Traffic is stupid at 3pm

How do I know that traffic is stupid at 3 pm? I was driving in my car (but Carri, shouldn't you be working?) I know, but I was driving in my car. Driving rather quickly. I speeding/swearving/honking my way up 315 in an effort to make it home and back to work in 20 min.

For months now I've been thinking, I really should put some extra clothes in my car. In the past I have been "splashed" with bodily fluids. But yesterday I was fully baptized into the club of educators.

You see, as I was changing a rather sleepy and hungry toddler we had a bonding moment. Just as I took the diaper off and asked if he wanted to sit on the potty I noticed something. My right leg was feeling rather warm. I look down and follow the huge stream of urine flowing to my leg. With a quick shout and turning his toddler body I was able to miss most of it. But the giant wet patch on my leg had to be rectified.

And that is why I was speeding home at 3pm. Nothing felt better than getting out of those pants.

Potty Talk

Yesterday as Ana was going to the bathroom before nap we had rather an interesting conversation.

Ana: I'm gonna stand up.

Me: What?

Ana: I'm gonna stand up and go potty.

Me: No, I need you to sit down and go potty.

Ana: Why?

And here in lies the trouble of striving to be a great educator...I refrained from saying, cause I said so. Even though that would have been so much easier. I strive for avoiding this phrase because I honestly believe that the children learn more from the discussions that follow the endless string of Whys?

That being said, I will not continually walk down that perilous path of answering every why question, because if I did I would lose my voice. (can't wait till this phase is over) But I often indulge for a few moments. So here is how I answered sweet little Ana...

Me: Girls pee sitting down.

Ana: Why?

Me: Daddy's pee standing up, but girls need to sit down to pee Really really hoping this covers it

Ana: Why?

Me: Well, what do Daddy's have

Ana's face lights up as she exclaims: Daddy's have Enis!

Me: That's right, Daddy's have penises and thats why they can pee standing up. What do you have?

Ana very seriously: I have gina.

Me: That's right you have a vagina just like mommy and thats why you have to sit down to go potty.

And that right there is why I love my job. While sharing this fun tidbit with some friends last night, one challenged me. Apparently there are techniques and body positions that with training allow a woman to stand up as she pees. They think I need to begin incorporating this into my curriculum. Ha, I don't need any more body fluids covering the bathroom floor- no thank you!

I forgot

Just what it's like coming back to a room of toddlers who haven't been to school in 5 days. Oh and our schedule changed. Oh and we had a sub. The worst sub ever. She just stands there, repeating everything I say and I sweep through the room wiping noses, breaking up fights and comforting the crying children- yes I am that super hero.

I was greated yesterday morning by over half my class in tears and the day didn't get much better after that. Of course, in the middle of all that snot there were some funny moments...

During a doctor play idea (fully clothed of course) one friend was using the lil thingy that the doctor hits your knee with. Well apparantly she was using this tool to "fix" her friend. Except her friend didn't want to be "fixed" (ie: hit multiple times) with the hammer like object. When the child wasn't listening to her yelling no! She pulled her hair. All out girl fight in the Koala Room. My favorite though is the way this one reacts to having her hair pulled- "NO, that's Mine! Give me back my hair!" Then works really hard to collect each piece of hair that came out of her head.

Another creepy crawly made its appearance in the classroom. As Sally was getting up from nap, we were putting her blankets away. As she stood up, I noticed something on her cot. This is when I began praying "don't turn around, don't turn around." Luckily someone else distracted her and she walked away without ever seeing what was laying on her cot. Somehow, she spent her entire nap cuddled up with a big, brown, crumpled, spider. Thank God it was dead! But how did it get there. It was not there prenap so either

a) during the quiet, calm of naptime a suicidal spider crawls out, sees the cozy green blanket. Climbs inside and hunkers down for its own nap. Then in the course of this, somehow ends up crumpled and dead. Hmmm. or

b) it arrived to us already crumpled and dead either in someone's shoe, shirt or blankets from home and somehow we didn't notice till after nap.

Seriously it was lying in the middle of her cot. Seriously I did not freak out (yay me!) Parents and I had a good chuckle about it that night, but still wondering how it got there...

Even in the drama of a first day back, a break is definately welcomed. I spent some serious quality time with my couch including all day Friday. That's right in spite of phone calls to rush to the nearest sale, I spent all day in my jammies. Made a big pot of soup and relaxed all day. Mmm

Enjoying some calm before the storm

You know what the storm is, the upcoming holiday season. Oy. Every time I think about it, I just think Oy. I'm not even ready to go there yet. Seriously, who decided to schedule 2 different opportunities for Forced Family Fun within 5 weeks. Oh, plus we're Jewish, so throw in a 3rd required family get together. And someone decided to graduate in December instead of May like normal people, so we have the opportunity for Four Forced Family Fun get togethers in 5 weeks. Who came up with this idea.

At least my job this time around is a lot less Holiday inducing stressful. The kiddos are actually pretty fun around the Holidays. That and the fact that many take some time off, which allows for more quality fun time with the kiddos that stick around instead of quality intervention/peace maker practicing time.

Toddler moments of the Week:

a) after Halloween sales=super fun dressup costumes= a little one "flying" around the room chanting "I'm Super Bat!" Yes, I imagine this will be the stare of the newest comic book soon.

b) Utter meltdown as Dad was trying to leave with his Little One. What I could decipher through the hysterical crying "My note. My note! My note is in Sally's cubby!!!!!" I get up to investigate and sure enough. The note he painstakingly wrote with a grown up pencil is in Sally's cubby. I pull it out, hand it to him and remind him. Next time why don't you put your note in YOUR cubby, then you won't have to be so sad.

2 minutes later on the way to the door, he tosses the note in the trashcan. 10 sec later more hysterical crying. "My note. My note! My note is in the trashcan!" Well duh. If you need your note, don't put it in the trashcan. Seriously. I called out "Good luck!" as the Dad finally got him out the door. Seriously.

back to holidays...

My kickoff to the holiday season is this weekend and I'm super stoked. It's our annual Holiday Card Making event. Supposed to be last weekend but due to some fevers (and everyone's panic about the swine flu) it was delayed a week. This time it happens to fall on the day after an out of town wedding that I'll be gracing with my presence :)

An out of town wedding in some small town that was so small we had to get a hotel reservation like 6 months ago. An out of town wedding scheduled to start at 1:30. An out of town wedding in which the groom promises to be finished in time to catch the big game at 3. An out of town wedding in which there is an open bar. An open bar with top shelf alcohol. An out of town wedding where I will have to be up and outta there at 9am the next day after fully enjoying the top shelf alcohol to head back to Columbus.

Its gonna be me, a giant bottle of water and a giant cup of coffee making the long drive back. But I wouldn't miss it for a thing. Cause not only is this card making event the kickoff to the Holidays (and the fun part) Not only is it a time surrounded by some of my favorite people as we all pretend to be Martha Stewart for a few house. But this is the same card making event that I was at 3 years ago when I met Jesse. Well met his mama, and then 6 months later met Jesse. And for that reason alone, it is my favorite event of the Holidays.

Ready for Fall

I am so ready for Fall to be hear. All weekend I sported my favorite brown boots and grey sweater. I'm ready for wrapping up in blankets by the fire, drinking red wine (cause it works so much better in fall than summer) eating soup by the gallons and enjoying the breezes through the open windows.

Speaking of, apparently last night a giant front blew through columbus bringing with it thunder, rain and wind. Slept through the first two, but that wind wow it scared me. I was sound asleep when all of the sudden my door began creaking open. A slow (murderer on the other side) kinda creak. I'm very proud of how I handled this. I took a deep breath, felt really really brave (what I tell my toddlers to do when scared) and ran to the door. Flung it open, good no murderer on the other side. Slammed the door and carefully placed a heavy shoe just so. My theory being that the shoe will hold the door shut. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it was one of Jesse's shoes. One of Jesse's steel toe boot shoes. And it did the trick- yay me!

What else do I love about fall, football! A time for friends to gather, lots of food to be consumed and cheering to be had. I think I'm going to be focusing on 'morning' drinks this season. We began the season with a toast to mimosas. Have continued for several weeks, cause really a mimosa is the perfect drink. Its sparkling, you pour it in a pretty glass and its full of vitamin c! In the last couple weeks I've been in love with bloody mary's. Bloody Mary's without the vodka. (Cause we all know I don't work well with vodka) Bloody Mary's with tequila instead- Wahoo! It's fabulous. Just need to work on my portion pouring. The last one was way way way too strong.

Super Stoked: Ikea trip in 2 weeks. Need to begin planning now. No matter how much of a master packer I am, only so much will fit in the trunk of my car.

Super Stoked #2: I got a bike! A shiny pink bike with a matching pink helmet! And its awesome. Through many test rides it was determined that I enjoy a "more aggressive ride" Who would have thought? Rode twice this weekend. Re remembered how to ride my bike with no hands- wahoo! My doctors can now officially get off my back. I'm officially exercising! Woke up this morning with a sore buttox and a sore back. Thats a problem. I feel like my back gets a workout everyday with the wrangling of the toddlers. It does not need to get stronger. My core could use the attention. However if this means I have to start doing sittups that is not ok.

a whirlwind

I am so so so super excited for this weekend. It will be the first time in like 12 days that I'll get to sleep in, stay in my jammies and spend quality time in my apt. As much as I love traveling, sometimes I am quite the homebody. That being said, don't even begin to convince me to come out of my apt this weekend.

In the last 12 days my life has been quite the adventure. At school we are in the midst of getting 5 new toddlers. One every Monday for a month. Whew. The last newbie starts this Monday and while it all is going well. Its still quite the production to get a new friend settled into our routines.

Yesterday, was quite the afternoon. At 4:25 I thought "we are never going to make it outside" 10 minutes later we finally headed out the door. Yay, we can run and shout and be ruckusey outside. 10 minutes after that? the sprinkles started. No fear, we're tough, sprinkles can't get us! 5 minutes after that? the downpour. I quickly maneuvered under the climber to stay dry. The children? laughing and running and dancing in the rain. It was warm outside, so the rain felt great. At this point I decided. Screw trying to keep them dry. We'll wait for it to let up and go

inside and change. Who cares if they all come home in different clothes, at least they're dry!

Due to some earlier puddle adventures, some of our friends ran out of dry clothes. Never fear! Koala Clothes are here! We have a stash of extras. Antonio was given the choice- dark blue jeans or fushia stretch pants. His outfit ended up being- Brown monkey shirt, fushia stretch pants and brown hiking boots. All courtesy of the Koalas. Oh and the outfit topper? While putting on some socks, we found a hair barrette. Of course he insisted on wearing this too. So Brown monkey shirt, fuschia stretch pants, brown hiking boots and blue sparkly hair barrette. Luckily his dad laughed.

The trip out west was fabulous, just slightly exhausting. Solidified my ideas, that I really am an out west kinda girl. I love a desert atmosphere especially the high desert, which cuts down on the plus 100* days. As we were driving to the mountains Jesse stated- isn't it beautiful, we should move here! My response: ok, lets do it! Don't tempt me and my wanderlusty feet! Although, it is true that if we moved to Colorado (or anywhere near there) I would never see him. In the winter he will ski constantly, in the summer- mountain biking off the same mountain that he skiied on. Therefore, I'll be able to spend time with him during the rainy spring, which in the desert I'm guessing isn't long.

Favorite pix from the trip:

We hiked 2 miles up and back down alongside this waterfall. 2 miles is much better than the 9 of our last hike. But in the high altitude still hard to breathe.

Mo Money

I've been a part of several (very different) money related conversations this week. Maybe I'm at that point in life where as "grownups" we sit around and discuss these important topics. Or maybe its the state of our economy. We can't help but bitch.

Its budget time where I work and I have the (un?)fortunate opportunity to speak for the staff at the board meetings. What this ends up looking like? Lots of listening, lots of bitching when I return home and a bit of speaking. I choose the philosophy of speaking few, but powerful words. The current argument? a .5% difference in raises. a) we deserve raises, don't you dare say we don't! b) the .5% difference you're arguing about amounts to like 5 c/hour. Seriously? Seriously.

The big argument came from the fact that few if any folks out there are getting raises. And we're asking for a tuition increase. We have to raise tuition b/c according to worker's comp, i'm suddenly worth a lot more money. Or at least their charging double for me (cause I'm that awesome!) Oh yeah and food. Can't cut out food. That would lead to very cranky children. So in the midst of these rising costs, and a modest raise, we have to raise tuition. Worker's comp raised their rates to cover costs. Grocery stores raised their prices to cover costs. Were raising tuition to cover costs. Get over it

A friend was sharing about student loans and that they're acruing $1000 interest a month. Interest!!!!! The monthly payment for that loan? something like 50% more than I make a month!!!!! How can you not see that something is broken with this system. Now, yes, once he finishes school he will make bocu bucks and be able to pay off the loan. However, someone is making bocu bucks off his interest. And I'm betting its those same damn loan folks that just fcked our country's housing market. ok now I'm angry

And the final financial conversation of the weekend. I was told "not that you dont deserve to make more money, but you did choose your career field" I know that! But that doesn't mean I'm not going to advocate for equal representation! And yes, I chose my career field, but you know what You Chose Me!

I'm not a money minded person. I can handle my own personal finances. Am attempting to understand this joint financial thingy. And can't even begin to fathom a businesses financing.

I'm exhausted and its only 9 am

A lil bit bitchy

Woke up this morning to a police car parked in front of our place. Jesse left for work, then quickly came back inside to warn me of the impeding doom. Well not doom necessarily, but intriguing none the less. So being the nosy person that I am, I open the curtains and use my observational skills to try and decipher who Mr Cop Man is spying on. My powers of observation noticed that he was munching on an apple (good choice!) and parked parallel with my apartment. So either he was watching the neglectful family that live in front of him and let their 5 yr old child ride a bike unattended in our parking lot. or he's watching the creepy neighbors that live on the other side of the parking lot (who he could observe with the aid of his rear view mirror) They creepy neighbors seem harmless, just a lil bit odd. I mean seriously, when it's 90* who doesn't close the windows in favor of the air conditioner?

I have officially decided that I have attended enough weddings in my life and I am done. Except for the upcoming wedding in 2 weeks. I remember a conversation like 5 years ago with a friend. If you get this relationship back on track, throw a party cause I want to dance at your wedding. Ok, in 2 weeks I will. Can I take it back? Not because I don't want to celebrate with my friend. But because weddings are a pain in the butt! Its this giant event that everyone stresses over and while it must be great to have all your friends and family in one place, its not like you can spend quality time with them.

Luckily I'm in a training program to prepare me for perhaps the biggest wedding of my life! Or at least the biggest since 2003 a Texas Wedding (at least I think it was '03) As part of the training program, I recently attended a Bachelorette party where I met the bride a grand total of once! Its a lil awkward when asked to explain how you know the bride and the answer is- uh friend of the groom? My favorite part of the night? She opened a gift of a panda cause apparantly she has a thing for pandas and the quiet response from my buddy. "Yet we saw an actual panda with the groom!" Ha! Winners!

I am getting excited for the wedding. Cause if nothing else, I'll get to see some friends, travel out west and eat a fabulous burrito (if i can meander my way through the airport) Must find the perfect dress/shoe ensamble.

In the spirit of preparing for my review at work- I've been doing some reflecting and dreaming for the upcoming year. My goal: to spend less than 10% of my vacation time attending weddings.

Last night I came home to a car parked up against the curb behind my parking spot. Now while I did channel my awesome parking skills to get my car into the spot- I did have a moment where I thought "Your the idiot who parked in my way, I should be allowed to run over your car" I bet its the damn family that lets their kids play in the street!

Gonna drink more coffee to improve my attitude before work

My next career

I've decided that for my next career I'm going to be a travel agent. Specializing in roadtrips across america.

In 4 days we're flying to Florida- and I can't wait. After a weekend of family fun, we're driving back. 7 days 7 states and at least 3 detours everyday.

Check it out! I haven't decided on a name yet, all the best roadtrips have names. The Alaskan Adventure: to Hell and Back (and learning that Canadian radio really really blows) The Great Detour roadtrip (just how long does it take to drive 200 miles- apparantly 2 days) The Great Northern Adventure (and learning that when a tire blows out on a gravel road in Montana, it sounds just like an airplane coming in to land)

The recipe for a great roadtrip:

At least 1 detour every day www.roadsideamerica.com

Fabulous Food www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

Good tunes or in this case good conversation www.jackandstench.com

Now all I have left to do is pack- and convince Jesse that I really honestly do need 6 pairs of shoes. It's not my fault that our roadtrip covers the spectrum of possibilities.

3 pairs of flip flop for Florida and the Beach: 1 everyday pair, 1 sandy pair for the beach, 1 pair just in case either break (has been known to happen)

1 pair fancy dress shoes appropriate for his cousins wedding

1 pair of flats that could go either way. Looks fabulous with a skirt or jeans

1 pair of tennis shoes that will provide at least a lil traction as we hike in the smokey mountains- cause I still don't own hiking shoes.

a few thoughts

First check out this image

Just a few thoughts to unpack it.

I've taken at least 3 college courses, a handful of workshops and dozens of inservice trainings on diversity in the classroom. Primarily that as educators it is necessary for us to go out of our way to be sure everyone (big picture everyone, not just the kiddos in our room) is represented in the room. Represented in the books we read, the music we listen to and the posters that adorn our walls.

Why?

Cause this is reflects how the children see themselves. They need to look around the room and see images that reflect their home life, their parents, their holiday celebrations. I have a family in my room who speak Arabic at home. Mom was tickled to notice a poster in our room that is in Arabic. (I wish I could say this was intentional, but just a happy accident.) She was surprised to notice it, but immediately took a picture to bring home to show her husband. That made her (and her son) feel like this was a place especially for them.

Its the same thing that makes me smile when I see a license plate from Texas, or hear a good ol country song from my childhood. This same feeling is what we want to create everyday in the lives of the children in our classroom. A safe, warm, comfy place that is all for them. Especially for each one of them. Cause thats how they make sense of the world. They compare it to what they already know.

So back to the picture. This little boy, standing in the middle of the oval office (in what has to be an intimidating environment) meets this man he has never met before. He looks at him, compares him to what he already knows and asks, "Does your hair look like mine?" The little boy sees that this big powerful man that everyone listens to, is kinda just like him. The little boy thinks, if someone just like me can be this big and powerful- then so can I. And he realizes this at the age of 5.

Imagine how far he can go...

What I learned this weekend...

I am not high falutin'.  We were graced with tickets to the Memorial Golf Tournament this weekend and while neither of us are "golf people" we decided to check it out- thought it would be a neat thing to do.  Well it was totally cool.  However, at many points along the way I did not think we would be able to actually see anything there.

First let me say that when Jesse goes long periods without eating, he turns into a grumpy gus with a wicked temper.  Unfortunately he did not heed my advice and eat something before we left for the tournament.  We were gonna grab food first thing once we got there and he didn't want to spoil his appetite. Well we parked the car at 12:30 and begin the half mile walk to the gate.  He's a lil grumpy, a lil worried about his car getting dusty in the parking lot, but not too tempermental yet. 

And then we get to the gate.  They have a rule- no photography, therefore no cell phones.  Jesse being the kind, unassuming man that he is, Said Yes when asked if he had a cell phone.  He pulled it out to show the man that he turned it off and that is when the Douchbag #1 opens his mouth.  "You can't take that in, leave it here."  Ha, leave it here, does he not know my boyfriend?  Jesse says No!  Douchbag #1 says, "Then take it to your car."  We walk back down the path until we're out of sight and Jesse begins to stew...who does he think he is telling me what to do...i'll show him...he can't make me leave my phone... 

We walk back to the gate for attempt #2 with his cell phone cleverly hidden in my purse which has already been through security- oh and by the way, they said nothing about my cell phone sitting right there in my purse.  Doughbag #1 sees right through us and won't less Jesse in.  Now the lack of eating has gotten the better of Jesse's spirits and several different colorful words come spouting out.  

This time we did walk back to the car, attempt #3 proved successful in getting through the gate.  Douchbag #1 did call Jesse out, but he played the "cool guy" and turned around, smile on his face, arms out as if to say- what are you gonna do about it? 

On the way to the clubhouse we were in the middle of a giant crowd of people waiting to see Tiger Woods- seriously is it that exciting to watch a man hit a ball- for practice!  We were stopped in the crowd by security as someone important walked by.  Someone bumps into Jesse's leg.  No big deal, we are seriously packed in like sardines.  Bumps again, ok now Jesse's a lil irritated.  Then the voice "Move!"  We turn around, and it wasn't a fellow golf watcher who bumped into us, it was a stupid security guy (Douchbag #2) in a cart.  One security guy has us barricaded in and another wants us to get out of his way- seriously!  Ya'll need some better communication! 

There was a verbal exchange between Douchbag #2 and Jesse in which both of them threatened to call the sheriff.  Luckily it didn't come to that and we safely made our way to the clubhouse.  After a nice lunch we watched some golf (and watched some folks watching golf) and it was a lovely afternoon.

Then that night I learned lesson #2 for the weekend- I cannot cannot cannot watch scary movies.  Earlier this week we watched Mr. Brooks- good movie, just very scary.  When it finished I told Jesse, you cannot let me watch movies like this- they are too too too scary.  Jesse's response: but thats what I'm here for, to keep you safe- awww.  But doesn't protect me from scary dreams.  Well it took 4 days for the movie to make its way through my subconscious and produce a scary dream, but boy did it happen.

There was a serial killer chasing us around with a hatchet!  Let's just say I was wide awake from that dream.  And since I'm wide awake, I woke Jesse too, afterall it was his idea to watch the movie.  Good payback.

A quick year

Last weekend I had a realization- it was this time a year ago I began job hunting.  I knew I was leaving my old job.  I knew, they knew, all that was left was to find out what's next.  I knew my old boss was holding out hope that I couldn't find anything, then I would be forced to stay on a bit longer.  But we began the search for my replacement.  We began the search before I began my search for what was coming next.

I remember a conversation towards the end of May with Liz (who would turn into the next Carri)  I heard that she was considering applying for the position.  I told her she would be great at it, and to get her resume in that week- cause I knew we were working on a quick deadline.  My boss was leaving on vacation at the end of June.  We needed to have my replacement before then, so I could "pass on my knowledge."  

We were busy at work, so I put off the stress of job hunting.  Plus I know my field.  They post for open positions and often want to hire w/in 2 weeks.  Its very quick.  So I put off the stress.  It was too much to think about.  I told myself, Memorial Day.  Memorial Day I will sit down at my computer.  Rewrite my resume and find me a job.

And I did.

Take that you nay-sayers who were telling me to job hunt sooner!  Take that you people who say I don't know what I'm doing!  The job I have now is the first one I applied for.  Not the first interview, I think it was my 2nd.  (Got a practice interview in during the meantime)  Interviewed a few places after that and realized I really really wanted the job at NBCC.  

And then I got in.  Much cheering and dancing about!

June 30th is my anniversay date.  My boss gets us flowers on our anniversary.  Yay for flowers.  It's been a very quick year.  But I finally feel great in the classroom, I feel ownership of it.  Sometimes my ideas are heard.  If not, I kinda do it anyway, just a lil bit sneaky about it.

For example, I wanted to add a small table in the corner of our room so I did.  I didn't ask first, cause I would have gotten a No.  So I just did and I like it.  

Usually after being in a job ofr 9 months I get a lil wanderlusty.  Not yet.  Interesting, does this mean I'm a grownup now?

a bit about some poo

Being surrounded by toddlers all day usually leads to some good stories.  Sometimes leads to some gross stories- today wasn't too bad.  And by the end I managed to laugh.

First almost half of my class is wearing big kid underwear- holy moly its potty training central in there!

Ava is a lil bit nervous about this potty training thing and hasn't quite committed to it yet.  But she tries often.  Well, mom shared with me that at home one day she quite randomly had a BM on the potty.  Everyone was surprised, but happy.  Everyone except Ava.  Apparantly she was quite traumatized to realize that thing came out of her body.  In effort to help her see that this is normal, Dad was called to the rescue.  He was asked to promptly produce a BM too so that Ava could see- hey everyone does this.  His reaction:  You want me to do what?  I can't just do that?  My reaction:  You're a man, I'm actually a little shocked you can't produce on command.  I thought that was part of the man gene.

Audrey is in day 2 of big girl panties and as with most children hasn't yet pood on the potty.  Being the second day, we know that pretty soon its all gonna come out and we're ready for it!  Towards the end of the day she heads over to the potty.  We give her a few moments and then my co-teacher checks on her.  "Uh Wow!" is all I hear and I think Oh No, what just happened.  Well Yay!  Audrey pooped on the potty!  Except she wasn't quite positioned accurately so instead of it going in the potty, she literally pooped on the potty- all over.  Awesome!  My co-teacher got to the bathroom just in time to see her holding up her hand: what's this on my finger?  After a good scrub down we celebrated with a song.  Audrey pooped on the potty! Audrey pooped on the potty!

Apparantly our tradition of singing has inspired a dance.  During a dinner party with friends Joseph announced "Want to see my poopy dance?"  Of course!  He jumps down from the table and does what can best be described as a combination of the chicken dance and Irish step dancing.  That's right, arms like chicken wings flapping up and down with very quick stepping feet.  All while singing "I pooped on the potty, I pooped on the potty."

What will today bring?

I realized this week just how different my job is from Jesse's.  He works on cars for a living, designing things, building things, testing things.  I don't.

This week at school we were given a slew of brand new books- wahoo!  As you might imagine, I spent a great deal of time reading these books.  In particular a favorite called My Car.  One page inspired a conversation that highlights just how different my job is.  The particular page shows a super simple illustrated sideview of the car and points out certain parts: the steering wheel, the tires, the engine.  

Joseph: What's that?  (pointing to the engine)

Me: The engine

Joseph:  What's it do

Me: That's how the car works.

Joseph: How

Me: Well, your mom turns the key and then it works!

Joseph: But how!

Me: (at this point scrambling to remember all those oh so interesting details Jesse shares with me)  Well, you know how your mom turns the key and the engine comes on?  Well the key pushes a button that tells the engine to turn on and it does.  Then the car goes.

Tada!  Boys and girls, what did we learn at school today?  How cars work!