He's Too Old For This!

This is the conversation I just had with my three-year-old who's hanging out watching Arthur in my bedroom. (Who incidentally has always been quite verbal so I KNOW he understands me!):

Me: Why is the carpet wet?
Nicholas: Oh, I peed.
(Two empty water bottles are laying nearby)
Me: Did you try to clean it up with the water bottles?
Nicholas (eyes don't leave the TV): Yep.
Me (getting a rag and trying to soak up): Nicholas, when you have to pee, you need to pee in the potty. Nicholas where should you pee?
Nicholas: Um, on the floor!
Me: No! In the potty.
Nicholas: Am I going to have timeout?

I finish working on the floor and go downstairs. Two minutes later, Nicholas finds me.
Nicholas: I just peed in a cup and poured it in the plant.
Me: What?!
Nicholas: Yep, I did.
Me: Show me.
We walk upstairs to find a little red play cup lying on the floor. There is a trace amount of liquid which doesn't smell too good. I'm guessing he's telling the truth.
Me: Why would you do that?
Nicholas: I poured it in the plant!
Me: That's bad for the plant -- it will kill it.
Nicholas: Ha-ha!

This is why I have a sugar addiction.
Any advice? Anyone? Anyone?

Mother and Journalist

In my college Journalism classes I learned that the journalist or photographer was never to interfere with a story. In my Communications Ethics class we discussed the idea that even if a life could be saved by a photographer, the photographer's responsibility was to capture the incident on film instead of becoming part of the story. (Because apparently the American public would much rather see a picture of a dying person than read a story about how a journalist saved a life.) I knew I'd always choose to help a person rather than get promoted in my job. But then...

Well, today I found myself in that situation. I snapped this first photo thinking I'd post something about my crazy kid (the one in the white shorts).


I snapped the second not zoomed in so everyone could get the full effect of my crazy child and a friend straddling the top of our playset.


And then suddenly my own child falls and is hanging on for dear life. And first, I snap a picture.


(He was fine... I knew he could hold on long enough for me to get outside... He climbed back up himself before I could even ask if he needed help... He was laughing the whole time...)

Costco and Pull-Ups

Every few weeks I make a trip to Costco. For the past year, every trip to Costco I've bought Pull-Ups for my now 3 1/2 year old and every time I've questioned how many boxes to buy. Each time I think, "Maybe I should only buy one box -- just enough to get through the month because by the end of this month he'll probably be potty trained." Today was no different. I put one box in my cart and then stood holding a second box debating with myself if he'll actually need it. Because surely one of these days he'll decide it's really much easier to go on the potty. In the end I bought two boxes--so depressing. Incidentally, I pushed my overflowing cart to the car only to remember far too late that I had Dan's little car. Fortunately I had time to go home and unload before I had to pick up Jr. High carpool. Wouldn't they have loved it if I'd arrived with Pull-Ups, Wipes and TP bunjeed to the roof of the car?

Mother's Day Bling

I love Mother's Day because I get to show off my "Mother's Day Bling" -- the collection of jewelry I've received over the years on Mother's Day. I even had a friend at church today who said, "Yea! You wore your necklaces. I told someone else to watch for Angela because every year she wears the jewelry her kids have given her over the years." It's a tradition. This year I'm sporting matching necklaces Christopher and Marty made when they were each in Kindergarten and a broach made by Courtney in Kindergarten. Nick is going to preschool in the fall so I'm looking forward to adding to my collection.

Sisters Weekend

We hiked Camelback, jogged the horse path and laughed through a yoga video. We ate healthy meals, concocted breakfast juice drinks, and had Mexican at Pinks (the Mexican equivalent of Hooters, I believe). We laid out by the pool, shopped in Scottsdale and found bargains at Nordstroms DI -- can't remember the name. We discussed the FLDS, birthing stories and the economy.

We were full-time sisters--moms and wives from a distance for three days. We shared clothes, hair tips and food tips. It was just like old times without the fighting--no broken noses or scratches on the face. Our mom came too, hopefully enjoying the fruits of many, many years of labor--of patience and wisdom in child-rearing--and the fulfilling of her words that she said over and over: "You'll be best friends when you grow up."

Meet My Mom

She swears she's only 29 and wonders how I got older than her!

Here's more explanation for the photo... I was with my mom trying to teach her how to blog. So I told her to pull up the photo and I'd add it to my blog. I kept the explanation short so we could move on with the blogging lesson! However, here's a full explanation in my mom's own words:

This photo shows me "performing" with my good friend Stephan at Richard MacDonald's after party. The "after party" was the party Richard had after the party he had for the opening of his art gallery at the entrance to Cirque du Soleil's "0" in the Bellagio Hotel. Richard's art is amazing and so inspiring. His parties are always so fun. Richard surrounds himself with wonderful people and he really cares about them. I believe one of the many reasons his art is so uplifting and beautiful is because of the integrated, sensitive, caring, person he is. He sees so much that I don't, but he has the patience to take time to help me "see". He is also very attune to learning from others the things they have leaned to "see" and he wants to "see" or understand better. He is constantly learning, he will never be the type of boring person who "thinks he knows it all". He puts soul into his art. He makes it dance, sing and live, literally, he makes it come alive, as only a truly real person could.
Stephan is a person who not only is an incredible performer but also an incredible person. He is good to the soul and also very fun. At the end of the after party, only a few Cirque people were left and a few others. We started goofing around and I asked Stephan if he could teach me any tricks. This photo shows that if only one person is really talented and exceptional, he can make the other person look good. It is always an uplifting experience to be around Stephan--literally and figuratively!
Stephan created and performed with a female partner an act for Cirque du Soleil. He is now training and helping others with Cirque and on his own. He is also writing new "performing arts" programs. He was looking for a new partner just my size, figure and look. Look no further Stephan!! I have arrived, ready to start my new career as a Cirque performer!!! Is my level of talent and my age a problem?????