Here come the COPS!

For once, they are not after me for speeding. I mean, for going too slow. They could have been looking for Farmer Boy today.
We went to our local shopping mall -- Wal-Mart. He needed batteries for a reading light. LaRue wanted to eat the package, so I asked Farmer Boy to carry them instead. Well, that didn't mean all the way to the car!
We got out to the car and I noticed the package in his hand. I asked if we had paid for them and he gave me the typical male response: "You told me to carry them." Mothers everywhere would be proud of me. I didn't scold him. I didn't even raise my voice.
Instead, I calmly strapped everyone in their seats and said I had better go back in and pay for them. On the way to the self-checkout, I commented to the clerk that their security alarm must not be working really well. She smiled.
I paid for the batteries and proudly walked out with a smile on my face. Inside, I was relishing the life-lesson that I was teaching my children.
Now what was the life lesson I was teaching them five minutes later when we stopped by dad's work and I handed him the keys and said "YOUR son just stole something from Wal-Mart. And LaRue and Cookie Monster about got us kicked out of the movies. Where are your keys? They're all yours." (This was said in one breath, by the way).

These boots are made for walkin'

Next time you pass us on a gravel road and you see Farmer Boy and the Princess walking, no need to slow down. I have 2 rules in the car: wear your seatbelt and NO shouting -- absolutely! Well, I had had enough of the fighting, pummeling, pinching, scratching and kicking. So I did what I have threatened to do: I stopped the vehicle (actually slammed on the brakes) and made them get out and walk.
Don't get all worked up. We were on a flat road and I made sure there were no cars nearby. Two cars did approach on opposite roads. They stared a little, but I think they could figure out the kids were in trouble.
Maybe that deduction had something to do with the tears flowing from their eyes. Or the stuff running out of their noses.
Meanwhile, I could not keep a straight face. I was so glad we were on a road that was conducive to making them walk. I had stopped before, but we were on our hilly gravel road. I'm all about responsible parenting, so I didn't think it would have been appropriate to make them get out and walk. This time, I was more than eager to stop. And guess what, the fighting stopped too. At least for that evening.
Now today, that's a different story.
Hey kids, wanna go for a car ride???

Oh Darn

Cookie Monster is certainly growing his vocabulary. He has recently informed us of several interesting things:
1. He is "in charge!" When asked who told him that, he'll mention Morgan, a friend of ours. Funny, he hasn't seen her in quite some time.
2. He likes the four-letter word that starts with a "d."
3. He got in the car recently and informed us "Damn, it's cold in here."
4. Then, a few days later he was looking for some makeup brushes he was playing with. He wanted to do my makeup. So, he asked his sister (ever so politely) where they were, "Damnit, where's the makeup?" How do you scold him after that?
5. Most recently, the cat made a mess in our house. Daddy was gone, so I was left cleaning it up. After I finished, Cookie Monster walked throughout the house, "Damn cat. Damn cat."
6. When something gets messed up while only Cookie Monster and LaRue are home, Cookie Monster quickly has an answer. "(Farmer Boy) did it." Whatever, he's at school.
He's there, learning who REALLY is in charge. Because let me tell you Cookie Monster, it's NOT you.

Oops a baby

I just finished freeing LaRue after she got stuck in a rocking chair. Somehow she managed to have her body hanging out from under the arm of the chair, while her head was stuck on the seat. Dad walked in the door just as I was trying to free her. He probably wondered what I was doing to her.

He'll wonder the same thing when he sees this picture from earlier this afternoon. She was trying to climb on top of the Thomas the train table. She tried using the side as steps, but when that didn't work, she tried using the drawer. Here's how well that worked:

Why, oh why?

Why is it so hard for my kids to understand a few important things:
1. When mom has been up till 1:30 a.m., don't wake her up early
2. Don't, at any time, for any reason, wake her up by running up the stairs screaming "He pinched me," or "She hit me"
3. Don't wake mom up to tell her a string is broken on your guitar
4. Don't wake her up to tell her dad took down the Christmas lights
5. Finally, don't wake her up by fighting over who gets more room in the bed
Just follow these simple instructions and we'll all have a better day!! Thank you

Pretty Princess

So here's a pic of the Princess on New Year's. Can't show the pic of Cookie Monster. I think the authorities would come running then. Ooops, they might anyway. It looks like LaRue is going to have a black eye. She fell down about 4 steps. My good friend laughed. Why is that funny?

Maybe she recalls the trips to the ER in the past couple months???

Happy New Year

We celebrated New Year's Eve in style last night. The Princess decided to dress in style for our big plans. She donned a yellow Easter dress, black and hot pink tights and black velvet dress shoes.
Cookie Monster, meanwhile, dressed in his birthday suit and..........
a candy necklace. Oh, what fun!
Where were we headed, you ask?
To the basement, of course, to watch 2 movies and fall asleep by 9:30 p.m. (except for me). I carried kids to bed at 10:50 p.m., just in time to watch the ball drop in NYC. Yipee! So glad the princess was dressed for the occasion.