Too Old

I have to admit that there are many days when I wish that Tessa would grow up a little bit faster. I have to remind myself that she is already pretty grown up for being only two. Even though she can count to twenty she doesn't understand age, so we have been coaching her to answer the people in the grocery store who inevitably ask "how old are you?" by replying "I am two years old". After a few coaching sessions I tried it out and asked her to reply to someone who asked. Her reply to "how old are you" was "TOO OLD". Perhaps a subliminal reminder to enjoy these early years while they last?

Some of her funny sayings lately:
ARTURO = Oh Toodles (from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)
Thank you Mama! - unprompted after giving her anything she likes (cheese and crackers, her sippy cup....)
Tickle Phoebe - a way to get the attention off of her
Unexpectedly saying the names of any of our neighbors, their kids, dogs, etc. (example; garage door opens next door, Tessa yells MARGARET!, driving by the elementary school, Tessa yells JANET! (Phoebe's aide) )
Ooooollllllddd house - versus the new house. We tell her we are going to see our new house and she recognizes the route now. She also knows the route to the park and Sam's house and sometimes has a meltdown when we turn the opposite direction.
Hammer her - Hamburger, which I think is weird that she says this because she always declines tasting one
Combo - as in meal at a fast food restaurant. We just about burst at the seams one time when we bribed her to be good at the grocery store with french fries afterwards and before we got to the menu board to order she yelled out "Combo!".
Malbublaubuaulauabuurjfdjdualubalublurhfbululb - I have no idea but it always ends with something intelligible like "throw ball Dallas". She likes speaking in complete sentences but can't get the words out fast enough so she just makes some up.
Treeeeeeasure, treeeeeasure - the song the Backyardigans sing while playing pirates and looking for treasure. She grabs any piece of paper for a map and tells Dallas to come with her to find the treasure.
Green Bag - the bean bag chair in our family room where she likes to watch tv. Sometimes when she's sick or just crabby she begs for it. I found her sleeping there this morning at 5am.
Tail - her bum, which she likes to wag as she calls it a tail.
Excuse me - She started saying this a long time ago, mostly when tattling on anyone near her who burped and didn't say it themselves, but now it has expanded to other appropriate uses. It's just cute to her hear say it when a little boy bumps into her at the playground, or she walks in between two people. Makes me just a little proud since I never hear kids using manners when I'm out in public.
Beazey - As she's twirling in circles and making herself dizzy.
And last but not least, BOINGA! - Another Backyardigans moment, but it's so cute because she just unexpectedly jumps on you as she says it.
I'm sure there's a hundred more but I wanted to get some down at least before they were forgotten. As she is now sharing with everyone who asks, she is already "Too old".

The Graduate

Today was kindergarten graduation for Phoebe. I remember being so scared to send her to preschool when she was three. Now I think we are both scared for summer vacation when she will be home all day! She really loves being with other kids, and of course her aide Janet was like a back up mommy to her. I know she will miss being around all of them.

The photo above is of the class giving their "presentation" (singing songs). Phoebe is on the far right and Tessa is standing near her watching the class. She couldn't decide whether to sit or stand, watch or participate so she did a little bit of everything. Phoebe was falling asleep in her chair as the parents were arriving, but once the class started singing she was excited to do the hand motions along with them.

After the presentation, the class left the room and lined up outside to do the graduation walk. While the room was empty Tessa decided that an empty stage is a bad thing and volunteered to fill the void. She got right up where the kids had been and gave a little song or speech or something. It was too quiet for me to hear but she didn't seem shy about it at all. She stayed there for about a minute giving her own presentation, complete with hand gestures, to the audience.

The event concluded with the calling of names and presentation of diplomas. Phoebe was the last name called. I didn't move up in the world much by marrying a W. Photo below is Phoebe receiving her "diploma" from Mrs. Larkins with Janet's help.

Confessing My Addiction

I didn't even realize that I was addicted until I was forced to go without....technology. Now, I'm not talking about full-on, hard-core pioneer days here, but that's what makes it so pitiful.

~ About two weeks ago my cell phone was stolen. Okay, I left it at the mall playground, but I realized it very quickly and ran back to get it only a couple of minutes after leaving it and it was already gone. Later, I found out that some honest person (apparently there is still one out there) saw it and tried to get it back to me by calling some of my MyFaves people. He finally left a message on Tim's phone saying that he would leave it at the movie theatre office, presumably since the theatre was near the playground. This person did not make ANY other phone calls, downloads, or anything else that would have cost me money. Then he gave it to someone else, who more predictably was not honest, and I have never seen it since. I was able to suspend the account before anyone else tried to use it, so I'm only out about 20 bucks for an "upgrade" fee. It does weird me out knowing that I had some pictures on there though. I miss my phone. It was a nice phone. Nothing special, but it was thin and fit nicely in my pocket or purse, it also was a flat phone so I couldn't hang up on people accidentally like I always seem to do on a flip phone. The first day I was without it I was almost in a panic over not having it. Like a lifeline that has been cut. I can't call my friends at any random moment. I am coping better now, waiting impatiently for my replacement to arrive. What did I ever do without a cell phone???

~ Tim, being the handy guy that he is, took his truck apart in order to fix a valve or something. I don't know what it is. Tim, being the hard working guy that he is, has not had time to complete the project in over a month now, and therefore has to take the van to work most nights. Some nights he can carpool and at least he's working nights, so there are only a few hours of each day where I would even be able to go anywhere, but just knowing that I can't makes me feel somewhat claustrophobic. I never thought I'd miss the van. How do people ever survive without at least two cars per family? Even more unimaginable, how did they survive without cars at all? They farmed, I guess.

~ Our computer is dying. It won't be long before it joins all of the other piles of electronics in the great motherboard in the sky. I have to admit I have grown to love cable, more than I ever thought possible, for internet access. Light years ahead of DSL and let's not even talk about dial-up! But lately with our computer issues, hitting "enter" has resulted in 20-30-even 45 second wait times for a new page to load. This is a significant difference from fractions of a second. You laugh at me, I know, but try counting to 45 and then tell me just how long it really is. See??? You didn't even try it because you knew how long and boring it would be!

~ Okay, this one is just for laughs. Anyone else got Tivo? Well, DVR, I mean. I still call it Tivo because that was the first one we had, so like BandAids and Kleenex, they will all be called Tivos now. Anyway, one of my favorite things is the instant replay button. You can be watching anything on TV, not recorded, just regular live TV, and if you want to rewind it a few seconds you hit the instant replay. Well, I find myself hitting an imaginary replay button in the car when listening to the radio. It's like second nature now, if I missed something I hit replay and viola, I get a second chance to hear/see it. I find myself wondering when technology will catch up to all my ideas of how to make life convenient. Like, being able to email someone a tv program from my tv. That way I don't have to save all my Alaska recordings until I get around to taping them for Dad. I could just email it to his tv and be done with it. Good idea huh? I am already ahead of the current level of technology. :) I am fretting at being without my conveniences and anxiously awaiting more. Totally addicted.

Life in the Fast Lane

Tessa got a tricycle for Christmas and has only had occasional interest in it up until the last couple of weeks. I think it is the weather right now, enticing all of the neighborhood kids out into the street to play in the evenings. She really watches the bigger kids when they are riding. She goes faster in reverse but is getting much better at forwards, but can't seem to stay in a straight line. Hopefully when she takes to the streets in a different type of vehicle 14 years from now, we won't be saying the same thing!