.

We laid out all of the viable options on multiple occasions, in various settings and company, and her answer was "gymnastics", every time, so we signed up.

She is LOVING it so far, and her biggest goal going into her first class was "to learn how to do a cartwheel".  Much to her delight, they did work on them.  The instructor had a special mat with hand and footprints to help guide the kids through the motions.  I had to refrain from audibly laughing when I watched my "rule follower" daughter attempt to place both her hands and feet on the corresponding pictures, all at the same time her first time up.

 By her second try, however, she was starting to get the hang of it!

The trampoline, however, is another story.  Poor, sheltered child.  She looks like a wayward ping pong ball every time she jumps.  (Jason and I decided after her most recent class that she must think the object of the trampoline is to cover as much ground as possible because she is ALL over that trampoline!)












The trampoline is Eli's favorite part...or should I say, WAS Eli's favorite part, until Norah's gym moved to a new location and built a gate around the floor, to keep meandering brothers from playing on the equipment!  Don't fret, Eli...your time will come and I have no doubt that whether it's in the gym, on a court, or on a field, you sir,  will be a force to be reckoned with!

Life Imitating Art Imitating Life

 

This drawing was one of the products of N's recent art lessons.  I literally laughed out loud when she gave me her explanation of it.  The pink girls with the full skirts are Norah and Mommy.  (please note my super awesome platform heels and the giant, pink bows--two accessories which, anyone who knows me well can attest that I never leave home without.  And Norah wanted me to clarify that her shoes aren't showing because her "dress is touching the ground so you can't see her shoes") 

The blue guy on the right is Jason, and the blue guy on the left (in the flower-covered hat) is Eli.  What made me laugh about this picture was that Eli really has taken to wearing Norah's floral tea party hat on recent multiple occasions and Norah felt it important enough to capture in her own, personal artistic rendering.  (As I've mentioned before, I think he mainly does this to get a rise out of Norah, because she gets SO upset if he dons anything even remotely effeminate, partly because she's territorial, and partly because she thinks it completely unacceptable for boys to wear girls' attire)

 Not long after showing me her drawing, Norah called me into my room, urging me to bring my camera.  It seems she wanted to do a partial real-life re-creation of her art work. (I didn't even realize it until after I took the photo, but she even has her arm in the same position as it was in her drawing...funny girl!)  I'm telling you, some days, I laugh ALL day-long. 

A is for Artist

Eli has seemed very interested in Norah's artistic endeavors of late, so I decided it was time to give the boy a little creative outlet of his own.  Since we're still working on getting his letters down, I thought it wouldn't hurt to draw a letter for him to paint.  He didn't seem to mind the subject matter, and went straight to work.  (Singing "A-A-A" to the tune of Jingle Bells, ala Elmo's World, as he worked)

He clearly relished the messy nature of painting.  (although his finesse was a little lacking, if you'll note the paper folding up on itself while he intently continues to work)  And yes, Mom R (since I am so sure you noticed) he did use his left hand for the majority of the time...

Except, of course when he switched to the "butter churn"  technique...

This also seemed to be the point at which his countenance fell.  Not exactly sure what went awry, but it was clear to me at this point that he wasn't 100% pleased with how things were working out.

Here he is bringing me his completed masterpiece.  Judging by the "dirty diaper" hold he has on it, and that unmistakable pout on his face, he wasn't impressed with his product.

This was my favorite shot from the afternoon.  I love the expression on his face. Mischievous, embarrassment, reluctance, and if you look closely, a tiny glimmer of pride.  (Which makes me think maybe all he needed was for me to hang it on the fridge and tell him how great it was)

Colors and a new Eli-ism

The photo was one of several color sorting/recognition exercises I've done with Eli in recent days. He is a WHIZ at numbers, but for some reason, he has been really slow at learning his colors. (at least it seems slow to me, since Norah definitely knew all of her colors by the time she was 2, and Eli is approaching 2 and a half with little improvement)

Just when I was starting to think he was color blind (seriously), I noticed that he was able to distinguish between different colors. For example, we each have a different colored toothbrush holder, and he knows which one belongs to whom. He can't say the color associated with the holder, but he can grab the blue one if I ask for "daddy's" or the pink one if I ask for "Norah's", or the green one for himself, etc. (Mine is purple, in case you were wondering, and no, it's not my favorite...it was just all that was left after everyone else picked).

He's pretty good about picking the right color out of a lineup if I ask him, "which one is red"...but just struggles with having to come up with color names on his own.

So, I decided that since he was capable of making the distinction, we would work on color-recognition a little more intensively, starting with one of his FAVORITE things that is in abundance all over our house....matchbox cars! Mimi found this fun little hanging matchbox car holder and gave it to Eli for Christmas. Unfortunately, he prefers to keep them spread out all over the house.

At any rate, I put one car of each color in the first pocket of each row, and then had him sort through some of his cars, matching the colors to the rows, while I talked to him about the name of the color he was working on each time.

His other favorite color exercise this week was with jellybeans. I bought a little bag and each day choose 4 colors for him, and 4 for Norah. He has to name the colors before he can eat his, as well as before I will give his sister hers. (This has helped Norah be even more supportive of helping him learn...not that she wasn't before---she loves to help teach)

On an un-related, but funny note. Eli has given Robinson County a new catch phrase that makes me smile...

E: I'm hungwee, Mom.
A: Eli, you just ate breakfast 30 minutes ago. You can have lunch in a few more hours. Go play.

10-minutes later...
E: Mom, I'm hungwee a wittle bit stronger.
A: (caves and gives him a string cheese chaser to the blueberry pancake and sausage breakfast he consumed less than an hour before)

He has used the phrase, "I'm hungry a little bit stronger" to describe himself multiple times this week...though I assure you we do feed him regularly. It makes me laugh a little each time, just because of his choice of words. If you know Eli, you know he has a big vocabulary for a little guy, and good conversational skills...I just thought it was humorous that while the word "more" (as in "more hungry" or even "more hungrier") is definitely in his repertoire, he chose "stronger", instead. I guess it is a pretty intense hunger he's describing...

Things I Love About Spring...

Spring has sprung in Robinson County, and I would be remiss if I didn't take time to note a few things that I'm loving about this, all too short season. For example: Heart-felt, hand-picked bouquets of flowers...

and sticks...




















and leaves...




















Watching the kids invent ways to swing without being pushed...















And hearing the chorus of "higher, Mommy!" when I do push them.














Seeing precious little girls get all gussied up...














to go to a fancy backyard tea party...
















Pretty flowers outside my front window...




And pretty blooms inside my kitchen windowsill.

It's funny...I used to think these "weed flowers" were so ugly. But when accepted as a "treasure" token of love and genuine thoughtfullness, I have to say they might be one of my favorite flowers in all the world.