An interview with Maggie

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this, I'd love to hear the answers.

1. What is something mom always says to you? To be good
2. What makes mom happy? Not crying and being good
3. What makes mom sad? When I cry and cry
4. What does your mom do to make you laugh? Making funny faces
5. What was your mom like as a child? Us
6. How old is your mom? I don't know, you need to tell me
7. How tall is your mom? This tall (about 18 inches)... can you be done?
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Excercise
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? I don't know... cut????
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? For us
11. What is your mom really good at? Excercising ... can you be done now?
12. What is your mom not very good at? I don't know... feeding Kerri
13. What does your mom do for her job? I don't know... tell me.
14. What is your mom's favorite food? I don't know... do you have one?.. can you be done now?
15. What makes you proud of your mom? Being happy
16. If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be? A Wubzy
17. What do you and your mom do together? Drive to school and do mommy dates
18. How are you and your mom the same? We have the same hair... can you be done?
19. How are you and your mom different? I am small; you are big
20. How do you know your mom loves you? I don't know
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To the gym.

An interview with Maura

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you haven't done this, I'd love to hear the answers.

Maura's version:

1. What is something mom always says to you? I Love You so much
2. What makes mom happy? When we play together
3. What makes mom sad? when we fight
4. What does your mom do to make you laugh? tells jokes
5. What was your mom like as a child? a girl and a boy in her family
6. How old is your mom? Um how old are you... just tell me really quietly
7. How tall is your mom? Can I stand up for this (as she puts her arm out)
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play with the kids
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? I don't know what you do when I am not around (good thing!)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? riding a bike...like standing upside down on her bike (cuz i am cool like that)
11. What is your mom really good at? long pause...driving
12. What is your mom not very good at? flying
13. What does your mom do for her job? she goes to the gym
14. What is your mom's favorite food? mac and cheese
15. What makes you proud of your mom? when you play with us
16. If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be? Little Bear
17. What do you and your mom do together? play games
18. How are you and your mom the same? we both have the same haircuts
19. How are you and your mom different? we are not the same age
20. How do you know your mom loves you? because even if she is mad she still loves us
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? to the gym.

Kerri is so very...

We sing all types of rhymes for Kerri. Kerry Bo Berry. Kerry Cherry pock a perry... She smiles and laughs and coos and giggles. My favorite is when Mags sings to her. She makes up the cutes Kerry songs and laughs and really loves playing with her. When Kerri smiles Mags just laughs. Maggie also jumps in the crib with B and reads her books and "teaches" her things. It is so darn cute. Just the other day she was trying to teach her how to climb out of the crib. Not so darn cute.

Taking it one day at a time.

Today we were on our way to lunch. While we were driving Mags was telling a story about when she saw Maura in the hallway at school, but Maura did not see her. I asked her why she did not call out to her. She said "I was being shy that day." She proceeded to tell me that sometimes she is shy. I thought it would be a good time to tell them that I too am shy sometimes. I was explaining how in certain situations mommy is nervous when she meets new people.

Maura: "Were you nervous no one would play with you?"

Me: "Yes, sometimes when Mommy meets new people she is nervous they won't want to play with me or talk to me."

Maura: "When I first started in Mrs. Riehs' class I was shy too Mama. I was afraid no one would play with me, but I just took it one day at a time. That's what you need to do Mama, just take it one day at a time."

Playing with the big kids

We have been staying at Sean's parents' house while our house is on the market (which, thankfully, it sold on Friday the 13th... just 10 days on the market... sigh of relief.). The neighbors have three girls. One in 4th grade, one in 7th grade, and one in 12th grade. The two younger ones have played with the girls on a few occasions. Maura is thrilled. She loves being with them. When I bring her home from school, she wants to get together with her new friends. i have to explain that they are in school. She wants to invite them to dinner, and of course, to her birthday party. She showed them her "bedroom." and her playroom. She offers them food and drink. She really thinks they are her new best friends.

I am just happy to have free babysitters, I mean nice neighbors!

Sticking up for her sister.

Today at the gym babysitting Bridget was doing her usual screaming and grunting. The babysitter (who is wonderful) asked B to stop screaming. Mags said, "Cozy, she is not screaming; that's just the way she talks." So true!

She gets it.. kind of

We all have high hopes for our kids. We hope they are smart, funny, happy, sweet, etc. One of the qualities I hope my daughters have is an empathy. I try to explain to them how others are feeling, how we should act/react, but I took child psychology. I know that empathy is a quality that children cannot truly master (or begin to even realize) until age 7 or 8. Still, I try.

The other day we were driving somewhere; we are always driving somewhere, and I told the girls that Miss Meghan had her baby. Maura asked what it was and what her name was. After I told Maura a little about Riley, she said, "Mom, I think we should make her a meal. macaroni and cheese." I have to say I was proud of her. I was glad she thought of doing something nice for someone else. I was a little proud of myself too. Yes, I am setting a good example, I thought.

Well, later that day I was dropping a different meal off to the Smith's house. Maura said, "I said I wanted to make a meal for Meghan, not Jenn." I try!

Never been so happy for a dull day.

We have been so busy these last few weeks getting our house ready to sell that we have really done nothing but that every weekend and many weeknights. I knew we were busy, but I did not realize how much I missed simple family time until last night. Sean and I had spent the day doing yard work (nothing like yard work in 30 degree weather) and last minute touches on the house. I about burst into tears of happiness when I realized that all seven (including Jameson... I am not pregnant again) of us were in the kitchen getting ready to have dinner together. We truly have not done that in a long time. I was even so much more excited to realize that today we would be going to church together as a family then doing basically nothing all day. Sean and I even sat down together for lunch and read the paper. It sure was good times. I only made one quick trip to the other house today to take the trash to the curb. Unfortunately, the 8-10 inches of snow may mean the trip was pointless, but it may also mean Sean will be snowed in and not able to go to work and we can have another boring family day. Yeah!

You make me laugh

Daddy made Kerri laugh for the first time yesterday. She has been smiling like crazy lately. Her whole face smiles; I love it. She has also been cooing. But the laughing is new. She is still such a good baby. Our lives have been pretty crazy these last few weeks, and she just goes along with the flow. You can sit her in her bouncey seat for hours, and she will just watch the whirlwind that is her family go by. She loves to be held, but doesn't mind being put down. She is awake more and more during the day and still puts in her full night of sleep. I appreciate that God has blessed us with easy babies. I appreciate that God has blessed us with healthy babies. And I appreciate it that God has blessed me with a husband who loves to see his daughters laugh.