My mom is here for a brief visit. She has been here for about two hours. In the first five minutes she was here she said, in front of my 4 year old, "ay Chingao, I hit myself with this stupid door, I hate it." My kids think stupid and hate are bad words, so chingar, they don't know. Then she proceeded to tell Tallulah that the reason she tripped is because she was being bad and her angel made her fall down. She then explained to my toddler child that everyone has an angel and the reason you fall or trip is because they make you do it, especially when you are being bad.
In short, my mom has taught Tallulah fuck in Spanish, and made her scared of angels.
She is calling for toilet paper now. No one is bringing it to her. She is threatening to wipe herself with a towel. And she says she won't tell us which one.
They are headed to New Orleans so god only knows what she is going to come back teaching her....
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
In love
Have you even fallen in love?
Not fallen,
Struck.
Have you ever been struck by love?
San Antonio,
You have my heart.
Houston,
You have my loyalty.
Big Bend has my soul.
Not fallen,
Struck.
Have you ever been struck by love?
San Antonio,
You have my heart.
Houston,
You have my loyalty.
Big Bend has my soul.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Daylight savings time
This is the time of year when all of us moms are grousing about daylight savings time and the hangover it gives our kids. Including me. Annabelle woke up at 4 in the morning, terrified because she hadn't finished her homework. Her homework was to draw a picture of a Texas day in the springtime. Her hand got tired so she hadn't finished coloring the tree on her picture of a picnic in the bluebonnets. So I let her sleep in until seven. Normally she needs to get up at 6:30 to get ready by seven, to have time to eat breakfast and then brush teeth, do hair, get jacket and backpack and head out the door by 7:40. Yes, it takes that long. Then, she is in school. There are lines and bells and classes, and nouns and verbs, and all that crap. Then she comes home. And depending on the day, she may have to do homework, eat dinner and go to some activity. Then, bath, brush teeth, spend some time with dad, read books, bed. Notice that play is not always part of her schedule. Her life is highly scripted and is almost completely dictated by school.
Tallulah's life in preschool is very different than her sister's. She is learning to be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper. She sings songs almost all the time, songs that she learned at school. When she is at home, she plays or helps me. She is little chef, and I am big chef. Excpet she can't say chef, so she says "cheft." Little cheft can make chicken pot pie, chili, quiche and banana bread. She really shines at sautéing things. She likes me to read the same book over and over again. She plays by herself a fair amount. She is super awesome at folding clothes. She is a Ngyuen, so she has that weird way they fold shirts down. She was explaining it to me today. "you fold it in haf, den you fold de ahms, in den fold it again, and den it is a skuwayah mommy. Like dis." Ok. Whatever.
She helped me cook supper tonight, as a matter of fact. One of Annabelle's classmates came over for supper. His dad dropped him off and I told him annabelle was out back. She had just came home from ballet and changed clothes and headed straight for the back door. Tell A________ I'm outside mommy". I finished up the corn bread and kept an eye on them-- this boy seemed content to be bossed around by two girls, one whom was covered in mud. I am not really sure what they were doing, but Tallulah's guardian angel told me to check on her just as she was trying to use the toy wheel barrow as a step ladder, whereby saving me a trip to the er. Thanks, GMS.
I glanced up at the fridge and saw my favorite magnet, a picture of the girls, from the time summer when annabelle was three and Tallulah was 8 months, or so. It was when Annabelle was in her " I only wear my underwear and no other clothes" phase. She had a tan line to match. My pippi longstocking girl who liked to draw cat whiskers on her face, and cover her arms and legs in marker. The ultimate free spirit. I wish school would give her back
And now she was outside, and was going to need a bath before dinner, and in all likelihood so was her friend. No homework done and it was almost 630. But it felt early, because it was still light out. And for a second, I could feel the warmth and promise of summer, just around the corner.
The hazy, crazy, lazy days, as the song says. The promise that is worth the hangover.
Tallulah's life in preschool is very different than her sister's. She is learning to be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper. She sings songs almost all the time, songs that she learned at school. When she is at home, she plays or helps me. She is little chef, and I am big chef. Excpet she can't say chef, so she says "cheft." Little cheft can make chicken pot pie, chili, quiche and banana bread. She really shines at sautéing things. She likes me to read the same book over and over again. She plays by herself a fair amount. She is super awesome at folding clothes. She is a Ngyuen, so she has that weird way they fold shirts down. She was explaining it to me today. "you fold it in haf, den you fold de ahms, in den fold it again, and den it is a skuwayah mommy. Like dis." Ok. Whatever.
She helped me cook supper tonight, as a matter of fact. One of Annabelle's classmates came over for supper. His dad dropped him off and I told him annabelle was out back. She had just came home from ballet and changed clothes and headed straight for the back door. Tell A________ I'm outside mommy". I finished up the corn bread and kept an eye on them-- this boy seemed content to be bossed around by two girls, one whom was covered in mud. I am not really sure what they were doing, but Tallulah's guardian angel told me to check on her just as she was trying to use the toy wheel barrow as a step ladder, whereby saving me a trip to the er. Thanks, GMS.
I glanced up at the fridge and saw my favorite magnet, a picture of the girls, from the time summer when annabelle was three and Tallulah was 8 months, or so. It was when Annabelle was in her " I only wear my underwear and no other clothes" phase. She had a tan line to match. My pippi longstocking girl who liked to draw cat whiskers on her face, and cover her arms and legs in marker. The ultimate free spirit. I wish school would give her back
And now she was outside, and was going to need a bath before dinner, and in all likelihood so was her friend. No homework done and it was almost 630. But it felt early, because it was still light out. And for a second, I could feel the warmth and promise of summer, just around the corner.
The hazy, crazy, lazy days, as the song says. The promise that is worth the hangover.
Friday, March 6, 2015
It is my kind of town
We went to Chicago last weekend. We had a wonderful time, apart from a run in with a misanthropic Korean man who hates the sound of childhood joy. But that is another story. Tallulah we discovered, well , not really discovered as much an a reinforcement of her strangeness, has an optimal temperature. It's about 74. If she is any colder, she is miserable and if she is any hotter she is miserable. And so is everyone else around her. Coats make her hot. 20 degree temps make her cold. She was not a happy camper. Neither was her dad, who can't ride in taxis because they make him car sick. So we walked, she complained and tried to hail her own cab. She also almost touched the most famous painting in the art institute and fell into a statute of the bhudda. The docents suggested a stroller.... Hyphen said she had to stay home until she became a grown up.
But Annabelle and I had fun. Until the Korean guy at the restaurant got after her for whistling. The f bombs at the table next to us--those were ok.
We were joined by a favorite aunt, so that was an added bonus. And we saw a lovely city. And despite all the craziness I would go back. I would even take Tallulah.
But Annabelle and I had fun. Until the Korean guy at the restaurant got after her for whistling. The f bombs at the table next to us--those were ok.
We were joined by a favorite aunt, so that was an added bonus. And we saw a lovely city. And despite all the craziness I would go back. I would even take Tallulah.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Why sometimes annabelle takes a while to go to sleep
Last night we had a party, and we watched an outside movie. We chose E.T. The kids loved it, despite it being the scariest thing they have seen so far.
But the problem with watching movies, and is why we don't do it too often, is that they are very stimulating, especially before bedtime. Last night everyone left late, so it wasn't a problem. But it was tonight.
Tallulah was still exhausted from last night and she fell asleep in her father's arms at 5:45. Leaving us with some rare Annabelle alone time.
As we were taking a bath she started with the ET phone home stuff and how grandma said it was one of the most famous movie lines ever. I said some from Casablanca had to be up there. This caused me to explain the plot to her. Then after bath, we googled the AFI list of top 100 movie lines. Some have damn in them, the word she regretfully heard last fall on tv. Casablanca had 6 quotes. Titanic had one. Btw, you haven't lived until you've heard an almost 7 year old say, Mrs, Robinson, are you trying to se- se- se.... Then I scrolled down and hyphen said it was time for bed.
Then this occurred while I was lying with her:
How far in the song did Sam sing before Rick told him not to? (Not sure.)I am scared of ET, mamma, I can't stop thinking about it.( let's think about a non scary movie like lady and the tramp) you know that old lady was really smart, because she knew that dogs don't like cats, so she brought these cats to get the dog in trouble because she didn't like dogs either. When did they find the titanic, when you were in the third grade? (Not sure) when did it sink? Why did people die? Why didn't they have enough life boats? Why couldn't people just swim until the other ships got there?
The titanic discussion prompted her to really hold her teddy tight. Did I mention, I am an idiot sometimes?
But then, old faithful, math, saved us from staying up all night. "you know what numbers I really like to add? I like it when all the digits are the same, like 333. That's the most fun to add."
And then, 30 seconds later, she fell asleep. Clearly, she knows how to comfort herself.
Tomorrow she is 7. In the blink of an eye, seven years.
But the problem with watching movies, and is why we don't do it too often, is that they are very stimulating, especially before bedtime. Last night everyone left late, so it wasn't a problem. But it was tonight.
Tallulah was still exhausted from last night and she fell asleep in her father's arms at 5:45. Leaving us with some rare Annabelle alone time.
As we were taking a bath she started with the ET phone home stuff and how grandma said it was one of the most famous movie lines ever. I said some from Casablanca had to be up there. This caused me to explain the plot to her. Then after bath, we googled the AFI list of top 100 movie lines. Some have damn in them, the word she regretfully heard last fall on tv. Casablanca had 6 quotes. Titanic had one. Btw, you haven't lived until you've heard an almost 7 year old say, Mrs, Robinson, are you trying to se- se- se.... Then I scrolled down and hyphen said it was time for bed.
Then this occurred while I was lying with her:
How far in the song did Sam sing before Rick told him not to? (Not sure.)I am scared of ET, mamma, I can't stop thinking about it.( let's think about a non scary movie like lady and the tramp) you know that old lady was really smart, because she knew that dogs don't like cats, so she brought these cats to get the dog in trouble because she didn't like dogs either. When did they find the titanic, when you were in the third grade? (Not sure) when did it sink? Why did people die? Why didn't they have enough life boats? Why couldn't people just swim until the other ships got there?
The titanic discussion prompted her to really hold her teddy tight. Did I mention, I am an idiot sometimes?
But then, old faithful, math, saved us from staying up all night. "you know what numbers I really like to add? I like it when all the digits are the same, like 333. That's the most fun to add."
And then, 30 seconds later, she fell asleep. Clearly, she knows how to comfort herself.
Tomorrow she is 7. In the blink of an eye, seven years.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Things I am thinking about today
1. As part of my continual disrespect for authority, I really hate assigned lunch seating.
2. I love it that when at lunch, a kid yelled at annabelle in her face for saying she didn't believe he was in boys scouts, she stood her ground and said" I don't have to believe everything people say."
3. But, I wish she had been kinder to the kid
4. The kid doesn't have a mom, and when I see the him, he gives me a huge hug and doesn't let go and I love him a little bit, but he can't mess with my baby....
5. I had chips for breakfast today.
6. Tallulah says oneth instead of first.
7. It is lent, it is the lunar new year, it is my birthday, and it still feels like the regular new year.
8. These are times of reflection.
9. Tonight Tallulah said that she doesn't want to grow up, she wanted to be an angel. She has said this before. It FREAKS me out.
10. My uncle died on Valentine's Day.
11. I saw him 5 times my whole life
12. I wonder why I didn't see him more.
13. If you watch Tallulah skip you will crack up. She can't do it. She just does a scissor kick kind of move and it is hilarious.
14. Annabelle learned to whistle over Christmas and now she won't stop. She whistles all day long.
15. I think all party favors at kids birthdays should be banned.
16. My cousin had a baby the day after Christmas. If you hold him, you feel God's peace.
17. A few weeks ago, annabelle broke her arm, while attempting a cartwheel.
18. She had a cast for three weeks.
19. The final X-ray showed it was broken in two places.
20. She is healed, but hasn't done a cartwheel since.
21. She used to do about 30 cartwheels a day.
22. Hyphen got me a valentine card this year. He has never done this. I love him a little bit
23. He just told me that the house was dirty. I hate him a little bit.
24. For reasons that remain unknown, the girls are trying to teach the dog to go upstairs.
25. They are using a rope and a dog biscuit tied into the rope. It's like they are fishing for lab.
26. The damn dog is so stupid that it is working.
27. Annabelle is turning 7. I am not ok with this.
28. We are going to Chicago in a few days.
29. Tallulah was playing with a plastic bird today. I heard her say, " I told you not to poop in my pocket,birdie, now you have to clean it up."
30. It is the lunar new year today. The girls wore their vietnamese dresses and they were adorable. And looked very Asian.
31. I cannot spare another aunt or uncle. Please understand that, Lord.
32. The other day we were at my nieces' birthday party. There was a lady there I instantly didn't like. Why am I like that? All she did was complain.
33. When I told my mom, she said "I know. I hate her too. I wanted to tell her 'shut up, bitch, you don't know shit about public education.'"
34. Make me a channel of your peace.
35. When I told my sister to avoid that lady, she said " you mean the one that needs to get laid?"
36. Thank you for my people, dear Lord. They are my home.
37. Sometimes I want another baby.
38. I got really crazy one day and texted hyphen that we should have another one, and please do not respond " why are you bothering me with this shit?"
39. He had to erase his reply.
40. I feel very young most of the time
41. But I know that I am too old for that....
2. I love it that when at lunch, a kid yelled at annabelle in her face for saying she didn't believe he was in boys scouts, she stood her ground and said" I don't have to believe everything people say."
3. But, I wish she had been kinder to the kid
4. The kid doesn't have a mom, and when I see the him, he gives me a huge hug and doesn't let go and I love him a little bit, but he can't mess with my baby....
5. I had chips for breakfast today.
6. Tallulah says oneth instead of first.
7. It is lent, it is the lunar new year, it is my birthday, and it still feels like the regular new year.
8. These are times of reflection.
9. Tonight Tallulah said that she doesn't want to grow up, she wanted to be an angel. She has said this before. It FREAKS me out.
10. My uncle died on Valentine's Day.
11. I saw him 5 times my whole life
12. I wonder why I didn't see him more.
13. If you watch Tallulah skip you will crack up. She can't do it. She just does a scissor kick kind of move and it is hilarious.
14. Annabelle learned to whistle over Christmas and now she won't stop. She whistles all day long.
15. I think all party favors at kids birthdays should be banned.
16. My cousin had a baby the day after Christmas. If you hold him, you feel God's peace.
17. A few weeks ago, annabelle broke her arm, while attempting a cartwheel.
18. She had a cast for three weeks.
19. The final X-ray showed it was broken in two places.
20. She is healed, but hasn't done a cartwheel since.
21. She used to do about 30 cartwheels a day.
22. Hyphen got me a valentine card this year. He has never done this. I love him a little bit
23. He just told me that the house was dirty. I hate him a little bit.
24. For reasons that remain unknown, the girls are trying to teach the dog to go upstairs.
25. They are using a rope and a dog biscuit tied into the rope. It's like they are fishing for lab.
26. The damn dog is so stupid that it is working.
27. Annabelle is turning 7. I am not ok with this.
28. We are going to Chicago in a few days.
29. Tallulah was playing with a plastic bird today. I heard her say, " I told you not to poop in my pocket,birdie, now you have to clean it up."
30. It is the lunar new year today. The girls wore their vietnamese dresses and they were adorable. And looked very Asian.
31. I cannot spare another aunt or uncle. Please understand that, Lord.
32. The other day we were at my nieces' birthday party. There was a lady there I instantly didn't like. Why am I like that? All she did was complain.
33. When I told my mom, she said "I know. I hate her too. I wanted to tell her 'shut up, bitch, you don't know shit about public education.'"
34. Make me a channel of your peace.
35. When I told my sister to avoid that lady, she said " you mean the one that needs to get laid?"
36. Thank you for my people, dear Lord. They are my home.
37. Sometimes I want another baby.
38. I got really crazy one day and texted hyphen that we should have another one, and please do not respond " why are you bothering me with this shit?"
39. He had to erase his reply.
40. I feel very young most of the time
41. But I know that I am too old for that....
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Butterfly chasing marbles
Yesterday, the kids came home and after admiring their clean room ( what I did while they were at school) they wanted to actually play in that clean space or in the alternative watch tv and those requests were both denied. So, Tallulah said " I know, let's play butterfly chasing marbles!" And Annabelle said "ok!" Tallulah said " I'll get the marbles and the butterfly!" And Annabelle said " I'll get the game board, meet you upstairs!" And away they went. I decided to play with them, since I felt bad about being all Hyphen-ish about their room. I went upstairs, and Tallulah was lining up four marbles on one side of the lid of a lego box (the game board). Annabelle was looking for her blue marbles. (on a side note, I love it that my girls call the big, shooter marble, the tiro. You can definitely tell who taught them how to play marbles). Then Tallulah said, "ok, now its's time!" And she wound up a wind-up butterfly, placed it in the middle of the of lid, and let it go. If it knocked a blue marble out of place, Annabelle got a point, and if it knocked a green one, Tallulah got a point.
I was amused by this game and I asked them when they made it up. "Now. Just now, we just did it."
Now I was marveling. Marveling at how two people can be so in sync with each other, how play comes to children so easily--no devices, nothing plugged in with shiny lights, just a toy that has amused kids for a hundred years.
Not marveling. I was marbling.
I was amused by this game and I asked them when they made it up. "Now. Just now, we just did it."
Now I was marveling. Marveling at how two people can be so in sync with each other, how play comes to children so easily--no devices, nothing plugged in with shiny lights, just a toy that has amused kids for a hundred years.
Not marveling. I was marbling.
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