Sherry Ellis's Blog, page 120
February 27, 2012
Sandcastles and Baseball Diamonds
Spring was in the air today, so I decided to take my kids to the local baseball diamond to hit a few balls.
My daughter was interested in swinging the bat. My son? He was interested in other things. He felt the squishy wet sand of the baseball diamond under his tennis shoes. It was the call of a sandcastle.
"Dude, what are you doing?" I asked when I saw him building a pyramid structure in the middle of the diamond.
"Building a sandcastle," he replied.
Well, I guess that was pretty obvious.
"Don't you know that people are going to play baseball here?"
"Yeah."
"So why are you building a sandcastle?"
"Because it's fun."
So ladies and gentlemen, if you happen to find yourself at a baseball diamond in Cincinnati that's covered in sandcastles, you'll know my little guy was there, adding a little fun to the place.
My daughter was interested in swinging the bat. My son? He was interested in other things. He felt the squishy wet sand of the baseball diamond under his tennis shoes. It was the call of a sandcastle.
"Dude, what are you doing?" I asked when I saw him building a pyramid structure in the middle of the diamond.
"Building a sandcastle," he replied.
Well, I guess that was pretty obvious.
"Don't you know that people are going to play baseball here?"
"Yeah."
"So why are you building a sandcastle?"
"Because it's fun."
So ladies and gentlemen, if you happen to find yourself at a baseball diamond in Cincinnati that's covered in sandcastles, you'll know my little guy was there, adding a little fun to the place.
February 26, 2012
Trimming Eyebrows
Before I start this story, I want to first advertise the A to Z blog challenge. It's a great way to challenge yourself as a blogger and make new friends. For all the details, go here. Just a side note - I'm too chicken to do it on this blog this year. (I'm not sure my random chaos will afford itself to alphabetizing.) But I am doing it on my Gone Gardening Blog. The fun will all start in April. Sign-ups go through March.
Okay. Now for the regularly scheduled pragramming:
"Mama, do I need to trim my eyebrows?" my seven-year-old son asked.
"What?" I wasn't sure I heard him correctly. "Trim you eyebrows? Why in the world would you need to do that?"
"I have a long eyebrow right here," he said, tugging on his eyebrow.
I looked at the brow. It looked just fine to me.
Just then my husband walked into the room. He had heard my son's comment. "Son, you don't need to trim your eyebrows until you're an old man. Then you might be trimming eyebrows, ear hairs, and nose hairs."
My son thought about what my husband said. "Okay. I guess I still have two and a half years before I have to trim them."
Okay. Now for the regularly scheduled pragramming:
"Mama, do I need to trim my eyebrows?" my seven-year-old son asked.
"What?" I wasn't sure I heard him correctly. "Trim you eyebrows? Why in the world would you need to do that?"
"I have a long eyebrow right here," he said, tugging on his eyebrow.
I looked at the brow. It looked just fine to me.
Just then my husband walked into the room. He had heard my son's comment. "Son, you don't need to trim your eyebrows until you're an old man. Then you might be trimming eyebrows, ear hairs, and nose hairs."
My son thought about what my husband said. "Okay. I guess I still have two and a half years before I have to trim them."
February 25, 2012
The Big Secret
I was busy teaching a violin lesson, when my son came in to the room. "Mama, I have a secret," he said.
"Dude, I'm trying to teach here. Can your secret wait?'
"No. Bend down and I'll tell you."
I bent down while he whispered his secret. Except it was so quiet, I couldn't hear it. "Dude, I can't hear you." I said.
He tried again. Something about toilets. A big hippopotamus in the toilet? A pink elephant in the toilet? I just couldn't tell. "Okay," I said. "That's nice. Now Mommy has to teach."
He left the room, and I forgot about the secret. Until my daughter came screaming out of the bathroom.
"Mom! There's something in the toilet!"
Oh yeah. The big hippopotamus.
I went to investigate. It wasn't a hippopotamus. But it probably smelled like one. A shovel was required for its removal.
How come nobody ever told me about this part of the mom job? (Probably because it's a big secret!)
"Dude, I'm trying to teach here. Can your secret wait?'
"No. Bend down and I'll tell you."
I bent down while he whispered his secret. Except it was so quiet, I couldn't hear it. "Dude, I can't hear you." I said.
He tried again. Something about toilets. A big hippopotamus in the toilet? A pink elephant in the toilet? I just couldn't tell. "Okay," I said. "That's nice. Now Mommy has to teach."
He left the room, and I forgot about the secret. Until my daughter came screaming out of the bathroom.
"Mom! There's something in the toilet!"
Oh yeah. The big hippopotamus.
I went to investigate. It wasn't a hippopotamus. But it probably smelled like one. A shovel was required for its removal.
How come nobody ever told me about this part of the mom job? (Probably because it's a big secret!)
February 24, 2012
Yonkerdoodles
"Mama," my daughter said. "I think our dog needs some yonkerdoodles."
"Yonker what?" I said.
"Yonkerdoodles."
"Do you mind telling me what the heck yonkerdoodles are?"
"They're tickets to jail. A kid got them on Ant Farm because a walrus sat him."
Okay. I'm not sure I follow that train of thought, but I'll go with it.
"Why do you think Schultz needs a yonkerdoodle?" I asked, curious to know what kind of trouble our wayward German Shepherd got into.
"He ate my dinner. And Bubba's dinner."
Uh oh. "How did that happen?" I asked. "I thought you were done eating."
"Yeah, but we didn't eat everything, and we forgot to put our plates on the counter. Schultz licked our plates clean."
So what do you think? Should I give him a yonkerdoodle, or make him our family's official dish washer?
"Yonker what?" I said.
"Yonkerdoodles."
"Do you mind telling me what the heck yonkerdoodles are?"
"They're tickets to jail. A kid got them on Ant Farm because a walrus sat him."
Okay. I'm not sure I follow that train of thought, but I'll go with it.
"Why do you think Schultz needs a yonkerdoodle?" I asked, curious to know what kind of trouble our wayward German Shepherd got into.
"He ate my dinner. And Bubba's dinner."
Uh oh. "How did that happen?" I asked. "I thought you were done eating."
"Yeah, but we didn't eat everything, and we forgot to put our plates on the counter. Schultz licked our plates clean."
So what do you think? Should I give him a yonkerdoodle, or make him our family's official dish washer?
February 23, 2012
Howling for Sasquatch
My seven-year-old son is absolutely convinced that Sasquatch (Big Foot) lives in the woods behind our house.
"Mama, did you know there were eight Sasquatch sightings in Kentucky?"
"No. I hadn't heard."
"I think one of them might've migrated into the woods behind our house."
I looked at him kind of funny. "Why do you think that?"
"Because there's total distruction in the woods that could've only been caused by a creature of that size."
"I see."
Later in the evening my son threw open the front door and started howling into the night.
"What the heck are you doing?" I said, sure that the neighbors were on the phone calling the police.
"Calling for Sasquatch!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. I know he can hear me!"
"Dude, get in the house, and leave the Sasquatch alone. You can play with him tomorrow."
Oy gewalt!
"Mama, did you know there were eight Sasquatch sightings in Kentucky?"
"No. I hadn't heard."
"I think one of them might've migrated into the woods behind our house."
I looked at him kind of funny. "Why do you think that?"
"Because there's total distruction in the woods that could've only been caused by a creature of that size."
"I see."
Later in the evening my son threw open the front door and started howling into the night.
"What the heck are you doing?" I said, sure that the neighbors were on the phone calling the police.
"Calling for Sasquatch!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. I know he can hear me!"
"Dude, get in the house, and leave the Sasquatch alone. You can play with him tomorrow."
Oy gewalt!
February 22, 2012
Movin' Up in Crabby Town.
Big stuff going on in the hermit crabs' Crabby Town. It seems that Slow Poke, the crab in the pig shell, wanted to change his digs. So he found a new home- in a shell that's about four sizes too big.
"Mama!" my son came running into my room this morning. "Slow Poke is in a new shell!"
I crawled out of bed to investigate. I picked up the shell. I didn't see the crab. "Are you sure he's in there?"
"Yeah. Look. The other shell is empty!"
I looked. The pig shell was empty. I looked at the bigger shell. Sure enough there was a little crab tucked way inside.
Interesting. I guess all creatures have aspirations of moving up into two-story 3000 square foot homes!
"Mama!" my son came running into my room this morning. "Slow Poke is in a new shell!"
I crawled out of bed to investigate. I picked up the shell. I didn't see the crab. "Are you sure he's in there?"
"Yeah. Look. The other shell is empty!"
I looked. The pig shell was empty. I looked at the bigger shell. Sure enough there was a little crab tucked way inside.
Interesting. I guess all creatures have aspirations of moving up into two-story 3000 square foot homes!
February 21, 2012
Creepy Crabs
Last night was the first night that my kids had their new hermit crabs in their rooms. Apparently the clawed creatures are a little noisy at night.
"Mama," my daughter said. "Those crabs are creepy!"
"Why is that?" I asked.
"They make funny sounds at night. I think they're trying to dig their way out of the container."
"I see. So maybe we should move them at night so they don't keep you up?"
My daughter nodded. "I'll put them in the loft with the frog."
So tonight I'll look forward to listening to a chorus of crabs and a frog as I try to watch TV. Should be interesting.
"Mama," my daughter said. "Those crabs are creepy!"
"Why is that?" I asked.
"They make funny sounds at night. I think they're trying to dig their way out of the container."
"I see. So maybe we should move them at night so they don't keep you up?"
My daughter nodded. "I'll put them in the loft with the frog."
So tonight I'll look forward to listening to a chorus of crabs and a frog as I try to watch TV. Should be interesting.
February 20, 2012
More Pets
I don't think my family has enough pets, so today I added to the collection. Yesterday, we had a cat, a dog, a parakeet, a frog, and seventeen fish. Today, we have a cat, a dog, a parakeet, a frog, seventeen fish, and four hermit crabs.
How did that happen, you ask? Well, let me tell you about our trip to the mall. The kids didn't have school today, so naturally I had to find something for them to do. My daughter wanted to go to the mall. (That's what girls do, isn't it?) So I took them there, thinking it would be a harmless trip. We'd poke around a few stores, maybe get a pair of jeans, and that's it.
Wrong. As soon as we got to the center of the mall, my kids spotted a hermit crab stand. Yes. This thing was filled with an assortment of crabs, all with cute painted shells.
"Oh, Mom! Can we get a hermit crab?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
Then I took a look at the little crustaceans. They were kind of cute. And they are easy to take care of - so easy that my kids could do it themselves.
Hmmm. Should I, or shouldn't I? Would these little varmits teach my kids about taking care of pets? It's a gamble.
"I'm not going to take care of these things. They will be in your rooms, and you will feed them, and clean them. If they die, it's your fault."
They readily agreed to those terms.
So now, each kid has two hermit crabs. Their names are Slow Poke, Crabby, Sam, and Little Lil. Let's see how long they live.
Oh yes...and as we walked out of the mall, carrying our crabs in their habitats, I heard some kids whine to their mother, "Oh, they got hermit crabs! Why can't we?"
The mother's response: "Well, that mommy must really love her kids!"
I chuckled. Yeah. That, or I'm just plain stupid!
How did that happen, you ask? Well, let me tell you about our trip to the mall. The kids didn't have school today, so naturally I had to find something for them to do. My daughter wanted to go to the mall. (That's what girls do, isn't it?) So I took them there, thinking it would be a harmless trip. We'd poke around a few stores, maybe get a pair of jeans, and that's it.
Wrong. As soon as we got to the center of the mall, my kids spotted a hermit crab stand. Yes. This thing was filled with an assortment of crabs, all with cute painted shells.
"Oh, Mom! Can we get a hermit crab?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
Then I took a look at the little crustaceans. They were kind of cute. And they are easy to take care of - so easy that my kids could do it themselves.
Hmmm. Should I, or shouldn't I? Would these little varmits teach my kids about taking care of pets? It's a gamble.
"I'm not going to take care of these things. They will be in your rooms, and you will feed them, and clean them. If they die, it's your fault."
They readily agreed to those terms.
So now, each kid has two hermit crabs. Their names are Slow Poke, Crabby, Sam, and Little Lil. Let's see how long they live.
Oh yes...and as we walked out of the mall, carrying our crabs in their habitats, I heard some kids whine to their mother, "Oh, they got hermit crabs! Why can't we?"
The mother's response: "Well, that mommy must really love her kids!"
I chuckled. Yeah. That, or I'm just plain stupid!
February 19, 2012
I've Been Tagged
Hey everybody, I've been tagged by D. G. Hudson in the 11 Questions "getting to know you" tag.
So here's the deal: I'll answer D G Hudson's questions, then offer my own. I'll follow his lead by selecting eleven followers from my blog.
THE RULES ARE:
I answer 11 questions and make up 11 of my own. I tag and link to 11 other bloggers. You who are tagged are asked to do the same on your blog.
Okey dokey. So here are my answers to D G. Hudson:
1. How long have you blogged? I've been doing Mama Diaries for about two years. My gardening blog is new - just 2 months. And I've done various string teaching blogs, so I guess the grand total is about five years.
2. Do you have a pet? Oh, do I! I have quite a few: a parakeet, a cat, a dog, a frog, and seventeen fish. You could say that I live in a zoo!
3. Do you like film noir? Um, what's that? Black film? Dark film? Night film? I'm confused. So, I can't answer this question. If anyone can shed some light on this, please do!
4. Do you pick male or female protagonists most? Both. I have no preference, and my writing reflects that.
5. Which female actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie? Okay, I must seriously be out of sync with pop culture, because I have no idea what LOTR is. So I'll just give my favorite female actress: Merryl Streep. The lady has talent.
6. Which male actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie? Diddo on this one. My favorite male actor: Tom Hanks. Obviously I like the classics.
7. Where do you write? Anywhere I can. Mostly on my bedroom floor, but I've been know to write in my car, or even in the bathroom.
8. What beverage is beside you when you write? I don't drink and write. It's too dangerous!
9. Do you listen to music while writing? No, I find it distracting. Perhaps this is because I'm a professional musician, and I end up focusing more on the music than the writing. I like silence!
10. What is your favorite city? Oh, gosh. That's a tough one! I guess I'd have to say Paris. I've been there many times, and each time I find something new.
11. Is there a phone in your writing place? Yes. I usually ignore it when I'm writing, though.
MY TAGGED BLOGGERS:
1. Peaches Ledwidge
2. Heather Gardner
3. Empty Nest Insider
4. Escape Into Literature
5. Stacy S. Jensen
6. Joline Huber
7. Carol Riggs
8. Gabriela Pereira
9. Melissa Liban
10. DJ's Thoughts
11. Happy Birthday Author
MY 11 QUESTIONS ARE:
1. What is your favorite holiday?
2. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?
3. What is your favorite genre?
4. What or who has inspired your writing the most?
5. What's your favorite food?
6. Who's your favorite author?
7. What's your favorite TV show?
8. If you could time travel, where in time would you go?
9. Do you have a pet?
10. What's your favorite type of music?
11. Where do you write?
That's it. Please feel free to pass it along. Hope you can participate.
Thanks, DG for the opportunity to highlight a few of my followers' blogs. I hope you'll get a chance to check out some of them!
So here's the deal: I'll answer D G Hudson's questions, then offer my own. I'll follow his lead by selecting eleven followers from my blog.
THE RULES ARE:
I answer 11 questions and make up 11 of my own. I tag and link to 11 other bloggers. You who are tagged are asked to do the same on your blog.
Okey dokey. So here are my answers to D G. Hudson:
1. How long have you blogged? I've been doing Mama Diaries for about two years. My gardening blog is new - just 2 months. And I've done various string teaching blogs, so I guess the grand total is about five years.
2. Do you have a pet? Oh, do I! I have quite a few: a parakeet, a cat, a dog, a frog, and seventeen fish. You could say that I live in a zoo!
3. Do you like film noir? Um, what's that? Black film? Dark film? Night film? I'm confused. So, I can't answer this question. If anyone can shed some light on this, please do!
4. Do you pick male or female protagonists most? Both. I have no preference, and my writing reflects that.
5. Which female actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie? Okay, I must seriously be out of sync with pop culture, because I have no idea what LOTR is. So I'll just give my favorite female actress: Merryl Streep. The lady has talent.
6. Which male actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie? Diddo on this one. My favorite male actor: Tom Hanks. Obviously I like the classics.
7. Where do you write? Anywhere I can. Mostly on my bedroom floor, but I've been know to write in my car, or even in the bathroom.
8. What beverage is beside you when you write? I don't drink and write. It's too dangerous!
9. Do you listen to music while writing? No, I find it distracting. Perhaps this is because I'm a professional musician, and I end up focusing more on the music than the writing. I like silence!
10. What is your favorite city? Oh, gosh. That's a tough one! I guess I'd have to say Paris. I've been there many times, and each time I find something new.
11. Is there a phone in your writing place? Yes. I usually ignore it when I'm writing, though.
MY TAGGED BLOGGERS:
1. Peaches Ledwidge
2. Heather Gardner
3. Empty Nest Insider
4. Escape Into Literature
5. Stacy S. Jensen
6. Joline Huber
7. Carol Riggs
8. Gabriela Pereira
9. Melissa Liban
10. DJ's Thoughts
11. Happy Birthday Author
MY 11 QUESTIONS ARE:
1. What is your favorite holiday?
2. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?
3. What is your favorite genre?
4. What or who has inspired your writing the most?
5. What's your favorite food?
6. Who's your favorite author?
7. What's your favorite TV show?
8. If you could time travel, where in time would you go?
9. Do you have a pet?
10. What's your favorite type of music?
11. Where do you write?
That's it. Please feel free to pass it along. Hope you can participate.
Thanks, DG for the opportunity to highlight a few of my followers' blogs. I hope you'll get a chance to check out some of them!
February 18, 2012
Imaginary Friend
I thought my seven-year-old son was over imaginary friends. I guess not.
"Mama, do you know who my imaginary friend is?" he asked.
"No," I said. "Who is your imaginary friend?"
"Sweet Coon."
"Who?"
"You know, Sweet Coon, the Pokemon."
"Oh," I said, not at all surprised that his imaginary friend would be a Pokemon. "So what are you going to do with Sweet Coon?"
He thought about that for a second. "How about we go to Mad Potter?"
"You want to paint ceramics with Sweet Coon at Mad Potter?"
"Yeah."
Well, that wasn't quite what I expected, but I'm all for creativity, so I piled my kids (and Sweet Coon)into the car and drove to the pottery painting place. My son painted a mug and a bowl, with Pokemon themes, of course.
"So, are you going to use these?" I asked looking at the finished products.
"No. They're for Sweet Coon. He'll eat and drink from them. He needs a cup and bowl, too."
Of course.
"Mama, do you know who my imaginary friend is?" he asked.
"No," I said. "Who is your imaginary friend?"
"Sweet Coon."
"Who?"
"You know, Sweet Coon, the Pokemon."
"Oh," I said, not at all surprised that his imaginary friend would be a Pokemon. "So what are you going to do with Sweet Coon?"
He thought about that for a second. "How about we go to Mad Potter?"
"You want to paint ceramics with Sweet Coon at Mad Potter?"
"Yeah."
Well, that wasn't quite what I expected, but I'm all for creativity, so I piled my kids (and Sweet Coon)into the car and drove to the pottery painting place. My son painted a mug and a bowl, with Pokemon themes, of course.
"So, are you going to use these?" I asked looking at the finished products.
"No. They're for Sweet Coon. He'll eat and drink from them. He needs a cup and bowl, too."
Of course.
