Recently in Cecilia Category

All grown up and ready to start school.

All reports indicate it was a fabulous day, and she's excited to go again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day (and onward for 13 to 17+ years). Good luck kid.

Cecilia recently complained about an earache. She's been swimming almost daily for a month, and I imagine she might just have some mild swimmer's ear… or maybe one of her dozens of dead rollie polies/pillbugs got out of its jar and climbed in there. Who knows? As I was thinking about my options of how to take care of her, I picked up and started looking at the newest Lego catalog. Noticing my diversion, she pointed out that “Looking at Lego's isn't going to help my ear.” You're right. My bad. Back to you.

Two quick stories. The girls were headed to the dollar theater today for a cheap activity. It happened to be near lunchtime when they were supposed to go. After Cecilia was told the plan, she opined that she would like to eat lunch at the theater itself. Only too aware of the utter waste of money that would be, Maria told her it costs too much money to eat there. Cecilia, in her obvious state of being a spoiled child, informed her, “It will be okay, Mom. Dad has a lot of money.” Right. A lot of money. And you're going to the dollar theater, on a gift card. Rollin' in the dough.

Becky is talking quite a bit. She doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense, but she's talking a lot. She'll tell you all about her fancy toenails and how Grammy painted them. And if that's not enough, she'll tell you again before you leave. And once more as you're leaving.

We have a little container of orange Tic Tacs in the car. The girls really like them, but Becky can't pronounce the name of them. When she asks for one, it sounds more like she's saying (pardon the language) “I wanna kick ass!” Because Maria and I both find it humorous, we'll deny the initial request, only to make her repeat it – which any child her age will do… over and over and over again, until satisfied. “Kick @ss! Kick a$$! Kick @$$!” Nice.

Cecilia may think I have so much money I can use $100 bills as tissues… but I have Becky trained to be a warrior, willing to do whatever it takes to get the goods.

…and they raised the roof – at least that's what you might believe if you observed Cecilia.

For those of you unfamiliar with the reference, there is a children's bible song about two men of variable wisdom levels, and the stability of their homes during inclement weather. At a point in the song the lyrics say, “The rains came down and the floods came up.” These words are accompanied by hand motions of sparkly-like fingers going downward (rain coming down), then your hands in front of you, with your palms upward, and raising (the floods coming up).

Instead of the usual gestures that accompany the floods coming up, Cecilia prefers to raise the roof. Not only does she still communicate the rising floods, but somehow the music gets louder, everybody in her vicinity starts to cheer, dance more with the beat, and make comments such as “w00t! w00t!” and “awwww ye-uh!”

(Unrelated, but related. While typing this up, I was reminded of one of my favorite intros to a fake commercial I've ever seen (albeit from Family Guy, a show of questionable content). Be sure to watch the first half of the ad for wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man and try to remember the opening line for all future sightings. You can/should skip the second half. If that link no longer works, I've saved the clip for posterity here. You'll need Quicktime to play it, which you probably already have.)