Monday, May 10, 2010

Johnny Jump Up

Tommy came home from school on Friday with a card in one hand. His other hand was behind his back.

“I have a Mother’s Day present for you,” Tommy said proudly. He handed over the card. And then he pulled his hand from his back.

“Oh, shit,” I blurted when I saw it was a plant. But then I quickly corrected myself, “It’s BEAUTIFUL!”

Tom grinned. “I know. Don’t kill it.”

Ugh. See, I’m notorious for killing plants. I can’t help it. They don’t like me.

Remember that plant that Tommy brought home a few weeks ago? It’s still alive. Barely. I want to get it outside but it’s been cold. Tommy checks on it daily and tells me that it looks sick. Then he gives me the stink eye.

“I’ll...try not kill it,” I promised, taking the plant. A few sprouts were sticking up. “What...kind of plant is this?”

I figured Tommy would shrug and be all, “Who knows?” But he said, “Johnny Jump Ups.”

Huh? There’s seriously a plant called a Johnny Jump Up? Who is in charge of naming these things?

“Don’t kill it,” Tommy repeated.

His other presents to me were sweet. See:







(And yes, he forgot the word day. He told me to just pretend that it's there.)

For Mother's Day, my husband gave me a card with writing in it. It’s a running joke between us. See, he feels he doesn’t have to write in the card because the card already says what he wants to say. I say that you have to write in the card to make it personal. (Seriously, when we were dating in high school he’d hand over blank cards and I’d be all, “Erm, where’s your writing?” and he’d tap the card and say, “The card says how I feel.”)

I’m getting an iPod Touch as my gift since I keep trying to mess with his.

For Natalie's gift, she drew me a picture and instead of peeing on the carpet like usual, she peed on the kitchen floor for easier clean up. (We’re potty training. It is NOT going well.)



Kind of looks like me, no?

49 comments:

  1. Looks like a nice bunch of cards :) And how sweet of Natalie to use the kitchen floor, she was thinking ahead, LOL!

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  2. You're getting an iPod touch too!! Now you can play games together. I'm jealous. ;)

    Love the kids' Mother's Day stuff. I posted mine too!

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  3. I love getting these sweet Mother's Day cards that I keep for at least a day - maybe two!

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  4. I love mother's day..because, well...the most creative things pop up on that day...either from the husband or the kid...my card said

    Hapy Mommers Day!

    Lol..love it!

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  5. Those cards are so sweet! I can't wait for my little ones to get old enough to do that :)
    We're potty training over here...not going well either.

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  6. Spitting image of you!

    :)

    Aidyn WAS potty trained, but after the move? He could care less. Last night he pooped in his pull up and instead of getting me he tried to change himself (a sign he's too big for diapers?) and proceeded to get poop EV ERY WHERE!

    Happy Mothers day to meeeee! :) lol

    I'd take pee over poop ANY DAY!

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  7. I remembered that post from a couple of weeks ago. Oh shit indeed. I love how his card has a johnny jump-up on the inside that's thriving. He's quite the little cheerleader.

    Plant it outside in a place without grass to be mowed, um, like a garden, if you have one. You can't kill them. I swear. These are the best plants around. Their seeds drift around and reseed themselves. Soon your world with be filled with them.

    They have the cutest little faces. Go visit these two posts to see what could be yours very soon. Really, you can't kill them.
    Home is . . .

    In the early morning sun...

    Did I mention, you really can't kill them?

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  8. As I can't remember seeing a photo of what you look like, I can only assume that drawing is completely accurate. That is how I shall mentally picture you from now on.

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  9. LOVE Mother's Day gifts....especially the cards from the kids. Good luck with the plant. I'm no green thumb either so I feel your pain. I just hope I don't kill the two flowers my kids gave me after church yesterday.

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  10. oooh an ipod touch, go you!

    glad you had a great mothers day!

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  11. I have a feeling potty training with Molly will go just as well as potty training with Natalie, thank god we are not even close to that yet!

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  12. Don't.kill.the.plant. Seriously.

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  13. Did he start them from seeds? we are trying Johnny jump ups too! My thumb is about as green as yours ;) so I am hoping we can get something to sprout up!!

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  14. I think homemade cards are THE BEST. I'll take them any day over store bought. And I am also a plant murderer. I just can't make them live.

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  15. Perfect! it looks JUST like you. I can't wait till she is in school and draws her teachers...i have a feeling she will.

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  16. I love the cards. When hubby and I were very poor, we spent the day before the holiday at Walgreens in the card aisle. We picked out cards for each other and stood there snorting like loons while we read them! Such fun! (Almost like not writing on a card, huh?) I keep telling you get Natalie a litter box. The novelty of that would have her box trained in no time at all. (And look at it this way, she's already a very unique girl!)

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  17. How very thoughtful of Natalie. I'm so glad she went the extra mile for you!

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  18. HEY, I totally got the "cup of tea" thing too!

    LOVE the pic Natalie drew!!

    Hope you had a nice day!

    -C

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  19. That Natalie, she's a thoughtful one!

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  20. Those are so sweet! I miss those homemade card days.

    I just gave you an award...stop by my blog to pick it up!

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  21. I can totally see the resemblance. :)

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  22. Awww! You totally got SPOILED! And your kiddos are artists, lovin' the cards/drawings!

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  23. Yahoo! I got to enjoy your post AND get told what to buy at the garden store (thanks, Cheryl). You had me at "you can't kill." Glad your mom's day was excellent, that Tommy has some measure of faith in you to keep the plant alive, that Natalie will clearly have a bright future ahead of her as a portrait painter (although if she doesn't get the potty thing down, she may be renown for her use of "mixed media.") Funny about Tom's Hallmark says it all theory, although in his defense, that means he actually has to spend some time finding an appropriate card. Hoping, anyway, that yours didn't say Feliz Cumpleanos.

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  24. I can't wait for potty training. Its kind of embarrassing to be 31 years old and still peeing on the kitchen floor...

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  25. The handmade stuff is the best! I got my first handmade treasure this mother's day since my son is now old enough to do that. It was great. Even if it was at 8:00 in the morning, waking me up yelling, "Mommy! Here you go!" then a ripping off of the blankets and a "Go!"

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  26. Lovely mothers day gifts! Even Natalie's.

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  27. I got coffee filter flowers from Jay when he came home from school on Friday, I guess he doesn't trust me with real plants. Smart kid.

    If Jay peed on the kitchen floor instead of the bedroom, I would consider that the best mother's day gift, EVER. You're one lucky mama!!

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  28. homemade stuff is the best right?! well after cool apple toys. then homemade.

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  29. Love Tommy card it's perfect! and Natalie's picture gorgeous! Sounds like you had a awesome day!

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  30. I love getting these handmade cards. I save every single one of them..

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  31. That Natalie is just such a sweetheart! LOL

    Love the cards! My sons card basically said I look pretty....WITH make up! lol

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  32. Maybe she could pee in the plant and then you wouldn't have to worry about killing it.

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  33. I love the handmade cards. I miss those. I only get the store bought ones now.

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  34. You made out on Mommy Day! Too cute!

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  35. Natalie's drawing would fetch millions in some gallery if you didn't let on who did it.

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  36. Ahh Natalie - she's making progress!!

    Sweet gifts all around from Tommy. I'm attaching a link regarding the plant. Apparently once you establish it in the ground it pretty much takes care of itself. Good luck!

    http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/johnnyjumpup.htm

    And oh Tom.....yes you have to personalize the card!

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  37. I am also a murderer of defenseless plants. Thank Bob I didn't receive any for Mother's Day. But after the year I accidentally cut down the tiny pine tree Sean gave me with the weedwhacker, my family has shied away from live gifts. Good call family.

    Glad you had a good day!!
    ♥Spot

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  38. Oh at least Natalie tried to make your job a little easier...Happy belated Mothers...just pretend the day is there

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  39. Love all the cards. I would rather get those than plants. Plants make me nervous. They gave us little plants at church and I gave it to a friend.

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  40. That Natalie's all heart.

    Great card, Tommy!

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  41. We're on the same front on the plant thing. I can kill them just being within 100 feet of them (except if they're weeds, go figure)

    Love the cards - those are definitely keepers :)

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  42. Awww. Hope you had a wonderful day!

    PS Is the plant dead yet?

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  43. Looks just like you! I got my first Godmother card :)

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  44. Get this...hubby had to buy an anniversary card since Mother's Day and our anniversary fell on the same day. The kids had made me cards. After he bought the anniversary one he said, let's not buy cards anymore...they are a waste of money...3.99 for a card! I guess I have to make one next year...but it will be beautiful! lol

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  45. Is that how I go about getting the Apple product of my dreams? Just mess with my husband's until he finally gets sick of me? You are brilliant. I am so following your lead on this one.

    Glad you enjoyed your Mother's Day!

    -Francesca

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  46. Wow, you are even prettier than I imagined.

    Nice of Natalie to be so considerate. :)

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  47. Well, she draw better then my 4 year old. :)

    Good to hear you haven't killed Tommy's plant... yet. It's just a matter of time tho. Those of us without green thumbs will eventually kill all plants that enter our homes. (Notice, I'm including myself here)

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  48. Those cards were so sweet.

    My Mother's Day went like this.

    My husband IS potty trained by sometimes he misses.

    I did NOT get a card from him because in his words, "You're not my mother." I know - I want to smack him!

    I got a phone call from my son - which was nice. He never has any money so I didn't expect anything. I saw my daughter the next day and she gave me a nice card and a necklace and matching earrings. That was nice!

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