A Lello Car

So my 4 year old has informed me that he knows that Santa is not real and that me and Daddy really give him his presents. When I asked him who told him that he said, "Grandpa".
But we have still stood in line twice at Christmas parties, (both times landing a spot at the end of the line) to sit on the "pretend" Santa's lap. What did he ask for? A little yellow car.
Just after Thanksgiving, we went to the thrift store to pick out something for him to buy his sister for Christmas. Of course he found some things he wanted too. I told him that I would bring her back and maybe we could get something like them for him. He walked away looking at something else and I tried to hide the little yellow car and another nicer looking tractor in the basket and slyly step away--we both knew the chances of them being there hours later were slim to none. But a couple of minutes later he returned to the shelf and saw the yellow car wasn't there. There was a panic in his face as he looked for me and as our eyes met, the tears welled up. I asked what was wrong and he said with a quivering chin, "a stupid kid took my toys."
I could tell by his mounting emotions that it was not the time for surprises, so I showed him I at least had the car (I hadn't found anything else to put in the basket to hide it anyway). We finished shopping and he never asked me for it. I figured since Christmas was about a month away he would forget. I let him help me wrap presents for his sister and dad and then everyday for about a week he would ask me to wrap his presents and put them under the tree; so I did. Now every time someone asks him what he wants for Christmas, his reply is "a lellow car". Usually the person then asks, if it is remote controlled-- and looks to me for an explanation. No, it doesn't do anything special. Just a 50 cent second hand yellow plastic car-- a 4 year old's delight, and a mother's relief!

Day after thanksgiving shopping

For several years I have stayed out all night in front of electronic stores for some major electronic item that we needed and found in some big door-buster Black Friday sale. I have had fun, usually being able to convince someone to stay out with me. A few years ago I even had my 2 year old camp out all night with me. This year I took a different approach. I slept at home and made it to Wal-mart and a couple of places at about 11 am or so. I was only looking for a few inexpensive items, some pj's, a jacket and a couple of toys all items under $10. I found a whole new crowd. Instead of the gamers and the people rushing to hoard electronic items, I found people finding things that their children needed--many of them trying to fill needs while things were affordable. Instead of the employees barring the door and keeping people from trampling each other in their rush, I was greeted by a distinguished Marine collecting toys for underprivileged families. I was touched by the several occasions I heard comments like, "I still have a teenage boy or a 7 year old girl", or "The family I got has a 5 year old boy and a 9 year old girl" It seemed that most were shopping for others and many for sub-for-Santa gifts. It was a much calmer and more tender experience for me; a nice way to start the holiday season. I think I'll stick with that crowd again next year!

What kids are Thankful for...

On Thanksgiving I asked my kids what they were thankful for -in this order:

My son said:
House

Sister

Grandma

Grandpa

Daddy

Mama

(interesting that I came last on his list)

My daughter's list:

Grandpa

Grandma

Salsa

Eggs

Pinecones

sandwiches

Necklace

paper

pen

Mommy

Daddy

First Girlfriend...

The other night out of the blue my son was climbing into bed and rather sheepishly, yet matter-of-factly said,

"Mom I want to get a girlfriend."

That was about the last thing I expected him to say.

"You do?"

"Yeah, I'm going to get a Transformer that changes into a car, and buy a girlfriend."

--Curse that movie! He didn't see it on my watch!
"Do you know what a girlfriend is?"
Blushing a bit and pulling the covers partly over his head, he spoke through a shy grin, "Yes, it's a girl...that's cute."
"Is there a girl you think is cute?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Sara"

"Oh.. you're right, she is cute, isn't she."

Update:

More details came out in a bedtime story. The story as revealed to Grandma had a part where he kissed a certain "P..." on the lips. As suspected, I think the girlfriend is a preschool love.

Love letters

I have had so much fun being scribe for my kids as letters to my brothers are dictated weekly. I just thought I would share one:

"I love you! You need to come to us and to be grateful. and don't forget your jammies and your marching clothes. You are the best uncle and you are my best uncle and I am 4. The firetruck and the fireman. I saw a picture with leaves on it...I spy with my little eye, something that's brown and you guess it. It's leaves and red and orange! Won't you guess it please? The whole world is what?? and I saw something funny, when I opened the window. I sneaked in my room and if someone came in my room I scared them and they screamed to death again and again. We played a game and earthly home. I am going to sing a song, 'I am a child of God and he sent me here an earthly home and parents and kindly truly thing, teach me kindly, walk beside me, won't you please come here?'??????(he had fun typing all of the question marks)" I have an idea to you. If you sneak into your thing to you, you sneak in someone's drawer and then open it and then come out and scare them, an earthly home and you are a question????? And we have, that's a wonderful question. An earthly home has a deal and treat them well, AMEN.
Now my sister wants a turn:"Sssssssssssssssggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggdddddddddddddddddddd
xxxxxxxxxxxzzzzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbnnnnnnnnnnnnnnvvvvvvvcccccccccccxxxxxxffffffffrrrrreeeeeeerrrrrrtttttttttt

(In case you couldn't tell, my little Miss "Ebbe do it myself" typed her own.)

Taco Flavored Ground Turkey $1 per pound who can resist?

In my attempt to cut calories and costs, I bought a taco flavored ground turkey roll (you know the kind in plastic with metal wire twisted over the ends)
My son walked in just as I was squeezing the contents into the frying pan.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“Making dinner”
Then slightly concerned, but very trustingly he asked, “Is that Poop?”
His question made me take a second look, and I nearly lost my appetite. I assured him it would taste better than it looked. But, when it came time to eat, the little guy opted for a tuna sandwich. Do you blame him?

It's official!

Well, I am happy to announce that we are officially (knock on wood) done potty training! We have had at least a week without an accident (when awake) and have successfully used public restrooms! (I did have to get a bit creative to keep those really loud flushing automatic toilets from flushing with a tiny hiney hanging over.) Luckily only that one tramatic glove experience. Now hopefully we can avoid regression. I have already found somewhere better to spend the $40 a month that we save on diapers too!