My Real Life

My kids love stomp rockets.

Like, seriously love them.

In the old house, we had to put the kibosh on them because there was nowhere to stomp where the rockets wouldn’t get caught in the trees.

In the new house, we’ve got the great backyard.

And so, there is much stomp rocket fun to be had.

It’s funny how such a simple toy can be so much fun.

Great reminder of the fact that it doesn’t have to be high tech or gadgety to engage the brain.

We bought these sneakers at the end of June to “get us through the summer.”

We bought them at Walmart, because we knew they were just supposed to last two months, through summer recreation.

Then, in the fall, we’d buy good, solid, sturdy sneakers.

Unfortunately, we still have about a month and a half to go and this is what they look like.

True, they aren’t great quality shoes, but seriously?

Monkey in the Middle grows fast, he plays hard.

There will never be hand-me-down shoes for his brothers.

Here’s our comparison, and I’m between and 8 and an 8.5 in women’s.

No petite feet for me, either.

But, my 8 year old?

Wow.

I was recently challenged, on Facebook, to do 5 crunches while Tiny sat on my chest.

Not one to back down from a challenge, I did it.

And had Monkey Girl record it.

I didn’t do it well.

But, I did it.

So, here it is.

Don’t judge.

So, I was thinking…

Wouldn’t it be fun if for this week’s Five Question Friday, the monkeys got to answer some questions?

It would definitely be a change, and even I’m curious what their responses to different questions might be.

So, what I’d love to have happen is for you, my loyal readers, to leave a question or two in the comments below, that you’d like one or all of the monkeys to answer.  If the question is for a specific monkey, just write “This question is for Monkey Girl: (or Monkey in the Middle, or Baby Monkey…you can ask Tiny, but I don’t think he’s gonna answer)

Depending on how many questions we get, the monkeys will answer your questions, this Friday, in lieu of our regular Five Question Friday post.

I hope you participate, because I think it will be a lot of fun!

The other night, I hooked my phone into my Mac and I was having trouble getting it to sync.

When it finally did, it was stuck on some older photos that I still have on my phone.

I scrolled through and became completely lost in memories.

I decided to share some of them with you.

Not because they are fantastic photos…just because I thought you’d enjoy them.

Not all are terribly old, either.

And, not all are terribly deep or meaningful.

But, they are us.

So, enjoy.

—–

This first shot is from February 7, 2011.

13 days before Tiny was born, but over a month before he was due.

This photo is not for the faint of heart.

I tried to explain my stretch marks to Monkey in the Middle earlier today.

This photo was incredibly helpful.

—–

I love this photo of Tiny and Baby Monkey.

Two peas in a pod, those two, despite the 5 years between them.

Hope that never changes.

—–

This photo was taken in Newark Airport as Real Man and I waited for our flight to Ft. Lauderdale.

We both got blueberry muffins.

We talked as we ate, and all of the sudden we looked at our respective muffins and just started cracking up.

This is what we mean when we say we are very different people, but we complement each other beautifully.

After 5 minutes, this was my muffin:

After 5 minutes, this was his muffin:

It’s why we work so well.

—–

This photo was taken at Mark’s wedding in Ft. Lauderdale.

It was windy.

It made me laugh.

—–

Babies are great for finding all of the hidden dangers in a house.

And, all of the tight spaces.

—–

This is the house in which I grew up.

We moved into this house when I was 8 and my parents moved across town when I was in college.

I loved this house.

I loved this house so much.

I even loved mowing the ridiculously slanted front lawn.

It was old, there were awesome hiding places, a huge basement for me to roller skate in, a garage that still had the iron rings in the wall from where the people used to tie up the horses, a chimney outside my bedroom window with bricks sticking out so you could climb up, and just general fabulousness.

I loved that house.

My parents moved when I was in college because they thought my grandfather was going to have to come live with us and there were only two bedrooms, and the architect said there was no structurally sound place to build a third bedroom.

I cried when they moved.

I still drive by, every now and then.

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Babies are not thrilled by Harmon’s Beauty Supply.

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Since I have a Nook, in order to control myself in Barnes and Noble, when I go there, I take photos of the books I want to read, and then put them on my list at home, and download them when I get a gift card for my birthday or Christmas.

Here are my latest desires: (if anyone has read any of these, please let me know if they are worth it!)

(looking at the John Sandford on the bottom shelf for this one)

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A few weeks ago, we had pizza for dinner.

Baby Monkey burst out laughing after a few bites.

We asked what was so funny.

He said, “Look!  I ate my pizza so it looks like underwear!”

Oh, how I love my little boys.

—–

On the left is me.

On the right is my 11 year old.

Lord, help me, she’s gonna be one tall drink of water.

—–

He doesn’t sit in a high chair.

He eats with his own fork.

Might as well get his own place, because he clearly doesn’t need his Mama anymore.

Monkey in the Middle was really into a book he was reading the other day, and I wanted Real Man to know.

So, I texted him.

Here’s how it went:

Me:  “Mom, this book is so good, I can’t stop reading it!” – Monkey in the Middle

Real Man:  50 shades?

—–

He doesn’t remember how it started, but Real Man relayed this conversation to me the other day.

Baby Monkey:  The only one who can kill dinosaurs with a sword is God.  Well, I guess we could use a knife.

Real Man:  Do you think dinosaurs are still alive?

Baby Monkey:  No.  They’re all dead.  And the dragons.  But the horses are still alive.

Real Man:  The horses?

Baby Monkey:  You know.  That the knights rode on?

Real Man:  Well, they’re not alive, but their kids, kids, kids, kids, kids are.

Baby Monkey:  Huh.  I never realized horses had kids.

—–

Baby Monkey:  I don’t want to grow up and get a job.

Me:  Why is that?

Baby Monkey:  Because I’ll miss you so much when I’m at work.

Me:  Aw, I’ll miss you, too, Baby.  But, I can always come and visit you!

Baby Monkey:  No, mom.  You never see Mrs. The Builder at Bob’s job!

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This one is not so much a conversation as an experience.

Baby Monkey and I were headed to the library.

I’m waiting at the garage door for him and I hear “squish, squish, squish, squish.”

I turn around and see him and say, “What’s that sound?”

Baby Monkey:  I don’t know.

Me:  Well, it has to be something.  Are you carrying water or something?

Baby Monkey:  No….but…

Me:  Yes?

Baby Monkey:  My sneakers were dirty from camp, so I washed them.

Me:  What?

Baby Monkey:  Yeah, I washed ’em in the sink and they’re real clean now!  See!

At which point I look down at his feet and see gleaming black sneakers, and many little footprint puddles behind him leading back, through the house, to the kitchen sink.

—–

Hi!  This is Monkey Girl, and today I want to talk about one of me and mom’s many walks.  This particular walk was on Patriots Path.

This is a map of the Morris County park system.

We saw lots of nature!  One of my favorites were these two interesting trees.I love the way the vines look all fuzzy!  Mommy thinks that it looks like the long neck of an ostrich.  I think it looks like a snake when it curls around sticks and branches.We both love seeing giant uprooted trees.  They look so big and majestic.  If it was closer to the path I would probably want to stand on it and look down at the path.  Because the tree wasn’t by the path, instead I got to pose on sewer tops.  We also had some evidence that the park ranger came by on his/her horse.Yuck!

There were lots of rivers to see.

We’ve had a bit of a dry spell, so some were a little dry and waterless.It was a long, beautiful walk, and we all had a lot of fun.Some of us, however, were worn out, by the end.We had a great walk and before I say goodbye,  Tiny wanted to blow you a quick kiss.Goodbye! (But just for now 🙂 )

Today, I’m sharing with you an audio clip of Monkey Girl’s first voice recital.

She sang “If I Ruled The World” from the musical Pickwick.

She had only been in voice for a few months and was the youngest in the group and was quite nervous.

However, she went and did her best and we were so proud!

I thought she did great, and even though I am admittedly biased, I think you will too!

Enjoy!

02 If I Ruled the World