Suess Spotting

It's Suess week, and it's also spring break at the college. The girls are at Aimee's. Yesterday, a field trip to the library. Which resulted in this convo:

Me: was dr. Suess there?

Cora: no.

Me: the cat in the hat?

Quinn: yeah

Me: You saw the real Cat in the Hat?!??

Quinn: Yeah!!!

Cora: no you didn't.

Quinn: nuh-huh (translation: yes sissy I did)

Me: the real thing?!?

Cora: no you didn't! (Frustrated)

Quick side note. Quinny is probably at the age that it's time to talk about lying, but her language is developing slower than Cora's so instead of having a learning moment I instead... After hearing the conversation continue with Cora adamant there was no cat and Quinny adamant that there was...

Me: Cora what if there WAS a cat and you couldn't see it because you don't believe?

Quinn: yeah Corda

Cora: I believe in Santa Clause!!!

Me: but do you believe in the cat? Because it sounds like Quinny saw him and you didn't.

(I mentioned teaching Quinny not to lie... The irony just hit me).

Mother of the year. And this, folks, is how I entertain myself when Landon works late...)

Our prayers

Last night at dinner, Quinn reminded us that we needed to say a prayer for her friends and Honky Konky.

I'm sorry. I don't know where she came up with this imaginary friend's name, but I have a feeling Honky Konky is about to get a seat at our dinner table. 

This wasn't efficient, but it was happy. 3 things that were fun about this.

1: Quinn opened her mouth every time she wanted Emily to take a bite.

2: she was doing the airplane here. I'm not sure what day the cleaning lady is coming (canceled her yesterday cause we had stomach flu) but I tell you, we need her now.

3: Quinn laid spoon on high chair. Em made a lunge for it. Here's Quinn explaining, "No no baby. Not a toy."

Ems

Quinn's version

Me, singing while making breakfast:

Every morning I wake up

Before I put on my make-up

I say a little prayer for ...(pausing for Quinny to finish the line)...

Quinn (with dramatic flair and strong voice):

Honky konky

Who in the heck is Honky Konky?!?!? 

And every night, I ask The Lord, for just another day in paradise.

December Beach Day

It was in the upper 60s one day after Christmas but before New Years... We loaded up and hit the beach for a wintry picnic. 

Cora insisted on wearing bathing suits. I rolled with it. She swore she wasn't cold, but I convinced her to at least wrap up.

I love this pic. She was being so tough.

My favorite thing about living on the coast is being able to go to the beach in winter ;)

Jackson (the Jumper)

Neither of us can say when Jackson (the jumper) first came to visit us...

Jackson (the Jumper) began appearing at bedtime. It was sometime after the girls moved in together to their "new" room. Jackson (the Jumper) often visits our backyard, jumping around from tree to tree, sometimes landong on the roof outside their window. Both girls see him from time-to-time and hear him frequently, and often ask for a bedtime story of his adventures. 

Landon has spotted him in crazy places (when we're on a long car ride and it's time for a nap but the kids won't settle down... Jackson sometimes comes "jumping"; when we're waiting in line on the brink if a melt-down). We discuss Jackson (the Jumper) when we see a pic of something really cool like the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon ("Jackson (the Jumper) can probably jump over that"; "Once I saw Jackson (the Jumper) jump the Ravenal bridge").

At some point the girls wondered what Jackson (the Jumper) does? That's a great question. Santa brings gifts. The tooth fairy exchanges coins for teeth. The Easter bunny hides eggs... But what about Jackson. Landon (at some point, a long time back) explained that Jackson (the Jumper) makes kids feel better.  When their tummies hurt and they don't feel well, Jackson jumps in, touches their bellies, and makes it all better. That's the job of Jackson (the Jumper).

*******

So tonight Cora has something like the stomach flu, and Landon and I have brought our work home to brace for several days of sick kids (and selves). We've settled into the office, me grading as many papers as possible, him revising some red-lined plans. The kids are in bed, Cora calling out every 10 minutes; us responding by sprinting up to offer her water or Gatorade (and to pray she hasn't vomited her water or Gatorade). 

On my last trip up, I suggested she potty. She did. While washing her hands she started crying and saying her head hurt (clearly viral). As I picked her up and carried her to her room, she said:

Cora: I want [what I thought was daddy]

Me: ok, I'll go get him.

Cora: he's the only one who can make me feel better. 

Me: ok baby, he's downstairs. 

Cora: not daddy; Jackson!! He hasn't come yet and I've been waiting and he's the only one who will make my tummy feel better!!!

Sure enough, when I went down to prep some Advil for her head, I saw a quick speedy flash and heard a "bo-ing" and turned to see a little medicine cup full of rainbow sherbet to make the medicine taste better. 

That Jackson (the Jumper). So thoughtful!