This Post Doesn't Exist

Sam has been doing this...thing...lately where he insists that stuff doesn't exist. He thinks that times like 12:12 and 11:11 don't exist and when they come up he always groans, "Oh no! Not 12:12!" The other day we were teasing the kids about getting moldy bread for a bedtime snack and apparently they didn't know what moldy bread is because Sam told us moldy bread doesn't exist while Eleanor started insisting that she wanted moldy bread for her snack. Don't worry they didn't get any moldy bread. We were all out. Plus, it doesn't exist.

Say No to Housework

Sometimes I think I ought to do more housework than I do. However, recent events have lead me to reevaluate. My housework seems to be cursed. It may be cursed for all parents of small children, I'm not sure, however it certainly is cursed for me. Whenever I find the time to do a little work like the dishes or folding the clothes or making the beds something happens. The most recent incident was during the dishes. I'm nearly done with the dishes when Sam calls me downstairs because Peter is getting into trouble. What do I find? Eleanor styling Penny's hair with Orajel. Other incidents include Peter drinking the sugar and Eleanor lotioning up with body wash. Isn't it fun how kids find work for you to do while you are working?

Eleanor Sings

This was so cute I have to share it. I was driving somewhere and Eleanor was with me. She was singing the ABC song and making up her own words. Suddenly she yells, "Spanish!" and starts singing in "Spanish." I think there was even one real Spanish word in there. Then she yelled, "Family!" and started singing all the names in the family. She included "mom" and "Suzie" and even Evelyn (my brother Ben's oldest for any who don't know.)

Lessons I've Learned from My Children: #1 Embarrassment is No Longer a Feeling It's a Way of Life.

I always wondered what was up with parents. Why aren't they embarrassed by anything? They can do the dorkiest stuff and not care at all. Now I know why. Children. They root that embarrassment stuff right out of you. They teach you how to suck it up. Of course, then they grow up and are embarrassed for you.

I have always loved the library. One of the first things Jeff and I did when we moved here was to get library cards. Well, when I first started bringing the kids to the library...it was kind of a disaster. They didn't tear any books or scream their heads off (although that's been known to happen since then) but it was kind of embarrassing for me. Our main branch has a stage kind of area where they do nursery rhyme time with the kids. Well, the steps are hollow and when kids run on them the people in the conference room and offices next door can hear it quite well. So of course every time we went to the library the kids would run on the steps and we would get in trouble. (What are these people thinking putting the Children's Room next to the conference room? I know it's a library but, hello, it's the Children's Room.) It was seven or eight trips to the library before the kids finally figured out that they needed to walk quietly on the steps or not at all. It was embarrassing to me to get scolded by the librarian every time we went to the library. Then while I was trying to help one child be quiet the other would go running out of the room and try to get on the elevator. Also, I forgot to mention, Sam was getting potty trained. I think he only had one accident at the library but that was enough. Surprisingly, they had nothing to clean with and had to call someone up to the Children's Room. You would think they would have a bottle of carpet cleaner behind the desk or something. Again, it is the Children's Room. Despite all of this we continued to go to the library. What was I going to do? Not go? Don't be ridiculous. Sam and Eleanor are usually pretty good now but Peter is still learning how to behave in the library. Luckily I no longer care what anyone thinks of us. We are doing our best and that's what matters.


On our way in to the library.



Peter using the computer in the Children's Room.

Penny is 3 months old today!

Three-Year-Olds

Three-year-olds are stubborn, opinionated, bossy, independent, precocious, intelligent, curious, affectionate, imaginative, and fun. I have a three-year-old. She's very good at it. She can keep up a good cry continuously. She says, "I'm not bossy! Now, come on!" Eleanor can do many things for herself most of the time. Every once in a while though..."Mom, I can't go downstairs it's dark down there." This most recent bout with fear of the dark went like this...Eleanor couldn't go downstairs because it was dark. So, I went to help her only to discover that the light for the stairs was on (which means it's not dark where the light switches are to the downstairs living room) and when I went downstairs the lights in the living room were already on--just not by the computer. It was totally light down there!

Eleanor loves to play family. She is the mom and Aunt Sarah is the daughter. However, Eleanor is not just any mom and she's not herself grown up. She's me. She makes everyone call her "Suzie" and we have to call Sarah "Eleanor." She insists. This is very confusing for me. I keep hearing my name but when I respond I find no one was talking to me. Except Sam. He refuses to call Eleanor "Suzie." He will not do it.

My three-year-old is very loving and affectionate. She loves to hug and kiss everyone...except Peter. He tries to give her a hug and kiss good night and she runs away. With everyone else however it's kisses galore. She's practically making out with us all the time. It's sweet and annoying. We try to help her keep her affectionate nature within the bounds of propriety.

There are many funny stories to tell about Eleanor but I have to wrap this up because my three-month-old is crying her head off. And I still have plenty of work to do to get ready for Sunday. Until next time...

Stages 2

Peter is at a great stage too. He is starting to learn actual words. He always talked quite a bit but all nonsense. Now he says 'mommy' for just about everything but he's starting to learn a few other words (gotcha and daddy so far). He mostly does sounds. He is a fantastic growler. He knows what cows say but it sounds more like 'beeee' than 'mooo'. I don't know what that's about but it's cute. He also does 'uh uh' and 'mmmm'. He's very independent but it mostly gets him into trouble right now. He tries to get drinks from the water dispenser on the fridge and almost always gets soaked. He can fill up the cup but when he tries to bring it back down he tips it and gets all wet...or he tries to fill up something that has a lid on it. He's smart but he is only 1 and a 1/2. Peter does a lot of screaming. Mostly to be silly. He and the other kids will run up and down the hall and scream. He also loves books. He brings us books all the time to look at with him. He doesn't have the patience to sit through an actual story however so we usually read one sentence or less and then turn the page. Jeff and I are pretty bored with his favorite books but we don't want to discourage him so we read them anyway.