Memory of an Elephant

Ava amazes me all the time with some of the things she thinks up or says. Her mind is like a steel trap, I tell ya’. Man, it must be nice to be young and have a good, working brain like that. Here’s a little story from Saturday that made me sit back and smile.

The other day I picked up some sugary cereals from Winn Dixie. I don’t usually buy these kind of cereals, but they were buy one get one free and I’m a sucker for a deal. I got a box of Pops and a box of Apple Jacks. Now, like I said, I usually get some sort of granola or something like that. Maybe it was the deal, or maybe it was the red and green of the Apple Jacks calling me to buy them at this time of year, like they were trying to be “festive” or something. I have to say, I like a bowl of Apple Jacks myself so I opened that box first on Saturday morning. The kids were excited and came running at the smell of all that sugar.

When Ava got her bowl (which she eats dry b/c she can’t have milk) she said, “I ate these at the airport”. It took me a minute to process what in the world the child was talking about. But, as usual, she was right.

When we were in Vietnam, I bought a box of Apple Jacks to have in our room so we wouldn’t have to go out to breakfast and to fill her snack pack with since they didn’t sell Cheerios. When we were leaving, I packed a truck load of Apple Jacks into her snack pack for the plane ride home- from Vietnam- when she was 20 months old! I haven’t bought Apple Jacks since Vietnam and when she saw them she remembered where she had eaten them before.

I told her yes, she was right. We had Apple Jacks when we were in Vietnam getting Binh. I don’t know if she actually remembers that trip, or if like certain songs or smells can bring back memories, those Apple Jacks brought back that particular memory. I was amazed either way.

Why can she remember things from when she was a baby but can’t remember where she put her drink when lunch time rolls around?

I Really Have Nothing To Say. No Really.

I’m posting just because I feel bad that I haven’t written anything in like a week or something. I really have nothing to tell you all, though, so consider yourself forewarned.

I could talk about how Thanksgiving went off without a hitch, and that I actually cooked it all. I really do not enjoy cooking. Ash tells me I’m a great cook, but that doesn’t mean I love being in the kitchen. I did make all the normal Thanksgiving stuff. It was good, and I didn’t hate making it all because it was a holiday and that makes it different from cooking for Tuesday night. We didn’t have anyone over, but I really like the family time. The kids really ate well. Binh had ice cream for dessert then afterward he reared back and stretched and said, “Pecan pie, now?” I think he may have a hollow leg..

That evening we went over to Ash’s boss’ house for a while. We all know how fun it is to hang out with your boss, especially after he’s been drinking a little. There were a few other people who Ash works with that were there. Clearly, we only stayed a bit.

I could also talk about getting up and shopping at 3:00am on Black Friday, but then, didn’t we all do that? I did get all the door busters I hoped for, but I can’t write about them because a few of you may be receiving one of the said door busters. Then you’ll know I only spent $10.00 on you and not the $24.99 you thought.

On a totally random note, did they make those baby carrots in a bag that we all buy now when I was a kid? Were they around and my mom just didn’t buy them, or are they a recent “invention”? Ava loves them and I serve them with her usual PB&J that she has every. single. day. It’s the one way I can get her to eat some type of veggie. at lunch. I don’t know what I’d do without those baby carrots.

Told you I had nothing to say. I may be many things, but I am certainly not a liar!

If You’re My Age..

Then you’ll understand why I’m excited that Ash and I went out on Saturday night (that in itself is pretty exciting) and bought Super Mario Brothers.Wii.

Our regular babysitter, whom we adore, went off to college this semester so we haven’t had any date nights in a while. She came home for Thanksgiving and wanted to make sure we knew she was happy to babysit. Gee, twist my arm..we made plans with her for both Saturday and Monday nights.

Saturday we went to Target because that’s what old, married people do on dates. We go to Target and buy things for our kids. Well, I did get Binh a new pair of pirate jammies. Now he runs around the house saying “Aaarhg!” and Ava a Hello Kitty Christmas tee. That’s one character I can get on board with her wearing. That cat is just so darn cute. Plus, she has no movie or show associated with her. She’s just there to look cute on stuff. While we were at the store, however, I remembered that Super Mario was coming out or did come out for Wii. I saw the maker of the original Mario on Fox news, and he was talking, through a translator b/c he’s Japanese, about the new Mario being  just like the old one. It has the same side scrolling screen, same button sequences for the most part etc. Needless to say I was stoked. I am a child of the first Mario Brothers and couldn’t wait to see the new one. Well, we bought it the other night and couldn’t wait to get home to play it! The people (kids) working at the electronics department were talking to us about how everyone was buying this game. I told them this was from our generation of games and the only one we know how to play! I otherwise need and eight-year-old to help me navigate how to work other games.

Ash and I played the first night until about midnight. In this new Mario Bros. two players (up to four, actually) can play on the same screen and work together to get through the levels. Plus, there are lots of fun gadgets and shortcuts to discover. The next night, we convinced the kids they were very tired and needed to go to bed nice and early. Just kidding, but we did play like as soon as they went to bed. 

Oh, the heady days of our adolescence. Now if they just make new versions of Donkey Kong and Frogger, I’m set.

If You’re Not Carefull, I WILL Catch You Smiling

On Monday, we went to a little playground just to mess around for a little while because it was such beautiful weather.  I normally use Monday as my “clean-up-from-the-weekend” day, but I knew it was supposed to rain and be cooler on Tuesday, so we decided to seize the moment and go have some fun. I took my camera along to work at using manual mode a little more, so the kids had mommarazzi while they were trying to play. At least there were no other kids at this very small playground, so I didn’t look too crazy chasing them around. They had a lot of fun there, actually, and it was the first time we’d gone to that particular place, so I’m sure we’ll be going back again.

As I’ve mentioned before, Binh is not a big fan of the camera. He’s either now starting to get used to it, or he’s just growing up and coming out of his shell. I say he usually looks like an unhappy child in most of his pictures. Don’t get me wrong, I love a serious pose now and then, but all the time? I mean, I don’t want people beginning to wonder if he ever has fun. Here are a couple of his usual shots:

All of these photos are SOOC, just keep that in mind. Oh, and we’re growing out his hair. I’m not sure into what, but I’m using anime as inspiration (not that I read anime, but you know the look I mean..) Anyway, I do think it’s a nice shot, but c’mon, you’re two and half, dude, not Edward from Twilight. There’s no need for you to be that dark and brooding..

But, speaking of Edward, I think Binh could rival him in the lip department. What do you think?

 

Luscious, no? Well, after a while I was able to manage to catch Binh not paying attention to the camera. And? I caught some of those beautiful smiles that he is actually full of but never gives when the camera is out.

Ah, smiles. My work here is done.

Tell me what you think of the shots.