Time Out

A Note to Builders:
This is certainly not the first time you've heard from me. Though, in the past, my comments have been of the complaining nature. Mainly my endless lamenting concerning carpet in bathrooms. While I will not let you off the hook for all the bathrooms, in all the houses, in which you have laid carpet, I do believe in giving credit where credit is due.

Namely, there is a crazy little nook in our house. It serves no purpose. Obviously it is ill-advised, wasted space of the utmost degree. But, can't change it, so I've found a way to use it. It is the time-out corner extraordinaire.

It is hidden from plain sight. That is to say that when a busted child is sitting there, the other tormenting child has to go out of his way to get at said punished. It is not within reach of electrical outlets, heating and air-conditioning intake registers, shelves -- glass or otherwise, or a toilet, nor anything that someone may be able to flush down a toilet. In a word, it's adequate.

Well, anyway, that's it for now. But please note, I'm just tabling my heated debate on the actual appropriate measurements of a laundry room. If you've never done a load of laundry in your life, by all means design one. I'm just saying.

Thanks,
Head Laundress and Time Out Giver-Outer

While It Lasts

In the beginning we elected to give our children separate rooms. I'm starting to regret that a little bit now.

Someday they will kick and scream and punch and bully each other into a form of brotherly love. But for now they ask for sleepovers and then share a pillow. Sweet while it lasts.

Independence

Tomorrow morning I will register my oldest for kindergarten. In preparation I explained to him that kindergarten was for big kids who can take care of themselves for an entire day. Our kindergarten lasts from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and requires that he will need to bring a lunch and be in charge of his own backpack. This is a big deal for a 5 year old. Just as this sunk in he interrupted me with panic in his voice:

C: "What if I have to poop?"

M: "Well, then you'll use the restroom."

C: "But who will wipe my butt?"

We're still working on independence.

Merry Christmas to Me

Guess what I did? I accidentally won something. Something big. Well, I guess that all depends on what YOU think big is. But I was overcome with surprise and gratitude. I won my little city's photo contest -- which is farcical at best. But I won nonetheless and the prize was just what I wished for: a gift certificate to the local camera shop.

Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't also spend three times as much as the gift certificate and get something I REALLY wanted.

But in winning this contest I realized the most important thing. It's not the camera, it's the perspective that makes the picture. The way I see things, or rather happened to see things at that very moment were enough to get someone's attention. That point was proved when I showed up to be interviewed and photographed with the 11 other winners. The reporter/photographer asked if I brought my camera with me.

Surrounded by true professional and hobbyist photographers wielding fancy cameras with big lenses I said, "Oh just one minute, it's in my purse." And I rummaged around in my much-too-full purse and pulled out my little pink gem, a SONY point and shoot. Stifled laughs all around. But I won just as much as them, so pfffft!

PHOTO NOTE: The winning photograph.

Thank You From ALL of Us

We are a blessed family. Though we geographically isolated ourselves from our families this holiday season, they didn't let us escape knowing how much they love us. We received many, many, many packages filled with love and fun stuff. Showing us once again that no matter where you go, your family follows you. We are grateful.

I'll Miss Morning

Mornings hate me. I'm not kidding. And all you people who have good relationships with the Crack of Dawn are like alien creatures from another realm. I don't get you. And neither does Mason. Maybe that's why Mason and I love each other so much.

When we finally decide to face the sunshine, we do have a nice time scowling over our scrambled eggs. Occasionally he takes up conversation with me...

Mason: Mommy. Talk to me.

Julia: What do you want to talk about?

Mason: Did you know Spiderman has a web?

Julia: Where did he get it?

Mason: No places. But ... he has a Spiderman pack-pack.


And it occurs to me, that next year when he's at preschool, I'll miss our mornings.

Write It Down

I just found a note that I wrote to myself. It was tucked in my purse on a ragged and worn shred of paper. I was meant to remember that while riding in the car I could hear Mason whimpering and crying. When I asked him what was wrong he said, "I can't sing when I have the hiccups."

Oh that was worth remembering.