Happy New Year (aka Felicia me muero)!

Whoa 2013. Barely got used to 2012. Remember when 1999 seemed futuristic in Prince's song. We will party like it is 2013 this year. F and I will pace ourselves as we eat into the night. F has been cooking up a storm! Food and 10 episodes of Homeland as we battle to make it to midnight. May this year be full of good health and much peace and patience for all of those who need it. I am grateful for another year full of work, love, family, good health, and many opportunities. If you are a reader and not a commenter, please make a comment once in a while in the new year so I know you be there. Felicia, me muero!

Today's Lines

Me: Dejate de joder.
M: Yeah, stop joderering.
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When I picked up a baby item at a store. J: Who is that for?
Me: Guess.
J: Our babies?
Me: We do not have babies, we have toddlers. Someone else in our family.
J: Did you forget our babies? A and V?
Me: Yes, I know them but this is for a new baby that is not born yet.
J: Ms M? (60 year old piano teacher)
Me: Nope. IN OUR FAMILY.
J: Oh, her name starts with a K! Or a C. I know who.
(thank goodness).
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J: I want a new family.
Me; Ok, go to CVS, they are on sale there.
M: You are hurting everyone's feelings.
J: The babies do not understand.
M: Someone could be recording this and they will see it when they are older. You never know.
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J while watching Albero degli Zoccali: But there are no poor people like that in real life right?
Me: There are people much poorer than that in most of the world.
J: Now? I want to give them my money (goes to piggy bank and takes out a third)
J: I feel happy and sad. Sad that I am losing my money but happy that I am giving to people that need it. But I want to give it to people in another country.
Me: Haiti? Somewhere in Africa? Nicaragua?
J: Nicaragua. Because I do not know what that is. I know that M did Haiti and I want to do a different country.

MoJo & AleVit Banter

V after I told him that he hurt my hand when he stepped on it: Sorry mano.

J: can you build my scooter so I can go out for a test drive?

V with shoe lace in hand: Oh no, I rompe (italian accent) the shoe!

Me to F: The good news is that I love you.
M: That is old news!

M to V: Torino!
V, irritated: What? (back talk from a midget!!)

Home Sweet Home

There is nothing like being back home. No matter where you have been or how much fun you could have had, it is amazing to be back home. I would not mind skipping the unpacking, however. Sheer physics suggests that I need to gather up many bags of items to give away if we are not fit in this apartment. AAAAHHH too many objects everywhere!

High & Low Lights

Somebody found little balls of poop on the couch after abuela I changed a diaper. Oops. She commented "no wonder I was smelling caca."
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A flew down an ENTIRE (short) flight of stairs while playing with grandpa. I literally stopped breathing for a few seconds. I am not sure how toddler anatomy works, but it apparently allows you to fly face down, with a running start, hit your twin on the way down and still not get hurt. Hallelujah to them rubbery bones.
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V sang "Happy birthday" all day long to his abuela (it is her bday), to A, and to grandpa.
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V screaming "I want pasta" in the car and "We are all done" (first use of "we") when they were done eating at the restaurant.

SNOW!

It has been snowing all night and it is still snowing. I hope to take the midgets out later today. Hard to believe that we only have two days left here. I failed to exercise yesterday but I did bowl. MoJo skied for me. They liked it and will be back next year. AleVit continue to enjoy traipsing around the house repeating what everything says to them in three languages and enjoying different games over and over again with different grandparents (nonni nonni with abuela I, cuckoo with nonna M). Off to eat more and hopefully read!

Feliz Navidad

Hope y'all had a good holiday. I just ate way too many burned turnips or some root vegetable that I charred. Vermont has been nice. I have failed completely at reading but I have been dancing and/or walking and running every day and throwing in some planking and back exercises. Good flossing. So overall I am doing okay with my 30 day challenge. We have not seen much film-wise. Babies have mixed feelings about the snow. They are talking up a storm in all three languages. Today A said "I want silla." When I gave it to her she added, "I want tutto." My favorite line from this holiday came from J. While opening a remote helicopter F told him he would need "supervision" to use it. J held his eyes wide open and said "Okay, super vision." MoJo is off for their first ski lesson EVER tomorrow with the grandparents. Off to burp an excess of roasted greasy burnt veggies. Yummm.

DELAY

Happy happy birthday to my partner (Dec 21 if you missed it). We are in Vermont. School is over. Christmas pageant number XIV done. We are in baby control mode trying to control the damage they are inflicting on this house full of chachkas (sp?) MoJo is out buying a tree. AleVit is down for their first nap in this house. V screamed like he was being decapitated last night. Not much sleep. Will work on not eating my weight in holiday junk. Patience and self control are key in these quarters. Happy almost Christmas.

Mamma Mia!

Xmas pageant is tomorrow and the week has flown by with no posts! It is actually very hard to believe that we are here again. Many family members sick, Connecticut, general business, all of this prevented me from posting. But here we are, like I said. Happy to be going on break, even if the family seems crazier than ever. My best gift has already arrived. It was yesterday. I went with the third graders to the nursing home to deliver some pots they had painted with plants in them. I asked them if they could sing their pageant song, "Silent Night" before we left. Even though they do not sing well. There was something about so many children singing, their little voices reaching for the notes, that moved everyone. One old man, Mr. A, raised his hand to speak before we left. He said he thought the performance was so good that they should record it and that the music made him feel warm inside. The tears were strolling down my face. It is so easy to be nice to each other. What the fuck is wrong with people? I saw my true (senior) love on the way out. She was sitting in the lobby, with her coat on, as always. She had no idea who I was (It is like the movie "50 First Dates") but smiled when I wished her a happy holiday. I kind of wanted to take her with me. One day soon I will go to the nursing home and she will be gone. Sweet KL. On a baby note, V was sent home sick yesterday. He has a fever. Again. Mercy. On the birthday front, F is catching up to me, 37 tomorrow. Off to stretch!

Pee Pee Time- Yahoo!

She may have come out last and not talk up a storm, but A has emerged as the potty queen. They have each had their own potty for a few months. They like to sit on it for a microsecond and say "all done" or "ya está" but they have never even accidentally left pee in there. A has asked me eagerly to sit on the potty in the last two days. This morning I said sure but proceeded to dress her and she yelled "potty!" I let her go and after running around naked, F went to dress her and asked me why she was wet. I went to check the potty, cover down, and it was FULL of pee. Go A! As we celebrated, V went up to her and hit her (jealous midget). Slowly but surely we will move away from ruining our planet with diapers!

Bodily Functions

V exploded in diarrhea yesterday. Think geyser. As he sat in his hi chair eating a banana, he said "caca."By the time I looked, he had yellow SHIT all over. His t-shirt was wet up to the armpits and he had poop on his forehead. I have seen kids with dinner in the form of vomit on their faces or in their hair, but never have I identified food in the form of shit on a child's face. Holy moly. Thank goodness F took over the cleaning of the blonde poop midget.
Then to add some fun to the weekend, J's front teeth have been super loose and hill billy like. While roughhousing with grandpa, his mouth started bleeding and he was able to take one out. The tooth fairy is such a prescient genius, that she left two dollars, At some point in the morning, J lost his second tooth, and more than likely swallowed it.
No more bodily functions for now.

J!

slept on the floor last night. When I asked him why (his comforter weighs 20 lbs as he stuffed it with all of his stuffed animals) he said he was helping V fall asleep.
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I went up late to the Kwanzaa celebration to find my midget drumming with another kid and two African drummers in front of the whole early childhood program. The serious look of pride on his face as he kept up with the African beat was too much! I am hoping some teachers got footage/pictures that I can have.
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A man of many trades, J also had his karate demonstration yesterday and the midget is good! Fast clean kicks, falls. Also performs karate with a very serious expression. He is not even six! I hate to boast, but I am very proud of this little swimming/drumming/piano playing/karate kicking delinquent!

30 Day Check In

How is everyone doing with their challenges? Be honest. I forgot to do my back exercises yesterday. I have read and flossed every day but some days only for 5 min (reading). I am doing well with the not yelling for the most part. I did the "click a day" to support a Miami art project.
How about you guys?

Latest MoJo

M while playing with play-doh: Is this named after the guy?
Me: Plato? The thinker?
M: Yeah.
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J when I read him "Merry Christmas. I love you. M" from his best friend: That is all she wrote? I write longer things in my cards!

Midget Tales

V to J while he practiced drumming: Stop banging!

V to A, who would not eat: Es bueno.

V to L when his twin yawned: Tiene sueño.

A when F asked "cosa dice la scimmia?" (what do monkeys say): raspberry sound.
F: ooh ooh ah ah
A, with tude: mono!

J when I asked him why he was so cute: Cute kids come from cute parents.

J when I told him he was not going to the Lion King now, but later with grandpa: I am never going to go. Grandpa doesn't pay for big things.

M to J: Stop it, mamá is not in the fun zone.

J: I have a lot of salima in my mouth.

M this am: We are lucky we have three meals a day and toys and a good school. Some schools have police and metal detectors because teenagers go to school to shoot other teenagers. The luckiest thing you could basically have, is a family.

Goodbye 37! Hello 37!

Yay! I am only 37. My savvy math skills made me think 1975-2012 is 37 years and I have been convinced that I was already 37, turning 38. How nice to still only be 37. How nice to eat a 900 calorie almond croissant a colleague brought me. How very nice to have F make me breakfast and get me a very funny card (will show to those who care to see). How great to be healthy. To have a job. A mother who brought me flowers to work before I got here. Parents who call and write before 9am (so I know they remembered right away- late night birthday calls are disappointing to me). Friends and family abroad who emailed me while I slept. How nice. Now if A's fever went away, it would be perfect! Off to teach. Thank you Sam I am. For all that I have.

Water Agua Everywhere

This was the theme yesterday. MoJo competed in their first swim race (so fun!) and did really well. Washer broken at come and it was RAINING in our living room. Literally. I was standing holding a bucket and a tupper ware watching it rain into various other containers, while F fiddled with the washer cursing like a madman (AleVit cried like maniacs in the meantime, from their cribs, for added effect). When I saw the light fixture full of water and dripping (lights on), I knew we were fucked. We are sort of fucked as I now have no washer, more damage in the apartment etc etc but I do not even care that much. We have each other, a place to live and we have our health. You cannot beat that.

F is Coming Home!

In the middle of the night tonight.
After a loooong week away.
Yay!

The Pasta Lover

He may look like a Russian midget with his stout mini body and his blond locks, but V cannot LIVE without pasta. He asks for it ("pasta?" he inquires every morning "carne"? "apple sauce?") at every meal and I think he has it for most meals at home. I made potatoes and broccoli and a slew of other foods for dinner tonight. But V cried. Desperately. For ten minutes. For his true love. "Pasta!" he wailed. I did not give in. But he barely ate. Pobre gordo.

M This Am

You are three quarters the best mom in the world. Actually, some moms are too mean and some are too nice and their kids are bratty. You are in the middle. Perfect. (my ratings are up today)
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on empanadas I made for her class yesterday: The teachers came in to scoop them up like their lives depended on it.

Happy Birthday Espinaca!

Hope you had a great one. How can you be 17? How did that happen? I guess I am about to turn 37 then. Que los cumplas feliz! TQM!

Sweetness In A Crib

A was complaining in her crib. I just put them to bed and say good night. L, aka "Cici" massages them until they are asleep (or trick her into thinking they are). A called out for Cici (dagger to my heart) and I began to hush her and rub her back. After a minute I was just hushing but not touching her and I saw V was rubbing her back. She eventually noticed but was happy anyway. I cannot think of anything sweeter than that. My feisty rough A being soothed by her chatterbox other half. Who says they cannot sleep in the same bed until college?

Mini Thems

A grabbed J's drumsticks and was actually playing with some rhythm against the pillow and then hitting the sticks together. J commented "pretty good for a little kid." Another drummer? She then proceeded to whack him with the sticks- that violence is all her.

V NEVER stops talking and now he is bossy too! He was yelling at A who was playing with a dirty sponge, "no en el pelo. no en la boca" What a little bossy pants.

It is actually very cute that I catch them have "conversations' sometimes- spontaneous back and forths mostly about "mi toonoh" (my turn).

PS V just pooped on the floor and told me. I swooped him up and while putting a diaper on him noticed that he had already slipped in it and that his foot, and subsequently my clean bed, were covered in shit. Lovely. "No caca en piso" he diligently agreed with me.

PPS They call toothpaste "pasta" (it is also called pasta de dientes) and as V asked me for more I wondered what he must think having his toothpaste and favorite food share a moniker. As if he could read my thoughts, he said "más pasta for tooth."




cac clip
conversation

MoJo's Deep Thought

I think you and papi will have another kid
Me: I think five is a lot. Do you know a lot of families with five?
M: You can wait until the babies are like two.
Me: That is in two months.
M: The Bs (family in our school) have five kids (they are gazillionaires) and so do Mexicans.
Me: Who?
M: I do not know them, but I see them on the street.

Monday, And We Are Off!

F is gone until Saturday. I am in turbo mode. Need to wrap up reports, my conference report, make empanadas for two second grade classes, shuffle back and forth to music classes blah blah blah. So far so good with my challenge but I am not impressed with myself yet, only day two. How you jews doing on your challenges? Anyone else up for a 30 day challenge?
PS V is trying to eat the lights on the xmas tree (¡fruta!) he yells as he mouths the electrical pine shaped death hazard. He is also convinced that a picture of M, as a two year old (with long brown hair), is him. "Torio!" he declares. He also yelled at me for wearing F's pj pants "papi pantalones!" Another bossy pants, we were short those in the fam.

Boy Humor

When J went to the bathroom for a looong time at Columbus Circle, I said "What were you doing for so long?"
J- Number 3. (pause) 1 and 2 (good math!)
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This am when I told AleVit "ahora traigo la leche", V yelled "Bring apple sauce!"

30 Days Part II

I am sorry to have disappeared. I was not very successful with doing anything challenging yesterday, so I will attempt to start today, Dec 2, which will bring me to Dec 31. For 30 days I will:

1. do my back exercises
2. floss
3. try to not yell at kids (and make sure to apologize if I do)
4. read every day (I am in the middle of two good books)
5. no carbs in the evening
6. no fried food
7. support this cause 

that's all I got.

wish me luck and do share your own challenges...