Shiny Happy 2010

Recent shiny happiness, in no particular order...

- Aviva started preschool. It's one of those small, pretentious schools that takes itself very seriously and offers the children organic lunches, music class, and a Mandarin tutor. But, they also seem to have lot of fun and Aviva really likes it there. Plus, it's a five minute walk from my house. I'll take a touch of pretense over a long commute any day.

- Noah made this observation about a recent substitute teacher: "He played football in college and majored in Criminal Justice. So, basically, he was just like Arnold Schwartzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop", but without a gun or a funny accent."

- I recently overheard this short conversation between Lilah and a friend: Lilah's friend said, "I am highly trained in the Jedi arts!" Lilah replied, matter-of-factly, "I really don't think you are."

- I also overheard Lilah, on the phone with my mother, saying "Grammy, I need to tell you three things: 1.) I love you. 2.) I love Gramps 3.) Mommy is weird." When she handed the phone to her brother, I tickled her ferociously and covered her with kisses...because I'm weird like that.

- Aviva is in the "why?" and "how come?" stage. She wants to know everything about everything and it's just awesome... "Mama, what does sharks eat?... Does they eat the fish cooked or just wet in the ocean?...How does sharks swim if they are out of the ocean?...How come they can't come out but seals can?...".

- Aviva has also reached the age where she has just enough long-term memory to wax nostalgic. Just last night, as I was tucking her into bed, she looked through her skylight and said, "I see the moon. Mama, d'you amember in the Summah when it was late at night and dark outside and we sitted on the deck togedder and the moon was smilin' at me?" "Yes, I do remember that, Aviva. That was a nice night." "Yeah Mama. I love that night." "And I love you!", I said as I kissed her goodnight, hugged her warm little body, and silently wished for all of her memories to be so sweet.

- Noah often negotiates with us in order to stay up late. Last week, he tried to spin his argument by saying that he wanted to watch Nova with us, but it wasn't on. So, with kisses, we sent him upstairs to read and go to bed. In frustration, he grumbled and flexed his muscles at me. I dead-panned, "I'm terrified. Go to bed, please." He grinned and, with just the right amount of irony in his voice, said, "Mommy, I just adore your sarcasm."

- Aviva is developing her own way with words. An "H" at the beginning of a word turns into an "F", which means that we are "fumans" and that whales are "fuge animals in the sea!". Perfect is "perftick". "Th" turns into an "F" sound and my heart melts when she says, "I fink you're the bestest Mama on Earf.". That being said (and thanks to her siblings), she also delights in swearing creatively to gain attention. I definitely try not to encourage it (especially now that she's in preschool), but it's hard not to crack a smile when your almost-four-year-old year old spouts off words like "penis crank!" and "fuckie pops!". Thankfully, she has no contextual reference for such things. Not so true with "labia" or "tampon", though. She adores those words so much that she sometimes incorporates them into little songs that she sings to herself. Slightly mortifying? Sure, but I love that she is so brazen. It's going to be a lot of fun to help her use that girl power for good.

- Speaking of words, Lilah has a friend named Willa. Aviva loves Willa's name and enjoys saying it over and over again..."Willa! Wiiiiiiilllllllaaaa. WILL-a. will-AH! WillaWilla!" This cracks Noah and Lilah up and inevitably leads to them reciting this scene from "Elf".

- Lilah was recently asked what she wants to be when she grows up. She thought about it for a minute, then answered, "You know, I'm only seven. I don't really know because I'm not even close to being a grown up yet, but if I had to guess, I would say I'd probably be a Ninja or a veterinarian."

- After coming to the realization of what I want to be when I grow up, I left my job at the wellness center after months of feeling dissatisfied and displaced within it's ever-changing, increasingly corporate environment. It was a nerve-wracking decision, but it was also exhilarating and very correct. So, after many hugs and a few teary moments, I've moved on. Hooray for more meaningful work and continued education!

- With regard to the previous blurb: Not many husbands would so bravely face the implications of saying, "Just quit and go after what you really want to do. We'll be OK." So lucky am I to have such a supportive guy in my life.

- That supportive guy and I have made an insanely awesome arrangement with two of his employees (who happen to be roommates). They use our parking space in exchange for a ridiculously low rent...and babysit for free twice a month. Best. Deal. Ever.

- In order to look my best on our semimonthly date nights, I got my hair colored for the very first time last week. This decision was prompted by Michael, who gazed at me as I sat reading by the window and said, "Remember when we were first married and you found your first gray hair?" I said, "Yeah. What made you think of that?" He cautiously replied, "Well, it was just the way the light was hitting your hair." Mmm-hmm. Five minutes later, I made an appointment with Vicki, who has been my hairdresser for three years. When she realized that I had never colored my hair before, she gave me a hug and jested, "It's your first time?! I feel like I should be giving you flowers!". She mixed my natural dark brown shade with a touch of auburn and it looks great. I wish I had done it sooner!

- Other than that, there's not much else to report. I had the flu in early December, but felt better just in time to enjoy Chanukah, Lilah's birthday, and the kids' school vacation. All five of us stayed up past midnight on New Years Eve. I entered 2010 in my husband's arms, watching three wonderful kids dance around the living room, and feeling absolutely Shiny Happy without any irony.