Quick things so I don't forget

Z: Leilie Bugs = Lady Bugs. Note, all crawling bugs are lady bugs to him (e.g., ants). He insists they are lady bugs when I tell him they are ants.

Me: G, why are those black elastics all over your floor?
G: Because I was pretending to bake a pie! (With nearly a "duh" attitude in your voice!)

kid quotes

This morning as I was hugging Zade while lying on G's bed, I said "I Love You!"
Z: "That love thing crazy."

I told him that I was going to wash his butt because it was stinky (after he refused a bath and I didn't have time to argue before work). He furrowed his brow and said: "My butt stinky? Nooooooooooooo!" Then he bent over only wearing a polo shirt. I wasn't sure what he was doing. He stood back up and pronounced: "Ewww, My butt 'tinky. You wash it?" He'd bent over to smell his but (from the front)! This kid cracks me up.

I know, TMI...but this is my journal so that someday I'll write each of the kids a book with all of these funny and not so funny things.


G: I'd really like a Dollafin.

Rules

Not sure I've ever blogged on this topic before but here it is.

In our home we have three rules. Why? It makes it easier for me to remember and the kids actually know them and Gianna can recite them:

1. You must obey.
2. You must be kind.
3. Mama does what Mama says.

You must be kind also includes: You can't beat, bite, hit or otherwise hurt anyone in our family including your brother/sister. I sometimes remind them of this by saying: "We don't hurt other people in our family because that isn't kind."...attempting to link the action to rule #2.

I hope this still works as they age (again, because I can remember three rules). For example, we are kind to our own bodies, to our friends, etc. We don't have a set bed time mostly because they can't tell time. Generally, they go to bed between 7 and 730. But, when they are a little older and begin to argue with why it is bedtime I can come back to either rule 1 or 2. Use the "children obey your parent(s)" line for rule #1 or another approach that empowers them to be responsible...We are kind to our bodies and therefore you need to go to sleep because yours needs rest.

Those of you with older children can laugh at that last line if you want but in the start of my 5th year of parenting this is working for me :).

Just thought I'd share. Summary: Simplify wherever you can and for our family, this works.

PS - The photo is from our visit to the circus this past week. Kids had a blast. Gianna was analytical without smiles until we left and then announced that she loved it and didn't want to leave; Zade got to ride a pony and this was the highlight of his week! Both got snowcones and we even came in under budget for this event! We took our own glow in the dark arm bands. Auntie & Memae came too. Oh what fun!

Sunday Fun

Went to our "new" church...Yes, I think this IS the church for us. We've been going for a while.









Anyway, here is Z pretending to play drums during the singing portion of the service (the only part he attends)....with Auntie! Also, a little loving from his Memae.







Yesterday - We flew mini-kites for the first time.

Today - we raked a little, played outside, enjoyed the beautiful sun.

Tonight - the first cookout of the season. Yummy but cold. Chicken, burgers, salads, veggies and cookies for dessert. Kim, Cheryl, Mom, J, K, G & Z. After eating, G & Z and I sat around our new fire pit. First time.

First Boo-Boo

G, Z, K and I went out for a short walk to get the mail on Thursday and Zade got his first bloody boo-boo (I think). He handled it well. No tears. AND, he got a band aid - a panda one. I have a rule - no blood, no band-aid.

How did this occur? Jumping off sidewalk and missing his landing - hit his head but no blood there. It was the dragging of his leg on the pavement that caused the blood to run down his leg and get on his shorts.

Here we go...

Books, Wish Bone & Chuck E's

Z's favorite book used to be about horses. His new favorites are Gossie, Petie & Boo-Boo...

I can't tell you how many times he's had these read to him. I'm glad that Boo-Boo is lost. I do like how Z smiles and laughs a little at the same point - "Every day".....

Here are the kids with their first wish bone. They didn't wait long enough for instructions so I don't think they knew what they were doing but hey....

And finally - a cold, snowy night landed us at Chuck E's...Did I ever mention how much I don't like this place. I think this is the 3rd time ever and I can say - The third time is NOT a charm. G likes it but Z is generally not happy to be there - Afraid of the big Mouse...but here is a happy boy with his Mama:

Keep your shirt on!

Z's newest thing:
Jumping from his bed onto the huge bean bag in his room. OK, that isn't new. The creativitiy & imagination behind it is new.

Yesterday, he informed me that "this is a pool" - pointing to the bean bag. I said "Great!"
Z: "It's full of creatures."

Creatures? He used the word creatures?

I asked what kind. He said - Lobsters.

He has to take off his shirt to jump in and swim away from the 'creatures.'
G wanted to take of her dress to do the same ("to be a boy jumping into the pool").

It's all good until someone comes by the house on a gray and cloudy day.

I don't have a photo of this activitiy but I do have one of him in January - when he slipped out of bed and ended up on the bean bag - sleeping.