She has invented her very own chip-dipper, using a simple clothespin.
"This way the dip doesn't get all over your fingers," she said.
Genius.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
My little genius
She is a genius, this child of mine.
She has invented her very own chip-dipper, using a simple clothespin.
"This way the dip doesn't get all over your fingers," she said.
Genius.
She has invented her very own chip-dipper, using a simple clothespin.
"This way the dip doesn't get all over your fingers," she said.
Genius.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
An epic tale
The Christmas decorations have barely been put away. That can only mean ONE thing at our house.
LORA LEIGH'S BIRTHDAY IS APPROACHING FAST!!!
And the planning has begun....
What shall it be? Disney Princess? Rock star? Puppies and kittens?
On No.
HARRY POTTER!!!
Now, having seen only three of the movies and read one third of one book, I'm not the expert on Harry Potter that she is, so I've had to rely on help. I messaged my cousin Laura in Chicago, who IS a certified expert and got some ideas.
This morning, she messaged me back.
"How goes the planning," she wrote.
"Oh, it's going to be epic," I replied.
And Lora Leigh was reading over my shoulder.
"Epic? You use the word epic?"
LORA LEIGH'S BIRTHDAY IS APPROACHING FAST!!!
And the planning has begun....
What shall it be? Disney Princess? Rock star? Puppies and kittens?
On No.
HARRY POTTER!!!
Now, having seen only three of the movies and read one third of one book, I'm not the expert on Harry Potter that she is, so I've had to rely on help. I messaged my cousin Laura in Chicago, who IS a certified expert and got some ideas.
This morning, she messaged me back.
"How goes the planning," she wrote.
"Oh, it's going to be epic," I replied.
And Lora Leigh was reading over my shoulder.
"Epic? You use the word epic?"
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Like mother, like daughter
Some of my family members like to give me grief for my frequent and occasionally too personal Facebook updates. OK. Perhaps I DO put my business on the street a little too much. But that's just me.
"I AM a reporter," I told my husband and daughter during a recent teasing session while we were on a drive.
A few minutes later, Lora Leigh became annoyed at her friend, Zac, picking on her in the back seat.
"Mom! Zac is picking on me," she said, in that sing-song kid's voice.
"Lora," I said. "Don't be a tattletale."
"Mom," she replied. "I'm just being a reporter."
"I AM a reporter," I told my husband and daughter during a recent teasing session while we were on a drive.
A few minutes later, Lora Leigh became annoyed at her friend, Zac, picking on her in the back seat.
"Mom! Zac is picking on me," she said, in that sing-song kid's voice.
"Lora," I said. "Don't be a tattletale."
"Mom," she replied. "I'm just being a reporter."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Computer Wiz
Like most kids these days, Lora is an absolute WIZ on the computer. Seriously. She can do just about anything (not involving software and, heck, maybe even that if she tried!)
Apparently YouTube is filled with these tween-made videos that feature today's teen heartthrob stars, complete with still photos snagged from the web and a little plot. She has made about a dozen, and they've all been viewed more than 1,000 times!!!
Seriously.
And judging from the comments she reads to me, they're considered to be pretty good.
So the other day when she was at the computer and I asked, "Whatcha doin'?" and she replied "I'm making a game," I took it in stride.
You go girl, I thought.
But later, when she showed me this Power Point game, actually a quiz on rocks and minerals featuring flash graphics, I nearly fell on the floor.
Seriously.
Well, Marty was so impressed that he saved it on a jump drive for her (she didn't quite know how to do that -- yet) so she could bring it to school.
And she did.
Her teacher was impressed as well.
"You made that?" the teacher asked, probably as incredulous as I was.
"Yep."
"By yourself?
"Yep."
"Your dad didn't help you?"
To which Lora replied -- with accompanying eye roll: "My dad doesn't know how to do this."
You go girl!!!
Apparently YouTube is filled with these tween-made videos that feature today's teen heartthrob stars, complete with still photos snagged from the web and a little plot. She has made about a dozen, and they've all been viewed more than 1,000 times!!!
Seriously.
And judging from the comments she reads to me, they're considered to be pretty good.
So the other day when she was at the computer and I asked, "Whatcha doin'?" and she replied "I'm making a game," I took it in stride.
You go girl, I thought.
But later, when she showed me this Power Point game, actually a quiz on rocks and minerals featuring flash graphics, I nearly fell on the floor.
Seriously.
Well, Marty was so impressed that he saved it on a jump drive for her (she didn't quite know how to do that -- yet) so she could bring it to school.
And she did.
Her teacher was impressed as well.
"You made that?" the teacher asked, probably as incredulous as I was.
"Yep."
"By yourself?
"Yep."
"Your dad didn't help you?"
To which Lora replied -- with accompanying eye roll: "My dad doesn't know how to do this."
You go girl!!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Catching up
So sue me... I'm a terrible mom.
I haven't chronicled EVERYTHING my child has done in the last year. Almost a year...
Hey. I do have a life.
So what has she done since November when I last told you (my, what, TWO readers) what she was up to?
She turned 9.
She grew another three inches.
She cut her hair short.
She stopped wearing dresses every day.
She stopped wearing pink every day.
She played basketball, finishing the season with ONE basket, ONE rebound and ONE steal.
She played volleyball again, struggling to serve the ball over the net with any real consistency.
She learned how to make a Power Point video and upload it to YouTube.
She learned that Miley Cyrus is no longer a good role model for her (her words, not mine!)
She learned about a TV show called "Glee," with kids who can sing.
She found a fabulous new singing teacher who is really helping her voice mature.
She learned that girls can be mean. And fickle.
She still wants to cuddle at night and early in the morning.
She still comes to me when she has a bad dream.
She still hates to take a bath and eat at the table.
And she still hasn't learned how to put away her laundry or pick her dirty socks off the floor.
She IS learning to write. Rather, she knows how to write. Rather well. She writes stories, poems, songs. Sometimes they are so good I want to ask her where she read that. I'm really thinking, "There is no way my 9-year-old child could have written that." But she did.
So, really, not very much has changed in the last year.
She still just amazes me. And steals my heart every day.
I haven't chronicled EVERYTHING my child has done in the last year. Almost a year...
Hey. I do have a life.
So what has she done since November when I last told you (my, what, TWO readers) what she was up to?
She turned 9.
She grew another three inches.
She cut her hair short.
She stopped wearing dresses every day.
She stopped wearing pink every day.
She played basketball, finishing the season with ONE basket, ONE rebound and ONE steal.
She played volleyball again, struggling to serve the ball over the net with any real consistency.
She learned how to make a Power Point video and upload it to YouTube.
She learned that Miley Cyrus is no longer a good role model for her (her words, not mine!)
She learned about a TV show called "Glee," with kids who can sing.
She found a fabulous new singing teacher who is really helping her voice mature.
She learned that girls can be mean. And fickle.
She still wants to cuddle at night and early in the morning.
She still comes to me when she has a bad dream.
She still hates to take a bath and eat at the table.
And she still hasn't learned how to put away her laundry or pick her dirty socks off the floor.
She IS learning to write. Rather, she knows how to write. Rather well. She writes stories, poems, songs. Sometimes they are so good I want to ask her where she read that. I'm really thinking, "There is no way my 9-year-old child could have written that." But she did.
So, really, not very much has changed in the last year.
She still just amazes me. And steals my heart every day.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
It has been too long since I have updated this blog.
I am sorry for that. Not so much for the two readers who follow it, but for me. And for her.
My baby girl is growing up. Too fast. And I don't just mean because she is nearly as tall as me.
She reads J-14 and 16 Magazine. She loves the Jonas Brothers. And Taylor Lautner. And Taylor Swift. She knows they are dating.
She still watches the Disney Channel (thank God), but she also has discovered The Nanny on Nick-at-Nite. She laughs at her clothes and hair.
She played her first sport this year -- volleyball. Coached by her dad. She did great! The team finished second in the (three-team) league. The first time she wore her uniform, she proclaimed, "I'm a sporter!" And she made us take her to the Sports Pub for a burger -- "Cause I'm a sporter now!"
But she is still a little girl. I still watch her walk to her friend's house across the street. I still won't let her wait for the bus alone. Or get off it. She still wants to snuggle at night and in the morning. But she wants to shave her legs.
And she still makes her list for Santa. Of course, now she goes to ToysRUs.com to do it, pouring over all the wonderful items. She wants a DS game system. And a Barbie camper. (I wanted a Barbie camper too when I was a kid.)
As her list stretched on and on, she paused.
"Do you think Santa will be able to bring all this stuff?" she asked.
Nice of her to ask.
"I don't know," I replied. "What do you think?"
"Maybe I should pick a few things," she said.
She's a good kid.
I am sorry for that. Not so much for the two readers who follow it, but for me. And for her.
My baby girl is growing up. Too fast. And I don't just mean because she is nearly as tall as me.
She reads J-14 and 16 Magazine. She loves the Jonas Brothers. And Taylor Lautner. And Taylor Swift. She knows they are dating.
She still watches the Disney Channel (thank God), but she also has discovered The Nanny on Nick-at-Nite. She laughs at her clothes and hair.
She played her first sport this year -- volleyball. Coached by her dad. She did great! The team finished second in the (three-team) league. The first time she wore her uniform, she proclaimed, "I'm a sporter!" And she made us take her to the Sports Pub for a burger -- "Cause I'm a sporter now!"
But she is still a little girl. I still watch her walk to her friend's house across the street. I still won't let her wait for the bus alone. Or get off it. She still wants to snuggle at night and in the morning. But she wants to shave her legs.
And she still makes her list for Santa. Of course, now she goes to ToysRUs.com to do it, pouring over all the wonderful items. She wants a DS game system. And a Barbie camper. (I wanted a Barbie camper too when I was a kid.)
As her list stretched on and on, she paused.
"Do you think Santa will be able to bring all this stuff?" she asked.
Nice of her to ask.
"I don't know," I replied. "What do you think?"
"Maybe I should pick a few things," she said.
She's a good kid.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The last month of being seven
Lora has her first "crush."
It's New Year's Eve and she met the son of the son of a friend of ours, who is the same age as she. They become fast friends, spend the evening running around the house together. By midnight, she is smitten. They share a midnight HUG and toast each other with Sprite. On the way home, he is all she wants to talk about.
Lora: That Andrew is pretty nice. I think he's going to be by second husband.
New Year's Day...
We fix all the traditional dishes -- black-eyed peas for luck, coleslaw for fortune and mom's roast.
Lora doesn't eat much.
Dad: There are children starving all over the world!
Lora: Yeah, well I'm not one of 'em.
It's New Year's Eve and she met the son of the son of a friend of ours, who is the same age as she. They become fast friends, spend the evening running around the house together. By midnight, she is smitten. They share a midnight HUG and toast each other with Sprite. On the way home, he is all she wants to talk about.
Lora: That Andrew is pretty nice. I think he's going to be by second husband.
New Year's Day...
We fix all the traditional dishes -- black-eyed peas for luck, coleslaw for fortune and mom's roast.
Lora doesn't eat much.
Dad: There are children starving all over the world!
Lora: Yeah, well I'm not one of 'em.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Chew on this!
The whole family has gathered because of an illness in the family. Uncle Val is teaching Lora to play the electric guitar. And she is thrilled to death. The possibilities for this child seem endless -- almost.
"You know," she says. "Some people, well not me because I don't have any teeth right now, but some people can even play the guitar with their teeth!"
Someday, baby.
"You know," she says. "Some people, well not me because I don't have any teeth right now, but some people can even play the guitar with their teeth!"
Someday, baby.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
That's Encouraging
Today I, Lora's mom, had to do one of those new-fangled Internet live chats. I think it went rather well. I was worried because I've been getting some rather unflattering comments from yahoos on the Internet forums. .... But Marty was in school all day and missed it. So when he got home I made him go check it out. Lora was nearby and saw it when Marty pulled it up.
Suddenly, I got a call at work:
Lora: Mom! You know that site, NOLA.com? If you go there and click on Live Chat, it has your picture on it!
Me: Really? (I had not seen the photo they chose, so I went to look. I did not like it) Ew. That's not a good picture of me.
Lora: Yes it is! You look beautiful. I think people are going to say, "Lori Lyons looks beautiful." Not, "Lori Lyons should quit her job because she doesn't know what she's doing."
Suddenly, I got a call at work:
Lora: Mom! You know that site, NOLA.com? If you go there and click on Live Chat, it has your picture on it!
Me: Really? (I had not seen the photo they chose, so I went to look. I did not like it) Ew. That's not a good picture of me.
Lora: Yes it is! You look beautiful. I think people are going to say, "Lori Lyons looks beautiful." Not, "Lori Lyons should quit her job because she doesn't know what she's doing."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Reading is Fundamental!
After trying all summer to get Lora interested in reading a book, we have finally succeeded! She stayed up late last night reading her new Hannah Montana book. And this morning, she was very excited to bring it with her to her sitter's for the day.
"This book is awesome," she exclaimed. "It's like a TV in your brain!"
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Here she comes
It's one of those nights. Bumped from the computer by her dad, who is watching one extra inning baseball game after another, she is relegated back to the pink room.
She comes out with a new purse Uncle Bill bought her. In what can only be Disney magic, Hannah Montana is on one side, Miley Cyrus is on the other. She has packed it with stuff:
*her Hannah Montana CD case
*a barf bag, "in case you get nervous"
*a microphone, "because you never know when you might have to give an interview"
*pens and a notebook, "just in case you want to sign an autograph."
She is a Diva in the making, y'all.
She comes out with a new purse Uncle Bill bought her. In what can only be Disney magic, Hannah Montana is on one side, Miley Cyrus is on the other. She has packed it with stuff:
*her Hannah Montana CD case
*a barf bag, "in case you get nervous"
*a microphone, "because you never know when you might have to give an interview"
*pens and a notebook, "just in case you want to sign an autograph."
She is a Diva in the making, y'all.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Time is relative
My mom, the Nana, is trying to teach Lora Leigh a life lesson:
Nana: When I was a little girl, my daddy told me that you should never steal.
Lora Leigh:: Wow. That must have been a long time ago.
Friday, July 25, 2008
In Lora's World ...
Lora Leigh and her brother, Daniel, are playing Wii. Baseball. Lora Leigh starts faking Daniel out by hitting the pause button right before he swings, making him miss.
She thinks this is extremely funny.
Being the Mom, I tell her to stop.
"Lora. That's not funny," I say
She is giggling away.
"I think it's funny," she replies. "It's hilarious in my world."
She thinks this is extremely funny.
Being the Mom, I tell her to stop.
"Lora. That's not funny," I say
She is giggling away.
"I think it's funny," she replies. "It's hilarious in my world."
Monday, July 21, 2008
Little Pink Jewels
Marty: Lora, did you ever see pictures of me when I was little?
Lora: No.
Marty: I had freckles all over my face.
Lora: I bet they called you "freckle face."
Marty: They did. I can't believe you never saw pictures of me when I was little.
Lora: No. I only saw pictures of you when Bubby and Sissy were little -- back when you had the black hair-do.
****
Lora had to spend the day with Grandma and Pappy at their apartment. Uh oh. Only one TV:
Me: What did you do today?
Lora: Grandma made me watch a movie about the war. I think it was World War II. It had yellow writing. Did you ever see that one?
****
The next day, I ask Lora if she wants to go to Grandma and Pappy's, or to her Nana's. She picks the former:
"Cause if I go to Nana's, I'll have to work on her computer and clean my room and all that nonsense."
****
Me: If you have to choose between singing and dancing this year, which will you choose?
Lora: Ummmm... I think singing. I'm not that into dancing anymore.
Me (trying to be diplomatic): And you're a better singer than you are a dancer.
Lora: It's OK that you said that.
****
I took Lora to see Mama Mia tonight. On the way home, she asks me:
Mom, did you ever sing with your deodorant?
*****
Lora: Mom, you're kinda cranky today. Did you have a bad day at work or something?
****
Lora: I hate bees and wasps.
Marty: Why is that?
Lora: Cause I got stung by one at Nana's house. I was four. I've hated 'em for three years now.
Friday, July 18, 2008
My Fashion Insultant
We have just returned from Wal-mart, where Lora snagged a bunch of Hannah Montana t-shirts from the clearance rack. She also upgraded from last year's High School Musical school back to this year's Hannah Montana model. (Kim Possible was soooo kindergarten).
As soon as we unpacked the bags, she ran upstairs and changed -- brown leggings, new pink Hannah Montana shirt, new pink Hannah Montana headband, new pink Hannah Montana school back, new pink shoes. Quite an ensemble... And she looked soooo cute!!!
I tell her: You look so cute!
Lora (with eye roll): Mom, I know fashion.
Later, she comes to me with a drawing.
Lora: I'm designing all of your clothes from now on.
Me: Oh really?
Lora: Yep. I'm going to be putting together all of your outfits from now on. After all, I know fashion.
10 minutes later ...
She's back, with a drawing of me in my current ensemble.
Lora: Mom. See that outfit you're wearing? Ta da. (She shows me the drawing). It's going to be in magazines all over the world. I'm going to design it. I'm going to take your picture and we'll give it to a guy, like a manager or something. ... Well, I'm probably going to be the manager, so we'll give it to somebody and he'll draw it and we'll put it in magazines and then everybody will be wearing what you're wearing..
What do you think?
to be continued ......
Lora's Mom
July 18, 2008
As soon as we unpacked the bags, she ran upstairs and changed -- brown leggings, new pink Hannah Montana shirt, new pink Hannah Montana headband, new pink Hannah Montana school back, new pink shoes. Quite an ensemble... And she looked soooo cute!!!
I tell her: You look so cute!
Lora (with eye roll): Mom, I know fashion.
Later, she comes to me with a drawing.
Lora: I'm designing all of your clothes from now on.
Me: Oh really?
Lora: Yep. I'm going to be putting together all of your outfits from now on. After all, I know fashion.
10 minutes later ...
She's back, with a drawing of me in my current ensemble.
Lora: Mom. See that outfit you're wearing? Ta da. (She shows me the drawing). It's going to be in magazines all over the world. I'm going to design it. I'm going to take your picture and we'll give it to a guy, like a manager or something. ... Well, I'm probably going to be the manager, so we'll give it to somebody and he'll draw it and we'll put it in magazines and then everybody will be wearing what you're wearing..
What do you think?
to be continued ......
Lora's Mom
July 18, 2008
A little background
My entire life changed that day in January of 2001. About 10 minutes after she was born they put this tiny little bundle in my arms and said I could be her mom. And nothing has been the same since.
To steal a line from Rosie O'Donnel, my life was now in color.
More specifically, pink.
She is seven years old now, about to enter the second grade. She is a very good little singer, a pretty good artist, a passionate if somewhat uncoordinated dancer and an excellent student.
And she is a drama queen.
She spends most of her time in one of her two pink rooms. One is her official bedroom which is painted the color of pepto bismol (she talked me into it). The other is her downstairs "toy" room, which is eggshell and just contains a whole bunch of pink things -- including her Disney Princess pink TV with DVD and VHS player, her pink sing-along microphone, her pink keyboard, a big pink fuzzy chair and a whole host of costumes and such.
She spends most of her time watching innocuous fluff on the Disney channel -- which is commercial free (for products anyway). But within the last year, she has gone up a number to Nickelodeon -- which is by no means commercial free. And she is learning so much about the world.....
But she also draws, paints, colors, dresses up, and uses her extraordinary imagination. And about, oh, every 10 minutes or so, she comes out into the living room where her father and I try to do our things, to share some random thought.... and usually she is wearing a completely different outfit from the last time.
It goes like something like this:
Lora: Mom. Zach and Cody are in trouble again.
****
Lora: Mom. Hannah Montana has a shirt just like me!
****
Lora:Mom,you know how you want to lose weight?
Me: Yeah
Lora: Well, they have Slim Shots! They'll help you get skinny!
****
Lora: Mom, you know how all of your plants are dying?
Me: Yeah.
Lora: Well, they have things things, they're glass balls and you put them in your plants and when they're dying and need water, it waters them for you! Isn't that cool?
Me: That's awesome.
****
Lora: Mom, you know what I found out?
Me: What?
Lora: If you eat too many Cheetos, the top of your mouth hurts.
****
Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we roll our eyes. Sometimes we look at each other and say, "WHAT did she just say?????"
But we are always amazed at her sharp wit, her humor and her wonder at learning what this world is all about.
So, stay tuned for more
"Dispatches from the Pink Room"
Lora's Mom
To steal a line from Rosie O'Donnel, my life was now in color.
More specifically, pink.
She is seven years old now, about to enter the second grade. She is a very good little singer, a pretty good artist, a passionate if somewhat uncoordinated dancer and an excellent student.
And she is a drama queen.
She spends most of her time in one of her two pink rooms. One is her official bedroom which is painted the color of pepto bismol (she talked me into it). The other is her downstairs "toy" room, which is eggshell and just contains a whole bunch of pink things -- including her Disney Princess pink TV with DVD and VHS player, her pink sing-along microphone, her pink keyboard, a big pink fuzzy chair and a whole host of costumes and such.
She spends most of her time watching innocuous fluff on the Disney channel -- which is commercial free (for products anyway). But within the last year, she has gone up a number to Nickelodeon -- which is by no means commercial free. And she is learning so much about the world.....
But she also draws, paints, colors, dresses up, and uses her extraordinary imagination. And about, oh, every 10 minutes or so, she comes out into the living room where her father and I try to do our things, to share some random thought.... and usually she is wearing a completely different outfit from the last time.
It goes like something like this:
Lora: Mom. Zach and Cody are in trouble again.
****
Lora: Mom. Hannah Montana has a shirt just like me!
****
Lora:Mom,you know how you want to lose weight?
Me: Yeah
Lora: Well, they have Slim Shots! They'll help you get skinny!
****
Lora: Mom, you know how all of your plants are dying?
Me: Yeah.
Lora: Well, they have things things, they're glass balls and you put them in your plants and when they're dying and need water, it waters them for you! Isn't that cool?
Me: That's awesome.
****
Lora: Mom, you know what I found out?
Me: What?
Lora: If you eat too many Cheetos, the top of your mouth hurts.
****
Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we roll our eyes. Sometimes we look at each other and say, "WHAT did she just say?????"
But we are always amazed at her sharp wit, her humor and her wonder at learning what this world is all about.
So, stay tuned for more
"Dispatches from the Pink Room"
Lora's Mom
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