It's not funny, and yet it is...

Poor Rach. We had a busy day today - spent naptime very much awake at Gavin's hockey tournament, and then headed to Grande Prairie to do the grocery shopping. She was pretty good while we were out, but by the time we got home, she was so overtired. She started screaming when we got in the house because she wanted to play outside, and there was no calming her down. I tried just leaving her alone, I tried to pick her up to comfort her (bad idea - she thrashed so much to get away she almost injured both of us!), but nothing would work.

With that introduction, I just had to take a video of her freaking out in the living room. I'm not a mean mommy usually, I just knew there was nothing I could do for her. :) The best part is how the other kids totally ignore her.

What kids are for

Last week on the day I worked in town, instead of the babysitter coming here, the kids went to her house. Apparently she was unloading the dishwasher when Abby asked her what she was doing:

"What are you doing?"

"I'm putting the dishes away."

"Why?"

"Because it's one of my jobs."


"You should get some kids!"


HA!!!

Just in case the whole election thing doesn't work out

(Today is election day in Alberta, for those who don't know.)

I just reminded Greg that we need to go vote on our way into Grande Prairie this afternoon. Gavin asked what 'vote' meant, so I started to explain why we need government:

Me: Well, in a country like Canada with so many people you need somebody to be in charge of things like making roads and hospitals and stuff. Each person can't just make their own road because that would just be a big mess! So the way they decide who gets to be in charge is...

Gavin: Eeny meeny miney mo? That's how we do it at my school.

You know, sometimes I wonder if eeny meeny miney mo might be just as effective. ;)

Some Christmas cheer

For your enjoyment...a couple of seasonal haikus that tickled my fancy. :)

Icy temps make me
Wish the baby's cold hands were
Reaching for bottles

"Mommy! We made you!"
I see their snowman's bottom.
The likeness astounds.


(from the Snow Day Haiku Contest over at Rocks in My Dryer)

5 going on 25...

I'm starting to get the feeling it won't be long before Gavin will be way outsmarting us...

I was sitting on the floor yesterday when Gavin ran over to tell me something and dropped right onto my lap with his bony sharp knees. After recovering from the pain ;) I told him that he can't just jump on people with his knees because his sharp knees were digging into my leg bone.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "You mean your femur?"

Five year-old outsmarts parents

Scene: Just a regular house in a small town. Could be yours. Or mine. (But it's not...really.)

Five year-old: Let's play Simon Says! Do you know how to play that game?

Mom & Dad: Yes, we know how to play.

Five year-old: OK, first you need someone that stands here and says...

Mom & Dad: Gavin! (oops, I mean 'Fictional Boy made up for the purposes of this story'!) We really know how to play already!

Five year-old: Simon says jump up and down.

(Mom & Dad start jumping)

Five year-old: Stop!

(Mom & Dad stop)

Five year-old: (giggling) I didn't say Simon Says - you're out! I knew you didn't know how to play!

Doh! ;)

Mother's Day Tea

Gavin's class had a 'Mother's Day Tea' this morning for all the moms. We all gathered into the classroom amidst 16 excited four and five year-olds, and found our designated spot, marked by various crafts and treats including a placemat our child had made, a cupcake, a little flower plant growing in a styrofoam cup, and an envelope.

The highlight of the event was definitely the group sing-song of 'A Tooty Ta' - I have no idea how you would even spell that, but the important thing to know is that it's a nonsense song which adds actions each time you sing it through, culminating in the final verse with 'thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottoms up, tongues out, eyes closed, turn around.' At which point you dance around in that flattering position singing 'a tooty-ta a tooty-ta' over and over.

Also keep in mind that I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant. Yes, a good time was had by all.

Surprisingly, that lovely mental picture is not the point of this post. The envelope sitting at each mom's place contained a picture each child had drawn of their mom, and a page entitled 'My Mom' that the kids had filled in the blanks on. Here's what Gavin's said:

My Mom is: good
She likes to: feed Abby
She always: hugs
Sometimes she: tips
But the best thing about my Mom is: kiss

Sounds pretty good, except I couldn't figure out the 'tips' part. Greg asked him about it tonight, and he said something about 'you know when there's a little bit in the glass and you tip it over...' You mean like spilling? we asked. Yep. My tendency to spill made it into his Mother's Day letter. Some of you will find that hysterical. ;) I'm here to amuse.

Love this story

I first read this story just a few months ago, perhaps you've all had it forwarded to you already, but I just had to post it as it is too funny. And for the record, I don't think Greg would ever seriously ask me what I did all day - he's watched the kids enough to know how it is! Actually, this story makes me feel accomplished that my house doesn't look like this at the end of the day!

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, ''You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?''

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."