More Proof that Daddy is the Fun One

Daddy really is more fun than Mommy around here. Sigh.

I was finishing up the dishes one night as I looked up to see Tony and my kiddos convert our rug into car ramp. Fun. (Please note this was always the type of rug I never would have bought pre-kiddos. After kids, rugs are all about function. If they look good, and some of mine do, that's an added bonus!)

Just for the record, I frequently tell my kids to put the rug back because it isn't for playing!!! Did you read that Tony? Oh, I'm kidding, I love watching my husband play with our children. Love it!

"Mommy, Watch Me!"

My kiddos seem to always be asking me to watch them do something. That's exactly what my latest post at KCParent.com is all about, and if you head here, you can read it!

Sister Smooch

I just got motivated to actually download pictures from my camera onto my computer. Now, if they would only jump off my computer into scrapbooks, I'd be all set. (Did I mention my youngest turns two next week and I don't even own a scrapbook in which to put her cute little pictures?)

Anyways, I was excited to see so many pictures that I love! I may break my no scrapbooking run soon by beginning one of this year.

This one will certainly make the cut. Two sweet sisters hugging! (Notice the Target dollar spot matching hair bands! Oh, and the wings on my youngest. She is starting of have a thing for accessories!) One of the things that is making my baby turn two bearable is to see her begin to really interact playing with her sister and brother. I love it!

This picture makes my Monday! For more fun pictures, stop by Cheryl's at Twinfatuation!

Happy Monday!

The Red Crayon

It's Sunday, which means Monday is tomorrow. Obviously.

Like most households, I assume, Monday is when we get back to our regular schedule after a fun couple of days doing mostly what we'd like. Two days of fun also make for a house that needs to be whipped back into shape. Laundry has usually piled up and everything is just a bit out of place from the different comings and goings. Add all of that to the fact that Monday is a day full of activities out of the house for us and it can get pretty crazy.

That brings me to my point...

This morning, I decided to be proactive with how our week started. I made a list yesterday of all the things that I should get done this weekend so I could start the week off on the right foot. I was going to finish my chores from the week, get a head start on this week's chores, and start my research for an article that has a fast-approaching deadline. Well...

My first step to getting a head start on my week was to change loads and fold the load of clothes that I'd left sitting in my dryer yesterday. I put some bread in the toaster and went to do just that. Unfortunately, the clothes were still damp as it was a rather large load. That was the first glitch in my perfect little plan, but since the clothes didn't smell of mildew, I just set the dryer for a bit more time and went back to fixing breakfast so we'd get to church on time.

After breakfast, I headed back to the dryer and began tossing the clothes in the laundry basket. As I did so, I noticed red marks on almost all of the large load of clothes. I looked closer and realized that it looked like wax. Before I could even finish my thought, a crayon wrapper tumbled to the ground. It was a red crayon wrapper. The mystery was solved and I wanted to cry or scream.

Instead, I did what every modern mama would do and I turned to facebook. My friends came through and suggested all sorts of things that should help me get the crayon out of the clothes. Oddly enough, no one mentioned what I actually did which was to toss all the clothes in a bag until I have the motivation and time to actually tackle them. I'm hoping to get the laundry caught up first. Of course, if I wait for that, I might never work on the stained clothes...

The rest of the day went pretty much as it started. Little inconveniences seemed to pop up here and there and I realized I had a choice. I could either get upset that my day wasn't going according to plan or I could let go of my illusion of control. With God's help, (and a quick email to a friend) I chose the latter.

As the day turned into evening and I received some phone calls making one of my activities a bit more challenging tomorrow, I just sighed and thought, "it's just like the red crayon." I can either be upset about what happened or count my blessings.

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've cried over the red crayon, or spilt milk or whatever. However, today I was reminded of how it's up to me as to whether I let something so little (though very annoying) ruin my day.

Perhaps I'll even leave some of that clothing stained as a reminder not to make big problems out of little problems. (At the very least it would be an excuse to skip what is sure to be a tedious task.) Regardless, I do pray that more and more I would learn from the "red crayons" in my life, because like it or not they will be there. Fortunately, so will He, helping me through both the big and little inconveniences of life!

The Things They Say

As I sit here, all three children are napping. A load of laundry needs to be switched and the kitchen floor is nearly ready to be mopped. So, I figure what better time to sit and write! It sure beats the cleaning alternative.

My little man is upstairs sleeping in a Spider-Man costume. Before he went to bed, I urged him to use the restroom. He told me very seriously that Peter Parker doesn't go potty. I assured him that he most certainly does. "But I didn't see it," my son insisted.

Ah, I realized he was talking about the short clips we've let him watch of the Spider-Man movie. Too funny! I love how literally they take things. It also reminds me how careful we need to be with what our little ones watch!

And while I'm on funny things that my little guy says...

Shortly after Christmas and getting this wonderful super hero cape from Klutz, he informed me that he wished he'd gotten a cape with a button so he could fly. I told him I understood because, hey, who wouldn't want to fly!?

Finally, he was recently wearing his cape over his super hero pajamas. I was in the room with him and he looked at me before darting out of the room. As he left he said, "I'm a super duper hero!" I have never in my life said "super duper," so I'm not sure where he got that one.

Having my super duper little boy in my life is a very fine thing. The house might be less crazy without him, but life would be so much duller and less colorful. Loving my little man is a fine thing indeed.

Be sure to head over to Amy's to see more fine things on this Friday!

Happy Friday!

Christmas in January

As I was looking through pictures, I stumbled across this one from Christmas morning. (Forgive the red eye...)

I love the looks on their faces as they humor me by pausing to let me snap a picture. They really wanted to run down the stairs as fast as they could and tear into their presents! I love those crazy kids. They certainly make my Monday!

Be sure to stop by Cheryl's for other entertaining starts to the week.

The Bloggable Snowman

The "Blog" Version of Our Afternoon...

This afternoon I bundled up my sweet kids. Then, we headed out to frolic in the snow. I shoveled a bit of snow while they rode around on their sled. I was amused at how much fun they had sledding down "hills" no higher than a foot or two.

After a bit of shoveling, I decided to build a snow man with my little ones. The snow was perfect. It had rained a bit today, so the snow was perfectly packable. Not only that, but the temperature was hovering somewhere above freezing. It really doesn't get much better than that if you want to build your own Frosty.

We worked together and built a sizable snow man. At least it was sizable to us since it took me quite a bit of effort to lift the midsection onto the base!

Once we'd built the snow man, we added sidewalk chalk for a nose. (That was my creative Ann's idea!) Then, I had the idea to use our mega blocks for eyes and a mouth. I thought it was rather clever, but I think the kids were a bit confused at first. We only found one stick, so that's why our snowman only has one arm. Chris did have the idea to use a long plastic box that used to hold a curtain rod for an arm. I had to explain that his idea, while creative, probably wouldn't work.

We topped off our creation with one of my hats and a scarf. Then, we headed inside feeling quite pleased with ourselves, but not before taking some pictures.

And, that is the blog version of our afternoon. The real story would involve things like a toddler who kept falling in the snow, but who also insisted on removing her mittens and hat despite the constant falling in the snow. Her hands were quite red by the end of our adventure.

The real story, if I was going to tell it, would also involve a mama who was quite flustered by the time she had everyone bundled and ready to head out into the snow. There were boots that wouldn't go on without several firm tugs and hats that kept slipping over eyes. I won't even mention the fun had while helping a certain three-year-old put on some gloves.

In addition, the real story might also include a grumpy child who announced, as the snow man was being built, "ha ha, your snow man has dog poop in it." That child was right in the observation, but the child's tone was wrong. The same child was more than happy to join in the fun when the snow man was mostly built.

Finally, the real story could possibly involve a mama who became quite stubborn about finishing a snow man despite her children's wishes to go inside and have hot chocolate while watching a movie. Of course, this is a blog and therefore only the bloggable version will be told. The rest will remain a mystery that will hopefully fade from our memories so that the afternoon that remains becomes quite a fond, rather than tiring memory.