Conversations with the toddler

Today, as we got home from dance class, we sat at the bottom of the stairs to take off our shoes. The toddler looked over at the brick wall and asked "how did you make that puzzle?"

Realizing she was asking about the pattern, I told her that the people who built our house made it.

"Oh," she says. And after a beat, as she walked up the stairs, she added "Hey mom, did you know that I made that wall? Just like a puzzle. Yep, I did it all by myself."

It's all about how you feel

I went to my friend's 40th birthday party last weekend. At a casino. In my pink wig.

I feel the best way to face 40 is with a pink wig.

My friend had a tiara which is also good (she's wearing it in the picture below). Because you just can't take this age thing seriously.

I believe age isn't about how old you are, it's about how old you feel.

And in a pink wig, how can you feel anything but awesome?

My Happy

I've been a bit sad, overwhelmed, depressed ... very blah the last few days. I am having a hard time snapping out of it. It's nothing terribly serious, just the weight of the world seems to be sitting on my shoulders lately.

It sucks.

So, inspired in part by my friend Stasha's Monday Listicles, I decided to make a list of ten things in the last week that have made me smile. In no particular order.

1. Drag queens, jello shots and two hours in a lingerie store while on vacation with my bff.
2. Buying "more glitter than we've ever sold at one time" at a kids jewelry store in preparation for my upcoming "Dress As Your Favorite Sparkly Vampire" birthday party.
3. The endless laughter (with bff) while playing with said glitter, getting ready for our night out at the drag bar. "I'm going to use this every day."
4. After a weekend of intense discussions and sorting out life's problems, coming home to big, genuine hugs from the teenager, the tween, the husband and the toddler.
5. The teenager's excitement over going to see the president speak, and getting his first article published. Proud mom.
6. The text from hubs that read "[The tween] is cleaning the kitchen. Without being asked. I'm scared."
7. Driving home with my family of five one night, and the mixed look of horror and amusement on their faces as the toddler and I sing along to Wham! Rap (at the toddler's request). We both know all the words.
8. Letting the toddler pick out which colors for her to use and which ones for me to use so we could paint our nails. She tried to get daddy to paint his too. Orange and pink for her, blue and green for me, in case you were wondering. Daddy passed on the black she picked for him.
9. The random text from one of my best friends, whom I only get to see via facebook and text because he lives so far away; "I'm totally not thinking about you right now."
10. This:

To be honest, I had to walk away from this for a while because I couldn't come up with ten things while in this stupid funk. So I packed up the toddler and got out of the house for a bit.

Fresh air is a good thing. I pondered the list while driving to pick up the tween. And came up with more than ten things. And THAT made me smile. I was reminded  what I need to make ME happy. 

And what I don't need. 

I don't need The Things. The Things that we can't afford to buy or to do, those aren't important to me. But sometimes I forget that. Sometimes, too often lately, I get caught up in other people's expectations of what my life should be, where we should be at right now, the reminders of what we don't have. 

And it makes me feel  awful. 

It makes me feel like this life the hubs and I have created is wrong, that we've failed, somehow. That even though I'm smart, articulate, run a business that I love, have a family that I am proud of, kids that I actually LIKE to  be around ... it just isn't enough. 

But it is enough. It's enough because those are the things that matter to me. Nobody's life is perfect, and the people that make me feel like my life isn't, well that is pretty much their problem and I need to stop letting it be mine. Those people suck.

What I need to make me happy is people. People that don't suck. People that are happy and positive. People that laugh and love and remind me, every so often, to stop taking things so seriously. 

And I have those people. They hug me. They call me, text me, facebook me, skype me, and occasionally laugh at me.

And they make memories with me. Memories that make me smile. And I love them for it. I need them for it.

I might also need a little bit more vodka, but that is a whole different list.

The teenagers first byline

This is where the teenager talks about going to see the President speak. His first byline outside of his high school paper. We will find out shortly if it also goes to their print version.

Pretty cool stuff. Click on the picture to go to the article:

Proud mom.

Fashion Queen, vol 2

She picked this outfit so daddy could twirl her. It's a dress. With a tutu type skirt underneath. Her "rock star" sunglasses. And her cat-in-the-hat Valentine hat. And, of course, the pouty face because she didn't want me to take her picture.

Oh, and the Littlest Pet Shop Band-aid on her leg. And her wrist. Because, seriously, every girl needs to accessorize.

Fashion Queen

The toddler has her own sense of style. She must get herself dressed in the morning now, I am rarely allowed input into her outfits. Most mornings I text a picture to the hubs, because they are just that good. Here is today's outfit.

I just don't even know WHICH is my favorite part. Socks on the hands. Flower leggings with the leopard print vest. Mismatched socks with her patent leather dress shoes. Short sleeves on this 38 degree morning.

It's just magical isn't it?

***************UPDATE***************

"Honey, go get your shoes on, it's time to go."

Hanging with the President.

The teenager has had an exciting few weeks with his press pass from his high school paper, attending some pretty major events in Olympia.

Picture borrowed from the teenagers fb page. I believe he borrowed it from TVW. Taken just after Gov. Gregoire signed the Marriage Equality Bill into law in Washington State on Feb 13, 2012.

Tomorrow (Friday) said teenager will get to attend a speech given by President Obama. With press access. Cleared by the White House.

That is all.

Did you just kick your brother?

Last night hubs and I were standing in the kitchen talking. The tween and the toddler were standing in the doorway of the kitchen, waiting for me.

Tween: Ouch! Don't kick me! She just kicked me!
Me (to the toddler): Did you kick him?
Toddler: No
Me: Did you just kick him?
Toddler: No.
Me (to the tween): did she just kick you?
Tween: Yes.
Me (to the toddler): Did. You. Just kick. Your brother. ?
Toddler: No.
Me: WHY did you kick your brother?
Toddler (in her most pouty voice): Because I thought he was a ball.

Just another day in paradise around here.