The Serious One....

The Conqueror is already worried about college. I have no idea where he gets this from- NOT! I was probably stressing about it at age 7 too. We often extol the virtues of a liberal education around here but heck, we also watch a lot of college football. So the other day he complained, "Mom, why don't those schools with the football teams have those good educations?"

Poor kid, we've already warped him!


As an aside, he was saying we needed to put some new material up on the blog. When I replied I didn't really have anything he just said, "That's ok, why don't you just put up that story from Aunt S's blog?" Don't worry if it ever comes to that I will be sure to attribute all my material to the right place!!!

Lastly, I was going to post some deep thought on how blessed we are when I keep running into people that have these serious, serious crosses to bear but I really don't have time for deep tonight. Essentially, I have it super easy and I feel like such a ween for complaining about anything. Anyway, please send up some prayers for a number of friends and acquaintances of mine far and wide with some serious struggles on so many different levels.

I spoke too soon....

about that whole partners in crime thing. I had the gate up to prevent momo's escape to the 2nd floor only to hear some suspicious noises up on the landing. I run to the bottom of the stairs to find the gate thrust aside and up at the top of the stairs was Beanie encouraging momo on her last step.

"Beanie!!! Did you take down the gate?"

"Yes, because momo needed to get up the stairs!" (Spoken in a dead serious matter of fact tone.)

Thank God for guardian angels. At least those Montessorians always said stairs were the greatest things for kids developmentally.

Bathtime snapshot

As I got the little girls out of the bath last night I grabbed the baby and directed the 3 year old to get her towel and go put on her pajamas. As I was dressing the baby in my room the three year old appeared with a white towel over her head.
"Why aren't you dressed Beanie?" I asked.
"Mom, I am Jesus Christ!!" she exclaimed.
"No you're not!"
"Am I saint?"
"Not yet."
Then she scoots it off of her head and goes for the loincloth look, "Look, I am Jesus Christ on the cross!"
I love that I get exactly what she's thinking...the white towel reminded her of Jesus' garments. Anyway, I shooed her away, dressed the baby, and went to assist her in dressing.
While I was clothing the naked I hear, "Mom, Momo's in the bathtub!" I run in there and Momo has somehow propelled herself int0 the empty, yet still wet, tub. (thank you guardian angel that I usually always drain the tub) Her sack wet, she has to be dressed again for bed. Never a dull moment! P. once described Beanie as our most goal oriented child, but that was before we met Momo. I have a feeling that these two are going to be serious partners in crime in the very near future.

I am ignoring laundry....

to tell you about Momo. Have I talked much about Momo? She's quite the unique baby, just turned 9 months and at a big turning point. Thing is, she thinks she's three. Today I witnessed one of those moments in parenting when I wanted to cheer, laugh, and cry all at the same time. Momo figured out how to really climb the stairs, all sixteen of them. She started and then P. and the big kids started cheering her on while I spotted her. She got increasingly excited with each one, doing her trademark grunt/yell (she's been grunting since she was a newborn but now she sort of growls). By the time she got to the top of the stairs she pumped her arms and possibly her fists and seemed to yell out "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" while everyone cheered. Needless to say, we're getting a baby gate this weekend.

I am blessed....

"OK Bean, we're going to go over here and make the cookies."

"OH! Bless you! I love making cookies!"

One more thing...

Christmas baking is really overrated. One woman just can't singlehandedly save her children from the evils of sugar and simultaneously allow them the fun and experience of holiday baking without gaining some serious weight. I know, I am a hero, but these 12 days of Christmas have taken their toll! Just kidding...the original plan was to send some out and then give them to the neighbors, but some started going stale, others got burned, and some just looked bad (i.e. I gave way on my control issues and let them actually do it.).

Resolved, next year to make only one batch of my husband's favorites, allow the kids to decorate cookies (the kind I hate) once and freeze them to last all season, and one birthday cake for baby Jesus. Otherwise, no baking unless someone comes over for dinner.

It is Wednesday David.

When is school out for the summer???? Oh wait, 5 months. The week started wonderfully but we're all running out of steam already. Days like today (when we didn't do anything extra) make me think that I will ban my children from all extracurricular activities for life. But then I worry that if the 5 year old doesn't play soccer, they won't be a varsity athlete and won't get into a good college or get a scholarship. And then I think I just need to go to bed! Good night! ; )

Candyland is for losers....

I hate Candyland. It is a never ending preschool game but now I don't think I will ever have to play again and I am an ecstatic. No more endless reshufflings of the deck as I try in vain to get all the dreaded picture cards to the bottom of the deck. It never works because someone always pulls the damned lollipops. So then I try stealing the cards out of the deck and the kids get suspicious. (Don't judge me.)

Enter Jenga. I LOVE JENGA! It has a start, a finish, and my kids can all play it. They think setting it up is fun and they don't cry when they lose because it makes a big loud noise.

I love my husband for suggesting it as a Christmas gift and for freeing me from candyland.