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July 30, 2007
Squeekers and 2-Story Houses
Once upon a time, there was a woman named Debbie. Debbie was never really sure she'd be a good mom, but she gave it a shot and now once upon a time there is a little girl named Signa and a little boy named William. Thankfully, once upon a time there was also a man named Marc, because without said man, said children would be doomed to a life of horror and Retracing Their Steps.
This is a phrase Signa learned all too well last week while Marc was on a trip. We retraced our steps to find my bank card (to two stores, one restaurant, and then home where I found it in my purse that I had with me the whole time), to find my keys (numerous times), and to find the phone. I believe it was the first or second thing Signa said upon Marc's return. "Daddy, when I walk over there and then back over here again, I'm retracing my steps to find things." She was so proud and I was so… well, I was going to say mortified, but really I wasn't much of anything really, as Marc knows how I am.
We did have a ton of fun in between retracing steps, though. Tuesday night went to storytime at the library, where she sang songs and William clapped along brightly. Wednesday we walked to a puppet show at the library up the street and Signa learned all about hand and rod puppets while Will slept.
After that we went to a zoomobile event and got to see weird nocturnal animals, but no bats, as Signa was wont to point out. Will slept through that, but woke for the playground where he had a ton of fun climbing and scaring the crap out of me. We then went to Chinese food with our friend and neighbor Tori. All day long Signa begged for potstickers and insisted we bring Tori. "She can have whatever she wants if she'll go with us!"
Thursday we went to gymnastics and then ran to ToysRUs for a bubble mower. I always wanted one (for my kids...)and Will had a gift certificate. Picked that up, a stuffed dragon for Signa ("Blueberry") and a game (Guess Who- the Littlest Pet Shop edition- Oh My GOD!). Took them home and the game rules (and has been played by Signa and me roughly 892 times), but the stupid mower- barely blows bubbles and makes loud noises that scare Will. Stupid thing. Another dream, squelched.
We stopped at McDonald's and ate the "food" and then rushed to playgroup with Lin and Amy and their kids. Sadly, Signa had a meltdown moment when I had to tell her to get off the tricycle. Screaming meltdown with sobbing and running away from me. I'd never seen her like that before. On the drive home, she told me that if I ever took a tricycle away from her again, she was going to make me live in a different house. When I asked who would take care of her if that happened, she snottily answered, "Daddy would" as if I were not only a monstrous witch that she hated (as she so nicely screamed at me during playgroup) but also stupid. I had to explain that Daddy would have to work to pay for her stuff, since my money would have to go to my new house. So when he was at work, who would take care of her?
"Gramma. Duh."
So there.
After giving me the silent treatment, she apparently had been really thinking through her plan and asked, "Momma, does your new house have two stories, because I really want a two-story house." Snot.
After that difficult Thursday, we stayed home and chilled on Friday. I don't even remember doing anything. Saturday we went to a Christmas in July thing and then to a local kid hangout that's like Chuck E Cheese only not repulsive. The kids loved it there and I got to sit down for about 10 minutes. Woo hoo!!! Sunday we had treasure hunts around the house and went swimming in the blow up pool and to dinner at Applebee's. Then Marc came home and my world is right again.
I should note that all the while, we were being witnessed by our new pet, Squeekers. So named because of course that's what mice say. A cage, you ask? We have no cage. Our pets live free in the house. Or they do as soon as they hear Marc leave. Within 12 hours of Marc leaving, while I was killing 2 gynormous spiders in the hallway, I heard Signa, "MOMMA! MOMMA! I found a mouse!!!" She was working on a hidden picture workbook so I said with a bit of irritation because, really, why do I have to acknowledge every single step she takes? Really. Why? Anyway, I said, "Great, Signa. I'm so proud of you!" as I have said 834,526 times over the past 6 days.
"He's so cute! On the stove just lookin' at me!"
Hmmmm... a little too excited to be in the workbook. I jogged the 8 steps to the kitchen (we don't have a two-story house) and there he was. Squeekers. Standing on the edge of the stove checking us out. He had no fear at all and was the cutest little guy ever. I use past tense because I am pretty sure that despite our bonding over the past few days, Squeekers is toast now that Daddy is home. According to Signa, Daddy is going to catch him and they are going to take him to the pet shop so that she can visit him all the time.
Maybe when she finds out what really happens, I will get to live in the two-story house, too.
Posted by Debbie at July 30, 2007 04:07 PM