Eating Antics

I just wanted to share with you all a few of the little bees' most recent eating fiascos.

Yesterday, Busy bee talked/"meow"ed me into one of those nice little Halloween-inspired "Kitty" Pez dispensers. It was late in the afternoon and I just wanted to get home. He saw the "Kitty" right before the checker scanned my last few items and promptly told me, "Mama! Kitty! Kitty!" then he started "meow"ing in the checkout aisle and all the on-lookers, who happened to be grandmothers or at least grandmotherly looking, were giving me the "oh, isn't he just darling" nod. At which time Busy bee realized he had the public backing him and he couldn't loose, took the packaged Pez and lovingly rubbed it against his cheek while "meow"ing. Busy bee had never had a Pez dispenser before and merely thought he was getting a menacing "kitty" (who was more of a Cat than a "kitty") head on a rectangular body. After giving in and purchasing the Pez to avoid disguisted looks from Busy bee's adoring public, Busy bee tasted what he considered to be heaven. He sat in the back seat of our extended cab truck "mmm"ing and "yum"ing at each little pez. Because he is still not even two years old, I thought he would have a hard time getting the pez candies out of the dispenser...and he did. But, he didn't get upset or whine when the offending candy wouldn't pop out. He would matter-of-factly say, "Mama, stuck." and then try to manuever his chubby little fingers to an angle to which he could free it. Minus all the "mmm"s it might have been the quietest car ride we have had in a long time.

Baby bee has been teething something rough lately. She will wake up screaming only to sob in my arms for the two minutes after I pick her up followed by at least five minutes of trauma-induced hiccuping. I have resorted to giving her food that is mostly frozen and teething ring after teething ring. I have three that I rotate in hopes that one will be completely frozen and last her a good ten minutes of mouth-numbing relief. The first time I gave her the teething ring she had it following dinner. Immediately, the area around her mouth turned a bright pinkish-red. I thought maybe she was having an allergic reaction to something I had given her at dinner. The second time she turned that same shade of bright pinkish-red, the light flashed on and I realized it was just the teethers and that she had numbed her whole mouth, nose and chin area with the cold. I had merely assumed that these lifesaving teethers were indestructible only to find that my little girl with only one little snaggle tooth managed to bust one completely open...Busy bee you better watch out! "She may be small but she is fierce (with her one tooth.)"

And last but not least...more reasons why I don't like oranges.

For those of you who know me, you know I hate oranges...I like orange juice but hate oranges. For those of you who don't know me, I hate oranges! I am trying to be a good mother though and let my little bees have the opportunity to try all types of different foods (even the ones I don't like.) Last night, I cut up an orange (eeekk) and let the little bees go at it. They, unlike me, like oranges. After giving each one a slice with the rind on I resumed my dishwashing. Not even 25 seconds later did Busy bee come up to me, pull on my shirt, and then point to his tounge and shudder. I couldn't find the offending orange anywhere and my best guess is that the little guy swallowed it rind and all. And then like clockwork, Baby bee started screaming. She had squeezed the orange just right and managed to squirt herself in the eye. Thus two more reasons to add to my long list of why "I Don't like Oranges"...I'm sure there will be one more added once that rind makes it's second appearance (eewwww.)

Keep 'em coming

So, its been a long time. Too long...

I could give you the list of excuses: Hubbee has been continuously in and out of field training thus leaving me and the kids to fend for ourselves, Grandma Queen was here for a visit, we did a few home renovation projects, I had a week-long business trip, and everyone has been sick.

Things are not yet back to normal but at least they finally seem to be heading that way. But during this time of constant busyness, tribulation, and upset throats, noses, and tummies, a few good things have happened.

Baby bee is now crawling!

Busy bee went to the speech therapist and has progressed so well that he no longer needs to go back!

We have painted the whole interior of the house including ceilings!

Baby bee got her first tooth!

Hubbee designed, built and installed a window seat/shelving unit and made (by hand) crown molding for our living room, dining room, and kitchen!

I hope to not let my entries lapse this long ever again, because I enjoy writing about my hive and letting you all know what's going. But sometimes as a Mama Bee there are just things that have to be done and only one person to do it. So I hope you can forgive me for my lack of updates...I'll try to keep 'em coming.

A four day

Because Hubbee is in the military, our family looks forward to patriotic holidays. We enjoy these holidays not only because Hubbee/Poppa gets to stay home for a long weekend (aka a "four" day) but also for the opportunity it provides our little bees to learn patriotism. Even the littlest of bees will enjoy looking at the colors of the flag. And I haven't found a toddler yet that wouldn't enjoy marching around the living room to "America, America" waving a small flag...especially if you are doing it too!

Holidays are a great time for families to start or continue traditions. Children love the consistency of traditions. They can be a constant in an ever-turning world. Its not too early and its never too late to start them...just try to follow through with them. The traditions your family participates in (or makes) will most likely be some of your children's favorite memories as they grow older. Also, traditions are a great teaching tool. They can help your children to understand their heritage, religion, and/or history.

Thus my Momma Tip #3:
Make a family tradition! It can be silly or solemn, unique or commonplace but make it yours! Plan it, discuss it with your little ones, do it, and then remember to do it again. Its a memory in the making.