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A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

May 6, 2011

Happy Mother’s Day

I don’t normally like to go on too much about all the cute things my kids say because everyone’s kids (or grandkids or nieces and nephews) are equally adorable and say equally adorable things. But since Mother’s Day is this weekend, I’m going to indulge myself. And please feel free to share your cute kid stories, too. I’m all ears!

Andrew
When Andrew was four, he got “goo” from Aunt Karna and Uncle John for Christmas. The next day I was in the shower when Andrew yelled, “Mom! Lexie has a wattle!” He’d stuck the goo in her hair. Tim managed to get it out but Andrew said, “I never knew goo would get me in so much trouble.”

One day I used the expression “it’s not the end of the world.” Andrew (four) nodded and said, “Yes, the end of the world is when a comet hits the earth.”

Andrew (four) said, “God is talking to me in my heart.” I said, “Oh? What’s He saying?” Andrew replied, “He’s snoring.”

Lexie
Andrew (five) and Lexie (three) were putting on a puppet show. Andrew (Miss Piggy) said, “I’m the star of the show.” Not to be outdone, Lexie (Kermit) said, “I’m the moon of the show.”

My parents were visiting and Lexie (four) wanted to watch a movie. “Don’t you think you should ask your mom?” Grandpa said. Lexie left the room, came back, and said, “She’s busy talking, but I think she meant ‘yes’.”

When Lexie was four I asked what her husband would be like. “Oh, like yours,” she said. “What’s he like?” I said. “A helper,” she replied.

Will
When batteries flew out of a pack he was opening, seven-year-old Will said, “What a surprising and unwelcome canoodle.”

Will and Lexie were playing several years ago and I asked Will who Lexie was. “She’s the mommy,” he said. “Who are you?” I asked. “I’m the sweetums.”

One day I came home to find that Will had dropped a jar of mayo, sending the contents flying everywhere. “What happened?” I asked. Will replied, “I said ‘This is too heavy.’ And then I dropped it.”

Lily
The kids made English muffin pizzas one night for dinner and Lily (six) said, “This whole dinner is way gooder than the other dinners.”

I was spraying Pam on a pan near Lily the other day. “Be careful!” she cried. “If you spray me with that, I’ll come off things too easily!”

A few years ago after Tim helped them dye some very fancy Easter eggs Lily said, “Daddy’s the best guy I know.”

Kids really do say the darnedest things. By the way, I’m trying to get better at recording these little moments. (New Mamas: write things down!) I actually own a five-year diary, but I never seem to remember to write in it. My grandma has kept a diary for about 50 years. It’s a treasure trove of memories and I love it when she calls me to say “On this day in [X] you were [getting married, having a baby, in St. Paul’s Cathedral with me and your mother, etc.].” Although I suspect the real reason she keeps it is so she can win arguments with Grandpa. It’s hard to argue when The Diary says that you did in fact have dinner with the Smiths, and not the Andersons, on April 14.

I subbed a lot at school this past week, so I’m looking forward to getting caught up a little around the house this weekend. I get to spend Mother’s Day with my wonderful mother and my grandmother, whom I haven’t seen all winter because she escapes to Phoenix. Can’t wait to see her! Do you have anything fun planned? I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Mother’s Day, whether you’re a mother or just love yours. And if you’re missing your mother this year, I hope your heart is lifted with warm and loving memories.

Most all other beautiful things in life come in twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds—plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins—but only one mother in all the wide world.

Filed Under: Holidays Shannon 1 Comment

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Comments

  1. Diane (aka. mom, grammy) says

    May 6, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    I feel like I just received a Mother’s Day gift. I loved today’s blog and reading, some for the first time, the kids remarks. It’s so much fun to see the world through children’s eyes, especially when you’re related to them! Thank you for sharing…

    Reply

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Welcome

Hello! My name is Shannon Taylor and I’m a mom of four, originally from Minnesota and now living in Maryland. I "published" my first newsletter when I was nine, and since then, I’ve written and edited for magazines, websites, and textbooks. I started this blog when my kids were small to reflect on life, share ideas, and preserve memories. Now that my children are grown, I continue to use this space to document meaningful moments and practical ideas.

If you're in the mood for a bit of Christmas cheer, you might enjoy THE ADVENT BOX, available wherever books are sold. You can click on the cover below to learn more.

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Pandas are back at the National Zoo! We were there within days of hearing the news. 😂 Bao Li and Qing Bao are enjoying the spruced-up panda home on the zoo`s Asian Trail.

We last saw the pandas during a trip to D.C. in May 2011. I`m not sure if it was Mei Xiang or Tian Tian who firmly kept their back to us, but it was pretty hilarious. (photo #7) Not only did we get to see those wonderful pandas, but we got to spend time with Alexandra`s godmother, Amy, who was on home leave from her job with the State Department. Amy`s a fellow Midwesterner I met when we were interns waaay back in the day. (We connected watching "Northern Exposure" at Thompson-Markward Hall, affectionately known as the Home for Wayward Women.)

Be sure to put "Visit the Pandas" on your itinerary when you come stay with us in Baltimore. ❤️

10 0
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18295977556171943
Pandas are back at the National Zoo! We were there within days of hearing the news. 😂 Bao Li and Qing Bao are enjoying the spruced-up panda home on the zoo's Asian Trail. 

We last saw the pandas during a trip to D.C. in May 2011. I'm not sure if it was Mei Xiang or Tian Tian who firmly kept their back to us, but it was pretty hilarious. (photo #7) Not only did we get to see those wonderful pandas, but we got to spend time with Alexandra's godmother, Amy, who was on home leave from her job with the State Department. Amy's a fellow Midwesterner I met when we were interns waaay back in the day. (We connected watching "Northern Exposure" at Thompson-Markward Hall, affectionately known as the Home for Wayward Women.)

Be sure to put "Visit the Pandas" on your itinerary when you come stay with us in Baltimore. ❤️

My mom practiced, practiced, practiced and got to sing at Carnegie Hall for the premiere of "A Vision Unfolding" by Minnesota composer Kyle Pederson. A truly beautiful, uplifting work. I hadn`t been to Carnegie Hall before, so to visit for the first time to watch my mom perform was really wonderful.

Before the concert, we met Mom and her fellow choir member, Kathy, at Patsy`s, just down the block. The traditional Italian food was perfect on a chilly, rainy day—and it was fun to see photos of the celebrities who`ve dined there over the years, from Rihanna to Frank Sinatra (the restaurant`s claim to fame is that it was his favorite).

Mom, Tim, and Will hadn`t been to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum yet, so we headed to lower Manhattan after the concert. As we walked silently through the exhibits, trying to take it all in, I was struck by the distance between the concert, "A Vision of Light," and the grief and darkness around us. I thought of the words Mr. Pederson shared in the playbill, "It is my hope that we lean into the invitation that the choir offers—that each of us might reach out beyond our comfort zone and seek to build bridges of care and connection, finding a better way of being in community." And that’s what art does—it offers light when and where we need it most.

📷: Distinguished Concerts International New York

34 9
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18047049827096632
My mom practiced, practiced, practiced and got to sing at Carnegie Hall for the premiere of "A Vision Unfolding" by Minnesota composer Kyle Pederson. A truly beautiful, uplifting work. I hadn't been to Carnegie Hall before, so to visit for the first time to watch my mom perform was really wonderful.

Before the concert, we met Mom and her fellow choir member, Kathy, at Patsy's, just down the block. The traditional Italian food was perfect on a chilly, rainy day—and it was fun to see photos of the celebrities who've dined there over the years, from Rihanna to Frank Sinatra (the restaurant's claim to fame is that it was his favorite). 

Mom, Tim, and Will hadn't been to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum yet, so we headed to lower Manhattan after the concert. As we walked silently through the exhibits, trying to take it all in, I was struck by the distance between the concert, "A Vision of Light," and the grief and darkness around us. I thought of the words Mr. Pederson shared in the playbill, "It is my hope that we lean into the invitation that the choir offers—that each of us might reach out beyond our comfort zone and seek to build bridges of care and connection, finding a better way of being in community." And that’s what art does—it offers light when and where we need it most.

📷: Distinguished Concerts International New York

Is there a more endorphin-pumping experience than working out to `80s music? I don`t think so! Thank you to @natalie_dancebody and @mindi_dancebody for a truly joyful workout this morning. So much fun to dance along with two songs the Dancing Mamas tapped to back in the day at our kids` recitals: "Footloose" and "Beat It"! I hope you do this again, @dancebody ❤️🔥🎉

30 2
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18107239066486783
Is there a more endorphin-pumping experience than working out to '80s music? I don't think so! Thank you to @natalie_dancebody and @mindi_dancebody for a truly joyful workout this morning. So much fun to dance along with two songs the Dancing Mamas tapped to back in the day at our kids' recitals: "Footloose" and "Beat It"! I hope you do this again, @dancebody ❤️🔥🎉

Happy Valentine’s Day! I approach holiday greetings with more caution than I used to because I know these occasions can be painful for people who’ve lost someone. Which is pretty much everyone, especially when you get to be my age.

This day might not be the same as it was, but I hope you still have a valentine, whether it’s a romantic partner or a friend or a much-loved pet. Or yourself. We make good valentines because we know our favorite chocolate and what books we want.

I’ll always hang the Hearts on a String for any kid who’s home on Valentine’s Day, except not this year because the puppy would tear them to bits.

What a great Valentine’s message. 😅 Well. I do hope you have some treats today and you know I’m thinking of you fondly. ❤️

14 1
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18049981502173328
Happy Valentine’s Day! I approach holiday greetings with more caution than I used to because I know these occasions can be painful for people who’ve lost someone. Which is pretty much everyone, especially when you get to be my age. 

This day might not be the same as it was, but I hope you still have a valentine, whether it’s a romantic partner or a friend or a much-loved pet. Or yourself. We make good valentines because we know our favorite chocolate and what books we want.

I’ll always hang the Hearts on a String for any kid who’s home on Valentine’s Day, except not this year because the puppy would tear them to bits. 

What a great Valentine’s message. 😅 Well. I do hope you have some treats today and you know I’m thinking of you fondly. ❤️
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