Overnight Oatmeal

Kasey came over yesterday and introduced me to a new breakfast, overnight oatmeal. We assembled one together and put it in the fridge to eat this morning. 

1/4 c dry rolled oats

1/4 c vanilla yogurt

1/4 c milk or coconut milk

1 tsp sugar (or honey or other sweetener) 

1 tsp chia seeds

Diced fruit (I did strawberries. Yum!)

Put everything into a little Tupperware and shake. Refrigerate overnight. Eat. 

This was my first time trying chia seeds and I didn't really notice them. The oatmeal was awesome! 

This morning, The girls were eating breakfast and I invited them to try mine to see it they'd like me to make one for them for tomorrow. 

Reese loved it. I figured all the kids would like it since they love oatmeal (cold, hot, doesn't matter), yogurt, and they love strawberries. 

Quincy took an eager bite and then sat wide eyed and motionless, not chewing the food in her mouth. After a minute, she slowly got up and walked over to the pantry and spit it out in the trash and said, 

"Mom, that yogurt seriously tastes like you put hot dogs in it."

I guess they can't all be winners. 

Reasoning With Reese

The one where Reese finds something wrong with the universe and creeps us out a little:

Reese: Mom, isn't Great Grandma Tenney (Mima) like...90 or something?
Me: Yes, she is 91, almost 92.
Reese: Well, um...shouldn't she be dead by now? 

Later, I tried explaining how lucky we are to still have Mima with us, but she just jumped in with
"But it doesn't make any sense. She's the oldest one I know. She should be next."

and then Quincy chimed in with "Nuh UH, Dad's gonna die first. He's the oldest. Wait. Who is older, Mom?  You or Dad? That's who dies first. Ok, maybe it's Grandma or Grandpa next. They are old..."

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The one where I fess up:

While driving past NWACC
Reese: Hey look, there's your college. Why do people go to college?
Meg: To get an education.
Reese: What's that?
Meg: It means "to learn".  You don't stop learning when you grow up.  You are always learning new things, even when you aren't in school.  If you want to learn about something specific, like history or art or how to be a better speaker or something, you can learn about it at college. 

Reese: But why did YOU go to college?
Meg: Because I wanted to learn some new things.  I got to read a lot of books for one class, and I learned about how to be a better teacher in another class, and...
Reese: Yeah, but you don't need college for that stuff. You already know everything. Right?

(Yeah. I was pretty tempted to say, "Right!" and end the convo there. I did the right thing and sold myself out as a non all-knowing being to my child.  At least I hope it was the right thing. She's only 7...seems like I should have gotten away with "knowing everything" for at least a few more years.)

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The one where Reese uses brilliance and logic to charm her way out of doing chores:
Reese: Ugh. It is always going to be like this? Where you tell me, "Quincy is only 5", and that's why she doesn't have the same rules or have to help clean our room as much? 

Me: You will always be 2 years older than Quincy, so...yes, I think so. You always have at least a few different rules because you are different children with different talents, but also because you are different ages.  Get used to that answer, because you will probably hear it again.

Reese: Well then can't you start using that answer for me, too? Someday, I will be 9, but today I'm only 7, so you could make it a little easier for me too, so I don't have to help as much, either. 
Me: laughs, why would I make it easier? You have rules for a 7 year old Reese, not a 5 year old Quincy.  She isn't you. You each get your own rules and chores.

Reese: Because if you said I don't have to help clean up sometimes, that would make it fair.  I'm always gonna be 2 years older than Quincy, but today I am two years younger than the 9 year old myself.  That isn't fair that you say, "Quincy is only 5, you are two years older" and not "Reese is only 7"

In case you didn't know these things:

1) One-ply toilet paper shouldn't even exist. 
I bought it on accident and it is a total joke. 

Or as Aaron says, "this is the toilet paper they have in Hell."
2) According to Quincy, "if a boy gives you a flower to put in your hair, then he is your boyfriend (what the?! What are they teaching her at that preschool?) but only if he is as handsome as Justin. Mrs. Lewis says we can get married when we are older but right now he just has to be my boyfriend."

3) The wait time at Bentonville Pediatrics is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes for a scheduled appointment.  Oh and Corbin's ears are both infected again.

4) Reese's ears, however, are not infected...but she put on a good enough show for Aaron this morning for him to gain a boat load of sympathy, the Quetzalcoatl blanket (reserved for sick days and special events in our house) and his permission for her to stay home sick from school.  My diagnosis was similar to Dr. A's.  She assured us at Corbin's appointment that Reese is quite healthy and quite the actress.  She was required to take quite the nap and do quite the list of chores when we got home from the doctor.  At least they only charged me for Corbin.

5) "Daddy" = Aaron, and "Dad" = grandpa Hal.  For the last week, Corbin hollers for "Gwamma" and "Dad" and follows them everywhere like a curious puppy. Super cute. It was a little embarrassing/creepy when I was in Lowe's with my dad and Corbin was calling him "Dad", though....so we started to push that he actually call him, "Grandpa". 

Now he just calls them both, "Gwamma".  My dad isn't really thrilled about that nickname, either, but considering that my girls both called my mom, "Grandpa" when they were two, it's only fair that he take one for the team.

6) Tonight, Reese asked Aaron if he's "jealous that Mommy's parents are here to visit us".  He laughed.  He's pretty thrilled to have someone else around to hold crazy Mommy's hair back while she pukes, fetch snacks for her ridiculous food cravings, and check things off her never ending to-do list.

7)  My hair was not designed to be braided.  It just doesn't work. 
8) Speaking of my hair, I despise the (too purple) color and have an appointment for a cut/style/color on Saturday.  I'm tempted to chop it short, but I have one fear that keeps me from doing just that:  I'm turning 30 in one week.  What if the haircut is terrible? I already don't have my own body right now, I definitely cannot rock my 30th birthday with an unflattering "mom haircut".   So I'm keeping it long for a while longer.  But what to do with it?  Send ideas for style/color soon.  I grew my bangs out and sort of hate it, so I'll probably have them cut, unless someone has a brilliant style suggestion that will fix them.

9) The fence gate is done, done, aaaaaand done. Hallelujah!  Thanks, Dad!  I sleep better at night knowing Corbin cannot sneak out again. (That's right, I said again. Mother of the year!)

10) Aside from maxi dresses (saving grace) maternity clothing companies are all sharing the same slogan this year and my guess is that it sounds something like, "We hate pregnant women".  Dear Motherhood, Mimi, Old Navy, and the rest of the lot: Pregnant women want to be comfortable, not sexy. Sexy is how we got pregnant. That part's taken care of...now we just want to get our elastic waist goin' on and sport fabric that doesn't make us sweaty.
11) Reese got some test scores back and she is reading at 2nd grade level.  She was satisfied with this assessment and told us with confidence that "2nd grade will be better than 1st grade."  I sure hope so.  This year wasn't the greatest as far as class/teachers go and I hope she'll have some different kids in her class next year.  There are 20 days left of school and she is ready to close the door on 1st grade and not look back.  I admire her for her perseverance in a few lousy situations this school year.  She maintained a good example for her peers and made it through with a positive attitude.  I am so happy that she will be home with us for summer break soon! I just love that girl and last summer break was just not long enough. 

12) Another sign that Reese is ready to move on to bigger and better things is that she ditched the training wheels and taught herself to ride her two wheeler like a champ. She now cruises around effortlessly and we are so proud of her.  Way to go, Reese!  You can do hard things!  

13) Aaron played in a stake basketball tournament on Saturday and made it to the semi finals.  Go Aaron!  I wish we'd gone to cheer. I love watching him play sports and it also would have been a really good excuse for eating junk food and making a few cat calls.  He had a lot of fun.

14) The weatherman here raps the news.
No seriously.  Not like those Autotune remixes, he actually made up a rap for the 10day forecast. 
It isn't good....which is actually kind of disappointing since I love me a good rap.  

Also, tonight regularly programmed television was briefly interrupted for "BREAKING NEWS".
Wanna know what the breaking news was?  10 second film coverage of an airport landing at XNA with the alleged new Razorbacks coach on board. Yep, breaking news.  Hopefully the new highest paid state employee will live a higher moral standard than the previous head coach did. 

15) I made eggs this morning and they were still warm when I cracked them open.   It made me happy to know how fresh our breakfast was...but it was also kind of freaky to hold a warm egg in my hand.  Sort of like sitting on a warm toilet seat in the winter.  It's super nice to not have your buns freeze...until you think about why the seat is warm in the first place. 

I Hear

Quincy: "If I mix my vanilla yogurt in this chocolate pudding do you think it will be totally disgusting or just kinda gross but still good to eat? I'm going for it, Mom."

Reese: "Mom, since you're having a baby and dad is at work and there is a LOT of laundry on your bed, I am doing a secret special something in your room, so just take a nap and don't peek. And if you need to go pee, you'd better use my bathroom, or knock."

Corbin: "I horsey, Neeeeiiiiggghhhhh!!!!! I horsey! No.....wook! I a piggy, oink oink, rrraaarrrrrrr! I piggy-tiger!"

the dryer humming.

cardinals chirping and nesting in the crepe myrtles.

the kitchen cabinets being opened and closed 100 times by Quincy, our kitchen snacking mouse.

silence from the toilet that isn't "running" anymore because I fixed it (booyah!).

rain pouring out over the sides of our gutters.

squawky Scoutie and Eleanor telling the world there are eggs to collect. (Happy 1st birthday, chickens!)

I Wonder

what sparks some of the odd conversations I have with Quincy. Today's happened in the car. It was pretty typical and out of the blue.

Quincy: Mom, do you like steak?
Me: Yes. I like steak.
Q: If you put steak on a pizza, that would be gross. I bet Grandpa would eat it. He really likes steak. Turn the radio up. I like this song...

???

at naptime

"Mom, I need you to wake me up right at 16:98 o'clock because that's when Corbin wakes up and if I sleep longer than him, Dad will let me stay up late past dark when it's bedtime."

"Quincy, you guys have been up late every night this week. Everyone is going to bed at 6:15 tonight, even if you nap."

"Hmm. Ok, well then just wake me up when Reese's bus comes here."

If we lived on military time, she'd actually be about right on the time...

The Belle of the Ball

Quincy, er Belle and I went on a date last Friday night to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D at the movie theatre.

We took this picture before Belle insisted that she wear glittery lipgloss and have her hair curled and pulled into a side pony. She looked adorable...especially when she walked gracefully with her hands flared out and swaying with the swish of her dress (with her pants and shirt bunched sloppily underneath...and it didn't seem to bother her one bit. Funny girl.)

Her Elegance was ushered right to the front of the popcorn line by adoring Belle fans. Quincy shrugged like, "ok, why not?" and waltzed up to the counter like a queen and ordered our popcorn with extra butter and tiny donuts.

Heaven help me, she's already being introduced to the "cute girl shortcuts" in life.

Huh. ok, scratch that....I'm pretty sure she discovered "cute girl shortcuts" the first time she batted her eyes at Aaron and used her dimples to get her out of serving a time out. Oh well.

It is always fun to take my kids to movies, but watching her face as she watched this movie was absolutely priceless. I loved how she'd reach out into the air in front of her to try and "touch" the snow or feathers or whatever appeared to be floating toward her, and how she'd startle or jump then quickly push the glasses up onto her forehead anytime the Beast roared at us. I loved when she sang along. I loved how excited she was for the "tangled" mini film feature. I loved when she sat in my lap and we snuggled under our blanket for the 2nd half of the movie.

She loved the movie, tore through several bags of candy, blew kisses to her "fans" that oohed and aahed over her glittery cuteness when we left the theater, belted every word of "Mercy" by Duffy on the ride home, and rubbed her eyes as she told me she's "not even tired, yet."

When we pulled into our garage, she thanked me for our date and confessed, "Last night at yesterday I wished on a even star that we'd have that date!"

Gush.

Man, I love that girl.

Goodnight, Belle. I hope all your "even star" dreams come true!

"Santaaaaaaa!!!!! I know him, I KNOW him!"

Reese: [whispers at the arrival of Santa] Uhhh Mom, don't you think I'm getting a little old for this?
Me: for what? Santa?

Reese: No! Just for sitting on his lap. I'll tell him what I want, but I'll just stand next to him.

Quincy: "I want an Astrid doll (which does NOT exist, by the way) and a Luna doll (which also doesn't exist) and a Jeannette doll from Alvin and the Chipmunks. Not Britney, Jeannette."

Quincy: That's not the right Santa. He doesn't have a cherry nose!

Corbin: [His reaction went something like this.]
Today:
Me: "Reese, tell me what you asked Santa for on your list?"

Reese: "I want a Eleanor doll and a Theador doll from Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakuel and a Harry Potter lego set, and a canopy bed and a canopy closet like Fancy Nancy's and a Ballet Barbie."

Quincy: That's a lot of things, Reese....[bursts into song] Joy to the World my men come home, let every spirit sing! And M&M nature sing, and M&M nature sing and M-MMM and M&M's and nature sing!"

Reese: "Hey. I was really bad last Christmas Eve and got in a lot of trouble for throwing a big fit. But Santa still came and brought me presents....how do you explain that? Can I be bad this year? Don't worry, I'm not going to, but like if I was naughty, would Santa just come anyway?"

Quincy: Hey, guess what, Santa----

Corbin: -----SAAAAANNNTTTTAAAAAA! Mom! Santa! Mom! MOM! Santa! Christmas trees! MOM! MOM!

Quincy: Ugh, be QUIET Corbin, I was talking! Mom, Santa brings us presents if we sleep good because to remind us of Jesus's birthday.

Reese: it's his birth, not his birthDAY

Corbin: Birthday!!!!! Santa!!!!!

Quincy: That's the same thing if it's his birth then it's his birthday. There is still presents.

A True Willardson

Aaron passed Quincy her dinner plate. She examined her food and with a scowl on her face she rejected it.

"Daddy, I can't even smell any butter on there!"

Yesterday...

Quincy: "Bloody Hell!"

Thanks for nothing, Harry Potter.

Quincy

-is really lonely when Reese is at school.
-is back on a wearing pants strike.
-makes her own oatmeal. This is actually a pretty great thing, since oatmeal is one of the 5 things she eats willingly.
-has insisted that we refer to her as, "Astrid" for about 2 weeks.
-still chooses to wear flip flops on the wrong feet.
-finally stopped adding a request for a pet unicorn to her dinner prayers, but replaced it with a request "that mommy and daddy be so very nice."
-really needs a haircut, but cries everytime I get the scissors out.
-makes me laugh out loud multiple times a day.
-still asks to take naps and I love her more for it.
-has been telling a lot of "stories" (read: elaborate lies) lately. Her most recent being the one where she told Aaron she caught the fat rat while he was at work and then she stabbed it in the stomach with a sharp knife, and the one where she told us that last year, at preschool, Mrs. Shaefer had no clothes on for a whole day. We aren't really sure what to do with this information. We know the stories are false, but that doesn't actually do anything to dissolve the creeped out effect they have on us.

Quincy Says

Some nights, it is just too late for scripture time with the kids and we practice learning an Article of Faith instead. Tonight, Quincy volunteered to recite the First Article of Faith, and said,

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His son, Jesus Christ, with liberty and justice for all."

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Last weekend when we ate dinner on the square, I took her potty at the Station Cafe. We passed the kitchen on the way back there and she asked about it. I pointed out that that is where the chef cooks the food that we ordered. She seemed ok with my explanation at first, but as she was washing her hands, she looked at me with fear in her eyes and a quivering bottom lip, and in all seriousness asked,

"Mom, do they cooked little children if they go through the door for the kitchen? Will they cooked us up?"