Bedtime Conversations

Our evening routine is one of my favorite parts of the day. Little Miss and I snuggle up together with the iPad and read to each other. Sometimes she reads an entire book, sometimes I do...and sometimes we read together. It's one of the few times throughout the day that there are no 'life' interruptions. We are each other's captive audience.

After reading, we talk about the rose/thorn of our days...which sometimes carries over to random chatter. Recently, Little Miss has attempted to prolong the actual 'sleep' part of our nightly routine, by spouting out bits of information- just as I think she's fallen asleep.

Tiny heart attacks occur with each story...because I think she's asleep until all of a sudden, her head pops up and I hear...

"Keena is older than me. Everyone in my dance class is...except the ones who aren't," she says.
"Oh...okay, well let's go to sleep now."

Minutes pass by. The dog is snoring under my feet.

"Snakes can eat otters...and rats...did you know that-"
I interupt.
"Thats amazing...but it's time for sleep. Thank you for all the information though!"
"Right...love you, Mama!" she says with a kiss, then closes her eyes again.

More time passes. The dog snores louder...one of the animals fart and in the midst of me gasping for air, I hear a whisper.

"The person who plays Avery on 'Dog with a Blog' was on 'Good Luck, Charlie' first...did you know that, Mama?"
"I didn't. But I do know that you are supposed to be sleeping!"

Less than one minute later.

"I can spell olive....................... I just did it in my head."

At this point, I'm trying to fight back the giggles. Quite honestly, Little Miss sounds like she's having a half drunk conversation with herself.

I tell her once again, it's time to stop talking and go to sleep. For the love of worms and dirt, child...aren't you the least bit tired?! More time passes...she's snuggled on my arm and feels like a wet noodle. I'm quite certain she's asleep.

"Do you know what happens after art? ...I don't either."

My eyeballs fall out of my head.

Seconds later, she's snoring.

A Familiar Voice

The night of Little Miss's birthday, we went to our favorite local movie theater to watch Hotel Transylvania. This little theater is one of a kind- you can't possibly spend a twenty dollar bill, no matter how much popcorn and candy you buy. It's amazing.

About five minutes into the movie, Little Miss turned to me and motioned for me to lean to her.

"Mama...is Gran'Pa Braunstein an actor now?!" she whispered with excitement.

"No, sweetie- I don't think so...why?" I asked.

"Because...I think he is! I think he has to be the voice of Dracula!!" she said.

I didn't argue. I watched her as she proudly watched the rest of the movie, positive that her grandfather (who is originally from Romania) was the voice of a character in her new favorite movie.

The next day, she decided to dress as Mavis, Dracula's daughter, for Halloween. She loves her Gran'Pa. ;-)

What Does Gay Mean?

"Mama, what does gay mean?" asked Little Miss, while we watched television tonight.

"It's when boys date other boys, instead of girls- or when girls date other girls, instead of boys," I said, all while questioning if this was the politically correct answer to the question.

I mean, is there a politically correct answer?

On this election day, I couldn't help but take the words "politically correct" literally. Politicians are constantly trying to take rights away from gay people...so why would I want to be politically correct while defining something that is important to me, to my daughter? President Obama is for same sex marriage...while Governor Romney is very much against it. In the split second between my response and Little Miss's reply, I wondered...will she ever see an America where same sex marriage is recognized legally?

"Oh. Okay. Well, Alonso is my boyfriend- so I guess I'm not gay. But it's fine if my friends are!" she said.

I smiled so big it hurt my face. If only adults could take advice from the younger generation...I'm not gay. But it's fine if my friends are.

First Field Trip

Little Miss had her first field trip this week. Naturally, I was nervous about it...because that's what I do- I worry. I'd considered not attending the first trip- because it was right here in town...and it would be good for her to spread her wings...yadda yadda...then I decided I was thinking irrationally and definitely needed to chaperone.

The kindergarteners took the activity bus over to the Island Farm...which was a much bigger deal than the field trip itself. Who doesn't love a bus ride?! Little Miss was thrilled to tell me all about it when we met at the welcome center of the farm. 

Sidenote: Parents had to pay separately. I had prepared for this & stuck cash in my purse. But apparently they only take correct change!? Um, really? No change for a $20!? What's a girl to do?

We've visited the Island Farm on several occasions. Little Miss enjoys it...but the chickens and roosters always freak her out. They are very social and will trot right over to you! (And I mean, step-on-your-toes, right over to you!) Maybe she is sensing my nervousness around them. When I was little, we had a duck named Peaches. (Yes, I named her. She was my easter present.) Peaches was evil. She had no idea she was a duck, she was quite sure she was a guard dog, of sorts. She would chase people out of our yard- and if you weren't quick enough, she'd bite you...and draw blood. So I'm always kind of leery around big birds...they're kind of gangster, you know?

Baby Lilly didn't mind the chickens.

After a presentation by a man who was slightly less friendly than the chickens/roosters he was discussing, the kiddos were allowed to pet a hen. Little Miss looked on as her friends and teachers touched her...while she kept her hands firmly placed in her lap. 

For the last few weeks, Little Miss has been telling me about her 'boyfriend' Alonso. I met the little fella yesterday and can tell he's quite smitten with her. He stuck right to her during the whole trip. She got a little embarrassed when I asked to take a photo of the two of them. Can you tell?

After chowing down on some squished PB&J, Little Miss climbed back onto the bus and went back to school. I followed the bus and honked like a maniac when they turned back into her school. That's right...I'm that mom.

Fall

Fall has fallen, once again. The air is crisp and my bones...they are a'achin'.

This is my favorite time of year. Work has slowed down just enough for me to take a deep breath and be thankful for all we have. Little Miss is thrilled b/c its finally cool enough for her to wear her new red boots that she purchased back in August. (Don't let her fool you though, she's already worn them. She sweat so much in them I had to air them out in the yard!)

Listening to Little Miss's daily ramblings from her school day is fascinating. Today, she came home with riveting tales about fire safety. She sat with me and filled out a fire safety information worksheet that she received from a firefighter, visiting her school. She then belted out to a "stop, drop, roll" tune that I wish I could've rocked out to when I was her age. She was also excited to inform me that she moved her "clippy" to purple today. (This is a big deal.) She was able to move her clippy up from green to blue, then on to purple because helped a classmate and then used her manners!!

Along with changing seasons and school schedules comes sniffles. Little Miss has had puffy eyes and a stuffy nose for the last few days. While it hasn't slowed her down much, by bedtime she can hardly hold her eyes open to read a book.

The homecoming parade Tristan and I rode in was the first big event in my 10 year high school reunion weekend. (Partially the reason I decided to test out the parade in the first place!) For a few months, I have toyed with the idea of going- but never could exactly pinpoint why I wanted to. In the day and age of social media, face to face reunions seem like a dying breed. Not to mention the small town most of us still live in...I run into more classmates at the Piggly Wiggly on any given day than at an actual reunion.

It took Little Miss and her puffy eyes to finalize my decision on going vs. not going. She wanted to snuggle with her mama...and that was all it took for me to forget all about the reunion.

I didn't feel like I missed out on a thing...I'm not much for talking about myself and my life anyway. I mean, isn't that why I have a blog? ;-)