A Day Off

After running multiple errands through the Christmas season and attending and dressing for multiple Christmas festivities, McCullough took a deep sigh as we trudged through a store and let out, " I need a day off."
"From WHAT?!" I questioned.
"From Christmas."

Table Manners

One evening while at dinner, everyone was taking turns sharing the events of their day. The second Pearce completed his loquacious run, Quinn, with eyes as wide as the Pacific, let out a record breaking burp. His timing was impeccable.  It was as if he was summing up the day in the life of a 1.5 yr old.
Then not a moment too soon, with a smirk as mischievous as Dennis the Menace, he responded to his belly belch with, "Uh-oh!" Again, reiterating a day in the life of Quinn.

The Name Game

A recent car conversation from the second and third row drivers:

M: Ok Bud.
P- Don't call me Bud. I don't like nicknames. Call me Spiderman, Superman or Optimus Prime. Which one do you want to call me?
M: (In all effort to say it clearly) Optimus Prime
P: That's too hard for you to say. Call me Arrow.

*Fast forward 5 minutes.
Quinn did something that Pearce liked.
Pearce then said to Quinn. "Good job Bud!"

Lighting...Lighting McQueen

Preface: One piece of furniture we added to our new family room has been a 3 drawer dresser. One drawer is filled with some of Pearce's toys that he would rather his little sister and brother didn't play with while he is away at school. He was actually onto something in thinking about the safety of his toys while his siblings played with them. What he didn't think about was the safety of his siblings while playing with his toys.
And so begins the scripture: 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While standing at the kitchen sink I heard McCullough's, " I need help but can't put it in words right now," cry. I turned  around and saw her holding up Pearce's new Lighting McQueen remote control car against her blonde curls. The car that was in Pearce's coveted toy safety drawer. Then I heard the sound. The sound that a remote control makes when stuck up against the wall. That 2 wheel drive , stuck in the snow, and nowhere to go, sound. In McCullough's other hand she held the remote, and continued to press it in the "Forward," control position . "McCullough drop the remote! Drop the remote!"  The wheels stopped. But it was too late. McQueen had already won the race against Cully's golden locks. Her hair was tightly wrapped around the front two wheels that sealed the car against her head above her left ear.

Man, did I wish I had the insensitivity to take a picture at this moment.  Priceless.

Once McCullough calmed down we cut McQueen free. I asked her if we could save the hair so we could laugh about it when she turns 18. With her trademark eyebrow move, she declared, "Me no laughing now."
With that, I dropped the curls into the garbage and left the room to control my laughter. All while thinking, Quinn stay out of Pearce's drawer. Dear God, stay out of the drawer.

It's a Woman's World!

McCullough often hears her big brother spit out generic commentary like, "Oh boy and oh brother."
So naturally, McCully has adapted such phrases to make sense is her world as a female. "Ooooh girl and ooooh sister," can now be heard throughout the day in our home. 

Thanksgiving

Around the time of Thanksgiving, I had been pointing out to Pearce that we have a lot to be thankful for. Even simple things we never to stop and think about...eyes that see, feet that run, legs that walk etc etc etc... Maybe I went overboard.
Because after coming in from the cold air one afternoon, Pearce was complaining about how cold his hands were. My only response to that was going to be-put on gloves! But without a beat, he proudly answered his own question, " I should be lucky they are still here, right?"

Project Manager

During our recent home renovations, McCullough would ask Peter every morning if he would be working on her "new house."  One morning , Peter answered a simple yes. Not explaining to M that he had plans to work on the addition, then take P to soccer, then come back and work some more on the addition.

Well, as Peter was heading out the door with P to soccer, McCullough, in her most authoritative voice, stopped Peter is his tracks and asked, " Aren't you supposed to be working?!"

Karate Kid

Is 1 too earlier to start Tae-Kwon Do? Because for the past 3 months , QPB's clearest word yet has been , "Hiiiiyyaaahhhh!" And yes, "Hiiiiyaaaahhh," is spoken simultaneously to a karate chop motion.

Oral Fixation

We are constantly reminding MMB, to her get her thumb out her mouth!
So at one point , in a sad and hopeless rebuttal she slowly muttered, " That's my problem." 

Scardey Cat Cully

Setting- Almost every night after McCullough is snug as a bug in bed.

Act I: 
MMB:  Me Scared!
MHB;  What are you scared of?
MMB:  Thunder
MMB; Don't worry its not even raining sweetheart.
PWB- ( From his dark corner across the room) Well, actuuuallly. I think the radar showed a storm coming.

Act II-
MMB- Me Scared!
MHB- What are you scared of?
MMB: Bears
MHB  : Don't worry honey, there are no bears around here.
PWB : ( From his dark corner across the room) Well, acctuuuallly, the guy on Daddy's job said he saw a bear by the excavator the other morning.

Act III-
MMB:  Me Scared!
MHB: What are you scared of?
MMB: My shadow
MHB: No comment
PWB: No comment ( finally!)

I Love You...You Love Me...We're a Happy Family

As M and Q were enjoying an episode of Barney, P stomped out of the room.
I asked what was wrong. He said, " Barney. There is too much singing and the songs are giving me a headache."

Hmmmm...maybe he is ready to watch Star Wars. 

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!