Can I Pet The Fat One?

Well, we are 6.5 hours in to our first sleepover, and dare I say, just now showing signs that sleep may actually happen. My favorite line of the past half an hour was "mom, we really can't fall asleep, and can you help Hannah buckle the roller skate?" 

I don't know about you guys but when I'm really needing to get some rest, I strap on the ol' roller skates to calm down. 

Overall the night has been awesome, and silly, and girly, and everything a sleepover should be. 

One huge plus I have discovered is that a 6 year old will in fact clean her room if you tell her she can't have the friend over unless it's done. And even volunteer to vacuum. "Cause it just really needs to be done, Mom."

It was an unbelievably perfect day outside today, and we took full advantage. Started the morning at the park with friends. It ended in a walk that was a bit more than we bargained for and I recruited Lucy to help with stroller-pushing.

Even though it only lasted 10 minutes- it was awesome to realize another benefit to them growing up. 

While on any walk my kids will ask every single dog owner we pass if they can pet their dog. Today we hit an unusual bump in the road when someone told Jack that he actually shouldn't pet their dog because it doesn't really like children, and in fact can get mean towards them. 

"Why doesn't he like children?" Because I don't have any children in my house. "Did your children die?" No, I never had any unfortunately. 

Just bury me in a hole. 

A few more creeping, crawling hours into the countdown until The Great Sleepover of 2014, and Jack called me outside. 

"Something is going on with my foot"

Well duh, you have it jammed into a wagon handle.

He was having a very special day. 

Finally, FINALLY Lucy's wait was over and a knock was at our front door. 

The rest of my evening has included so much squealing it's almost lost it's cuteness- but not quite. 

In an effort to get everyone tuckered out we went for a walk.

Belting "Frozen" songs at the top of their lungs. 

No, they did not stop when people passed. 

Yes they also did the motions. 

Yes, they debated the movie in far greater depth than I have ever, ever considered.

They only stopped when they came across this-

"Is this potatoes, or poison?"

...?????

Jack came across another dog owner- this one with two pups. "Can I pet the fat one?"

I swore then and there to never bring him in public again.

When we got home I tried to keep him out of his sister's hair with some play dough distraction. 

Can you make a garbage truck, Mom? 

Most definitely. 

What do you mean it looks like a snail?? It's totally a garbage truck. 

Lucy chimes in with a request for "Pocahontas' family in their boat."

Also nailed that. 

Smaller kids went to bed and I thought it'd be fun to get super "slumber party-esque" with some nail painting with the girls. 

"Ok, that sounds fun. But we need blue, for the ice in frozen, and red for the ground in the castle when the queen gets mad, and purple for the princesses cape"

I've never put that much thought and coordination into my nail colors in my nearly 30 years of existence.  

They also had reasons for why each particular finger was each particular color. 

My God, what am I in for? 

Next we drank hot cocoa out of Hello Kitty mugs while watching, nay, singing along with Frozen, and then we headed off to "bed."

I can still hear quiet giggles. At least it's not roller skates anymore. 

Let's all cross our fingers everyone gets through til morning!! Lucy asked if I could wake up in the night and make muffins to bring them in their bed when the sun comes out. 

Seriously- she's cut off from Disney. 

Koala or Koala?

We are officially on spring break, and you can feel it in the air!! Got some sunshine in this morning, and the forecast has Monday at 72 degrees. I have chosen the right place to live!! 

With excitement in the air, friskiness is bound to happen. 

Hey Mom! Look at this cool thing!  

Oh neat. 

Jack decides to give it a whirl...

Not quite the same effect. 

I decided to go in to Lucy's school today and ask if they have a lost and found. I swear she goes with jackets and they never come back. This is where they pointed me. 

The organization level in this place is top notch. 

Also- it was damp and stinky. 

However- FOUR of Lucy's coats were in that gross pile. 

"I have no idea how that happened, Mom."

However, as I get more comfortable with the school I get more and more sad at the fact that the little 6 lb string bean will be gone 5 full days a week this coming fall. Wah. The teachers are great, the friends seem kind, and she loves it. But still- wah. It helps with the nasty attitude times to realize that I will in fact miss her, and these days, though long in the moment, are all too quick in the big picture of life. I imagine I'll always say that about present and future phases in parenting. 

We spent some time outside this afternoon

Pogosticking actually entails me lifting her up off the ground 1,000 times, maintaining her balance while she jumps.

She can't seem to understand why it's not so super fun for me. 

Tiny discovered the wagon and Bigs discovered whipping her around in it is actually entertaining for everyone involved. 

Ignore the lack of shoes- I have no explanation. 

But, they are the cutest nuggets in town. 

Lucy came with to do some errands with me, and had to wear her eye patch. She chose to not wear it this morning- and fully regretted that decision. "You were supposed to forget, Mom"

So sorry to disappoint. 

Came home to find Jack blowing bubbles casually in the living room.

Also neat.

Took the bubbles away and he quickly asked me if we could get a pet koala. 

I'd really rather not. 

After some digging though I asked him what this was

"A koala"

And what are these?

"Koalas" 

Obviously there has been some confusion. 

With that said, I would still rather not have either kind of koala. 

Lucy spent the evening making Gram cards as she is spending the day with her tomorrow.

Der Gram, tanks for inviten me.

Now she just needs to go to sleep. "I hate being without you- when I'm alone I'm scare-der than I love you." 

Well then. 

Glad to know your love does indeed have limits; though, I appreciate the honesty. 

Danny boy is channeling his youth and having a video game night with his friends. It was his only birthday request and quite easy for me to make happen. 

So- I'm on the search for a good netflix series, and listening to Lucy sing in the key of "yell." 

The lyrics are:

 "just be yourself and don't be scared, I don't know why I need you, it's a wonderful thing, but I only love you sometimes...you're a wonderful you"

It's all highs & lows with this one.

She will be a complicated girlfriend. 

I Ripped My Sister

Today started with Lucy and Jack tag teaming with great & passionate drama, "whyyyyy are we left alone?!" "what's going to happen to us?!" "it's the middle of the day, and we're still in our rooms!!!" I rolled over to check the clock- 6:47 am. 

Poor neglected children. 

Once they were given the ok to start the day, or I guess "what's left of it" Lucy emerged with her bags packed and a plan in place. She was spending the night at Gram and Uncle Caleb's house. Caleb had told her she could. 

I called Caleb (once 9 am had passed as I'm not cruel enough to call a 19 yr old at 7 in the morning) he didn't answer. At this point- Lucy's plan had only grown and she was now expecting Caleb to pick her up from school, go on a cocoa date, "maybe get a new toy" and then head to Gram's house for an evening filled with activities. 

He'd better wake up and return my call or this was only going to grow worse for him. 

He did. And as I suspected he'd mentioned, "maybe sometime soon" they could have her over. Of course this meant the next day in Lucy's mind. 

Drama ensued. "Mooooom, I trust you to believe me" was my favorite line. 

I had a meeting for a majority of the morning- so I was able to escape and therefore keep my sanity. 

The trick to Lucy (and most kids I think) is to somehow allow them to think they are in control of as many decisions as possible; all while you, in fact, keep true control over the decision. 

When they were younger this was much simpler with things like avoiding the "I don't want that cup" tantrum by asking them if they'd like the blue or the red cup as soon as they walk into the kitchen. They choose the red and feel oh so powerful. 

The older they get however, the more crafty I have to become. Or the more I simply need to let go and let them figure things out the hard way. For example- Jack insisted he could make his own breakfast the other morning. Usually I just want to do it because I haven't had my coffee yet, and I simply can't handle the barnacle children right away. But, I let him have at it. I backed away from my station at the toaster and let him try. 

He was so proud of himself- see Mom, I got this. 

He is definitely sitting directly on top of the butter dish. 

And yes, I'm aware that sometimes you truly do need to let go and let them learn. Sometimes you win, and they realize maybe they really do need their mama, but it won't always "let you win" sometimes it opens your eyes to the fact that they are perhaps capable of more than you give them credit for. 

He did need a change of pants, though. So, even though he successfully made his toast- he still learned he needs his mama to point out things like the butter dish.

Win/win.

With the exception of this afternoon, we've had a few days of beautiful weather. "Let's all go draw with sidewalk chalk!" Said this crazy mom. 

There was about 5 seconds of this beautiful scene. 

Then they scattered like "blow flowers" as Lucy calls them. Dead dandelions to the rest of the world. 

After school today, I opened the van door for Lucy to climb in... "not these kids, mom!!!!"

 Yes- I know it's shocking- they're still here. 

"I just was hoping for something different"

Despite her shock, she quickly accepted reality and our afternoon began. Only one physical altercation between the bigs- "Mom! Jack punched me in the head for no reason!" ......"Oh I didn't do it for no reason, and that's the Christmas truth." 

Around Christmas time they started saying "the Christmas truth" in place of what most would use a pinky promise, or cross your heart scenario. 

Glad to see it's still going strong. 

Poor Tiny got in her brothers path as well

However, Jack wept in a heap for the better part of half an hour. Screaming to the heavens in disbelief & disappointment in himself, "I ripped her! I ripped my sister!"

Pull it together man. 

Speaking of Violet- no crib land took a step backwards.

We basically just made her a deluxe crib. 

For whatever reason- she doesn't climb this though- so all are happy. 

Later Jack asked me if Violet would be a boy or a girl when she was a grown up. 

A girl, Jack. 

"How do you know boy and girl babies will be boy and girl grown ups?"

Seriously? The kid is 4.5 and hasn't figured this out yet?! 

He's our special guy. 

Speaking of that- this is the bulletin board picture in the hallway at Jack's school for the month of April...

Repping the Smith name like no other before him. 

May this image stay with you always. 

With that I'm signing off and will enjoy a quiet evening with the laundry. Hope you enjoyed today's peek into this crazy, beautiful brood!