Is there a baby in the house?

I am seriously starting to wonder where time goes...

I am thinking that each child just grows up quicker - like someone hits the FF button after each kid.  I mean look at him - does he look like a baby standing up on that step stool?  Nope, he sure doesn't.  He looks more like a small child who thinks he can do anything his siblings can do, like brush his teeth, comb his hair, splash water everywhere, make toothpaste drawings on the mirror, unroll the toilet paper, and drop EVERYTHING into the toilet.

He's cute.

Or at least he was before he proceeded to empty all of the surrounding drawers into the sink.

Which Jack filled with water.

I sure can't wait until he gets even taller.

World Peace

Someday I think my daughter should be a world leader.  She has it all figured out.  Tonight I listened as she said her night time prayer and she said,

"Please bless all the people who kill other people to listen to their Mom's."


That should take care of it. 

This is not for the eyes of my friend Lindsey - the Dietician

I don't know about anyone else, but my kids don't like to eat anything.  Particularly Brooklyn.  I slave away making a fabulous dinner (or at least fabulous according to my standards) and the minute I set it on the table she says, "I don't like that."  Almost without fail.  We then go through the infamous dialogue...
Brooklyn:  "I don't like that."
Me:  You haven't even tried it yet.
Brooklyn:  But I don't like it.
Me:  At least try it
Brooklyn:  But I won't like it
Me:  You won't know until you taste it...

I think you are familiar with this routine as I would venture to say that all who are reading this have been on one end or the other of this conversation.
Well, as many desperate mothers do, I evaluated my list of options:
*  bribery
*  force
*  negotiation
*  threats
OR my favorite choice:
*  disguise

How do you make yucky chicken enchiladas look and taste irresistable?


SPRINKLES, of course

I mean, tell me you don't want to eat that!  ^

On second thought - don't tell me because don't you think I hear enough of that already?

Look at this girl - and let me give you a direct quote, "Mom, I LOVE this dinner."

So, as a result, I have decided to reformulate my food storage to include at least a year's supply of sprinkles.

Dear friend

Dear WinCo Shopper,

Thank you for being understanding today when I accidentally ran over Jack's toe (the one I had told him to move out of the way at least 80 times) with the grocery cart. I appreciate you drawing added attention to me by pointing, shaking your head and telling anyone who passed by that "SHE ran over his foot, that poor boy." I mean, Jack's screaming wasn't quite attracting enough attention or embarrassment. And I know that you really wanted me to buy that bag of frozen peas to use as an ice pack in fear that Jack's toe might swell and subsequently fall off, and I apologize that I didn't follow your advice. Instead I told you that I was leaving and that he was fine, to which you expressed your distaste in my judgement. But, you will be happy to know that due to his injury we had to amputate Jack's entire foot. Also, if you'll meet me at Target tomorrow morning you can watch me run over one of my other children. Since I do that kind of thing on purpose. Oh, and I hope you had a lovely shopping experience because I sure did.

P.S. Wait until you see me in one of these!

Going private

For reasons which I will not bore you with, I have decided to make my blog private. Email or comment for an invite. I will be making the switch around the 10th. :)

E is for Elephant

This is for you Sharlene!

My friend Sharlene and I are swapping kids once a week for a little preschool time. For my week I chose the letter E and so I turned these kids into elephants. They were so funny! They both kept running around trying to make elephant noises. I couldn't get this little costume off of Jack all day. I went to pick Brooklyn up from school and Jack was strutting around showing off his sweet mask. He certainly got the attention he was looking for, although I don't think he planned on the laughing, pointing and unwanted conversation with strange women.



I told him to leave it at home.



But he wouldn't listen.

Gettysburg Jog-A-Thon

Every year (at least I think it's every year, I only have a Kindergartner) the school puts on a Jog-A-Thon. Basically, the children have to coax unsuspecting family members and friends to pledge a certain amount of money for every lap they run. The kindergartners are scheduled to run for 10 minutes. That's kind of a long time for one with such small legs...and who has to do it in 3 zillion degree weather. Anyway, thinking that this little event was going to be held at an actual track (meaning each lap is 1/4 mile) I generously pledged $5/lap thinking that she surely wouldn't make it around more than twice. To my surprise however, it was held out in the grass behind the school where they had made a large circle of cones for the kids to run around. "Hmmm," I said to Dave as we walked up to watch her run, "we may have to rethink our pledge."

Sure enough, our little babe ran the entire time - she was awesome! She ended up with 10 Popsicle sticks (one for each lap...which would make it 50 big ones from me...$$$...I'm rethinking my generosity).

Overall though, the event was a big success and was worth at least $10 just to watch it - those kids were hilarious...the crying kid, the corner cutting kid, the tripping kid, the super heavy breathing kid, the "I only got 2 sticks because I walked the whole way" kid, the "I'm hot" kid, seriously, hours of entertainment right there.

Here are a few pics from her big day.

Look at that face - she was SOOOO excited for this. Although I think she may have been disappointed. She mostly kept talking about putting a pie in the Principal's face - I'm not sure what the deal was there but it sure sounded fun to her!

RUN! Oh, I forgot to mention the super obnoxious Dad standing by me that kept telling his kid to run faster and pass the chubby kid in front of her. I believe I distinctly heard the phrase, "Come on, whip their tails!" (Seriously weird phrase if you ask me) Oh wait, that was Dave standing by me feeling the bubblings of competition.

Showing off all of her sticks. 10!!

Having a little H2O and secretly hoping that the big "pie in the face" moment had arrived.

And here's a short (very short) video for the grandma's...which by the way both pledged $10 a lap. Cha ching. I think I'm going to need a fair amount of white-out.