Fantasyland with no lines! Truly a sign of the apocalypse... |
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Through the Looking Glass
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The Not So Nappy Naptime
After 30 minutes of what felt like hostage negotiations - Yes, you need your good rest. Yes, I will rub your back. No, it is not scary, sleeptime is a happy time - I finally made it out of the room... only to be heckled by Sofia over the monitor:
Mom! Mom! I tying (crying) for you!
Mom! Mom! I a liddle bit sad for you! I no yike (like) uh-duh napytime!
She finally got me back in with this one:
Mom! Mom! My gina is hurting! (I'll let you translate that one)
I headed back in there, sorted out the diaper wedgie, and got the heck out of Dodge. Only to have the heckling start from "Boy":
Mommy! Mommy! My gina hurting!
I think it's time to give my son an anatomy lesson...
Friday, August 9, 2013
We'd Get In A Ditch
Recently she learned more about tornadoes and that sparked a whole What If? discussion related to tornadoes. On our walk through my mother-in-law's neighborhood (keep in mind, much of the actual conversation has been deleted as to spare you the melting of your brain matter):
Ana: Dad, what would we do if a tornado came right now?
Scott: Don't worry, Honey. There isn't going to be a tornado.
Ana: Yeah, but what if?
Me: Then we would get inside Ging's house and go into a room on the bottom floor that doesn't have any windows. We would go in the closet where Ging keeps all of the blankets.
Ana: Yeah, but what if we couldn't get there in time?
Scott: Well, then you look for a ditch. The ground is lower there so it protects you.
Ana: Yeah, but what if we couldn't find a ditch?
Me: Honey, you can find a ditch or a room without windows pretty much anywhere. We would run to someone's house nearby and go in their closet.
Ana: Yeah, but what if there was no closet or ditch?
Scott: There would be.
Ana: But what if there wasn't.
Scott: Trust me, there would be.
Ana: Well, what if we were driving in the car?
Scott: We'd pull over and get in a ditch.
Ana: Well, what if we were at a park?
Me: We'd get in a ditch.
Ana: Well, what if we were...
Me: Let me stop you. Think of your question and then think to yourself - We'd get in a ditch.
Ana: Yeah, but can I ask you one more?
Scott: Is the answer - We'd get in a ditch? If so, I don't want to talk about it anymore.
Ana: Well, maybe not.
Me: Okay, last one.
Ana: What if I was outside with my BFF and we were playing with our (nonexistent) bunny, Twitchy?
Us: ANA! WE'D GET iN A DiTCH!!!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Sanitizer, Anyone?
A new item of interest at Rudy's is the automatic hand washer. Ana has been, and remains, petrified of it. I appreciate the fact that I don't have to do anything but put my hands into two rotating cylinders of water. Sofia likes the fact that she gets to Sofia-gallop across the dining room to check it out, and Mr. Reed loves to study it with his future engineer mind. A bonus for the little people is that you get a "My Hands Are Clean!" sticker when you are done.
The Saturday routine then involves the running of various errands, followed by a return to home, diaper changes, and Saturday nap time for the Baby Bogles.
Imagine my surprise today when I pulled down Reed's shorts and unfastened his diaper to give him a fresh one - there on his Little Reed was a "My Hands Are Clean!" sticker.
No, my son, I am pretty sure that is proof right there that they are not.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
To Each Her Own...
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Dirty Mouth
Oh, Martha! I can't believe I'm talking to Martha Stewart!
Hi. Thank you. What is your question for me today?
It's about pussy willows.
Pussies?
Yes. I got some pussy willows, but I don't think I took care of them right.
Were the pussies soft and gray?
Yes.
And how did you take care of them?
Well, I tried to cut the shaft and put them in water, but they weren't green.
No. They wouldn't be. To keep the pussies soft like that, they cut them early and let them dry. There would be no use in cutting them and putting them in water.
Oh, so that's why the shaft was woody when I cut it?
Yes.
I swear. I am not making this up. What blew my mind was that neither of these women sounded like they were laughing so hard they were peeing their pants. I also had no one in the car to sanity check this with.
Reed? Sofia? Are you getting this? was oddly unsatisfying...
Monday, March 4, 2013
Fifi-Ese
1. Da-dee
a. Daddy, as in Scott
b. Doggie, as in Cooper, dogs in books, dogs on our walk, etc.
c. Any random man. All are Daddies.
d. Dirty. As in my hands where I colored myself.
e. Pen. Because I make my hands dirty when I color with pen. All pens in our house are
now known as dirties.
f. Dolly.
2. Boy
a. Boy, as in Reed. This is what he is called now. Fif has changed his name.
b. Boy. All boys in public are pointed out as Boy. Unless of course there is more than
one, then the plural of boy is boyo, boyo, boyo, boyo.
c. Girl. All girls are also boys. This pisses off pretty much every 3 year old girl we come in
contact with.
d. Boogie. This one is said like this: Boy! Da-dee! (sign language for help), meaning - My
boogies are getting out of control and I'm now getting dangerously dirty. Do
something about this!
3. Huht
a. Hurt. As in I am hurt from where Boy hit me over the head with a Da-dee (dolly).
b. Heart. As in what all Valentine balloons were shaped like, which made shopping a
challenge. Huht! Ba-oon!
Yes, that's a heart balloon.
Huht!
Yes, that's another heart balloon.
Huht!
And so on, and so forth...
Thursday, February 28, 2013
My Little Mutts
The other day I capitalized on the excitement and left Reed and Sofia in the garage to play while I got some things done in the kitchen. It was quiet. Too quiet.
In comes Sofia to the kitchen. Mouth full of something. Uh oh, she says around her mouthful of something.
Sofia? What's in your mouth? Get back here, you Stinker, and show Mommy!
The second I pried open her little jaws, I knew what it was. The smell of wet dog food hit my nostrils like a Mack truck. Trying not to gag, I pried the goopy, stinking mess out of her mouth, much to her dismay.
Given that I have two small messmakers and not just one, it was time to find out what the other half of the pair was up to.
Reed was still in the garage, in spasms of glee. He had pulled the lid off of the food and was grabbing it by the fistful and flinging it across the garage floor. It was at this point that his sister, the doggie, would eat it off of the floor. Nice.
All I could think was... Man, I hope this stuff is dairy free... My how my standards have changed!!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Should Have Been More Specific...
Where is he?
In the office. Just toss it over the gate. He'll love it.
5 seconds later...
CRASH!!!!!
Ana? I meant throw the sausage. Not the bowl.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Dirty, Dirty Girl
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tales From The Far Side
Scott in the kitchen, making chili: Hey, Babe?
Yeah?
Do you know where the colander is? I can't find it anywhere...
Oh. Yeah. It's in the van.
To his credit, he didn't even have to ask why.
For those of you that are wondering, Sofia *had* to have it and I *had* to have whatever would get her in her straps without a fight. There are two to strap down after all...
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
If Only I Could...
Ana: Mom, can you turn up the music?
Ana's Buddy: Yeah, and can you turn down the crying baby?
If only I could, little friend. If only I could...
Monday, February 11, 2013
He Sleeps
I held you while you sleptCurls damp against my cheekWeight heavy on my chestI rocked you and breathed in your baby breathYour soon to be little boy breathAnd I stilledTime folded back and I remembered holding you beforeIn my belly, when you were the size of a wishOn my chest, when you were minutes oldI held you when you couldn't crawlThen when you couldn't walkThen when you couldn't runYou are so precious to meSo precious that I will go on holding you foreverFirst within, then in my arms, and when you are too big, as always, in my heart.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Semantics
I replied that he was our priest, to which Scott pointed out that he wasn't called a priest because we weren't married in a Catholic Church. This led to me telling him that I knew that, but Ana was familiar with the word which was why I used it. And so it went...
Ana, tiring of our back and forth about nothing had a solution of her own:
Let's just go with old gray-haired man.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I Swear We're Not Racists
The Ana translation is included at the bottom of this post, and can be referenced when you come across an asterisk. Or, for the full effect of Scott's embarrassment, save the explanation until the end.
At a party, Scott is talking to a very nice Indian gentleman. Ana is walking around filming everyone with a little camera that she got for Christmas.
Ana: And here is my Daddy. And some stranger that I do not know.
Scott: Ana, let me teach you how to introduce yourself. Hold out your hand to shake and say, Hello, my name is Ana.
Ana: Hello, my name is Ana. Hey! You're Mexican! You're the enemy! (*#1)
Nice/Tolerant Man: My name is Robert. Actually, I'm not Mexican. I'm from India.
Ana: Then why is your skin brown?
Super Nice/ Super Tolerant Man: Well, that is because I am from India and skin is brown there.
Ana: You're an Indian?!? A real Indian?!? Well,... (*#2)
at this point, realizing that things could only get worse...
Scott: Ana! Go find your Momma!
*#1: This past summer we took a trip to San Antonio and toured the Alamo. Ana learned that AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO, Mexico was our enemy. She can't seem to understand that since WE ARE IN 2013, Mexico is no longer our enemy. Trust me, we have tried many, many times to explain this, but the romance of patriotism has swept her away and there's no getting her back. You're the enemy! was her misguided attempt to stick up for her land. Thankfully she's not our only defense.
*#2: In Kindergarten Ana learned about Native Americans. The cooperation between the first settlers and the Native Americans was stressed, but, again, the fighting is what stuck in Ana's head. Scott knew that Ana's next response would have been something like...
Well, where's your bow and arrow?
or
Well, can you really shoot a turkey?
or
Well, can you grow maize?
or
Well, do you live in a tepee
As none of these would have been endearing, given the previous skin color reference coupled with the label of enemy, he opted for the last ditch effort of Ana! Go find your Momma!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
My Son Is Not A Nut
We had no clue what he was doing or why he was doing it.
No, that's a phone. Can you say phone? The phone says, Brrring brrring.
No luck. The phone kept saying, uh oh! uh oh! uh oh!
I finally figured out why when Scott called this morning.
Phone rings. Not on the charger. Can't see it on top of a pile, must be under a pile.
Uh oh! Where's the phone?
Doh.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
My Imminent Demise
I needn't have worried about the house at all because 20 minutes into the playdate, over a snack and a glass of milk, Ana's buddy declared the following:
Ana, I like your house. When your mommy dies, and when your daddy dies, and when you die, and when your babies die, and when your dog dies, I'm going to move in here.
I have to say, I appreciated the idea behind the words, if not the actual words themselves.
Shortly after, our little friend did come up with a more acceptable-to-the-Bogle-family-idea:
Hmmm.... or, if the people next door move, I could just move in there.
* On another note, I have realized that I am not meant to be an overachiever. I did much better about posting when I said I would post every Monday, than when I decided I would go back to posting every day. So... in the spirit of doing things half-arsed and liking it, I will now be posting 1 or 2 times a week, not sure what day(s) yet. How's that for not pushing too hard? ;-)
Monday, December 3, 2012
And So We Go To Church...
In our defense, after they got RSV, the doctor told us to stay out of church for the entire winter season so that we could avoid the flu. Then, predictable naps kicked in, the first being right during the usual service time. Yesterday, though, there was a 4:00 children's choir and handbell service.
Our people like music. Our people like children. Our people like Christmas trees and decorations. Sounded like a win-win way to dip our toes back into church attendance.
Apparently here is also what our people like:
1. Vocalizing approval of said music, very loudly, and often.
2. Making hand signs for "more" to start the music back up. When this did not immediately work, grunting was tried as an alternative.
3. Eating the donation envelope. It is possible for a full third of an envelope to be eaten before the parental unit notices.
4. Discussing how the choir does not sing like Justin Beiber, which led to a discussion of how Selena Gomez should be given to Goodwill because Ana will be marrying Justin Beiber someday.
5. Walking. Up the aisles, down the aisles, attempting to go to the front of the church because, after all, that's where the cool stairs are.
6. Writing a Christmas letter to Santa on the Prayer Request form. At this point, an actual prayer request for Mommy and Daddy would not have been unwelcome.
7. Begging for food.
8. Circumventing Mommy and Daddy who said they had no food, and asking the Reverend if he had a snack.
9. Later explaining that the snack the oldest child thought the Reverend would have was, "You know. That bit of bread. He's always giving out that bit of bread."
10. Freaking out about the concept that the bread represents Jesus' body and requesting tacos, rice, and beans instead.
The service started at 4:00. Not sure what time it ended because we left at 4:29. And went to go eat tacos, rice, and beans. Amen.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Nice Try, Kiddo
Why did you have babies?
Because we wanted babies and God must have known they were right for our family and it was right for you to be a big sister.
I only wanted to see them, not keep them.
Yeah. It can be hard sometimes, huh?
Yeah! I miss Daddy! You're only holding babies!
I'm sorry it feels that way. Sometimes I feel like that too. It will get easier as they get bigger and then they won't need quite as much attention. And, when there's only a Mommy or a Daddy at home, it's a little harder, but we're going to have cuddle time at bedtime, just you and me.
No! I want cuddle time now! You don't love me anymore!
That must feel terrible. I'm sorry you feel that way. I try to show you how much I love you and that you'll always be my baby, but maybe there's something else you need. Is there another way that I could show you?
Yes.
What, Baby?
You could buy me lots and lots of things. We could go to the toy store and I could get everything that I like. Then I would know you love me.
Needless to say, we did not go get in the car...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Christmas Caroling, Ana Style
In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is nice and brown
He'll say are you married, man?
And we'll say no, man.
But you can get us married in our town.
Later on, we'll be tired
As we sit by the fire
We'll sing a song
As a bluebird goes along
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
In the meadow there will be a deer
And lots of snow and that bluebird
Then we'll see a bunny
And a unicorn
And he will have some candy on his horn
Oh, oh, oh
Happy Day
In a unicorn
Way
Happy, happy day
Happy, happy day
Ho Ho Ho
Ho Ho Ho
Christ-maaaaaaaasssss
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Things You Do Not Want To Hear
1. Do markers come off?
Why?!? What did you color on?
2. Well, do they come off of hands?
Yes, but stop coloring on your hands. You know they're for paper only.
3. Well, do they come off of faces? And lips? And eyelashes? And arms too?
Ana!!! Seriously. Stop. No more. We'll wash you off when we get home, but no more!
A few minutes later...
4. Don't worry, I'm washing all of the marker off myself with my water bottle. I want another shirt! My shirt is wet! I don't like a wet shirt!
Ana!!! Stop!!! It's making the markers run everywhere. Thank you for trying to help, but don't do anything else. We'll take care of it. Put the lid on your water and leave it closed. No more! And you'll have to have a wet shirt until we get home. We can't stop.
A few minutes later...
5. Mom, I'm making my face and hands soft with this Chapstick.
ANA!!! Seriously?!? What is going on back there?!? You know that is for your lips only!!
6. So not my hair either?
You put it in your hair?!? DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL WE GET HOME! GIRL, IF YOU TOUCH ONE MORE THING, YOU ARE GOING TO BE HUNG UP BY YOUR TOES FROM THE FIREPLACE!!!!
And this is what we saw when we got home...
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Candy Pounding
Well, we'll talk about a good amount for you to eat.
But last year you let me eat as much as I wanted on Halloween night!
Yeah, that's true, but Mommy and Daddy didn't expect you to eat ALL of it. We thought that you would eat a lot of it, and then your tummy would be full or you wouldn't feel good so you would stop. But, you didn't. You pounded all of your candy. So, we're not going to do that again this year.
M-o-m!!!
Don't worry, you'll get to eat a good amount.
Well, then I'm going in the house first and I'm gonna to pound on all of my candy before you can see me! I'm gonna pound it! (takes off running)
Not surprisingly, given that we were ten steps behind her, she did not manage to "pound on" all of her candy, but she did manage to go to sleep sufficiently sugar buzzed. It was a good night to be six...
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
French Cuisine
Oh, that's nice! I like to hear that because that's how I feel about animals and little creatures - that you should just let them live how they are meant to live.
Yeah. We're not mean. We don't kill them. Why do people kill frogs?
Well, some people actually eat frogs.
They do?!?
Yeah.
Why???
Well, in France for example, some people like to eat frog legs. It tastes good to them.
Why do they think it tastes good?
Well, it's kind of like we eat chicken and think it tastes good. It's kind of like chicken to the people that eat frog legs.
Mom? Can we go to France someday.
Why? Do you want to try frog legs?
No! I want to tell the people there that it is not chicken. Someone should tell them.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Beating Down The Pearly Gates
I promise, I won't. Did you know that my Daddy, your Papa, he used to take really big bites. It made me so mad, so I will always take little bites.
He did?
Yep. If I had that popsicle, he would eat half of it in one bite.
Half?!? This much?!?
Yep. It used to drive me crazy, so I will only take a little bite.
Did you tell him not to do that?
I'm sure I did. I don't remember.
Hey! I know something great! When you die you can tell Papa not to take such big bites! That will be great!
Yeah... I can't wait...
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Outsmarting Six
But I don't like this kind! This isn't the kind I usually have!
You're right. We're out of that kind so I put colored sprinkles on this kind to make it fun.
But I don't like it different. I don't like how it tastes.
You haven't tasted it! You like oatmeal, right?
Yes.
You like colored sprinkles, right?
Yes.
Then you will like both things together.
No.
You want to be a princess, right?
Yes.
Well, princesses have to go to other kingdoms for great feasts. They are served all kinds of things that they haven't tried before, somethings are even pretty gross, do you think they can sit there with the look that you have on your face?
Ohhhhhh, alright. I'll try it.
Tries the oatmeal
Yep. I didn't like it.
Now, who outsmarted whom?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Miss Clean
I couldn't figure out what on Earth was happening to my brushes, hair things, toothbrush, socks - basically anything that I needed right when I needed it. That was until I caught the little thief in the action.
Apparently my tiny girl child, who otherwise makes it her mission to completely wreck the house, has thought she would help out by putting some of our things into the bathroom trashcan for us. Given that trashcans in our house overflow until the cleaning person comes, it took me awhile to figure this out. Our lovely cleaning person must have thought I had a screw loose when she emptied the cans, but she was kind enough not to mention my odd clutter purging habits.
I busted the little nut because she just so happened to pull my hair clip out of my hair and crawl off with it. As she was so clearly on a mission, I followed her to see what was up. Straight to the bathroom door, pull it open, crawl over the shredded toilet paper on the floor (an earlier job of hers), and right up to the trashcan. Slam dunk.
In case this wasn't the first time she had made this treck, I emptied this particular round of trash and found:
my hair clip
one of Scott's socks
a spoon
Barbie's sister, Skipper
While I appreciated her efforts at tidying up, I did note that she did not throw away any of her belongings. Apparently she thinks that we are the ones with a hoarding problem. Her current Leggo collection disproves that theory, however. She and I just might have to have a chat...
Friday, October 19, 2012
A Letter To Our Cleaning Person
Dear Cleaning Person,
Please know that I appreciate your thoroughness in cleaning our house. I never expected, however, that you would even clean out the cabinets under the bathroom sinks. I can see how, to you, the scraps and shreds of toilet paper under the sinks looked like trash, or at the very least a fire hazard, however, that is the toilet paper we must use.
You see, every roll that we put on the dispenser is dispensed within 2 minutes flat. And that is if no one saw us put it on. If we were observed during the loading, the time is more like 23 seconds. At first we just threw away the shredded wads of paper, but then we realized that 1) we would be responsible for killing a small forest and 2) we would be getting way too much cash back from Sams Club. So, now we just leave it on the floor and use it as needed, or we shove it under the sink before company comes, or in your case, when we are cleaning so that you can clean.
In the future, no need to throw it away, just close the cabinet and leave the mess in peace. In the meantime, anybody got a napkin I can use?
Thank you,
Alison
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Hypochondriac Much?
Scott, God love him, is a minor league hypochondriac. He waited to propose to me while he had something checked out in case I said yes and then he found out he was dying. (He wasn't, by the way.)
There was also the legendary Thanksgiving of '09 when he spent Thanksgiving-Eve and Thanksgiving morning in the hospital. He was taken there by ambulance after suffering symptoms of a heart attack. Turns out it was the McDonalds cheeseburger he ate at Walmart while waiting for new tires to be put on the car. That would give anyone a heart attack!
I'm happy that he takes each time seriously because I don't want him ever to ignore symptoms should a real situation occur. He is also learning to question his immediate self-diagnosis and I think I need to work on that too...
(Scott comes downstairs from working in the office upstairs)
I thought I was having a stroke!
What?!?
Yeah. I was looking at my computer screen and everything was fine. I looked down at my lap and when I looked back up, the sight in my left eye had gone blurry.
Seriously?!? Are you okay?
Yeah. Turns out one of my lenses fell out.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Issues of Hygiene
Hey Mom?
Yeah?
I'm just making the sound of pee-pee in here.
Are you sure you're not actually pee-pee-ing? That sounds pretty real to me.
I'm sure. I'm just pretending.
Are you maybe telling me that so you don't have to take time to wash your hands?
Umm... yes?
Wash your hands.
Okay.
Oh, and Ana?
Yes?
Nice try.
Thanks.