My brother and sister in law are in the throws of potty training my nephew, J, age 2 and a half. While at my mom and dad’s house over the weekend, Frick announces loudly (like he always does) that he has to poop. My brother suggested to J that he may want to go with Frick and see how the master takes care of business. En route to the bathroom, Frick puts his arm around J’s shoulder and says to him,
“So, I hear you’re pooping on the potty now.”
I have such fond memories of my grandparents. Growing up, we spent a lot of time with Grandma, Granny, and Pap-Pap. I remember the solitaire card games on weekend visits with Grandma. There were lots of Klondike bars, Cracker Jacks, and Scrabble games with Granny and Pap-Pap. My Granny was the only one who was able to see me get married and have a baby. I would visit her every Tuesday with Frick when he was an infant. In fact, Frick rolled over for the first time in her apartment. All of these beloved people have since passed on, but their memories are alive in my heart and dreams.
Not too long ago, I had a dream that was so realistic, I question the fact that it was a dream. It started with me taking Frick and Frack to the babysitter’s house one morning. When I got there, my grandfather, Pap-Pap, answered the door. I was surprised that he answered the door and quickly threw my arms around him. He hugged me back and said that Granny was waiting in the kitchen with the babysitter. I, of course, ran into the house and hugged Granny as well. I cornered the babysitter in another room and asked her what my grandparents were doing over at her house. She said (and I will never forget), “Well, Mandy, they come here everyday to spend time with Frick and Frack.”
I am still so moved when I think about this dream. I have such comfort that my ALL of my grandparents have come to know my children in some shape or form. Dreams like this are God’s way of telling you that your loved ones are OK and watching over you. What a gift.
Mother’s Day brought a ton of tech-y stuff to this family! First came Rosie the Roomba. I love Rosie. My kids love Rosie. On top of that, BP acquired an iPod (probably for himself) and lovingly (because I made him) gave it to me. I created my very own folder of my favorite songs (Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Van Morrison, and Van Halen–quite an eclectic group, eh?). I listen to my iTunes all the time while I lesson plan, blog, or read the newspaper online (because I am too cheap to buy a paper). I also created a folder of the kids favorite songs (songs from the movie Cars, theme songs of their favorite TV shows, and Kindermusik songs). I feel so young again.
Thank God, because I really needed that after last week.
My brother, SIL, and nephew were in town for Mother’s Day. We had several afternoons of running around inside and outside with them. On one occasion, while my SIL and I were out catching up on errands, Frick started his shenanigans. As told by my brother and mother:
Frick and J, my nephew, were running around the island in the kitchen with the lawn mower (we are still trying to figure out why the toy lawn mower was inside). Frick walked over to J and said, “J, you need to find something else to play with.” J continues to run around with the lawn mower. Frick waves him over again. “J, you need to find something else to play with.” J leaves the mower alone and grabs another toy. Frick runs for the mower and picks up where J left off…creating a lot of noise as he runs around the island in my mother’s kitchen.
Sneaky.
One of my recent posts was about graduating from college 10 years ago. Adding salt to the already festering wound was this arrival in the mail:
Can you see it? It says AARP. My “card” came today. It had MY NAME on it. Crap.
…was the day I graduated from Clemson University with a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. It’s common for people to ask the question, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” when such pivotal events, like graduation, take place. I always assumed I would be married and maybe have a kid or two. I knew I would be teaching and I hoped I would NOT be living in the town where I attended high school. Well, my answers were right, right, right, and WRONG. I still live here. Bummer.
I cannot believe it has been 10 years.
I was tagged by Andrea the other day. Here are my Six Unimportant Things About Me
Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself (things/habits/quirks).
4. Name some of your favorite blogs.
5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.
1. I talk entirely too much. It’s a good thing I am a teacher.
2. I say ‘apparently’ and ‘frankly’ all the time. My friends tease me about it.
3. I hate sitting in the sun or tanning. I am so fair skinned, it takes me all of five minutes to burn. My friends tease me about that, too. They call me Solar-Phobic.
4. Dishes left in the sink irk me. I cannot leave to go anywhere until they are put in the dishwasher or put away.
5. I absolutely LOVE The Carpenters, Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow. Yes, you can laugh now. 
6. I do not eat ANY fish. I like to claim that I am allergic, but that is a lie.
My favorite blogs - Your It! Kate, Lu, and Cassie! Most of my other blog friends have already been tagged.
Ok…Have you ever read the search engine terms people use that stumble upon your blog? If you want a laugh, it is worth the read. Here are …Life’s About a Dream’s Classic Google Hits:
*How to poop in a public potty
*Dream Out Loud……….Amen Boy!!!
*Two words
*sweet bottom boys in world
*polish babes
Disclaimer….”polish babes” came from the nail polish post that Frick called ‘bling bling’. We do not support the THAT particular industry.
Our AC/heater blew up! Yes, it actually blew up…fire and all. Our house and it’s people are fine (thanks Cassie for asking!) The good news…it will be replaced before the temps get any hotter. The bad news…bye, bye George Bush refund (and then some).
