Toilet paper

When Sydney is lifted onto the changing table she demands, "Book!" This girl needs to stay current with her reading material.

"Book" is the word of choice now. We still hear "Puppy" but its use is less frequent. This makes sense because every time she says "book" we hand her one. We never gave her a puppy when she said "puppy."

A favorite of mine: Haagen-Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Apparently, the ice cream company is mobilizing its consumers to help save the honey bee because the population is on the decline and 40 percent of the company's ice cream relies on honey bee pollination. Now, this is a cause I can get behind. Must buy more ice cream!

My parents are such idiots

It is not my intention to speak for Sydney, but I feel as if I really know what my daughter is thinking at times.

Mommy: "Hey Syd, what sound does a sheep make?"

What Sydney's thinking: For real lady, how many times do I have to remind you what sound a sheep makes. Good grief. Daddy can't seem to remember either.

Daddy: "What does a pig say? What does a snake say?"

What Sydney's thinking: This is ridiculous. If you can't remember what sounds these animals make, then I'm not going to tell you.

Mommy: "Look Sydney, your sitter Ashlee just arrived. Can you show her what sound a sheep makes?"

What Sydney's thinking: Now, I am really embarrassed. I think Ashlee knows what sound a sheep makes. She's in college. Please stop asking. I'm just going to continue looking at my books and pretend like I can't hear my parents. Why can't my Mommy or Daddy remember simple animal sounds? I think they've asked 9,374 times.

Miss Piggy

Sydney donned pigtails for the first time. Her up-do is a bit messy. I am out of practice with styling pigtails. Wait, I don't think I was ever in practice. I can't remember the last time I made pigtails. Don't worry Sydney, I'll have it down by the time you go to prom.

Brian and I exposed Sydney to the retail world again today with a trip to the mall Saturday night. Forget shopping. We just enjoyed watching Sydney skitter like a mall rat and dart into stores (she prefers the ones with loud music and colorful window displays).

Nothing else too exciting this weekend. I have less than two weeks left of class - my final test is Tuesday and my paper is due the following week. This could be the very last class I take. Hmmm. Probably not. It may be a while, but I'm sure I'll take advantage of the class offerings at Purdue again, as well as the tuition discount for employees. I know I'll need a refresher in algebra before Sydney starts asking for help with her homework in the 7th grade.

The weather is rainy and chilly this weekend. This is a good thing in regards to encouraging me to study, but we're looking forward to warm weather. Walks. Running. Puppy-watching. Maybe picnics. Bubble blowing. Sidewalk chalk. Star gazing ... looking forward to summer.


A favorite worth sharing: Ollie the Stopmer, by Olivier Dunrea.

and

Quote of the day: "No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation." Fran Lebowitz, Social Studies.

Guest Column

Brian sent this story to me earlier in the week. It's cute, so I thought I would share.

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Your daughter ... we're walking on the sidewalk outside when a guy walking two dogs approaches on the other side of the street, a good half block away. Your daughter tears her hand from mine like I have the plague and heads toward the street (to cross) going, "Puh-PEE! Puh-PEE!"

I, of course, didn't let her get to the street and she got Puh-ISSED!

(These were big dogs. Certainly not Puh-Pees.)

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Sydney has a thing for puppies. It's unrealistic that we could adequately care for a dog with our schedules, so only stuffed puppies will be residing at our house. When Sydney starts asking for a puppy we will tell her that she has two puppies that live with Jackie and Graham. Feel free to help us convince our daughter that this is true :)

Sydney on Easter with her puppies, Bailey and Bauer.