Lunch

I was sitting across the table from Lou and Rae as we were eating lunch. Princess P was in the high chair and I was feeding her. We were just having a normal conversation over a normal lunch. I quickly realized that things do not stay normal too long with children.

Rae was fighting off a sneeze because she was enjoying her salami and gouda on rolled bread (that is what she calls a roll). She kind of reminded me of Ratatouille experiencing the explosion of flavors...hmmm the boldness of the salami mixed with the buttery, melt in your mouth gouda, on a roll with a hard outer crispness and soft doughy inside...I think I am starting to drool. It is her favorite lunch. She was chewing away and her face was contorting as she fought the sneeze. The sneeze finally won. She stopped. Looked at me. Looked at her plate. Finished chewing. Then picked up the bits of sandwich that flew out of her mouth and onto her plate and ate them. She did this without giving it a second thought. She was not going to waste her favorite sandwich.

I did not, or should I say, could not say anything to her because I was erupting with laughter inside.

We went on eating and then Lou tells me:

"Mommy, I just burped and some chewed up food just came up into my throat and I had to swallow it back down."

How do you respond to that?

Lunch, never dull and sometimes a bit gross. But they are fed and happy!

Blessing to All.

Goodbye Games

It was sad to see the Olympic closing ceremony. I just love the Olympics. The excitement of the races keeps me on the edge of my seat. I often feel like it is me, who is representing our country, but may be because that person is representing all of us. The close races and the last second scores to win make me jump and yell. I really enjoyed watching my girls enjoy the games. Who knew that a 5 and 3 year old would be interesting in fencing..."Look Mommy! They have SWORDS!?!? Are they pointy?" Now my girls want to dive, fence, be gymnasts, swimmers, and run track. I really miss the Olympics, now I have nothing to watch on TV so it is off again.

But really I have nothing to be sad about because I have my very own Olympics every day! Except I do things like hurdle the dog while carrying a full laundry basket and how fast can I change a diaper before she poops again. And when I say it is Fast Shower Night, I can get Lou and Rae in and out of the shower in three minutes. Lou and Rae also have their own versions of the Olympic games. The bench to the table has transformed into a balance beam, the bed is now a trampoline, and the bathtub is unfortunately not big enough to swim laps in nor dive into, but my girls have figured out a way to make it happen...bloody lips and all.

Did you know a three year old can clean her room faster with her feet than her hands? How about that Lou that can take off her shoes while standing on her head? Get this, I bet my baby can spit up further than your baby! Don't get me started on the loudest toots or burps...

I have an event that my husband cannot understand. How long can I be on the phone and talk while my kids fight in the background? They'll work it out, eventually...that one is an endurance test, kind of like the Tour de France. But you, the person on the other end of the phone has to tolerant it to so then it is kind of like a stare off...the first one to say gotta go first looses.

Mulit-tasking is like the decathlon. I can cook, help the kids with changing doll clothes, play a game, check my email, clean the bathroom, do laundry, throw the ball for the dog, all while talking on the phone...I think I see a theme building...the phone talking olympics...

A big game that not many can endure is the game of repetition. How many times in a row can you read a book, laugh at something that was really funny only the first time, hear "Mommy" be called from all areas of the house and make it to each one within one minute. If there is no blood and nothing is broken move on. How long can you answer a question. "Mommy what does...?" Answer. "Why?" Answer. "Why?" Answer. "Why?"....and so on.

There is that whole baby Olympics too. Diaper toss, bath the slippery baby, clip nails without clipping the skin, putting socks on moving feet, how long does it take to rock a baby to sleep and stay awake yourself...all test of endurance and accuracy.

Every day is an adventure and fun. I do not need to have the Olympic games to entertain me, but I am sure going to miss it. Looking forward to Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

I wonder how the girls are going to pretend to ski jump...