Cold Feet

Every morning on my way to work I pass this little stretch of river. There is a power plant upstream that dumps their hot (clean) waste water into the river. This makes the river abnormally warm...much to the joy of the many teenagers who swim in it during the summer. In the winter it keeps the river from freezing over and the birds come in droves...or flocks... to hang out all winter. Usually I just see the usual geese and ducks and while they are fun to watch...I LOVE to see the swans.They have been so cool this winter.I don't remember seeing this many last year. Even better that watching them is hearing them. They honk like a class full of 6th grade beginning band students learning the trumpet. It was amazing...I could have stood their all morning...but since I was supposed to be on my way to work....I had to hustle. So while you look at the big birds that winter here...look at the snow banks and be happy you don't live here during the winter.

It's Contagious

Not the flu, nope...not the giggles...not even spring fever....I am talking about something much more serious. It is potentially very embarrassing and quite unsettling, to say the least. I am talking about the joy little kids get from a new discovery. I have watched the kindergartners in the school that I have been working in and one thing they ALL do is get very excited when they think they have found something that their classmates may have over looked. It could be that one of the kids has left their jacket under the table...or their teacher has hung a new picture in their classroom. Small things that adults might not notice or think are note worthy are SO exciting when one is 5 years old. Well, today I was going into my favorite bathroom...yes...I have a favorite. It is the bathroom with the orange scented soap. The other bathrooms in the building have green yucky smelling soap. But then there is that one...oh my...I almost want to lick the foamy soap, it smells so good. Anyway...as I was walking into the stall the water in the bowl was blue ((double bonus...clean AND blue)). I seriously had to catch myself from asking the other (adult) girl in the stall two doors down if her water was blue too. Can you just see me...of all people..."Hey, lady! Is your toilet water blue too?" Horrifying thought. Lucky for me, I caught the gaffe in time to avoid having to quit my job and move to Canada. So I guess the next time one of the little people in the stall next to me wants to talk about belts...I'll have a little more understanding of the mysteries of finding joy in the mundane aspects of the public bathroom.

Baby Love

I have GOT to get my hands on this baby. She is growing up without me and it is killing me. When her big sister was this age we spent every day together. I couldn't even tell you how Cylie likes to be held. It really does break my heart. She is adorable...if I do say so....

Ick

So I was cruising around Etsy today. School has been canceled due to bad weather and I am bored. Not because I have nothing to do. On the contrary...I have TONS of laundry and vacuuming and the inevitable shoveling. But in the grand tradition of procrastination I am waiting for later to get here before I get too excited about cleaning. It's not very fun and I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I used to. But anyhoo...I was browsing the Etsy isles and I came across this....
Hand soap...shaped like little hands....little body less hands. Ick...this is so disturbing to me. I can't even imagine a scenario where any creative (non disturbed) person would think this is ok. I am at a loss for words...is it as icky as I think or am I just sleep deprived??

I Get It Now

This is Kevin...age 5

So in the class that Shelby is in there is the cutest little boy. His name is Dominick. I know this because the teacher says it repeatedly throughout the day. "Dominick, sit down. Dominick, stop talking. Dominick, do you need a time out? Dominick, Dominick, Dominick..." But the thing is...I really like this kid. He is somehow endearing. His antics are cute and charming and he is just fun. At first I thought it was because he reminds me so much of my awesome nephew, Bridger. He is just about the same age as Dominick. They both have big, soulful eyes and impossibly long eyelashes and a quick grin. They are both charming and sweet and mischievous and want to know how things work. As I was confessing this to the teacher, almost embarrassed that the kid who caught the most grief was my favorite...she concurred. He was one of her favorites as well. She talked of his many attributes (that some might see as flaws) and how after relaying them to Dominick's Mom followed it up with, "But I REALLY like him." And it hit me...he reminds me of Kevin when he was little. That is exactly what all his teachers said to me. "He talks too much. He moves too much. He can't stay focused to save himself....but I really like him." No wonder this little boy can flash his smile and I am ready to stand up for him to anyone who dares question is abilities to sit and stay. Some times there is more to life than sit and stay. Dominick gets it...and so do I.

So In Shock

I suppose nothing should shock me after working with the little people for so long. I was in the bathroom changing Shelby's diaper. You all know the panic that ensues if I am spoken to in the potty. Well, picture a nice bathroom with a changing table and one adult size toilet and one sink...no divider or hiney hider in sight. I didn't lock the door...really no need...just a diaper change. One of the "Grandmas" that work at the school came in. She said, "Oh, I didn't realize that you were in here." Instead of going back out and waiting for me to finish she proceeded to drop. her. drawers. Yep. The 3 more minutes it was going to take for me to finish was apparently to long for her old bladder. I was MORTIFIED!!! All I could do as she was sitting not 2 feet away from me (making me so uncomfortable with her bathroom noises) was concentrate so hard on Shelby she probably thought I was going to have a stroke. I could feel my face turn beet red. I was so in shock that when she had wiped, flushed and washed she wished me a nice weekend and all I could do was gape after her. I am still wondering if that really happened or if I fell asleep during Shelby's nap. So bizarre.

The Birthday Girl

My little sister has a birthday today. I do think that we have decided to officially celebrate her half birthday from now on. You know...then we won't be so sad when we could be singing. What do we sing to the birthday girl?? Well, stuff like Happy Birthday to You... and They Say it's Your Birthday...and He's Large....hehehe. You know the one..."He's got monnnneyyy and respect...he's better than the rest. He may not be the best....but he's large." Oh, I do love that song. I know Michelle is singing it as she reads this. My day is complete if I have made her smile. Happy Birthday you rotten favorite child. I'm so glad you are my sister. I miss you terribly and can't wait to see you in June...and May...tehehehe.