The Power of Disney

My kids have been inspired on more than one occasion by a Disney movie.  For a long time, the inspiration manifested itself in plays where the girls dressed up in princess dresses and pranced around the house.  There was the time I walked in on Emma and Charlotte (aka Prince Eric) kissing, which I have to admit was a bit startling.  Most recently, Charlotte and Cristina have been influenced by Mulan.  Cristina walks around singing, "Let's get down to business...to defeat the Huns," while simultaneously striking violent poses.  A few weeks ago, Charlotte was inspired to climb the light pole in our yard - trying to be like Mulan climbing for the arrow on top of the pole in the movie.  Cristina stood next to her singing, "I'll make a man out of YOU!"  We have the pictures to prove it.

After spending quite a while trying to climb the pole, Charlotte eventually came in for dinner.  Over dinner, she asked me, "Mom, is the reason I'm so good at climbing poles because I'm part-Chinese and part-American?"  I had to explain that she wasn't any part Chinese.  After dinner, she went back outside and got upset because she just wasn't able to reach the top.  I went out to give her a pep talk and explain that Mulan was climbing a pole that was the same size all the way up and our light pole got smaller towards the top.  Finally, she says to me, "I'm not sure if I can do it, but if I can, can we put it on Facebook?"

Meanwhile, Cristina gave it a go herself, although she didn't get quite the height that Charlotte attained.  She told me, "When I get to the top, I'm changing my name to Mulan."  She didn't quite make it to the top, but that hasn't stopped her from telling me on more than one occasion lately that her name is Mulan.

This past weekend, we were out at Stone Mountain. As we neared the top, Charlotte spotted a large boulder over to the right.  She looks at me and says, "You remember Lion King, right?  That's Pride Rock."  She then proceeds to climb a top the rock and start roaring like a lion.  I really can't make this stuff up!  I was laughing so hard.  She was so enthusiastic and LOUD!  She came down and told me she was Queen Simba and I suggested maybe Queen Nala.

You're Never Gonna Believe This

Cristina: Mommy, I have to tell you something you're never gonna believe. You're not gonna believe this.

Me: What's that, Cristina?

Cristina: Today, I punched Ella in the stomach and then I pushed her two times.

The First Day

Well, the first day of school was success.   The girls were swarming me when I came in the door from work.  Charlotte was excited to tell me about kindergarten. "Kindergarten was great and I didn't even go to the principal's office on my first day!  Can you believe it?"  I'm a little concerned that Charlotte's goal for the first day was to not go to the principal's office.  It's not like she was in trouble all the time in pre-K!  Crazy girl.

After dinner, Charlotte had a little questionnaire that she had to complete and turn in to her teacher.  One of the questions was, "What do you hope to learn in kindergarten?"  Charlotte's response: "Teacher things, so I can take Mrs. Lisa's place in pre-K, since she is tired all the time."  For awhile now, Charlotte has been saying she wanted to take her pre-K teacher's place.  I'm sure Mrs. Lisa was tired all the time, since she was pregnant the whole school year and had her baby girl two weeks after school ended.

Bullying

Tonight, Emma and Charlotte were talking to me about the first day of school.  The conversation quickly turned to bullying.

Charlotte: I'm excited about kindergarten, but I'm a little worried about bullying.

Emma: You should be because I've been bullied a ton.

Me: You have?

Emma: Remember that kid in first grade who was always teasing me?

Me: Oh, yeah, Andrew.  (Sidenote: He's a mean little kid.  Once when I was volunteering with his mother in Emma's classroom, he yells at her, "Where the fu@# were you?  I needed....")

Emma: He was so mean.

Charlotte: Well, did he go to the principal's office?

Emma: He had to sit in the time out chair.

Me: You  need to be prepare to tell a bully that you don't like it and you want them to stop, so they know that they can't keep bullying you.  You can say something like - I don't appreciate what you are saying and I'm not going to listen to you anymore.  Then, just walk away.

Charlotte:  Well, I know what I am going to say if someone bullies me.

Me: Practice what you are going to say.

Charlotte:  What you are saying to me is inappropriate.  Bullying is not nice.  This conversation is over.  I'm still on God's side.  You should be too because God is about love and loving children.  God is not about bullying.   This conversation is over.

Me: That's good, Charlotte.

Charlotte: Well, I'm still excited about kindergarten.  I hope no one bullies me tomorrow because that will just....just ruin my day and I will not like it.

I hope the girls both have a great day and they don't run into any bullies.  I've been talking about this with Emma for awhile because she isn't very good about standing up for herself - she clearly takes after me too much. Charlotte, on the other hand, has never been one to keep her opinion to herself, so I'd honestly expect her to tell off any kid that tries to push her around.  She has been threatening for years to beat up the kids that pick on Emma!

Happy birthday to us!

When I got home from work, Emma and Charlotte were eager to make a presentation for our anniversary.  They had Brian and I sit on the couch and close our eyes, while they brought us a limited edition card and gift.  The gift was two rings - one handcrafted especially for Brian by Emma and the other a cupcake topper for me.

Emma: Happy anniversary! Happy anniversary!

Cristina (Quite exuberantly): Happy birthday!  Happy birthday!

Emma: It's not their birthday.  It is their anniversary.

Me: It's okay.  Today is like the birthday of our wedding.  We've been married for 13 years.

Charlotte: Bravo!  Bravo!

Then, Emma had us close our eyes again while she brought out another surprise. CONFETTI!  What a gift....all over the living room floor.  Then, she sang a "Happy Anniversary" song that she wrote all by herself.

Afterwards, Brian and I decided we should go out to dinner as a family in celebration of our anniversary.  Charlotte suggested we pick the restaurant, while Emma was lobbying very hard for Chick-fil-A.  Emma is pretty smart when it comes to her persuasive arguments.  Her key points: 1) we could order without the kids distracting us, 2) we could eat in peace because they'd be on the playground and 3) we could all have ice cream for dessert.  In order to win out over Chick-fil-A, I suggested we all get dressed up fancy and eat at Taco Mac.  For those of you familiar with Taco Mac, it is definitely not five-star dining, but I'd say it is a step up from Chick-fil-A.

The Pot of Gold

Tonight, in the midst of our mourning over the loss of Belle Barbie, we were graced with a beautiful rainbow.  Emma came running into the house to tell us to come outside to see a rainbow.  So, Brian and I went outside to see it.  The girls were giddy with excitement.

I'm standing in the front yard talking with a neighbor and the girls are running up the street saying they are going to find the pot of gold.  Cristina comes back into the yard and grabs me around the legs and says, "Thank you for the rainbow, Mama."  I had to chuckle at that one.  Finally, the neighbor gets the hint that I want to go back inside before Ella gets bit by another mosquito and I yell at the girls to get back in the yard.

Charlotte comes dashing down the street and runs up to me.

Charlotte:  Mommy, can Emma and I please go look for the pot of gold?

Me: No, you need to stay in the yard.  You know you're not supposed to be walking up the hill by yourselves.

Charlotte: Please, Mama, I promise we'll be back by morning.

Me: No, Charlotte, you can't go.

Charlotte: I said I promise we'll be back by morning.

I about fell out.  Like I'm going to let my 5 year old and 8 year old go venturing off into the sunset looking for a pot of gold as long as they promise to be back by morning?!

A Sad Day for Barbie

Charlotte was eager to tell me when I arrived home today about the death of her "favorite" Barbie.  After severe questioning of Emma and Cristina, she wasn't sure who broke the head off of the Belle Barbie, but she was pretty sure it was Cristina.  For the record, when it comes to anything, Emma and Charlotte blame it on Cristina. This brings us to dinner...

Charlotte: Today was a sad day.  Tonight, we are going to have a funeral for Belle.  Just her head is going to be at the funeral.

Me: That is pretty gross, Charlotte.

Charlotte: It is not.  She was my first Barbie and first Barbies are always special.

Me: She wasn't your first Barbie-

Emma: Yes, it was.  She got it for her birthday last year.

Me: No, it wasn't.  She had a Mulan Barbie before that.

Charlotte: Yeah, I had a Mulan Barbie and a Tiana Barbie.  So, this was my third Barbie and third Barbies are always special.

Emma: You just said first Barbies were always special.

Charlotte: Well, so are third Barbies.

Later tonight, Charlotte decided to hold the funeral for the Belle Barbie with just the head as promised.  She was/is keeping the head in a little wooden box.  As I indicated earlier, it is creepy.  Anyway, she is sitting on the floor in the living room singing, while holding the Belle Barbie head: "You were my best friend.  We did everything together, but now you're dead and all I have is your head."  Jasmine, Dolly, and My Little Pony were there to pay their respects.

Let's all have a moment of silence for Belle Barbie, whose head will reside indefinitely in a small box in Charlotte's bed.

Memorial Day

I meant to post this awhile back, but keep forgetting this little Memorial Day tidbit.

Emma: Why do you get off for Memorial Day anyway?

Me:  It is the day that we recognize and appreciate people that have fought for our country.  You know, like soldiers.  We have lots of family who were in the military.

Brian:  Yeah, like Uncle Jerry.  You know how I told you that Uncle Jerry was in the Army?

Emma: What army was he in?

Brian: The United States Army.

Emma: No, I mean like what army did he fight in? You know, was he in the Civil War?

Brian (to overcome with laughter to respond)

For Uncle Phil

Emma: So, Charlotte and Daddy really went to Six Flags?

Me: Yes.

Emma: They didn't use my ticket, did they?

Me: No, mommy's uncle gave them two free tickets to go.

Emma (shocked): You have an uncle who is still alive?

Me (laughing): Yes, I have lots of uncles who are still alive.  Nana's parents are still alive too.

Emma: What?  How old are they?

Me: 70-something.

Emma:  How old is your uncle anyway?

Me: Well, he's Nana's brother.  I think he is 49 or 50.

Emma: Well, when you are 50, your uncle is going to be dead.  There is no way he can live that long.

So, Phil, enjoy the next 15 years! Emma doesn't think you'll last much longer than that!

Sometimes...

Charlotte:  I found out what happened to my yo-yo.  Emma cut the string on it.

Me: Yeah, we'll that will mess it up for sure.

Charlotte: Emma and Cristina ruin everything for me.  Sometimes I just wish I was an only child with Ella.  (Big sigh.)  Then, I'd sleep on the top bunk and Ella could have the bottom bunk.  You know what?  I'd break the law too.  I'd let her on the top bunk if she wanted to.  Maybe one day.

Charlotte's Prayer

Dear God,
You are the best person in the whole world.  Thank you for giving us food to eat and a home.  A nice home, so that we can live longer than the animals and insects....because insects get stomped on and the animals get hunted and eaten for food or something.  I really care about the animals.
Amen.

Conversations

Conversations in our house are often hard to follow because of all the interruptions and each of the girls trying to jump in the conversation. I feel like a referee fielding questions from both sides of the court when talking with the girls. Take this conversation for example.

Emma: Is there a civil rights leader named Helen Keller who was deaf and blind?

Me: There was a woman named Helen Keller who was deaf and blind. I guess she might be considered a civil rights leader.

Charlotte: What does deaf and blind mean?

Me: Deaf means you can't hear and blind means you can't see.

Charlotte: Well, if you are blind, you can't really do anything.

Me: Well, some people who are blind use canes to help them get around.

Emma: Cocaine? I thought that was a drug?

Me: Not cocaine, canes - kind of like a stick.

Charlotte:  Like a man-made stick or one found in nature?

Me: They are usually man-made.

Emma: So was she a civil rights leader or not?  That's what I read in the book during math class.

Questions about God

My favorite time of day with the girls is bedtime...and, no, it's not because they are about to drift off to dreamland.  I love talking to them at night when there aren't any other distractions and I can hear what is on their little minds.  They ask some of the funniest and toughest questions when they are all tucked into bed at night.  These two questions popped up in the last few days.

Question One

Charlotte: If God lives in your heart and you are healthy and eat healthy food and your heart is beating really strong...(pause)...is he okay in there?

Me: (pause) Uh...

Charlotte: Yeah, I think he is okay in there.

Me: Yeah, I think so too.

Question Two

Me (reading Charlotte's pick of the night, Cinderella)

Emma (interrupting): I know this has nothing to do with what we are reading, but does God have a wife?  I mean some people say he does, but does he?

Me: I have no idea. It doesn't say anything in the Bible about God having a wife.

Emma: Well, some people have Bibles with crazy handwriting and it says he has a wife and funny hair.

Me: Okay, well, I don't know.

El-bones

Cristina (after jumping off the side of the couch): Ouch!  I hurt my el-bone.  (Looking at her arm and grimacing.)

I have an el-bone.  Mommy, do you have an el-bone?

Me: I have an el-BOW.

Cristina: Aww.  We both have el-bones.  Now we can be vampires.

She went on and on about el-bones and after awhile, I tired of trying to get her to say elbows.  Not really sure how this makes us vampires?

Charlotte's New Skill

Last night, Charlotte wanted me to help her learn how to ride Emma's bike without training wheels.  So, I was holding the bike steady while she pedaled and then letting go for her to go on her own.  She'd get a little ways before crashing onto the driveway.  Apparently, she practiced a bit this afternoon and was finally able to get the hang of it herself. So, tonight, she wanted me to come outside and watch her ride around the driveway.

She got a bit of stage fright showing off her new skill.  She kept starting off at the same point next to the swing and when she couldn't get going like she wanted, she would bring the bike back to the top of the driveway to try again.  At one point, she was getting a little exasperated and she said, "My feet are being so selfish right now.  They just don't want to get on the pedals like they need to."

After a few minutes of trying, she finally got back in the rhythm and was flying around the driveway on the bike.  Then, she tells me, "My feet are jealous of me because I control my whole body."  She seriously cracks me up!

So excited to be riding a bike without training wheels.

Charlotte dancing with Ella

After You Die

Charlotte: You know what happens after you die?

Me: What?

Charlotte:  First, you turn into bones, then into a skeleton, then into a mummy, then you get buried in a tomb in some country I don't know the name of.

Me: Egypt?

Charlotte: Yeah, Egypt.

Cigarettes

Charlotte (looking at a cigarette display): Those are those things that smoke.

Emma: Yeah, they are bad for kids and babies.

Me: They are bad for everyone.

Emma: Daddy said he smoked when you got married.

Me: He did and it was disgusting.

Emma: Why did you marry him then?

Me: Because I loved him anyway and he was a good kisser.

Emma: And Daddy quit drugs when you got married.

Me: Huh?

Emma: Well, cigarettes are drugs, you know.

Charlotte: I know why you married Daddy.  Because he was strong, brave, good at fixing things in houses, and talented.

Emma:  Yeah, talented at smoking.

Happy birthday to Ella!

Ella has successfully made it through a year, but more importantly, Brian and I are still sane one year later.  We like to call Ella "our little surprise" because really there isn't anything more surprising than to find out you are pregnant when your birth control has a 99.9% success rate.  So, we figure God must have brought Ella into our lives to teach us something.  I believe that something was to figure out just how little sleep you can survive on in one year.  Or maybe how long you can listen to a screaming baby before you absolutely feel like you are going to lose your mind?  Perhaps for us to strengthen our upper bodies with constant holding, rocking, and bouncing?  All were strong lessons we've learned in the last year.  Lucky us, we even got an extra day in her first year thanks to the Leap Year!

I do feel guilty from time to time because I feel like I don't brag on Ella too much.  For a long time, Brian and I agreed that if Ella had been our first child, she would have been our last child because there is no way would be crazy enough to subject ourselves to this special kind of torture again.  When it became apparent that Ella was a colicky baby, I was hopeful she would outgrow it by three or four months.  When I was at her six month appointment and mentioned to her doctor she was still not a happy kid, he said that for some kids it doesn't subside until nine months.  At her nine month appointment, I wanted to stick a tongue depressor in his eye when he said for some kids it takes a year.  Thankfully, it does seem like she has turned a corner in the last six weeks or so.

I am hopeful that another year from now, I won't remember the screaming, clingy Ella.  I did, however, take pictures of her in this fun state to remind me if I ever begin dreaming about holding an infant again.  I prefer to look back on this time and think about what a highly interactive and engaged baby Ella has been.  She is super curious and does not want to miss out on anything.  Whenever she hears people talking, she cranes her neck to see who it is and listen in.  She crawls frantically after us if we leave her in the room alone.  She wants to be with us all the time. She loves to look at books and play with her sisters.  Most of all, she loves to be outside.  Maybe her calling in life is to save the environment?

Happy birthday to our little Ella! We love you and appreciate all the life lessons you have taught us in one year.  We can't wait to see the amazing little person you will become in the next year.  

The Ella we know and love!

Looking all sweet and innocent on day one.

One Year Later

 Ella's First Birthday Cake....a Purple Elephant

Ella knew exactly what to do with her cake.

My sweet baby

Brain Activity

Long after the girls should have been asleep for the night...

Emma: Mom, can I ask you a question?

Me: Yes, Emma.  (Yes, I sounded annoyed.)

Emma: Where do wolves live?

Me: They live in forests and mountains.  They don't live where we are.

Emma:  Wolves scare me.

Me: Well, stop thinking about them.  I've told you before they don't live here and they aren't going to get you.

Emma: Well, I just can't stop thinking about them.

Charlotte: Well, you need to turn your brain off. When I go to bed, I turn my brain off.  Then, I just don't dream about wolves or anything.

Emma: Well, I'm not you and I can't turn my brain off.

Charlotte: Well, when I get in bed, I turn my brain off.  When I get up in the morning, I turn my brain on for learning when I go to school.  When I get home, I turn my brain on for lollipops.  Then, when I'm watching something, I turn it off.

This is proof that TV kills brain cells....if a five year old realizes she turns her brain off when she is watching something.

When kids make you feel old

Kids have a special way of making you feel old. Just the other day at dinner, Emma asked me if there was TV when I was a kid or still just radio?  Seriously?  Yes, Emma, I was born after the invention of the television.  I should be glad that she didn't ask me if I came over on the Mayflower.  She reserved that question for Brian.  This story below made me realize how quickly slang moves in and out of our vocabulary.

After bedtime stories, the girls say their prayers and then I will say a little prayer for them.  I really use it as a time to imprint in their little heads the kind of women I want them to grow up to be.  I will also make special requests if they are feeling sick or are out of sorts about something.  So, last week, I added a special note in the prayer for Emma to be brave when she gave her class presentation on Rosa Parks.  Here is the conversation that took place afterwards...

Emma: Mom, you know, sometimes I just get so nervous when I'm in front of the class.

Me: Emma, if you get nervous, just close your eyes for a second and imagine me and Daddy cheering you on.  (Singing) Go, Emma with your bad self! Go, Em-

Emma: Did you just call me bad?  I'm not bad.

Me: No, it means cool....like a good thing....like you're so cool....that's so bad...

Emma: What?  That doesn't make any sense.

Me: When I was a kid, if something was cool, you would say it was bad.

Emma: That doesn't make any sense.  If it is bad, it's bad.  I don't like that cheer.

Me: Okay, well, just imagine we are cheering for you.

The next night, Brian put the girls to bed and Emma asked him, "When you were born, way back then, did you used to say a cheer like - Go Emma with your bad self! Go Emma, and the bad meant good?  Because if you did, then that just doesn't make any sense."  I hadn't told Brian about my little cheer session the night before, so he was caught off guard by this one!

Charlotte's Plan for Children

So, this past weekend, I was in a great deal of pain that the first doctor I saw said was likely a result of having too many children.  Brian explained to the girls that I was in pain from having babies.  The result?  This conversation with Charlotte.

Charlotte: Mom, I prayed to God not to give me a baby in my belly, so I won't end up like you.

Me: But then you won't be able to be a mommy like me.

Charlotte: Are there like orphanages in Georgia?

Me (not sure where we are going with this): I don't know.  There are shelters where some kids live who don't have parents.

Charlotte: Mom, when I'm grown up, like a teenager -

Me: Teenagers aren't grown ups.

Charlotte: Ok, when I'm a grown up, like a grown up, will you please take me to a hopeless shelter, so I can pick up my kid?  I'm just going to get a kid from the hopeless shelter.  You know, where kids are that no one wants.  Then, I'll just bring it back to our house here.

Later that same night....

Charlotte to Emma: I'm going to have a kid, but I'm not going to get married.

Emma: You have to get married to have a baby, Charlotte.

Charlotte: No, I am just going to get my kid from the hopeless shelter.  You can get kids there.  You can get married, Emma, but I am not.  I am not having a baby.  I'm having a kid from the hopeless shelter. You don't even like kissing, Emma, so why do you want to get married?

Result: Emma is thinking of getting a kid from the "hopeless" shelter.

A Belated Birthday Blog for Cristina

I've realized for awhile now that I missed a birthday blog for Cristina.  Let's face it, the child has a crappy birthday - December 26.  Everyone is too hung over from Christmas cookies and presents to even consider birthday cake and birthday presents.  I admit that even I have to dig deep to find the motivation to bake a birthday cake on Christmas day.  But, since I am an amazing mom and all, I make sure to deliver for my little post-Christmas baby, Cristina.   Well, I delivered a cake, but it takes me three weeks to write a blog.

Anyway, Cristina is finally three.  I think it is quite fitting that at three, she has reached the third percentile for height and weight.  In short (pun intended), we have a little midget on our hands.  While short in stature, she is not short on personality.  The child is hilarious. She has a funny little sense of humor and loves to give hugs, kisses, and attach herself like a magnet to her parents.  She wants desperately to keep up with her big sisters and when she can't, she is more than happy to torture the one younger than her.  She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Scooby Doo, and dressing up like a princess....and going out dressed like that.

We love our little princess and especially love to hear her talk.  She has the highest little voice and it sometimes takes me a second to figure out what she is saying, but it doesn't stop her from talking.  Her favorite time to talk to me is when I am in the shower.  "Mommy, are you in there?  Are you done yet? Are you okay?"  Such a sweet, compassionate girl!  In this picture, she is hugging a snowman that was part of a store display.  The display also had a inflatable merry-go-round with Mickey and friends that she really wanted to ride and I had to convince her that it wasn't for kids. You can just see it in the background.

We can't wait to see what fun Cristina will bring to our lives in 2012.  Doesn't she just look like fun?

A Clement Girl Tradition

Hmmm....what have we got here?

Let me get a closer look.

I hope you don't mind.  Just checking out your music collection.

Hmm...wonder what my options are here?

Reba McEntire, Bob Dylan, Wallflowers?

So many choices.  It would really help if I could look at them all at once.

Oh, yeah, this is so much better.  I'm really feeling the music now.

Vampires from Romania

This was our dinner conversation tonight....always amusing talking with the girls.

Me: I was asking Cristina why she keeps waking up at night. She said it's because she is a bat....vampire bat.

Emma: Vampire bats are real.  They live in Romania.

Charlotte: We are never going to Romania.  There are vampires in Romania.

Me: Who told you that?

Charlotte: Ms. Shuli told me there are vampires in Romania.  There are vampires everywhere in Romania.

Me: Not everyone from Romania is a vampire.  Mommy has a friend from Romania and she isn't a vampire.  You've even played with her kids.

Charlotte (eyes as big as saucers): With vampires?!

Me: They are not all vampires.

Charlotte: Yes, they are.  We are never going to Romania.  I am not going to visit Romania ever.  Daddy, if you ever get a ticket to Romania, just...just...just throw it in the trash can. We are not going to Romania.  If policemen go on vacation to Romania, they are going to be attacked by vampires.  We are never, ever going to Romania.

Brian (trying to change the conversation): There are wolfmen in Minnesota.  Big hairy wolfmen.

Emma: Are there wolfmen  in Georgia?

Me: No, we just have Republicans.

Emma: What are Republicans?

We have so much left to teach our children.....

Then, I decide to show Charlotte my vampire teeth and she freaks out when I bare my teeth at her.  She goes running from the room.  Brian finally coaxes her back to show her that she has the same vampire teeth that I have and tells her he married a vampire and she is part vampire.  So, now, Charlotte wants to go back to school tomorrow and tell Ms. Shuli that she is an American vampire.

What I learned from Streaking

Okay, now that I have your attention, let me just say I am not referring to running around naked.  The streak I am referring to is the Runner's World challenge to run at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.

1) The hardest part of working out consistently is getting started.  Once I made it to the gym or out into the neighborhood, it wasn't hard to get a mile in and I'd say more often than not I did more than the minimum.

2) It is easier to run in rain than in wind.  The rain does add to the chill factor in December, but is no comparison to 25 mph wind gusts.

3) I really do dislike small yapping dogs.  Once in my neighborhood, a little dog was yapping all around my heels and I'm sure I looked ridiculous trying to get away from it. The same thing happened when I went for a run in Abbeville.  Big dogs didn't give me a moments notice, it's only the little ones that seem to get annoyed at my presence.

4) I am definitely a Taurus.  The stubborn Taurus in me wouldn't let myself give up even when I would have rather stayed in the bed or in the warm house rather than go running.

5) I like exercising every day.  I'm going to see if I can keep it up for a year.  Eek!  Not necessarily running every day because I'd like to spice it up, but I'm going to try to do something every day.  40 days down, 325 to go.

New Year's Resolutions - Kid Version

So, last night, I thought it would be fun to have dinner on our fine china, toast the new year in with some sparkling grape juice, and talk to the girls about New Year's Resolutions.  The girls were thrilled with the sparkling grape juice enough to make me wonder if they are going to grow up to be little lushes.  They really enjoyed toasting each other, while we waited on the baked ziti to cool off.  (I've given up on collard greens and black eyed peas bringing me prosperity in the new year.)

Anyway, I told them we were going to talk about resolutions for 2012.  Of course, the first thing out of their mouths..."What are resolutions?"  I explained that resolutions are goals for the year - something that you would like to do.

Emma's resolutions: 1) To go to Chuck E. Cheese's.  2) To go to the World of Coke.

Charlotte's resolution: To go to a fancy restaurant and do cheers.  (By cheers, she means toast everyone at the table - not act like a cheerleader and draw unnecessary attention to our table.)

Cristina's resolution: I don't want to do anything.  (This is pretty much what she does already, so I'd say she is set to accomplish this one.)

I said that Ella's resolution should be to start walking.  Emma looked at me like I was crazy and suggested that she needed to learn how to crawl first.  Brian commented that Emma's resolutions are a lot like mine - very realistic and manageable to accomplish - unlike his own, which are usually grandiose like lose 100 pounds or renovate the entire house.

After chatting for a bit, I explained to the girls that resolutions weren't just about places you want to go, but something you could do to be a better kid.  Charlotte and Emma then got very excited and said they could go to the American Girl store more often. I couldn't help but shake my head.  Clearly, I wasn't going to get any promises out of them to keep their room clean or be nicer to their sisters.