It is a good thing they are cuties!

(Becca and Ethan at the Library today)

Yesterday, Becca was preparing for a bath very slowly, so slowly in fact that I started nurse Ethan while I waited for her to be ready.

All of a sudden she starts screaming … “NO NO NO it is gone, I FLUSHED IT!” Becca was devastated, crying, screaming as she ran into our room.

Becca has her own bathroom in her room ~*sigh*~. She had taken to remain nameless till that evening, toy, placed it in the toilet and flushed.

Anyway, she could not tell me what she flushed. Rather she repeated a mantra at first I could not understand.

“JAMIE JAMIE HE WILL GET IT!”

Wha?

We told Becca that (while in California) the water that went down the drain, went to the water treatment plant then into the ocean.

She was thoroughly convinced that Jamie would go to the ocean and get her toy that she flushed down the toilet. There is some solid logic there, however faulty.

I told her that although Jamie is an amazing friend, he is not capable of recovering her toy. Should I be popping her bubble? Now I do not want her to think that she can indeed flush toys and recover them, yet there is a part of me that wants her to continue to BELIEVE … you know? She was so sure that the toy was ok … and that she would get another (I popped that bubble … I do not want her to take her things for granted … right?)

Alas, it is all part of raising children. Becca was not a destructive, experimenting toddler, yet somehow I feel like she is making up for lost time.

I am trying to be the mom that allows exploration within safe and respectable boundaries, but it is a tough gig.

Luckily, what she had decided to experiment with was a tiny pretend cat dish, which she cherished. I do believe her flushing toys down the toilet days are in the past.

What shall tomorrow bring? Never a dull moment around here I tell you!

… Mean kids Suck - More!

Becca, Ethan and I went to the library Tuesday morning. Normally we only attend Music and Movement on Thursday, but we thought we would check it out. Psha. The mean moms go on Tuesdays.

Normally at the park all the moms chat. I stood there, no one looked at me, I felt like such a looser. Like the outsider. This is the first time since arriving in Los Alamos I have felt that way.

Then to top it off, a kid grabbed Becca off the slide then KICKED her in the chest to the ground! Now I normally do not step into scuffles on the playground. I figure it is healthy for Becca to figure out things for herself. Well Mean Mom decides to say in a UBER fake sweet voice (you know the one!), “Oooo did you both want on the slide at the same time? Oh look you made her sad, say sorry!”

Becca did look devastated. She is not accustom to children that are that brutally mean. I went to her side. The stated “Oh Becca did it hurt your feelings to be KICKED in the chest by that boy”, she merely nodded and asked to leave.

We left to hit Starbucks and as we walked away the mean child screamed in pain. Becca looked back startled and asked me what happened. I told her “Mean kids attract even meaner kids” … Mean People Suck.

I am sick. ugh. I hurt my foot and I am limping. We are spending the day at home. ugh. All around yuckiness.

Well at least the kids are healthy. Becca went for her 3 year old check up. She is practically perfect in every way. Like there was any doubt.

… that you can find me over at the Opinionated Parent today … and win a cool contest.

The ever sweet Jana, from Something Baby Blue has awarded me with the Nice Matters Award. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Nice truly does matter, I am all about the nice factor. I really like the banner that Jana designed, however if you are more traditional at heart you can find the original at her blog.

“This award is for those bloggers who are cool people and awesome blog friends - those who bring tingly feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded, please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.”

There are so many that should be recognized for their niceness, however I must believe in the blog award system and know they too will be awarded soon.

The following are my picks for the Nice Matters Award.

Marz - Always nice and sweet, in fact helped my unemployed young self get a job once!

Nadine - Her blog oozes niceness.

Michelle - Always sweet, shares her world with everyone (and freebies on Fridays!)

Betty - Sends me Ecobags (love them used them yesterday to buy produce!) because not only is she nice to the earth, her gorgeous Beetle and boys, and her friends.

Midori - Nice and sweet … Starting a new adventure!

SugarMama - Ethan is still wearing the clothes she shared from her family to mine. And she has contests too!

Holly - She has left an imprint on my soul. I hope to be a mom like she is to her son, well with my own chelle-ness wrapped in

J & I had already planned to head over to Albuquerque, however it was even more fun to shop when shaking off the blues.

Becca was extremely accident prone while shopping. She had wiped out like four times then NAILED her head on a Gap shelf. I thought the Gap manager was going to melt with panic. He kept coming over and asking if the screaming child was ok. She had quite the goose egg, but alas the evidence has already disappeared. Amazing how quickly they heal.

Thanks for all the kind words of support (and kicking me in the butt). Being here is tough, yet being able to spend time with the kids, explore and advance some skills will make it worth it.

As for the hair chopping … it had to be done. Ethan is grabbing at my hair, it is extremely dry here and my hair was feeling a lot like a straw wig. I love my hair long, when it is healthy. The hairdresser was a dork and cut it all one length. Anyone with naturally curly, thick hair can contest that all one length = poodle. ~sigh~ So I need ANOTHER haircut with less of a hacker. It is liberating not to have so many locks, 6 inches gone!

~

Is it a sign of addiction that I bought a new pair of shoes based on how they would look with my knitted socks?

~

Something I never thought I would say:

“If you eat your potatoes I will squirt your Daddy with the water bottle again!”

“OK!”

Now that we are out and about again I am feeling a little better about life.

See, the thing is … I do not really like it here. The people I have met are really nice, the town is nice, the fresh air, mountain surroundings … all … nice.

California was an adventure. Now that it is over, I just want to go home.

I know we are here for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. I just want to go home.

I am trying to be positive, hone my domestic skills, exercising, reading, knitting, mothering … yet I am bummed. I miss my friends … but more so … I miss Canada. I miss Canadians. I miss universal healthcare, acceptance, socialism, “eh”, “zed”, twizzlers … I feel ready to start our lives, rather than be on hold like this. Maybe there is just more I need to learn before that happens … ~sigh~

Yesterday we had an awesome day. Library for Music and Movement, then the Farmer’s Market and a quickie at the park. Becca was so beat, she napped a little during quiet time.

Today we went to a play group then headed down the Hill to Santa Fe to hit Trader Joes and the Vitamin Cottage. The kids were super well behaved and wonderful.

Oh yeah … I cut off my hair … more later