Alli's Anecdotes

We spent a part of today out at the barn playing beauty shop - Jabbar got the full works with a bath, hoof polish, and some ShowSheen.  While he was drying, Alli and I even cleaned tack.  She had a fabulous time.

On the way home, staring out the window, out of the blue she said "I'm so glad God made horses, Mom.  Especially Jabbar."

Me too, Alli.  Me too.

Self-Esteem by Alli

Alli Bree is full of wisdom, she looks at things plainly, and she's brutally honest.  Case in point, this Friday night heading to our neighborhood pool:

Alli:  "Mom, why don't you ever wear this swimsuit with the fringe?"

Me:  "Oh, I don't know.  I'm saving it for the beach," thinking to myself that it's a little Spring Break 2002 for the neighborhood pool.  Plus I didn't consider how much Riley would like to pull on the fringe.

Alli:  "Well if you aren't going to wear it, can I?  I really like it!"  She puts it on.

Me:  "Oh, I don't know, Alli.  I don't think it fits you."  I'm trying to ignore her shimmying to make the fringe swing.

Alli:  "Oh it fits, Mom.  It fits perfectly.  Well the top fits perfect.  The bottoms are pretty big."

Slang by Alli

A few nights ago I was getting Alli ready for school the next day by having her lay out her clothes.  She said "You know, Mom, I really need some new clothes."  "I know you do, Alli.  I'll go get you some.  What are you into these days?  Jeans and t-shirts still okay, or do you want to change it up?"

"I think jeans and t-shirts.  That's my swagga."  This statement was followed by two hands in deuces thrown up in the air.

Radio silence.  Then "Um, what did you say?"

"That's my swagga.  The jeans and t-shirts."  More deuces.

"What does that mean, exactly?"

"You know, like that's what makes me cool.  It's my swagga."

I'm really not ready for this, people.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Apparently Alli wasn't aware of the tradition of pinching someone who isn't wearing green on this holiday, so when I told her last night as we laid out her green pants and green shirt, she got a gleam in her eye.

Last night before I went to bed, I made sure to put on a green shirt so that when I got up in the morning, she wouldn't be able to get me.  Ryan, however, wasn't so lucky.  He got a pinch on the arm this morning for forgetting his green!

When I walked in to put her green bow in her hair, Alli pinched my leg.

"Hey!!  I'm wearing green!  Look at my shirt!"

"Well that's why I pinched your leg, your pants aren't green."

"You don't have to be wearing green everywhere, just somewhere."

"Oh.  Well I am wearing it everywhere, so I must be really lucky."

Around then, Ryan walked in wearing a green shirt.  Lesson learned.

Wishing each of you a very happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Alli's Anecdotes

The other night, we were feeding Riley chicken.  It's not the greatest thing in the world - it's boiled, shredded, and then blended with water to make a sort of paste.  I like to think it's better than the jarred baby food chicken, but in health only.  I'm pretty sure they taste equally terrible.

Anyway, we were feeding Riley who was not enjoying her chicken.  And Alli decided to encourage her.

"Riley, you have to like chicken.  Lots of good things come from chicken.  Like chicken nuggets, chicken patties…and pork chops…and…fish sticks!"

Sometimes, I don't even know.

Organic Experience

With us making Riley's baby food, Ryan and I have started shopping at the local natural food store called Ozark Natural Foods.  It started slow with us purchasing the organic produce only.  Then we added beef because it was grass fed and hormone free.  Then it was chicken and eggs.  So now we do a weekly trip there to get half of our groceries, and then we go to Wal-Mart for the other half.  And we're poorer in wealth, but richer in health.   At least, that's what we tell ourselves.

Going into Ozark Natural Foods is intimidating.  First of all, when you pull in the parking lot in your Honda Pilot, you are by far the biggest car in the lot.  The place looks like a Honda Fit convention with some Subarus sprinkled in.  Once you find a spot (which is no small feat) you head inside, careful to grab your reusable shopping bags.  You forgot those one time, and the look the cashier gave you when you had to ask for paper bags still haunts your nightmares.

You grab a shopping cart on the way in.  The shopping carts are teensy.  The size ratio of Ozark Natural Foods shopping carts to Wal-Mart is 3:1.  The store itself is also pretty tiny, so every person's head pops up when you walk in.  On your way to the produce section, you pass by a desk where one employee sits.  Until recently, you weren't entirely sure of his job function except to glare at you with a smug, superior look over his trendy horn-rimmed glasses.  Apparently he can also weigh your jar for the bulk aisle.  Right now, he's just watching and judging.

Now you're in the produce section amongst the shoppers.  It's worth noting here that there are three types of shoppers at ONF:  

1. Granola.  These people have dreadlocks and/or wear Tevas in December and/or wear clothes that are varying shades of wheat.  They may or may not have gauges in their ears.  They shop here because they actually like kale chips and this is the only place in town they can get them. 
2. Rich Witches.  These women are dressed in work out clothes but haven't actually sweated yet.  You can tell this because their hair is styled and they have on makeup and jewelry.  They shop here because it's trendy and they don't have to suffer the people of Wal-Mart.
3. Normal People.  These people are you and me.  If they are new here, they look intimidated - eyes wide, mouths slack.  They have no idea where anything is, and they are overwhelmed with the options.  Who knew there were five different choices of quinoa?  If they aren't new here, they have their heads down and are all business. 

The produce section is eye opening.  The choices in salad greens and sweet potatoes alone are disarming.  And then there are some things that are just unidentifiable.  Like you've never actually seen this veggie in this form before.  Fortunately the staff is there to help you ID which sweet potato is a "normal orange sweet potato," even if they snicker behind your back.

For a while, you avoid every other section of the store.  If you don't know which variety of avocado is normal, how are you going to comprehend the soup aisle, the spice aisle and the dreaded "bulk" aisle? As you're weaving through the meat section, thinking about the poor grass fed cow that was raised just down the road in Greenwood, Arkansas and wondering if you passed him ever in a pasture off the highway, your nine year old asks you, "Mama, what is your favorite store?"  Sort of distracted, you answer "Target!"  That's okay in ONF, right?  Obviously you'd be lying if you said "Ozark Natural Foods" because literal tears are springing to your eyes just because you're so overwhelmed about shopping there.  "Oh, I like Tar-jay too, Mama.  It's my third favorite.  You know what my favorite store is?"

"Um no, Alli, what is it?"  "Toys R Us!"  "Oh, yes, I like Toys R Us."  Which eggs do I get?  Free range?  Cage free?  Certified humane?  ARE THEY SERIOUSLY $20/DOZEN?!  "Do you know what my second favorite store is?"  "No, Alli, what is it?"  Yogurt, yogurt.  Where is the yogurt?  "Wal-Mart!  I just love Wal-Mart!"  SHHHHH, Alli.  Come on.  Everyone is staring.  You said the "W" word!

Embarrassed, you duck your head and keep moving to the checkout.  Rayne, the girl checking you out, asks the question you dread every time.  "Are you an owner?"  No, lady.  I'm not an owner, but I did bring my bags.  Give me my nickel.  You drop the nickel they give to everyone who brings in reusable bags into the charity box and look at the cashier smugly.  

"Mama!  Look, I can see McDonald's from here!"  You turn bright red.  "Mom, no really, there it is.  Can we have it for dinner?  I haven't eaten there this week!  Can we?"  You resist the urge to beeline for the door and abandon your humane eggs and your organic blueberries.  And when you finally make it out of there in one piece, you pat yourself on the back for another week of healthy, if expensive, shopping for your family.  Maybe one day you'll be the pro who is well versed in varieties of quinoa, but today you just celebrate leaving without tears in your eyes.

Black Eyed Pea

Like I mentioned in some earlier posts, this past weekend was gorgeous.  After Alli's horse show on Sunday, we did our grocery shopping.  On the way home, we stopped by Academy Sports.  Alli asked me (again) to please sign her up for softball this spring, so I did a few weeks ago in a fast pitch league put on by Fayetteville High School.  I'm not sure if she's ready for her mom to turn into a crazy woman though.  I don't know anything about soccer, but she's about to get schooled in softball.

Anyway, we decided to grab her a glove so that we could get it broken in and start playing a little catch.  Then we spent an hour out in the yard working on fielding, catching and throwing, and she did so well.  She caught on fast and she really seemed to enjoy it.  She even got hit a few times - once on her lip, once on the knee, and a few times on her fingers, but she was a trooper.  Her throwing improved dramatically as we worked.  We still have some practice to do on catching, but I think she's going to do great.

This evening as I was putting her to bed, I noticed that Alli had a raised bump right above her eye that was quickly bruising up.  Horrified, I asked her if she got hit with the softball, thinking I hadn't noticed it.

"No.  I was playing Mario a minute ago on the Wii, and I beat a level and got really excited and hit myself in the eye.  It really hurts, but I'm okay."

Seriously?  This kid can jump a horse, kick a soccer ball across the field, and practice softball for an hour, but the only injury she got all day was from a Wii remote?  Sometimes I just don't even know what to say.

Alli's Anecdotes

As you know from keeping up with the Lowe Down, there's work going on to get this family fit and fabulous for 2014.  2013 was a great year for a baby, but not a great year for my physique, so I am hoping to get it back to where I want it this year.  We got a new elliptical to keep upstairs in our game room because I can't seem to stick to running and I always find a reason not to go to the gym.  But I always have an hour or two for the Real Housewives (or my new guilty pleasure Vanderpump Rules…what is wrong with me?), so with the elliptical at home and in the game room, I always have thirty minutes for a workout.

It's been four days straight now of me working out on it.  Today I almost bailed - Riley had a bad night, so I didn't get up early.  Alli had orthodontist appointments, so I didn't get it done during Riley's nap while I worked from home today, and when Ryan got home it was time to start dinner.  Awesome man than he is, Ryan encouraged me to let him finish dinner and to go get my elliptical on.  I declined, saying something about it being okay to take a day off.  And then I decided not to.  I sweated it out, got caught up on Real Housewives, and then came downstairs just in time for dinner.

After dinner, I had that post workout buzz and was feeling pretty great.  Four days in a row!  These pounds are coming off in no time!  Then I scooped Riley up out of her high chair to get her in the bathtub.  And Alli struck.

"Mama, remember when your belly was big like when you were going to have Riley?"

Me, unsuspecting.  "Yeah I do, Al."

"Well it kind of looks that way now.  Are you going to have another one?"

Consider my buzz killed.  Man am I glad I didn't skip working out today.  Thanks, Alli.

Alli's Anecdotes

Today, while sporting a favor from a recent birthday party, Alli informed Ryan, "You can't tell me what to do, I have a mustache."

Somebody save us.  She's out of control.

Alli's Assurances

A few nights ago we were eating on the run, and I made Alli corndogs.  She eats them with ranch dressing, and I forgot to put any on her plate.

Alli:  "Mama, you forgot my ranch."

Me:  "Gosh, I'm so sorry, Alli.  Can you go grab it?"

Alli:  "It's okay, you're still the best mom ever."

Sometimes it's nice to hear that you rock at your job.

Alli's Anecdotes

Alli spent yesterday with a stomach virus, totally ruining my grand plans of cookie decorating, pumpkin carving, and pumpkin patching.  So instead, we engaged in my favorite fall pastime - football watching.  We watched the Tennesee-Alabama game, and this happened:

Alli:  "Mama, who are you rooting for?"

Me:  "Oh, gosh, I don't know if I care.  I'll root for whoever you want me to."

Alli:  "I'm rooting for Alabama."

Me:  "I think that's a good idea.  It's hard for me to cheer for Tennessee."

Alli:  "Yeah, they stink.  Oh man, pick six Alabama!!!"

I'll never be sorry I taught this little lady about football.  It's a life skill.

Alli's Anecdotes

So Riley was having some tummy time this morning, and when she started fussing, I picked her up to change her diaper.  Little did I know, she had overcome the capacity of her diaper (I refuse to use the word "blowout"), so when I pressed her up against me, I got the outlier all over my shirt.  It was also all over her boppy pillow and her play mat.  I laughed it off and started working on cleaning up.  Of course, my little spitfire Alli was in the room and had something to say about it...

Alli:  "Ew ew ew get her away from me, I cannot even look at that."
Me:  "Well, one day you might have a baby and she might do that, and you can't call me to clean it up!"
Alli:  "My baby is definitely NOT going to do that.  Ever."

Yeah, good luck with that.

Alli's Words of Wisdom

I'm going to actually have a book to put together if this kid keeps up her witty ways.  Here's the latest snippet from life with Alli:

Alli: "Mom, I'm really hungry.  Like really hungry.  Can I have a corndog?"

Mama:  "Alli, a corndog is not a snack.  There are fruit snacks in the pantry, or I'll get you some grapes."

Alli:  "I don't want either of those things.  I really want a corndog."

Mama:  "A corndog is not a snack."

Alli:  "Well we can pretend it is."

I feel like my own words are being used against me.

Monday Musings from Alli

This weekend we went to Prairie Grove to do a little antiquing.  I am feverishly working on decorating the living room (side effect of being at home watching HGTV for eight weeks...), but I'll update our progress in another post.  We took the entire family, which was an experience.  Alli suffers from a huge case of the "gimmes" - she wants everything in sight.  So I knew the antique stores would be no different, with all of the random knickknacks and goofy stuff that she would love.  On about the hundredth time I said no to "I really want this!", she responded with "If I were my mama, I'd say yes to everything."  I replied "Well, then you'd run out of money."

"No I wouldn't, I'd just go to the bank!"

Gee thanks, Alli.  Why didn't I think of that?

Advice from Alli

Last week as I was brushing Alli's hair, I told her how beautiful it was.  It's so shiny and soft and the prettiest shade of coppery red.  She smiled sweetly and said, "When are you going to do your hair pretty again like mine?"

I put the brush down and looked at her in the mirror.  "I mean I like it right now, Mama, but I mean when is it going to be pretty again like mine?"

So apparently headbands and messy ponytails aren't pretty?  We've got a long way to go, kid.  It's going to be a really long summer if you don't like my hair like this.

Unconditional love - they don't care what my hair looks like!

Bedtime

The scene is Saturday night.

Me: "Alli!  Time to get in bed!!"
Alli:  "But I don't want to go to bed!  I don't like going to bed!"
Me:  "Why not??"
Alli:  "Because it's not fun to go to bed."

Ah, my child. One day you will appreciate bed time.  One day, it will be the only time in your day when you get a minute of peace from the constant responsibilities of caring completely for a life other than your own.  One day, it will be the only time you get to have a mature, unfiltered conversation with your partner about whatever you want - work, movies, food, your kids.  One day, it will be time for uninterrupted, guilt-free you time to watch HGTV, read Southern Living, or surf the web.  One day you'll be 20 weeks pregnant and will barely be able to keep yourself upright past 8PM every night.

Until then, please enjoy your boundless energy.  It's making me sleepy.

Wisdom From an (Almost) 2nd Grader

I came home today in a foul mood.  Not only was it a Monday, but the house was messy, there was a mound of laundry to fold, I'd had a challenging day at work (plus I elected to swimsuit shop over lunch...please examine my head), and there's some tropical storm in the Gulf that is trying to wreck my vacation.  I was in a state.

I have to admit, I tend to let the house get to me.  We have a lot and I mean A LOT of people and stuff in a really tiny little place.  And I am so ready to get out of this house and move on with our lives, but we just aren't quite all the way there yet.  So anyway, I cried a little and lashed out at Ryan.  I'm not proud of it and it's certainly not his fault, but I did.  And Alli heard me, which makes it even worse. We moved on - I cooked dinner (tacos, yum), Ryan and Alli played kickball until someone kicked the ball over the fence, and we all played a game of Sorry that Ryan won despite my and Alli's best efforts.  We gang up on him, but he's so good at games that it almost makes it fair.

Then I was snuggling with Alli right before her shower, and we had the most interesting conversation.

Me:  "You know Mama loves you even when she gets upset."

Alli:  "Yeah, I know."

Me:  "And Mama loves Daddy even when she gets upset with him."

Alli:  "Yeah, I know."

Me:  "Mama and Daddy are best friends, and sometimes best friends fight.  But that doesn't mean they aren't still best friends."

Alli:  "What were you mad about?"

Me:  "Oh, the house.  Mama was mad about the house."

Alli (disbelief):  "Really?  The house?  Oh, Mama, it's just a house."

My little sage with her new bedspread

And so it is.  Why did it take a seven year old to remind me?  We kept talking, and she had been sad that she didn't win the Sorry game.  Then she brushed my hair out of my face and said "It really makes me feel better when you're here with me."  Of course I welled up with tears and bear hugged her.  Then I helped her get in the shower and bragged to Ryan about what an amazing kid we are raising.  We have got to be parents of the year.  She's so smart, so compassionate, so expressive, and so happy.

I went back in to wash her hair and she looked at me with those big round eyes, held up her toy and proclaimed "Look, Mama.  Yoshi's selling margaritas.  Do you want one?"

Okay, maybe not parents of the year.  And rethinking taking her to La Hacienda so much.

So close, yet so far away...

Wednesday Wisdom

Alli to me this Sunday on a walk:  "Mama, I wish every day was Saturday and Sunday."

Me:  "Me too, baby, but then Saturdays and Sundays wouldn't be so special."

Alli, after some thought: "Well maybe, but I'd sure like to try it."

From the mouths of babes...