If You See Smoke...

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This post in particular is for all my local neighbors out there.

I'm asking - no, begging you - if you see/smell smoke, please call the fire department as soon as possible. And send one of your kids down to check on us.

Because yesterday, I found my son (one guess who) in the kitchen with one of these devices.

And despite the fact that it is "child-proof", his three-year-old brain has worked out that you "push this button and then click here" to make it work. And there was much screaming of the sisters who came running to me, since he was experimenting with it, and hiding in the kitchen corner. Again.

But fortunately no real or permanent fire.

Up the lighter goes into a high, high cabinet, but be warned should you leave one lying around your house and should we come to visit. Have a phone handy.

Donation Time

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While we were painting the other day, Zachary looked at me and said, "I think we should sell Kaleb."

"Ok. So who do you think we should sell him too?" I asked.

"The Salvation Army."

"Why should we sell him to the Salvation Army?"

"Well, I don't play with him that much anymore."

So, while he seems to be grasping the concept of giving things away that we don't play with that often, I didn't quite intend for the meaning to extend that far.

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Head on over to Mary's for a little more Tiny Talk Tuesday. It's always fun to read the things other little ones are saying!

What Comes After Terrible Twos?

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You hear so much about the terrible two's, but my experience has been more that it's the year AFTER that which seems most difficult.

And what exactly is that year called?

Because right now, in the midst of it with Zachary, there are days that I think it would be more productive to whack my head repeatedly on something like this:

Reasoning with a 3 year old can be comical - or make you just want to cry. Take for example the following conversation:

Z: This is the right and this is the left (meanwhile pointing in the opposite directions...)

Me: Actually, your window is on your right and Kaleb is on your left.

Z: (a little louder) THAT is the right and THAT is the left (again pointing opposite directions...)

At this point the two backseat helpers are pitching in their 2 cents, and the volume in the car is getting very loud.

Me: Zachary. Remember how this hand makes an "L" for left and the other hand is right?

Z: NO! That is NOT right. THIS is right.

Sigh. It's so nice to know that he already has all the answers. (While banging my head on the steering wheel).

year

Our Little Squatters

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One of my friends called me this morning and wanted to get together. And I truly wanted to.

But the kids just wouldn't cooperate long enough to let me even get one load of laundry started. Started. Not from start to finish. Just collected, put in the washer, soaped up and going.

I sent them outside to play for half an hour. And not even two minutes later someone was screaming. Bubbles had spilled. A few minutes later, someone had stolen one minuscule fruit snack from an other's bowl. Or hit another. Or told another what to do. The cycle just kept going and going. And the laundry didn't even get in the washer.

Zachary managed to also get himself soaking wet, since the wading pool was full of rain and he decided to slide into it. He didn't like being wet, but I made him stay in his clothes to play in the meantime. A few minutes later, Laurianna came running inside to let me know that Zachary was running around the backyard completely naked.

Shocking, I know.

Before I could get his clothes back on, he started yelling he had to pee NOW (which he did!!) so with lack of foresight, I let him pee in the corner of the yard, quickly re-dressed him and reminded him to keep his clothes on.

I finally got that load of laundry started (after only an hour and a half) and sat down with Kaleb to read a book with him when McKenna came running in, all excited and smiling.

"Mom! Guess what Zachary and I did?"

I can't even begin to guess. And never in a million did I expect to hear:

"We pooped in the backyard! Right where Zachary peed!"

Sure enough, both of them collaborated, squatted and did their business. IN MY BACKYARD!!And that was my morning - all before 10:15am. How was your day?

Toothless Wonder

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Laurianna has lost 2 bottom teeth already, but there is just something about losing a top tooth that changes the look of a child.

And I will admit that it was hard for me not to giggle for the first few days after she lost it. It's just too cute and strangely odd looking.




Even now as I look at the pictures that I took, it just makes me smile. But at the same time it's a little sad. Yes, I am aware that my children are growing up. This makes it even more obvious. Her face is maturing. Freckles are popping up and spreading ever-so-sweetly overnight.


Of course, in the end it all boils down to how much the tooth fairy is willing to cough up for a precious top tooth. This one warranted $2 - the first dollar since it was such a special tooth and the second dollar because we managed to get this tooth out before the replacement tooth came out (which was a BIG issue with the bottom two).

*** A little explanation: $2 is not a per tooth norm. This was a special, ummm... cash prize, because of the dental issues (getting it out before the other tooth came in) associated with the tooth. The first tooth ever was $1, and subsequent teeth have only been 25 cents. We would go broke if we attached that much cash to each tooth *grins*. ***


The money aspect has McKenna wiggling as fast as she can in anticipation of the vast benefits that await her. She's convinced she'll be rich, rich, rich.

As the Gas Goes Up..

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With gas prices rising, I am thinking that perhaps the minivan should be left in the driveway and we might need to invest in one of these as a family adventure of sorts...a bicycle built for 6!