I have always abstained from posting politically, but it is interesting what an 11 year old has to say. Let me first say that this post is not meant to offend. It is just a child’s questions and perspective on the inauguration. I know this may be offensive and I do not mean it to be. I need you to understand that children have a unique view on just about everything in this world.

Me - “So HG what did you think today while watching the inauguration at school?”
HG - “I get the big deal about changing of Presidents. I don’t get the whole big deal of Mr. Obama being the first black president. He’s a person. I’m a person. The only difference is the pigment in his skin because of the place where his ancestors were from.”
ME - “60 years ago this would not have happened. There would not have been a black president. He would not have been able to be served in a diner. He wouldn’t have been able to even use the same restrooms.”
HG - “Well that’s not fair. I learned about that in school. But isn’t he a person just like me? I mean that was YEARS ago. I was not even born. Why do people have to be angry so long? I mean our ancestors had land issue with the government. I don’t go yelling around that I am part Indian and to give me money and land. Yes, I like that I am Indian. I just don’t get it. ”
Me - “Yes. But the point is that even though you are Indian you have the option of claiming all sides of your heritage. Because your skin is white you generally relate to the Caucasian side of your heritage.”
HG - “I did not think I was claiming any side. I was just claiming ME! All of ME! But isn’t he like Irish or something else? I’m Irish too.”
Me - “That’s the beauty of America. Just like you…he is a mix as well. We just happen to be Indian and Irish mixed.”
HG - “So why didn’t you vote for him?”
Me - ” I voted for an Independent person.”
HG - “Are you mad that your guy lost?”
Me - “Nope. I wish he would have won but now it is not about winning or losing. It is about supporting and praying for our President no matter who he/she is. It is about showing respect for the position that he holds. We will see if his actions gain my personal respect.”
HG - “So then tell me again why him being President has anything to do with his skin color?”

So the idea of racism is lost on her. She had never noticed the color of her two best friends’ skin color until this. She had not known to be racist. She did not even know what it really was except from history books. I guess for me I would rather have her know what happened in history without carrying the anger and resentment of it forward. Take what happened as a lesson learned and still look at her best friend the same way she did the day before Inauguration Day.
I agree it is historic but I would rather look at him like a man that has a vision of change. I would rather judge his Presidency on the things he does in office whether that be good or bad that he does. I would rather stand in prayer because no matter what he does he will be under extreme scrutiny. If he succeeds I want him to succeed on his own merit and his policy not his skin color. If he fails I want him to fail as a President, not as a black man.

We made a vow to ourselves as we held our little baby girl that we would not have her sleep in our bed. HH traveled all the time and when he came home it needed to be our time. This went well with HG because she liked to sleep in her own bed, her own terms and on her schedule. Then we had HB. HB had his own set of priorities. The first one on his list….to not be like his sister.
HB wanted to snuggle at all costs. His lungs were made of steele. He could have yelled for hours if left to himself. I loved to snuggle with him, but there were times I just did not want to be touched. I can’t explain it. I just wanted to left alone at points if only for a moment. I felt like a terrible mom. How could I not want that all the time? I realized that no one that I knew wanted to have a child attached like glue to them at all moments of the day.
HB has made it a habit to try to come into our bed at dark thirty in the morning on Saturday mornings. This bugs me to no extent especially because HH will have just gotten into town the night before. He’s normally exhausted so we just go to bed. There’s no time for anything because we are pooped beyond belief. Early Saturday mornings we wake up just in time to hear the little footsteps coming down the stairs. I generally give in and let him come in, but no more. The defector had to be dealt with and returned to his own bed this weekend. He tried to join us at 3:30 AM! I don’t know what rooster in his head went off to even think that 3:30 was the time to wake up and try to come to bed with us. He was quickly dealt with and given his packing slip back to his own bed.
When we finally did get up on Saturday at 8:00 he was a bit put out that we had sent him packing. He informed me that he would not be joining us any longer. This was suppose to be a punishment. I’ll take that punishment!! May be I’ll get some sleep and a little more!

…is like herding cats. That’s the most popular saying I’ve heard. Sometimes, like this morning it felt like the cats had run for the hills.
This morning HB decided to see how far an apple could really roll down a driveway and down the street. Being that we live on a hill, it went bee bopping down the hill. I told him to get out and we would go after it. Got back into the car and got him settled and HG’s seatbelt would not work. Finally got that to work. In the meantime HB got out of the car and into the snow. I finally got him situated in the car and HG started to panic and cry. She had accidentally left her clarinet in her room. OY VEY. I got out of the car and opened the house. In the meantime HB decided to see how far his mother’s patience really went and climbed into the back seat of the van and hid. HG came out in a flurry because she had a parinoid feeling we were going to be late. I started to get nervous when HB did not answer. Finally he started to giggle as my frustration grew. Found him, belted him him, and told him not to move. Left the house in a cloud of dust.
I think herding cats would be easier.

It seems like HB likes to be very outspoken in the grocery store. Yesterday we were standing in the “less than 15 items” line and the man in front of us had more. As the scanner was reading the items, HB decided to count them outloud. Countless giggles from the people behind us started to twitter. I on the other hand stood red faced looking at the man that was being rung up. Actually looking past him because I knew I was in for a ride.
HB - “Mommy, HE HAD 19 ITEMS…HE BROKE THE RULES!!”
Me - “I understand…please be quiet.”
HB - “Mister, the rules are 15 items or less….I know how to count all the way past 100. You had 19 things. You broke the rules. Do you know how to count. If not, next time you are in I will help you if I am here.”
Mister - “I am in a hurry. The other lines were long. Why am I explaining this to a boy?”
Lady in back of me - “Because we were all wondering the same thing.”

Nothing like my boy to bring out the obvious broken rule and shove it in their face. Thank heavens he has the cuteness factor.

Thank you Mamacita for reminding me of that little funny. He is definately my little ball buster.

I was listening to the tell tale giggles of little boys. This always means that something is happening. As I listened closely I could tell by the snorts, guffahs and belly laughs that it could only mean one thing….POTTY TALK.
All the way home (30 miles roughly) I heard talk about every type of gas, booger, vomit…etc. I tried to put a stop to it, but the giggles just made it all the worse. The girls in the back seat were getting grossed out and gagging. As we got out of the car I called the two boys over and explained that it was very rude to talk potty talk. They burst out in a fresh batch of giggles and tried to catch their breath. OH VOY this was going to be tough.
In the end I accomplished nothing. They both accomplished belly aches. It was a no win situation. Finally I threw up my hands and walked away. As I left they both fell on the floor laughing.

A group of my girlfriends were discussing the difference between men and women watching their children. This being said please understand this was a total girl conversation. Also know that we dearly love and respect our husbands. This is not meant to complain, just kind of funny circumstances that have happened. These are all real things that my girlfriends or myself have come home to after being gone for a few hours.
This being said for heavens sake do we have to come home to children being awake after clearly stating we were going to the store 5 minutes before bedtime? When we walk in the door we do not want to see the vacuum cleaner attachment clearly trying to suck something out of our toddler’s nose. We don’t enjoy the aroma of a poopie diaper that was not making your eyes sting, but left us wretching. No, we do not enjoy seeing our babies toddling along with a real hammer in their hands that weighs almost as much as they do. We do not want our child to be the victim of fashion when you put the ruffles of her tights in the front so they will show. It’s ok…you were not thinking about the fact that she is still crawling. We also do not relish using clorox plus a shovel to clean the bathtub after you hosed down the vommitting child and left the chunky remnants floating in the tub. None of us like to come home to see you sitting in front of the TV when our little ones have slipped out of the door and rang our neighbor’s doorbell. We giggle when we see the diaper that you just applied fall to their ankles for the 10th time. We don’t like to see them perching on a 4 foot wall playing chicken with the neighbor kids. We get nervous when we see them jumping off another higher object to get onto the trampoline.
There were more of these lovely tidbits but I would be writing for hours and pages. Of course I understand that this is biased…but fun!

9/11, yes I do remember that day. I remember that HB was not born yet. HG was just going to Preschool. On our way to preschool I was shocked and saddened to hear the reports. We were on our way to school to have a popcorn party because all of the children had been good all month. They were thrilled that they would be able to have popcorn and watch a 20 minute movie. As I was listening I remember the horror when I heard the 1st tower fall. The thought that small children can not comprehend adult talk is for the birds. HG piped up and asked if the plane had hit the building. I responded that indeed it had done so. I then gave myself a mental kick for not thinking that her little ears were listening to the radio along with me.
In the back seat I heard a small voice say, ” Mommy, I bet Jesus is having a big popcorn party in heaven for everyone that is coming home.” Amidst my tears I responded feeling a bit comforted by her words.
Funny how through the mouths of babes we see truth and comfort. The original post in down below.

My heart goes out to all of the families that suffered loss. We remember you. We will not forget.
(more…)

If you give a kid some water they will first take a swallow, take the rest outside and and make mud pies.
If they make mud pies then they will get the brilliant idea to wash the house with mud
If they wash the house with mud they will decide that one cup full of water just is not enough and turn on the hose
If they turn on the hose they will completely flood out the mulch under the trampoline and make a wading pool for everyone
If they make a wading pool for everyone they will decide to open a HUGE car wash and wash more cars with mud
If they wash more cars with mud they will decide to open a restaurant and create more mud pies
If they make more mud pies they will in fact be thirsty
If they are thirsty they will come inside for a glass of water!

OY the cycles continues.

There are moments as a mom when I see my children that I have to step back into the shadows and catch my breath. Those precious moments when they are playing school in their room and HG has HB writing his name 10 times for not listening in class or watching her dance so freely in her room to her cd’s. Then there are those moments when I have to choke back the tears of knowing the they are indeed growing up and before I know it they will have flown the nest to discover the life that was intended for them.
At the kid’s birthday party this weekend there was a moment when I looked at HG playing with the other children and before my eyes it seemed as if she was growing up. Her body is starting through some of the slight changes as well as her mannerisms. After she went to bed I went into her room and sat looking at her. I then slipped into the covers beside her. Immediately she felt my presence and migrated into my arms. “Hi mommy. I had a fun day. I love you.” she said as she snuggled into her favorite spot in my arms and fell back asleep. What kind of woman will she be? She is growing ever so much but what is intended for her? At this moment she is intended to be our daughter and the wonderful person she is. I can not help but think of the future and imagine her as one of the many things she may want to be. I know she is intended for greatness. Whether that be with saving lives one day or minding a family of her own she will be wonderful at whatever she sets out to do.
The great effect she had on my life from the second we found out we were pregnant to the moment her fuzzy head made its appearance to just moments ago when I left her sleeping in her bed she touches the most tender part of my heart.
Happy Birthday Bug. You are indeed my growing up lady bug.

At school on Monday HG received a different kind of honor. Her music teacher gave her a brochure to bring home. She did not read it. In her class only one other person received one. She handed it to me with nervousness. I read it and started jumping up and down. HG has been asked to audition for the Colorado Children’s Chorale!!!!!!!!! After talking with her teacher on Tuesday he explained that he was given 3 referral forms and she immediately came to mind.
Yesterday we received a call from them. They want her to audition on the 13th of June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I told her she was so excited. What an honor to receive a referral from a teacher. Now to get ready for the auditions!
(excuse me while I have a mama “YAY” and “I’m so proud” moment!!!!)