"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