Søren and Elliot's Conversations: On Wedding Crashing

(while playing with their animals, the following just ensued on my living room floor)

Søren to Elliot, "Okay.  This is a wedding.  It will be really, really boring."

Elliot to Søren: "Why?"

Søren to Elliot: "'Cause you won't be able to talk and some guy will."

Søren, as the officiant, "Okay, one more question.  What starts with P?"

Søren, as the groom, "Penelope"

Elliot, piping up from the audience, "Princess Penelope!"

Søren, again, as officiant, "Okay, so, you are married.  Okay, bye."

Søren, as mingling people, "I just love this beautiful day"

Søren, as officiant, mingling, "Just hanging out here, marrying people."

Søren to Elliot, "Now they are going away.  They're going to be bored. Now they are all gong home.  The wedding ended."

Now Søren and Elliot are taking the people to their new home in their fire trucks.

Interview with Søren - Age 4 1/2

I saw this on Emery's blog, and thought I'd try it with Søren.  However, when he saw that I was typing, all he really wanted to do was type.  I'd like to try again when he is actually interested in conversing, instead of giving silly answers.  In this interview, I think he was living a bit vicariously through his siblings.


What do you want to be when you grow up?
-I want to be nothing. I want to live with you, Mommy. I'll help you cook.

What about for a job?
I won't marry anyone. I'll marry Daddy.

(hmm...disconnect much?)

Who is your favorite grown-up?
-Daddy

Who is your favorite baby?
-Penny

Do you want any more brothers or sisters?
-I want 6 baby sisters and 6 baby brothers.

What would you name your brothers and sisters?
- Claudio, after Claudio Abbado, and name the others ones "Kimmi" after Aunt Mimi.

(This comes from a book we read about having a new baby.  They name the baby after the mom's sister - sorry Aunt Jen!) (oh, and Claudio Abbado is Søren's favorite symphony conductor)


How old do you think daddy is?
- I think he's 41.

What is your favorite thing to do?
- Playing the violin.

What do you think Elliot will be when he grows up?
- A conductor.

What do you think Penelope will be when she grows up?
- She will be a fire woman.

What does love feel like?
- You hugging me and kissing me and loving me and playing games with me.

When you grow up, where will you live?
- With you. I'll live in your house.

If you could have one superhero power, what would it be and what would you do with it?
-Hiding my violin

(note: I do not think Søren has any idea what a super hero, nor super hero powers are.  I had to explain that it was a secret ability.  I think the word secret made him think of hiding things)

What is your favorite word?
-Kimmi

(Elliot informed me yesterday that his favorite word is "Stupid".  Isn't that a mother's dream?)



**photos with many thanks to Maricel!**

Conversations With Søren: To Penny

Søren: Penny, you're really sweet, but you're not as sweet as me.

Fun

I'm really really enjoying this girl today.
**photo thanks to Maricel!** 

She cut her first tooth on her 5 month birthday day (Wednesday), and the second tooth yesterday.  She seems to realize this is a big deal (perhaps because of the excitement of both of her brothers sticking their fingers in her mouth to feel the little tooth tops).  Now she wants food.  Every time we eat she smacks her lips at us.  We shall see if I can hold her off until 6 months.

Elliot has finally found that place where he wants to use the potty chair.  I've known he has been able to for FOREVER.  Perhaps he has finally adjusted to all of the changes around here (new sister, Daddy's new job, Daddy's second new job, moving - that's a lot for a 2-year-old).  Anyhow, I am very excited.  He has declared that he is big now, and confirms with us that Penny is little.  Yes, dear Elliot, you are big now.  This truly goes so fast.  I want to wrap my children up in these moments and never forget them.

Some moments I want to pull my hair out, scream, and abandon the house, but for the majority of the time I feel like the most privileged woman in the world.  I get to be with my children as often as I want.  My day is filled with snuggling, laughter, and adventures.  When I consider how fast time is already slipping past us, I try to fit in more hugging, kissing, and talking.  It makes me want to let my own mother hug me more.  How does one adjust to not touching your children all the time!?

From the Archives

I found this post I wrote a couple years ago on the value of an ordinary life. I was encouraged by my own words! It was exactly what I needed to read today as a refresher on how the seemingly mundane and unnoticed work I do each day still matters. Ah the wonders of blogging!

Thought of the Moment: Resolved

I reflected today on how often I say, "if I find time." Most recently regarding finding time to shower amidst packing, 3 kids, and a broken dishwasher. I apply this phrase to other things as well, writing, blogging, sewing, and the list continues. What dawned on me this morning (though I am certainly not claiming any originality) was that I never "find" time. Time is not something a mother of three small children is ever going to "find." I need to make time. Success, for the most part, is a decision to do the things are required to accomplish the goal. That requires a lot of purposeful making. I think 2010 will be a year of making for me and a complete cessation of waiting to find.

Things I resolve on making:
Time to shower regularly
A scheduled time for making birthday cards and such things monthly
Family craft time once a week
Time to write daily
Time to meal plan weekly
Savings deposits monthly
Debt payments monthly
Early bedtimes for us all
Early mornings for us adults
My husband's latte each morning
My husband's lunch each night
A date night regularly
Time to exercise, in some form, daily (I can no longer count on my youth here...age is catching up, not that I think I'm old at all of 29, however, my body is not just going to bounce back from baby making like it did when I was 25) (I should also add that going for a walk, serious housecleaning, and doing yoga, pretty much summarizes my concept of exercise)

What about you? What are you making happen this year?

Happy Birthday 2010

Today my father would turn 50. I can imagine sitting around with a football game on in the background toasting his 1/2 century Mark and listening to him tell old hunting stories, great Alaskan fishing adventures, and his dreams for the next season of baseball and camping. I can see his roughed beard graying more and more to match his speckled hair and I can watch my boys tackle their begrudgingly happy grandfather. This is imagination, however, for Sarah, who has taken over his body, has only been around for 5 years. Perhaps that explains Sarah's mean age of 27 1/2. Dressing as if she's still 22 and hitting the bars for a good time because she is single. This change remains strange and difficult to embrace. I cannot pretend otherwise.

I called at 11:30 last night thinking I might not be awake at midnight for the traditional birthday call. Talking on the phone while Sarah was in line for the bathroom at a loud bar removed my ability to serenade with "Happy Birthday To You" (a tradition I am sure most of my family members wish I would discontinue as my singing voice needs help). The background blared a strange, loud music that I would hesitate to call Rock 'n Roll. It was something else, something to keep your hips moving but offering nothing more. Bar management was pounding on a locked door to the 8-stall community bathroom that some person (or more likely persons) had locked for a few minutes (sex, drugs, both?).

We hadn't talked over Christmas. Sarah had computer problems for the last couple months so communication had been slim. Given the noise and environment the chat was brief but I know that my phone call was received as I hoped it would be: a communication that I still love and think of the person who was my father and now is Sarah. I was thanked several times for thinking to call. I was happy to call. It wouldn't be New Year's Eve without it.

While it would be somehow easier, I fantasize, if my father had become a woman his own age, I am also sure it would be equally awkward. So, my new years reflections spiral around all that time can bring and how little we can anticipate life changes before they happen. May 2010 change what needs changing, and let what does not need changing alone.