5.31.21 - Kid snippets: Clara can lift two milk

We are listening to the soundtrack to The Princess and the Frog and there's a part where they say something about someone being beautiful.

Jane: Mom, just like I'm beautiful!
Me: Yes, you are beautiful. And you're also smart!
Clara: So am I. I'm smart.
Me: Yes you are. You guys are smart. And you know what else? You are hard workers!
Clara: Yeah just like we are smart but also strong!
Me: Yes, and you work hard. Even when things don't work right the very first time, you keep trying.
Clara: So strong you can lift milk!
Me: Okay, but-
Clara: Maybe even TWO milk!
Me: Okay.

5.28.21 - Kid snippets: Clara explains where babies come from

Clara explains pregnancy to Jane.

Clara: Jane, the baby stays in mommy's tummy and then in a few weeks it comes out of her vagina and then they cut the vine.
Jane: Hm. Yeah.

I think for their age that's pretty close.

5.24.21 - Kid snippets: Look, here's the deal

When Clara wants to explain something complicated, she starts with "Look, here's the deal."

My dad says that all the time, but Clara is hardly ever around him. I didn't think I said it much if ever, but idk where else she'd get it.

5.22.21 - Joy status: Jack's nursing job

**Jack has a nursing job.**

Since last September he's applied to perhaps 40-50 positions in California with no response (aside from an occasional generic "position is filled"). He started applying in Missouri about 5-6 weeks ago and on Thursday one of the main hospital networks in the area (SSM) offered him a position! It's in their new grad onboarding program on the medical-surgical unit, which is great because the position (a) involves plenty of training and (b) is more generalized experience, both good for someone starting out. He starts three days after we unload the moving truck!

5.17.21 - Joy status: Girls get to socialize with neighbors

Tonight Clara heard other kids playing outside in the apartment complex and asked if we could go outside. So we grabbed Jane's new giant bottle of bubble mix (from her birthday) and went to see what was going on. Clara is absolutely fearless when it comes to playing with other kids and immediately ran up to a group of girls and asked if she could play with them. They were happy to oblige, especially since Clara and Jane came with bubble mix.

All five girls played with the bubbles for quite some time and then started running around the complex playing tag and hide and seek and shrieking in delight. My kids don't play with other kids often enough so it was wonderful to watch. I got the sense the other girls felt the same way. It also makes me look forward to when we get to Missouri and they get to hang out with their cousins on a regular basis and have a social life.

5.15.21 - Kid snippets: Clara is a good sister

Jane and Clara are frosting cookies together.

Jane: Clara, you're a good sister.
Clara: Yep!

5.14.21 - Kid snippets: Calvin laughing at things

I was playing a game with Calvin and asking him where all his different body parts were, but the only part he wanted to name was his butt. He laughed every time he said it.

On another note, every night at bedtime I tell him to lay down. He gets comfortable on his pillow and then giggles maniacally as I spread his blanket over him.

5.2.21 - Kid snippets: Hey Clara, I love you

Me: Hey Clara.

Clara looks at me.
Me: I love you.
Clara: Awwwwww

5.1.21 - Kid snippets: Are you happy to have have kids and babies?

I'm showing Clara the video tour I took of mine and Jack's first apartment, shortly after we moved in together. There's a part where I zoomed in on the books we had on our bookshelf.

Clara: There are no kids books?
Me: Well we didn't have kids yet, so we didn't have kids books.
Clara: Were you so sad? Were you sad there were no kids and babies?
Me: Well we weren't sad. We knew we might have babies someday.
Clara: And now are you happy? Because you have kids and babies?
Me: **Yes** I am SO happy to have you guys here. I *love* having you guys here!
Clara jumps up and down in approval.