His Crinkeled Heart

From time to time, MMB loves to get under her big brother's skin, by saying, " You bad!" Normally, big brother whines to the barn keeper. However, today he calmy said, "M, when you say that, it makes my heart crinkle inside. I can feel it crinkling right now."

I guess he is taking this Anti-Bullying program from school to...well to heart.

Concerns of a 21st Century Kindergartener

As requested by the PTA room mother, I sent a 6 pack of Jello to school for the Halloween party. After  I showed Pearce the Jello and told him to give it to his teacher, he gave me a 5 going on 40 response, "But Mom, you can't send in food. Kids have allergies! "

In the literal sense...

While in the car belting the words to Disney's Hercules theme song, "I can go the distance..." McCullough shouted to the front seat , "No Mommy. No you go! Me miss you!"

Amen!

Post from guest blogger P.G.  Though this is a very delayed entry, it is still worth the wait!

"It was Ash Wednesday 2010, I packed up nearly 1 year old twins, MG and HG, and four year old big brother SG, and headed off to Church for Ashes.  In the car I thought it prudent to explain, in 4 year old terms, what Easter means to Christians.  This explanation is going to be a little tougher than Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  We have not discussed much on the topic of death and now I have to explain Jesus' death to a four year old!  So I gave it the ole catholic try and told SG that we believe Jesus died so that we can live . . . he saved us.  After much explanation on what he saved us from, SG was satisfied with the response.  Upon entering Church for the Ash Wednesday service, we sat in the back of church with a quick escape route planned out in the event bottles, snacks and crayons did not keep all calm.  I took this time to tell him that we would be getting ashes on our foreheads to show Jesus that we are sorry if we were bad and that we thank him for all he has done for us.  As we looked toward the front of the church at the service, SG noticed the very large crucifix hanging from the ceiling over the altar.  SG asked, "who is that on the cross?"  I replied, "that is a carving of Jesus, showing him as he died on the cross to save us."  SG asked, "was he in trouble?"  I replied, "no, he didn't do anything wrong, just the not nice people wanted to hurt him"  After a long pause SG looked at me and said, "that is a really bad time out!" "

...and then Mama called the Dr...

From guest blogger : SK

" Cousin Kai was lucky enough to receive a doctor's kit for his 2nd birthday. He happily put on the stethoscope. When his mommy said "Hello Doctor Kai" he immediately began jumping around saying excitedly, "Doctor said - no monkeys on bed!"

SImply Sweet

Pearce had been dressed in his soccer uniform from the moment he arouse in the morning, so with his extra time he prepared us all a surprise downstairs, while the rest of us finished getting ready upstairs.

After much a do, the remaining 4 of us were ready to finally come downstairs. ( Rules of the surprise per Pearce: All must come down together.)

There on the kitchen table was a Rice Krispies breakfast for all!  Forks, bowls with the milk and cereal all prepared. OJ in everyone's glass, and everything that lead up to that point was put back in the fridge and pantry.

With a grin reaching from your land to my land, he presented his surprise with, " I did this for everyone , since I miss you when I am at school...Oh and Bromley helped. She cleaned up the floor."

Bird Zoo

After visiting the Pittsburgh Aviary or renamed, "Bird Zoo," by Pearce, he was telling Peter about the trip. He said, "It was like a real rainforest, but wasn't a real one because it was a rainforest with a roof."

Grandpa's Office

While playing in Grandma and Grandpa's basement, Pearce turned the corner to a space that housed the hot water heater, furnace, winter boots , and some hunting gear.

After switching on the light and laying eyes on the mounted buck head and hoofs, his excitement was hard to control as he shouted over to me, "I found Grandpa's office!" 

Little Miss, "Me Miss You Too"

After exiting the Brittain Barn without permission to seek out the oh so tempting excavator in the back yard, I knelt down to M's level to really get my point of disappointment across. I let her know what she did was wrong, and that I never expected such behavior again! I was stern. Yes, I was. I had really made an impression. Or so I thought. Seems all she picked up was my fear that she was kidnapped by a white van with no windows, taken to a far off land ,  and never to be seen again except for on an episode of Criminal Minds.

She looked straight into my eyes with her head tilted to one side, cupped my face with her soft little hand, leaned in and whispered, "Me miss you too. Me come back soon."

5 Star Hurricane Shelter located in Allentown, NJ

COMMENTARY from an evacuee

To our readers. Should any of you find yourselves in a similar situation I strongly recommend you seek shelter in Allentown , NJ

Accommodations, excellent, food and service five star, very pleasant staff (although grunts were occasionally overheard,  we suspected they originated from the man in the yellow raincoat?) Consider fasting the day before arriving. Make reservations early, I am keeping their number posted by my phone.

P.S. You even get a "doggy bag"   of goodies when you leave!

Bye Bye Cigs!

Reports from NC say " Tobacco fields - ruined"

Unfortunately, there are interruptions with pics.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Storm Shelter MA/Tom

This just in from my reporter, MAC,  in Allentown , NJ:

The Allentown storm shelter is expected to fill their beds tonight with evacuees from Point Pleasant and as far north as Rumson. 

Disaster Planning is in place. Wine is fully stocked, linens are most likely ironed, and candles arranged in the most decorative fashion.

Irene Headquarters for the Brittain Barn

By the request of my most faithful blog follower, Brittain Barn will serve as a real time Irene Headquarters until such time that we return to our normal lives in the barn. 
Updates, will be made as typing hands and blogging outlets remain available. 
Because I tend to write in a lighthearted manor, I will put forth the disclaimer, that I do know this is a serious situation and many people's lives will be greatly altered. My intentions are not to be unsympathetic or insensitive to those affected by the severity of the storm.


Irene Ready

1.Water-check

2. Bathtub filled- today

3. Washing machine filled- 1 more dirty load to go

4. Flashlights - pink, superman,buzz light year,  500ft waterproof, headlamps ( see attached pic) , 600 ft military grade high powered aluminum body ....check, check and check. 

5. Mango Papaya candle- check

6. Landshark beer for Mag- brand name appropriate- check.

7. Rogue Dead Guy Ale for Peter - brand name not appropriate!- check. 
8. Game of Twister- check

9. Medium generator - check

10. Gas - check

11. Propane- check
12. Raisin Bread - check
13. Cheerios-check
14. PBJ-check
15. Glow Sticks-check

And he'll huff and he'll puff...

With this summer rolling in intense storms, Pearce's fear of lighting has resulted in an increase of floor of our room slumber parties.

Last weekend, after arriving home through a severe thunderstorm, he was expressing his concerns of our house catching on fire from a lighting bolt. "Why did you have to buy this old wooden house?!"

Man is he in for a treat this weekend with Irene's anticipated arrival! 

Beer Coat

I came downstairs this morning and found Pearce acting out Spiderman with a beer koozie* on one hand.

He asked what it was, and I said it's something to help keep beer cold. 

He continued to shoot webs from his koozie covered hand, then asked if I had another beer coat for his other hand.




* Because I was clearing out cabinets the day before...that's why! :) 

Kicked off, off, off, off, off Broadway

Trying to sooth McCullough's tired and  not feeling so well, mood, I started to sing. With all the energy she had left she protested with, " No sing! My belly hurts."

I guess that was her closest legit excuse for closing my pipes!

In her best interest...of course!

Over the past day, McCullough's stomach has not been so cooperative.

By the end of yesterday, she seemed to be getting better. Especially when Peter and Pearce pulled out the blueberry pie for dessert!

In all efforts to snag herself a piece, she batted her eyelashes and said with the first smile of the day, " Me feel better. Me no throw up!"

"There's only one way to find out! Let's give her some pie. " Pearce suggested with eagerness for the results.

Overheard

Literally I heard this over my head as I lay in the dentist chair: One day I was going to exercise at home and my 4 year old daughter told me she would join me. I placed the workout dvd in the player and got right into the sweat of things. After about 5 minutes into the workout, my daughter turned to me, looked me up and down and said, "Mom. It's not working."

First Time Movie Goer

For Pearce's 5th birthday, Peter and I brought him to see Cars 2 with what Peter likes to call, " his creepy little friends." Anyway, as this was Pearce's first time to see a movie on the big screen everything was a learning experience...like where the big screen is hiding.

As we enter the empty theater ( we were there @ 9:30 for a 10:10am Snday movie!) Pearce did a complete 360 review of the theater space in awww.  Having missed the just slightly larger than Uncle Vinay and Uncle Kyle's home screens, his only question was, " Where's the TV?"

Noah

Back to Pearce ( he's the one speaking the most around here right now, so get used to it!) and God.

With temperatures expected to top out at 117 degrees, last Friday, I told Pearce he could play outside for 5 minutes at a time, but then he needed to come inside to hydrate and cool off.

Becoming anxious about his hockey game (Pearce vs Bromley) getting interuppted, his plead to extend his outside playing time was as follows...

"God came down to me, it wasn't a dream, and told me I would be fine... even without the water."

Work on the ark, starts tomorrow.

Book of Pearce

Most of Pearce's profound thoughts are spoken from the 3rd row of the car. They are usually following a moment of contemplation staring out the window.  Last week, the silence was broken with his insightful plan for life after death.

" If I get hurt in Heaven, I am going to ask God for a Lighting McQueen AND Spiderman band-aid, since you can get anything you want in heaven. He'll make it with his hands like he made us... "

I must also explain where the extension of the above comment was derived. Pearce has been fortunate enough to only experience death through the loss of his Great Grandfather Brittain...last year. Around 6 months after the passing of Pops, Pearce would become sad and tell me it was because he missed Pops. So I would hug and love him and comfort him. Seems, he caught onto this and worked it to his advantage. Almost everytime he didn't get something he wanted, he would pull out the puppy dog eyes and say, "I just miss Pops so much."

Soooo, with that short side note, I continue with his car thoughts following the band-aid plan. "...he'll make it with his hands like he made us. And I think we should go to church even more since it makes me feel better when I miss Pops."

He's onto something.

Me Too

Now that McCullough's speech has been catching up, she has a new nickname as a result of her recent favorite phrase, " Me Too."

She applied this new phrase in perfect context over the July 4th weekend in Vermont.  While eating a baby carrot, her Great Grandma Dot entered the room, and McCullough offered to share her snack. Great Grandma Dot turn downed the carrot with , "No thank you. I can't eat carrots. I don't have enough teeth." Without a beat McCullough said with a slight shrug of her shoulders, "Yeah, me too."

Weirdest thing...

There is a cover on the fire alarm @ the Y now. Hmmm...

Birth Order Stereotypes

In response to Uncle Denny's Comment...My guess is that it was the younger brother, who dared the middle child.

Older brother told his mother while batting his eyelashes, "I'm glad it wasn't me who pulled the fire alarm. I would only do that if you told me to mom."

The Girl Who Called Wolf...Part II

Seems I gave my blogging audience too much room for imagination in The Girl Who Cried Wolf...Part I.

Here it is...

Cully pulled the fire alarm at the local YMCA.

The fire department. And the police. And the paramedics had to come.  3/4 of the facility evacuated, AOA  (active adult athletes) in the swim gear and mothers in a panic who left their sweat in the Zumba class came sashaying over the child care. All to realize that they were victims of the infamous McCullough Marie and the unfortunate location and lack of proper protection of said fire alarm.

You can now find me cruising on the bike ( http://www.expresso.net/UserPortal/welcome.do) at the gym 20 minutes north of the Y!

Oh, and when Peter came home she said immediately with her guilty as charged frow of the brows,
"Sorry for pulling fire alarm."  Followed by a senior prank grin and giggle... "Me Joke!"

The Girl Who Called Wolf...

Use your imagination to guess what happened prior to the picture below.
Hint: Recognize the little barn occupant in the bottom left corner?

I golf. Therefore I swear.

Peter never swears. Peter never swears around the children. But when a 2 1/2 yr old barn occupant runs wild and free bobbing her curls down the golfing range fairway at the country club because she could careless about golfing and more about the patio lemonade, the F bomb is bound to fly.

"What the F*** is she doing?!" Peter blurts. Then remembers. Remembers there is the eldest barn occupant standing at foot.

We were sure the new vocabulary word was going to be used the following day.  But nothing. We wait...

Such a sweetheart!

Though we usually make the most of a homemade card. I allowed McCullough to pick out a card for Father's Day this year. She had to have it. Inside reads: 

" May your Father's Day be overflowing with happiness!"

Daddy Hard Work

McCullough picked up a quarter and I asked her what it was. Though I wasn't asking for any specifics, I thought she might reply atleast, "Money."

But to McCullough, in her hand she was holding, "Daddy hard work." 

Another Cup?

Like most old barns, things fall apart. Currently, such is our bathroom door which is usually closed shut to keep out crawling barn occupants. When I heard a squeal of delight following the sweet sound of a splash, I instantly knew what shenanigans were taking place and where. This all brought me back to a tid bit I read somewhere, some time ago, that goes something like this:

 "When Sally returned home from a day out, Joe was beaming. He said he had such a wonderful day spent with their 1 1/2 year old daughter. He said they played on the swings, had lunch, played dress up and drank tea with all their daughter's furry friends. Sally asked, "Oh did she ask you to make lemonade for the tea?" Joe, proudly replied , "No, she put water in the cups and pretended it was tea." Then Sally asked Joe, "Where do you think she got the water? She can't reach the sink yet."

The Jersey Shore

It was hot. We took a swim in CC and Papa Pete's Pool. And naturally , like after most swims when kids consume 60% of their necessary h2o intake for the day...a bathroom break is vital.

Because of the countless trees on the property, I told Pearce to pick one.

Guess it was a day of selective hearing, because I turned the bend of the shrubs...and there he is...pants around the ankles... peeing into the sandbox.

Blinded by the Light

After fully disrobing in preparation for bed, McCullough pulled up the blinds to peek out the window in the bathroom. I stepped out to put on my own pjs. When I heard, "Help! Mama, Help!" I assumed she needed help brushing her teeth. Well, sure enough she was brushing her teeth and was fully leaned over the sink...difference in this time was the blinds were stuck between her two chubby cheeks of her gluteus maximus!

Do we have a doctor in the house?!

After McCullough fell off a chair, I went over to sooth her.

From the other side of the room, Dr. P.W.B. shouts out as if he had just arrived to a 15 car pile up, " Do we know if there is any blood?! "

The Easy Way

While we were all sitting enjoying our dinner, McCullough too was having fun adding her milk to her juice.

" Oh, what are we going to do with Cully?," I asked and then answered with, "Guess we'll just love her."

Pearce's matter of fact response was, "Sure if you want to do it the easy way."