From the Mouths of Babes in April

Linus: I'm Spiderman (shoots web)
Linus' friend August: I'm Batman. (shoots batarang)
Linus: No you can't! I live in New York.  You live in Gotham City.  Don't ruin my city!

Linus: My favorite light is fireworks. Ka-boom! Ka-boom!

(While wearing a Batman  cape and walking around the house)
Eileen: Batman. Batman. Batman. Hooray.  Batman. Batman....

Things said by Linus during tantrums this month:
I don't like that deal.  It's not my favorite.
Everybody is driving me crazy.
That is not my plan.  That is a bad deal.
When you sit down for dinner I am not going to eat. Never!

Wild Kingdom

One of the things you don't think about when you get married is that one day you will have children who have interests and dreams different than your own.  I admit to nonchalantly dropping hints to my children about how fun tap dancing looks.  When I got married at the ripe old age of 23, I never imagined I would be able to tell the difference between construction vehicles.  As someone who is uncomfortable around animals, it never occurred to me that I would have a child become obsessed with reptiles.

Linus loves reptiles.  He loves all of nature and life science, but reserves a special passion for reptiles.  Linus' favorite activity is make believe. He can be found swimming across the rug, saying tick tock, as he channels life as a crocodile.  Dave constructs him animal pens using the coffee table, arm chair, and couch.  On the rare sunny day, Linus likes to bask in the sun due to being cold-blooded.  Trips to the zoo require a lengthy stroll through the reptile house and the tropical exhibit.

By far, Linus' favorite reptile is the python, especially the reticulated python.  He can often be found looking for things to hang from like a python.  Linus likes to use the play tunnel as a python costume.  He will take all the stuffed animals and push them through the tunnel as he "digests" them.

Other times he likes to practice constricting his prey.  Eileen and I both find this very uncomfortable.  My favorite python game is baby python.  Baby python is sad, quiet, and snuggly.  He is sad because he is an orphan whose mommy and daddy died (this is a common theme in his role playing).  Eileen has picked up on all the reptile business and slides around the house hissing.  She also likes to be put in a "cage."

As a result of his interest, we now have reptile books.  Linus actually sleeps with a reptile field guide under his pillow.  Personally, I can't think of anything more nightmare inducing that looking at snakes before drifting off to sleep.

Today I decided to be a good mommy and took the kids to the Reptile Zoo. 

So very happy to be holding a snake.

He held that rosy boa for a long time.  No fear.

Eileen exhibited little interest and preferred to carry around a foot stool.

Modeling a corn snake.

 I admit I will be relieved when Linus is done with his reptile phase.  In the meantime, is anyone fluent in parseltongue?

Not my favorite childhood milestone

Linus has snored ever since he was a baby, but recently the gentle grunting was replaced by old man snoring, old man shake the house, shivers down your spine snoring.  After spending the night in the same room with him during our trip to Vancouver, Dave and I realized that maybe it was getting serious.  I have no idea how Eileen sleeps in the same room as him.

I called the doctor on a Monday morning and got a same day appointment.  He said the tonsils looked big, could probably come out, but that Linus might outgrow it.  He also gave us a referral to an ENT.  The following Tuesday we saw the ENT.  Before even looking at his throat, she asked if his voice "always sounded like that," that is to say, muffled and nasally.  After a quick exam, she declared his tonsils and adenoids needed to come out and wanted to know what I was doing next week. 

This morning, one week later, I took my son for his first surgery.  I realize that getting your tonsils and adenoids out is almost a rite of passage.  I vaguely remember getting my adenoids out and tubes in at three.  Dave and I were both feeling pretty zen about the surgery, although I wonder if it was more shock that we were experiencing given how quickly everything was happening. 

In preparation for surgery, Linus and I picked out some new toys at the toy store and lots of books and movies from the library.  We read the book, Goodbye Tonsils, to help learn about what was going to happen.  The night before, we went out for goodbye tonsil and adenoid cupcakes.

red velvet cake pop. yum.

Eileen was happy to help celebrate.

I was a bundle of nerves all night long and barely slept.  This morning we got up early and took Linus to the surgery center.  My sister took care of Eileen. 

Dave got to go into surgery with Linus until he fell asleep.  Linus was not a fan of surgery fashion and ripped off his gown.  The doctors put it back on him once he was asleep. 

Thirty minutes later Linus was out of surgery.  When the doctor came out, she exclaimed that his tonsils and adenoids were HUGE.  We had to wait a few more minutes before we could go back and see him.  When we did, I nearly burst into tears.  It was so emotional to see my sad little boy, cradled by the nurse in a blanket.

I held him the entire time we were in the recovery room.  There were lots of tears from both mommy and Linus.  He was not a fan of his IV and just wanted to go home.  We were able to go home about an hour and a half after the surgery.

Most of his was spent snuggling with daddy on the couch.  Movies were watched.  Books were read.  Ice cream was eaten. Tears were wept. His cousins sent him a wonderful care package with get well cards, stickers, and a specially designed coloring book with Star Wars, Peter Pan, and Nemo.

Linus spent most of the day with a sad, forlorn face.

Upon this writing, Dave was struggling to convince Linus to take his pain meds.  It pains me to see my baby in pain and so sad.  It's also a little hard to know he just wants his daddy and not me.  I'll be glad when we are through with this little milestone and hoping there is still some ice cream and pudding leftover.

Taboo topics

This post will be about all those things you should never talk about--religion, politics, and homosexuality.  It's no secret that I am a liberal Catholic.  I try to think of myself as an example to others that you can regularly attend church on Sundays and still be normal.  While watching my trash television and catching up on the news, I read in the Seattle Times that this Sunday the Catholic church will have petitions and be gathering signatures for Referendum 74, the initiative to repeal gay marriage.

I felt sick to my stomach when I read this.  Now I just feel sad and empty. Yes, I am quite aware that the Catholic Church believes that marriage is between one man and one woman.  It also is against contraception, another topic where we don't see eye to eye.  I have spent my adult years functioning under the belief that I could be a Catholic in good conscience while occasionally disagreeing.  I think what is so much more disappointing to me is that this, in my opinion, flies in the face of the separation of church and state.  I strongly believe that the separation of church and state is what keeps us from becoming a theocracy.  I believe it's possible to have a morally functioning society without being a "Christian" nation.  To those who wish there was no separation of church and state, I also want to ask how they would feel if suddenly Islam become the dominant religion (not that there is anything wrong with that).  Would they still feel that we should be ruled by one group's religious beliefs?

A few weeks ago a guest speaker gave the homily at mass.  An elderly woman, she tried desperately (and failed) to connect with the congregation.  I tried to be a polite listener, gleaning for pertinent understandings, and was suddenly taken aback when after talking about martyrs like Oscar Romero, she brought up Tim Eyman, as an example of someone we should all strive to be like.  I was shocked, speechless.  Eyman is hardly a shining example of someone who exemplifies social justice. Her point was that we should use the initiative system to evoke moral societal changes.  Did I mention that I am for the separation of church and state?

I love gay people and believe that should be entitled to the same civil rights as anybody else, free of discrimination.  They should be able to be in the hospital room with a sick spouse, file a joint tax return, and have the state recognize a committed relationship.  God doesn't hate fags and I'm pretty sure that as a group that is regularly discriminated against, Jesus would have hung out with them.

I don't know where I am going with this.  I just feel so let down. I regularly donate time and money to the church.  I know people are scared, the world can be a scary place, but I don't think that hiding behind religious conservativism is going to make the world a better place. The world didn't end and family values weren't destroyed when mixed race couples were finally legal.  I just hope that some day soon, society can look back at this time and think how ridiculous we all were to even have to have the discussion.  Catholic church--I think you and I need to have a "come to Jesus" talk and figure out where we stand.

Egg-cellent Weekend

It was Easter Weekend, and as has become our fashion, I tried to make the holiday as special as possible.  I joined Pinterest not too long ago and used Easter as an opportunity to try out some of the things I had been pinning.

Side note--is it just me or is it a little flattering and validating when a whole bunch of people re-pin something you pinned?

About a week ago I realized Easter was coming up quickly and decided to make plans.  I decided to invite my brother (who joined us last year) and my sister and her fiance for brunch.  On Friday Linus and I baked chocolate pudding cookies with robin eggs to enjoy ourselves and also make as goodie bags for our guests.  They didn't turn out as pretty as the pictures, but were quite tasty.

On Saturday we met up with some of our PEPs friends at the Woodland Park Zoo for the Bunny Bounce.

Linus could be heard repeatedly singing, "Hippity Hop Easter's on its way."

waiting for the "hunt" to begin

Here's my advice on the Woodland Park Zoo egg hunt.  Skip it unless you have no other options.  First, there were hoards of people.   After waiting in line for 45 minutes, they let you in and make you wait another 15 minutes.  The eggs are all out in the open on the grass.  Here's the kicker--the eggs are empty!!  Linus kept opening the eggs wondering what was up.  After the kids fill their baskets, they dump the eggs into a large bucket as they exit.  Apparently, there was candy at a table but we never saw it.  We attempted to visit some of the zoo exhibits, but the abnormally large crowds made viewing nearly impossible.  It was all one big overwhelming disappointment :(

We didn't let the egg hunt set back our Easter fun.  Linus and I did some quality egg dyeing.  I bought little bunny egg grippers which let Linus dye the eggs more independently.

 Easter morning brought lots of candy, excited children, and viewing Easter specials while Eileen took a morning nap.  Mass was surprisingly full of excitement.  The parish did a really nice job of conducting a children's mass.  Sometime right after the Memorial Acclamation, the little boy sitting next to us vomited all over himself and the floor.  I was quick to offer baby wipes.  We came out of mass to discover a fire truck (an elderly person started having difficulties).

Linus and I have had a number of discussions about Easter, God, and Jesus.  He informed me that if God asked him to die that he would say no, which I assured him I completely understood, and led to a larger discussion about how doing what is right is often difficult.

Back at home, I got busy with brunch.

our Easter goodie bags and leftover robin eggs

Linus was happy to pose as long as his basket was in the picture.  The Easter Bunny brought him a rubber snake and crocodile, which he LOVED.

We did our own hunt with our dyed eggs.  The Easter Bunny brought Eileen the bird clip in her hair.

Batman was on hand to help.

I am really proud of how brunch turned out and was excited to have an excuse to use the good china.  The menu was mimosas, lemon brioche french toast, spinach egg potato gruyere frittata, and maple bacon.  My brother, Tim, stayed through dinner and bedtime, and was treated to a dinner of apricot chicken, honey cinnamon glazed carrots, parmesan risotto, and rolls.  Needless to say, our bellies are full.  I loved spending Easter with some of my siblings. The kids loved the candy and attention. Dave loved the food, especially the french toast, bacon, and risotto.  It makes me feel good when I can impress him with my cooking.  I am so glad so many people blog, without them I would never discover all the best recipe ideas.

From the Mouths of Babes in March

Linus:  (to me) I have a great idea.  When I don't live with you anymore I will get a gun. And a pet.

Linus:  Okay Mommy.  I'm gonna tell you what.  I have a deal.  When I grow up I'm not going to have a gun, just a cute baby dragon.

Linus:  There's a new business we should go to.  It's called Pizza Pool.  You can go swimming and eat pizza!  It will be so yummy.


(Finding Eileen holding onto the rails of the crib and bouncing)
Me:  Hey there little monkey.
Eileen: Ooh ooh ooh (monkey sounds)

Linus:  The kids at school call me names.
Me:  What do they call you?
Linus: Linus

Linus:  (to my sister Beth after learning Uncle Chris was in California on business)  Um, excuse me Aunt Beth.  You need to call Uncle Chris and tell him to watch out for the California Whipsnake in case he sees one.
Beth:  What should I tell him it looks like?
Linus:  It has a brown head.  It's called the California Whipsnake.

In a Hurry

My baby girl is in a hurry to grow up.  She is 16 months going on 16 years.

Evidence:
#1.  Eileen has expressed an interest in potty training.  She asks to go potty and tells us when she needs a change.  She likes to practice.  I'm not ready.

some light reading

practicing the wipe

#2  She put herself in time out today.  We use a bottom step as time out.  Eileen walked over, sat down, and announced she was in "time-ow."

Linus decided he should join her.

#3  Likes to snuggle up and role play "nigh nigh" in the toddler bed (she still sleeps in the crib).

#4 Texting

#5 Carries a purse

I don't understand the rush. She is still the sweetest thing who loves to nuzzle at regular intervals.  As I rocked and sang with her before bed in the rocking chair--she insisted on "pum pum" (little drummer boy)--I was reminded of an old poem,

"The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."