Butterscotch's Day Out

How cool is this? The kids took Butterscotch out for a walk in the yard during one of the beautiful days we had.

Boston LOVED Butterscotch, and they got along famously.

I am not sure if Butterscotch really understood what was going on at first, but then he seemed to really enjoy his fun in the sun.



Sometimes you buy things and you think, am I really actually buying this? Have I gone completely crazy? That's how I felt about buying Butterscotch's "outfit." But this made made it all worth it.



And just in case you were wondering about the much talked about cat (see earlier posts), he is still getting plenty of lovin'.

When I went to wake Declan up the other day, this is what I found. Ella and I crept around to get the camera and got this shot before either of them woke up. Is that a picture of love or what?

It almost makes up for the bunny incident. Oh, what the heck, it makes up for the bunny incident.

Fun Ride

For Christmas, my mom got Declan a Fun Ride (like a zip line). Today we hooked it up outside. It was so fun! The cousins were here and they were out on it too. Most of the time, I enjoy the ages and stages of the kids, but it was a little hard for Ella that the line was just a little bit too "kiddy" for her.
Mostly, though, they just couldn't get enough!

Joy

Night Bubbles

This bubble looks like it has lightning in it.



The bubbles were so cool on film, and we kept experimenting with the different sized bubbles and different settings on the camera.




It was still so beautiful out even at nine o'clock that night, and the bubbles were out from playing that morning. We had so much fun blowing the bubbles and seeing how the camera took pictures of the bubbles.

Distracted

Last week I was meeting with someone and Declan was with me.

Now, I am the first to admit that as five year olds go, he is pretty intense. He is focused like a laser and interested in mom and mom alone sometimes. At the same time, he is a second child who has always had a pretty intense first born that he lives with, and he has been a willing tag along to many occasions I would never have expected my first child to attend.

Anyway, back to the meeting. Declan was there, and playing as he usually does. The person I was meeting and I decided (after a good solid hour) that we were done for now, and that we would reconvene later. All good. Completely fine. Later, she said it would be good to talk again when we weren't "distracted".

Now, I really like this woman, and took absolutely no offense at what she said. But I couldn't get it out of my head. Let me say again, I used what my friend said as a thinking jumping off point, not as something that I thought she was out of line to say or think.

I suppose my preoccupation with this idea of being distracted, or more specifically not distracted at some later date, by my children is stemming from the fact that I am trying to be more in the working world and have been less with my children, so I am looking at life from a different perspective than I have had for the last 5 years.

But I keep thinking of that idea, so prevalent and casually stated, of being "distracted by children". We say it all the time. I say it all the time. I live a mental state sometimes where I am thinking one thing and get distracted from that thought by my children to play legos or make a snack or pick them up or drive them somewhere.

But if, right now, that driving and snack making and lego creation oohing and aahhing is my primary occupation, then everything else is the distraction.

Or maybe there is no distraction. Maybe these things, life, work, home, office, professional , personal, should be more integrated and we would have fewer dis-integrated families.

In my mind, there is always a part that is considering my children. Maybe this is not something everyone does, or maybe it is a dirty little secret in a post-feminist working mom era that we don't want to admit because it somehow reflects badly on productivity.

So, is there a time I can meet later when I am not distracted by my children? Um....maybe in five years. Or ten. Or when *you* aren't distracted by my children, because I am not distracted at all.

Just in case there was any doubt, Toto was the star of the show. Toto, played by Callie, was the only cast member that they really wanted their picture taken with.

Sunday Dog Pawty

We went to a dog pawty today. It was for small breed dogs. It was so fun, and the dogs really loved it. Everyone was friendly, and Joy and Milo were very well behaved. They have been with loads of other dogs, so they were actually the first to be let off the leash for a run-around. Before we got there, everyone still had their dogs on the leash and there was quite a bit of barking.




Milo doesn't really like to play, so much, but Joy does. There was a cocker spaniel puppy there that was giving her a run for her money. They both like to make new friends.




They love each other best of all. It was cute to see how they would run around and then back to each other for a quick sniff and then off again, Joy kept checking in with her pack after every interaction she had with other dogs.



They are now exhausted, and snoring in their beds. Oh, they are snoring in one bed.

Munchkin Girls Gone Wild

Most of the time, the munchkins were really really good. But sometimes, they got a little bit wild. After all, with all the excitement, fun and then all the waiting, it was to be expected.


The huge pieces of frosting laden cake from the Superstore didn't help too much either. Or maybe they did help. The girls certainly had a lot of fun!



When we were doing the Oz performances, the little kids all had "holding areas" where they waited for their turn to go one stage. Since the show is about 2 hours long, and the munchkins are on for about 10 minutes, there was a great deal of waiting around.





After doing two shows in one day, the girls got a little wild.


They were restricted (by other chaperons, for sure), to one small section of the white board to write on. They thought this was funny yo show how they might have to get creative about where to draw.


As if those big red cheeks weren't enough.

Indoor Voices

This post and the next are a bit of a set.

They say something, especially together.....I just am not sure what it is they say yet.

Ella thinks that the phrase "indoor voices" would make a great title for a horror movie. She acted out a complete preview for us the other night.

It went something like this:

"You want to talk, have a laugh. But beware.

You must use (insert creepy music here)

In-door VOICES (screammmmmmmm)"

then very quietly. . .

"sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Talking Time

Conversation on the way home yesterday.....

D: In school we have this time when we can say whatever we want and we can talk as loud as we want and it is great. It is called Talking Time.

Me: Sounds great. When is it?

D: Really we haven't had it. It isn't yet. I made it up.

Me: Huh?

D: Well, I didn't make it up, but I haven't had it yet. But I know we have Talking Time. It is going to be so great when we have Talking Time because I am going to talk as much as I want.

Me: Maybe at recess?

D: Maybe, I think it is soon, because today when we were lining up my teacher said we all had to be quiet because it wasn't Talking Time. So she must have it on her schedule, right?

Applause

Lately, as anyone who knows us knows, we have been consumed by the completely over the top, Broadway style production of the Wizard of Oz. It has been completely crazy. Now it is over, and I am sorting through some of my thoughts about this whole experience.

But, one thing I have been thinking about as I watch the parents with their children is the idea that these little ones we raise are somehow a reflection of us as parents, and that by supporting them in an endeavor like this play, we are somehow "looking good."

Being good parents, having good kids, deserving of accolades for these little reflections of ourselves.

In so many ways, my children have nothing to do with me. I am simply a custodian until they can go off and make their mark. They are not, and never have been "mine." Even as a new mom with a little baby, I felt that my oldest was a miracle for the world. She wasn't some cool thing that made me somehow look better, like a nice car.

And not just because she was special (which of course I thought she was and think she is) but because each of us is a special contribution to the world. It is my job to make sure that I raise a child who is a beautiful addition to that world. My children - and your children - and you, dear reader - are the people the world needs.

My job is to facilitate ways for my children to flourish in the world, exactly as he and she need to be. Isn't that why I am here in this moment? All hormonally charged and procreating? So that I can be consumed for a while with my job as facilitator?

And then this time will be over, and they will continue to be the gifts that they are to the world and make more gifts.

But now, when I say, "Come to the play! See my child!" my motivation is to share the love I see created by her Being. Let's all bask in the wonder of this gift! I don't think I am saying, "Oh come and see what *I* have done." I feel that I am saying, "Oh, come and see what the Universe has given us~beautiful creative children, caring adults who are guiding them and letting them be great, letting them fail a little. Look at all the adults who love these children and are gathering just to love and clap and laugh. Oh what a glorious thing!"

I wish that this was the case more in our everyday lives. I think we should all applaud a bit more. What is wrong with some standing ovations for really great frozen pizza? How about a little whoop for finding matching socks? Microwaved your own after school snack? Totally rockin', dude.

I actually got a live CD the other day, and it starts with applause. Because I was thinking about how "performance" is applauded, not Being, I started playing the applause for the kids when I pick them up from school.

Now, when they get in the car, I crank it up, join in and say, "WOO HOO!! YOU'RE HERE!! YAY!!" Why not? It is exactly as inspiring to me that my kids walk down the stairs each morning and have breakfast with me as it is that they "do" something. Exactly. As. Inspiring.

Applause is great anytime, I think.

CLAP CLAP CLAP!! You read the whole post! You are a ROCK STAR, reader! Go on about your day and BE. That is exactly what you should do today.