What do you mean smile?

Ellie, smart girl, has figured out how to avoid picture taking. I say, "say cheese", and she does this:

You've learned well my good and faithful student...

Yes we are still in our jammies, but only we know that it was 12:30. Nice face shot by Ellie don't you think? She caught my true self in a photo...

Wanna Know a Secret?

Today at gymnastics Ellie had a new coach. She's had three different coaches since we started a month ago (I don't blame them for quitting...I don't like three/four year olds either, sometimes not even my own!!). After they had warmed up, the coach brought them into a huddle on the floor (they were stretching their tummy muscles). To have them hold their stretch for a long time, she asked them all to share a secret.

Ellie was the very last to share, I didn't hear what she said, but I knew what it was after the I heard the discussion.

Coach: Oh, no!! Really?

Kids: You are supposed to go potty on the toilet!!

Coach: Yep, because you guys are big kids.

Ellie: I know, I can't watch TV now.

Ellie had shared that yesterday she peed on the floor in the office. I guess Ellie is like me and relates herself more to a camel than a pregnant lady (that would be Dan). She likes to hold it until it is absolutely impossible to hold it any longer. I wonder how long that will be the secret of choice...

When we got home from gymnastics, I was in the kitchen making her a grilled cheese sandwich. She casually walked in the living room. When I asked her what she was doing she said, "I'm pretending to watch TV".

So, there you have it, pretending to watch TV is still better than doing any thing else.

There Were 3 in the Bed and the Little One Said...

Ellie does fairly well going to sleep in her own bed, but by the time I wake up to go running her little body is wedged in between us. The sad thing is that neither Dan nor I can remember actually going to get her. She just magically appears in our bed every morning.

Last night, Ellie awakened around 11 pm, she was scared (from Halloween season until Christmas, she is a HUGE scaredy cat!!) and wanted to come sleep in our bed. Dan was still up watching a movie, and I was reading. She came in bed, and while I was reading about ESL methods, she was reading our family book followed by my PE book.

Finally when Dan came to bed, Ellie let out a huge sigh, and said, "I love my family".

We all stayed up a little longer chatting.

Ellie: Dad, you have A LOT of friends.

Dan: Really? Who?

Ellie: Tyler, and that black guy at the door...

Who was the black guy at the door you ask? A magazine salesman that Dan let in to use the bathroom. Nevermind that I had huge heaps of laundry on the floor waiting to be washed...

Me: Do I have a lot of friends?

Ellie: I don't know, you tell me...

Even though I am not a huge fan of having Ellie in our bed, I was reminiscing about my cute, snuggly, little girl. About two years ago I was in an early math class (7 am). Ellie had come to bed with us the night before and when the alarm went off, I opened my eyes and realized that Ellie had spent the whole night sleeping with her arms around my neck. Ellie had the most superb toddler body, meaning that she had a MASSIVE head and short, stubby arms. As I slowly moved away from her, I realized that my cheek all the way down to my neck was soaked. To this day, I still haven't figured out if it was from sweat or Ellie's drool!! I love that girl!!

Ellie Christmas 2006

WANTED!!!

Why can I not find these anywhere!!? My thighs NEED them!! Dan has searched everywhere for them to no avail. I love him even though he fell short!! :P

Peeing your Pants is the Coolest!!

Pregnancy, labor and delivery must have done a number on me. You see, I was able to "hold it" all day long if I wanted to, but that has been hard to maintain the last three years.

I peed my pants at school yesterday. I was running (I was supposed to be galloping), laughing, and saying gallop (because even if I was running, others would be more convinced that I was galloping if I said I was).

When I came home I told Dan what I had done...he was embarrassed for me, but lovingly reminded me of the time I wet the bed shortly after we were married (too bad I had already confessed that to the people in my class)...

On a less embarrassing note, I ran three miles today (and yes, I did pee a little then too...).

Bathing with a three year old...

Pros:
Thorough back washing

Cons:
Toys
Splashing
Comments about my big bum, sometimes resulting in, "Oh. my. gosh. mom look at the size of your butt..." (reminiscent of Sir Mix-a-Lot).
Sacrificing a nice hot bath, because said three year old likes cold water.
Gagging because said three year old drinks the bath water.
Tacking on another 30 minutes to the bath.
Discussions on why dad wears his underwear in the tub, and mommy doesn't.
Puddles on the floor, because someone likes to run to their room to get bathtub toys.

Now, where to find a back scrubber?

Fair Weather Tofu Eaters...

A couple of months ago Dan had confided in me that he felt like he was eating too much meat. He would stop by Gandolfo's for breakfast, have a meatful lunch, and then he would come home to a meal yet again prepared with meat.

I told him I would start making some vegetarian meals. I've always liked tofu at restaurants (especially PF Changs). Well tonight I actually made tofu (well, the first time making it correctly anyway...). Dan loves curry, and is always talking about how good it is in England. Since we will not be making a trip any time soon, I researched some recipes on line.

Low and behold, I found one...it was super easy to make.

Now how did it taste you ask?

BLECH!!

Ellie thought it was some icky chicken (I had to tell her it was something other than tofu, she had already told me she wasn't a fan).

Dan was chowing down, and I was thinking to myself, "He actually likes it...YAY!!" Then I took a bite...now it wasn't awful, but tofu really tastes like nothing. I don't like that it is jiggly. I think PF Changs must fry it first (anyone?) to get that chewy texture. Anyhow, I was having a hard time finishing it.

Dan noticed that I stopped...

Dan: You don't like it?

me: Not really.

Dan: Good, that means I don't have to finish it!!

me: I thought you liked it.

Dan: No, I was just trying to be a good husband. Next time will you put chicken in it?

me: Yeah, sure, whatever...

Tomorrow is the last day for this. I even got it to the actual sign up page...I know, I'm a good friend, you can thank me later...