And Then My Four Year Old Brings Me Back To Earth.

[Scene: Play-doh extravaganza at the kitchen table]

Jonathan: Mom, Casey wants some play-doh too.  Can you make it so we both have the same?

Mommy: Sure.

(Shows them how to divide the play-doh evenly)

Jonathan: (Wide-eyed). WOW!  How did you know to do that?

Mommy: Oh, I guess I must be a genius.

Jonathan: No, not a genius.  Just smart, Mommy.  You're just smart.

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I'm Trying to Raise Strong Young Men. But They're Taking it Awfully Literally.

Casey has become absolutely obsessed with growing 'strong like daddy.' He will proudly drop and give you five push-ups, run a couple laps around the kitchen and finish it off with some knee-jumps.  Of course, be prepared to tell him just exactly how much stronger those exercises made him.  

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Kids Workshops. Yes, Please.

Did you know Home Depot and Lowe's have free kids workshops once a month? Neither did I! Until someone told me. And then I did. So we went. And it was awesome!

P.S. You should go too.

P.P.S. They're bird feeders.

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Toddlers in Tiaras... Here We Come!

You may have noticed Sissy's cool new bling in my last post. But just in case not. A couple weeks ago, this happened:

I can assure you, for those who think she was writhing in pain, that the screaming commenced well before anything came even remotely near her ears. It had everything to do with daddy making her sit still and nothing to do with sharp pointy objects ripping through her baby soft flesh. She was fine just as soon as I picked her up, and she hasn't noticed them since.

If any of you think I'm a bad parent for mutilating my innocent child adorning my sweet princess with precious jewels, you can feel free to sit on a tack. And Josie agrees.

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We Celebrated Spring Again. This Time With Family. Okay, Last Time It Was With Family Too. This Time in South Florida. Also It Was My Mom's Birthday.

You know what's really cool? There is a train that runs from (near) my home in central Florida to (near) my parents home in south Florida. You know what's not cool? No one at the south Florida end of the train has enough seats in their car to pick us up. Also, even if someone did have the means to clown car our brood, they probably wouldn't have four car seats. Alas, we are destined to drive ourselves for the foreseeable future. But, someday way off in the distance, I am visualizing myself enjoying cocktails on the Amtrak in lieu of battling highway road-ragers.

We have indeed made this celebrating Spring thing a tradition. Well, if you consider two years in a row tradition. Which I do. Egg dying and hunting were repeat offenders, much to the childrens' delight.

This year Easter also fell on my mother's birthday. She's a youthful 40 years old. Which makes me 20. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you we can be friends. The cake was supposed to be yellow cake with chocolate frosting. But when you (and by you, I actually do not mean me) grocery shop half asleep in the middle of the night, you actually purchase lemon cake and chocolate frosting. Which was incidentally well received by all. By which I mean, there were no leftovers. None.

You must also be wondering why my kids look like they've been punching the crap out of each other. Aside from the fact that they have been punching the crap out of each other, they are also fully and completely obsessed with having their faces painted. And they don't mind if the makeup is applied by a twitchy monkey. (Sorry, Mom. You did a great job. Keep up the good work!)

p.s. As you can see, Dreena (beautiful lady in the red shirt) is continuing to do well. We are thankful. Ever so thankful.

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