Dear Easter Bunny, I know you were probably freezing your tail off since it was only 17 degrees, but next year can you please remember to take your garbage with you so I don’t have to think on my feet so early in the morning? Thanks for hiding the eggs inside by the way.
Also, could you please turn back time? Because you know that tiny little baby we brought home from the hospital last week? Well, today we bought her a bicycle. Something that big girls ride. How did we get here so fast? She never really took to the tricycle, but she rode her bike around the block many, many times this afternoon (as the blisters on the back of my heels from my new shoes can attest). Also, she picks up words like pedestrians way too fast. We did have to have a talk with Daddy since he taught her the word vagina, because he didn’t like any of the options Mama came up with. Which was ok until she tipped over on her bike and started crying and howling “I hurt my vagina!” much louder than Mama was comfortable with. So we had a talk about how that word makes some people nervous so she decided she would just whisper it in Mama’s ear. She loves to whisper things lately.
Well, I guess that’s all for now. Oh, could you please tell the tooth fairy to ignore Frankie’s wish for a new tooth? I don’t think we are ready for that yet.
Love, Mama
Update: Monday morning snow is dashing the dreams of our young cyclist!
Dear Santa.....
Frankie has been learning a lot of Christmas songs in pre-school in preparation for their Christmas program. We’ve been having a lot of arguments discussions about them including the fact that there are many different versions of the 12 Days of Christmas and they do not all include kitty cats and puppy dogs. Here is an example:
Mama: Joy to the world ……and heaven and nature sing..
Frankie: No Mama. It’s heaven and nature SEE.
Mama: No Honey, They are sinGing because of Jesus’ Birthday
Frankie: (shrieking) NO! IT’S HEAVEN AND NATURE SEE!
This one occurred on the way to school so we had Miss Billie moderate when we got there.
The picture is her letter to Santa which she dictated to me and then decorated herself. Fortunately Santa had not committed to what he was thinking of getting her (which was princess related and she asked for a month ago) and was able to substitute (at a significant savings!) the asked for animals.
I had to post this because I love the picture. Hope you’re having a fabulous snow day! We’re getting our white Christmas!
My Grandfather lives with us. He just turned 95.
Papa & Frankie -- 94 1/2 & 3 1/2
Most people think he is about 70. He takes care of himself with me to provide laundry and cooking. Half the time he drives himself down to the diner in the morning or the burger joint in the evening. He really isn’t much trouble at all. When my grandmother died and he came to live with us, Frankie was 10 months old and I was at home. Now I have to be at work everyday 12 miles up the road. Which makes it difficult when he actually does need me.
Halloween night he stumbled as he got out of bed and hit his face on the chest of drawers. So I spent the next 2 weeks running him around to the doctor and eventually the dentist. Someone at work remarked that it was like having another child and I think that is a good analogy. I was very frustrated as I had already missed a lot of work due to Frankie starting pre-school and being sick every other week and I was not feeling very loving toward him for a couple of weeks. That was when I started this post. Since then I have put in some extra time at work to get caught up and am not feeling quite so overwhelmed. So this morning, I can be thankful that my little girl gets to know her great-grandpa. Not everyone gets to have that. He is not the grandpa I had growing up, it’s been 40 years and we are both different people now. (plus as a child, I don’t think you really know the grownups in your life) But I can love him for that history and because my grandma loved him. And try to remember that when I am frustrated by having to yell at him and repeat everything because he won’t wear his hearing aid. Or he makes a racist remark. Or makes the bathroom smell like old man. Or ………
What a nice “quiet” book for bedtime. In 3 chapters for early readers, but perfect for reading to a pre-schooler. Houndsley and Catina are practicing for the concert but it looks like they might get snowed in. Catina starts to worry about all the things she can’t do when they are stuck in the house, like go home to curl her whiskers and put on a dress for the concert, but Houndsley reminds her to focus on the fun things they can do when it is snowing and quiet. Like bake cookies and write poems and read them to each other, which my daughter said she wanted to do today! She is the product of her parents and therefore dictated that she would write a princess poem and I must write a pirate poem. Which I am including here for your laugh of the day:
Once there was a pirate
As salty as could be.
He lived upon the ocean
And sailed upon the sea.
But when he met a mermaid
He sailed the seas no more.
“I do not want her father
Knocking at my door.”
Since my daughter is just learning to write, we don’t have a princess poem for you but look for one in the future! Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
definitely makes the list of mama favorites!
With some snipping of the stragglers and a judicously placed headband I think we might have pulled it off. Of course, there is the power struggle over where to place the bow and the ever present problem of if she knows her picture is being taken this grimace is her idea of a smile, but one thing at a time! Thanks for all your support everyone!
I am sure I’m not the only mama this has happened to….
A quiet evening at home, the night before school picture day…
Frankie: Mama, Look! (big smile)
Mama: AAAAHHHH. WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HANDS!
Frankie: I cut my hair Mama! (still with the smile)
Mama: (puts her face in her hands and thinks about crying)
Frankie: What’s wrong, Mama?
Mama: Go to your room.
Frankie: (smile now gone and starting to cry) No, I don’t want to go to my room? Stay!
Mama: Frankie, we don’t cut our hair, we let the hair cutting lady do it.
Frankie: But Mama, I want to have short hair!
She actually didn’t do that bad of a job. She didn’t hack it all over, only the ends and the sides are almost even. Perhaps she’s found her calling?
So, Daddy took Frankie to dance class again and took one picture before he was politely asked to stay out of the classroom. It is the rule and the reason for it obvious after Frankie saw him and promptly had a meltdown…. 
So, first of all, I LOVE my new job. Frankie does not. She lets me know by the pile of sobbing pre-schooler on the floor as I leave her. At home with her Daddy. My job is interesting and engaging and creative and really, what more can you ask for? On the other hand, I missed her first dance class and have to make do with the pictures Daddy took. This whole working mother thing is HARD! So, I really have nothing cute or pithy today, just pictures of what I missed and a semi-broken heart.
