The "Little" Torah

Sara read from the little Torah today, which is the one she will be reading from for her Bat Mitzvah. Guess I'm glad she gets one-on-one time with the Rabbi each week. Wouldn't get that in a larger town.

Team Photo

Sara's swim team photo.
Much better than last year's photographer.
See if you can pick her out...

Klezmer Band

I forgot! We actually had a date Saturday night!
A Klezmer band came to our Temple.
Even went out to dinner afterwards and had a meal that did not include french fries.
The kids were alive when we got home.

Shopping with a Toddler

THIS IS WHY IT TAKES 15 MINUTES TO GET 1 THING AT THE GROCERY STORE !!!

I finally had enough and put her in the back of the buggy (YES, we call them buggies in Alabama, not shopping carts). There was a lot of crying and whining, so it took me a while to figure out that she was saying "my shoe, my shoe" and not "a Jew, a Jew" or "au jus, au jus" . Yes, we lost a shoe. The $52 shoe, $56 with tax (Remember, Mr. Lee, full retail?).

Frantic Mom racing through Winn Dixie searching for a shoe!

Found it. By the bouncy balls. Which we did not buy.

Animals

That is the Buffalo all the way in the back.

Poop! (Couldn't resist)

For those of you not from Montgomery, someone has animals on a piece of land on Bell Road, which is on the way to Anna Lee's school. There are llamas, goats, deer, even a Buffalo. I finally stopped to let Anna Lee see them up close yesterday on the way home. The deer came right up to the fence. She fed them some Cherrios.

Play Doh 2

This is Anna Lee's favorite outfit. Mom sent it for Channukah. Notice the perfect sleeve type for Anna Lee...

Do you like the yellow Play Doh under Anna Lee's nails? By the way, that is a snowman, NOT a gingerbread man...

Teaching Sara and Anna Lee

Taught Sara how to bath and dress Anna Lee for bedtime. Taught Lee Lee how to zip her pajamas.

Favorite Books

See the 2 Nanny Babies on the bed?

Had to read "Mickey and the Giant" over the weekend. It is amazing how kids will pick a few favorite books and want them almost every night. Sara's favorites were "Goodnight Moon" and Runaway Bunny". Anna Lee quickly figured out that it was bedtime as soon as we read those books, and consequently wanted nothing to do with them. Her favorites are "Mickey and the Giant" and "Jonah". I think I'm going to start a blog section counting how many nights we have read favorite books.

Also go through the same thing with videos. I think we watched "Mation-Dal Puppies" (translation: 101 Dalmations) 4 times this weekend.

Pre-teen acting like a teen

Sara: "I personally can't wait till I move out"
Me: "I can't either. There is the door, don't let it hit you in the ass"

Context: after an hour of chores, with-holding internet access until done.

Waaaaaaa!I thought I had more time before she started hating me!

Shabbat

Anna Lee pretending to read Hebrew at services on Friday night.

Morning trial

This morning

Wake up, get Lee Lee out of her bed, put her in bed with Ron to let her snuggle / begin waking up. Ron plays "Hug me" with her while I shower. Take pictures of "Hug me" for blog. Get dressed and comb my hair. Pick out clothes for Anna Lee. Ask Ron to dress her. Get lunch boxes from car. Come back to our room to get a fruit leather for Anna Lee's snack (can't leave the fruit leather out in the public domain or Sara eats them). Find Anna Lee in bathroom struggling to get her pj's off so she can pee-pee.

Me: "Do you want some help?
Anna Lee: "No"

I pull her pj's down anyway, fearing an accident is eminent. (crying)

Anna Lee: "I need the potty seat" (whining)

I get the potty seat.

Anna Lee: "hooold me" (whining)

Anna Lee hugs my head as I crouch by the potty.
I take her pajamas all the way off (they were dangling by her feet). (Hysterical sobbing)

I let Ron dress her. Hear her complaining about wanting a PINK shirt. (whining)

Make Anna Lee's lunch and snack.
Go back to our room. Put purple jacket on Anna Lee - it is 27 degrees outside.

Anna Lee: "Push my sleeves up" (whining)
Anna Lee: "I want my PINK jacket"
Me: "Your pink jacket is in the laundry, remember you spilled grape juice all over it yesterday."
Anna Lee: (Hysterical crying)

Pick sobbing toddler up and head for the back door. Forget to kiss spouse bye.
Pick up lunch boxes and keys.

Anna Lee: "I need my PINK Nanny Baby" (whining)

She is already holding 2 Nanny Babies, one of which IS pink. Ask her to go get the PINK Nanny Baby. (Hysterical Crying)
I shuffle into her room, bend over, and get the 3rd Nanny Baby myself (tearful smile).

Shuffle back to back door. Holding 2 lunch boxes, keys, and crabby toddler (who is holding 3 Nanny Babies - I just know she is going to drop one).
Try to side-step sleepy stepson as he makes his way to the bathroom (God forbid we should ever make physical contact).

Walk out back door and back steps (almost there...)

Anna Lee: "I want some orange juice" (whining)
Me: "We are out of orange juice" (more crying)
Anna Lee: "I want some gatorade" (whining)

Shuffle BACK inside and get a sippy cup.

Anna Lee: "I want my baby cup"
Oh crap, that cup leaks, I know it does...
Get the baby cup anyway. Shuffle back out the back door and back steps to the outside fridge, which contains all the food we don't want the teenagers to devour. I am still holding toddler, lunch boxes, keys, etc.

Me: "Anna Lee, I have to put you down for a second" (crying)

Try to fill sippy cup with Gatorade from spout, nothing... I KNOW there is some Gatorade left... Put down lunch boxes. Take entire cooler out of fridge, open spout on top, try to pour, nothing...

Anna Lee: "I'm cold, Mommy" (whining)

Attempt not to curse in front of 3 year old.
Try valve again while tipping cooler. Small trickle.
Give tiny amount of Gatorade to toddler. Pick up lunch boxes and toddler. Strap her in car seat.
Start the car to keep her warm.
Run back into porch to get myself a cup of Vault to drink on the way in.
Return to hysterical toddler.

Begin drive.

Attempt to put sunglasses on toddler while driving. Almost kill guy in next lane.

Sure enough, the sippy cup leaks all over blanket and one of the Nanny Babies.
Attempt to console crying toddler, pull off blanket before Anna Lee's clothes get wet, and drive at the same time.

Coughing, crying, choking (Anna Lee). Should I pull over? Keep driving. Oh God, she is choking. Is she choking? Can't she just breath through her nose? Nope, her nose is stuffed up. Should I pull over? Panic attack. Attempt to wipe her nose while driving.

Anna Lee: "I want some water, Mommy" (whining)
FINALLY arrive at school.

It is 7:45. I have to be at work in 15 minutes.
Carry Anna Lee, 3 Nanny Babies, lunch box, snack box, keys.

Let Anna Lee get water from fountain.
Anna Lee watches Tyler crying. She watches Jonathon crying. I try to get her to take off her outside shoes and put her slippers on. Moving at slug pace.
Kiss Anna Lee and give her an upside down hug.

7:49. Begin commute down Vaughn Road with all the other crazy parents.

(I hope Ron remembers the Nanny Babies when he picks her up)

Hug Me

This is Ron & Anna Lee's morning game "Hug Me".
Ron takes the 2 Nanny Babies and pretends they are asking for hugs from Anna Lee.
Pink Nanny Baby: "Hug me"
White Nanny Baby: "No, Hug me"
Anna Lee hugs one baby doll, then the next, She thinks it is quite hysterical.
It is actually a subversive attempt to wake crabby toddler up gently.

Notice: Sleeves are still being pushed up, even on pajamas!

More Daddy love

Awww, how sweet. Why is it that Ron gets all the love, I get all the whining?
Just this morning:

I want to watch "Crunchy Bears" (translation - "Country Bears" video)
I need a blanket.
Your hair is cold.
Push my sleeves up.
I want PINK pants.
I don't want those Hello Kitty socks, I want the OTHER ones.
My shoes are cold.
My sock's not on right.
I don't want my hair up.
Hold me.
I need my other Nanny Baby.
I want my star doughnut.
I don't like that juice.

And, most important.....
I WANT MY DADDY.

Funny Face

Out of the mouths of babes

Things Anna Lee said last night:

1. You got a nibble on your head (pointing to a PIMPLE on my head, nibble is how she pronounces nipple).

2. Can I see your belly button?

3. It's so nice to see you.

4. Your hair is beautiful, Mommy.

5. Where's his chin, Momma? (pointing to picture of Jonah in a book, who has a beard. No, I don't mind that this is the 7th night in a row that we have read "Jonah")

I love you Daddy

New Shoes

Got new shoes for Anna Lee. Been going to the same kids shoe store for 8 years. I'm sure the small, independent, full service shoe store is soon to be a thing of the past, but for now I treasure Mr. Lee - who actually MEASURED her foot, tried several pairs on her, felt her toe in each, and, believe it or not, carried her out to the car so she wouldn't get her new shoes wet (it was raining).

Smell My Feet

Giggly girl time before Daddy got home. Smell my feet / tickle me was never so funny (and cute).

MLK / Lee

Jan. 21 - - People holding hands in front of the Alabama State Capitol as they sang "We Shall Overcome" during a program that followed Montgomery's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, in Montgomery, Ala. (Montgomery Advertiser, Lloyd Gallman)


But wait.... later that same day, also at the Capitol



Bill Anthony of Tallassee, right, and Leslie Kirk wear Civil War era clothes at a ceremony to honor legendary Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Confederate Memorial Monument at the Alabama State Capitol Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (Montgomery Advertiser, David Bundy)



Yes, here in Montgomery - "the Heart of Dixie" - we celebrate "MLK / Lee Day". Couldn't let MLK have the day all to himself, wouldn't want to offend anyone. Someday, I'll also take a picture of the giant rebel flag on the side of the highway on the way north to Birmingham.

Cleaning Coins

Anna Lee's 100th day of school is on Tuesday and she has to bring in 100 things to count (not that she can count to 100). I decided to do pennies, but wanted to shine them up first. Big mistake, what a mess! I made a solution of white vinegar, salt, and baking soda. At first the girls were really excited (because of the fizzing from the vinegar and baking soda, but quickly lost interest. Oh well, this shot is during the initial interested "cool" phase, as opposed to the later "abandoned, bored, someone else clean up the mess" stage.

Chili

Made homemade Chili last night. Scoops are a must. Not sure why the purple "My Little Pony" was in attendance...

Hate my ugly apple tablecloth, but the kids wreak havoc on the wood table and that's the least ugly style that Walmart had.

Plah Doh

Quite possibly the only toy that can keep both my 12 and 3 year old entertained for a significant period of time.

Happy Birthday

to Eric and Zoe!

What is the chance that my niece and brother would have the same birthday?

SNOW in Alabama

Interior of car - covered with snow

Front of house

It is Snowing here! Freezing rain turned to snow around 9:30 this am. When Anna Lee got out of Ballet at 10:30 there was 1/2 an inch on my car. Pics later.

Bat Mitzvah Prep

Sara has to read 1 verse 20 times every night. Ron makes her put her finger on the page. He yells "Yad" when she doesn't (which means "hand" in Hebrew).

She has a cold, so her nose is red. Actually, both girls have a cold. Yuck.

Notice my lovely bedding - Christmas present from my husband.

Rims Repo

This was a few weeks ago in the Walmart parking lot. Car up on blocks, no wheels. Another curious onlooker told me that the owner is a manager at Walmart and he didn't pay for his rims. So, I guess he bought the rims on credit, missed a few payments, and they got repossessed. Only in Alabama...

Target

Ann Lee wanted to sit on one of the big red balls outside of Target. I got her up there (I do it MYSELF!), balanced her precariously and whipped out my handy cell phone to record the moment. She was so happy.

1st Day at Ballet

Anna Lee started Ballet lessons last weekend. Both girls get 20% off with an additional child, so it was $25 bucks more to take Anna Lee once a week - no brainer. That is Sara's old leotard from when she was 3 (sob, so long ago!). I had to improvise on the ballet shoes and let her wear slippers; now that I got the real ballet shoes she doesn't want to wear them.

I'm not so sure about this...

Oh, another child!

I can do that.

She cried when we had to leave (actually, laid down on the ground and had a fit). But, this past Saturday went much better. She said " I am NOT gonna cry at Ballet". And she didn't.

All the other girls in class are jealous / confused because she is wearing blue and that is for the next level up. Oh well, not going to buy a pink leotard when I have a perfectly good blue one, besides, she feels special in the blue one.

Notice - the, uh, cleavage... Yes, she has pecs! Must be all that pulling up on furniture she shouldn't be doing.