World Meningitis Day

World Meningitis Day is today, April 24.  I meant to get a post up earlier, but alas.  Hopefully, you've already gone over to The Confederation of Meningitis Organizations and joined hands (virtually) against meningitis.  Always review the Signs and Symptoms to be prepared if a loved one seems very ill.  I won't bother with statistics (I don't trust them anyway.)  I won't talk about how many lives are touched and families hurt by meningitis each year.  I just encourage you to look into those beautiful blue eyes and remember those lost and do what you can to be more aware.

Building Blocks

Most kids seem to enjoy building things.  Usually they start off with large building blocks.  In fact, the number of blocks a kid can stack (into a tower) is one of the questions doctors ask at a well baby checkup.  It's some sort of measure of development.  Or something.  Kids, as they grow older, often will start playing with smaller and smaller blocks.  Or if they have gullible parents (raises hand), they'll do something even better...play with furniture.

We bought these toy storage things from Ikea a year or so ago.  Justin commented at the time that they resembled steps (something the kids noticed right away, too.)  I just thought they looked like the perfect solution to a ridiculously messy toy room.  And toys generally do end up in the red buckets.  But the "steps" get pushed around to be used for fun, rather than function.  I suppose they do get the furniture moving gene honestly from their LaLa.  But at least she lets things stay in place for more than a day (possibly because they're all so heavy!)

It's nice to have somewhere cushy to sit in your Little Kid Hideout.

And the phone is essential.  This is a "track phone."  No, not a Tracfone.  This is a phone made out of Hot Wheels track.

And here Miranda takes the conversation to the next level.  Literally.

Miranda's 4!

A few months back Miranda was very interested in surprise parties.  Or just surprises in general.  She'd grab my hand and say, "Come on, Mommy."  We'd go stand by the light switch.  She'd turn it off, and count quietly, "One, two, three...Surprise!!!"  and turn the light on.  I'd have to act all excited.  It was silly and fun. 

We got a new dishwasher on Miranda's birthday earlier this month.  The best part, of course, was the enormous box!

When it came to getting ready to surprise Miranda, the box seemed like the perfect hiding place for the kids.

And especially crazy cousins!

Justin took Miranda for a ride in the car while the rest of us got ready.  When they got back, I whispered, "One, two, three...surprise!"  But instead of a silly, happy little girl, I had a little girl who was clearly freaked out.  Who are these people and why are they yelling at me?!  And she ran up to her room to hide.  Grandma had to coax Miranda back downstairs.

Thankfully, we had cake there to smooth over any ruffled feathers.

Miranda, lingering over her cake.

And then, of course, she got loads of presents.  So, even though the surprise was a complete bust, she did up having fun at her own birthday party.

Yeah, I'm 40

I turned 40 back in January, and I've been so stoked about it that I'm not posting till now.  Yeah...right.  I did get a most excellent cake, however.

That many candles on a birthday cake is scary!

Waiting patiently for the good stuff.  There were no balloons or surprise guests.  Just our little family, and...

CAKE!

It was yummy!

It was hard to beat.

But my pressies were pretty great, too!

A bunch of Jeeves and Wooster books and movies.  Something I've wanted for ages!

And the present that Miranda claimed.  (Psst...it's another book!)

Lessons from a 5 year old - Lesson 1: Insults

Our five year old son, Duncan, was placed in the county's Special Needs program a year or so ago.  He's in a special class filled with kids who need just a little bit of extra help.  Some kids have speech delays, some have focusing issues.  Along with the continuing development of his education, Duncan has also begun to develop his sense of humor.

Little ones laugh from an early age, of course.  They are amused by some pretty interesting things (like a sneeze from Mommy or a snoring Daddy!)  Those belly laughs are pretty hard to beat.  When they get a little older, kids start to figure out ways to make other people laugh.  Potty humor is big at this age.  The word "butt" is sure to produce shrieks of laughter. 

I think Duncan is trying to push his humor envelope with a creative bit of name calling.  I know he doesn't intend to hurt my feelings when he calls me a nose, but I do remind him that calling people names isn't nice, and to try to remember that beforehand.  Honestly, I can't say that he's thinking about it.  Tonight, amidst a fit of giggles, I was called a bellybutton.  And recently, "You're a back, Mommy!"  Heeheeheee! 

His "insults" are almost always delivered with giggles.  When he's actually angry he usually gets right down to the point: "I don't like Miranda!"  He doesn't mess around with calling her a toe.  Although, he may have been a little upset with his Daddy when he said, "Daddy, you're a unicorn!"  Yeah, I think he meant for that one to sting a little.

Happy Belated Birthday, Evan!

I started this post on Evan's 8th birthday back on February 1st.  I even went out and took a picture of this Daphne odora "Marginata."  Thing is, I managed to misplace the camera.  And what with this, that, and the other I've let half the month slip by before sitting down to try again.  I've given up on finding the camera (although, it better be around somewhere, because I just got it for Christmas!)  I looked through the last few year's worth of pictures to find one of Daphne in bloom.  This is a photo from last year.  When the first anniversary of Evan's death came, we hadn't planned anything.  No gathering of friends and family, no balloons.  We ended up purchasing a small Daphne to plant in rememberance of Evan.  One reason I chose a Daphne is because it's one of the few plants that blooms around the time of Evan's birthday.  If you haven't experienced the scent of the Daphne odora, it has a lovely citrusy fragrance.  Around Evan's second birthday I noticed the scent wafting through the breeze.  I eagerly ran down to take a whiff.  I beckoned to my son.  "Come on Evan!  Come smell this flower!"  The look on his face was priceless!  He looked at me like I was crazy.  He wasn't sure that I knew what I was talking about, and he didn't want to go traipsing through the fallen leaves to be tricked.  But he did come, after a little convincing.  He knelt down and sniffed.  He looked surprised!  He smiled.  His eyes sparkled.  "Do you like it?" I asked.  He nodded and bent down for another whiff, and then we were on our way.

The Things She Says and Does

Miranda loves Thomas the Tank Engine.  Lately she's wanted to wear a Thomas shirt every day.  It doesn't matter if it's the same shirt, although she does seem to understand the need for things to be washed.  (Thank goodness!)  Unlike her wardrobe, Miranda does get creative with her toy trains.  I never knew that the Island of Sodor had so many tall flowers!

This is Miranda dressed as a spy.  She's probably looking for pootfrints.  Yes, that's how she says it!

 There's always a need for bandages in a household with small kids.  Especially when they make up booboos just to have that neat, new Dora band aid.  Miranda found these other, er, bandages for more "serious" booboos.

Just so you know, that's not an iPod...it's myPod.

This was probably an, "Oh dear!" or perhaps an, "OH NOOO!" or possibly even an, "Oh my goodness!"

One of my favorite Miranda quotes right now occurs when she climbs up a few steps, throws out her arms, and announces:

"Ladies aaaand Children!"

And that's it!  Because the announcement was the show!