Sibling Dynamics

Sometimes sibling dynamics can seem overwhelming: vying for attention, struggling for toys, always wanting what the other one has, he's too loud, she's in my face, he's got my doll, she's too rough, aauugghhh, aauugghh, you hit me I'll hit you back harder, one pinch deserves another, who can scream the loudest, give me that back, take that you, oh yes it certainly has its moments....

But then they do something cute like this (an impromptu bonding walk at Mimi & Papaw's house) and it's all worth it! Here's to focusing on the sweet smiles, gentle touches, soft heads bent together over a book, shared giggles, and all the other precious moments that make our family what it truly is...*sigh*

Color Confusion

Part 1

Papaw: Ok, Ava, we're going to fish for bluegill!

Ava: Yes! My favorite color!

Part 2

Papaw: Look here, you caught a nice one! Good job!

Ava: No! I don't want that fish! Throw it back! I wanted to catch a BLUE FISH!

Papaw: But, Ava, this IS a BLUEgill. See? That little patch of blue there?

Ava: NO! IT'S NOT BLUE! It's GRAY! It's UGLY! I want a BLUE fish!

Mesker Park Zoo 2010

On Saturday, the Smith family once again took advantage of USI's Annual Alumni Day at the Zoo at Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville. This year was doubly exciting, as it was Hudson's first foray into the jungle! (Technically, he did tag along last year from within the womb, but I suppose we can't count that!) Mamaw and Papaw were luckily able to go with us again, especially since Erik was golfing that day and was unable to attend. It's always a positive experience when the adults outnumber the children. Am I right?

Although our main reason for attending this event is the "petting zoo" that USI hosts, we nevertheless took time to stop at Amazonia, one of Ava's favorite features. This year, she became our unofficial tour guide, keeping us on schedule and pointing out things she amazingly recalled from last year. She certainly shares Papaw's interest in all things animal. Here they share a moment in Amazonia, checking out a toucan.

Apparently zoogoers are supposed to photograph the animals (go figure!), but as I reviewed my shots at the end of the day I realized most of my subjects were my own two little animals! I can't help it! As much as I adore the zoo, it's even more fulfilling to watch my children experiencing it for themselves. Indeed, it didn't take Hudson long to figure out for himself that the zoo was FUN! He was all smiles throughout the day.

After Amazonia, it was off to the USI tent for some close encounters, followed by snacks and rests. This year, Ava was a seasoned pro at petting the animals. As you can see, she was highly intrigued with the lizard.

Once Hudson saw his sister getting into the action, he didn't want to be left out! In fact, he took one look at the baby alligator and couldn't touch it fast enough. Okay, so I barely managed a picture of the little creature, but I swear I can feel the excitement pulsing out from the backs of my little creatures' heads!

Perhaps the highlight of our trip, however, came awhile after the USI animal encounters. We always stop to visit with the zebras and giraffes, but usually have to admire them from a distance. This year, we met a rather hungry giraffe who felt the grass near our feet was quite a tasty snack! This meant that we were able to get closer than ever, and he was so friendly that both Ava and Hudson could touch his velvet face!

Of course, after several hours at the zoo, everyone was starting to feel a bit batty! It was truly another magical experience for everyone, but we were ultimately lured away by the call of the wild known as hunger (straight to Cracker Barrel) on our way home. In all, it was a fabulous trip with wonderful weather, animated animals, and tickled kiddos. It doesn't get any better than that.

Lil' Drummer Girl

After meticulously creating this arrangement, Ava called me over to explain.

Okay, Mom, see this? This is the beat drum (strikes it with spoon). This is the tap drum (strikes it with spoon). Over here is the Coke drum (strikes it with spoon). And this is the moon drum (strikes it with spoon). And this is what it sounds like when I play them all together (TOTALLY ROCKS OUT!).

Then she grinned.

My name is Ava and I like to play the drums.

Spring Fever

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

A WASP in Church

Most Sundays, the Smith family attends church at Otwell United Methodist Church with Erik's family. Yet, as most of you know, I am Catholic—which has been a constant compromise in my marriage since we first took our vows—but I was lucky to have experienced many other faiths throughout my life. I have worshiped with Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, even the Pentecostal faith. To me, spirituality is a very personal relationship with God that transcends the borders of established religion. Which perhaps is why I'm able to accommodate my husband by attending his church of choice throughout most of the year. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's highly kid-friendly as well as interesting. But I digress.

Since I acquiesced to Erik in this regard, I had only one request: that our family attend a Catholic mass on Easter. Simple, right? YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE!

This year, dressed in our Easter best (dress for me, dress for Ava, sweater vest and dress pants for Hudson....um, jeans for Erik.....?), we packed up and headed to St. Henry with my parents on Sunday morning. Perhaps I was greedy on this beautiful holiday, but I added one additional request as we pulled into the parking lot: PLEASE NO ONE EMBARRASS ME.

As we gathered our crew together in the parking lot, I gave Ava a few last-minute pointers. We need to sit still. We need to stay quiet. Still. Quiet. Got it? After settling in, then sneaking out to (1) take Ava for a last-minute restroom break and (2) hurriedly change Hudson's soggy diaper in the back of the van, we somehow managed to return to our pew just as mass was beginning. Whew! I felt like we were going to manage just fine. Minutes later, Erik was shuffling his feet, trying to get comfortable with the kneeler (a Catholic staple). He sent me suspicious sidelong glances. In a hushed stage whisper, he asked hoarsely, Can we please move this thing up? Millions of Catholics for thousands of years have managed to sit through mass with the kneeler, but apparently my husband is an exception to that rule.

Shortly after moving the kneeler, I noticed an unusual scent assuaging my nose. Not perfume, not incense, not even spring flowers. Then I realized Hudson was grinning and squirming. OH NO HE DIDN'T. But he had. We were nearly halfway into the mass at this point, and we had two options: sneak out to change him in the van (a task which requires at least two people if we intend to salvage the seat upholstery) or wait it out. Neither option seemed viable, but after a hushed consultation Erik and I chose the latter.

People, I'm not even to the worst part YET!

While Hudson grew more uncomfortable, more impatient, I tried with all my might to focus on the mass. Between my parents, Ava was under control, but I knew Hudson could melt down at any minute. Luckily the teenaged girl behind us was flirty and pretty and seemed content to smile and make faces at him. About the time little Hudson puffed out his chest and growled at her to show his manhood, I first noticed the wasp. If you read this post's title, you'll know the wasp is where things began to unravel. Also, if you know anything about us Catholics, you'll know we let nothing—and I mean nothing—detract us from mass. At all costs, we remain STILL and QUIET.

Cautiously I watched the wasp, as did many fellow churchgoers, but none of us were willing to make a scene. Briefly I sent up a prayer that Ava wouldn't notice it and freak out, as she generally does around bugs. Luck was with me—for the moment. She was too busy people-watching and book-reading. But I had forgotten about ESmith. Apparently, he too was watching the wasp. It dipped over heads; it soared across the expanse of the domed roof. It taunted, it teased, it planned its next move. The following few minutes were a blur as the wasp took center stage. Indeed, the Devil was surely pulling strings as the wasp chose this moment to land on the toddler seated in front of us. Unbeknownst to her parents, it settled on their child's head to rest.

Beside me, Erik's exaggerated stage whisper loudly announced, OH CRAP IT'S ON HER HEAD!

One good thing about this comment: it caught her parents' attention and they were able to brush it away before it stung her. For the record, I am very glad my husband was able to spare her that pain. One unfortunate thing about this comment: it caught the attention of many others seated around us, and embarrassed me to no end in the process. Had my husband just stage whispered the word CRAP in church? Not QUIET. Indeed.

Thus, the wasp moved on, this time to a tall gentleman seated in front of us and to the left. It fluttered around his family, ultimately landing on the back of his neck. I tried to track its progress, but I was swamped in embarrassment and barely processed the fact that Erik had now scooped up one of Ava's hardback books and was brandishing it like a sword. Hudson in one arm, the book in his hand, he watched the wasp.

When it landed on this man's neck, Erik reared back and my heart stopped. DEAR GOD HE WAS GOING TO SMACK THIS STRANGER ON THE NECK WITH A CHILD'S BOARDBOOK!

But what he ended up doing instead was swinging the book through the air and scraping the wasp away from this man's body. One good thing about this action: it once again saved a fellow human from suffering a sting. For the record, I am very glad my husband was able to spare him that pain. One unfortunate thing about this action: it caught the attention of many others seated around us, and embarrassed me to no end in the process. Had my husband just swung a book through the air in the middle of church and made contact with another man's body? Not STILL. Indeed.

Needless to say, I don't remember much about mass after that. Just a brief conversation I had with my daughter—the one Smith who managed to put in a flawless performance—afterward.

Ava: You know, Mom, that church has a lot of rules.

Mommy: Yes, honey, and I think we broke most of them.

Indeed.

Easter 2010

Can an Easter be blessed, fulfilling, crazy, exhausting, sweet, and fun all in one day? YES, IT CAN! As I sat here trying to capture the experience of this year's Easter in a single blog post, I realized there was simply too much to say. Clearly we packed A LOT in less than a-twenty-four-hour-span. Rather than delve deeply into this action-packed holiday, I will rather share some special moments from our day. However, stay tuned for further blogs in the coming week. Some stories can't be contained in a single blog, and some are too, too much not to share!

Our Easter started off with a traditional Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard. Since we never have time to do this after church in our festive wear, we usually do it early in the morning in our jammies. This year it was extra special to watch BOTH my kids search diligently for eggs.

Once Hudson found a single egg, he was content to play the pick-it-up-and-drop-it-game while Ava found the rest of them.....

There's always one egg left to find that drives everyone crazy, but Ava finally found it hiding in a bush!

Of course, I forgot to take my camera to church and ended up without any shots of Ava's beautiful Easter dress or Hudson's adorable sweater vest and dress pants. What kind of a PARENT am I? But at least I remembered to take it to Aunt Jenny's house for some afternoon fun.

Finally, he smiled for my camera!

We were playing hide-and-go-seek, and clearly I lost

Some of the fam enjoying the sunshine

Ten Months

Ten months have transformed my sweet, laid-back baby into a bouncing little boy simply radiating with personality. Hudson is funny, curious, and full of excitement at the simplest things. His new goal is to explore every inch of our home, and I believe he's almost there. He frequently visits the kitchen cabinets that house Tupperware, pots, and pans. He knows exactly what the refrigerator and cupboard hold. He loves table food, especially spaghetti, refried beans, mashed potatoes, shredded cheese, and green beans.

Recently, Hudson mastered the art of sucking through a straw, and now wants to experience juice boxes and Capri Suns. Walking is a skill he has almost mastered, and practices daily, although he does prefer a ride in a stroller to almost any other mode of transportation. Last week, I bought his first big boy pair of pajamas—Spiderman—and nearly giggled at my own pride in this darling son of mine.