What?! #FlyOnTheWall

Welcome to February's Fly on the Wall Round-Up. This is a blogging challenge, hosted by Karen of Baking in a Tornado, where bloggers get together and give readers a glimpse into our homes. We talk about things you would have seen or heard, had you been a fly on the wall in our homes.

So, here we go....

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Gigi, while pointing to a bump on her cheek: Look, Mama, I got my first pimple.
Me: Cool.
Gigi, while rubbing the bump: Isn't it cute. Do you have any?
Me: Have you looked at my face?! I have tons. The steroids give me huge ones. LOOK *points to like three*
Gigi: I filled mine with love, because I love it. You should wish love into yours.
Me: Come talk to me in ten years.
Gigi: Why? I am talking to you now.

*three minutes later*

Gigi: Do you name your pimples?
Me: No. I try to not get too attached.
Gigi: Oh. Well, I decided to name this one Taylor Swift.
Me: Lovely. Great name. I am sure its namesake would be flattered.
Gigi: Huh?
Me: We will revisit this in ten years.
Gigi: Are you obsessed with ten years?!

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Some background.... Since my pregnancy with Kateri, I have been unable to drink/eat dairy. Gigi has been unable to have dairy since birth. Chad, really should NOT have dairy. It really messes with his tummy, and makes him smell horrendous. However, he will have dairy all the time. He apparently does not mind the pain, bad trips to the bathroom, and the horrendous smell. I think he is crazy, and almond milk is yummy. He recently found out his cholesterol is high, and has made some changes to what he brings to work for breakfast and lunch. One change was he switched from bagels to Cheerios. 

I received a letter in the mail about truancy. Gigi had to  miss some days after my dad passed away, and then she missed other days due to some health issues. However, I went into the office the next day, and cleared it all up. I did use the letter as a teaching moment. I explained to Gigi about truancy, and how important attendance is. She has hit her second half of the school year funk, and mornings are rough. She does not want to get up, and does not want to go to school. It is a struggle. On the days I am not feeling my best, the struggle is almost too much. So, I explained how if she was decided to be guilty of truancy, one of her parents could end up in jail, or we would have to pay more money than we could afford. Now, whenever she is struggling in the morning, I remind her about the importance of attendance, and if needed, I tell her I am too pretty for jail.

Gigi asked if she could have cereal. Chad made her a bowl, and she was happily eating, and we were just sorta talking about random stuff.

Chad: By the way, I bought Costco milk. 
Me: Oh okay.
Chad: Yeah, 2%.
Me: Wait. What?! Chad, you should not do that. It is going to kill your stomach, and you will stink your coworkers out of the building.
Chad: I don't smell THAT bad. (He totally does smell THAT bad. I think anyone in those circumstances smells THAT bad.)
Me, realizing Gigi is having the Costco milk in her cereal: Wait! You did not get 2%!
Chad: I did. It isn't that bad. It is better than whole milk.
Me: No! It isn't about which is best! Gigi cannot have dairy!!!
Chad: Yeah, so?
Me: 2% is dairy!
Chad: No, 2% lactose free.
Me: Oh. Costco has lactose free? I have never seen it.
Chad: Yeah. It is with the other milk.
Gigi: So this isn't dairy?! 
Chad: No, not dairy.
Gigi, wiping her brow: Phew. That is good. If I had dairy I would have to be in the hospital, and I would miss school, and mom would go to jail. We don't want that.
Chad: Real dairy milk coming right up.
Me: Hey, don't tempt me. I will keep her home tomorrow and just go to jail.
*Chad and I look at each other, and just get wide eyed and grin, because we both realize Gigi does not even have school the next day, and she does not know she does not have to go to school, since I did not tell her, so we could just maintain our normal routine, and have things go smoothly*
Gigi: Mom, I would protect you. I would tell the cop that he cannot take my mom.
Me: Then you would be in jail with me. 
Gigi: Okay. That sounds okay.
Me: Or I could just make Dad go to jail. It does not have to be ME.

So, yes. I was the terrible mom. I made this big deal. We woke up as usual, since I wanted to keep our normal routine. I made a big deal about saying.... Ehhhh... It feels like a good day to just stay in bed and watch movies. She was the one who did the truancy speech. I just told her to let me worry about the cops. She honestly took it so well. She was saying things like... Well, mom, when the cops come, I will explain to them that I really need you, so then they will just leave you with me... Mom, will the cops put you in handcuffs? Can I touch the handcuffs? Will you ride in the police car? Can I ride in it?.... Twice, when there were sounds like someone knocked, she literally ran to open the door. At those times, I said that she should not be so eager to get rid of me. She explained she just wanted to be the first to the door, so she could explain why they cannot take me.

Overall, she was really very okay with it all. I think it hurt my feelings a tiny bit, that she was not more upset. Though,  I honestly think she believed she would be able to convince the cop to let me stay with her. When she grew impatient about waiting for the cops, I finally told her that she had the day off (President Lincoln's birthday). I explained to her that I had fixed the truancy problem, but that she still needed to have really good attendance for the rest of the year. I had hoped for some funny reactions or some drama. Overall, my prank of a lifetime was mostly a dud. Though, hearing her lecture me about truancy, the same as I lecture her, did show me that at least she does listen.

We ended the day with a discussion about President Lincoln, slavery, and The Emancipation Proclamation. I was so proud of her reactions. She was outraged at the thought of slavery. She did not like the idea of owning people at all, and she really hated the idea that any human is better than another human. She made it very clear that every skin color is beautiful to her, and that she would never own a slave. I was grateful to not have to teach her equality. She is five and just knows by instinct, that we are all equal, and everyone deserves to be treated well. It also helped back up my long held belief, that hate and prejudice are taught, we are not born with it.

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Gigi: Mom, how did you have me, if you and Daddy aren't married?
Me: We just did.
Gigi: I don't understand. How can you have a baby when you aren't married?
Me: You do not have to be married to have a baby.
Gigi: Oh. What do you have to be?
Me: An adult.
Gigi: So any adult can have a kid?
Me: Pretty much. It is complicated, as are so many things, but pretty much anyone can be a parent.
Gigi: Well, I am so happy you are my parent.
Me: I am so happy too!!
Gigi: So getting married does not teach you how to have a baby?
Me: Nope.
Gigi: Your body just knows how to have a baby.
Me: Yep. It is an instinct.
Gigi: What is an I stinked? Is it a bad smell?
Me: No. It is just something that you are born with, that is ingrained in you.... Look, this is way too complicated for a five year old. I will explain it when you are a bit older.
Gigi: Okay. Like when I am forty seventeen?
Me: Yes, that sounds like the perfect time.
Gigi: So, are you ever going to marry my daddy?
Me: Maybe one day. That is complicated.
Gigi: Life has so much complicated.
Me: True story, Kid. True story.

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Gigi has this new thing she does, that I LOVE! I really want to try to capture it on video. Whenever she does something super cute, or says something wise beyond her years, or anything in general, that causes her dad and I to look at her in awe or amusement... she will shrug and do this cute smile and says "What?!". It is something I hope I never forget. It is beyond adorable. I wish she could see herself through my eyes, so she could know just how amazing she is. 

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Gigi: Don't worry, Mother. I can do this.
Me: I am your mom. It is my job to worry.
Gigi: Well, don't worry.
Me: I am going to worry, deal with it.
Gigi: You worry too much. It makes me worry about you.
Me: You're worried that I am worried?
Gigi: Yes.
Me: I am worried, that you are worried, that I am worried.
Gigi: *facepalms*
Me: Yes, I am definitely worried that you are worried that I am worried that you are worried about me worrying about worrisome things.
Gigi: Mom, please just do not worry.
Me: I told you, I am your mother, and it is my job to worry.
Gigi: You need a new job.

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Gigi, while holding her stuffed fox: Look at her tail. It looks just like fire.
Me: It does.
Gigi: I think I am going to change her name to Fire. Fire Fox. 
Me: Cool.
Gigi: Fire Fox. Is that a good name?
Me: Yep, it is pretty good.
Gigi: I think so too. I am so good at picking out names.
Me: You are.
Gigi: I bet nobody has ever even heard the name Fire Fox before.
Me, laughs.
Gigi: What?!
Me: Oh, nothing.

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Gigi: I am going to change my name.
Me: You can't.
Gigi: Why not? 
Me: You are not an adult. You are stuck with your name for eighteen years. Once you turn eighteen, you can go and change it.
Gigi: Well, I am changing it.
Me: Why? Your name is pretty, and it suits you. It wasn't the name I wanted for you, but I honestly think it is a good name.
Gigi: Well, I think it is not the best. I think I can name myself better.
Me: Oh yeah?! Well, what would you name yourself?
Gigi: Elizabeth.
Me: No.
Gigi: Why not?
Me: I am your mother, and I said no.
Gigi: Well, one day, when I am an adult, I won't have to listen to you.
Me: You already don't listen to me.
Gigi: Well, I really won't listen to you, when I am a grown up adult.
Me: Okay, Elizabeth.
Gigi: That is not my name.
Me: I was practicing for the future.
Gigi: Well, I changed my mind. I am not going to name my name Elizabeth.
Me: What will your new name be?
Gigi: Princess Bridgette Rose Flower Glitter.
Me: That is quite the name.
Gigi: I cannot wait until I am a grown up adult. I won't have to listen to you or dad and I will have the most beautiful name ever.


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During a political discussion, Chad said that he hasn't be paying attention to the political news lately, and mentioned that he isn't worried about the election right now, it is too early yet. 

Me: You should be worried. As a human you should be worried, and most importantly as a father you should be worried. You have two daughters!
Gigi: Three. He has three daughters.
Chad: I have two daughters.
Me: He has two.
Gigi: He has me. That's one. He has Kateri and he has Embee. Embee is his daughter. He has three.
Me: No. He has two. 
Gigi: How?
Me: He isn't Kateri's Daddy.
*Chad and I give each other that look, like oh boy here comes a complicated conversation*
Chad: I have two. You and Embee.
Gigi: Just two.
Me: Kateri's Dad's name is Maurice.
Gigi: Oh cool.
Me: Yeah, it is a pretty cool name.
*Gigi goes back to playing. I am yet again amazed at how she can just keep things simple, and accept things as they are. She doesn't judge. So often she approaches a topic, and I get all tense, getting ready for a difficult chat, and she just really processes things maturely, and doesn't complicate things more than necessary. I swear she is already more like a mature adult, than I am at times.*

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I try to teach Gigi to be a good person. I teach her the golden rules and the basic life lessons, I feel we all need to know. She has really gotten a great grasp on "Two wrongs do not make a right" lately, and hearing her say it, really warms my heart. She has been working hard on how she reacts to things. I think we could all learn some great lessons from her.

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As I had spoken about before, I am working hard on not yelling. I HATE to yell. Well, I have been doing really well. I am still a work in progress, but I have honestly done so well. It is so rare I yell lately. Maybe once a week. Gigi has asked me several times when I was going to start yelling again. Apparently, she misses it. Yelling made me feel like an absolute failure as a mom, and this is her reaction to me no longer yelling.

I decided to start a new tradition for Valentine's Day. I want us to each tell each other one thing we LOVE about them.

Me to Gigi: I love your ability to make people laugh so genuinely.
Me to Chad: I love your smile.

Gigi to me: I love your yelling.
Gigi to Chad: I love your smile too.

Chad to Gigi: I love your eyelashes.
Chad to me: I love your heart... That you put others first before yourself, though sometimes that is not a good thing.

*Saying we should each include Lil Bit*
Me to Bit: I love your loyalty to my blanket.
Gigi to Bit: I love your ability to scare the cats away.
Chad to Bit: I love your spunk and feisty-ness. 

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We do not have the funniest of households, nor the most interesting or eventful of households, but we do have love. Lots and lots of love.

I hope you enjoyed your glimpse into our house. Hopefully you all have a fabulous week, and I hope your weekend is AMAZING. I am just hoping our weekend is dry. It has been raining a lot here. I do love the rain, and know we need the water, but raining means no doing laundry for us. Our washer and dryer are outside, and the enclosure for them has not been built yet, so they are covered with a lot of tarps. We cannot use them on rainy days, and there has been so much rain, laundry is piling up. I would love a dry weekend, so we can get our laundry done. That or for a laundry enclosure to magically appear.

Do not forget to go check out what is happening in the other houses!! I will meet you there, after I get some more coffee!!

Links to the other blogs featuring a Fly on the Wall post: 

Baking In A Tornado 

Never Ever Give Up Hope

Menopausal Mother

Spatulas on Parade

Follow me home

Joyful Noise #TopTenThursday

Welcome to a Top Ten Thursday Round-Up!! I know I have not participated in these in a while, and that makes me more sad, than it makes you. There have been some awesome topics, and lists I really wanted to make. Unfortunately, life has a way of getting in my way. So, I have not been able to pull it off.

You may remember, that for Top Ten Thursday, a group of us get together and create top ten lists, based on a chosen topic. It is organized by the fabulous Tamara of Part-Time Working Hockey Mom!

This week, we are discussing our Top Ten Happy Songs! If you remember my Top Ten Favorite 80's Songs list, you probably remember that I struggle picking Top Tens of music. Music is too BIG to be limited to lists, and yet we do it often. I am firmly convinced that every music list ever made, probably has a ten mile long list, of invisible honorable mention songs, the list's creator considered and wished they could include.

It is just the way music is. Now, things that make us happy, well that is an easier list. We probably have more than ten things, which make us happy, but choosing just ten to mention is definitely not too difficult. You may remember that it was easy for me, to come up with a list of the Top Ten Things That Make Me Happy.

So, rather than stressing over this top ten list, and focus on it being a music list, I decided to look at it more of a happy list. So, it was still a difficult list to create, but I made it somewhat easier on myself. I chose to not look at it, in terms of my all-time top happy songs, but in terms of my top ten CURRENT happy songs. The songs that in the past few weeks, have been making me happy.

So, in mostly random order, here are my Top Ten (Current) Happy Songs...

1. "Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley. I don't think there are many top ten lists involving music, that this song won't make an appearance on. It is my absolute favorite song. It has TONS of competition, but there is just something special about this song, that always gives it a slight edge. I think one of those things, is how happy it makes me. It livens up my soul. It gets into my bones. It infiltrates my mind and body. It makes me dance and sing. It lifts my spirits. There is just something about the rhythm and his voice, and the lyrics, and his voice. So, yes, this song definitely makes me so darn happy, each and every time I hear it.

2. "Havana" by Camila Cabello. Have you heard this song? Well, Gigi is partially to blame for this song making my top ten list. She LOVES this song, and we listen to it a lot, and it just makes me happy. We have danced and sang to this song so often. Seriously, so much dancing has been done to this song in our house and car. Seeing Gigi so happy, absolutely makes me contagious. It is also on here, because the darn song is good. It is catchy, and then rhythm is awesome, and it is just a soul infiltrating song. I highly recommend having a dance party to this one!

3. "Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara. This is another dance party song. I love it. I love the meaning. I love the beat. I love the lyrics and meaning. I love just being free and dancing with Gigi to this. I love what the lyrics are telling her. I hope she takes it to heart, and grows up to embrace her own  beautiful, even if it isn't up to par with society's standards of beautiful. Of all the videos I will post, this is probably the one I most hope you all watch. Take it deep to heart, and dance.

4. "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake and the Trolls cast. I dare you to listen to this song, and not be happy. Seriously, listen to it. Put it on. Dance. Sing. Come back here, and try to tell me you are not happy. Seriously. I'll wait. *waits, while singing and dancing with Gigi* See! I told you so! 

Bonus: 

"True Colors" from the Trolls movie

5. "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. This song has actually made me cry a few times, nonetheless, it is on my list of happy songs. You have an issue with that?! Say something. I dare you. Not all tears are sad. Not all are happy. Some are just tears because of emotions. This song definitely evokes so many emotions in me. It also just makes me happy. Ed Sheeran makes me happy. Well, when he just got engaged, it didn't make me completely happy. I am kinda sad he did not wait for me. Sigh. Oh well, I wish him a long life of complete happiness and love. I will just maintain my crush from a distance.... while singing and dancing to this song, feeling happy to my core. I need to note... He did two alternative versions... One with Beyoncé and one with Andrea Bocelli. I highly recommend listening to all three. For lack of a better word, they are perfect. 

Bonus:

With Beyoncé

Bonus: 

With Andrea Bocelli

6. "End Game" by Taylor Swift, feat Ed Sheeran and Future. Well, Gigi makes me happy, just by existing, so I guess it should not be super shocking most of my happy songs are because of her. Either she loves them, and from seeing her joy from them, I catch the joy, and they become my happy songs too. Sometimes it is because they are just awesome songs on our dance party list. Dance parties definitely make me happy. I do not care what your opinion of Taylor is, you cannot deny she is talented. Ed Sheeran is one of my favorite musicians ever, so that goes without saying, that he is talented. This is a unique trio and an interesting song. Whenever it comes on the radio, we turn it up and dance and sing. We play it on Spotify quite a bit. We actually just play all things Taylor and Ed, as often as we can. 

Bonus: 

"Everything Has Changed" Taylor and Ed

7. "Whiskey" by Tje Austin. Listen.... This song should probably be number one. Truly. I just decided to go for lucky number seven. This was one of my most listened to songs of 2017. I listened to his latest album over and over and over and over. I know the entire thing by heart. It is my favorite album of 2017, and in my top ten albums ever. He is one of my favorite singers ever. Everything this man does makes me happy. Everything. If ever I get married, I am going to sell a kidney, just to pay for him to play at my wedding. He is going to pull double duty. He is going to be in the wedding party, and the singer. That is a long story. Maybe I will tell you one day. Let's just say, I am a woman of my word. So, for whatever reason, I love everything that comes out of his mouth. I am tempted to get him to sing a Chinese food menu, or the phone book, and see if I  love that too. I suspect that I will. He is just that damn good. I highly recommend you listen to his entire I Belong To You album. I also suggest visiting his YouTube page, and watching every video. 

I want to do a hundred bonus videos for Tje, but I will have self control.... Bonus: 

Thinking Out Loud (cover)

Bonus:

"Right For You"

8. "Hallelujah" by basically anyone. We listen to this song a million times, and sing and dance, and we just feel it in our souls. We tend to love Rufus' version, as well as the version from the movie Sing. Just watching Gigi sing to it, makes me happy. I love that she loves songs, that I love, and have loved for years. I am sure she likes when I love songs she loves. However, there is one video of Choir! Choir! Choir! with Rufus Wainwright doing it, that is hands down our favorite. Period. End of story. Take it to the bank. 

Bonus: 

From the movie Sing

9. "Say You Won't Let Go" by James Arthur. This man and his voice... They serenade my soul. I could listen to it on repeat and not get tired of it. In fact, I have on multiple occasions. Love dancing to his songs with Gigi. They tend to be my songs to catch my breath, and just get my sway on. Perfection.

10. "Let It Go" by James Bay. No, there is nothing frozen about this song. I love this man and his voice. This song is magic for me. I love it. We listen to it a lot, and Gigi can sing parts of it. We make a great (off key) duet, her and I. This was also one of my most listened to songs of 2017. Right at the top with Tje. 

Bonus:

"Hold Back the River" another of my top songs of 2017.

Bonus:

"Need the Sun to Break" another top 2017 song.

11. I have to do another one. Hear me out. I absolutely needed to list the above songs, but this list would be incomplete without me sharing something, and then sharing a video or two. Willie Nelson. This man is the True North on my music compass. I travel all over the musical map, in every direction, but without fail, I always return to my True North. Willie is my favorite go to artist. I have many I love. So many. Willie is the one I seek out at my happiest times, or my saddest times. In the in between times. Just because. I was blessed by my friend Kim (amazing lady), to attend a Willie Nelson concert this past August. It will be a forever memory. Something I never forget. Something that is forever a part of me, my life, and my story. I got to share the same space with Willie, and listen to him LIVE. In person. From right by the stage. It will forever be one of the greatest moments and experiences of  my life. Period. It is one of my happiest moments. The moment he walked on to stage, and my breath got stuck in my throat, my heart skipped a beat or two, and then started to just pound. The tears just streamed down my face. I was so happy and my body could not even handle all of it. It was just perfect. I was sitting right next to my True North. I am certain at some point, he heard me. He heard my voice. He heard my cheers. I am just a grain of sand in his life's memories. A tiny part of one of his wholes, but that is okay. I made it. I was there. So, pick any of his songs, no matter the subject, and it is hands down one of my happy songs. His voice makes me happy. His music makes me happy. His legacy makes me happy. He makes me happy. I am so grateful for him. I am so grateful God gifted him to us, to be a part of our musical history. So, yes, I had to have an eleven. When I look back on my childhood, once of the biggest memories, is my daddy singing to me. He would always sing "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", and it was everything to me. No matter how bad my day had been, and I had some terrible days, during that song it did not matter anymore. Nothing did. It was just me, my dad's voice, that song, and infinite potential for better days to come. So, I will put the official listing of eleven as... "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" by Willie Nelson. I wish I could tell you that Willie did this song in August. Sadly he didn't. Honestly, it is probably best he did not do it. I think the sheer happiness would have caused my heart to explode. Miracles happen, maybe one day, I will get to hear Willie sing it live. I won't hold my breath, but man the thought of it is amazing. Also, I should tell you... Nothing can prepare you for seeing him live. Truly. I have watched every video, every performance, and listened to every album. Hearing his play his guitar is person... Mind blowing. 

Bonus:

"Always on my Mind"

Bonus:

"Seven Spanish Angels" with Ray Charles

Bonus:

"Old Timer"

Gosh. For a list of happy songs, I sure cried a lot while making this list. In my defense, I just want Willie to live forever, and I know he won't. None of us will. However, music. It will live forever. Plus, Ed and Tje. They can sing me to happy tears.

So, there you have it... My happy songs. I hope you listen to them all, enjoy, and get happy!!!

Don't forget to check out the other Top Ten Thursday lists of our Top Ten Happy Songs!!