Snow

2 pairs of Snow pants, 60% off at Shopko: $24
2 pairs of Gloves, 50% off at Kmart: $9
2 pairs of Boots 50% off at Landsend: $35

4 hours of warm outdoor play with dad: Priceless

Far, Far Away

Yesterday....

Me: Hey kids-get your shoes and socks on
Kids: Why?
Me: Because it's time to go
Kids: Where are we going
Me: (singing) Far, far away, on Judea's plain
Kids: We're going on a plane?
Me: No, that's just a song
Kids: Where is Judea?
Me: No, I was just singing a Christmas song. We're going to Kmart
Kids: We have to take a plane to Kmart????????
Me: No, we're taking the car to Kmart.
Kids: Then where are we going on a plane?
Me:Just get your shoes on!

And we're back!

And we've missed much! The kids haven't stopped being funny or insightful or clever for one second. I somehow just stopped writing about it.

But I'm not going to get into that here. (I did get into that here if you care. If you don't, then read on.)

Part of me knows I needed the break. But another part of me is sad that I missed out on nearly 6 months of kidisms. Things that I swore I wasn't going to forget, that I'd write down, to catalog to be remembered for eternity.

But I'm a mom. I barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning. So, much is lost in void that is my mommy brain.

I do remember clearly Adam's first day of kindergarten.

Too bad I have no pictures. That's right. I walked him to school, snapping pictures all the way. Only to get home and find out I had no memory card in my camera. Tears were the result (and not the "oh my baby is growing up" kind of tears, either.)

And I do remember this precious little gem from Mike's birthday earlier in the month.

I overheard Adam giving Zoey the following rundown.

"We have to do whatever daddy says today because it is his birthday. And whoever's birthday it is is in charge that day. But when it's nobody's birthday mom is in charge."

Glad he knows how things work around here.

Modern Princess

Adam and Zoey are playing princess. Well, Zoey is playing princess and is trying to convince Adam to be the knight that comes and saves her. He finally concedes and comes riding up on his valiant steed and says in his most knighly voice "I am here to rescue you princess"

Her response? "Just a second, my phone is ringing."

I can only imagine she is video conferencing in all her best princess buddies so they can see her brave knight in action.

Brand Conscious

On Saturday I bought Adam a new pair of shoes. He needed dress shoes but Famous Footwear was having their buy one get one half off sale so of course I offered to buy him a pair of tennis shoes, too. He is starting school next month and will need them.

So, of course he picks out a pair of Sketchers that have lights that blink. I tried to talk him into a different, less ostentatious pair, but this was love at first sight. I'm too cheap to buy brand name shoes for my kids when they grow out of them in 6-8 months. But I was getting them half off and I also had a $10 voucher from their rewards program. So it brought the fancy shoes down into a price range I could stomach.

The next day I heard him call to Zoey, "I'll be right out. I just need to put my Sketchers on." I was taken aback. While shoe shopping the day before the word Sketcher had never been said. I merely called them tennis shoes. So how did he know they were Sketchers? So I asked him.

Of course he looked at my completely dumbfounded and in his very best "duh mom" voice he said "Because they have a big S on them mom." I think he may have even rolled his eyes at me.

But this did not clear things up for me, since the only television he watches is PBS. So whatever his exposure to the Sketcher's S logo it was limited. And yet he still knew that his shoes were Sketchers. And he's only 5.

Damn, those marketing people are good!

Flashback Friday

I decided to do Flashback Friday over here today because I realized I never showed off my kids Halloween costumes. Yes-Halloween in June. Because I worked so stinkin' hard on those costumes I need to make sure at least 2 other people see and appreciate them.

I have this thing with doing themed Halloween costumes, so all the kids are dressed in coordinating costumes that somehow relate to one another. Last year (2008) it was Monsters, Inc.

Are you ready for the cuteness? Do you think you can handle it?













Wow, what adorable kids! Nice lookin' costumes, too. Their mom must be really talented. (or have a grandma who is talented who helped out a lot.....you decide.)

It's important!

Adam just walked into the office where I'm working and said to me "Mom, I need to discuss something with Zoey. May I take her up to my room? It's important."