AH HA!

Life is full of, as Oprah would put it, "Ah Ha" moments. Moments you see things like you've never seen them before. Sometimes its good, sometimes its not so good. Here are a few of our most recent "Ah Ha" moments...

Gavins dream job:If you ask Gavin what he would like to be when he grows up he will reply, "A mechanic!" If you see my face as he is saying this, you can see me thinking, "A mechanic??? REALLY?" I do understand that this dream has everything to do with his LOVE of old fashioned cars and his desire to buy one with his dad and fix it up, but really? The VanCott in me can't just let this go. I see this as a teaching moment. I see it as a critical moment when I can mold his future and expand his horizons...help him set the bar just a little higher... Anyway, I explained to him that AFTER he goes to college and picks his high paying career *of his choice*, he could be a mechanic as a hobby and THEN he would be able to fix up the really cool cars he is dreaming about........way too much reality for a 6 year old.

A few days went by and we were driving in the car. I am listening to the conversations going on between a 6 yr. old, a 5 yr. old and a 2 yr old--HYSTERICAL! Kesley says, "I think I want to be a mechanic when I grow up!" (She is quick to follow G in just about everything.)
Gavin sorta slumps his shoulders and says in a low, defeated voice, "Naa Kess. They done make much money."

Kesley and her first experience with Spaghetti-O's:I HATE Spaghetti-O's. I don't feed them to my kids, which I can see may be shocking for anyone who knows my cooking habits... Well, the kids went to Aunt Shannons house for the day and when lunch time hit, she grabbed the easiest thing to feed 8 hungry kids--Spaghetti-O's! Shannon said she watched Kesley take about 2 bites of her Spaghetti-O's and gagging said, "This is...YUCK!" Trying not to laugh, Shannon hears Naomi say, "We don't say it's YUCK. You have to say something good about it before you can say you don't like it!" (Hello VanCott rule #102!) Shannon really got a laugh when, after another attempt at a bite, Kesley said, "Um...Shannon? Um...can I be done....because this is..just....not...so...tasty."

Jenna really *sees* her mom:We were running from the pool back to Grandma Smith's bathroom for the UMPTEENTH time that day. Jenna could probably tell I was getting a little annoyed with all the bathroom trips. She takes her time and then yells, "MOM! I'm DONE!" (It's cute and annoying at the same time!) Anyway, I lean over to wipe her bum and she smiles really big and says, "YOU'RE MY MOM!" Then she grabbed both of my cheeks with her hands and said, "AND THIS IS YOUR FACE!!" It was so cute. She saw me as person and not just an appendage. It took me back to my own "Ah ha" moment when I really LOOKED at my own mother and saw her as a person...a time shortly after high school...with the help of an illegal substance...a long story for another day.

And finally, my own realization... A couple of weeks ago I got suckered into this info-mercial on T.V. Has anyone seen the one for a really amazing product called, "The SLIM and LIFT?" They make it look so AMAZING, you know, with...bamboo fibers and...extra lifting in all the right places. I was sold! I knew Brent would kill me so I hid in the laundry room to make the phone call. The conversation went something like this:

Lady: What size would you like?"
Me: "Hmmm....what size do I want to be or what size am I now? Ha Ha....(silence),... Anyhoo, do they run big or small?"
Lady: "Small."
Me: "Well I am a size...12 (cringe), so what would you suggest?"
Lady: "Let's see, that would be the XXL."
Me: "WHAT??? Did you say XXL?"
Lady: "I know it sounds bad, but that is the size they suggest."
Me: "Who is sizing these things? Do they WANT to make a sale? ...XXL??? Well....I am actually more of a size 10-12...(at least I was last November when I had lost 15 pounds--but that's what I am going to be again as soon as school starts and I can start running again...) Hmmm...I really don't think I would need an XXL..."
Lady: "They suggest an XL for a size 10, but it's up to you."
Me: "Why don't we try the XL. I am sure that will work just fine."

Well, it took two weeks to get here, but when I saw the package I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I tore open the box, ripped the UNI-TARD out of the wrapper and started to panic! That thing was SO SMALL it looked like it was the size of Kesley's tights! I am not exaggerating! I sat down and put both feet in and tried to pull it up...nothing. I stood up and tried to get a better angle and more pull...nothing. That thing wasn't going any higher than my knees! Grrrrrr.

So, I called the lady back.

Me: "Um...maybe I am more of a size 12-14...."