Beauty and the Beast

Last week Mom and I took Ava to see the junior high production of B&B at the high school. They were actually pretty amazing considering how young they were. Anyway, it was Ava's first play and I wasn't sure how she would do. We successfully managed to avoid the $5 light up roses, as I could picture it in the junk (I mean toy) box a mere five minutes after we got home. Then we got our seats in the nosebleed section and waited.

Ava's first comment after it started was that Belle was not wearing the right dress but I assured her that she would change. And the comments kept coming for the entire play. "What did she say momma? Why is she leaving momma? That's the Beast momma! He's mean now but he'll be nice later." And so on and so forth. Then it was time for intermission and the lights came on. I turned to see my horrified child start sobbing uncontrollably and asked what was wrong. "Theeeey diiiiidn't faaaalllll in juuuv momma!" She seriously said it so loud that our entire section turned around and laughed. My poor girl doesn't know about intermissions and I had to gently explain that it wasn't over. They will fall in love and live happily ever after. All will be right in her world again.

So all in all the play was a success, although I think for the sake of other theater goers we will be waiting a little while before we attend another one.

When we were leaving she saw all the characters in the hallway and asked what they were doing. I told her they were talking to people and waiting for their mommies and daddies to pick them up. Then we left and saw Gaston standing behind the school talking to someone. She looked really scared and shifted her body away from him. Then she said in a whisper, "Don't yook momma, it's the bad guy! He's waiting for his bad mommy and daddy to pick him up." Oh I wish I had a picture of the look on her face.

Just say no...

I think I might have a smoker on my hands. He's got a crazy oral fixation, sucks his thumb so hard that he now has a callous, and every time he gets his thumb in his mouth he looks like he's lighting up.

Hsieh family fun day

Last Wednesday we thought Ben had pink eye so he got a sub for Thursday, and then when he woke up it was pretty much gone. So we took advantage of our free day and the sun and headed downtown. First we went to the park by the rose garden and let Ava run free and coat herself in the mud (thankful for reversible jackets.)

Then we headed to this really fun part of the city that we don't know anything about and found a great second hand children's store. We also wanted to try out the food carts, which are a quirky Portland thing, so we walked down and found them in a small parking lot. I have been craving New Mexican food and there's supposed to be this really good cart that's run by the drummer of the Shins who's from there, and his Grandma taught him how to cook. Mostly I wanted sopapillas but the other items on the menu also looked amazing. Unfortunately he was taking too long to open his cart and the other one's smelled so good that I caved for a pizza, rice bowl, and chocolate shake. It was so fun and all the food was really good so I think it will be a fun area to get to know better.

After that we went to Pioneer Square (a Portland staple) and let Ava run around. Then we took the free train up to Finegans toy store and ended with a Pomegranate lemonade from Nordstroms. Ava skipped her nap and Ian was a trooper the whole day. It was so good to have unexpected family time. I can't wait to have Ben home for the summer and have more days like these.

Before I forget...

Ava: Momma, I want God to live here with us because I love him the bestest!!!

Me: I know honey but He is always here with us even though we can't see Him.

Ava: (Serious look on her face) I am going to cut my heart out so I can see him and keep him here with us always!

I'm not sure if that's really sweet or if I should be seriously concerned.

Smile!

Ava had her first trip to the dentist last week and she did great. I was so proud of her as I was in a different section and she was by herself. I could hear her making all these jokes and cracking everyone up. I wish I could have videotaped her little voice. "What's back and white, back and white, back and white? A penguin wolling down the hill" "Toot, tootsy toot! ha ha! I'm pretty funny!" "Can I have more of that sparkle stuff on my teeth. I need to go show momma the sparkle stuff!" And then there were times I could hear the nerves in her voice like when the dentist came in and wanted to look at her mouth and she was afraid the light would be too bright in her eyes and she told the assistant, "I think you need to find my special glasses." She was such a big hit that she got to make four trips to the prize bucket. Although one was for a special sticker for me because, "you were bwave too momma!"

Daddy Love

I caught this sweet moment looking out the kitchen window while making dinner.

Ben and mini-Ben watching Ava dance in Pioneer square

Daddy showing off Ian's new vans

snapshots

5am-unusually early morning wake-up call from Ian/feed #1 and put him in bed w/me

("why did we stay up until 11:30 watching the Informant?")

6am-wake up after having a nightmare that a dog was eating my hand and realize that Ian's been sleeping on it

7am-feed #2 & call from Ava in the downstairs bathroom to help her as she's smeared new toothpaste all over the sink

("why didn't I hide the new toothpaste")

8am-feed #3 & attempt #1 to put Ian down for a nap

("maybe he'll take a long nap and I can dry my hair today!")

8:30-quick shower/makeup

("I am SO ready to stop pulling out post-pregnancy handfuls of hair each morning!")

8:40-bring crying Ian downstairs and try to eat cereal while holding him

8:45-after putting Ian over my shoulder he throws up all over my hair/back/pants/floor

("deep breath and thank you Ian for not throwing up directly into my mini-wheats")

9am-shower #2

("I wish I was brave like that girl in 500 days of summer and could just cut all my hair off right now")

9:15-while drying my hair Ava runs in screaming that she has to go potty and as I pick her up realize that she's just gone all over the floor and all over her new Easter dress that she insisted on wearing today

("I am so thankful that I have 6 bottles of 409 and a roll of paper towels in every room of the house")

10am-rescue screaming Ian for feed #4 and unsuccessful nap attempt #2 while putting Ava in timeout for sneaking 3 oranges after I told her she could only have one

("I wonder what would be the most probable illness I could fake to get more painkillers from my doctor? and, I never thought I would be punishing my child for eating too much fruit")

10:15-put both kids in the tub

11am-make Ava lunch while Ian cries in his bouncy seat

12-take both kids outside to sit in the sun and Ian poops through his onesie and outfit

("perfect timing on the bath momma!")

12:30-feed #5 and put both kids down for SUCCESSFUL nap attempt #3

("I am so thankful that I didn't have a chance to change out of my jammies so I can go right back to sleep")

The sad part is that Ben's going to come home tonight and ask what I did today and I'm going to say, "nothing."