Oreo Day

Alan:  "Tomorrow is Memorial Day."

Adam: "Does that mean we eat Oreos?"

Alan: "No, Memorial Day is when we remember all the military folks who fought in wars and didn't make it."

Adam: "Do you think they'll want some Oreos?"

A Little Morning Story

Today, Alan and I woke up at about 6 a.m.  Not to babies crying, like usual, but to the sound of Adam's voice in his room (so we thought).  Alan got up to check it out.  Adam was not, in fact, in his room, but in the babies' room.  The big, bright, overhead light was on and he was reading them books.  And they were looking and listening with awe.  Then, Anaya saw Daddy and started fussing, which made Audie fuss, which meant it was time for everyone to get up.  We should have left well-enough alone when we figured out everyone was alive, and wallowed in the bliss.  We'll know better next time.  I hope it's a Saturday next time.

Snips and Snails

Well, it's been a busy one-of-those-Mondays around here, but I didn't forget about my Monster.  I'm barely making it, but it's still Monday.

Right now is the rainy season here on Okinawa (don't come visit me in May).  Apparently this means torrential downpours for a few weeks, then a transition into summer.  Boo for pouring rain everyday (although I'm guessing that it's responsible for the lushness of the place).  Yay for summer (and the beach!) being just around the corner!  Anyway, with the rain comes the emerging of anything that wants to live out of the grass and onto our patio or onto or into our homes.  Foot-long earth worms, cockroaches the size of my hand, millions of ants, and snails.  Dozens and dozens of snails.  Adam finds them fascinating, for some reason beyond my comprehension.  Why would a little boy that moves constantly at the speed of light be so enamored with a snail?  Maybe that's just it.  Maybe he doesn't understand how anything could move so slowly.  I mean, for Adam, crawling and walking were just stepping stones to running.  He only crawled for about two months before he walked and he only walked for about five minutes before he ran.  But, here he is, amazed.  He'll pull those snails off the wall and line them up to race.  A snail race!  What on earth could be more boring??  But he sits.  And he watches.  And he puts one back on track if it strays (that snail doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of escaping).  So the other day he was on our patio, watching the snails, and he calls to me:  "Mommy!  You wanna come watch this snail with me?  It's about to move!"  "No, thanks!" I replied.  And I went about my "busy" day. 

But, you know what?  I should have gone and watched that snail get ready to move.  I should have stopped whatever it was I was doing and done that.  Because sometimes watching a snail almost move with your three year old is just what you need to do.  Rather, it's just what they need you to do.  Lately I've been a little caught up in what I need (haircut, pedicure, curtains for the living room, paint for the babies' room...) and I've failed to give my children everything they need.  I mean, I've covered the basics.  They're warm and fed and clothed and loved, but nothing extra.  And I sit and wonder why they aren't happy babies or why we're getting bad reports from Adam's preschool.  I wonder what I'm doing wrong.  It finally occurred to me that it's not what I am doing that's wrong - it's what I'm not doing. 

So the blogs may be less frequent, and will likely be posted at midnight, after babies are fed and back to bed and Adam's in bed and tomorrow's lunch is made.  And my facebook page might not have a new status update every hour.  But my babies will get plenty of tummy time and story time and stimulation.  And my Adam will teach me all about snail races and tell me what he did at school.  Tomorrow is Tuesday and Tuesdays are "Adam and Mommy" days, so I can't wait to see what's in store.

 
   

In Engrish, Prease

I could literally photograph 100 things a day over here that would make you laugh.  I guess it's a little bit wrong of me to make fun of them in some cases because they are trying and they're doing us a courtesy by trying to put it in English.  I mean, it is Japan, and maybe we should be able to read Japanese and speak Japanese, kind of like we expect people in America to speak English.  Still, it's damn funny.  You would think if they're going to put forth the effort, they might get someone to proof read it.  Just sayin'.  Here are some recent Engrish run-ins:

I've seen this sticker or one like it a thousand times - for some reason they LOVE these here, as if a American crappy driver is going to all of a sudden drive better because you have a baby in your car?  I never noticed the bottom line before.  Probably because I was passing you too fast.

This is a "drink bottle - for drinks," as stated on the tag.

The quote at the bottom reads: "It flows between feelings.  Let's spend a rich, happy time together"  What?  What flows?  What feelings?  I'm confused.

I didn't really need an egg slicer, but how could I pass up the package with confusing warnings and helpful illustrations for that person buying this but has no idea how to use it?

Who even knew it was best to wash rice before cooking it?  Not me!  But this rice paddle is "Useful for some more things" and "Available to a person who has long nails," so naturally, it was calling my name.

Peace out.  Oh, and always remember:

Chair Stress Test

Derby Days 2010 - Our Squadron's car won!  Go Eight Deuce!

This one's going to require a visual.  If you're reading this blog then you've most likely met my parents.  If not, then you aren't going to find this very funny. 

Tonight at dinner, Adam was asking who was going to sit beside him (since Grandma used to sit there, the chair is now empty).  I told him that pretty soon Anaya and Audie would be sitting at the table, so he proceeded to decide where everyone shall sit when that happens.  Since there are five of us and we have only six chairs, Alan asked Adam where Grandma and Grandpa were going to sit when they come to visit.  Adam thought for a while, and then said "They'll sit right here, together, because this mat is long" - pointing to the ONE chair next to him.  It immediately sparked a laugh out of me due to a visual in my head of my Mom & Dad sharing one chair at our dinner table, attempting to eat dinner.  That's not gonna fly.  Not for them and especially not for the chair (no offense, Mom & Dad, but you know it's true).  We're gonna need another chair. 

You Get What You Pay For

Recently we began using our mamasan to also do some childcare a couple of days a week.  Since that happened, people have had no problem asking how much we're paying her and then voicing their opinion on it.  For the record, we pay her $10.00/hour for all three kids and I think it's a pretty good deal (especially considering that when I return she's usually washed bottles, made beds, and done three loads of laundry!).  A lot of people have expressed that "she's expensive," or "she's banking!"... There are a few things I don't skimp on because I think you really get what you pay for with these particular things.  Here are some of those things:

Childcare - I'm comfortable paying more and knowing my children are properly cared for.  With newborns, I'm not looking for a deal.

Shoes - Bad shoes give blisters

Paper products - facial tissue, toilet tissue, paper towels... Quilted Northern Ultra rocks, plus they support Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Diapers - Luvs and the Walmart brand have betrayed us before and it's been ugly.  Some people have good luck, but those people aren't us.

Jeans - There's really no legitimate reason, other than I like them better and they fit well.

There are probably a few other things, but these are the main ones that came to mind.  We're all allowed a few indulgences.  Mine aren't too exciting - toilet paper and diapers?  What do you not skimp on? 

That's A Keeper

Here are some out-takes from our little photo shoot the other day.  I took no less than 20 pictures of the three of them sitting on the couch.  The funniest part is that no matter how many pictures I snapped, at least one of the babies couldn't take their eyes off that stinkin' ceiling fan!  So, finally, I moved myself under the fan to see if that would work.  By then, however, Adam had totally lost interest.  I can't blame him.  Here is the progression:

Adam: 1  Babies: 0

Adam: 0  Babies: 1

Adam: 1  Babies: 1

Adam: 1/2  Babies: 0  Ceiling Fan: 2

Adam: 1/4  Babies: 0

Adam: 1/2  Babies: 0  Damn Fan.

Now I've moved.  Adam: 1/2  Babies: 1/2 each

0.  We're totally losing Adam.  Really, we can only ask so much.

Totally bored.

Now he's grabbing their arms.  Crap.  What's he going to do?

And, we're done.

After we calmed Audie down, we took some of just the twins.  Anaya is 100% female.  Watch:

Him:  "Get her away from me.  She's pinching me on the back!  She's about to do something."

Her:  "Look how cute I am, all innocent and everything.  Don't pay attention to him.  He doesn't know what he's talking about."

Him:  "Wait.  What's she trying to do now?  Is anybody watching this??"

Her:  "Don't listen to him, just look at me.  I'm so cute!"

Him:  "I tried to tell you people!  She's moving in for the kill!"

Her:  "What?  I didn't do it!  I don't even have teeth!"

Now we're really done.  Seriously, that little girl cracks me up.  Something tells me these two boys better get tough real fast, 'cause she's a-comin'!  They won't even know what hit 'em.  That's my girl ;-) 

 

French Toast + Three Months

Since it's Monday, I won't let the babies steal Adam's thunder.  Here's a little ditty:  Saturday night we decided to have breakfast for dinner - French toast.  Adam loves to help me out in the kitchen and he (vaguely) remembered how we made it last time.  Since Alan was going to make it this time, Adam told him the recipe.  It started like this:  "Daddy first you have some cheese sauce and some eggs..."  I can only gather that when the yolks broke, he thought it looked like cheese sauce.  Besides that, he was spot-on with the instructions!  Maybe we have a future chef on our hands?  It can be a back-up if the whole "workitecht" thing doesn't work out ;-)

In other news:  Anaya and Audie are three months old!!  Mom left a week ago and we've been struggling, I'm not gonna lie.  But, we're finding our footing and I think everyone's going to make it.  Overall, they are happier babies than a month ago.  Anaya plays a lot and smiles and sticks her tongue out at us.  She's definitely a girl, though, and she beats up on her brother any chance she gets.  And if she loses her paci, she'll reach over and knock his out, too.  If she can't have it, no one can!  Audie has started to come around as well, but he's still a little spoiled from Grandma.  He'll have to be the baby we wear all the time, so I hope I'm wearing my Japanese sling correctly.  The instructions were in Kanji, so I'm not sure...Audie doesn't seem to be complaining, so I guess that will have to do.  We snapped a few pictures on their three-month birthday and even managed to get Adam in some.  There will absolutely have to be a blog tomorrow (or the next day) with some of the out-takes.  Here are some cuties, though:

Babies watching the Spurs kick some Dallas A$% - they were really upset about the missing bottle holders on the Boppy pillows:

Big Brother with the babies:

Just the babies:

My personal favorite:

'Til next time - mwah!

50/50

I'll take half the credit for this.  I'll allow the other half to go to his Mom.  Any way you cut it, it's another reason I married him - he's not afraid to rock the Bjorn while vacuuming ;-)