Butterfly

I took  Jude, William and Micah to the Natural Science Museum yesterday morning - the beginning of our "get out of the house - Daddy is sleeping" holiday vacation. We checked out the dinosaurs, the chemistery section and the butterfly exhibit...and ate McDonald's in the museum.  Jude was mesmerized by all the people and all the butterflies.

Micah even wore her butterfly outfit to get into the spirit of the outing.  If you notice, her hair isn't as curly as it used to be - she demands for it to be straightened now.  Well...not really demands, but asks alot.  Since I am doing my hair, I go ahead and tackle her head, too.

This butterfly decided to land on William's butterfly spotter handout...and he landed right on his own picture.  What are the chances that would happen and what are the chances that I would be right there and be able to get the shot while holding a 20 lb baby on my hip?

Originality

Tis the season to meet new people, connect with old friends...and introduce Jude to people that he has never met.  It never fails, whether it be a kind stranger standing in line at the grocery store or parent of a child at our school, the conversation always ends up like this:

"What a cute baby!  What is his name?"

"Jude."

"Say again...what is his name?"

"Jude.  His name is Jude."  I am smiling as I repeat his name because I know what is coming next.

Ready...wait for it...wait for it...

"Hey Jude!" (this is the stranger/new friend singing the Beatles song back at us)

"Yep - just like the song."

What always makes me laugh is that when they are belting out "Hey Jude" they are looking at me like they are the first person on the planet to make this connection and they really think they are cute! They figured something out that maybe even Jude's parents didn't know - like maybe we didn't know that there was an a super famous Beatles song named "Hey Jude" and they are the first ones to point that out to us.

It makes me smile each time.  I just nod my head and say "Yep - just like the song."

So far - in the 6 months of Jude's life - this hasn't gotten old.  Hopefully it won't get old.  We love Jude's name and it fits him perfectly and it always seems to bring a smile to people's faces when they meet Jude and find out his name.

Let's see how many people will sing "Hey Jude" to me today at the Natural Science Museum....

Numbers and Blood

"How old will I be when....(fill in the blank)?" or "How old will William/Jude be when....(again - fill in the blank)?"

These are Micah's favorite questions to ask. On a daily/hourly basis. She is extremely into patterns, number spacing, and counting right now - I guess she got some of my organizational genes. She loves to line up her toys and make sure they all have the exact same number of whatever (domino's, shoes, crayons...)

I love to see her mind in motion - she asked me this morning, "How old will Jude be when I am 22?".

"He will be 17."

"So when I'm getting married, then Jude will be 17. How old will William be when I get married?"

"I don't know, Micah, because I don't know how old you will be when you get married."

"Yes you do - I'll be 22. You and Daddy were 22 when you got married - When you are 22 you get married."

"Daddy and I were 22, yes. But you are not allowed to get married until you are at least 25. It is the new law."

Do you think she will buy it? I don't think so, either. She will figure out how to get that law changed if it suits her. The funny thing is, Micah could care less about weddings and about boys. She isn't that much of a girly girl...although she did tell me that a boy on TV was hot. Not the hot like hot and cold - the hot like handsome.

Yesterday, William and I were driving home from Christmas carolling at a nursing home (Micah was riding home with Carson) and he we started talking about Daddy's work schedule. It is up in the air right now on if Mike will be working on Christmas eve or on Christmas day. He is definitely working one of the days, but nothing is locked in as of yet. William told me that he wishes Mike worked my work schedule (a regular 9-5 job). I tried to explain to him that we want that, too, and that is why Daddy is in school right now - so he doesn't have to work shift work anymore.

"William, you know that even though Daddy works nights sometimes and has to work on the holidays, you get to spend alot of time with your Daddy. He picks you up from school, he eats lunch with you at school. You are really lucky to have your Daddy. Sometimes Dads who work like I do - and are off like I am - don't spend as much time with their kids like Daddy does with you. They come home from work and play on the computer, play video games, watch sports and ignore their kids. Daddy spends all of his free time with you - if he is on the computer, it is when you are asleep. If he is playing a video game, you are playing with him. You are his best friend."

"I know. I think I get my blood from him. My blood for building awesome Lego's and for drawing great pictures. That is from Daddy's blood."

"I think you are right, Bubba. Do you get anything from my blood?"

"Reading. Your blood gave me the fact that I love to read."

Are my kids smart or what?

Switching Midway

Now that we have two kids in elementary school, we have to consider how we will be in two places at the same time. Case in point - their Christmas parties yesterday. You want to be in both places...the kids expect you to be at their party...and you cannot disappoint.

Mike and I figured out the best way to solve this dilemma was to switch midway through the party. I started in Micah's party and Mike started in William's. We both watched the clocks and had a set time we would switch...it worked like a charm.

Both kids had a wonderful party - the room moms really went all out and made each child feel special.

Speaking of room moms...I was William's room mom for the past two years. This year I volunteered to help out again, but life worked itself out and I wasn't needed. To be perfectly honest, it was a tough pill for me to swallow - to not be in charge or at least be on the inside group of the planning for the parties. Why does it matter...why did I feel demoted? If I want to dig down deep and admit that I have a few control issues - I like things done a certain way and can do things more efficiently than others (out of necessity), then that may be the reason.

I always seem to go back to the same mantra - things happen for a reason. Life new what it was doing when it gave the responsibility of room mom to another mom, because in all honesty, I couldn't have pulled off what they did yesterday. Not with the schedule I keep and the 6 month old that is a huge part of our lives. They did a great job and I am forever thankful to them for caring.

And I will say, it was nice to have someone else in charge for a change!

Santa..One more time...

The kids have been extra good this year...well, maybe not...but, we decided to head on over to the Bass Pro Shop and see Santa once more. The kids had a great time - that place is huge! William has officially decided he wants to take up hunting. Who is going to break it to him that no one in our immediate family hunts?

There were activities for the kids to play with...notice I said kids. Not grown men. Mike didn't get the memo...he fell in love with the Red Rider BB gun. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

William was finally able to finagle the bb gun out of Daddy's hands so he could take a turn...and another... and another.

Jude hung out and watched...and watched...and watched.

Notice Micah's attire. I told the kids to go upstairs and put on something nice to meet Santa. Micah brings nice to a whole new level. I don't think you can see, but she is wearing a long string of pearls, too.

Dear Santa, Please remember not to forget me this year. Even if William and Micah get coal and switches in their stockings, remember that I am a good little boy. Please don't punish me for my siblings antics. Love, Jude