Elephant Repelant

Tonight while we were driving home from my friend Christina's house I heard this funny popping noise coming from the back seat. I realized it was Jack and asked what he was doing. He said he was popping his toy. I turned on the light and saw that he was using a kaleidoscope toy, putting his thumb in the top and pulling it out making the noise. It made me immediately remember my Dad used to do the same thing with these pewter candle sticks my parent's had. He called it Elephant Repelant. So I asked Jack, "Is that your Elephant Repelant?" which he promptly responded "Yup." No questions, just went with it. So Ashley chimes in and asks "What's Elephant Repelant?" and I told her it was the noise that Jack was making. That elephants don't like that sound and stay away, she asked me "Really?" which I responded with my Dad's line "You don't see any elephants around do you?" Jack then says, "We can't take this to the zoo we'll scare the elephants." Poor kid, scarred for life. I got him on video telling me about it but since I held the camera the wrong way it's sideways. Sorry - maybe my experienced blogging sister can show me a trick to fix the way it plays.

Little Girl Big Heart

Two weeks ago it was John's late night to work and also bath night for the kids. When Ashley went to take her shower I reminder her I needed to trim her hair after she got out. After she was out and dressed in her pajamas we headed to the kitchen. I was combing out her hair and she asked me if I could measure her hair, odd question I thought but why not right? So I went into the garage and grabbed a tape measure from the tool box, took the tape and measured from the top of her head to the bottom of her hair. I told her the length and then she asked could I measure from the bottom. Thinking the measurement is not going to be any different, but then I caught on. She has been wanting to do Locks of Love for months and each time she either chickens out or doesn't have enough. So I asked her, "You want to see if you have 10 inches or more don't you?" Sure enough, Mommy was right. With a big grin she shook her head yes. So I measured her hair and showed her where 12 inches would be and 10 inches would be. She wasn't ready to take the plunge for 12 inches so we went for 10 inches. I couldn't believe it as I was standing there putting her hair in a pony tail that she was going to do this! But we made it through the pony tail and also the scissors and she could not be happier. We put it on the stove under the light to dry and filled out the form online to send with it. We tried calling Daddy to share the exciting news but he didn't answer, so Ashley left him a message. When John called to let me know he was on his way home I asked if he got Ashley's message, he said no because he hadn't had a chance to check his messages yet. He asked what the message was and I told him I couldn't tell him because it was a surprise from Ashley. When he got home he went to see for himself and told Ashley how proud of her he was and what a big girl she was becoming.

I don't think she stopped smiling for days. I have not seen her that excited in such a long time. It was so nice to have that moment with her - I will always remember the night I cut off my little girls hair.

As I Blog

So as I sit here typing about Jack's trip to the store with Daddy he comes in and sits on the floor next to me with his new pirate ship he got for Christmas. I say "Hey Handsome" which he then responds very casually "So, how's it goin?" not taking his eyes off his ship at any time. I answer him with "Doing good" and make a mental note to remember yet another cute moment. After a few minutes goes by and he begins showing me all the cool things on his ship he declares he needs to go potty. He stands up to go to the bathroom, gets to the door and turns around and says to me "Make sure nothing happens to my pirate ship, I'm just going potty, I'll be right back." I can already see we'll be carrying a notepad with us where ever we go. I wish I started this sooner - but at least we have this now.

Cheese Balls

On Christmas Eve John took Jack to the store to get some last minute items we needed for Holy Dinner, Christmas day and some stuff we did not get when we went grocery shopping on Sunday. While the boys were at the store Ashley and I wrapped gifts that she purchased at her school's Christmas shop. While we were cleaning up after we were finished I hear my phone's notification of a picture message. When I open my phone to see the picture I am greeted by an overjoyed little boy holding a bucket of cheese balls about the same size as him.

When John got home from the store Jack comes running in, still holding his bucket of cheese balls jumping up and down saying "Look what we got Mommy!" John told me that when they got to Sam's Club they went over to the chip aisle to get chips and Jack went straight for the shelf that normally has the cheese balls on it. The shelf had no cheese balls and Jack was very disappointed. He walked through the store looking everywhere. John said when he found them Jack yelled real loud as if to notify everyone around him "I found them! I found them! Can I get them pleeeeeaase?" We normally tell him no but in the spirit of Christmas Daddy gave in and made him the happiest little 5 year old ever.

A long time coming

It has been mentioned to me numerous times that I should be writing down all the interesting, cute, amazing and not so amazing things my kids do and say. I have thought about it a lot and really like what my sister does with her blog, but never thought I could keep up with it all. But then you think how long would it truly take to sit down and write about what a great day we had with our kids? I could always physically write down a cute thing that Ashley or Jack say or do and then blog it into internet eternity later.

So here it goes - I have some stuff to learn about this blog website but I'm sure between John and I we'll figure it out - and then the sharing of the wonderful things Ashley and Jack do will begin :)