stinky foot in mouth

This morning as we're loading up into the car for pre-school our just turned four year old, Zuzu, takes a quick look at my face. 

"What's that on your chin, Mommy?" 

Great.  Like I wasn't self conscience enough.  

Mommy has a "boo-boo" on her chin, I tell her (because I'm thinking the words "zit" or "pimple" might just perpetuate the conversation).  And then, clearly without thinking at all I say, "I know, it's ugly isn't it?"

I fasten her seat belt and get into the front seat.  I start the car.

"Mommy, what does ugly mean?"

The world stops.  Really?  I just taught our four year old the word "ugly" and now I need to define it for her? At 9am on a Monday?  When I am already preparing to face the gloomy morning with more than one large "boo-boo" on my face? What have I done and how could I be such a terrible influence???

So I attempt to explain that ugly is not a very nice word.  I shouldn't have said it... but sometimes people use the word to define something that is not at all pretty.  Just like sometimes people use the word stupid to describe something a little annoying when they shouldn't.

"So ugly is like Shrek, right?  Because he's an Ogre.  So he is ugly."

But is he?

Four.

and I quote.

zuzu: c'mon mommy, come in my room and let's put babies in our tummies.

mom: zuzu, I've already had two babies in my tummy and I really don't want any more.

zuzu: no mommy!  this one doesn't kick.  it's FAKE!

jungle rhythm

This is for my mom. Beware, it might not interest anyone else. But she's gonna love it and that's really all that matters. Plus, she comments.

ho ho ho

What better way to welcome in the holiday season than to hang out at yup, you guessed it, the mall. Taking pictures with Santa...(please note that according to my five year old, this is not the "real" Santa, he is just some guy dressed up in a costume at the mall who reports back to the "real" Santa).


High fiving Santa because the hug that she wanted to give him turned out to be just a little too scary once they were actually face to face.


Sipping hot cocoa with whipped cream at Peet's. Zuzu's first hot cocoa experience which she actually had to be coaxed into...and certainly not the last. (Don't they really look alike here?)


Frog jumping at the mall playground. This is actually when the most entertaining part happened but I was too busy laughing out loud to capture it on film.

Zuzu kept getting in Gage's way as he was trying to jump the frog. Why wouldn't she? Her mission in life is to annoy him, right?

Anyway, he went over and tried to push her off the frog, while yelling at her, "Zuzu, get out of my way!" When from out of no where Santa appeared outside the gate (presumably taking a potty break) and shouted at Gage, (swear this is true) "Hey, be nice to your sister. Remember I told you that? Or I'll move you from the nice list to the naughty list."

He then turned and walked around the corner (towards the restroom). All the kids on the playground stared, the parents giggled and what did Gage do? He turned to me and said, "But Mommy, I want Santa to see me jump over the frog!". Nice.


What do you think? Is this advertisement alluring or what? My kids couldn't tell you what it was selling but doesn't it look like they want to climb in? It was more difficult to pull them away from this than Santa, the hot cocoa, or the playground. Go figure.

creative riding

There are an awful lot of rules written on our trampoline as well as several we find ourselves repeating frequently that the kids have learned to live & jump by. Things like no shoes...no food...and one at a time is best but two are tolerated if you are gentle. But I had to give it to her. Nowhere, I mean nowhere, was it ever communicated to Zuzu that riding a plastic tractor on the trampoline might be a bad idea. And in fact, it really wasn't.

pre-high-school musical

Missed any of the High School Musical movies? (there have been three) Well never fear, Gage & Zuzu bring it all to you right from Gage's very own bedroom. Sans pants, of course.

contain me

I'm a big fan of The Container Store. I'm a Virgo. It comes with the territory. And apparently I've passed on the gene because Zuzu couldn't have had any more fun at a playground.

When Zuzu crawled up into the pink chair she shouted, "Mommy, take my picture!" Um, yes, I take full credit for that one. Unfortunately the digital was not slung across my shoulder as it typically is so I whipped out the phone.

And yes, I was busy shooting her while she was falling over...but hey, in my defense, you can surely tell by the focus that I was heading in her direction!

heat, addiction & a whole lotta attitude

For some bizarre reason, Zuzu finds it necessary to slip on a pair of rain boots when it hits 95 degrees in Northern California. Here, she and a friend tend to the lawn while adorned for swimming in imaginary puddles.


At first I thought Grandma spent so much time looking over Gage's shoulder while he played his lego star wars video game to provide support and encouragement to the impressionable four year old.
Now, I'm beginning to think differently.




Tonight Zuzu chose "time out" over "dinner at the table" with the family. In fact, she relished in the decision and actually excused herself from the meal and put herself in time out. When I went in to take a picture for the blog the little devil was in there hanging on the sink. These shots are of Zuzu as she mocks me AFTER I've asked her NOT to hang on the sink. Yes, she's two and she's already mocking me. Can't wait for them pre-teen years!

potty training 101

After the last swim of the day today Gage ran into the house naked and went straight for the guest bathroom (his favorite). I was perched just outside the door working on my computer when I heard, "uh, oh".

"Did you pee on the seat, Gage?"
"Um, yeah, and a little on the wall."

At this very moment, Zuzu ran into the house naked shouting, "I need to pee-pee in the potty, Mommy!" She headed in the opposite direction for the kid's bathroom (her favorite).

My plan of attack was to quickly assess Gage's mess and then attend to Zuzu (who could surely hold it for another minute) so I headed to the first bathroom to clean and offer a brief lecture on aim and focus.

Moving quickly to the second bathroom (which in our 1800 square foot home is really not very far) I encountered Zuzu exiting from behind a closed door and the sound of the toilet flushing. I peeked into the bathroom and saw the exceptionally heavy step stool placed in front of the sink rather than the toilet and the cushy baby seat tossed on the floor beside the toilet. Two good signs that she could not have actually accomplished much without my assistance. She's a petite 22ish pounds for goodness sake. Then I noticed that the toilet paper had been yanked down to the floor (and of course the toilet WAS flushing).

"Zuzu, did you really pee in the potty already?"
"Yes, I pee-pee'd in potty all by myself!"
"Can you show me how you did it?"

Just then, Zuzu bee-lined for the potty, pulled herself up on the big seat facing the back wall and somehow managed to spin herself around to face front while seated. She was perfectly positioned to go had she not just done so 2 minutes prior. I was blown away and couldn't help but to think, wait, who's potty training who here?

tiny dancer

Today was Zuzu's first day of "ballet" class at the Stapleton School of the Performing Arts. As you can almost tell from the lousy iphone images above, there isn't actually much ballet involved in the "magical movement" class...just don't tell that to these euphoric tutu clad two year olds!

ease on down

We introduced the kids to "The Wiz" tonight. It was one of mom's favorite soundtracks from the 70's (yes, I'm that old) and it appears to be a big hit with the next generation as well. Couldn't hurt that Zuzu is head over heals in love with the fact that she starts ballet class in three short days (any guesses as to what the posts will look like on Wednesday night?).

corny

Anyone know when corn goes out of season? We're going to need to stock up for winter. This little girl just can't get enough.

"no, I do it"

Zuzu succeeded in dressing herself for bed tonight.
Well, sort of.

rub a dub dub

Zuzu lost her balance slightly while sitting in the tub tonight. After regaining her composure she exclaimed, "oops, I slipped off my tushie!"

flirt

Oh yeah, we're in trouble.

halo

before


during


just about after

Meet Zuzu's new best friend, James Crookston from Halo. She was a little darling (definitely not what we expected) when she sat for her very first haircut today. Loving the new side angle bangs!

doggie day care

Baby Duke is our house guest for the weekend. He just arrived this morning and I'm pretty confident that we provided him with more exercise and excitement than he's seen in a long time (or ever). And today was a school day. Look out weekend...here we come...

(and yes, baby duke had a much needed haircut since his last blog entry!)

school girl

Today was Zuzu's first official day of pre-school (without mom). There were no tears shed (at least not by the kids) and no tantrums thrown. Big brother was very supportive and felt the need to repeatedly remind Zu in the car that mommy wasn't going to be there...but if she got upset she should have her teacher come get him. It was so incredibly thoughtful but shot my plan of sneaking out straight out of the water. I couldn't be more proud of them both. We do it all again on Thursday...

dog days

It was a momentous occasion. It took two years but Zuzu actually made nice with a dog today. Enter Baby Duke. He will be moving in on Thursday while his owner takes a much needed week long vacation. This gives us just a few days to work on Zuzu's doggy social skills. What exactly do you do with a dog, Zuzu?...


Look Baby Duke, a lamp from my doll house. NO! Don't eat it!


Do you like books, Baby Duke? This one is good, it makes noises!


Watch me spin on Dora, Baby Duke, it's fun!


Do you want to wear my tiara, Baby Duke?


Baby Duke, check this out, it's called TV and you better get used to it if you're gonna stay here.

p-a-r-t-y

Looks like we pulled another one off. Still can't believe our little girl is TWO. Thanks to The Little Gym of South Marin and Miss Amy for a lovely party!