Something's Fishy

While in the Seafood department:

Dylan: Mom, (Because EVERY FREAKIN' SENTENCE HAS to start with this word) what is a scallop?

Jackson: Duh, Dylan, it's the thing on your head!

Malia

Avoiding the Inevitable

This month has had a lot of firsts...first dealings with a job layoff, first year of cheer leading, first year of school for Emma, my first very best friend passing away (that would be my dog), my first dance class in..., oh my gosh...has it really been, 20 YEARS???!!!...some firsts bigger and more life changing than others...so far, I have avoided talking about the inevitable, Emma going to school...mostly because I couldn't. Even the thought of it would cause a flood of emotion. Her gymnastics coach asked me a couple of weeks ago if she was in school yet, simple question, but I couldn't answer. Of course the answer was obvious and she changed the subject quickly, probably thinking I was insane to cry over such a simple question. It's funny, here I sit crying just typing about it. Fact is, this is a close of a chapter in my life. This chapter ending means a lot of things for me, for one, I am that much closer to death! (Yes, I honestly think about this...daily...several times....like 27 times...at least!) Two, my baby is not going to be a baby much longer and I can't stand that. I don't want anymore babies, so she is it and I have to hold on to that as long as I can...or...I can just hold onto your baby? :). She is already trying to be more grown up than she is, wanting to wear her hair like the girl she saw in dance class or cheer leading, wanting to wear make-up or wanting to wear her skirt on her hips, like the big girls wear. Three, I am that much closer to becoming a grandmother, which at this point I am even looking forward to cause I know that is THE ONLY WAY I will have another baby to hold. In essence, I have to tell myself every day that 31 really isn't that old, although, your children growing up can really make you feel that way. I find myself comparing myself to celebrities on t.v., by age..."See Malia, Christina Applegate is older than you and Jennifer Love Hewitt will be 31 in February! You are NOT that old!

So, as you see there are many complex reasons in my little world that would have me crying at the mere mention of the words "Emma" or "school". So, yes, this is another post about her...the one and only, Princess Emma. (Yes, the boys are still alive and will be blogged about soon, I promise).

On this day, Emma's first day of school, we woke the Princess from a deep, deep sleep. She awoke with the most beautiful smile, bright blue eyes and blue birds sweeping her beautiful golden curls from her face.


We fed the Princess poached quail eggs on toasted rye spread with only the finest mayonnaise. You may think that is the remnants of mayonnaise on her face, but alas, it is the gleam from her sparkling white teeth.


The Princess then instructed us what clothes to dress her in and had us fetch her bag.


Then off to school we went, first dropping off the Princes, knowing that the Princess would most likely need us to linger in case she had a bout of shyness.

Out of the carriage we three piled, I grabbing Princess Emma's hand, lead the way across the parking lot and down the hallway of education. We got to her classroom door and....







she let go....





She walked away...without a whimper, without a word, without blinking an eye and certainly without a tear...



I walked back down that Hallway of Education, not making eye contact with anyone, praying that no one would speak to me, expecting an answer back, running to that parking lot as fast as I could, so that I could let out that flood that I was holding back. She was gone.

Later I would catch myself looking at the clock at least every hour and wonder what she was doing and if she was looking at the clock in the classroom wondering what we were doing. We remembered back to this day five years ago when a young Prince Dylan entered the Hallway of Education. He lingered. We wondered all day what he was doing and sat on pins and needles waiting for the clock to strike two.

So here I sit, five days afterward, still being emotional, still watching the clock. It ticks by too fast. A day that seems like forever until the clock will strike two also sends the years spiraling far too fast.

These are the moments that don't last long enough....

Malia

While I Was Out....

Apparently, someone, was playing house....



These are her, as she explained to me yesterday, "Like...four kids."



Hmmm...some black high heels....and some trash? Mmmm...momma must not have gotten to the vacuuming while feeding those, "like, four kids"...



There is that sweater....I mean....(sob)....onesie...(sob)



Wow, look at all those shoes! What in the world are these doing in the hallway?



Hmmmm.....



Another one....ooooo, those are cute!




Into the bedroom we go, another one....



Aaaaannnndddd a purse.....
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Ah ha! The culprit...a tuckered out little mommy



Malia

Just When I Thought the Waterworks Had Dried Up...

Me: Emma, look, I found some of your baby clothes. You can play with your baby dolls with them if you want to.

About an hour later....

Emma: Look mom, I found my sweater, and it still fits!




Me: (Sobbing) That's not a sweater it's your 0-6m onesie! (More Sobbing)

Malia

Growing Up...and Breaking Hearts

MINE!


I can't believe that in eight days, my baby is starting school.

Malia

The Playground of Youth

There is a little park in Chattanooga, Tennessee that we found while waiting for our departure on The Southern Belle Riverboat. It is the strangest thing though, it seems that none of the children were playing because, well, all the adults had taken over. Just have a look for yourselves and see if you see the strange phenomenon that I saw....


This seems to be the dad that started it all. I remember seeing him give his wife "the look". You know the one, "Ha, honey, watch this. Here, hold the camera...."

It did not stop there....

See, next thing you know, something came over grandma's eyes. It was like a gleam. Like someone had switched on a light switch....

This is a mom from a different family. She just started playing...

Here again...it is just strange. Do you see any children playing?

Now, is she going to scale OVER the wall?! Grandma, I don't think that is what they want you to do...

Look! Another dad!

Dad? Where is your child?

Another grandmother?! This place is magical!

Oh no, it's another one...

Grandma just had to bring her in on the cult that is the Playground of Youth...

Whoa!...

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Oh, Wade, no, step away from the light....
Waaaaade!!! Come back!!!!

Okay, I give, I wanna play!...

Malia

Summer Vacation Part 1

As part of our summer vacation we went as a family on a Riverboat Cruise. Little did we know, Jackson is afraid of boats. Who knew?


Jackson absolutely REFUSING to get on the boat. We even tried to pull him onto the boat. Did you know they could use him as an anchor for the boat because the kid has lead for bones. Didn't budge.


I finally talked to the captain of the boat and got Jackson a life jacket. He finally agreed to get on the boat.


I begged Jackson to smile for this pictue. Notice the life jacket. We were at the top of the boat and had not started moving yet. He still was not liking it.


One more picture please Jackson. The jacket is still there.

Now, before you know it, that Jackson, he was having fun. He was noticing the blue Herons, the mountains, the other boats. He could see the aquarium from the river. The boat would toot it's horn. He realized, "hey, maybe this boat is not going to sink after all."


Hey Grandma, I love this boat! Can we go again?!



Malia

Savannah 2

Forsyth Fountain. Believe it or not, this fountain was ordered out of a catalog.

Malia

Y'all Know I Love It, Right?

You all know how much I love Savannah, right? Yes, I see the eye rolls, but I can't help it, I do. Not only do I love it, but I have so many pictures that I do believe that I could post a picture a day and go on for at least three, maybe four, years. I won't do it though...at least not day after day, after day....I will spare you. I am going to start right now, with picture number one though.

This is a picture of a tugboat, outside the window of our hotel. That would be the Savannah River. That big hotel over there, that is the Westin Resort. High dollar. The street below..that is the famous River Street.






Malia

I've Been Away!

Have you missed me? You have, because you have told me so. Sorry, I just haven't been....inspired! We have been up to a few things, such as the Georgia Rennaisance Festival, dance recitals, gymnastics, cheerleading (notice nothing for the boys here) and oh yeah, working! It seems it is all we do. I am now on a 10-day vacation and we will be traveling to Chattanooga for Jackson's birthday. My birthday is in there somewhere, but since Jackson's sweet birth, it is no longer recognized. Perhaps I will get a post in here somewhere in these 10 days, and who knows, perhaps I will be inspired to continue on afterwards. Let's just see where my thoughts take me. Here is a little picture to tickle your eyelashes.




Malia

Idol Teaches Life Lessons

Dylan and I had the pleasure of each other's company while watching Idol Gives Back. We were watching a segment on some children in Africa whose parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, had all died from AIDS. They had no one. The children left behind were from ages 2 to 16. There were five of them. Annie Lennox broke down and just cried. As they were asking us to pledge money Dylan asked a very important question:

Dylan: How do you decide who gets the money?

Me: I don't know how they decide. There is not enough to go around, but that is why they are asking everyone to donate.

Dylan: But that's not fair. So many children need help.

Dylan learned life lesson, no. 28. Sometimes, no matter how much money you give, no matter how sad you are about it, no matter how much it may make you cry...you can't help everyone.

Me: That feeling in your heart, where it is kind of hard to breathe and it feels like it is breaking, your throat kind of hurts because there is a lump in it.... because you know that those children may not get help and may die....that is compassion....and that is one of the most important gifts to receive.

Malia

Spongebob Makes You a Man

Dylan: What are we watching? Wanna watch something manly? Like Spongebob?

Malia

Jackson

This is Jackson.


This is Jackson by the woodpile. He is mad. I asked him to bring in three peices of wood from the wood pile. He has been in this same stance for 15 minutes. Seriously.



This is Jackson very mad and upset.



This is Jackson marching back to the house to get his four-year-old sister so that SHE can make sure there are no spiders crawling on the wood.

Being able to blog about it and send it to every one HE knows=pricesless

Malia

Coleman and Karla are Officially COLA!

I don't think I actually got a decent picture of them together, but ...wait, let me check my files....







Ahhh, I knew I had a good one.....already feeling the woes of married life and we haven't even had the catered food yet...



Look at that, a trust already broken...


Just kiddin' y'all...I hope you are having fun in Paradise!

Malia

In the End, the Animals Will Eat

Me: Jackson, please turn off the light in the sunroom.(Said with much disgust because I don't understand why turning off a light is such a hard concept to get!)

Jackson: Why do you always tell us to turn lights off?

Me: Because it uses up energy and we need energy to run the Earth.

Dylan: We are running out of oil, kinda sorta...I think.

Me: Yep, you are right.

Jackson: What happens if the Earth stops running?

Me: (Oh crap!)

Dylan: Every one will die, except for the animals because they will eat our rotting flesh and....

Me: DYLAN!

Dylan: Oh, sorry...well, it's true....there, now you have something to blog about.

Me: True.

Jackson: I don't like Dylan very much.

Malia

A Swift Kick in the ... Calf?

Emma and I recently went to Target. The most wonderful store in the world! When you leave Target, the doors automatically open for you. At least, that is what you all thought. What actually happens is magic. If you are not in tune with magic or other people's magic, you may be inclined to think that there is some sort of sensor that sees you and then opens the door for you. Absurd! This just is not so. Some people hide their magic and others bring it right out in front of you. Like Emma.

When leaving Target, Emma walked up to that door punched out that open little hand and said, "Whoosh!" And do you know that the door opened right up? Magic.

Me: Ooooo, I want to try!

Emma: Noooo!! I'm gonna do it!

Me: (Acting out, just a little) No Emma! It's my turn! You already got to do it!

I ran to that second door! Emma ran faster and "Whoosh!" She opened that door again with her magic.

I stomped up to the curb outside, right next to a soccer mom and her SUV, and declared that I was angry at her and it was supposed to be my turn. I turned my back to her, crossed my arms and gave a big, "Hmph!"

All of a sudden I felt a swift kick...right to my calf!!! It was pint-sized, but it packed a punch. It pulled me right out of my funk and I turned around to see.....



EMMA! "I told you it was my turn, not yours. You shouldn't have tried to beat me!"

I looked at Emma, looked at the soccer mom, took Emma's hand and turned in silence and we headed home.

Sometimes, I guess we all need a pint-sized kick in the calf!

Malia

Last One, I Kinda Promise

malia