Siblings

Today there was screaming, and lots of it. At one point I tried a new approach and asked the kids, "What is more important- this Thomas dvd, or your friendship?"

To which Mia responded, "What do you mean friendship?"

Wow.

At another point, I asked them, "what should I do with 2 kids who are always fighting?"
Mia said (and I'm not making this up), "ummm, give them away and get 2 new ones?"

I had to pretend to be appalled.

Right now I have about 500 grains of cooked rice on the dining room floor. And they're still screaming.

Please refer to my previous post, #14.


UPDATE: OK, I love my kids again. They have this way of going to sleep each night (eventually) and looking so angelic it's hard to believe it's even possible for them to misbehave. Makes me think I can get up and do it all again tomorrow after all.

EXPRESSIONS FOR WOMEN TO USE ON HIGH STRESS DAYS

I found this saved email in my in-box from way back in 2004. Apparently I thought it was funny enough to save, and I think it was worth it. I got it from my sister-in-law, Tammi. Thanks Tammi! My personal favorite: #7. Extremely applicable today: #16

EXPRESSIONS FOR WOMEN TO USE ON HIGH STRESS DAYS

1. You, off my planet.
2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?
3. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.
4. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
5. I'm not crazy. I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years.
6. Allow me to introduce my selves.
7. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
8. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
9. I'm just working here until a good fast-food job opens up.
10. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.
11. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
12. I can't remember if I'm the good twin or the evil one.
13. I just want revenge. Is that so wrong?
14. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #2?
15. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
16. Chaos, panic, and disorder-my work here is done.
17. Earth is full. Go home.
18. Is it time for your medication or mine?
19. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
20. I'm not tense, just terribly alert.

I don't mean to brag but...

it's 11 AM, and everyone is dressed and fed. I even got to take a shower, and brush my teeth! Never mind that none of the kids are bathed, I'm sporting the lovely "wet ponytail" look, my shirt was stained before I even put it on, breakfast is still on the table (but at least it's not on the couch), and I swear Mia's hair hasn't been combed since before Nate was born. But hey, who's paying attention to details? The point is, we're ready for the day and it's still morning- hooray!

I mean, I don't want other less-ambitious moms to feel bad, or think, "I'll never be like her." I know we're all just trying our best. But sometimes you just have to toot your own horn, you know?

Adventures in Bad Parenting

I've had the occasional good Mom moments, but they aren't nearly as entertaining as the "not so on top of my game" moments. Take the other day: the sliver is still in Mia's thumb. Mark is trying to remove it. All of his efforts to get even remotely near her with anything resembling a pair of tweezers is met with wailing, trembling, sobbing, gnashing of teeth, and sheer terror. Seriously, it's a sliver. After about 30 minutes (and did I mention this is all taking place at bedtime), I'm getting more than a little fed up, and here's what I come up with: "Fine. When your thumb gets infected and we have to take you to the doctor, I'm just going to tell the doctor to go ahead and cut your thumb off."

Amazingly, this does not go over well. More wailing, etc. At this point, I leave the room. Later I hear Mia asking Mark in a shaky voice, "Daddy, the doctor won't really cut my thumb off right?" I should start her a therapy fund.


In another incident, in an attempt to get at least 10 minutes to myself, I gave Sam the one toy that every child loves: a big cardboard box. Soon he is at my side incoherently begging for something. I ignore him. It turns out he wanted me to cut a door in the box, because he comes in a few minutes later with a pair of children's scissors and unsuccessfully attempts to cut the box himself. More whining. I still ignore him. Soon I realize it is a little too quiet and look up to find Sam trying to cut the box with the biggest butcher knife we own. Lesson learned. Time to child-proof the knife drawer.

Snippets

• Nate has a bad case of baby acne. Mia said, "he's got those dots all over his face, just like you Mom." Wow, kids have a way of making you feel good about yourself.
• Sam found the binky stash, and he's back on the binky wagon. (Or has he fallen off the no-binky wagon?) Either way, he's also had a fever this week, and this sucker of a mom just couldn't put her foot down and take it away for the 3rd time. Super Nanny would not be impressed.
• More sliver drama. This time the victim is Mia and not only does she not accept her own "these things just happen in life" consolation, she is so upset about it, she declares, " I don't want to be a person anymore. I wish I was a frog!" This is followed a few minutes later by, "I don't even want to be alive anymore!" Yikes. In about 10 years, we're going to be in big trouble.
  
• My brother John is moving out of student housing at the University of Rochester this week, and sold some of his stuff to some friends of ours, the Walkers, who are moving into student housing at the University of Rochester. In fact, they are one of 2 families we know moving into that same student housing complex. Small world. I love that kind of stuff!
• Miracles do happen! All 3 kids napping at the same time:

Father's Day

Yes it was a few weeks ago, but I'm still playing catch up here. On Father's Day we had my parents here, and my sister Kristy and her family came up from Portland for the day. We blessed Nate with everyone there, and since we were all dressed up, we took some family pictures. It's a little surreal to see a picture with all 5 of us in it, not to mention nearly impossible to get a good one. Out of seriously about 30 pictures, here are the 2 decent ones (and by decent I mean most everyone is looking at the camera, and nobody has their finger up their nose):

And here are the more entertaining ones:

I can't say for sure that Mark had a fabulous Father's Day (as I recall he did have to do dishes- hey, I did just have a baby). But thanks to my Dad and brother-in-law Bob, it was probably the first Father's day he got to sit around and watch sports, as you can see here:

And here he is enjoying the fruits of fatherhood:

The certificate is an award for "flying kites" and Mia is modeling the tie that he got to wear to church, decorated by Sam. Mark is an amazing dad, and definitely the "fun" parent of the 2 of us. In fact, tonight he is out camping in the backyard with Mia and Sam. They set up the tent, roasted marshmallows over the grill, made s'mores, and went on a "nature walk" in the backyard. Although as soon as they fell asleep he abandoned them to watch TV, but hey, I would have done the same thing. (I'm sure both kids will be disappointed to wake up in their own beds tomorrow morning, but with the sun up and bright as day at 5 AM here, I'm not taking my chances). Here are some pictures of the happy campers:

We think he's pretty awesome.

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Stovall

My parents came to visit for a week, and they set right to work helping me and spoiling the kids.

This is grandchild #14 for them.

Here is my dad creating a new generation of golf fans while watching the US Open. Mia's vocabulary now includes bogeys, birdies, and of course, Tiger.

Doing what Grandmas do best...

My Dad and Mia took the train down to Portland to visit my sister Kristy, and her family for a few days. Mia was so excited to go on the train, and she and grandpa had a great time together. Here they are waiting at the train station. While staying with her cousins, she was having such a fun time, she didn't even miss us.

According to my parents, it was a tragedy that our children didn't have crocs. So here they are in their new shoes, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa. And Mia and Sam couldn't be happier recipients; Sam even sleeps in his.


Thanks Mom and Dad!