Show and Tell

Earlier this week, Reese was supposed to take something "square" to school.  We decided on dice but couldn't put our hands on her Phase 1 game that morning (and I was in a hurry).  I suggested she take a book, but she nixed me on that one.  I even tried a book that talks about shapes 'cause there are all kinds of squares in there, but she put the kaboodle on that one too.

Finally, it was decided that T would help her find something to take.  I left for work and promptly forgot all about the "something square" until I picked her up from school and the following conversation ensued:

Reese:  "Hey, guess what I took to school today that was square."
Me:  "Ummm..."
Reese:  "I took a tile"
Me:  "What?"
Reese:  "Daddy gave me a tile to take.  And, guess what else he gave me."
Me:  "I honestly have no idea."
Reese:  "A piece of that scratchy stuff you use in the garage."
Me:  "You mean sandpaper?"
Reese:  "Yep, sandpaper.  They come in square shapes."

Something tells me that choosing Show and Tell items is not T's forte...at least he didn't send her with the tool (which is arguably a square, and could "technically" qualify, but might be a little confusing if you're like 4 or something!)



Wordless Wednesday

Last Taste of Summer!!



Wordless Wednesday

How could you pass it up?



Let's Skate

Yesterday, I took Reese to the Roller Rink.  When I asked her if she wanted to go, she squealed and said, "yes, they have cotton candy!"

It's nice to know the concession stand is as big a draw to her as it was to me 30 something years ago.  And, I may be crazy, but I'm pretty sure the rink looks the same as it did those same 30 years ago...

This was our second skating outing since she received her Disney Princess skates last Christmas.  We've practiced a few times outside, but it's just not the same.  The first time we went, we made it around the rink a total of 2 times.  Add that to the 2 trips we made to the concession stand and you can see how we spent all of an hour there.

This time was much better.  She was still a little scared of the skating part, but would go around the rink as long as I held both of her hands.  I told T that he will be required to attend the soirree next time 'cause I just don't think my back can handle being hunched over to hold her hands while keeping my skates wide enough to avoid hitting her from behind.  I'm sure we were a sight to behold!

I did get a slight reprieve when we rounded the corner and entered half wall territory.  You know the spot - right where you can look into the concession stand seating - a subtle reminder that it's probably about time to exit the floor and head there for a snack!

She would scale the wall while I demonstrated my skating expertise (I was totally sorta skating backwards while I took this shot!!).

I lost track of how many times we made it around the rink, but we still hit the concession stand twice during our visit. Reese fell twice which led to big crocodile tears each time...oh, and the concession stand doesn't have cotton candy!

Wordless Wednesday



No pierced ears?  No problem...just scotch tape 'em on!!

And - this wasn't even my idea...she came up with it on her own!





Conversations with Kayla

Sometimes I forget just how literally kids can take things we say.  This conversation with Reese made me smile:

Reese:  "Mom, I'm hungry.  Can I have something to eat?"

Me:  "Sure, what would you like?"

Reese:  "Can you tell me what we have?"

Me:  "Oh, hey, how about an ice cream cone?"

Reese:  "Sure."

I proceed to kitchen to fix said treat.

Reese:  "Hey, Mom?"

Me:  "Yes?"

Reese:  "Can I have ice cream in it too?"

Colored Bubbles

I happened upon the coolest thing while I was spending my "me" time at the grocery store last week.  Washable colored bubbles - what could be more fun, I foolishly thought?



I picked the pink ones since pink used to be Reese's favorite color (rainbow is her current favorite, since I know you were wondering)

We put on old clothes that I wasn't worried about staining - at least I was smart enough to question the validity of "washable"

We started blowing and had to move to the grass because the bubbles were leaving pink stains on the concrete wherever they hit and I knew T wouldn't be happy if it didn't wash off.

We both ended up with pink all over us and our clothes, but I wasn't too worried because it's washable, remember?

This is her arm after the first "washing"

Now I know why I found the bubble in the clearance aisle.  Can't wait to wash the clothes!

But...we did have fun!

Wordless Wednesday

Another showing of "Photos by Reese" - this time self portraits:

Don't you wish digital cameras had been around when we were kids?









Reese's first day of school

She was up at the crack of dawn...

The plan was for T to take her and I'd leave work and meet them there for pictures and to get her settled in.

T said she was ready long before him and kept asking if it was time to go.  We took pictures in front of the school before walking her in.

We helped her find her cubby and then she was gone.  Narry a kiss or goodbye.  Our girl has flown from the nest.

Can't wait to see her tonight to find out how her first day went.  For me, it's bittersweet - I'm really excited that school has started, but she's my baby...how can she be in school already?









Wordless Wednesday

A few examples of Reese's Photography skills:



Watch out world...she's got the "eye"







Wordless Wednesday

Can you tell she did her own hair?



Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffins

Last weekend, Reese and I made chocolate chip cookies - with a twist.  We made the recipe exactly like the back of the Ne.stle Toll House bag told us to (except we added a teaspoon of cinnamon - yum!), but then modified the way we baked them.

We put muffin liners in our muffin tin and filled them about 1/2 way. 



We baked at 375 for 12 minutes then took them out to cool.  The middle of our cookie muffins sank a little which was perfect for the hershey kiss we added in the center.



So, no rocket science here, but it was truly much easier for Reese to fill the muffin tin with dough than try to roll out perfect 1 inch balls...plus, she really loved putting the kisses on in the end.

The highlight to me - the muffin liners keep the cookies soft, plus I can have a whole lot of cookie and still say I just had one!

Try it sometime - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Wordless Wednesday

Hula anyone?



Conversations with Kayla

I have finally begun my training (in earnest, this time) for the 3-Day-for-the-Cure event I will be attending in November.  I have to walk 20 miles/day 3 days in a row...60 miles total.  I figure I better go ahead and get off my butt if I expect to really be able to do this thing. 

So, 3 days a week, I'm going to the mall at lunch.  Sounds like I'm gearing up for a shopping marathon, not a major walk,  huh?  The reason I'm going to the mall is because it's 100+ degrees here during my lunch hour.  Last week, I made the mistake of walking outside at the park, and I think I almost died!  So, I walk at the mall with all the old people (man are they cute!!).

Anyway, all that said as background for the conversation Reese and I had this morning.

Reese:  "Why are you taking those clothes with you to work?"

Me:  "So I can get my walking in during lunch"

Reese:  "Won't that make you spill everything?"

Short conversation, but it's made me smile all morning!  

LJS - Part 2

We were just about finished when a man approached our table.

Now, I had noticed this guy previously - because of the future kinship we would have if we all ended up contracting hep b and had to get together to rehash the details, I had taken note of everyone in the restaurant.

He was an older gentleman, wearing overalls, eating by himself.

So, he walks up to our table and says, "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed watching the two of you interact during your meal.  I could tell how much fun you were having and just wanted you to know that I enjoyed watching the two of you while I was eating my dinner".  He turned to Reese and said, "you are very well behaved"

All I could say was, "thank you".  How often do we get confirmation that we're doing something right? And that our lives look as fun to others as they seem to us?  He didn't have to stop, he didn't have to say anything, but he did.  And that alone, made my day. 

But, overall guy wasn't done.  He said, "I'd like to buy your dinner" and laid $20 on the table.  I declined his offer saying his complement had already been gracious enough, but he said, "please, just please let me do this for you.  I enjoyed my dinner so much more than I would have had you not been here tonight.  So, please take this and have a good night".  I was speechless as he walked out the door.

Then my crazy mind took over - wonder what he did to this money...did he smear something gross or toxic on it?  Should I even touch it?  Is there a tiny transmitter imbedded somewhere that will allow this guy to find us once we get home? 

Then I came to my senses.

This was just a man.  A man TRYING to do something nice.  A man who DID do something nice.

What a crappy society we live in that our first thoughts go to the bad instead of the good (or maybe that's just me...well, me and T 'cause the first thing he asked when I told him the story was whether or not I made sure overall guy wasn't waiting for us in the parking lot when we left).

Why couldn't I accept this gesture of kindness without first questioning his motives?  Thinking he was up to no good.  So, grateful or not, I think he did more than pay for our dinner - he reminded me that there are still some good people out there.  People I don't know who are living their lives and trying to make our world a little better place to be.

Thanks overall guy...I won't forget you - and I'm definitely grateful!

**the money was put into my 3-Day-for-the-Cure fund - overall guy was my first donor!!**

Wordless Wednesday

No pool in the yard...no problem!



Don't know why she chose to wear the raincoat and boots when it was 100 degrees outside, but we had a blast!  I thought the boots filled with water were hilarious.  The orange splotches are remants of the "tiger" she painted on her face earlier in the day.

Grateful...or not?

As always, Reese and I decided to eat out when T was out of town....

I picked her up from daycare and we commenced our discussion of where we would eat that night.  We always pass Long Jo.hn Silv.er's on our way home, so I asked Reese if she'd like to go there.  We had never been there together - in fact, I cannot remember the last time I'd been in a LJS.

She asked what they had and was sold when I mentioned the fish.  She asked if Baby could go with us, but Baby was at home.  Reese asked if we could run home to get her.  This was followed by Baby's voice resounding in the car, "I'm hungwy".  Don't know how we could hear her from so many miles away, but we did.

My initial thought was, "what a pain - I don't want to drive all the way home to take some fake baby out to eat with us".  Then I reconsidered.  Would it really hurt to drive the few extra miles (5 miles each way)?  We weren't on a schedule...T was out of town.  So I relented and we headed home to get Baby.

It probably took us 15 minutes to get Baby and return to Long Jo.hn Silv.er's.  As we pulled up, I noticed they weren't very busy.  Then my mind started to wander...maybe they've had lots of bad health inspections and everyone but us knows it...maybe something bad happened here (is this a bad part of town?) - you know, the normal crazy stuff.  But we all went in and ordered.  We sat down and I scanned the other patrons wondering if we'd meet up later to discuss our dining experience as we tried to figure out how we contracted hepatitis b.  I have no idea why my mind was having these thoughts other than trying to reconcile why it had been so long since I'd darkened the doors of a LJS.  Did I forget that their food really sucked and that's why no one was here?  Anyway, Reese, Baby and I enjoyed great conversation while we ate our dinner (which was just as you'd expect - fried and delicious!).

We were just about finished when a man approached our table.

This post is getting rather long, so I'm going to make it a 2 parter...stay tuned for what happened next :)

Wordless Wednesday

Some Backyard Firework Fun

(yes, that's T letting her light fireworks -
I KNOW it's a rite of passage for kids...
it took every ounce of self restraint I have
to keep from mouthing my concerns - but I did it!)





Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!



Taste of Summer

Every year, on the last Saturday of June, our local Blue Bell has a Taste of Summer celebration.

They have inflatables, tatoos, visor making, cow milking, tours of the factory and all the ice cream you can eat from 9-3.  It was free for Reese to get in and only 5 bucks for me.  The Blue Bell plant is super close to our house, so we were able to get there fairly early...too early for ice cream to be honest, but it only comes around once a year, so what the heck, right?

We started off making a pirate hat and then moved on to a face tatoo.

Scared, aren't you?  And yes, my pirate wears lipstick!



From there, we moved on to our first ice cream of the day.  Reese had cotton candy and I had Triple Chocolate something. 

After watching some singing performances, we went on the tour.  No pics because they wouldn't allow them (someone might try to nab some of their ice cream making secrets).  They were in production, so we got to see ice cream put into cartons and cartons whisked off to the freezers.  Some of the workers would look up and wave to the kids.  Not only that, inside the building, they had "flush" toilets (porta pottys outside), so we took total advantage while on the tour!

Shortly thereafter, we went for ice cream #2.  Reese had cotton candy and I had chocolate something.

She decided she wanted to jump on some inflatables, so we stopped for an ice cream (just so we'd have something to do while waiting in line, you know - Reese had a banana fudge bar and I had an ice cream sandwich) and then she jumped.



All that jumping will make a girl hungry, so we got in line for ice cream.  Reese had cotton candy (are you noticing a pattern here?) and I had Chocolate Caramel something.

We headed back to watch more performances - this time it was an ice cream eating contest - Reese was entranced!

"I could do that if they were eating cotton candy ice cream instead of ice cream sandwiches"

She wasn't quite ready to go, so we went to make a princess tiara, milk the cow (fake) and jump on some more inflatables.



Fact I learned while on "the tour" - Blue Bell doesn't own their own herd of cows, so they buy all the milk for their ice cream.  I woulda thought they had cows - hmmm.

By now, we'd been there about 3 1/2 hours, so we decided to head home.  But not before 1 more stop for ice cream.  Reese had cotton candy and I had chocolate something.

Neither one of us got sick from the excessive amount of ice cream we consumed, but we did skip lunch!!

Mother/Daughter Trip - Part 2

I totally forgot to finish the story of my and Reese's Mother/Daughter trip to the big town of Bartlesville, OK.

Sunday morning brought bagels again in the room before we went swimming for the second time.  Again, 5 minutes for me to get totally wet because of the cold water.  We did the same routine as Saturday then headed to the room to get ready to go shopping. 

Reese tried on 6 outfits in Dillards before settling on 2 she wanted.  I asked the sales lady to hold them for us because we hadn't been to any other stores and I thought Reese may find something she like better elsewhere.  I was right to have waited because she found 5 outfits in the next store she really wanted (2 outfits at Dillards vs. 5 outfits at Goody's for the same price - score!)



After leaving the 2nd store, Reese said she was just too tired to walk and wanted me to carry her - sorry, not happening!  Not that I don't want to carry my child - she's just getting too big, so our shopping trip was over. 

We ran around town after lunch taking pictures with the painted buffalo, at the train (where Reese's baby fell out the window - tragedy!), and the various water features.  Back to the hotel for napping, then dinner out.  We called it a  night and headed back to the hotel to relax.



Monday morning we didn't want bagels, so I said we could go to McDonalds.  Reese veteod the idea as soon as she learned that meant she had to get dressed.  We finally trekked down to the pool for day 3 of swimming.  I decided I wasn't going to wimp out and take 5 minutes to get wet (why prolong the agony?), so I just took the plunge and jumped right in.  Reese put her feet on the first step and said, "wow, this water is cold - let's go to the hot tub".  I don't know if she was messing with me our not, but I cracked up because I couldn't believe I'd gotten cold for nothing!

We had a great time and are looking forward to many more annual trips.  Wonder where we'll venture next year?