Little Loves and The Things They Say {Friday Funnies}

I came across my pile of scratch paper with scribblings of different things the kids have said that I thought were sweet or cute or funny.  So here is a nice long post to share them all (and now I can decrease my clutter by throwing all the notes away!):

"Dear Jesus,
Thank you for your wonderful grace and thank you for Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa, Grammy and Papa, McGee and Miss Em.  Please help McGee to get clean and to feel better and be happy and thank you for all you do. Amen." - Miss Em
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McGee was getting dressed in his pajamas while Miss Em was cuddling with her "baby" (soft blue puppy w/ pull string that plays music) on the floor watching him.  I was putting away some of his clean clothes and heard Miss Em say, "He is SO handsome.  McGee you are SO handsome!"
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While getting ready to head to a birthday party for a preschool classmate McGee grabbed his yellow striped tie and said, "I need to wear my tie today because that's his name - Ty!".  Then he proceeded to clip his yellow striped tie on and wear it to the party!
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Coming home from a birthday party McGee was invited to he was going through his goodie bag and found a box of animal crackers.  Mommy was starving (hadn't eaten ALL day) and asked for a couple crackers.  McGee said, "Well you can have one Mommy but I'm saving the rest for Miss Em because I think she's probably sad she didn't get to go to Ty's birthday party and I want to bring her these because I know she likes them."
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"Mommy I got a little pee on the floor.  I was watching what I was doing, but my pee pee wasn't watching what IT was doing and so it went on the floor." - McGee
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Miss Em, "Ow! He bit my finger."
Mommy, "You want me to give it a kiss?"
Miss Em, "Yes please. Thank you!"
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Part of McGee's prayer the other night, "Please watch over all of the super heroes and help them save the people who are not safe."
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Mommy was editing pictures for a client one day and had this exchange with McGee"

McGee: "Mommy what are you doing?"
Mommy: "Working on pictures. Trying to make them look good so the people will like them."
McGee: "But Mommy, they already look really good!"

Then I found a note from a month ago recording this exchange:

Mommy: "Pray for Mommy okay?"
McGee: "Why?"
Mommy: "Pray for Mommy to do a good job."
McGee: "Oh but Mommy you always do a great job."

I love my sweet little encourager!
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Breakfast time is always interesting as the kids have their own ideas about what they want to eat.  Here is what McGee said one morning as he pointed at the cereal shelf in the pantry: "I want that one, the chicken rooster cereal." (Cornflakes)

An exchange with Miss Em:
Mommy: "Do you want this one (pointing to a box)?"
Miss Em: "No (with a big, confident smile)."
Mommy: "Do you want this one (pointing to another box)?"
Miss Em: "No (same big, confident smile)."
Mommy: "Oh you want this one (pointing to Cookie Crisps, the only sugar cereal on the shelf)?"
Miss Em: "Yes! (with BIG, BIG smile and big eyes)"

Sharing Means Caring

I'm so thankful to have my children only 2 years apart.  So close in age they are instant playmates and I hope will always be good friends and dear to one another's hearts.  However, at 2 and 4 years old, much of our time seems to be spent refereeing between the two and their idea of "sharing" leaves much to be desired. 

On some lovely days, they can color next to one another peacefully, play outside in the sandbox or with the hose in pure childhood abandon and have a tickle fight filled with giggles and laughter.  Yet other days seem to be filled with endless battles that may include screeching, whining, a hit or two, maybe even a bite (Miss Em has quite sharp teeth and poor McGee is usually the recipient).

An example of a lovely day...

It would be easy to blame all of the scuffles on Miss Em's immature 2-yr. old understanding of "sharing" - which is her taking whatever she wants and saying "Mine!".  But this would be too simple. 

Despite being 2 years older in age and somewhat in maturity as well, McGee can still sometimes be a bit possessive himself, desiring whatever it is his sister wants or has.  Their sharing troubles are a two-way street we are trying to navigate as best we can.  I'm realizing more and more what different personalities my babies  have and the challenge we have as parents taking their unique characters into consideration while parenting.

Then this week while at the farmer's market, my sweet little sunshines showed us they really do understand about sharing.  Our youngest started it by giving her last little bite of cookie to her brother.  Not only did she give it to him, she said, "Here Myles" and popped it in his mouth.  Can you say, "Awwww?"  Daddy and I did.

A few minutes later McGee and I came back to Daddy and Em after procuring our blueberries and he only had one left from his two sample berries he was given.  I thought for sure he had gobbled it up, but instead he went over to Em and said, "Do you want a blueberry Em?  I saved it for you."   Again, "Awwww."

It's just so nice when they "get it".  When they care about one another and share what they have because they know it will make the other person happy.

Then it's moment's like this photo, where I can see the love between the two of them and I know that our world is just as it should be:

Wishing you a very blessed Sunday!

Daddy Time

How was your weekend?

We had a garage sale at our friend's house and were happy to clear out some clutter and put a little extra cash in our pockets.  We also celebrated our nephew Joshie's 1st birthday (although he won't officially be "1" until Thursday).  

Other than that we went to church and did a little of playing with water...

Did you know dumping water in the sandbox will help you make sand castles in your own backyard?

We mowed the lawn a little this way...

...and that way.

We tried to keep hair clips in...

...and fashioned a new hairstyle.

We smooshed our face in screen doors...

...and gave mom some tilted smiles.

We ran around daddy...

...and sometimes he "got" us.

He lifted us high and our hair went a little crazy!

We jumped in for some hugs...

...oh we love those hugs...

...and don't forget those sweet Daddy kisses.

Daddy tickles are the so gigglicious...

..he's fun to jump on too!

Daddy times are the best times...

...especially when they end with sweet Daddy Hugs.

The Happiest Place on Earth

I know it's been awhile, but a few weeks ago the kids and I were blessed with a wonderful vacation with my parents.  Where to?  The Happiest Place on Earth of course, Disneyland!

I thought the kids were still a bit on the young side to enjoy it fully, but I was sure wrong!  Miss Em loved it and wanted to do it all!  McGee is usually pretty cautious and I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get him on many rides, but he surprised me and wanted to go on everything too!  His favorite he said was the "cars" (Autopia) where he and Papa were able to drive a car around a set course, but he also loved the Buzz Lightyear ride where he was able to "zap" everything with his laser gun.  We went on that ride a couple of times and he loved it.

The only ride neither of the kids liked was "Pirates of the Caribbean", but who could blame them?  It was pretty scary, darker and scarier than I remembered and I can't imagine how scared I would have been at their age.

I brought along their personalized Mickey & Minnie hats that Uncle Gordon and Aunt Julie got each of them when they were born.  They were so cute wearing them all over Disneyland.  Once when we were waiting outside the Buzz Lightyear ride there were a group of Asians all looking at us, specifically Miss Em and one lady just came up, squatted next to Em, threw her arm around her and had her picture taken - with my daughter!  It happened so fast I was just so stunned and we didn't know what to do.  I guess somewhere out there is a picture of Miss Em with a smiley Asian gal.  All I can figure is Miss Em must have looked like the quintessential American girl at Disneyland in her Minnie Mouse shirt and ears.  It was strange and a little creepy, but I suppose maybe we should be flattered.

Can't you just hear the, "Cheeeeese!" from McGee?

The kids were so excited to see the marching band and cast of characters marching by!

Grandma & Grandpa - thank you for this AWESOME and FUN day and amazing vacation!

Waiting in line to see Goofy

Again McGee surprised me.  I thought he might be afraid of the characters and shy away, but he went right up to Goofy and Pluto and was very excited to meet them!  Miss Em?  Well she surprised me and WAS a little unsure about meeting all of the big, scary characters.

We stopped to use the restrooms and were excited when all of the characters came walking past!

Miss Em and I on the Buzz Lightyear ride

Papa and the kids on the teacups

We stood in line and met Minnie Mouse on her front porch then explored her fun house!  The kids LOVED her kitchen with the dancing spoons, deflating cake in the oven and ocean-like dishwasher.  Miss Em was enjoying pretending to have "tea" with Minnie.  She loved Minnie's house SO much that the top right picture is of her on the ground throwing a FIT because she didn't want to leave Minnie's house.  Yes, if you saw a mom at Disneyland letting her daughter scream and flail on the concrete, that was ME.  Grandma & Grandpa sure had their eyes opened on this vacation to Miss Em's...shall I say "spirited" side?

This was she and I after her first tantrum of the day.  I think it had something to do with her NOT wanting to ride in the stroller.  In fact, we had a few tantrums about that this day and Mommy's arms were very sore the next day because Miss Em did not end up spending as much time in the stroller as I had hoped.

I got to meet Minnie too!

McGee LOVE, LOVE, LOVED Disneyland!  Just yesterday he said, "Mommy, Grandma said we were going to Disneyland for two weeks, so when are we going back?"  Not very soon my boy, you have LOTS of change you need to save before we can afford to go back to Disneyland. :)

The biggest surprise of the day came when McGee wanted to go on the Toontown roller coaster, not once, but TWO times!  It went fast, it dropped off steep and was not your typical "fluff" kiddie roller coaster, but my boy LOVED it!  First he went on it with Papa and then he asked his Mommy to go on it.  I'm excited thinking I may have a partner for future roller coaster rides now (Daddy doesn't like roller coasters much)!

Waiting in line and for the roller coaster to take off!

Soooo strong, but not strong enough to free the Sword in the Stone

Papa and McGee enjoyed the rockin' parade

Miss Em skipped nap time and enjoyed the parade from inside the ice cream parlor where we awaited our ice cream sundae dinners.  Don't judge, they were good. :)

We closed the place down, an 11 hour day of amazing, Disney-filled fun!

Main Street

I loved how McGee sang the whole time through "It's a Small World" and the joy and wonder that was in each of my childrens' eyes throughout the day.  I was sad their Daddy couldn't be there to witness it as well, but he was home working instead.  I don't know when we'll go back to Disneyland again, but this was an incredible first trip there.  I didn't think I was a big Disneyland fan, I didn't buy the cheap season passes when I lived down there for college (like many of my classmates), but boy, seeing it, experiencing it with and through my children's eyes, made me realize why it is The Happiest Place on Earth!