Future Generations or the Next Butt

S had a social studies assignment to rewrite the preamble to the constitution in his own words.
It was a long and arduous process, for both of us.
But, he slogged on until this part.
"Mom, this says 'for ourselves and our posterity."
"Yes, what do you think that might mean?" I asked.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure. I know posterity means 'butt' and I just can't figure out why they're talking about butts in the Constitution. Does it have something to do with the freedom to pass gas?"
"No, dear, the founding fathers were not concerned with gaseous eruptions. The word you're thinking of is posterior not posterity."

We are going out to get a dictionary this weekend.

They're Going to Take Me Away!!!!!

I think my children are out to get me.
No, seriously.
I think their goal is to slowly and methodically drive me crazy.
Take today, for example.
Me: Did you brush your teeth? (thinking, do I really need to remind you EVERY day to do this?)
S: Of course
Me: With toothpaste?
S: Ah, oh......well, maybe not. I'll just go check (note: which is code for No, I didn't do whatever you were asking but let me run and go do it now before I have more trouble)
Me: SIGH!!!!
This whole episode was preceeded by an incident last week where, after going into the bathroom to start C's shower, I couldn't find any soap.
Me: S, did you take a shower?
S: Yes.
Me: Did you use soap?
S: Wait, let me check.
Me: SSSSSS!!!!!!!
S: No. Why, is that important?
Lordy, heaven help me stay sane.
So after the toothpase incident, S comes down with a vitamin in his hand. "Mama, I found this on my bed again." We had found one earlier in the weekend and couldn't figure out how this got there. I could only conclude that someone either (a)didn't take their vitamin and tried to hide it or (b)someone got into the vitamins and took an extra one/two/three and dropped one in the process. Neither was a good option.
But, today, I noticed that this vitamin looked suspiciously like the one that C was supposed to take this morning.
So, I put it back down next to her place at the table. When C came down (S was outside riding scooter), we had a little conversation.
Me:C, don't forget to take your vitamin.
C (mouth open, looking totally astonished): Oh.....
Me: I think you forgot to take it this morning.
C: Well, let me check. (see, I told you, it's code)
Me: Let me help you with that. I know you didn't take it this morning and I know that you threw it on top of S's bed. Now, chew it up and have some water to wash it down.
Then, we had a little conversation about how imporant it was to take any medicine that we give her, how it affects our trust in her and how sick Maggie could get if she got hold of the vitamin.
Me: How many time have you done this before? (knowing I can't really believe the little rat,er I mean, girl)
C: Just twice.

So, my morning will now include doing a vitamin check of Simon's room.

See what I mean? They're out to get me, I'm sure of it.

Where's that Lunchbox?

"Where's your lunchbox?" I asked S.
"I don't know, I'll find it" S replied. It's about 5 minutes until the carpool comes.
"Better hurry" I offer my  oh-so-helpful advice.
Mumbling something (I prefer not to know what it was), S looks for the elusive bag that has his lunch inside.
It's now 2 minutes before carpool.
S uses the bathroom. I say (with slightly more emphasis, well, if you count yelling as 'slightly more') "Where's the dang lunchbox? You are NOT ordering school lunch. I packed a perfectly good lunch and you need to find it. It was in your hand not 5 minutes ago, where is it?"
"Mama, I'm in the bathroom, I'll look when I get out" S replies.
I still think it's an avoidance tactic.
By now, I've looked all over the house. S has looked and can't find it and the carpool has arrived.
S hightails it out of the house (I believe he was secretly glad to leave the increasing pressure cooker that was our house with the missing lunchbox).
"Mama, I can't find it. I'll just eat school lunch" S yells as he's getting into the carpool car.
I may or may not have well, not so gently, slammed the front door  all the while muttering "he just wanted school lunch, bet I find the ding dang lunchbag right after he leaves."
I continued to look for it for about 1/2 hour. It remained unfound. I remain convinced that S had hid the lunchbag just so he could have school lunch. Not a happy mama.
Fast forward to the next morning.
"S, where is your lunchbox?" I asked.
"Mama, I looked everywhere, I can't find it?" he said.
"Are you sure you didn't put it somewhere so you could have lunch at school?" I ask.
"NO! I didn't but I'll keep looking even if I can't figure out where it might be" S decides.
I walk over to open the front drapes. Look outside the window, and lo & behold, there's that lunchbox. Outside, on the ground, behind the bushes, next to the house.
Now, why didn't I think of that??!!

The Sacrafices I Make

It's Lent.  A season of preparing, of forgiving, of re-examining, of sacrafice.  A season to talk about what this all means with S & C.
This morning, I asked them "How should we celebrate/remember Lent as a family?"
A couple of blank faces looked back at me. I was thinking 'oh oh, I'm in trouble here' and at the same time thinking 'what can of worms am I opening?'
"Well, we could pick a charity and figure out ways to earn or save money that we would give to them," I said.
 A little interest perked up on their faces. But, they were not totally convinced.
"How about giving up something as a family?" I asked.
Both heads nodded vigorously.
"YES!" they both shouted.
"I know, tv!" spouted S.
"Yeah!" answered C.
"OH Crap!" thought Mama, "why do I do these things to myself???"
Then the  kids said "Mama, I think we should go without tv one night a week. And, spend some time working on something about Lent or doing something special together."
First, I was proud that they agreed on something and something that was such a nice idea. But, second, I really don't want to go a whole night without the television. It's my relaxation and escape after they go to bed. It's my down-time. It's, well, my crutch.
"I think it should be Weds nite" C continued on as if they hadn't noticed my panicked, deer in the headlights look and the thought that they better not pick Tues nite 'cause if this Mama doesn't get her Biggest Loser fix, watch out!
"No, not Weds, it should be Mon or Fri" S replied, "cause those are the two nights we don't have anything else going on. So, it'll be harder not to have tv, more like a real sacrafice and then we have time to do something else. As a family. together."
Well, darnit all anyway, who raised these smart kids who are so responsible????!!

The reality of it is, I am the one who doesn't want to sacrafice. I am the one who is pondering that it's sometimes a looooong time between the end of school and the end of the night. I am the one who is hesitant to do this. I am the one who is making excuses.And, frankly, there's no good reason for it. It's simply my stubbornness, my unwillingness to step out of my comfort zone, my lack of faith. Wow, looking at what I just wrote, this really was all about ME. Completely the opposite message than the one I intended to send.  Ouch.
This tv fast is a small thing to do. It'll last a relatively short amount of time and I know the gains from it will be worth it. This will be a great way to remember a much greater sacrafice that was once made for all of us.

So, Mondays it is. No tv from after school to the end of the night.
It's settled.
Except for one thing.
Now........who's gonna tell the Hubster?!

10 Things I Like About You

I walked by the desk of S and found this note from C:

Here's what it said:

The 10 Things I like about you:
1. your nice
2. you love me
3. your fun to play with
4. I like it when your there with me
5. I like when you hug me
6. your funny
7. your careing
8. you stand up for me
9. I like that you think about me
10. I like you succe (sense) of humor

I like it when they get along.

Summer's in Full Swing

Only 2 weeks into summer and it's been a whirlwind. We've been strawberry picking, bike riding, bowling, numerous library trips, tennis lessons, fencing, prepping for VBS, we're halfway through Camp Invention this week and preparing for camping next week. Oh, and we're trying to get the van fixed from my stupid-a** rear ending accident late last week. But, that's a story for another day.
I got awoken this morning with a tap on my shoulder at 5 am. 
"Mama?" C asked
"Hnmmgph?" was my incoherent reply.
"I just threw up"
There's just nothing that gets the blood pumping and me outta bed faster than those 4 words. I mean, you'd think I had the energy of a 20 yr old the way I bounded after her.
"Where?" I asked.
"In the potty" C said, "but my tummy still hurts".
Off we went to clean up and comfort. Needless to say, she's home from Camp Invention today. She's doing quite well but since there was an upset tummy involved, she's resting up.
Whether she wants to or not.
But what I realized this morning, as I was snuggling with the puker (although not too close and with my Lysol and hand sanitizer close by), is that in our hustle and bustle of the summer, it's so easy to lose track of what's happening at the moment. I am constantly planning ahead and checking the calendar and making sure everything will, hopefully, run smoothly, that I sometimes forget to appreciate what's right in front of me.  And, frankly, sometimes it's just much easier to keep looking forward and not down at the mess that's right in front of me.
But, in reality, that mess is my mess. It's there because we made forts in the living room, crafts in the kitchen and played in the sandbox. It's there because we made jam and chocolate chip cookies and snack mix. It's papers from Camp Invention and the library reading program. It's evidence of our lives being lived.
So, my goal for the rest of the summer? Well, the planning will continue, I can't change THAT much. But I'll also take some time to really look at what's happening and appreciating my life right at this moment. Because, frankly, it's pretty darned good. Even with the upchuck.

Oh Sister!

C was reading a book to me. She came to the word "sister" and couldn't figure it out.
So I prompted her "You know this word. It's what you are to S".
She thought for a moment and then with a confused look, she answered "Sneaky?"
I just grinned.

Complaint Department

S & C were playing outside before school. Suddenly, S comes rushing in and stands right in front of me.
"Yes?" I ask him, meaning "I'm working on an important crop in Farmville and do not wish to be interrupted."
"Mama" S responds, "I want to lodge a complaint against C."
"Really?" I ask, trying not to crack a smile cause he's looking quite serious.
"Yes, I want to lodge a complaint." He stands there and looks intently at me, not saying another word.
Shortly, I say, "OK, consider your complaint lodged".
He stands there a bit longer, just looking at me.
"Is there a specific outcome you would like?" I ask.
"Yes, Mama" S says. "C threw a rock at me and it almost hit my back. Would you tell her my complaint was lodged and that I would like her to stop?"
"Certainly" I respond, "Is that all?".
"Yes, that is all" and S runs back outside to play.

Seriously, where does he get this stuff???

Easter Lessons

I have been questioning lately, especially with C, if I am an effective parent. She is in a 'lying' stage and I am at my wits end with her (not to mention the stubborn and bullheaded behavior). Also, she took communion for the first time on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday for my Catholic readers) and Hubster and I were conflicted about this. He felt she wasn't quite ready and I vacillated between letting her and not being sure she got the whole idea. I questioned whether I was getting through to her about the real meaning of Easter and if I spent too much time on the Bunny aspect.
And then, we went to church on Good Friday. It was a service unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It was competely put on by the high school youth and it was, hands down, the most moving and absolutely spectacular Good Friday service I have ever attended. It was touching, dramatic and thought provoking. It kept not only the kid's attention but also the adults.  (On a side note, S & I have had almost daily discussions on various parts of the service. I love this!)
During the service, whenever the lights came on, C would hurriedly draw in her notebook. She does this quite frequently and I have many notes of  "I love my family"  or "I love my dog". But on Good Friday, this is what she drew. A crude drawing of a cross, with a person drawn on it. The person had a cross on  his forehead and a very large frown on their face. When I asked her about it, she said "Well, that's Jesus. And he's not happy to be on that cross but he does it because God asked him and he loves us. Mama, it makes me really sad that he had to die."
I was astonished. She gets it! She didn't understand all the layers of course, but she got the main idea.
Then, this last Sunday, she was working on another 'masterpiece'. She kept asking me how to spell things and when she finished, this is what her paper said.
"What is Easter? Easter is a time of love and giving God a prayer. Easter is God and us."
I guess my question of whether we were approaching Easter in the right way was answered by 2 pieces of paper.
Wow!
p.s. I think she mostly gets it. When, on Easter, they opened the box that contained the Alleluia banners the kids made and packed away on Ash Wednesday, the banners weren't in the box. They were held up by various congregation members. The lesson: You can't contain the goodness of God and the lessons of Easter.
When C came back to the pew after this lesson, she whispered to me "I think that tricky Easter Bunny must have been here and hid those banners just like he did the eggs at our house!"
I guess we'll just face it one bunny step at a time.

Summer Fun Idea

The kids have spring break this week. So far, we have:
visited the Milwaukee Zoo
visited Jelly Belly
Ate at McDonald's
Swam at the Y
Went bowling
Went to a fantastic park
Rode bikes
Excercised at the Y
Played on the computer a little too much
Watched way too much tv
Today we're going to see a movie
And, it's only Thursday. Holy mackeral, what am I going to do this summer?
I found a fun activity that I need to remember to try with the kids. They both love to paint and I think this would be fun: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/07/27/chalk-paint/
Wish me luck for the rest of this week.

The Passing of an Era

With a few nice Spring days under our belts, we have begun the process of de-winterfying the yard, garage, and deck. So, out came the balls, bats, rockets and bikes. And, the all-time favorite, the cozy coupe. But, alas, after going back to the shed, I hear C yell "Mama, come quick!!" And I flew to the front yard only to observe her squashed into the cozy coupe, knees up around her nose, saying "Push me Mama, cause my feet can't move!" Much to her chagrin, I did not push (although I did guffaw a bit at the sight). She pried herself out of the car and announced that since she had grown sooo big, I could put the car in the garage sale.
Cozy Coupe, you've served us well for many years. May another family enjoy you just as much!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We had much fun making our leprechaun trap and loading it. Here's an excerpt of our conversation:

C: We need anything green, yellow or gold. Cause that's the leprechaun's favorites. And we want them to come in the cage and SNAP! it shuts and we're one lucky kid!

S: Well, they really like money, but I'm not giving 'em mine. How about using some of yours C?

C: I don't want 'em taking my gold coin. Unless they leave me at least one more. Cause even if it's not real, it's special to me. Hey, did you just say I should give 'em my money??? Grrrrrrr.
S: (totally changes the subject to get C off course) I think you get 3 wishes if you catch a leprechaun. But they're probably like genies, you have to be careful what you wish for because they're tricky.

C: (who totally falls for the subject change) They ARE tricky. They made a mess last year and turned the milk green. Too bad they didn't leave us any money or candy.

Alas, no leprechauns were caught in our trap. They visited all right, ate the marshmellow hearts, took the gold wrapped toffee, and turned some of chairs upside down. Made a general mess downstairs. The kids were VASTLY disappointed that the milk had not been turned green. (woops, I guess that's what happens when you sleep in until 6:30). However, they walked through the entire house and declared everything the leprechauns did (even if it was the myriad of things that they forgot they themselves had just not put away!).
While they were eating breakfast, our milk 'mysteriously' turned green in the frig. Except it was more bluish than green and you could see where the darned food coloring had run down the side. Apparently, that wasn't noticed by anyone else.
A fun start to the day and now we have an entire gallon of blue-green milk to use up.
Oh joy!

It's the Shoes

There's nothing like watching little girls in their pink leotards and ballet shoes to warm the heart. C loves dance class and tells me "I like ballet but I REALLY like tap better. It's all in the shoes Mama." Oh man!

Sledding

Sledding with the kiddos is always an adventure.
Here's S on his run:

Yes, that boisterous laughter is none other than my own. Nice Mama, right?! What you don't see are the 2 dozen runs before this where he misses the bump by anywhere from 1 few inches to a foot. He gets some serious airtime on this run before he biffs it.

Winter Coat: $30

Sled: $8

Entertainment for Mom: priceless

It's Not the Same

Last week when I was gone, we had a lot of education going on here at home.
Mostly, it was the Hubster who was"'gettin' schooled".
Apparently, he heard a lot of "That's not how Mama does it" and "Mama lets us..." and "Mommy does it better than that."
While I know that, for him, it was alternatingly funny and frustrating, for me, it was good to know that I was missed.
Cause that's how this Mama rolls.

Questions I Don't Want to Answer

Mama, I know that the mommy has the baby, but exactly how does the Daddy help make a baby?

Why don't you have a real job?

Why didn't God give us any more babies?

Why do I have to get hair 'down there' when I get big?

Why do I have to get those squishy bra things? (a.k.a. breasts)

Mad Tea Party

In a spur of "if I don't find something for these kids to do, they're going to end up driving me crazy" I decided that we should have a tea party. This was met with much enthusiasm and when I suggested we invite Louisa, our across the street neighbor, the kids were ecstatic. So, Wolfie made the invitation and Princess helped with some decorations. When they tried to deliver the message to Louisa, she wasn't home and it was a sad, sad moment to watch their little faces fall and walk (well, OK, run) dejectedly back home. But, a few hours later, they delivered the invite and she said she'd be right over. Now, what you must realize is that the original invitation gave me over an hour to get ready. So I planned to set up the table outside, make some yummy sandwiches and goodies and get myself all gussied up and the kids to get their faces cleaned and hair combed. When Louisa wasn't home, I figured I was off the hook. But then, the kids spied her and before I could stop them, off they bolted to deliver the message. Holy Crap! She was coming over in a few minutes and I looked like I had stepped out of a tornado and judging by the clothes I was wearing, I was color blind as well. Luckily, I had made muffins for the next morning's breakfast so we could eat them. And, I quickly made up a pitcher of lemonade, a.k.a. kid's tea.
Then I rushed upstairs (which in and of itself was quite a spectacle) and threw on a black skirt and a clean t shirt. Ran a brush through my wild mane and put on my white hat with flowers that I have exclusively for tea parties. (What, you don't keep a hat for such occasions? Well, remind me to tell you about my tiara that I use when I vacuum.)
Anyway, we had the table set up on the deck, the tea accoutrements ready and over walks Louisa. In her tea hat. Bearing mini cupcakes. Oh joy in heaven!
We had a lovely time drinking tea and when the muffins and cupcakes were devoured (guess next time we need to talk about proper etiquette of eating) the kids ran off to play. Louisa and I continued to sit and chat while the kids ended up breaking the trapeze on the swing set. Who knew kids and chains don't always mix?!
It was a wonderful tea party. While I'm no psychic, I predict more of these in our future.

Curiosity Killed the Platypus

I love that I have curious children. But, it is an unusual way to start the day when one of the first things you do is look up "platypus" on Google. Why? Because they had questions about them. Because of the show Phineas and Ferb on Disney. Because I let them watch their allotted 1 1/2 hours of tv throughout the day yesterday. Because that's the kind of mom I am. Because, wait, why did I do this?! Well, at least we got something educational from Disney.
Now we're off to learn more about duck billed platypuseseses (apparently to include how to make them plural 'cause I really don't think this is correct). Did you know that they are a mammal who lays eggs? Yeah, before today, me neither. Let the Summer Learning commence.
p.s. They're weird looking and ugly. Just sayin.

Christmas Eve Eve

Had a fun filled day today explaining for, oh, about 45 TIMES, that tomorrow is actually Christmas Eve and I was making a tiny, little, miniscule joke about today being Christmas Eve Eve. That Carissa is getting as literal as Simon. It was quite a day and I even had to play the 'Santa' card as in "If you even think about doing that (hitting your sister, pushing your brother, running away from me in the grocery store, slamming the door on your sister/brother, don't take toy/book/candy cane away from your sister/brother). I, yi, yi! Thank goodness the Santa card still works. By the way, I showed Simon a picture of Santa in someone's house and he said "OK, now THAT makes me believe in Santa. There's no way that could be fake!" Gotta love a 7 yr old's logic!!

Let it Snow!

Took a walk with the kids recently at a county park. Had lots of fun with them. And because I never get pictures of myself with them, we played with the timer button on the camera. I love these pics! I'll definitely be doing more of them in the future, that way I can prove that I was around (since I didn't appear in hardly any pictures for a few years!)