"good night, sleep tight..."

So...

It started out fairly innocently.

I was putting The Littles to bed - you know the routine: brushing teeth, going potty, putting on jammies, taking off jammies, choosing another pair of jammies, taking off those jammies, finally settling on big sissy's t-shirt - which, thankfully, she's cool with, saying bedtime prayers, talking about the best parts of days...

Then we turn out the lights. Via is snuggled into her bed in her room. Noni is sprawled across the top bunk, Yaya and I are tucked into the bottom bunk.

Lot's of calling to each other happens in the dark:

"Good Night, Via. Love you!"

"Night Yaya. Love you, too. Night, Noni. Love you."

"Night, Via. Love you, too. Night Yaya. Love you."

"Night, Noni. Love you, too."

For that moment, we become the Walton's - a family that is serenely happy and always speaks to each other with love and respect, even when they are completely stressed out about the failing family business and topsy-turvey finances. Oh, and we're starring in a successful family-friendly TV series. It's good.

(pause)

All: "Night, Mom. Love you bigger than the house!"

"I love all of you, too. Now, it's time to be quiet and go to sleep. Good night."

Oh, my heart. Could there be a luckier person on this planet? I am right where I should be tonight...

Then, out of the darkness, from the bed above me...

"Mom? Can I have a sparkly dress that doesn't have any shoulders?"

"You mean a strapless dress?"

"Yeah. Strapless."

"Not any time soon."

"Like when I'm 9?"

"No. More like 17 or 18."

"How 'bout 10?"

"No. 17. If you're lucky."

"12?"

"17."

"15? 16?"

"Don't push your luck."


(long pause)


"I want tall, gold, strappy shoes to go with it."

"Good luck with that."

"17?"

"17."

Ok, I'm tired. It won't be long now, and all 3 Littles will be fast asleep and I can tip-toe downstairs to watch "Medium" and drink a cup of tea. Alone. One the couch. Mommy-bliss.

(long pause)


"Mom? When am I going to have sex?"

Oh, God. When is she going to fall asleep?

"I don't know. Not any time soon. A long time after you get the strappless dress."

"Yeah, but how old will I be? When I, you know, have sex?"

Never.

"I don't know. 30!"

"Oh. OK."


(long pause)


"Mom?"

Seriously, what can we talk about now?!

"What is it Noni?"

"I learned a new song in school about a fart!"

167

Yesterday. March 30, 2008

Today. March 31, 2008

What's the weather like in your part of the world?

horton

Saw it! Loved it! You should see it! It should be shown to every child! And all of their parents! It has such a great message!

OK, some might find it a little heavy-handed, but in this age of cyber-bullying it really shows kids how important it is to stand up for what you know to be the truth. The crowd it a little frightening, and the mom-kangaroo is nasty (Yaya hid her eyes every time the kangaroo showed up on screen.)

Is it OK to believe in something you can't see? Do we need proof of it's existence before we allow ourselves to trust and believe? Very interesting that this story was released just before Easter...

dh-ance kah-lass

Yaya is taking a dance class. Actually, it is a tumbling tot class, but any chance my girls have to wear something pink and dance-like = dh-ance kah-lass.

She luh-luh-loves it!

She goes to class with two of her best friends - Zoey and Coco! They are pure poetry in motion.

(OK - I like it, too. Because The Mamas are my best chums. We spend the 45 minutes walking laps in the gym and chatting about all sorts of world changing stuff. It's bliss - no kids and no spouses. Oh, and we get some exercise in! That's good, too.

Not only do the girls have a fabulous time, they are in love with Teacher Amy. She can do no wrong. She floats on clouds with angels and her words are spun sugar candy. It's a dreamy dance world with Miss Amy. Thank you, all that is is good in this world for Miss Amy.

BTW - the era from the costume party? Yep, 1930's. Great Gatsby and rumble seats and all that sort of stuff. It was an American Girl Mystery Party. Noni played the role of Ruthie, Kit's best friend. Via played the role of Will. Will was a hobo who rode the rails. Totally cool. We got to talk about my grandpa who did the same thing when he was a young man.
Noni has been wearing the "Ruthie dress" almost every day since the party! I'm certain it will be Easter wear, as well. C'est la vie. As long as she is wearing underwear, I'm fine with her clothing choices.

running lines

Daddyman is in a new show. "Good Morning, Desdemona. Good Night, Juliet." He is a wonderful actor.
Apparently, even with grown-ups, it takes a village.
Via has been running lines with her dad. She knows the whole show by heart. I don't think that Daddyman knows all of his lines. Yet.

costume party

Via and Noni went to a fabulous costume/mystery party at our friend and neighbor's home this last weekend. Despite feeling a tad bit under the weather, a great time was had by all. Can you guess what era they are trying to represent?

when the world is mud-lucious...

In Just-

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles far and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and
the

goat-footed

balloonMan whistles
far
and
wee

-- e. e. cummings

return to wellness

Thank you for all of the kind wishes and prayers for Sweet Via. She has returned to wellness. How do I know? She is currently rollerskating up and down our block. It's 9:15 AM. It's 25 degrees and sunny here in Minnesota. She's bundled up in hat (under her helmet!) and mittens and a scarf... I love that girl. Don't you completely understand the need to get out of the house and MOVE after an illness?

Via

Sweet Via is unwell today. I feel so helpless when one of my girls is unwell. I want to scoop her up and dip her in a magic pond of love and health and renew her strength and vigor immediately.

Typically, Via is a strong and independent girl. At least, that is what she wants the world to see. Inside, she is one of the most sensitive little souls I have ever known. I have always thought that she was so different from me - she's finds her peace alone, I find my comfort in a crowd. But the sensitive, artistic person that hovers inside that protective independence is one that is profoundly familiar to me. I feel as if I can see inside myself sometimes, when I look into her eyes. I must simply scoop her up, ignoring her protests, and hold her until she feels, to the roots of her very soul, that she is loved and valued and important in my life beyond measure.

I am sending my prayers out into this big world that Sweet Via finds peace and comfort and restored health in her sleep tonight, and that she wakes to find that she feeling once more like herself.

pods: rocks

stunned

I have been lying on my floor in a gelatinous state... OK, not really. I'm OK. Just a tad bit overwhelmed by life and feeling quite sorry for myself.
Then I was talking to my mother - it's taken 40 years, but it actually helped! - and I was reminded of this story and I thought I would share it all with you.

My oldest, Via (8) is showing signs of beginning her period. We've actually had a moment of spotting on panties followed by tears (mom), head shaking (dad), and shouts of "Yeah, I am a woman! I am really a woman. Now I can vote!" (Via)
After frantic calls to the pediatrician, I have been assured that, while 8 is on the young side, I needn't spend an abundance of time worrying about her growth - or lack there of - she is fine. It turns out that the average age actually has slipped down the ages 10 -12 years old. The early starters join the club around 8, and the reluctant join the swim around 14...
Anyway, after lots of research and discussion of "this is why your body is doing this..." ("Am I going to have a baby this year?" "GOOD LORD, NO!") other natural questions have surfaced.
For example:
A couple of months ago, I was driving our 2 oldest Littles home from a show when Via said, "Hey, mom. What's the story on this 'sex' thing?"
After a couple of deep breathes, I said, "Why don't you tell me what you know. I will let you know if that stuff is on the right track. Then, if you still have questions, we can talk, and I will help you figure out the stuff you still want to know."
That seemed to be the right "mom" answer and we had a lovely discussion. She mostly had it right, but when I explained the real physical act - she asked. Honest! - she asked me, "People actually like that?" I told her that there might come a time when she thought that sounded like more fun. When that time happens, I told her, she can always come back and ask questions and we'll try to figure the answers out together. She seemed relieved, and we were just about to pull up in front of our house.
Then out of the dark silence of the back seat, Noni (6 - pictured above) pipes up: "Mom, can we go around the block a couple more times? There's still some of this sex stuff I gotta know about."

So, we kept driving...

That was last December.

Yesterday, my mother leaned over to me in church and informed me that Nora had announced to her and everyone with in ear shot that "when my mom and dad are in their bedroom, they have sex."

Now, I am sitting in church - getting ready to go to communion, and all I can think about is this: how do I convince my lovely, sheltered Lutheran mother that my daughter is a big, fat liar. I have only had sex 3 maybe 4 times in my entire life. And certainly, only after I was married. Honest! Daddyman and I certainly do NOT have sex... in our bedroom... or anywhere else. Really. Not that I don't want to, mind you, but Good Lord, 3 kids and a full time job - are you kidding?!

veggie tales

This is my husband with Carrot Top! My husband is the one with all of the clothes on and the glasses. Isn't he handsome? Check out the arms on the veggie-man! Thank you to everyone who voted for him. He had a wonderful time and it was a tremendous opportunity!

This was his Big Shot Opportunity!

He opened for Carrot Top at the Luxor in Vegas - holy shit!

He did a great job and I am so proud of him. If you'd like to see the video of his experience, click this link: Kare 11. Once you are into this site, scroll down to "Big Shot Live." That button will connect you to the Big Shot Live site. Then, look at the top of the page and you should see buttons that have the days of the week. Look for "Saturday/comedy." His video will be running this whole week. If you come to this later, his name is Rick Logan and he is the comedy winner for week #3.

... So, to make a long story a little shorter: he got to Hollywood, had a great night out in LA. The next day the producers of the show asked him to check out of his hotel room. They sent him on a plane to Vegas with the guy who books the talent for Jimmy Kimmel Live. He stood up on the plane full of strangers and did his whole set! (Just the thought of that makes me a little sick to my stomach.) The people who make the decisions about this sort of thing thought that he did a great job, and set him up to open at the Luxor! 800 people in the audience - wow.! He is totally comfortable in front of the camera, and he looks like he owns the stage!

BTW - Carrot Top is a really nice guy. Go figure.

Rick -
I am so damed proud of you! You have so much courage and creativity! You rock my world!!!
tmd
A