Attack of the Jolly Green Giant

I got a call from school today saying that Margaret Rose had an accident. At that point I tuned out whatever else the woman was saying as I tried to think if I had ever sent seasonally appropriate extra clothes. My brain kicked back into gear however as I heard the words "well you know how short she is." Huh? Since when does height have anything to do with bathroom accidents? I could be in serious trouble! Maybe I ought to try and follow what this lady is saying.
Turns out that another teacher while getting her lunch tray accidently spilled green beans on Maggie Rose's head. The beans and liquid were hot. Margaret Rose cried or as MR tells it "I cry VERY, VERY hard!" Poor Maggie Rose! Poor teacher! Miss Maggie reports that her teacher said "Oh my gosh!" and the offending teacher picked her up and called for ice. By the time they called me MR was not crying but was still quite put out. At least nothing got on her dress. If that had happened the offender would probably never be forgiven.
It has not been a good week for my Huazhou ladies and lunch.

I Do Not Eat Chicken Nuggets...

announces Mary Clare loudly from the backseat on our way home from daycare. "No you don't," I agree thoughtlessly. "I do not eat chicken nuggets!" she calls once more. "Nope. You don't eat animals," I say still not catching on. "I DO NOT EAT CHICKEN NUGGETS!" she proclaims with more vehemence than is perhaps necessary. The light bulb finally goes off. We're at a stop light. I turn and ask, "Mary Clare, did you eat chicken nuggets?" "Well, uh,hm, yes I did." "Why?" "Well, uh, um, they were widdle and wound and Mama they were yummy in my tummy!" Oh dear.

Girl Gone Wild

She's only 3 and she's already dancing with a lampshade on her head!!! Can you imagine this one as a teenager??? We're afraid :-) Anyone have a line on any good boarding schools with scary nuns????

Doe a Deer

So tonight while I was cooking dinner I heard Margaret Rose trying to teach Mary Clare a song. MC was doing her doggonedest to sing along but was having a hard time with the words. Margaret Rose's English still amazes me but somtimes her pronunciation is hard to decipher. MC got the part about "through my window" and picked up the word "tired" but she and I were both at a loss for the rest of the song. Margaret grew increasingly frustrated with our pitiful guesses at the lyrics and it finally occurred to me to call awesome Aa-Aa who taught kindergarten for more years than she would care for me to share here. Sure enough she was able to translate - "Blue bird, blue bird through my window. Blue bird, blue bird through my window. Blue bird, blue bird through my window, oh Johnny aren't you tired?" Well personally I think MC's guess at a tired giant was pretty darn close but obviously not close enough for Miss Maggie. Lee googled and found the music for it and played the piano. Margaret Rose assigned us all rythym instruments and we enjoyed a few VonTrapp-like family moments belting out the little diddy. MR actually has good rhythm and pitch. Mary Clare sings like her mama- lustily, loud and without any care for key or pitch. Later on while getting ready for bed Margaret Rose gave me a smug little smile and reproachfully said, "Aa-Aa know my song." I gotta teach that kid some show tunes!

It was SNOW much Fun!

The girls thought it was great fun to let it snow through the sunroof!

We'd decided to stay home over the 3 day weekend and try and do some stuff around the house but the 2-4" snow prediction in Boone was too tempting and so Friday night we took off late and didn't get to the trailer until after midnight. By morning the snow event had been cancelled for Boone but it looked like there might be and inch or so at home. Huh??? How'd that happen. We hemmed and hawed a bit and started to head home but finally decided to just stay put and Lee suggested piling the girls in the car and trying out the sledding hill on Beech Mountain. After getting the physics of the thing figured out (they don't weigh enough to send down alone- Margaret was practically airborn) and started going down with them we all had a great time! Lee took our speed demon Mary Clare off the fastest hill and she grinned like a maniac all the way down. At some point MR took her gloves off and her hands got so cold it scared her and we had to do a bit of clowing around to avoid a meltdown. They got to make snow angels and afterwards unthawed by guzzeling hot chocolate with whipped cream. We can't wait to go again!!!

Secret Agent Fairies

My cousin and her husband sent the girls these nifty princess walkie-talkies and some really cool fairy slippers. The girls had the best time playing and were just amazed that the fairy slippers matched their dresses!

Thanks Dolly and David!

Wild Things

It was a lovely, warm day and the girls and I took advantage of it and headed to the zoo with Anna Lin and her mom. As usual we all had a great time. Mary Clare idolizes AL as you can probably tell from the pics of them bonding over blue icees. MC feels a little left out now that AL has MR who is her own age to play with. AL's family will be adding a new little sister this summer. When I shared this info with Mary Clare she got all excited and said, "Oh, are they getting a friend for me?" When you're 3, you are the center of the universe.

5:45 am and like most mornings Mary Clare calls for "MAMA!" She's usually out of sorts but this morning was an exception. This is our snuggle conversation.

Her: Where have you been?

Me: Oh lots of places- the kitchen, the bathroom, outside with the dogs. Where have you been?

Her: (giggling) Right here in my bunkbed!

Me: Did you dream?

Her: Yes I did.

Me: Where did you go in your dreams?

Her: Into your heart mama. Even when I'm sweeping I be in your heart.

You are my heart sugar bee.

Peep! Peep!

Our Mary Clare had no interest in potty training. "No fanks!" she'd say or "I dont want to be a big girl.", or "I'm a baby. Babies wear diapers." We talked with our pediatrician who told us to give MC a break and quit hasseling her about the diapers. Given her passive-aggressive personality (just like her Mama) and her background, the doc said she'd go to the potty eventually and that we'd only make her dig her heels in harder by making a big deal out it. Well her daycare caregiver told us right before Christmas that MC hardly ever had an accident in her pullup and that maybe we'd want to try panties after Christmas. After some reassuring that she'd still be our baby, MC was fine with it but of course on the condition that she get Thomas panties. The fact that they don't make Thomas underwear for girls was my problem not hers. I was going to give in and just get her the boy underwear but my dear friends reminded me that our drama queen was probably going to have enough to talk about in therapy later on without that as an issue and so the fabulous PoPo came to MC's rescue and sewed Thomas onto little girl panties. I asked her this morning to please try and not pee-pee on Thomas and she replied with, "That would be wude! Thomas would say Peep! Peep! EEWWWW!" and with that she had a perfectly dry day and even put her bm in the toilet tonight. When they got home today Lee was complimenting MC on her accomplishment and Margaret Rose hugged her and said, "Good job Mary Clare! I proud of you!" Gosh I love my girls!

On the way to tippy tap today MC and I were discussing caregivers at her daycare and I asked her who's class she'd like to be in next year. "I going to be in Miss Ragsdale's class at kindergarten with Miss Strickland and Miss Cribb!" she proclaimed. Well this is MR's kindergarten teacher and MC will only be 4 in May. She cried when I told her she couldn't be in Miss Ragsdale's class yet. "But I love Maggie Rose's teacher!!!" she protested. Later on her attention was drawn to a bright yellow volkswagon bug. "Oh mama! That car is cute! It's so plump! It's jolly and plump!" I love her observations on the world.

Six Months!

6 months ago today we met our wonderful daughter and sister in a very, very HOT Guangzhou hallway. She was shy and charming and seemed to be happy with her new family especially as they came bearing snacks! Today she is a happy child who loves school and pretty clothes. She is bright and thoughtful and loves her little sister with all her heart. We are all so blessed to have her in our lives!

It is the last day of Christmas vacation for me and the girls. Baba had work today which made us all a little sad but we made the best of it by putting on our Christmas aprons and baking some good ole banana bread.

Happy 2008!