{Mommy Maker}

Last night as I was cuddling with Will, he asked me to tell him something I had never told him before. I was stumped. I tried to think of something, but the only things that came to mind were kind of weird, so finally, I just said, "When I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up and be a mommy." Will got excited and said, "And I made you a mommy! My work is done."

{You're only as old as you feel}

While standing in line for dinner at DisneyLand, Will noticed a teenager in line with a Perry the Platapus shirt (a character from his favorite Disney Show, Phineas & Ferb). He excitedly called out, "Hey! Perry!" and immediately started talking to them about the show and how much he loves it. Phil teasingly said to him, "Isn't that show a little old for you?"  Will's quick reply, "No! That show never gets old!"

{Sarcasm inherited}

Towards the end of a fun-filled and tiring day at DisneyLand, Olivia started to whine and/or cry over every little thing. While we were standing in a long line awaiting a ride, she started up again and Will said to Phil, "Hey - I've got a fun idea for a ride. How about we stand around and listen to Olivia cry really loud all night. (pause) Dad? What's that word that means you say something but you really mean the opposite?"

{Rain Rain, Go Away!}

We've been having some unseasonably rainy weather the past few days.  People who have lived here a long time keep asking, "What is this wet stuff falling from the sky?" and they are serious.  Of course, Winter in Northern California is "the rainy season" which usually starts sometime in November or December. It will rain off and on - sometimes raining for several days and then no rain again for a few weeks.  We heard a lot about the rainy season when we were moving here and the kids keep asking when it will happen.

After church on Sunday, we had a Linger Longer at the "Annex" building just behind our regular meeting house. The Primary children were escorted to the Annex by their teachers.  When they came outside and found that is was drizzling rain, Will exclaimed, "What? The rainy season is here? Oh Brother!"

{Just Sing}

During the Primary program yesterday, Will apparently sang one of the words wrong and this boy, David, in front of him, turned around and said, "Hey, you just sang one of the words wrong and I heard you."

Will replied, "Dude. I'm just a little kid. I don't know all of the words!"

Take that, David.

{Whistling Dixie}

My sweet girl Olivia has learned to whistle. It has become my favorite sound. I just love it. And she's super proud.  The only one not so excited about her new talent is Will. He's a bit jealous (his words). I told him it's just one of those things that you have to practice. He looked at me, exasperated and said, "Mom, I just have to accept this is just one of those things I'm not going to be able to do in this life."

{Breaking up is hard to do}

During bedtime tonight, I reminded Will that Isabella's birthday was only a few days away. He screwed up his face and said, "She's not my girlfriend anymore. She broke up with me."

UH - EXCUSE ME???? GIRLFRIEND? BROKE UP WITH YOU? You are in Kindergarten...right?

"What does that mean?" I asked, horrified. "What did she say to break up with you?"

"She just walked away from me."

{Awkward indeed.}

During a visit to the park with Phil, the kids ran into a girl from Will's class also at the park with her Dad.  Once the connection had been made that the kids were in the same class, Phil and the other dad started to chat while the kids played.  After listening to them talk for a minute or two, Will exclaimed to Phil, "Wow, this is awkward. You're trying to make a new friend."

{Love & Marriage}

Will was invited to the birthday party of his teacher's daughter. She is also a Kindergartner and apparently has fallen smitten with Will. When his teacher told me that Isabella "loves Will" and "apparently they are going to get married," I just had to ask him about this new girl in his life.

"Will, Mrs. Wynne tells me that you and Isabella are going to get married, is this true?"

He got super bashful (unusual) and replied, "Yeah, she's in love with me. But I don't think it's such a good idea."

{Hard Knock Life}

I have so many posts I need to do - but all in good time, people. All in good time.

Tonight I let Will stay up with me for a little "Mommy Alone Time" and as we were headed up to his room, he wanted to talk about our plans for tomorrow morning.

"Mom, after we go to the Apple store and I play with the ipads, could we maybe get a drink or a snack or something before we go to Costco?"

"Sure", I replied. "Well, actually, why don't we get something at Costco?"


"No. Let's just get it before."

"Where do you want to get it?"

"I don't know, a restaurant maybe?"

"Wow, Will. You live quite the fancy life, don't you? Do you know that when I was your age, we never went to restaurants?"

He scrunched up his cute little face with disbelief and replied, "Really? Well that's a little sad."

{Duh!}

Last week at church, our former RS President, Cyndi Johnson found me in the lobby and told me that she was subbing in Will's primary class and relayed the following conversation:

Cyndi: Will, I hear you are moving.
Will: How do you know that?
Cyndi: You mom told me.
W: How do you know my mom?
C: We're friends. We see each other in RS. That's the meeting where the mommy's meet together.
W: Do you sit by her?

....she went on and on and told me how ridiculously cute she thinks Will is.

After church, when we retrieved the kids from their classes, Will informed me, "Mom, just so you know: I know that you know my teacher and I know that she knows you."

"I know", I replied. "She told me that she thinks you are the cutest little boy on the planet."

Will twisted his face in quizzical thought and replied, "Probably........ she's right."

{Brain Rash}

This afternoon, after picking up the kids from camp, I noticed Will had a slight rash on his tummy (I could feel it, but couldn't see it.)  I asked him a few questions and had him hold still while I examined his tummy. Olivia, never one to be outdone by Will, exclaimed with much exasperation:

"Oh Mommy! I have a rash too. Cuz I had to be up top for the rest time and the other little kids at school got to be on the bottom, so now I have a rash on my brain and my head has a headache on my brain....BUT (immediately her demeanor changes to near-giddy) I'm really happy right now because I'm going to watch a MOVIE!"

I think we can safely hold off calling the doctor.

{Shy Guy}

A few weeks ago, we went to a play date at the home of boy/girl twins in Olivia's class.  The night before our play date, Matthew and Madison's mom Cindy was over at my house for a jewelry party and said she looking forward to finally meeting Will.

The next morning, I told Will that Cindy was excited to meet him and he responded, "Okay, but I'm kind of shy when I first meet new people."

I had to laugh because Will is probably the least shy little boy you will ever meet.  I asked him if he was kidding, but he insisted he is really shy when he first meets new people.

Okay, I thought. There's a first for everything.

Approximately 30 seconds after arriving and meeting Cindy, Will rushed up to her and exclaimed, "If you need any inventions built while I'm here, just let me know because I'm a Mad Scientist boy!"  And then he ran away.

Way to overcome your fears, Will.

{Mathematician}

Also while in NYC with Daniel and Sarah, Will reported that he's "really good at math" and offered to have Daniel quiz him.

After Will easily answering his first questions, Daniel decided to go with something harder,
"What's 500 + 500?"

Will thought about it for a little bit, "Hmmmm...10 hundred?  No, no. wait. There's no such thing as 10 hundred. That means it must be one thousand."

And that's not all he can do!

{A City Called to Repentance}

Last weekend, while in NYC, we had the opportunity to spend time with Daniel & Sarah Turnbull, cousins of mine who just might be the nicest, cutest couple ever.

Daniel and Will became fast friends and Daniel carried Will on his shoulders for most of the day.  While we waited to cross the street at a busy corner, Sarah and I were engrossed in conversation and didn't noticed what Will was doing at first. Once Daniel got our attention, we doubled over in fits of laughter.

From his perch on Daniel's shoulders, Will was belting out to all who would listen, "FOLLOW THE PROPHET! FOLLOW THE PROPHET! FOLLOW THE PROPHET DON'T GO ASTRAY....FOLLOW THE PROPHET! FOLLOW THE PROPHET! FOLLOW THE PROPHET...HE KNOWS THE WAY!"

He sang it over and over and over. Bless his little heart.  Sadly, as with most spectacles in NYC, he was for the most part, ignored.

{Coming Soon...to a Theater Near You}

The other day, as we were driving around town, somehow the conversation turned to Reincarnation.  I explained, "Some people believe that when we die, we are reincarnated into someone else.  You could come back as another person, or even as an animal."

Olivia replied, "Huh. I haven't seen that movie."                                  

{Presidential Discipline}

So, today we're driving home from Olivia's ballet class and Olivia tells me I want to marry Barack Obama.

"Uh, marrying Barack Obama is the last thing I want to do, thanks."

"Do you want to kiss him?" asked Will.

"Sick. How about I just throw up now," I replied.  Both Will & Olivia burst into fits of laughter.

"Do you want to hug him?" he again inquired.

"How about I just burn off all of my skin instead," I answered and again came their laughter.

Will, barely able to talk because he is laughing so hard, decides to try one more, "Do you want to spank his bum?"

"Actually, I just like to give him a really really long time out."

Wouldn't we all?????

{An Oldie but Goodie}

Today is my Dad's aka Grandpa Chapman birthday. I told the kids that we needed to call him for his birthday and Will asked, "How old is he today?" I answered him, "56."

"FIFTY-SIX!! Wow. He's old. Do you think he will die at his next birthday?"

Let's hope not. Happy Birthday Grandpa!

{Boyfriend Games}

While we were in Palo Alto house-hunting, we took the kids to Bright Horizons, a back-up childcare program through Phil's firm.  Rather than hearing, "Don't move...Don't talk...Don't touch" over and over like the previous day when they came with us, they were able to enjoy preschool-like activities: painting, dress-up, art projects, etc. etc.  When we picked Will & Olivia up, I asked them what they did at school and Olivia reported:

"I played boyfriend with my best friend."

"You played boyfriend? How do you do that?"

"Well, you need a computer and a cell phone.  You send them e-mails and you call them on the phone."

"Huh. What do you talk about on the phone?" I asked, not really sure I wanted to know the answer.

"We talk about getting married," she answered, mater-of-factly.

"Oh. I see. Well, how old do you need to be to get married?"

"Six."

Oh.My.

{Imagining the Golden Years}

I sent Will & Olivia downstairs to play while I made dinner.  Will just came upstairs to update me on their playing:

Mom, do you want to know what we are playing right now?

What?

We're playing "Mom & Dad". We're pretending it's my birthday.  I'm 73 years old.  Hey Olivia! I'm really tired...we should go take our nap! Mom! Olivia is 62.  Bye! We're going back down to our playing!

{Counting is a Circus}

Today during a trip to Costco, Will and Olivia were wowing me with their counting abilities.  Will can count to over 200 - and wanted to show me....again.  When he finished, he said, "Aren't I amazing? I should be in the circus!"

{Boys...already?}

This year, Olivia discovered boys. At age 3. I know. We're in trouble.  At our house, it's "Walker this...Walker that....Walker Walker Walker."

Yesterday, I was talking to Will about a birthday present for his friend Charlie. I decided the gift we planned to give him was better suited for a boy Olivia's age, so I said, "Let's keep this to give to one of Olivia's boy friends from school."

From the other room I hear Olivia say, "OH! you mean Walker!"  

"I mean your friends that are boys."  To which she replied, "OH! you mean Roger."

Help me.

{New Olivia-isms}

Oh how I wish I had hidden cameras to capture all of these moments on tape because they are so funny in person!  But, here are a few things Olivia has been saying around the house:

Yikes!

OH! I get it! I understand what you're talking about....

Are you kidding me? or You've got to be freaking kidding me! (wonder where she got that one) 

Seriously?

{Because...}

Will got upset at me today when I wouldn't let him watch Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp version) right after school (we set it to record just before leaving for school and I told him he could watch it later) and exclaimed out of frustration, "Why are you trying to ruin my life?!"

{Beauty Temperature}

This morning I went to get my glasses in our bathroom before heading downstairs to get Olivia some cereal for breakfast and caught a startling view of myself in the mirror.  My hair was sticking up on one side in a way you usually only see on drunk people or toddlers.  I laughed and said aloud, "Wow. I'm hot."  Olivia looked at me and retorted, touching her own hair, "Wow. I'm cold."

{Take that, so-called Rock Star}

I recently recorded the Kings of Leon's concert at the O2 arena in London and watched it with Will & Olivia this morning.  We like several of their songs and I knew they would like seeing the band who performs them.

Regarding the lead singer, Caleb Followill, Will said, "He looks like a little baby with a big chocolate mustache."

Wishes

Today we met Phil for lunch at Old Ebbit in DC.  After we ate, we let the kids make wishes in the fountain located in the courtyard.  I gave Will and Olivia two pennies each for their wishes. Olivia went first.  She squeezed the penny tight in her hands, closed her eyes and wished....

Wish #1: I wish we could be friends forever.
Wish #2: I wish Mommy and I will always love each other. {me too!}

Will was next, he too took the wishes very seriously.

Wish #1: I wish we could be friends in our family forever.
Wish #2: I wish I could be a magician.

The NO's Have It

Will, while gazing into the pantry asked me, "Mom, may I please have a piece of chocolate?"
"Do you mean one of Daddy's chocolates?"
"If that's okay...yeah, one of Daddy's chocolates. I mean, as long as that's okay."
"Oh buddy. How could I possibly say "NO" to anything you ask me?"
"You just say NO. That's how you tell me NO when you don't want me to have something. You just tell me NO."

I of course gave him the chocolate!

{Highlights from today}

The past couple days have been unusually cold. Bitter bitter cold. Olivia left her coat in the car (again) so as we were putting it on, in the garage before getting into the car, she said, "Brrrr.......Mommy! It's so cold! I'm freezing...like a woman!"

A couple funny things that Will said to me tonight when I took the kids out to dinner:

"Don't look at me that way Mommy, I had nothing to do with that." Over the spilled pepper on the table that both he and Olivia were eating.


"That's a MILLION times better." In response to me giving him permission to dip his steak in ketchup.

{Future Inventor}

Each week Will & Olivia bring home a stack of work from school, mainly artwork.  Yesterday Phil was able to pick Will up from school and when they got home, they went through each piece of art together.

When Phil asked Will to tell him about a particularly detailed drawing, Will explained his machine thoroughly and ended with, "...so it sucks your car in here and sucks you in there and then you push the blue button and pull the red lever and then you come out and you're a car, but you can still talk."

{Big Brother}

Just overheard:

Olivia came downstairs from her bedroom and Will asked her, "Olivia, why aren't you watching your {My Little Pony} movie? Don't you like it?"

"No. It wasn't the song part."

"Hmmmmm....I think I know what might be the problem. Let me see if I can help."

....and up the stairs they went.

{A Labor of Love}

For about 6 months now, both Will & Olivia have had small chores to do around the house. They are both so eager to help, so I figure I better make the most of it!  One of Will's jobs is to open the shutters downstairs in the morning and close them at night when it starts to get dark.  At first, he was great about doing it without being asked, but lately has needed repeated reminders.  I recently found the cutest reward chart online and printed a version for both Will & Olivia.  Will has been super excited to earn stars and has asked me repeatedly for more things he can do for me to earn more stars {WHOO HOO!}.  He gets a star for doing the blinds if I don't have to ask him first. So far, he's been doing it everyday.

Yesterday, as I was hurrying to get out the door for work, Will informed me, "Mom, I did the blinds today without being asked. I just want you to know that I really don't like to do the blinds. It's not something I like to do, but I did it because I know it helps you and I love you.  I do them because I love you."

What more can I ask for?

{A Child's Prayer}

"Dear Heavenly Father, I hope you had a fabulous day in Heaven today and I hope you have only sweet dreams tonight. And please bless that I will only have good dreams, and no bad dreams. And please bless we will be able to have a fun day as a family tomorrow. In Jesus name, Amen." - Will

{Singing is the best medicine}

Olivia has an uncanny ability to remember and recite lyrics to songs. It cracks me up when I hear her singing Nirvana's In Bloom while she tools around my bathroom while I get ready in the morning or Duffy's Mercy as we drive to school. And now, thanks to our recent trip to NYC, (where she saw the Broadway musical), her latest (and perhaps more age-appropriate) singing obsession is Mary Poppins.  She loves to sing all of the songs, but in particular, Spoonful of Sugar & It's a Jolly Holiday with Mary.  


Lately, Olivia has developed a wee obsession with eating peanut butter & honey on a spoon. Who can blame her?  Well, just now, while eating her favorite snack, she started singing, "Just a spoonful of peanut butter helps the honey go down! The honey go dooooooooooown the honey go down!"

{Choosing the Right, finally?}

Today marked the start of a new {Primary} year at church.  Big changes, most notably that Olivia is no longer in Nursery and is finally a Sunbeam!  Also, Will graduated from the Sunbeams and is officially a CTR. CTR 4, to be exact.

When we picked up the kids from their classes, they both had so much to tell us about their new teachers, new class names, etc. etc.  Will had a picture of the CTR crest that he colored.  At the bottom, he drew a picture of a "Sunbeam" (which looks remarkably like his snowflakes & seashells).  It had a line drawn through it and he asked, "Do you know why I drew this? Because ERNT! no more Sunbeams!"  On the way home Olivia, taking a page from her big brother announced, "ERNT! no more Nursery!"

Phil asked Will what CTR stands for and he answered, "Choose the Right." Following up, Phil asked him "So, if you had a choice between yelling at your sister or not yelling at your sister, which would be the right choice?"

"NOT yelling at my sister!" Will answered gleefully.

"That's right, Will. That's Choosing the Right."

Without missing a beat, Will replied, "Good thing I went to church!"