All she's missing is a British accent...

Natalie: "Mommy, want to play Minnie Mouses with me?" (we have two small dress-up Minnie toys)
Me: "Okay. Oh, look. They're like sisters because they look the same."
Natalie: "Yes, they're very similar."
Me: "Should we plan a surprise party for their mom's birthday?"
Natalie: "I suppose we should! That's a great idea!"

Ode to Naked Time

After visiting the porcelain god(dess?) today, Natalie sang this song, dancing in her chonies, whilst washing her hands. Loudly. At the top of her unclothed lungs, actually. Since I didn't have a video camera handy, I had to quickly memorize. Enjoy!

I am the queen
Of Mt. Naked-eeeee!

I do not want
To wear any clothes.

I have a spot,
It's perfect for being naked...

It's a throne for girls
A girls' only throne!

Homemade Wine Charms

So I'm not usually the "Pinteresty" type. Don't get me wrong. I like making things, sewing, crafting, and being creative, but I usually have so many other things going on, I don't prioritize these things on a daily or even weekly basis. But this year, there were two compelling reasons to make one of the gifts we gave. First, money was tight. Second, the older I get, the more I realize that one or two really heartfelt things beat a slew of cheap and meaningless crap (like many of the stocking stuffers that arrived in my children's stockings...I'm not perfect). And this craft is the pinnacle of awesome because not only is it meaningful, but it is also useful and environmentally friendly.

If you want to make your own, here are the steps...

Step 1: Use a sharp, serrated knife (like the bread knife seen here) to cut a cork into six equal pieces. I like slicing through the middle first, and then cutting each half into thirds.

Step 2: Use an old nail file (or fine sandpaper would work, too) to smooth the cork pieces. I did both sides to make them all the same texture.

Step 3: Using a fine-tipped Sharpie in both red and green, alternate colors to spell MERRY. I added a sprig of holly for my last charm. The font you see is of my own creation, but others would look equally nice.

Another view.

Step 4: I bought tiny eye-hooks online (but they can also be purchased at Home Depot). These, purchased on Amazon, are 3/16". The wine glass charm rings were also an online buy. These are 35 x 40mm, but I wish I had gone with a slightly smaller diameter, as these are just a little too large. 

Step 5: You'll need to apply gentle pressure to screw the eye-hook into the cork. I centered my hooks above each letter. Thread the ring through the eye-hook and voila! You've got your finished product!

Overall, I like the way they turned out. We even used my sister and brother-in-law's set at our holiday gatherings! My one mistake: I didn't make US a set. I'll have to rectify that next time. 

Of all the new words...

We have delighted in hearing the new language emerging from Zach's mouth each day and some of the newest words in practice are Grandma (Judi), Grandpa (Howard), Ali, and Nana (Terry). But I think Natalie might like this anecdote the most:


Taking a bath tonight, Z lifts up a little mermaid diving toy and says--without warning and clear as day--"ARIEL!"

I guess it had to happen sometime.

A Strange Argument

Natalie: "Mooooom, can I go play now?"
Me: "No, honey. It's still rest-time."

She gave up naps, but I cling to the idea that she needs some quiet time during the day. I know I need it.

Natalie: "But Moooooooo-oooooom! I want to be done with rest-time. I want to play."
Me: "You can go play in the playroom quietly, but you can't stand here bothering me during my quiet time."
Natalie: "But you're standing and you can't rest while you're standing. You have to go lie down."
Me: "You're so right. I will go lie down right now."
Natalie: (playing with things in the kitchen)
Me (losing patience): "Natalie, you have a choice: you can go play quietly in the playroom or you can take a little nap, instead."
Natalie: "I think I'll take a little nap in the playroom."

How did that just happen? I'll never know. Of course, as I lie on the couch, listening to the relative silence of my house, I realize that she's not sleeping; she's playing quietly. But you know what they say about beggars and choosers.

I think it's a win-win...for now.

From the mouths of babes

Natalie: "Mama, we only talk about poop and pee when we're on the potty, right?"
Me: "Yes, sweetie."
Natalie: "But Daddy forgets about all the time."
Me: "He does?"
Natalie: "Yes, because he's super...silly. He's way silly."

My Day, in a Nutshell

Take kids to natural history museum. Gawk at animals and dino-skeletons. Notice that Zach is tugging at his right ear. Come home. Notice that Z's cough is way worse. Take him to urgent care 30 minutes before dinner time. Get turned away by closed sign. Do mental head-slap because we are at the wrong location. Drive 30 minutes to correct one. Wait an hour to be seen...with a tired, hungry baby. Entertain kid with Cheerios and favorite book. Have PA tell me that he has a virus or allergies, neither of which requires antibiotics. Begin the journey home. Spy the new warning "FUEL LEVEL LOW" on the dash. Curse under my breath. Ask Siri to find me a (damn) gas station. Listen to baby wail from the backseat as Siri is totally unhelpful. Text husband for location of nearby gas station. Acquire location immediately. Arrive at gas station. Cheer jubilantly at the low prices...only to have my card declined. Wonder about the status of my bank account after it was full this morning. Hear people sharing the news that the station is OUT OF GAS. WTH?! Curse again, not-so-silently, before getting into the car. Text hubby again with mounting frustration. Find a new gas station with low prices, only to have card troubles again. Rehash what I did to make karma hate me. Understand that it's the keypad on the pump, not a hostile bank takeover. Calmly re-enter my pin and wait. Fill up my tank. Sigh with relief. Play peek-a-boo with the surly kid in the backseat. Allow his laugh to soothe my weary soul. Head home. Get surprised by husband, who has fed our daughter and cleaned up the whole house--including the garage! Score! Survive bedtime routine. Savor Nana's homemade chili (made by moi!) and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc (not made by moi!).

Breathe.

Natalie absconded with my phone to take pictures. We'll encourage her to keep practicing.

This is the interior of a boat that might have sailed in California's waters long ago. Natalie didn't much care about that. She just cared that the guy who was eating at that table was dressed EXACTLY like Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid.

In the too-full waiting room...with Cheerios, natch.