Tater Tots and Tank Tops

I grabbed my camera - actually Katie's camera, which used to be Regina's - on the way out to take Katie to school because I wanted to take a few shots of her in front of the rhododendrons outside our apartment which are in full bloom. She said to me, "Is that why you gave me this tater tot? So you could take a picture?" I said, "What? You have a tater tot? What tater tot?" She got irritated with me because I didn't immediately understand what she was talking about and as we began to climb the stairs outside, she said with an attitude, "Yes, Mom! This one! Right here! You gave it to me this morning to wear!" I noticed she was tugging on her shirt. I resisted the urge to laugh out loud (she HATES that!) and I said, "Oh, you mean TANK TOP! The shirt you are wearing is called a tank top, not tater tot." She said, "Oh, that's right. Tank top."

The whole time we were taking the pictures, she was worried about the bees buzzing around the flowers. She had a hard time relaxing. Even though not a single one tried to sting her.

Finally, looking at the camera,
but still nervous about the bees!

Mother's Day Brunch

Katie's Pre-K class celebrated Mother's Day today by inviting all the Moms to a brunch in their classroom today. Unfortunately, I was still feeling the pain of a migraine that just wouldn't go away, but even so, I was able to appreciate the festivities. I went to Urgent Care immediately afterward, though.

The kids and their teachers put together a little program where they read stories they made up and sang songs for us. They also had each child draw a picture of their Mom (or Moms, as in our case) and describe, in their own words, a little bit about their Mom. The teacher laminated the picture and the written description of the Mom, on colored construction paper and presented it to each Mom. But first, the teacher read each one out loud and showed us the drawing to see if we could first guess which Mom it was. So, we all sat there, squirming a little bit, nervous about what our child might have decided to share about us. Some of the things the kids keyed in on were quite humorous. Turns out we have a few beer-drinking Moms in our group! We also have a Mom who takes naps every afternoon (she denied this allegation, though). Kids are funny. And, they do pay attention to what we do! Fortunately, Katie didn't share any embarassing details with everyone aobut us. Here's what she said:

"My Mommy has flat curly hair, and my other Mommy has curly hair. My Mommy likes to watch the Biggest Loser show, but definitely does not like to watch Sponge Bob! My Mom likes to work the most but also plays Candyland and Chutes & Ladders with me. My Mommies like to drink diet coke soda and water."

And here are a few pictures:

Puppy Names

Last night Katie was telling us (again) that if we got a puppy (we're not), she would want to name it Juliana. She seems to have picked this name out of the blue. It's a nice name, but isn't it a couple of syllables too long for a dog? So I said, "Okay, if we name her Juliana, then what would we call her? Jules, Julie or maybe Ana?" And Katie quickly replied, "Well, how about we call her Rachel?" After a moment of pause, Regina and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Even though Katie hates it when we get a good laugh at her expense. Sure, let's name her Juliana but call her Rachel!

Need a Cell Phone?

Cell phones are the subject of Katie's drawings lately. She cuts them out and folds them in half, like the real ones do.

Katie's cell phone drawings.

Katie has also asked some interesting questions in the last couple of days. She usually brings things up in the car when I'm driving her to or from school.

Yesterday, she wanted to know if there is also a "seeing part" on the back side of our eyeballs. She thought that if there were, she should be able to see what it looks like on the inside of her head! Good idea, I told her, but our eyes have a "seeing part" only on the front.

This morning she wanted to know about how the world began. After I finished explaining my take on it, she wanted to know if the world will ever end. I said yes, but not in our lifetime. It's not something we need to worry about. However, she reminded me that she plans on living forever, so she will be around to see it, but would rather not see that happen. So then I proceeded to talk about how we all die, but many people believe we will be reunited in heaven. So, although our bodies die, we live on in heaven, with all the people we love. She liked this idea. Then she wanted to know how we get to heaven. I said although we don't know for sure, there are some people who have died for a few minutes but were saved by doctors, and they all talk about a tunnel of light that leads us to heaven.

This was one of the few conversations where she actually let me talk, uninterrupted, while she listened. We're still working on teaching her that interrupting is not ok, so usually I don't get to finish what I'm saying. Except for today. She actually wanted to hear my answer! Tough subject, though.

Another Interview with Katie

1. What is something Gina always says to you?

"Ouch", when I pull her hair.

2. What makes Gina happy?

When I wrap something in a box, with paper and ribbon and I let her open it up.

3. What makes Gina sad?

When I pinch her.

4. How does Gina make you laugh?

When she tickles me, and I laugh.

5. What was Gina like as a child?

She was funny.

6. How old is Gina?

29

7. How tall is Gina?

4 tall

8. What is Gina's favorite thing to do?

Her favorite thing is to play with me.

9. What does Gina do when you're not here?

She likes to run around the house. And she goes to work to get money and stuff.

10. If Gina becomes famous, what will it be for?

Earning lots of money.

11. What is Gina really good at?

She so good at earning money.

12. What is Gina not very good at?

She not really good at sewing.

13. What does Gina do for a job?

She does nice things.

14. What is Gina's favorite food?

Phish Food (Ben and Jerry's ice cream)

15. What makes you proud of Gina?

If she runs just like me, but faster than me.

16. If Gina were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Horton

17. What do you and Gina do together?

We do races.

18. How are you and Gina the same?

We both are going to the same place.

19. How are you and Gina different?

When we go to our rooms, but not the same room.

20. How do you know Gina loves you?

Because she says, I love you, to me.

21. What does Gina like most about your other Mommy?

When she gives her a present.

22. Where is Gina's favorite place to go?

Work.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I picked up Katie today at school and here's how our conversation went driving home:

Me: Did you do anything for St. Patrick's Day at school today?

Katie: We had green milk for lunch. But, I didn't like it. My teacher finished it for me.

Me: Were you the only one who didn't like it?

Katie: No. Everyone at my table and even the kids at the other table didn't like it either.

Me: Well, why not? What did it taste like?

Katie: It tasted like poopy.

Me: What? Poopy? How do you know it tasted like poopy? Have you ever tasted poopy to even know what it tastes like?

Katie: Well, yes I have.

Me: No you haven't.

Katie: Yes, I have.

Me: Oh really, well when did you taste poopy?

Katie: Well, one time when you and Gina weren't home and it was just me there, a bad guy came in and he made me eat poopy.

Me: A bad guy, huh? Whose poopy did you eat? His, yours, or did he bring someone elses?

Katie: He made me eat his.

Me: So, how exactly did that work? Did he poop right there in front of you and hand you a piece?

Katie: Yep, and he made me taste pee, too.

Me: What did that taste like?

Katie: Pee.

Me: Hmm, ok. So, how did you finally get rid of this bad guy?

Katie: Oh, I killed him.

Me: Really? How did you do that?

Katie: Well, actually, I didn't kill him. I just chased him out of the house with a broom.

An Interview with Katie

1. What is something mom always says to you?

She always says to "go potty" when we leave.

2. What makes mom happy?

If the key been broken and we called someone to fix it, and then we screwed it back together, put it in a box, and gave it to Mom, then she would open it up and hug me. Then we would tell Gina about it.

3. What makes mom sad?

When you hit her and then stick your tongue out.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

When she tickles you, and then you laugh.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Sweet.

6. How old is your mom?

Five

7. How tall is your mom?

A hundred ninety tall.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

To take pictures of me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not here?

She works.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

For a rocking show.

11. What is your mom really good at?

Getting me dressed into clothes.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Not really good at climbing houses.

13. What does your mom do for a job?

She help Gina sometimes.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Ice cream.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

If she gives me a stuffed animal, like a teddy bear, and wraps it in a box, gives it to me and I open it up.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Mickey Mouse.

17. What do you and your mom do together?

We go to the park together. The one that has the dinosaur bone.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

We both wear jewelry.

19. How are you and your mom different?

We don't wear the same clothes.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because she loves on me.

21. What does your mom like most about your other Mom?

Her curly hair.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

To Disneyland.