Hibbits Happenings

Today I had to stipulate that no one could use accents during their prayers.

This year I have had a hard time finding the perfect gift for Mia. I got her a few little things, but I want to get her something she will really love. I thought I might have an easy solution when she waited to ask Santa for something at the church Christmas party. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas her response was "to have the best Christmas EVER!" Gee, thanks. I have had her look through catalogs and she points out everything, so that doesn't really help either. Tonight I had her sit on my lap and we talked. I asked if she could have anything in the whole world what would it be. She thought for a minute then faced me and said "to give all the poor people in the world a home to live in and everything they need."

Mia: Can I play on your phone?
Me: No
Mia: (talking in a deep voice and trying not to move her lips) Let Mia play on your phone.
Me: Hmm, who was that talking?
Mia: Maybe your conscience.

The kids have been asking for a week to decorate for Christmas. We got down the boxes and I began looking through them. Emma was at my side trying not to squeal as she saw different items. "Oooo, lights! Santa!...Oh, stockings! Can I hang them? Can I hang them? Please?!" I told her she had to wait and stay still. She tried as hard as she could to stand still and wait patiently, but I could see her start to quiver. The tension was building and she was struggling to stay in control. She couldn't contain it anymore and burst out at the top of her lungs "JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY!" It was the closet thing I've seen to turrets syndrome.

Emma and Mia were playing in character. Emma came up to me and we had this conversion.

Emma: (in a soft, almost British accent) Do you want to know why I am such a good writer?
Me: Of course, please tell me.
Emma: I am an Indian. My mother taught me to write.
Me: Oh
Emma: My father taught me to fight.
Me: What?
Emma: He taught me to fight with weapons.
Me: What kind of weapons?
Emma: A sword.
Me: Who were you fighting?
Emma: We fought during the war. I practiced and everything was destroyed, so he taught me. When I became older I fought in the war with him and we finally won.
Me: Are you an American Indian or an Indian from the country India?
Emma: I am a Holiday Indian.
Me: What is a Holiday Indian?
Emma: It is an Indian who only celebrates one holiday... I am of the Christmas Indians.

Charlie has commented more than once that he is concerned that Emma cares more about animals than people. I think he might be right.

Emma said she was learning about something in history today. Something about a place in France and Cisco... (Uh, San Francisco?) Yes, well she heard that in San Francisco they have their houses really close together and there was a big fire. The fire went from one house to another and another and another, and all the people died! I asked why she was smiling so big while she told me this. She laughed, slapped her leg, and said it was really funny to her that people hadn't even thought that putting houses that close together would be a bad idea.

Then more seriously... Emma said "Old people are dying and other people are having more children and people keep building more and more homes even though some of the homes are empty. Home are empty and they keep building and building. I feel really bad about it because it is taking away homes from animals! Animals don't have a home anymore. If animals kept building homes where we lived and we couldn't live there anymore wouldn't you feel bad? Well, that is how animals feel." (She starts crying.)
Mia interjects "it is okay, because those animals are being put in zoos."
"No, they are killing them!" Emma starts to sob.

It's been awhile. I have graduated from college, woo hoo! Justin graduated from elementary school, boo hoo. Mia and Justin had their birthdays; we had a fun summer filled with swimming, vacations, amusement parks, beaches, studying for the CPA exam, and cousins. Now school has started again.

Walking the girls home from school today we talked about foxes. I mentioned that Aunt Ashley has foxes in London, like we have racoons. Emma thought that was awesome. I said it is annoying when they knock over your trash cans. Emma thought that wouldn't be a big deal because you could just make a big hole for the trash to fall into. After all, they are just hungry. Mia thinks Ashley should use a decoy trash can to trick the foxes, but I said they could smell the difference. Emma thought it would be good to set out food for them to fix the real problem. I said that if they did that then the foxes would keep coming back for food and probably bring their friends. Mia said "Oh, no." She suggested trapping the foxes. I asked what she would do with the fox once she caught it. She said she would make it into a scarf. Emma chimed in that it was the fashion in the olden days to kill foxes and wear them around your necks.

It is "Western Day" at school today. The girls dressed up. On the way to school Mia realized she forgot something.

Mia: Oh, no, I forgot my neckerchief!
Me: That is okay, you are wearing your cowgirl hat, and that is most important.
Mia: No, that is not what's most important. What is most important is...(she paused for effect)...cowgirl spirit. And I have that!
Me: I need to call your dad and tell him how cute you are.
Mia: Or you could just text him a picture.

Emma asked me if I remembered her friend's birthday party of Saturday. Yes. Well, before she went to the party I asked her to pick up dog poop in the backyard. As she cleaned it up she started to gag. She has been thinking about this a lot and thinks that the reason must be that she is allergic to dog poop.

I had some fruit on the counter. A piece was a little past its prime. Mia saw it and excitedly said "Cool, we are watching fruit rot at school too!"
__________________________
Mia: Dad is really hard to deal with.
Me: Why?
Mia: I can't pick him up.
__________________________
Emma: Wow, did you notice that my hair is so long it is like a lion's mane... or a horse's tail. 

Mia: Paula is the worst friend EVER!
Me: What happened?
Mia: She said I couldn't play our game anymore! I have been playing that game for TEN YEARS!!(huff)
Me: You are six years old.
(long pause)
Mia: I have been playing that game for TEN DAYS!! Well, it is much longer than ten days.

A few days later Emma was talking to Mia.
Emma: This is our last full month of school...
Mia: Hold on, Emma. (pumping arms in circular motion in front of her chest) Oh yeah, Uh, huh, Oh yeah.

It is officially less than one from from my last final!! I have been a bit busy trying to keep up with all the tests, projects, kids, kids' projects and tests, husband, birthdays, Easter, and a little traveling. I have been thinking of blogging and even had a great Emma story, but I can't remember it. Argh, it is frustrating. I'm sure there will be another one soon though. They usually provide good material fairly often.

It seems my favorite phrase for the last year and a half has been "I don't have time." I am constantly struggling to keep up with all I have put on my plate. I try to ignore non-essentials. I rarely go on facebook, I rarely go out with friends or dates with Charlie, I missed Christmas baking with my sisters. I have ignored everyone talking about Pinterest. Then my friend, Heather, sent me an invite. I registered and didn't even look at the site. Suddenly my email was bombarded with friends and acquaintances "following" my board. Eventually I gave in to curiosity and looked at the site. I am in love. Just about everyday I turn to Pinterest for ideas.

Then I was at school and a guy said that accountants are not creative. I questioned him and he told me that I was not creative. Being a five year old at heart, I had to challenge this. I turned to pinterest and here is what I have done this week.



































In your face, Shane!

Emma: I chase and attack boys.
Me: That is not good; you shouldn't do that.
Emma: Why not? It's in my nature.
Me: (discussion about my good choices even if you like being bad or it feels natural...)
Emma: Okay, so how many boys can I attack?
Me: None.

I told Mia that one of her previous teachers had said that Mia was one of her all time favorite students. Mia asked why she would lie like that. I said she wasn't lying and no one could help but love Mia. She claimed that Justin didn't because sometimes he tells her that she is a brat. I smiled and said that sometimes she is a little brat. Mia looked up and said in a sing-songy voice "not helping."

Emma has been taking piano lessons for almost a year now. We have struggled to find motivation for her to practice and really put in effort. For Christmas she got a new bigger, nicer keyboard. She wants a stand and seat to match it. I told her that if she practiced everyday for a month she could get them. She missed three days. Huge improvement, so I decided to renegotiate. She had to practice everyday for two weeks (she was allowed to miss one day) and she could get either the seat or stand. She just accomplished this so I asked which she wanted. She said the stand. I thought that was a good choice. She said " Yeah, because I am pretty good at standing."

I was brushing Mia's hair in the bathroom yesterday and this was our conversation.

Me: Mia, you are really gorgeous. I mean it, and I'm not just saying that because I am your mom.
Mia: Yea, I was thinking that right now too.

A friend once told me that the world tears our kids down everyday, so it is our job to build them up. I guess that approach is better than thinking my little girl is a conceited little brat.

I haven't been too good with the blogging lately. Last semester was a killer with 18 units, 3 kids, and a husband. During the break I have been trying to get the house back under control and finally finish the remodel we started during the summer. We are almost done and I hope to be done by the time I start school on Monday. Since I haven't been too consistent with my blogging I thought I would make an attempt today before the real chaos starts again for my LAST semester. That is right; I am almost done!

Emma has been going through some changes lately...uncontrollable rage, uncontrollable tears, sweetness, rage, rage... We have talked about what changes lie ahead and how she needs to attempt to reign in some of those emotions. For now I will take the sweetness as it comes (and try to put up with the rest.) Monday was a holiday and we took a family bike ride which included a picnic. As we were riding Emma said "in case I forget later I wanted to tell you that the best part of my day was right now, spending it with you." Ahhh. When we got to our destination Charlie asked if we were eating at the picnic table. I said that Mia told me it wasn't a real picnic unless we ate on a blanket on the grass. (I love her ideas.)

Today as I started the oven Justin perked up and asked if I was making cookies. I said no so he got up to see what I was doing. "Twice Baked Potatoes?!!!" I nodded and asked if he was more excited for twice baked potatoes or cookies. He said the potatoes. Emma wanted both. Then I go outside and find a plate of goodies on my porch from some friends. I love when you get everything you want. :)