Dear Easter Bunny

Dear Easter Bunny,

I want a lots of Easter eggs, even a chocolate bunny egg.

I want a lot of Easter eggs.

-Charlotte
July 2008

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa Claus,

I want a transformer that transforms.

Dear Santa Claus,

I want a big speed racer car like my friend Jack at my old school. It was so cool. It was cool, it can turn into a different car that shoots out stuff.

I want the Bumble Bee transformer that transforms into a car.

Giggly goo (like the Berenstein Bears)

Dinosaur molding kit (again, like the Berenstein Bears)

Robot that stands on its head (just read the Berenstein Bears visit Santa Claus book already).

-Lucas LeBaron
July 17 2008 (getting a head start)

This letter was Luke's origination and I wrote down exactly what he said except for my notes in parenthesis. He kept saying "Dear Santa" before each thing and I finally told him he didn't have to do that. So cute.

Gingerbread house

Making the yearly gingerbread house. Thanks to my dad, all I did was snap some photos.

Decorating with beads

As I walked into the living room today I saw Charlotte throwing small beads on the floor. She notices the horrified look on my face and quickly announces,

"Mom, I'm decorating the house with beads!!!"
and smears a huge smile on her face.

Classic.

Luke's a Jew

This year Lucas decreed he wanted to celebrate Hanukkah. (I am so proud I can spell that!) And since I love just about every religion I happily agreed to do this. So a few weeks ago we went to Target and bought our first menorah and candles. He was so proud he carried it around everywhere, and used it as his "show and tell" at school.

My mom runs in today and says "Allie today's the first day of Hanukkah don't forget!" So Luke and I run and we lit our candle, took some pictures, sung a Hanukkah song, and argued over the fact that he isn't going to get 8 huge presents.

And as I sit down to right this and glance at my calendar to make sure I spelled Hanukkah correctly...yah...the first day of Hanukkah is tomorrow. Our first day as Jews and we already failed. Oi vey!

RARE FOOTAGE! Charlotte singing!!!

Charlotte decided to sing for me for the first time ever I think. Here's Twinkle Twinkle with tons of cute Charlotte-isms.

Birds and the Bees

So Luke has been asking about where babies come from for a while now. The first time he was almost 4 and I said "Get back to me when you turn 5" and then when he turned 5 he remembered and asked again. Little bugger! So I ran through the whole thing, leaving out some details but detailed enough for him to not ask follow-up questions.

Then the night of my brother's wedding, we are on our way home, it's late, we're all tired and he asked again. John was there for it this time and he gave me a sideways smirk thinking something along the lines of "Sooo glad that wasn't asked of me!"

So, I ran through the whole shpeel again, only turning red in the face once. After I was done lecturing I asked "Luke? Why are you asking me again? Do you just like to hear me explain it?" I was half kidding, half not, because Lucas and Charlotte both have minds like steal traps, but regardless that didn't prepare me for his response. Lucas snickers "Uh yah" and gives a sheepish grin.

Ahhhhh boys.

Can't get over the RedHead book

I know, it's kind of cheating if I blog about the same thing twice, but I can't get over how excited I am that Lucas is going to be featured in a book. The author just emailed me the picture they decided to use. Isn't it cute???

You can order one too if you want at http://www.littleredheadbook.com/

Charlotte the French woman

I was unloading groceries last night and this is what unfolded after Charlotte saw that I bought a cantaloupe:

Charlotte: Oh...I am SO happy to see this!

Allie: Ya know, I thought you would be (for some reason I knew the cantaloupe would thrill her)

Luke: What's it called?

Charlotte: A banquoi

Allie: Banquoi? In English we call it a cantaloupe.

Luke & Charlotte: Oh..

Allie: Charlotte...what did you call it??

Charlotte: Baaan-quuuuoi (said with overdone enunciation)

I learned a while back to never correct a child on what they think something is called. I always tell them what I call it, or what we call it in English, but who am I to judge?? For all I know Charlotte was Portuguese in another life or French and I am just too slow to keep up...regardless...her version of everday words never ceases to entertain me. Just in case you were about to, I already did (googled it), can't find a darn thing. If you know of something I don't...share please!!

Wise words

You cannot help the poor, by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity, by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up, by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage,
by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently, by doing for them what they could and should,
do for themselves.


-Abraham Lincoln.

Very, very wise words, written years ago and we still don't get it.
I have decided to educate myself in politics. I am tired of not feeling conviction about my voting choices and I am tired of not taking part in my country like I should. I have wanted to get active for a few years now and it's time. My first step....read the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Wish me luck.