Quinn Peterson's Weblog

Terri

Allison is really into calling me by first name lately. Sometimes she'll start off with a "Mommy" and then escalate into "Terri" if she doesn't get a response. My mom thinks it's funny since I did the same thing to her. The big difference is I was a teenager and Allison is 2. Oh, and to add insult to injury, Allison calls Ms. Brenda (the lady who watches her) Mom.

Good thing I'm not sensitive about stuff like that. Plus, the way she says "Terri" is super cute, it's kinda like "Tear-EEE!".

vanity

The anomalies of a 6 year old male...

Lately Quinn has been very self conscience of having a clean face. Before getting out of the car, he'll ask "Is my face clean? Do I have anything on it?" and make sure I attentively check his front and profile views. It's seemed most obvious to me when I'm dropping him off at Kumon, so maybe he's got a little crush on someone? He has also declared he no longer likes donuts because "they are too messy". He had a "handsome" moment in the bathroom mirror the other night, followed by closer inspection to see if a red mark (kid pimple?) had gone away. It had, whew...

Now keep in mind, this is the same boy that comes out of the bathroom with his pants pulled up all twisted, shirt half stuck in his shorts.

Perhaps his vanity is starting from the top and slowly working it's way down? LOL

the dream of perfect attendance

Quinn discovers tonight that we are "making" him miss two days of school for a short trip to Myrtle Beach:

Q: "WHAT? I'm going to miss school days? AGAIN?!?"
Me: "You are only going to miss two days. I'll talk to Mrs. Baucom and we'll take your work with us."
Q: [after a short silent treatment] "Can you just promise me that when I'm in 2nd grade I can go to school EVERY DAY and you won't do this to me another time?!?"

No parenting awards for us this year...

song critic

In the car with Allison tonight I was singing "Zippity Do Dah" loud and probably obnoxiously off key when I hear from the back seat
"top it. TOP IT!"

Me: "Did you just tell me to stop it?"
Allison: "Thank you"

LOL

Art Camp

A chat with Allison as I was getting her ready for bed this evening:

Me: "Did you have a good day?"
Allison: "YEAH!"
Me: "What was the most fun"
Allison: "CAMP!"
Me: paused and puzzled because she didn't go to 'camp' today...
Allison: "DUCK!" as she mimes painting.
Me: duh... we went to the Clay Studio where Quinn took art camp. She never actually went to drop off or pickup so I didn't expect her to get any correlation, but my was she proud of herself for having gone to 'camp'. That's either really cute or pathetic... or probably both... poor thing!

For the record she was a NIGHTMARE at the pottery place. She worked hard decorating a plate until "accidentally" dropping it on the floor (when I turned my back for literally less then a minute to help Quinn). To keep her entertained while Quinn finished up she moved onto a ducky. Let me just say it's going to be a 'colorful' ducky. Then she saw Quinn doing handprints on his plate so of course she HAD to do a[nother] plate WITH handprints. In between painting the two plates and duck she painted the table, tray, her clothes and mine. Her arms were pretty messy too but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that that was avoidable for a 2 year old.

While we were there a set of grandparents and grown grandchildren were commenting how fun and relaxing it is to decorate pottery (this was before Allison broke the plate). I was sure we (Allison) were annoying everyone in the store but on our way out the grandmother called out to me "Thank you so much for bringing them in. They are so precious. It made my day.". That made me feel a ton better but I'm still not taking Allison back to another pottery place until she's at least 5!

already preparing me for an empty nest?

We picked up Quinn's sculptures (from Art Camp) today and he informed me on the way home "I made one for you so you can keep it and remember me when I don't live with you anymore."

I can't bear the thought... what will I do when that day finally comes around. Especially since he also informed that he is going to live by Theo Billy (in Santa Monica, CA). Or if that doesn't work out, in Florida by Mickey's house (Disney World).

too much reality tv

Yes, it's true... I've scarred my kids...

On the way home this evening:
Quinn: "Mom, do you want to be on TV?"
Me: "No"
Quinn: "I am. That's how you make a lot of money. I'm going to have 10 or maybe 15..."
Me: "15 what?"
Quinn: [in a condescending voice] "kids! that's how you can get on TV. actually, maybe 23. You know baby Josie is sick because she came early... not because her mom had too many kids. i'll just have my life (aka wife) keep my babies in day longer then she did."
Sidebar: too much "Jon and Kate Plus 8" or "19 kids and counting"? You think?!?

And now for Allison...
Allison's favorite show is "Raising sextuplets" which is about sextuplets (duh) that are about 1/2 a year older then her but probably about her age in the episodes we are seeing. She LOVES it and asks for it all the time. She calls it "babies".

God bless poop butt

I always end bedtime prayers with "God bless: " and Allison fills in the blank. She does a pretty thorough job covering her extended family and friends. Tonight right after mentioning Quinn she said "pooh bah"... it took me a second to try and figure out the translation and then I repeated "Boohbah?" (a character that Quinn was nuts about but whom she doesn't really know). Her reply "uh-uh". Hmmm... oh.... no... "Did you say Poop Butt?"! Allison with her eyes glimmering and her mischievous grin fully spread across her face "Uh huh!".

I guess that's just how things go when you have a 6 year old brother. So for any Poop Butts out there... you are protected for tonight.

wrinkles

Quinn is drawing a really detailed face on a punching balloon. He asks "Now what am I missing? Let me take a good look at your face." After a studied glance at my face, he goes "oh, I need these thingies." as he proceeds to draw wrinkles along the forehead of the balloon face. I don't remember laughing so hard. Aging with an artist in the house is going to be fun... but maybe not the best for my self esteem :-)

No Shop!

So, at least at this moment, Allison doesn't appear to be very into shopping. On our way out of the mall last night (for our anniversary dinner and stop by the new toy store) I took the kids through a shortcut via Sears. Allison started freaking out as soon as we were about to enter the store. "No Shop! No Shop!..." It was quite funny, especially since she hasn't really been to the mall very often (she's a HORRIBLE shopper). Well come to think of it, she has been on some marathon trips to Kohl's, so ok, maybe it WAS justified... I will note that she seems to really enjoy the baby girls clothes section at target. She loves to grab clothes for herself and seems to really favor them once we get them home. I'll have to put up another post about the bikini she picked out and LOVES.

I transgress, back to the story...

So we make our way through Sears with a quick stop to check out their pajamas for Q and A when we notice some little girl outfits that come with matching baby doll dresses. Allison was mildly interested but Quinn was insistent that we get at least one. He nagged insistently during a lengthy pit stop to the restroom (potty training is fun) and so I relented (no real surprise). He wanted to buy all 4 variations but I was able to get away with getting just one after I pointed out that the other 3 were not EXACT matches. The differences were insanely insignificant but enough to sway him and his OCD :)

thank you

Allison: "peeing!" (independently on the potty)
Me (to Allison): "You're awesome baby!"
Allison: "Thank you"

lol

the value of money

I thought we were doing a better job at teaching Quinn the value of money and that it doesn't always just magically appear. He now has various ways of earning money and most often is required to use his own money if he wants to purchase something. Today's conversation makes me question if maybe we are paying out a little too generously?

Quinn: "We need to buy Kyle Disney Silly Bands. He wants some."
Me: "Sure, if you want to buy them with your money."
Quinn: "How much are they?"
Me: "$5"
Quinn: "WHAT? Five dollars? That's SO EASY? Just five dollars? Really?!?"

*Note*: If you don't know what Silly Bands are consider yourself lucky :-)

sick and loving it

Allison has been running pretty high fevers for the last 2 days/nights. She isn't really acting too sick, in fact she seems to be relishing all the attention. Last night she ended up in our bed for most of the night and took turns sleeping on Jason and then me. This morning Quinn came in looking for some cuddles and she threw a major fit. She didn't want him on the bed or anywhere near us. She's a jealous little thing.

our little charmer

You know when Allison is about to do something wrong... she turns and gives you this huge, charming smile - complete with batting of the eyelashes.

... oh my are we in trouble!

who loves you?

I think this is so funny:

Me to Allison: "Who loves you?"
Allison: "Me!"
Me: "Who else loves you?"
Allison: "Mommy!" (followed by Daddy then Quinn).

It's always the same. I guess she feels she loves herself the most. I suppose that's a good thing?