I am sorry a WHAT?  What is a Quetza blah blah?

Quetzalcoatlus is a flying reptile from the Cretaceous period.

I am sorry honey I have no idea what they look like, can you show them to me?  Let’s have a snack ok?  (I am getting a headache).

Yeah Mommy strawberries, they are delectable

I’m sorry what did you say?

delectable mommy, you know delicious

Great how did the foreigner ended up with two talking dictionaries?  Yes I thought it was cute when my sons favorite word at 2 was humongous but this is getting to be a little too much.  I am the person that opted out of taking SATs and instead concentrated on ACT because of my limited English vocabulary.  I arrived in the States half way in my freshman year in High School with a vocabulary of what till now I described as 1st graders.  But this puts an entire new perspective on my knowledge of English language.  Apparently as a Freshman in High School I had a vocabulary of a two year old… PERFECT…

This may explain why I didn’t get to Harvard

No not really.

In any case I am sure I am not the only one.  With shows like Ni Hao Kai Lan I am glad that my kids are talking to me in English, even though it surely does not sound like it.

So what is your preschooler favorite big word, or one that surprised you the most?

I can imagine how hard it is for pragmatic thinking parents to have a feeling child. You know an artist an individual.  It is hard for me even though my brain is lingering somewhere between the artsy and pragmatic functions.  I also married an architect which for me was a perfect balance of artsy and brainy.  God knows I would never be able to do what he does.  I am not that analytical.  So of course when it came to babies it was only a matter of time till one was artsy, independent, beating to her own drum.  Even by a mere age of 3.

It does not take her long to put her hand on her hips and state clearly  that not only this is not what she wants.

but she also demands to know where you hid her doll right here right now and because of that she calls you Mama

She will not be persuaded by arguments, unfortunately she is way to keen for that.  “Momma where did you put my doll” is the question and it only deserve a specific answer

I know those accomplishments are not much in this day and age, but the blood that runs in this girlie is enough to make me and the entire establishment gray, even though right now she only rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips.

My son loves puzzles and if you come visit chances are there will be puzzle pieces, or completed one laying on the floor.  Sometimes it is both since there is not point of cleaning up if he will just dump it and start making it again.  For me the puzzle making is a a gift that keeps on giving.  My son is a early morning riser, unlike his twin sister that loves to sleep in.  On a typical day he comes to my bed at 7 squeezes gently in and says “mommy  I wanna make a puzzle”. Perfect, this way he can occupy himself why I rest my eyes, almost like a human snooze button.

He can make the Gabagaskar Puzzle in couple of minutes

The Sweck one takes longer since it is made of 100 pieces and technically geared for 5+ year olds.

Those used to be tough.  His attention span would not last long enough to complete it.  The small pieces would be easily pushed out of spaces which caused a shriek (alarm sound) and statement “mommy I gotta be careful”.

But now since he is getting used to the set backs it is getting easier.  Today he made the Dingle Bell puzzle, which he really wanted to finish before school.  He sat and sang “Dingle Bell Dingle Bell Dingle all the way”.

Maybe I should show him some Disney movies, I bet his sister is ready for princesses and fairies.

I have been slightly slacking for the past week but I do have a wonderful excuse.  I had a visitor.  A visitor that I rarely see, come to think of it this is the second time I saw her in the past 20 years and the last time was a year ago for three days.  We do have a lot to catch up on.   Why would I want to catch up with someone I rarely see?  Because she is my sister and the stroke of chance has scattered us all over the globe, with each of 3 sisters ending up on a different continent about 7 hours time difference from each other.  It does sound like a fairy tale but in reality we do miss each other and wait for those times when we can be together.  Then we sit and catch up, analyzing every word, gait and move.  Does she walk like me?  Our noses are just the same. We like the same food.  Do I hold my head when talking?

No matter how much time passes when we see each other we know we are sisters that have been separated way too long.

Last week I took my kids ice skating for the second time in their lifes.  The first time was when they were two years old and it is safe to say it was a disaster.  The kids refused to put their feet on ice even though they enjoyed walking and balancing on their ice skates.  This time it was a bit bettter.

At least 50% of my three year olds enjoyed the ice.  She even pushed the bucket by herself

The other 50% still refused to be on the ice, he fell once and that made the entire experience not fun, forever and ever.  No Apolo Ohno here.

He sat in the penalty box watching or playing with the phone.

Apparently no Wayne Gretzky either

There is always the other clown

or candy which can make any experience a lot sweeter.

The fun of having kids the same age, or almost the same age is to watch them play together, make up silly games and execute them.  In this game the speaker acted as stage where various animals were taking turns performing.  I sat, watched and filmed.  When I watched it again later, I realized the dynamics of their conversations.  In this one my son is waiting for Monkey to be called onto the stage.  He has to wait a while and even tries to squeeze in few times:

Monkey was certainly not have a good day.

My daughter on the other hand does not leave the stage at all.  She pretends like she is going back to her place in the waiting line but in all reality she is on the stage.

Apparently this blue eyed blondie already figured out how to get what she wants from her brother way before him and his mama ever noticed.  She is good, too good.  At least this way Monkey and Grandpa Monkey could at least share some stage time.

I love New Years Resolutions.  I make them all year long, which will make them not really New Year’s resolutions but resolutions period, or as I like to call them goals.  Right now this blog is a 4 year goal and its final review will come the summer before the kids start school.  I am continuing on my last years goal of reading 12 books in a year, which I quite frankly cheated on already finishing a book on January 1st.  This gives me a head start just in case.

Personally I think that New Years Resolutions can be put into two categories I want it or I don’t want it anymore.

For example on of the top 5 New Years Resolutions is to Enjoy Life More.  It is a  broad statement, but in reality it goes totally against  the other top choices of drinking less, quitting smoking and getting out of debt.  The only way to Enjoy Life More is to get into the habits of people that are trying to quit them.  The way I see it drinking more + getting into debt = enjoying life.

The top New Year resolution is to spend more time with family and friends, which is for the people that like spending time with their family and friends.   For others there is number 8 and 9 on the list meaning Learn Something New, giving you an excuse to get away from friends and family on continuous basis.  Helping Others (9) specifies others, not family/friends since that would be in number one. This is another excuse to run away from family obligation when you don’t want to blame yourself or your need for improvement, but instead you blame others.  I can’t show up today I am sorry they really need my help.

Then there is the  Get Fit Loose Weight crowd which I totally do not understand since January is the worst time ever to make that commitment.  When it is freezing outside and the wind is blowing icicles the last thing you want to do is eat salad for breakfast lunch and dinner.  Yeah I can see that diet lasting till the next fast food joint when you order hot chocolate and potatoes (fried or mashed).  Same with fitness, running or exercise in the snow or ice can be hazardous to your health.  Yes you can do exercise at home, next to the space heater or furnace, breathing in the hot dry air.  You can join a gym for a year and show up the first week, or you can just wait till March to walk outside and hear the birds chirping.  Enjoy the spring fresh air and give up all food for lent.  Unless you live in Virgina or this past week in NYC where I think the spring has already come.

The last one Get Organized is totally on my list even though I am still uncertain how to do it.  I have never really been good at math but this really does not make any sense at all.  24 hours in a day.  Kids awake, breathing need to be watched all the time from 8 am to 9 pm.  13h daily minimum not counting night walkers, early rises, late fall asleepers, Thank You Lord for giving me twins and bags under my eyes.  Cooking 1 hour a day  (more if counting blogging), Cleaning 2 hours a day, Blogging 3 hour day, Grocery shopping 1 hour a day (average), Laundry 1 hour a day (minimum), helping out other members of the family (driving) 1 hour.

13+1+2+3+1+ 1+1=22

So the way I see it this gives me 2 hours to sleep, shower, put on makeup (this year resolution), exercise for 45 min a day, read or even get dressed.  However much I play with this math, no matter how much I try to get organized it is not going to get better without any help.  So if you are in the area and your resolution is to Help Others come on by, I will have plenty for you to do.

Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year !!!

May your New Years Resolutions last at least till March,

May you have the foresight to see where you are heading and a map how to get there,

May you grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and if needed loose corporally

May you look at snow, sleet, rain through the eyes of toddler, embracing a chance to run through the puddles and build  a snowman

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall softly upon your fields

And till we meet again

May God hold you in the hallow of his hand.

Ok so I may have gone a little Irish on you at the end, Happy 2011 !!!