Category Archives: Frazzled Working Mom’s Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Chloe Won’t Let Me Take Her Photo

So I’m stuck using these silly photos instead.  She told me she didn’t care, and when I told her I would document and immortalize her indifference in my blog, she grinned.  
Tomorrow morning we’re hosting an Easter egg hunt for our neighbors’ kids.  And guess who’s organizing it?  The Jew in the family (albeit the heathen non-believing Jew).  Moi.  I don’t quite know how that happened, but it’s pretty ironic if you ask me.  
Anyway, I have at least 75 eggs filled with chocolate that my neighbor and I will scatter around our backyard tomorrow morning.  If I am unsuccessful taking candid photos of Chloe searching for treasures, my lame photographer credentials will indeed be sealed.  

It’s Friday and I’m Wiped

Because I’m so tired, this is going to be a rambling blog entry.  No theme or rhyme or reason. I’m really running  low on photos of Chloe.  I’ll have to take more this weekend.  Nine more days until Disney World.  Can’t wait.  Sophie just farted and asked me if I liked her “proute” (French for fart) and her stinky toes.  Lovely.  I’m 40 years old and my life is reduced to daughters who happily fart and offer up their stinky feet as a present.

I cannot wait to go on vacation.  It’s been a long time.  I’ve taken time off from work, of course – but other than our headache-inducing two-day trip to Great Wolf Lodge last summer, we haven’t gone anywhere in two years.  I think I’ve already mentioned that fact at least ten times on this blog, which I suppose serves as proof that I am DESPERATE to get away.  
Tomorrow I am going to pamper myself with a manicure and pedicure in preparation for our trip.  And tomorrow evening we’re dropping the girls off at our babysitter for a few hours so that we can go to dinner and a non-animated movie.  Yippee.  TGIF.

My Little Sophie

Sophie makes me laugh.  She is warm, loving and funny.  Very funny.   She has a bit of the performer in her, and as Chloe and I were watching “American Idol” tonight, I began to wonder, what if?

What if little Sophie turned into superstar Sophie?  I don’t think she’d be a singer.  Her voice is not very good.  She might end up a songwriter, however, because she’s constantly making up new lyrics to old tunes.  She’s even a bit of a poet, albeit one with a 3-year old vocabulary.  However, I don’t think there’s much superstardom in poetry unless she turns out to be the female Shakespeare of her generation (in which case the fame would likely come post-mortem and be meaningless anyway).  She’s a talented puppeteer and a fairly decent manipulator of emotions – the latter talent might lead to a successful career as an actress.  Once she’s mastered what the letters of the alphabet look like, she might write a bestselling novel, although I think Chloe would be more likely to pen the next literary masterpiece.  If all else fails, Sophie unabashedly loves to shake her booty, as several videos on this blog have demonstrated.  As long as that doesn’t lead to an illustrious pole dancing career, I’d be fine with a dancer in the family.

Finally, a Photo of Chloe

Admittedly, it’s not one of her best.  But at least she’s smiling.  Is it possible that the hormones of girls today kick in earlier than they did when I was a kid?  Because she’s one moody creature these days.

Kind of how I think I probably acted when I hit adolescence.  But not how I acted at 8!  Then again, it’s possible my selective memory is in overdrive.  I suppose I also might have been a horror at 8.  
For example, I asked her an innocent question tonight at dinner and she barked at me and made ugly faces.  I wasn’t even criticizing her (which I am admittedly apt to do).  If I weren’t a peace-loving person, I would have been tempted to flex my muscles.  Instead I chose to ignore her and glare at her. Mature, I know.  But sometimes reverting to 8-year old behavior works wonders.
I find myself wondering – on a more frequent basis – what Chloe will be like in a few years.  Will she be a generally good, confident, trouble-free kid?  Will she be less hard on herself when she’s better able to keep things in perspective?  Or will she remain intense and self-critical?  I see so much of myself in her – many of the good things, but also some of the traits I wish I didn’t possess.  I guess only time will tell.
In the meantime, she and Sophie were battling to see who could annoy the other one the fastest.  Sophie, on one side, chanting “I win! I win!” over and over again, to an increasingly frustrated Chloe, who wanted nothing more than to shut her little sister up.  After failing to silence Sophie with physical antics, Chloe got smart.  And started chanting back, “You’re annoying!  You’re annoying!”  For a solid 5 minutes, the two of them performed a cacophonous
symphony.  Until they got bored with each other.  The joy of youth.

Sophie Dances Again

I know, I know.  You’ve seen a lot of Sophie lately.  But if I’m being honest, 3-year old antics seem to lend themselves to funnier material than 8-year old follies – especially these days.  I am no longer able to convince Chloe to dance in front of the camera.  But Sophie – she’s another story.  No scruples whatsoever.  In this video, Sophie, dressed as Minnie Mouse, is like Shirley Temple channeling Marilyn Monroe.  You’ll understand the allusion once you’ve viewed the entire 25-second clip.

Chloe’s Riddle

OK – this is not a photo of Chloe, even though tonight’s entry revolves around her.  However, I’m currently out of good Chloe photos, so enjoy this photo of Sophie making yet another silly face.  

Chloe’s most recent brainteaser:
You’re stuck in a room with no windows and no doors.  All you have is a bat and a mirror.  How do you get out of the room?  
(Think hard.  This is a tough one.  It’s not for the weak of mind.)
(Had enough?  Stumped?)  
Answer:  Use the bat to break the mirror in half.  Because two halves make a “(w)hole.”
She’s been recounting it to everyone she meets.  So far, no one has been able to come up with the right answer.  

Crazy Sophie Face

Sophie was willing to model for us after Chloe, her dear sister, served dessert tonight.  Chloe’s own chocolate-covered marshmallow super duper recipe.
The treat converted Sophie from a tired, cranky 3-year old into a charming, happy 3-year old covered in chocolate.  Sometimes the big sister knows just what to do to put a smile on her little sister’s face.  Or in this case, she knows just what to do to put a Frankenstein grimace on her little sister’s face.  Either way, it worked for me.  Good start to the weekend, as far as I’m concerned.

17 Days Until Disney World

It was another one of those days at work when I started to count the days until our vacation.  I actually considered starting counting down the minutes, but I thought that would reek of desperation.
Chloe are I are sitting in our new den with our new TV catching our weekly dose of “Survivor.”  Chloe was very upset last week and the week before last because the show was preempted by March Madness basketball stuff, which we have absolutely no interest in.
But we’re now back to our regular programming.  And Chloe demonstrated her secret recipe for chocolate-covered marshmallows.  With the help of a touch of hot water, she melts a square of chocolate and dips the marshmallow.  She then proceeds to take all the extra chocolate and smear it all over her face, with the emphasis on her nose.  That’s really why she wanted to demonstrate her recipe – not so much for the yumminess of it, but for the messiness of it.  I’m sorry I didn’t take a photo when I had the chance.
The joys of youth…

How to Make Sophie Laugh

Surefire ways to make Sophie giggle:
(1) Cradle her like a baby in your arms
(2) Blow raspberries on her belly
(3) Watching Papa tickle Chloe
(4) Jumping on the bed
(5) Playing Duck, Duck Goose
(6) Watching Chloe shake her butt
How Sophie makes herself laugh:
(1) When she races Chloe to come sit next to me and wins
(2) Running around naked
(3) Showing everyone her mouth full of food
(4) Singing her version of “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”