Soliloquy

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Ari in review, 2011 version

Yes, yes, once again I have been severely neglecting this blog. I am trying to decide what to do with it. It used to be pretty much strictly Ari-centric... and while there's nothing wrong with that, I am contemplating "expanding" this blog into more than just a review of what's going on with her.

That said, however, this post will be all about her. Nothing like a little procrastination, right?

If you follow me on Twitter or are my friend on Facebook, you know that I like to share funny/random things that Ari says/does. It's not because I'm trying to be one of those obnoxious parents who's all "You guys, my kid is the CUTEST and FUNNIEST human EVER!" But I figure, hey, if it amuses me, then maybe it will do the same for someone else, and who am I not to share the funny?

A couple years ago, I did an "Ari in review" post, wherein I collected most of the Ari quotations I'd tweeted during the year and stuffed them all in one post. So I thought it would be fun to do it again, because it's kind of nice to have all this stuff in one place (for ease of future blackmailing, of course). So feel free to skip... or enjoy.

Ari: Is my hair going to change color when I get older?
Tony: Not until you get really, really old.
Ari: Like Mommy?

Ari: Mama, I'm almost a grown-up.
Me: Oh yeah?
Ari: Yeah, because I'm almost as tall as you are.

Ari: So, Mama, do you have to go through Texas and all the states and then you get to space?
Me: Uh, something like that.

I asked Ari what her favorite thing at the gymnastics event was, and she said, "My favorite thing is that I'm glad I love you."

Me: Ari, don't cough in my face. You don't cough in people's faces.
Ari: Don't you love me?

Ari: When I get to heaven, I'm going to look for Sasha and Ivan because I bet they miss me. And I bet Ivan will jump on me.

I overheard Ari calmly explaining to Sharla, "I am not a dog. I am a people and I am in charge of you."

Me: Guess what?
Ari: What?
Me: I love you very much!
Ari: Guess what?
Me: What?
Ari: I love your very stinky feet!

Ari: Know what? A caterpillar goes into a raccoon and then becomes a butterfly.
Me: I think you mean cocoon.

Ari: Mommy, how do I look?
Me: You look like a monkey.
Ari: Now you say, How do I look?
Me: How do I look?
Ari: Like a elephant.

Me: Ari, I love this picture. But you know what?
Ari: What?
Me: I love you more.
Ari: You know who I love most?
Me: Who?
Ari: Sharla.

Ari: When I grow up, I'm going to be a farmer for 5 years, and then I'm going to play basketball and go to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ari, frustrated with her inability to find the right red crayon: "These crayons look red but write pink. Why does God keep tricking me?"

I scolded Sharla for chewing up something she wasn't supposed to have... then heard Ari whispering to Sharla, "It's ok. I still love you."

Ari: Mama?
Me: Yes?
Ari: I love you. And you know what? I just decided I love you even more than that. I don't know why.

Ari: The reason I don't cough into the air is so I don't get God sick.

Me: Ari, eat your breakfast.
Ari: I can't. My tongue is too itchy.

Ari tried telling me that "babies" rhymes with "chainsaw." Obviously she still has a lot to learn in school.

Me (reading Ari a bedtime story): "... Cookie upset the trash can."
Ari: That's silly. How could a trash can get upset?

Ari: Tomorrow I have to wear my rock star shirt because I want to feel like a rock star.

Ari: Mama, you know what? I pretty darn love you.

Ari (right after apologizing for a bad attitude): Mommy, I love you so much and I just can't believe how pretty you are.

Ari: You know what I want to be for next Halloween? Apple juice. Oh no wait, I'm just thirsty.

Ari, hiding from Daddy: Mama, tell him I turned into an invisible ghost and went to California.

Ari: What's God's middle name and last name?
Me: He doesn't have a middle or last name.
Ari: So he's just God? Hmm. I think he's Dr. God.

Me: Ok, no more cookies. 2 is enough.
Ari: I can't help it. You're the best baker ever and I just love them so much.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

First day of school

First day of school was today!

Of course I made a point of getting her dressed early so that we could take plenty of pictures before she left. She wanted one with Sharla, of course…

And then we had to do some with Mommy and Daddy…

And then some with just her…

This is one of my favorites…

At this point, it was a couple minutes before noon. Afternoon kindergarten starts at 12:30, and since we had no idea what time the bus would be there, we made sure we were outside early. And it was a good thing too… no sooner had we taken that last picture than the bus pulled up. It was totally empty, which must mean she’s the very first stop. We were a little startled, and didn’t want to hold up the bus, and she was eager to go, so as soon as it stopped, she bolted right on, and I snapped this picture…

The bus driver was sweet, though… if you look at that picture, you can see she is getting Ari’s attention, which resulted in her turning around and me getting a slightly better picture.

She took a seat right behind the driver, and poof… just like that, she was gone. I didn’t cry… probably because it all just happened so fast. We didn’t even hug or kiss her goodbye, heh. But I think I would have been fine either way. And it was probably better that we didn’t drag it out.

We walked to the school to pick her up at the end of the day, and I snapped a couple pictures on our way back. Here you can see her backpack, the one we scored for free at orientation.

And then I grabbed this shot, another favorite of the day…

Once we got home, she chattered our ears off all about her first day. I think it’s safe to say she loved it.

Oh, and after dinner, we worked on her first school project… an “about me” poster. Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea.

My kidlet is a kindergartner, you guys!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Catching up on the rest of July

I have been neglecting this poor blog... prepare for some major catch-up and lots of pictures...

A couple entries ago, I posted from our visit to the butterfly conservatory, where we bought a monarch caterpillar who made itself a little chrysalis. Well, she hatched perfectly, right according to plan. Yes, she is a girl, because she has no spots along the black lines in her lower wings (not to be confused with the spots on the edges of the wings, which all monarchs have).

Tony got her on his finger... she couldn't fly yet because her wings were still wet.

Tony helped her move from his finger to this plant. Here you can see more of her wings. They were still wet, but when she moved, they flopped around a little, so it looked almost like she was flapping them.

I have to say, this was a pretty cool thing to see. I don't remember ever hatching any butterflies when I was little, so I guess this is the first time I've been able to watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. I kind of want to sing "The Circle of Life."

The weekend after Ari's birthday, Tony's mom and his sister and her kids came for a visit. Our town does a huge 4th of July celebration each year, usually the weekend after the actual 4th, so we spent some time attending that, starting with a parade on Saturday morning.

Ari with her cousins Taryn and Michael...

And the 3 cousins again, with Grammy (Tony's mom). Yes, I realize Michael and Ari look like they could be siblings. Just further proof that she takes after Tony's side of the family.

I snapped this picture before leaving for work one morning.

I know... it's a sickeningly sweet picture, right? And, she is totally his mini-me. I have to tell you, though... it was really hard to leave, when all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed with them and go back to sleep.

The latest story is this... My darling daughter decided to open one of her birthday toys with the kitchen scissors, and managed to stab her hand. Tony got the bleeding under control, and off to the ER they went. Tony sent me pics after the fact. I'll warn you that the first 2 are a teensy bit icky, but the last 3 should make up for that.

Le wound.

All stitched up.

She needed 2 stitches. The doctor put some numbing cream on her skin in preparation for the needle of novacaine, and Ari freaked out about having a shot. So they irrigated the wound and asked her if she felt it, and either she said no, or said it didn't hurt. Not sure, but either way... she refused the shot, and they stitched her up with just that numbing cream. Tony said he saw her flinch a few times, but she kept saying it tickled. He said to me, "I know she must have felt it... I guess she just REALLY didn't want that shot."

All bandaged up, with Dora stickers for her troubles. Also note that her kitty has a matching bandage--a little perk of going to a children's hospital, I guess.

Checking out kitty's bandage... Or maybe comforting kitty?

And a smile.

Here's hoping she learned her lesson about playing with grown-up scissors.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Party pictures

I tried to get a couple more pictures of her in her party dress (besides the one I took with my phone and posted a couple days ago). She is so into "posing" lately...

And making extreme faces...

The pool was a huge hit. And we could not have had more perfect weather.

Taking a break from the pool...

...for cake!

She was acting all shy about being sung to...

Pinata time! I was asking her to smile for me, so I could get a picture of her with it before it got smashed, and her little friend Nathan heard me and gave me a cheesetastic smile... love it.

Of course Ari got the first swing. I love how she looks totally prissy in this picture.

With all the party prep and such, I never got around to wrapping Ari's little presents from us in time for it. Which actually worked out well, because I wrapped them that night, and she got to open them the next day, on her actual birthday.