How Do You Like Your Apples?

Trips to the commissary are among the many special activities Lauren and I enjoy together. They always yield interesting questions and conversations from her inquisitive little mind. Sometimes I walk out of there with an unmaskable smile, which if you've been to an Air Force Base commissary on a holiday weekend, you know isn't easy to pull off.

We navigated our way through the congested produce aisle and pulled up our rocket ship shopping cart to the gathering of apples. As I began the task of selecting a prime few I asked Lauren, "What goes good with apples?"

To which Lauren shouted with a smile, "Papa!"

I was thinking peanut butter. But yes, Papa does go good with apples, Lauren.

Thank You Thursday

Five things to be thankful for today....

1. Scheduling a chiropractor appointment. Because honestly, five days is long enough to deal with the pain. Did I mention the appointment isn't until Tuesday? Thank you, Memorial Day weekend.

2. The girls' gymnastics coach, Miss Kim. Not only does she know her stuff, she is great with the girls, and couldn't be more professional when handling little lady drama.

3. A day without a single stranger arriving at my door or calling my phone.

4. The random chaos that good friends bring out when you get together. Night after night of laughs. While I'm exhausted from it all, I can't wait to do it again.

5. Popcorn. Particularly the stuff I picked up at Target today. It will be a nice snack tonight that makes zero mess with zero clean up. I should also throw in the leftovers I pulled out of the freezer; I don't know that they will be any good, but I don't have to make it, so right now, I don't care!

Ten on Tuesday

Here we go again. Ten random thoughts for Tuesday....

1. Junk mail. Really?

2. I need to take a vacation from eating. I could give it a try, but I'm sure it will be a short trip.

3. Maybe just salads. I mean taking time out from them. I've had a lot of salad from all walks of the leafy greens and it seems that when I do I end up feeling horrible. Would sticking to a McDonald's diet be better? I don't know. But I bet Abby & Lauren wouldn't object. I won't be trying it, but it's crossed my mind.

4. Mommy lunch dates are completely underrated.

5. I'm a big fan of cultivating beautiful things out of life's struggles.

6. There is a version of prank calling for the new millennium. I hope our girls never get involved in it. Yikes!

7. Very few things in life are as good as laughing with my best friend.

8. Is it twisted that my favorite part of it's Complicated is when Meryl Streep tries to dig herself out of an uncomfortable situation by suggesting she likes a lot of sperm in her semen? It was my biggest laugh out loud moment in the movie, anyways.

9. This heat has me looking forward to one thing: Winter.

10. I'm going to thank my video camera for saving me from shedding tears at Abby's end-of-the-year preschool program today. Keeping myself busy kept me composed.

White People

While concluding this afternoon's lunch, Abby was enjoying the Oreo cookies she had chosen for her dessert. Lauren inquired as to why she did not get dessert, so I asked her what she did to lose her privileges. "Well, I cut my bangs. And also I touched your computer." I was well aware of the bang-cutting, which the baby-daddy neglected to inform me about last night when I returned home; I stumbled upon it this morning while doing her hair--grrrr. The computer touching, however, was a new revelation.

Abby interjected by asking who can touch the computer, "Can adults touch the computer? Kids?"

Lauren, "White people?"

What?!

Thank You Thursday

Five things I'm thankful for this Thursday....

1. Cool air on my morning walk. While it certainly wasn't body-altering, it was extra, extra long. Much needed. Much appreciated.

2. Google, my online spellcheck. If anyone tracked my searches they would certainly be perplexed. Hah!

3. Lauren's sweet little voice. And of course that little snuggled embrace she engulfed me in as she sang me one of her self-composed melodies after breakfast. {Did I mention how grateful I am to be a stay-at-home mom?!}

4. Just a little bit of envy. I'm not talking about the kind that drives jealousy, but the kind that pushes you to reach for your heart's desires.

5. Counting backwards from 5. Don't ask me why I ever started or why I didn't start earlier, but somehow this technique preforms like magic when getting the lovelies to behave on cue. Genius!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Why, why, why is it so hard for Abby to clean up her toys?

2. When am I going to learn BBQ potato chips do not count as a vegetable serving for the day?

3. Rain, rain, go away. I'm sick of seeing the sky so gray.

4. Could this be the Vikings year??? Hah. I think we all know the answer to that one.

5. If I had a million dollars I wouldn't alter my lifestyle, I just wouldn't do the really crappy jobs like painting or mulching any more. {And I'd have a lot more furniture to maintain.}

6. I wonder how hard it would be to get tickets to see the Twins when I'm home this summer.

7. If I had that million dollars I'd also buy a camera. A really good one that takes great pics. Then I'd sign up for a photography class.

8. How did my girls get so interested in cars?

9. I haven't been as into Dancing With the Stars this season as I have in the past. I'm taking that as a huge sign I'm getting my life back. Although last night I spent that particular viewing hour ironing, so I really can't count that as having a life.

10. I love the sound of the porch door closing at Grandpa & Grandma's. If you've been there, you know that sound.

Dear Santa

I'm crediting the random afternoon viewing of the classic The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Whatever the real reason, we seem to be very curious about Santa Claus. Abby asked if she could write a letter to Santa. Needless-to-say, Lauren had to put in her two cents worth. The following are the letters penned to St. Nick.


Dear Santa Claus,


I love you in my heart. Do you have food? I am going to make a list for you. Do you drink anything? I think you drink water. Do you have milk? Do you have Play-Doh in your cave? I have a Lizzie Elephant. Do you have clothes besides your red suit? Why do you have a red suit? Do you have a sled?


Your friend,
Abigail

P.S. What do you think?

----------------------------------------------------------

Santa Claus,


You are special. I have a Rocket Blanket. I have a Woody. I have chocolate milk. Also, do you make rain? You are a cutie pie. We have lights. We have a toy: two cars. You are milk. You have a bunny? That's it.


Love,
Lauren

{Mailing Our Letters to Santa}

Yes, we put those letters in our mailbox, stamp and all, and after making copies of course. We'll see where they end up. Just maybe Santa will find time in his busy May schedule to reply.

The address reads simply: Santa Claus/The North Pole

Stay tuned....