Things I've Learned

I realized the other night that my blog is fast approaching its 3rd birthday. It's amazing how much can happen in three years. Also it is astounding how short three years seems looking back and how long three years seem to stretch out in front. So, I thought I might make a list of a few things I've learned these last three years. I might accidentally write a little cheesily. It is an accident, but you are free to skip this post if you are as adverse to sentiment as I.

What I have learned:

The naughty things they do and say really are funny after a bit of time has past. Some things take longer to become funny though.

I may only have three readers, but I've realized this blog is more for me than for anyone else. (Thank you to my three loyal readers - I love you.)

The things that still make me laugh are not the things I've written, but the things my kids say.

I've become one of "those" women. I talk about my kids all the time.

I've come to accept becoming one of "those" women. I spend 24 hours a day with my kids and dog. Yes I have other interests, but by sheer quantity my family dominates my life. On a good day I spend about 2 hours without them and 22 with them. I'm sorry I'm boring at dinner parties, that is if I were ever invited to a dinner party.

The older my kids get the naughtier they are. The younger my kids are the more patient I am. I'm sure there is a connection there somewhere.

Nobody may care what color my child's puke is, but the fourth time it lands on me in one day, I care a lot. So I post about it.

Which brings me to my next point: I can blog about whatever I want and my readers (love you three) are free to skip whatever they want. I'm the one who needs a record of what happened.

As the youngest of seven I always tease my mother because there are no pictures of me. I've only got three kids and it is already going downhill (sorry Grace).

What started out as a joint blog between Michael and I became my project along the way and I'm not sure I mind that much. Just don't tell Michael or he will never post again.

No matter how many times I read it, Libby saying, "My eyebrows were scared of the rattoons" makes me laugh.

At the end of the day, my family is always there for me - to clean up after.

Things they say and I need to remember

Need to remember them so I can laugh about it someday.

Ethan is sitting in timeout. Libby foolishly walked past him. Ethan hit her. Libby comes running in to tell us. Ethan's timer gets reset. Then a voice from the time out box is heard, matter of factly proclaiming, "I only hit her 'cause she wasn't fast enough."

***
Ethan and Libby are playing and running down the hall. Libby says to Ethan, "When I grow up I'm going to stay home and take care of the kids while my wife works."

***
Ethan had a toy that it was Libby's turn for. She tried to get it from him but he wasn't sharing. Libby looked at him and yelled, "Ethan you're being a bad citizen."

***
And finally. I was making a cake and had some butter out. Libby came in and said, "Mom, I know what would be a bad citizen."
"Oh, what is that?"
"If I licked the butter."
I agreed that would be bad.
Ten minutes later I walk into the kitchen to find her licking the butter. Deciding to use the same words she had I said, "Libby that is being a bad citizen."
She looks at me very calmly and coolly says, "I know."

Pumpkin Fun

I took all three children to Linder Farms for a hayride and pumpkin pick with Ethan's home school group. For all those people who said everything is harder with three kids, I apologize for not believing you. Please forgive me. We got there two minutes early, which must be some sort of minor miracle. I changed Gracie's diaper in the back of the car as she was sopping wet. Put Grace in her sling grabbed the kids by the hand and went off to find our group. We found our group holding a hand lettered sign that I hope was made by a child, otherwise I am a little concerned about our home school group. We needed to stand in a long long line to pay for our pumpkins in advance but Grace had decided that she was hungry RIGHT now. So I did what any good multi-tasking Mommy would do. I loosened the sling a little bit, leaned Grace over, wrapped my sweatshirt around us and fed her while standing in line with the Ethan and Libby. Grace finished eating, we paid for our pumpkins, and joined our group. The kids enjoyed themselves immensely. There was a hayride. There was a petting zoo with all sorts of miniature animals. A mini llama, a mini camel, and wee mini goats. Then we trooped off to the hay maze. I'm not sure how it is considered a maze, its more of a path as there is only one way to turn. Then we went to choose our pumpkin from the field. One thing I learned is that if I am taking the kids again,I'll go before Oct. 23rd. The carnage, oh the carnage. Pumpkin guts and rotted forgotten pumpkins lie where they fell. We finally found two pretty pumpkins, took a couple more snapshots and headed home.

Grace is super enthused to be held by Libby(also I swear that Grace's outfit looks a lot better when her sister doesn't have it all hiked up).
The wee mini goat. This was the only animal Libby was interested in feeding.

Have you ever seen a Llama that small? It's all grown up and everything. What are these people doing to those poor animals?What cheeseballs.
The kids making their usual faces while holding the fruits of their labors.

Grace with a cold

Everyone had the flu in this house. Once the flu went away it settled into a chest cold. So it may sound like I am making Grace cry but she is laughing hysterically. Something so sad shouldn't be so amusing.

So it Begins

We were in the car headed to a local pawnshop. Everyone was in a crabby mood so I attempted to lighten the atmosphere by teaching the kids a new song. No one seemed to have much enthusiasm to sing, "This is the song that never ends" but I persevered. We got out of the car and I was still singing it quietly. Ethan looked at me, rolled his eyes, and said, "Mom, we are in public."