Once (and only once) in a lifetime…
Australia was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. But it was the once-in-a-lifetime rental van that we will remember the most. It took Brian and Brad at least two hours to convince the girls that the unupholstered, 12-seater van resembling an airport shuttle was the perfect choice for a 6 hour drive out of Sydney with five adults and six children. It took Brian and Brad 2 minutes into the drive to realize that it was, in fact, not the perfect choice.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
White Christmas 2007: VII
A white dress for a White woman…
Amelia frequently tells people that she was born on her parents’ wedding day and so Kristin had reason to be vigilant as our 10th anniversary approached last August. We celebrated by renewing our vows and hosting a party at the house. While searching for a dress, Amelia and Isabelle informed the sales staff that their mom was getting married. Feeling the need to quickly redirect any ideas about her having children out of wedlock, she began stammering until “it’s ok, ah, I’m marrying their father” finally spilled out. This amusing scene could have played out at The Gap without notice but, our fair bride-to-be was at Talbot’s where the pursed lips and raised eyebrows of the sales staff effectively conveyed their disapproval. When she finally retrieved the words “renewing our vows,” the sales staff was more than happy to redirect her to the section with all the white dresses.
Amelia frequently tells people that she was born on her parents’ wedding day and so Kristin had reason to be vigilant as our 10th anniversary approached last August. We celebrated by renewing our vows and hosting a party at the house. While searching for a dress, Amelia and Isabelle informed the sales staff that their mom was getting married. Feeling the need to quickly redirect any ideas about her having children out of wedlock, she began stammering until “it’s ok, ah, I’m marrying their father” finally spilled out. This amusing scene could have played out at The Gap without notice but, our fair bride-to-be was at Talbot’s where the pursed lips and raised eyebrows of the sales staff effectively conveyed their disapproval. When she finally retrieved the words “renewing our vows,” the sales staff was more than happy to redirect her to the section with all the white dresses.
White Christmas 2007: VI
Lumber and rice…
In another attempt to avoid raising girly-girls, Brad recently polled all three girls to see who wanted to join him on a trip to Lowes. Ella endeared herself to him forever when she excitedly jumped up and, with the earnest vigor of a starving child, said “Wets Go!” It wasn’t until after she was tucked into a shopping cart somewhere in the lumber section that she looked up from under a drawn brow and said, “But Daddy, I fought we were goin’ to Moe’s!” Apparently, her initial excitement was for a southwestern style burrito not grade B 2x4s.
In another attempt to avoid raising girly-girls, Brad recently polled all three girls to see who wanted to join him on a trip to Lowes. Ella endeared herself to him forever when she excitedly jumped up and, with the earnest vigor of a starving child, said “Wets Go!” It wasn’t until after she was tucked into a shopping cart somewhere in the lumber section that she looked up from under a drawn brow and said, “But Daddy, I fought we were goin’ to Moe’s!” Apparently, her initial excitement was for a southwestern style burrito not grade B 2x4s.
White Christmas 2007: V
Daddy… John?
Amelia caused some raised eyebrows at her pre-school last spring when her teachers observed that “there seem to be a lot of men in your family.” She had created a stick figure drawing of our family: mom, dad, Is, Ella and… Todd and John. Todd is Brad’s brother who lives in Atlanta. John is a close friend and stay-at-home Dad with kids who play with our kids frequently. It led to some mild laughter among the teachers who retold the story to Kristin last Spring. The mild laughter turned to raised eyebrows this fall when Amelia saw John at the school, turned to Ella and, in front of those same teachers, exclaimed, “Look, Ella, there is your Dad!”
Amelia caused some raised eyebrows at her pre-school last spring when her teachers observed that “there seem to be a lot of men in your family.” She had created a stick figure drawing of our family: mom, dad, Is, Ella and… Todd and John. Todd is Brad’s brother who lives in Atlanta. John is a close friend and stay-at-home Dad with kids who play with our kids frequently. It led to some mild laughter among the teachers who retold the story to Kristin last Spring. The mild laughter turned to raised eyebrows this fall when Amelia saw John at the school, turned to Ella and, in front of those same teachers, exclaimed, “Look, Ella, there is your Dad!”
White Christmas 2007: IV
Hunting…
With three daughters, Brad has been determined not to raise girly-girls. And so it was with pride that Dad let the girls help with a little rodent problem earlier this year. Brad was particularly proud when Isabelle returned from school with the results of her “What I did this weekend” exercise. Amid the prosaic answers like “got my hair cut,” “played house” and “sang in the choir” offered by other girls in the class, Isabelle boldly offered that she went “rat hunting with dad!”
With three daughters, Brad has been determined not to raise girly-girls. And so it was with pride that Dad let the girls help with a little rodent problem earlier this year. Brad was particularly proud when Isabelle returned from school with the results of her “What I did this weekend” exercise. Amid the prosaic answers like “got my hair cut,” “played house” and “sang in the choir” offered by other girls in the class, Isabelle boldly offered that she went “rat hunting with dad!”
White Christmas 2007: III
More damn vignettes…
Our next door neighbors, the Teels, along with their Ella-aged son, moved to Birmingham this year. Ella was upset and has decided that the Teels have moved to “Al-dam-bama.” And, yes, they did move after the “foot yoops” incident.
Our next door neighbors, the Teels, along with their Ella-aged son, moved to Birmingham this year. Ella was upset and has decided that the Teels have moved to “Al-dam-bama.” And, yes, they did move after the “foot yoops” incident.
White Christmas 2007: II
Illiteracy at Target…
One day at Target, Amelia turned to Kristin and inquired about the glasses by the register. “They are reading glasses, Amelia and, no, you may not have them.” With a look of almost sheer terror overtaking her face, Amelia sadly responded: “But Moma, now I will never learn to read.”
One day at Target, Amelia turned to Kristin and inquired about the glasses by the register. “They are reading glasses, Amelia and, no, you may not have them.” With a look of almost sheer terror overtaking her face, Amelia sadly responded: “But Moma, now I will never learn to read.”
White Christmas 2007: I
Cereal trauma…
Previous readers may recall that our beautiful Amelia is not the most physically coordinated child (note last year’s upside down, inside out and backward shirt incident). And so it was with well founded exasperation that Kristin found Amelia trying to make her bed while holding a Ziploc bag of Fruit Loops in one hand. In an uncharacteristic moment of weakness she blurted out, “Put the damn Fruit Loops down!” The bag instantly hit the floor. Witnessing Kristin’s frustration, little Ella was more than eager (and almost panicked) to find some way to help Amelia clean the room. She immediately leapt to action, grabbed the Ziploc off the floor, handed it to Amelia and plainly said “Here you damn foot yoops, Amelia.”
Previous readers may recall that our beautiful Amelia is not the most physically coordinated child (note last year’s upside down, inside out and backward shirt incident). And so it was with well founded exasperation that Kristin found Amelia trying to make her bed while holding a Ziploc bag of Fruit Loops in one hand. In an uncharacteristic moment of weakness she blurted out, “Put the damn Fruit Loops down!” The bag instantly hit the floor. Witnessing Kristin’s frustration, little Ella was more than eager (and almost panicked) to find some way to help Amelia clean the room. She immediately leapt to action, grabbed the Ziploc off the floor, handed it to Amelia and plainly said “Here you damn foot yoops, Amelia.”
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