Make Up

This morning while stopped at a red light on the way to school, I was rubbing foundation into my face when this question was asked:

Gabriel: "Why do you put make up on, Mom? So your face looks normal?"

Rationale

I love the reasoning (or lack there of) in five-year-olds.

On a recent drive home, Gabriel randomly asked me,

"Hey Mom, do you think those people could come knock our house down so we could go on a trip to Disney World?"

Mom Eyes

Isn't this a creepy picture? It's amazing what Google image search turns up!

Setting: Nap time. Always a source of good pre-sleepy time conversation.

Gabe: *running his fingers through my hair in a monkey-esk type way* Hmmmmm......

Me: "What are you doing, son?"

Gabe: "Looking for the eyes in the back of your head. Dad told me they were there."

Robbers!

I think every Mom can appreciate the innocence of pre school kids as they discover that not all people look like their family members! The exploration of cultures, religions, and foreign countries has begun in this house. I realized it was time when Gabriel came very close to completely humiliating me in front of some Middle Eastern women at Planet Jump this week!

I observed 3 women who walked in with their little ones. They were dressed from head to toe in black Burqas with only their eyes peeking out. It was actually a little funny watching them play on the inflatables with their little ones!

Gabriel ran towards me, ready for an ice cream break and when he spotted them he suddenly let out a big shriek, pointed his finger at the women and said, "Mommy!!! ROBBERS!!!!"

Classic.

Thank the Holy Father in Heaven they were out of earshot and didn't hear him.

After an uncontrollable outburst of laughter knowing that the statement came from total innocence and ignorance, we began a beautiful conversation about how God created us all different and special. This curiosity led to lots of Googling to show him how people dress differently all over the world.

Sometimes parenting is awesome. :)

My Little Gentleman

Today I took Gabe and Zoe to the church playground for lunch. I was watching Gabe and his sister play on the slides and then I saw something that really made me smile. Since I would usually expect Gabe to be PUSHING Zoe off the top of the slide or fighting over who gets the red swing and who gets the blue swing, this is a particularly special memory.

Gabe and Zoe arrived at the bottom of the slide ladder at the same time and Gabriel put out his arm, bowed and said, "Ladies first, Zoe." Then he made eye contact with me, gave me a big fat cheesy grin, and gave me a thumbs up. It made my day. I love that kid.

When I'm Old And My Hair Is White...

Gabriel is such an awesome helper in the kitchen. I particularly love baking and cooking with him when Zoe is napping because they are in the stage (Um, it's a stage right??) where they fight over EVERYTHING! It is our special time together.

We made vegetarian lasagna the other day. He loves peeling onions and chopping veggies (YES, I let him use sharp knives! Don't judge me!) and he eats more of his dinner if he has a role in preparing it.

Here's our precious conversation:

Me: "Gabe, someday when you are older you will be the most fantastic chef and will make your wife really yummy meals. She'll be so lucky."

Gabe: "Well, when you are old and your hair is white I'll cook for you too Mom. I'll take care of you and Dad."

Me: "I'd love that Gabe. How about when I'm so old and crazy that I wander the streets in my bathrobe. You will come get me and bring me home?"

Gabe: "Yup."

The "U"

This is a guest post from Gabe's Dad, Justin.... I think you're going to like it.

Ok, so I ask Gabe if he wants a Mohawk for his haircut. To which he replies, "No Dad, I want the U!"

I asked, "Why do you want the U?" To which he said, "because I like the Hurricanes!".

So after wiping the tear from my eye, I graciously obliged him! I love you son!

Butt Bread

This morning my husband was out in the kitchen making Gabriel breakfast. As my sleepy-morning-loathing-self stumbled into the kitchen, Gabriel greeted me by saying:

"Mom! I'm eating BUTT BREAD!"

I looked at Justin and saw him pulling the heals of the loaf of wheat bread out of the toaster and smiling.

"Butt bread, nice one Dad." I responded sarcastically. :)

We Love Black People

Last night my husband ditched me to go see Rob Bell speak in Tampa *can you hear the resentment in my "voice"?* My friend Julie came over and we went for our weekly jog, but this time had kids in tow. Not quite as relaxing as normal, but equally entertaining as most moments are with Gabriel and Zoe.

Zoe loves to wave to pretty much every person that jogs by on Bayshore and begs to pet every dog ("goggy") that is being walked. Gabe loves to correct his little sister when she is mistaken. As was the case last night:

*Older White man jogs by*

Zoe: "Hi Poppy!!!" (Poppy is my Dad- she apparently thinks a lot of men look like Poppy)

Gabe: "That's not Poppy, Zoe!"

*African American man rides by on his bike*

Zoe: "Hi Poppy!!!"

Gabe: *in a loud voice* "Zoe, Poppy doesn't have a black face!!!"

God and Guns

*DISCLAIMER: Some or all parts of this post may be theologically incorrect for comical purposes.


Gabe: "Mom, does God have a gun?"

Me: "Nope, God doesn't need a gun."

Gabe: "Well then what is He going to kill Satan with?"

Me: "He is going to smite him."

Gabe: "What does smite mean?"

Me: "It means he's going to blow him up into a fiery ball of smoke till there's nothing left."

Gabe: *sounding concerned* "But then I might die too!!"

Me: "Why would you die?"

Gabe: "Because God lives in my heart and when he smites him it might make my heart explode."



On a slightly unrelated note.... while searching for a picture to post with this blog, I did a google image search for "God smiting Satan" and the first picture to pop up was of Bill O'Reilly, which just made me giggle.

Making A Party

Every time I want to be mad at this kid he says something hilarious that makes all the anger just disappear into oblivion.

Justin and I were laying in bed and Gabe comes in and starts turning the light switch on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off......

Me: GABE STOP!!!!!!!!

Gabe: on and off and on and off and on and off

Me: GABRIEL, STOP NOW!!!

Gabe: But Mom, I'm just makin a party!!!