Simple Pleasures

Yesterday we finally got around to raking the leaves. I spent 1/2 hour raking them into one big pile so we can mulch them and put them in my garden. Then we called the kids out. Oh, the joy.

Michael raked the leaves up high and took a running jump into them.


Michael very quickly realized that the pile of leaves looked deceptively cushy.

How did I not notice this?

For the last couple of days Ethan and Libby have been asking me not to go into their bedroom. I didn't think much of it (my first mistake) and went in and out of their room as usual. Then I went into their room and noticed this on their wall.


I was in shock. I wasn't sure whether to ground them both for life or laugh my butt off. So I just walked out of their room. I decided to pretend not to know about it until I could figure out how to deal with it.

Later in the day we were going out to run an errand and Libby couldn't find her shoes. I headed to her room to help her find them. Both kids started screaming and crying. Libby looked at me and gasped out, "I didn't do it. Ethan did all of it." I asked Ethan what she was talking about and he just started crying and saying he didn't know.

Michael came home. We made Ethan take it down and put it all away. We explained that he made holes in the wall and now we have to fix them. Because he made extra work for us now he has to help us with our jobs. The child is now on poop scoop duty. A good punishment if I do say so myself.

The Pirate and the (Fairy) Princess

What other holiday even compares? How often does a five year old get to brandish a sword and demand candy from the neighbors?


It's a good thing she is so cute. That's all I have to say. I also want to point out that she insisted on wearing those particular tights.On Friday my sister brought her kids and friends kid so we could all go to the church for a trunk or treat. Pure madness.

We also took the kids around the neighborhood on Halloween night. By the end of the evening I was wearing Libby's tiara and Michael was carrying Ethan's eye patch, his hat, and his hook. We decided it was time to go home before they started to shed any more pieces of clothing.

Trusting My Children with a Knife

This is the first year I actually let the kids carve pumpkins. No one got injured so I think it was a success.

Grace doesn't think pumpkin guts make good play things.

The finished masterpieces.

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.