30 Days of Thanksgiving: (11/19/11): My Favorite Wild Thing

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

The reason Holden does not look up is because he's simultaneously playing some bubble game on my iPhone. The kid's a multi-tasker. I especially love having him 'read' this story to me. But doing it from memory is pretty dang impressive.

Let the WILD RUMPUS START!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: (11/9/11): Holdenisms

Kids say the darndest things, eh?

Holden, last month pre-hair cut. Danny took him 'hiking' up silver lake

Here's a list off the top of my head of things I love to hear from Holden (and somethings he says that aren't my favorite, but still crack me up about him.)

• "Oh-tay, fine." This statement usually comes after I tell him we have to do something he's not particularly fond of doing before we can do something he is particularly fond of doing
• "Love you Mommy." It doesn't matter where or when he says this. I never get tired of hearing it... especially when he says it just out of the blue.
• "You want cuddle wiff me?" He'll say this early in the morning, after he has crawled into bed with us
• "Don't do that Mommy."
• "Shankt you." I don;t know how to exactly describe how he says Thank You, but he's really good at using that phrase.
• "Oh sorry bout that." He apologizes for things that don't necessitate an apology... like when he bumps his head, or I tell him to say "I" instead of "me" ... then I have to explain to him he doesn't need to apologize. But apparently he's already caught on to the idea that when someone corrects you, it means you've done something wrong... which breaks my heart a little bit.
• As he reaches for my iPhone: "I pay with your phone"
• To me and Danny: "You be Batman, I be Superman and you be Wonderwoman"
• "What this do?"
• "What her/his name?"
• "Goooooooo Utes!"
• "I pay football."
• "You wanna pay {soccer, football, baseball, tackle, etc} wiff me?"
• "Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost and Prophet help us." It might also be worth mentioning that when praying, Holden loves to give thanks for Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost and Spider Man. Apparently God the Father has been replaced by a superhero in his world.
• "Oh hi, my name Holden, this my Daddy." He's very good at introducing his Dad.

He has also started telling us stories. They always start:

"Once upon a time, there was a" {bear, pumpkin, ghost, pirate, spider, etc.}

"And this" {bear, pumpkin, ghost, pirate, spider, etc. does something... changes every time.}

I need to get one on video, and him reading "Where the Wild Things Are." He had a period of time where it because his favorite 'bathroom time' reading material and so the kid's pretty much got it memorized. It's awesome. I love it when he reads it to me.

I've backed away from the crazy canning and obsessive nesting the past couple of days... and as such we've been spending a lot of time reading and snuggling. I feel like I'm operating against a clock in which I have no idea how much time till the buzzer sounds (kind of like overage in a soccer game.)

I hope I never forget these moments.

Just in Time for Earth Day!

Welcome friends! Come join me and the crafting-mommy-blog world of lovelies over at Make & Takes today. I'm their newest contributor, and I'll be offering challenges and talking about sustainable living for you, your family and the environment every 3rd Thursday of the month.

PS. With Earth Day tomorrow I just wanted to remind you to pick up your copy of Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax." Holden and I have been enjoying it all month!

He speaks for the trees!

With Earth Day fast approaching (HUZZAH!), I thought I might share a little Mangum tradition that takes place every year on April 22nd. Well actually, we just started this tradition last year, but it's such a good one, it's as if we've been doing it for ages...

So what is this magical annual tradition, you wonder?

We read this:

"I'm the Lorax who speaks for the trees
which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please."
From The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss

Why The Lorax you say?
Because it's eco-conscious in so many ways!
From the trees and birds and fish in the water,
it's 'GREEN awareness' for mothers and their daughters.
But the tale's also a warning for dads and for sons,
For it helps us understand the value of one.

From the Library you can find this delightful book,
Check it out, read it over, give it a look.
You may be surprised how delightful it can be,
To learn from the Lorax about planet responsibility!

Ummmm, yeah...that was my best attempt at Seussical prose.

But seriously, I love this book. We did in fact check it out of the Library (a very green thing to do as well), and we've already read it (I couldn't wait until Earth Day, the book is too powerful!) And we'll continue to read it.

You don't have to get all caught up in the battle of industrialized society verses the plight of the Environmental movement.... yada yada yada. You really can just enjoy it on it's simplest and purest level (though the symbolism is pretty hard miss.)

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not afraid to admit I cry almost every time I read the book's warning. (I also have been known to shed a few tears when I read Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are," but for different reasons.)

So snag a copy for yourself and your loved ones, and then go hug a tree (better yet, plant one.)

And for continued fun & games (literally), check out the Lorax's Website at Seussville.com.

Kinda Seriously Bummed (or not)

8:30 am
So, the scale was not my friend this morning... it said I had gained 1/2 a pound. (Heavy Sigh.) Sometimes that happens. But I was actually kind of excited to 'weigh in' because I sneaked-a-peak mid-week and the scale said 152. So I was pretty confident I had lost a couple of pounds. Oh well...over all, I'm still feeling ok about this journey.

I feel healthier, happier.
The planet is reaping the rewards, right?
My clothes fit better.
Danny says I'm 'wasting away' ... bless his soul, I married a good man.
And even my brother-in-law mentioned I looked like I had lost weight.

But the most important thing is that how I shop, cook and approach food overall is changing... and so I have to remind myself that is more important than 1/2 a pound.

(Reminding myself, reminding myself... hope it soaks in.)

12-something pm
Stupid dumb OCD-like tendencies. Had to weigh myself again...(just in case.) And HUZZAH! The scale said 152.5. Apparently water weight really does make a difference.

And yet few hours later...
I give up! I was convinced it would say 154 again, nope... dropped another pound. 151.5?!?? Maybe my scale's is protesting because I am bothering it too much. Aren't you supposed to be heavier in the afternoon than the morning? This is exactly the type of behavior I was trying to avoid. (Heavier sigh.)

Moving On
In other news, I tried barefoot running today (as part of my workout). Just a mile, that's all...on a treadmill. No shoes. Just socks. Cassandra thought I was crazy. But I think it might be the answer to the bone spur in my left heel AND my arthritic knee (at only 32! So sad!)

To get me inspired for my barefoot running adventures, I also tried to check out this book from the Library:
Must be a pretty great book. There's a 4-week wait at County library system, AND the City Library has 20 copies, but expects about the same wait time too.

Anyone checked it out? (Sure, pun intended.)

Spencer D. is right: I need a Kindle.


Phblog
Small bowl oatmeal with strawberries and whole milk. Apple, cheese, baked sweet potato, handful black olives, avocado, blanched carrots & broccoli, tapenade (I made from black olive, artichokes, EVOO dash of salt & ground pepper, about a tablespoon of onion in the food processor for deliciousness!) Home made Cheese (old standard) and Greek pizzas (new creation for us) for dinner. The Greek variety I made with Whole wheat (home made) crust - my tapenade, feta cheese, diced fresh tomatoes, grilled onions and fresh spinach.
I shouldn't have done this, but at 9 pm the cale says 152. I think I'm safe in saying I lost a couple of pounds this week.