Just something quick

I have pictures to upload and things to write, I'm sure. But not at this hour. Instead, here's my short two bits from the past few days, just for fun...

Natalie -- This morning, I opened a new pack of gum, and Samantha, Spencer and I all sampled a piece (Extra, key lime -- had it? It's tasty, for about 5 mins. till it loses its flavor and goes hard.) Anyway, the kids love it when I blow bubbles, and Spencer always asks me to "do dat fing again, with your gum." So, I was blowing lots of bubbles for him and Sammie. Then, later, I was holding Natalie on my lap -- just me and my babe -- and I popped a little bubble without thinking about it. She looked really surprised, so I blew a nice, big bubble for her to see how she'd react. To MY surprise, she held her breath, her face went red, and then she burst into tears and kind of started shaking. She pulled away from me and seemed like she was trying her best to get off my lap somehow. She was absolutely TERRIFIED of the bubble!!! It was so sad, but so funny to me. I was trying to comfort her, but I also couldn't stop laughing. Even after it popped and I kept my gum out of sight, in my mouth, she just kept looking at me, crying hysterically, and then turning away -- like she couldn't stand to see me. I almost wanted to do it again, to catch it on video or camera or something, but I didn't. But it was really funny. My poor little scared baby girl. No bubbles for her, please!

Spencer -- We went to the dollar store today. I told Sam and Spence they could each pick one special item that we would buy for a treat. (I'm so generous, eh!?) Well, Spencer immediately picked a plastic tractor toy. And Samantha picked a water noodle -- you know, one of those long tubes that floats in the pool? Well, they wandered around the store with their "items" and within just a few minutes, Sammie had talked Spencer into getting a water noodle too. So, he put his tractor back and we got the noodles for both. (Good. Less fighting over toys, I hope.) Well, so we got home tonight and as I tucked Spencer in bed he asked, "Mom, can you open up my tractor now?" "Tractor? what tractor?" "My tractor. From the store." "Ummmm... we didn't buy it, remember? You put it back and picked the water noodle instead." There was a long pause, and then the wailing started. Yes, he remembered putting it back, and he realized -- much too late -- that he would have preferred the tractor instead of the water noodle. He was devastated, as evidenced by his huge crocodile tears and sobbing. He really had a good crying fit, got pretty worked up, poor guy. First experience with buyer's regret, I guess? But me, well.... I walked out of the room chuckling to myself. Not sure why these things strike me as funny.

Samantha -- She is starting to develop a sense of humor, but it's a five-year-old sense of humor. In other words, it may take a bit more "developing" before others "get it." She tells knock-knock jokes... totally made up stuff out of her head. And "chicken crossing the road" jokes. None of them make any sense: knock knock? who's there? egg? egg who? egg tomato!! haahahahah!! Yep. That's what I'm talking about. Well, so the other day, I told her (after multiple knock-knock jokes as we were riding in the car), "Samantha, sometimes I think you are just too silly!" (I was kind of just trying to make conversation, because what else do you do when you really don't "get" her jokes yet??) Well, she sat in the back seat with a smug look on her face for quite some time, looking like she was taking in my comment, weighing its value. After a long, thoughtful pause she said, with a very excited smile, "Mom! I think being silly is one of my best talents!!" It was so cute, like she was just so proud of herself for discovering this great talent. I had to laugh -- but only to myself. Yep, this girl's got budding talent -- in silliness! (It's such a mom word, isn't it? -- silly.)

That's all for tonight. It's very late. Too late. In fact, when I reread any of this later, it may not make any sense at all. But it's all I've got right now. And I'm off to sleep. No Brian yet. 1:44 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Sigh. I really should sleep, even when he's not here, eh?