Post Election and Colors

It's done an over.

We remain a country divided politically. People are so worked up about this and I just don't understand it. Life goes on. It's four years, and if you're that upset that you need to move to Canada I'll gladly help you pack. I find faults with both of the major candidates, so no, Obama did not get my vote. Whether it's a vote waste, or one cast in true belief, I'm just glad it's over. I wish people would worry more about their congressional votes, you know the people who do the law writing who most people don't blink an eye at?! Just a thought...

We took the ladies with us, and I let them each take turns pressing buttons on the screen. They were thrilled to vote, and happily took their stickers. One of which may still be plaster on a dog. I was thankful we went later, there were NO LINES despite record turn outs. We celebrated by going to a questionable establishments that serves chicken, and proceeded to discuss in kid friendly terms that we voted for everyone to have the same rights to marry. HA!

I was very relieved to find that my state approved same-sex marriage. Thrilled even. But what shocked me was that it narrowly passed by less than 100k votes! Get with it people!! Separation of church and state! Do onto others and all that!! Why does the government need to be involved in defining marriage? I just have to share my friend's post on the topic.

If the "old Catholic farts" get it, what's wrong with everyone else?! Sigh...

I could have cared less about the casinos, for I knew the revenue wouldn't be going to schools. Redistricting issues come and go. I supported removing convicted criminals from office. The one that really made me think was tuition for illegal immigrants, but hear me out. 

I'm not sure why this is an issue. How many illegal immigrants are petitioning for in-state tuition? Is this some sort of baiting tactic? I clearly didn't do my homework here. I do feel though, that if you're going to give people who aren't here legally the benefit of cheaper tuition, that that benefit should be given to students across the board. So instead of allowing illegal immigrants to obtain in-state tuition rates, you would be introducing flat rate tuition for all students regardless of resident status. And how about instead of making such narrow laws that apply to small segments of the population, you tackle more affordable tuition for the masses by funneling that casino money directly to education?? Money can't fix everything, but it can sure hire more teachers! Smaller class sizes will undoubtedly improve learning, and then maybe we wouldn't need those expensive NCLB tests?? Teachers might be able to teach outside the test again! KIDS MIGHT LEARN! They could even become upstanding, tax paying citizens....crazy I know!

Stepping off that soap box...

I laughed when I read that Marcia's office was swooning over our black President. I laughed because to some people here he is either too black, not black enough, or just right. Apparently people aren't just people. We were watching the new Mumford & Sons video that stars Idris Elba and with the shadowing in the video he does seem to have a rather dark complexion. Emma announces, very plainly, that he is black. I simply agreed with her, and we continued watching. This stuck with me all day. Of course I am just blowing this out of proportion because she is only three, but my children have no diversity in their life. Did I do the right thing by not making a big deal? 

I discussed this with the hubs who said I should have used the moment as a springboard into race and equality. That people come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but that they are all the same. He was also the one the brought to my attention that they are surrounded by only white people. Not that it is intentional, but we just happen to not have a diverse family. We live in a traditionally white part of town. We have a white doctor, a white dentist, and a white mail man. My children are living a lily white existence and I kind of feel like a failure as a mother for not exposing them to some multi-cultural playgroup.

Does race need to be discussed? Does it need to be discussed with a three year old? 

I'm at a loss.  

Where Have We Been...

Before I answer that,

Marcia, you're not alone! Old receiving blankets and a basket from their shelves.

So I've been out. As in out in the real world. 

Maybe it's the missed childhood bit going around. Maybe it's the start of summer and nice weather.

Mostly, it's just the girls.

They're fun. 

So here is our last week, in no particular order.

Sunset.

Praying this little lady will tolerate the beach one day.

Baby feets!

This one loves the sand and could care less about where it might end up.

Clearly she takes after her father.

Bucket head!

I love the naughtiness.

Our first pea pod.

They all "blow" things.

Sometimes there aren't words...

These sticks came home with us.

Bongs are on the way...

Tree moss

Naughty fingers.

See...

...again with the blowing.

This is totally HAM!

All of our beans, on their sad little stalks.

Water time, because Mother Nature has ditched the transition season of spring and fall.

She loves the sand from the safety of the grass.

Cousin was finding shapes in the water beads. 

What do you see? LOL

Have drain, will jump.

Any favorites you'd care to share?

In upcoming news, I'm shooting a small wedding this summer!

Holla!

I just might grow up to be a picture-taker one day!

Memorial Day Madness

So we took another trip to the shore this Memorial Day.

Another trip with car sickness.

Sickness that came minutes before we parked.

Another trip with heat.

Heat that wasn't unbearable and came with a cool ocean breeze.

Another trip with RIDES!

Rides that didn't open until one!

Another trip to the beach with no beach. 

So here is our day in reverse. You'll notice they look more awake and alert as you scroll down.

Trying to stay awake for more rides.

Ugliest mermaid ever.

Waiting for the rides to open. Daddy received a lot of kisses.

There is something wonderful about them enjoying games they know nothing about. 

I love the pimp hat. 

LOVE IT!

Almost bought it.

Yes, you can blow bubbles in the car.

Morning person.

Not a morning person.

Spring Is Coming & Preschool?!

... or so I thought! Cue snow flurries on the first day of my spring themed activities. Mother Nature can be such a B sometimes! Despite the freezing temperature today, it was sunny and 60 this weekend, we plowed ahead. We started the seeds for our container garden.

Do I think they will grow? 

Yes.

Do I have much faith we will actually keep them alive and thriving to have something to harvest?

Enh...

We clearly bought WAY TO MANY seeds so hopefully they won't go to waste. We are growing tomatoes, peppers, green beans, peas, and watermelon. This was only one tray and we could fill about 4 more. I figured that I could stretch it out over two days, a way to revisit the previous day's activity. It also serves as a way to keep my sanity while the screamies are trying to taste everything in sight and there's water near my electronics!

Claire is most excited about the prospect of flowers. She keeps going on about how everything is going to grow up to be a flower. This is the same child who when we started the "spring-growing" discussion told me she wanted to grow cheese in her garden. Unsatisfied that cheese was made from milk and not grown in the ground, she informed me she wanted to grow a cow!

How logical!!

Claire was so fascinated by the process, I really enjoy how different she is from Emma and HAM. She picked up each tiny seed, carefully placed them, recovered them, and picked up tiny pieces of soil that had fallen. She is so fastidious! She even sat waiting for them to grow. So sweet.

The ladies had a blast making holes and dropping seeds. Clearly I wasn't thinking when I gave the smallest seeds to smallest child. HAM's rows might not all sprout but I'm sure there are two or three cups that will have MANY sprouts! LOL! She was so happy to stick her fingers in the dirt, I can wait till we transplant them. I'm even happier that will occur outside and I can sweep everything away! She wasn't to pleased she couldn't sample the soil, but luckily she got over herself. 

Emma was soooo precise counting her peas for each hole. I'm kicking myself for not making them all count them into cups first. She enjoyed holding her seeds, and I think she enjoyed the independence and trust I gave her most. Of course once we were done she was the first of the pack to run for the brooms!

I even went through the rigamarole of explaining the growing process. We watching a youtube video before we planted and put our cards in order. All the while Claire was asking when the plants got flowers. It was a bit like a science lesson, if I was a homeschooling mom.

Speaking of homeschooling, spring has got me thinking. 

I should be looking now for preschools for the fall. 

But I don't want to. 

My biggest complaint is that preschool, from my viewpoint as (basically) a SAHM, is a babysitter. For 2 or 3 days a week I'd be getting a roughly 3 hour break. It sound nice but is it worth it? I wouldn't use the free time to do the grocery shopping or browse Tarjay. That last one is a total lie. The ones that I've priced range from $125-200 a week. Holy dollar signs Batman! I found one that offered part-time, pay as you come. But it was $90 a day for the both of them. How much am I willing to pay?

Am I too cheap?!

Those prices aren't terrible for one child, but for two I think it's pricey. In a month's time that is a mortgage payment and most seem to only offer a 10% discount for multiples. I'm not saying my children aren't worth it, but I wonder what they are really getting. Sure I'm not three and we don't socialize they way they would with other three year olds, but what else would they miss? To remedy the socialization issue, because my kids aren't very sociable, we are looking into what's available. I have found two kiddie dance classes which I think Claire would love. I'm not sure what to get Emma into. I definitely think they would benefit from some peer socialization and would enjoy the interaction. It's also hella cheaper to try some rec classes before I commit to dance company or paid sports team because back here in reality, they're only TWO! They don't know what they want to do!

I'm also not one for a play group. I'm not the Mom who would sit with the other Mom's chatting while our kids went crazy on the playground. I often feel bad when we're outside playing with the neighbor girl and I can't hold a conversation with her mother! She is seriously a sweet and honest person, someone I like, but I am social tard. I would much rather be coloring along side them or trying to get a good shot while they fly head first down the slide!

So where do you stand? What have you done, tried, passed over? 

Am I such a hermit that I am inadvertently raising little hermits!?

I'm sure this is much easier for working moms, it's just one expense for another. You're giving up daycare for preschool. Moving from someone watching your child to teaching your child. But I since I'm already home I hate to put out money for something I can do, especially since I'm not bring home the bacon!

Maybe I'm just over-thinking this?!

Beach Pictures

Typical Emma face.

I was slightly amazed she knew these were dog tracks. 

You can just barely see the tear on her cheek, it was windy!

My three favorite people. Immediately after this there was a puddle beneath the bench. 

I saw this and immediate thought of Mandy's "rat problem" LOL!

Photo credits for the sunbow go to DH. He saw it. He told me to take pictures. He's pretty useful!

Look at how pretty!