Christmas Video from 2017

Found in the deep recesses of my files. I think I was thinking to send this out as part of our holiday greeting in 2017 but never got around to it. Originally it was just under a minute and mostly generic clips of kids hands playing with nativities. Sweet but not too special or personal. Then I started watching all the clips of the kids talking and I realized there were too many gems to ignore. And the remnants of their accents?! Too cute. I'm feeling nostalgic and wanting all the memories, so here is five minutes of time from a couple years ago. I think it will just get more precious to me the further away from that time we go. I almost cut out all of the parts with my voice asking questions. I decided to keep them after all, realizing that probably most of what my kids will someday have is this. My image shows up rarely in these kinds of things but they'll have my voice--sometimes strained, sometimes laughing. 

Who Made These Kids So Hilarious?

Mom:  So I found a vintage tie clip for dad's birthday present!
Davy:  Who in the world would want a vintage tie clip?

Eddy, clearly holding it.
Dad:  Eddy, do you need to go?
Eddy:  No, I just like rocking around . . . okay, yes I need to go.

Eliza:  I only like special things, beautiful things, and new things.

Soon after Grandma gave her a Cinderella dress up.
Eliza:  Mother, do you remember those days when I was in my old dress and wishing I had a real Cinderella dress?  Remember those days?

Eliza:  Dad, dad, open your eyes.  I just want to feel how soft your eyeballs are.

Eliza:  Mom, you're so cute.  Not as cute as me.  But a little cute because you're not a criminal.

Eliza:  Mother, even though you don't have the right shirt you're still pretty.

Eliza:  What colour are smiles?

Eliza:  What is a servant?
Me:  Someone who cooks and cleans.
Eliza:  Oh, like a mom.

funnies

My little note card of funny things the kids say is filled up.  Time to start a new one!

Getting distracted from bedtime (as per the usual), Eddy was walking slowly down the hallway practicing his snapping skills.  "Is this snap loud enough?"

After a series of pushing Davy's buttons.
Eliza:  Davy, sorry, I can't annoy you right now.  I'm too busy playing with Eddy.

Dad:  Did you forget to turn off the light when you were done in the bathroom?
Eliza:  No, I just didn't want to.

Eliza:  I have a girl life.

Eliza:  How much longer do we get to borrow London?

Mom:  Eliza, you must either wear or carry your coat.
Eliza, in a whisper to Daddy:  Will you carry this for me?

Eliza:  Mom, you forgot to put on your deogreant.

Eliza:  Mom, your bum is too big.

Eliza, pointing up to the sky:  Look!  A blue cloud!
Me:  Sweetie, that's the sky itself.  Everything else is cloud.  I think we've been in England too long!

Davy:  Daddy is from the most American American country.  It's called California.

Davy to Eliza:  Please stop imaginating things.

Funnies of Late

Davy: You don't know something about kids.  The older they get the crazier they get.
Dad: I do know that.
Davy: Well you don't seem to know it.

Me: I'm pretty sure *random fact* is right.
Davy: No, mom, my teacher said *this* and she's older than you so she's right.
(I actually really was right.)

Freaking out about his homework assignment to interview someone about their job
Me: You could interview me.
Davy: What does being a mom have to do with a job?
Me: *a look*
Davy: I mean, I know it's hard . . .
(Thanks, Aunt Camilla, for saving the day with a facetime interview about a real job!)

Kids being sneaky about something while my back was turned working in the kitchen
Davy to Eddy in a whisper: If Mom is watching I've decided not to do it.

Eddy: My favorite subject at school is school lunch.

During the Primary children's program at church Eddy was standing waiting for a song to begin.  He started measuring his height against that of the boy standing next to him.

Also during the Primary program he had a piece of paper given to him by his teacher that he was fidgeting with and being distracting.  When I could catch his eye I started miming for him to put it in his pocket.  It took a few times for him to understand what I was asking and when he did get it he called out, "but I need it!"

Liza Bee: Knock knock, who's there? Temple run.  Temple run who? Temple run I couldn't know you could lodel . . . I made up that joke.

Liza Bee: I'm not growing up until my birthday.

Liza Bee: Mommy, I didn't do *whatever naughty thing someone else did*.  I didn't do that.

A few hours after we walked across the zebra crossing at Abbey Road and I explained about the Beatles.  I said I would let her hear some of their music.
Eliza: You said you would show me some bug music!

Quotey Quote Quote

After a few months at school. Rummaging around in my craft cupboard.
Me: Eddy, what are you looking for?
Eddy: A pen.
Me: There's lots right here in front of you.
Eddy: No, not that kind of pen.  I need what you call a marker!

Collin singing improv words to a familiar song, trying to fill in a rhyme.
Collin: And for dinner there's soup and bread . . .
Eddy: I don't like what you just said.

Tired of Eliza singing at the top of her lungs (and reminded by me to give a helpful alternative suggestion).
Davy: Eliza, you can sing it like this!  . . . silence . . .

Me: I don't think people really eat oatmeal for dinner very often.
Davy: I suppose if you're American you're free to choose if you eat porridge for dinner.

(Not funny, but from the mouth of babes.)
We'd been discussing quite extensively the recent escalations in the US with racism.
Davy:  But didn't we already have a war about that a long time ago?  Why are people still fighting?

Practicing Mother's Day songs for church.
Eliza: Mother I love you, I love you . . . I guess.

Eliza: Twirly dresses for my whoooooole life.

Getting caught doing something naughty.
Eliza: Davy is being a bad example!

Eliza: I growed out of being the littlest kid.

Me: Please put your skirt down.  People will see your undies if you do that.
Eliza: Well they're pink!

Said Lately

  
Davy scrolling through our recent instagram pictures:  Mom, I'm impressed at your pictures.  Some of them are actually really good.

Davy walking with his friend Ella, she asks:  Do you want to see me do ballet?
Davy, deadpan:  No, thanks.
(Luckily she was undeterred and went ahead to perform anyway.)

After I prepped them for meeting my former university professor and friend 
Davy:  Mom, I know.  Be on our best behavior.  You've said it a thousand times.

Davy was busy going from place to place with a purpose.  I asked him what he was up to (in a friendly sort of way).  He told me--without malice but with perfect candor:  None of your business.

Me:  So, Eddy, what are you learning at school?
Eddy:  Nothing.  I don't learn anything at school.  I just play.

Eddy:  The thing with grown-ups is they like things that kids don't.

(sorry, can't remember if I put this one in already, but I still chuckle every time I think of it so I'll add it again just in case)

Daddy, helping the boys get ready for their first drop-off birthday party remember some manners and brainstorm nice things to say:  You could say to the mom when you say hello, "thank you for this party, it is so much fun!"
Eddy:  But I can't say "this is such a fun party" at the beginning 'cause I don't even know if it is yet.

Eliza's version of Cinderella:  Her nice mommy comes and gives her a new dress while she is spinning with her hands holding her pretty skirt.  (Imagine her demonstrating the twirling and holding out her skirt)  Then she gets on the pink seat.  Then she goes to church.  Then she dances with her daddy.

Liza Bee during our last bout of cold: I need a tissue wipe because my nose is falling out.

Liza going on the bus with Daddy, playing with his transport card:  Mind the gap between the train and the platform

Eliza, very distressed:  Mommy, there is something wrong with my toes!
Me:  What's the matter sweetie, do they hurt?
Eliza:  They don't have any pink paint on them.

Me to Collin:  We have such funny kids.
Eliza piping right up:  Yes, but I'm the funniest.

Quotes

Davy:  At school we call conkers walnuts because we throw them against the wall.


Eddy:  coming out from bed way past bedtime  Mom, my body hit a corner and it hurts.  Me:  were you lying on your pillow under your covers?  Eddy:  . . . no . . . (slow smile)


Eliza:  after a bath  I don't have a peanuts.  I have a g-gina.

Eliza:  at naptime  I am now available to have mine pacifier.

Eliza:  Davy said that Mr Darcy is a person and not a dog.  So I think he is a person.

Mom:  Eliza, I like you
Eliza:  I know.  I like me too.

Snippets and Snappits

I'm so clever with titles.  Or something like that.

I mostly have a series of random, unrelated--except by the real and every day theme--pictures and quotes.  Most of these are duplicates of Instagram, but there are some never-before-seen.  I'd like things in one place for the day I print all this stuff out.

Eddy kept asking me to do things while I was practicing driving on London streets.  Collin, in the passenger seat, reminded him "Eddy, address your questions to me." After a beat Eddy said, "Dad, can you ask mom to change the CD?"

My aunts visited London for a few days after their trip to Paris.  It was fun to have a full flat (we really were at capacity but in a good way!) and explore during the mornings with them.  After several museums in several days even our good sport Eliza was done and showed us the way of things on the floor of the British Museum:

Eddy, after a year and a half in stage one (and a half, as we liked to call it), just today moved up to stage two.  He is thrilled about it and I'm proud of him for continuing to work hard.

Davy used to be the star of these quote sessions.  He's gotten old enough that if he does say something funny he's embarrassed by the attention.  He's cute and clever and we love him loads.  The lack of pictures and center stage time may not prove it, but it's the truth.

 

Eliza has her own opinions about what she wears.  I get it.  That's cool.  She is my daughter after all.  But the past few weeks we've been having fights about what I wear.  I'll come out of the shower and she will have set out my clothes for me to put on.  It was adorable the first few times and she actually chose well enough.  But then she started experimenting and she melted down when I told her I just couldn't wear bike shorts and a sheer decorative over shirt.  Now I think we've compromised and she gets to pick my socks.

I think it's almost time to take out Eliza's afternoon nap.  Which is a shame, because we both still really need it.  She's not settling down to bed until after nine, however, and that's almost worse.  She comes out repeatedly and has absolutely no respect for me or Collin asking her to return.  Last night she was out of bed rummaging quietly around the living room.  I looked up from my work on the computer and saw her wearing dress up clickity clack shoes, sunglasses, and a stethoscope.  I said, tiredly, "go back to bed, Eliza."  She looked at me, surprised that I could say such a thing and replied, "I can't, mom.  I'm a doctor."  And then I laughed and it all went down from there.  I can never hold a straight face around a two year old.

Eliza:  "My favorite is basking ball.  But I can't do the dribbles when I'm a little girl."

Eddy, oh Eddy.  He is always the one reminded many times to stay on track (reminded six times it was time to get dressed for school when I came in to find him half dressed and drawing on the winter window) but finds much more fun in doing his own thing in his own time.  I love that childhood seems to come so easily for him.  He just is a kid and happy to be there.

The closest Eliza Road is several hours drive away in Manchester and we likely won't get there, our itineraries never bringing us near there.  So we decided to just count this Elizabeth Street in London as her street name picture.

Sibling love gets me to my heart strings every time.  Eliza and Eddy are the best buds while Davy is in his football (soccer) class.  It's gotten so good that Eliza will not allow me to help her anywhere but has to have Eddy hold her hand and Eddy push her on the swings and Eddy pull her on the scooter and Eddy play with her.  Eddy is more than happy to oblige.

Her "skirt that Cinderella gave me" gets a lot of good mileage around here.  Also, her favorite color is pink, unless she's wearing blue and then it's blue to match.  The logic of a two year old.  I wish I could always had a two year old around.

London we love you.  Seriously, though.  Davy's already starting to mourn leaving London.  He says things like, "I wish we could have been born here and never have to leave."  And "couldn't we just live here forever?  America is so boring."  And "when I grow up I'm going to live in London and my kids will go to my school and I will never make them leave places they love."

Funnies (and photos from Avebury Henge)

These pictures have nothing to do with the funnies.  They were just convenient.

Davy:  Here's a game.  Let's see who can laugh the most!

Eddy:  I don't like leftovers.  I don't like old food.  I prefer new food.

Eddy:  Mommy, I can't get to sleep.  Eliza is keeping me awake.  She won't stay in her bed even when I scare her down.

Liza Bee:  (after I drew on a piece of paper I thought she was done with) Naughty naughty mommy!

Eddy:  I don't need to got to the bathroom.  I'm just dancing to a song in my head.

Eddy:  (while mom was gone Dad was slow getting out of bed and he didn't want to wait for water to boil) Dad, would the hot water from the bathroom work for oatmeal?

Davy:  (building a city out of blocks and train tracks) I've never been this busy in my life.

Eddy:  Dad, I think Mom has more money than you.

Eddy:  I'm as hot as bacon and burnt pancakes.

Eliza:  (not wanting to put her coat on) No tanks, I'm OK.

Eliza:  I need dis, I want dis . . . I don't want dis.

Liza Bee:  Scuse me book.

Rachel:  (looking up from reading) So I accidentally found myself in the middle of what is apparently another teenage dystopian trilogy.
Collin:  Aren't you always in the middle of a teenage dystopian trilogy?
Rachel:  . . . Touche.