These Days Won't Last Forever
Just before we put the girls in the shower Lu asked the question I hope she never stops asking, "Do we have to go to Grandma's?"
"Yeah, we'd rather stay home with you guys tonight," said Roo.
There was no discussion. No debate. No doubt. My kids WANT to hang out with me. And I'm going to make it happen for I know it won't be long until we're the LAST people they want to spend their Saturday nights with. But I'm not quite ready to talk about that yet.
So, for now, we're enjoying those two little squirts who still think we're cool.
Hello, Lover
Playing monopoly with the family tonight.
ME : It's your turn, Chris.
LU : Why do you call Daddy Chris?
ME : What should I call him? Dirtbag? Butthead?
LU : How about Loverrrrrrrrr?
Really? How does she even come up with this stuff?
Resolutions
Happy New Year to all of our friends and family.
We had dinner with friends from the fire department and then rang in the new year at home with Roo and Lu. It was a raging party with sweat pants, double fudge brownie ice cream and kazoos for everyone.
Just after midnight we asked the girls what their new years resolutions were.
Roo wants to volunteer at an animal shelter.
Lu wants to have a fancy date with her daddy.
Daddy wants to...wait, who am I kidding? The guy can barely decide what he wants for dinner let along what he's going to do next year.
I have two (so far). The first will be a work in progress. I want - no, scratch that - I need to develop a regular, healthy sleep pattern. The second of my resolutions is to walk and/or run 1,000 miles in 2011. In 2010 I logged 639 miles and I really didn't do much walking or running this fall.
With each other to lean on I'm pretty sure we can make all these things (and more) happen.
Here's to a happy, healthy new year full of love, laughter and wild adventures.
I Almost Missed the Point
I found a frame and placed it on their bookshelf right at their eye level and it makes me smile every time I step into their room.
I was young when she died but I remember Great Grandma as a thoughtful, soft-spoken but strong woman who was full of love for her family and friends. Reminds me of someone else I know who happens to share her name (well, except for the soft spoken part sometimes).
Tonight, as we're putting the girls to bed I noticed that the bottom half of her picture appeared to be stuck to the glass in the frame. I could tell that the photo had gotten wet. Really wet. I panicked. Not only is it one of the few photos I have of her, it's the only copy I have and it was obviously shot long before the digital age. No backup on a hard drive. No re-prints to be made and I don't have the negatives.
Without my great grandmother's thoughtful, soft-spoken style I immediately barked, "What happened to this picture? Who did this? This is the only copy I have and I'll never be able to make another one."
Everyone, including Chris, came up blank. No answers. No idea what happened. Frustrated and upset I watched and listened as the girls said their bedtime prayers before we kissed them goodnight and tucked them in.
It wasn't long before I heard that creak that only comes from the girls' door. Little footsteps pitter-pattered their way into the kitchen where I was putting dishes away. I couldn't tell from the footsteps who was headed my way. Roo rounded the corner with a sad look on her little, round face. Big brown eyes stared up at me but there were no words.
And she broke down. And it was all I could do to not break down, too.
As a photographer we get caught up in the notion that images are everything. Our photographs are all that we have to help us hold on to memories. I was wrong. And I was missing the point.
Yes, I cherish my photographs, but in this case the photograph isn't what matters. What matters is that my daughter was thoughtful and strong enough to tell the truth - no matter the consequence.
Thank You, Andrew Zimmern
Thank you very much.
If it weren't for you I wouldn't have had to explain BALLS to my 6 and 7 year old daughters.
Without thinking about some of the "parts" he eats we tuned into watch Bizarre Foods tonight. You know...that episode from Thailand where ate rooster balls? Yeaaaaah, that one.
Roo heard him say balls and started to giggle. I just assumed she had no idea what balls were so I asked what was so funny. (Again with the not thinking thing...) She replied with an even bigger giggle and said,"Mom, he's eating a rooster's penis."
And I felt the need to clarify. You know, because I wanted to stick with that not thinking theme, here. And because I wanted to explain BALLS to my 6 and 7 year old daughters. NOT!
Thank you very much, Mr. Zimmern. You can go back to eating your rooster balls now.
Color Me Mom
Mother's hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. - Author Unknown
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. - Charles R. Swindoll
God's Gift
Tonight, I got the most amazing massage from The Ruler. When I thanked her she told me, "that was the ultimate spa treatment". I added that it was absolutely wonderful, to which she replied, "I know, Momma. God gave me the magic".
Indeed he did, Roo.
Multicultural Kid
The topic of conversation tonight at dinner was what Santa and Mrs. Claus might be doing tonight. We told the girls that Mrs. Claus had probably made Santa a nice, big pot of chicken noodle soup and they were likely relaxing after all their hard work.
DAD: Santa had a big weekend. Even after he delivered our presents he still had work to do. He still had to deliver to kids in other countries because when it's night time here, it's morning in some other countries.
MOM: And the difference isn't just time. When it's winter here, it's summer in Australia.
DAD: For example, when we get up in the morning they're already eating dinner in countries like Iraq and China.
LU: So, first it's dinner. Then it's breakfast. Then it's lunch. Hmmm, I think I know all about Chinese, dad.
DAD: (The uncontrollable laughter nearly sends his soup out through his nose.)
A Vote of Confidence
After another big day of sledding I decided to make a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. Chris was in the other room folding laundry when Rilee walked into the kitchen and said, "Wow, Mom! Dad isn't even HELPING you and it smells PERFECT in here!"
Maybe I should cook more?
Till The Sun Went Down
Today, we sledded till the sun went down. And it was awesome!
The view from the top of the hill was gorgeous. And one of our favorite little coffee shops was still open when we were done. Hello, peppermint mocha! Come to mama!
Oh, and the best part of the day....watching this happen!
First Snow of the Year
Screw bedtime. It's the first snow of the year and The Morrows are going out to play! I don't think I've ever had so much fun in the snow.
Although, I think Chris has had better days...
Lucky Number Seven
Happy Seventh Birthday, Roo!
One of her presents from Mommy, Daddy and Lu was her very own pair of roller skates.
And one of her gifts from Grandma and Grandpa was to go see the Imagination Movers.
Legitimate Questions
I left for Dallas today so Chris took the girls to their dentist appointment. On the way there Lucee asked Daddy what I thought was a very legitimate question. She said, "Daddy, can we drive by Dallas on the way to the dentist?"
Chucks vs. Checks
ROO: Hey, Mom! If the shoes you wear on your feet are called chucks, why are those pieces of paper you put in the bank called chucks, too?
Compliments
ROO: Mom , you're the most smartest genius I've ever met...even though I've never met a genius before.
I guess I'll take that as a compliment.
Pass The Twinkies, Please
It's not that I don't like dogs, it's just that right now I need a dog like I need to shove another box of twinkies down my throat. But it looks like the mutt is here to stay, so I guess I ought to properly introduce him.
Meet Oz.
He's part boxer, part lab. He's also a screen eater (we're up to three now - the back porch door, one panel of the screened in porch and the front door, too.) And he's a grass eater which, in turn, makes him a puker. Oh, and let's not forget he's a runaway. Who came back.
After three days.
The girls are over the top in love with him. They refer to him as their brother. Me, I refer to him as a pain in my ass, but maybe when he learns to stop eating my house and puking in it, then maybe we can be friends.
All I can say is that Chris is gonna owe me for this one. BIG TIME! I'll be playing the "but you brought home a dog without telling me" card for at least a couple years.
Now, will someone please pass the box of twinkies?
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