The Latta Family

My parents are going to Great Britain- or England- not sure which in a few weeks.  My mother wrote me an email musing about the difference between England and Great Britain.  She said she was sure I had never considered the difference, but she was wrong! The day before The Royal Wedding, our neighbor, The Brit (as we semi-affectionately and privately refer to him), hung a flag that was white with a big red X on it. I thought it was the Swedish flag, Doug said it was the English flag. Needless to say- this is us- so there was some trash talking as both of us were absolutely certain we were right (the trouble with being know it alls- is sometimes we clash over who is the most right). Unfortunately I had to concede Doug was right, the neighbor's flag was the English flag.  It hurt my heart a bit to admit I was wrong, but I got over it.  I must confess, I am very envious of my neighbors.  Here's why.  Their weekend spring and s...

Did you know one of my favorite movies- ever- is "When Harry Met Sally?"   I just love how they start as friends and eventually progress to more.  I love the conversations they share along the way, and of course I love the diner scene because . . . well she proved him wrong.  And quite honestly, the woman's lib in me still thrives and I love when women prove men wrong.  However, I love Sally Albright (the Sally- in "When Harry Met Sally.")  I love the way she orders.  She likes things on the side.  Chocolate sauce on the side- so the cake doesn't get soggy.  Ice Cream on the side of apple pie.  I like things on the side too- that way I can make restaurant food- taste the way I want it.  I think Alexa is like Sally Albright.  I don't know if she likes things on the side or not, but I can tell you that she likes things the way she likes them.  For example- when it comes to drinks.  She either likes ice ice cold wate...

Andrew gets in the car after school yesterday and says, "Look what I learned in school today!"  Thankfully I had taken my camera to my school- so I was able to video what valuable lesson he learned. 

I should warn you, today’s post might be sappy.   I am not typically a sap.   It generally only happens to me around child birth and the Special Olympics.   Since I am not pregnant, I guess today’s sappiness can only be because I went to the Special Olympics yesterday.   I’ll tell ya, there is absolutely NOTHING like watching kids smile like those kids smile.   I have this one student that while we were training she refused to walk fast, throw far, or work hard.   According to her dad she was so excited about the Special Olympics, according to us- she could not have cared less.   Until she got there yesterday.   Then we discovered that she could run fast- so fast she won her division!   And the smile she smiled while she stood on the medal stand was beautiful!    There’s absolutely NOTHING like watching “regular” kids relax and enjoy being with the athletes.   I cannot put into words how I know this, but kids who are pain in th...

Today I go to pick up my beautiful girl and her teachers tell me a tale that is so . . . utterly believable. Apparently Alexa has determined which of the other babies in her room are mobile and which are not.  The immobile ones she preys on like a cat.  She watches them, and as soon as they have a toy that looks even mildly interesting . . . she crawls over, snatches it up, and crawls away fast! The one particular boy that she likes to torment, has just accepted defeat at the hands of Alexa and as soon as she swoops in- he just lets her have it.  Her teachers said, "It's actually pretty funny and we laugh every time."  For some reason this brings about a memory.  Did you know my parents knicknamed me The Pugilist when I was in elementary school?  I am pretty sure it was not out of pride for their hot headed daughter.  See, there was this boy who lived down the street from me, he had a much worse knickname- by the entire neighb...

I have a not so nice confession to make.  I don't like to play with Andrew.  Before you judge me as a mean and horrible mother- let me try to justify myself.  When you go to "play" with Andrew, you're not actually playing, you stand there for 20 years waiting for the game to actually start while he makes 20,000 rules.  I know my parents are reading this and nodding their heads right now, and thinking, "She speaks the truth.  Andrew does make a LOT of rules."  Tonight is a perfect example.  We were outside after dinner.  Doug is sitting on the swing, and Alexa (in the backpack) and I are standing off to the side of it and Andrew is up on the new and improved playset and says, "I want to throw the football."  So I say, "Ok- I will."  Andrew says, "No I mean, I want to throw the football with someone who can catch good."  Huh.  Fine then.  I see how it is!  (I am pretty sure the first opportunity I get, I wil...

We had a strange dinner tonight- in that Doug and I sat down to eat- and no kids were at the table with us!  Nope- we weren't at a restaurant,  and it was only 5:45pm.  It was just a strange dinner at home.  Alexa ate a little before us and Andrew wasn't hungry until hours later.  So while we were sitting there- just the two of us- with Alexa crawling under the table and finding pieces of Andrew's apple from lunch (GROSSSS!!!!), and Andrew was outside, we decided to talk about Andrew's upcoming birthday.  The big question: What are we going to get him?!!!  So Doug throws out some of his ideas: a four wheeler, a mini dirt bike, and hey- he's getting close to the age where he can get a bb gun.  I wish I could put into words my mental responses to this, but there aren't really words to "What the hell?!  Seriously?!  And while we're at it, let's get him a machete and a boa constrictor."  I was thinking more along the lines of a non mon...