Thankful for Mermaids & Legos

Noah informed us at dinner last night that he doesn't want to go to college. He thinks he will get a job working for Lego designing Lego kits. We explained to him that a degree in engineering or architecture would probably serve him well in his job prospects.

Not wanting to leave Zoe out of this conversation, we asked her if she was going to college.

"What's caw-lege?", she asked.

"It is where you go to school to learn your job when you grow up.", I replied.

DJ then asked her what she wanted to be as an adult.

Without even a moment's hesitation, she answered, "A mermaid!".

"Oh that is GREAT, Zoe! In order to be a mermaid, you will need a degree in marine biology."

That's me. I'm quick and calculating. And apparently a little controlling. But, I am setting the career path for a future marine biologist, because she thinks she needs that degree in order to be a mermaid.

In our defense, we did point out she would also need to learn to swim. Because life skills are important as well.

And now onto Thanksgiving:

I asked our little engineer and marine biologist what they were thankful for and here is their response:

NOAH: Legos, a family that loves me, muffins (can you tell what we had for breakfast?) and a good, cozy house.

ZOE: a good comfy house (copycat), a blue flag (???), Barbies, a brother, a daddy, a mommy and a Lindy (the dog).

Happy Thanksgiving from the Chaos Family!!

May your day be filled with muffins, Legos, cozy homes, family and a blue flag.

Sappho, Casanova, Byron, Shelley and Then There's Noah

A letter to Noah's Future Beloved:

Dear Future Beloved of Noah:

I apologize. It is NOT my fault. He was always this way.

Signed,

Your Future Mother-in-Law

I compare Noah to Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory a lot. But, before there was Sheldon and the Big Bang Theory, I had already made a connection between him and Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties. That analogy came screaming back to me on Monday as Noah and I were talking during the car ride home from school. (Note: his teacher is engaged to an Army officer currently stationed in Georgia and has plans to get married this December)

NOAH: Miss ______ left early today because she was taking a little trip to see Mister ________.

ME: Oh really?

NOAH: Yeah. She flies to see him every weekend. Can you believe that?

ME: I know! Can you imagine how exhausted she must be every Monday morning at school after that trip?

NOAH: Umm... yeah. AND BROKE! That must cost a lot of money!!

ME: Well when you are in love you do extraordinary things. It is worth it if you really love someone.

NOAH: Umm.... I'm thinking, NO. I would NOT spend money for THAT!

(to be fair- it is Book Fair week and he came home with a wish list totaling $70. I gave him the money to buy an $8 novel but he really wanted some $22 Lego book. I made him pay for that himself. I am sure his purse strings were still hurting from having to pay for that book. )

Fall 2011

So, every year, I get all, "Texas just doesn't have fall like this and I LOVE New Jersey in the fall..." blah blah blah... so this year, I am going to shut my pie hole and just SHOW you using pictures I have taken over the past few years of fall in New Jersey.

Enjoy!

Special One Question Edition of Ask Noah

Conversation just now in our living room after a promotional commercial for a television show:

NOAH: WHAT DID THEY SAY???

(which leads us to...)

Q: What do you think about the Duggars having another baby? That will make twenty kids!

I think that is just CRAZY! That is TOO. MANY. KIDS. I mean, if *I* had that many kids, I would have to start throwing them into shelters.

Noah- they are children, not kittens!

Yeah? Well someone needs to tell HER that!

Ummm.. yeah. We might need to work on basic morality with him. I hope he doesn't just throw DJ and I into a shelter when we are old and need care.

The Falsie Story

I had a flashback while getting dressed this morning. And it reminded me of why you should always think about what you tell your children even if you think you are protecting/censoring them.

I had a goofy "aunt" growing up. I placed quotation marks around aunt because she was actually a cousin of some sort- my grandfather's first cousin- and we were not up on the family tree jargon of third cousin, first cousin twice removed, third cousin once removed, tree branching or not branching.. I dunno.. but she was related, a part of our family and older and I was told to call her "aunt". So... I had a goofy aunt that was always telling hilarious stories and making the adults laugh. I somehow sensed this and always wanted to be around to hear her stories.

One day, she was relaying a story to my mom and grandmother and I walked in on the end of it. Just in time to hear, "...and one of my falsies popped out of my bathing suit." Everyone erupted in laughter, including me. But I had no idea what a "falsie" was. So, being the inquisitive child, I asked. And one of the adults answered, "false eyelashes." I accepted that-although didn't see what was so funny about a false eyelash floating around a pool, but adults found odd things funny- and moved on.

No one ever corrected this and at some point, obviously, I learned what a falsie really was. The story became so much funnier once I knew. But my point is- even now, at thirty-eight years old, when I see false eyelashes, the term "falsie" immediately pops in my brain and then my brain immediately corrects that thought. But that association is hard-wired in there for life.

Perhaps it isn't such a bad thing after all, though, because it also always makes me giggle, remember that story and remember my aunt who died when I was a teenager. And, on this day, not only did I look down at my fake eyelashes, remember this story and my aunt, but also made the connection that perhaps that is where I get it from-my willingness to lay everything out there for the world to see, just for a laugh.

Thank you, Aunt Jettie. I am sure you would love to know I inherited your self-deprecating sense of humor.

Ask Noah- Second Edition

Q: For almost as long as there have been humans there has been war and conflict. Do you think war will ever go away?

Yes, but we have to fight against war and everyone must have freedom. But I can't really predict the future. We have to work together will everyone and make the bad people that start wars better people. Then we can all get along.

Q: What do you think about McDonald's bringing back the McRib?

Yeah- I don't know how to answer that. I don't like that.

Q: What's better, cats or dogs?

That is a matter of opinion. Maybe somebody in Asia or Europe likes cats, but I like dogs.

Q: Why does your elementary school rock?

First we have a lot of fundraisers and we get money from the military. I like the way people treat others at my school. But, I really don't know if my school is the best, because I haven't ever been to another elementary school... so how would I compare?

Q:How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Well, it's almost impossible to tell that. Because, if a baby eats it, it will probably take forty or something. But, if a kid eats it, it would be less. If a grown up eats it, it would probably be ten licks and you are in the center.

Q: Are you wishing for a snowy winter? Why or why not?

YEAH! It means no school!

Yes, but it means you have to add days to the end of the year.

I don't care- it is worth it to play in the snow, build snow forts and have fun!

So, are you going to help me shovel it all this year?

I will help a little, but you know I can't shovel very much. My arms are not very strong. They aren't strong enough to push through snow.

**Methinks I won't be able to count on Noah for help shoveling snow**

Candy Conundrum

Have y'all seen the Jimmy Kimmel video where he challenged parents to tell their children they ate all their Halloween candy and then post the results on YouTube? If you haven't, it is hilarious and you can view it here.

I saw it on Facebook the other day and thought it was hilarious! And immediately decided it was something I must do to my children. So- I did. And here is the result- not quite as funny, but as usual, Noah reacts the opposite of how I think he will.