Ditto

For whatever reason I am most affectionate with Abby. Maybe because she's equally huggy. Maybe because sometimes when you try to hug Jake he pushes you off and after awhile you don't try as much. Maybe because I assume Sam is too big for cuddlin'. But if Abby and I are anywhere together we are probably intertwined.

Despite all that snuggling I've been told I'm forgetting something equally important.

Last night we were in bed reading, and she said, "I tell you I love you a lot, but you only say it when I've said it first."

Ouch.

I am head over heels, twinkles in the eyes, in love with this kid, but apparently I don't tell her that.

So first thing this morning I gave all my kids long, squeezy hugs, whether they wanted them or not, whether they hugged back or not, and told them I loved them.

Never Say Never

So we had a busy weekend, busier than any typical weekday. So much so that when Abby suggested we go see The Croods at 5 p.m. on Sunday I laughed.

"Abby, we're not going to see a movie tonight. We've had a really busy weekend. We've been out of the house since 9 a.m. yesterday."

"But you said we could see it today."

"I said I would take you to the movies if the church Easter egg hunt was canceled."

"But it was canceled."

"No, it wasn't. It was moved inside. We still had the Easter egg hunt. If I remember correctly you were part of the first grade team that cleared the dining hall in 12 seconds."

"But I only did the egg hunt because my best friend wanted to."

"That doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't think a movie is a good idea. Everybody's tired. I think we should have a quiet family dinner, watch a little TV and get a good night's sleep. I don't want Monday to sneak up on us unprepared. Besides, I'm getting a little tired of being second guessed any time I tell you guys no. No means no. We're not going to see a movie tonight."

All that to say The Croods turned out to be an OK movie.

Spring Break Day 2

If I never hear, "as soon as I finish this level" again, it will be too soon. If that makes sense to you, you know exactly what I mean ...

Spring Broken

10:44 a.m., Monday, the first day of Spring Break ... and the first uttering of "I'm booooooored!"

Snips, Snails, Puppy Dog Tails and Poop, That's What Little Boys Are Made Of

(One day, many years from now, I hope my kids re-read these blog entries and have a sense of what they were like as kids. Maybe the entries will make them laugh or cry, maybe they'll even help if their own kids are crazy or silly or sometimes just plain weird. But this blog entry, this one dated March 1, 2013, is specifically for Jake. Jake, one day when your kids are driving you 'nucking futs' and you can't fathom how they got to be that crazy, please re-read this entry and then go look into a mirror.)

Yesterday I noticed an odd smear, stain, discoloration on the shower curtain. Although I didn't want to say it out loud I knew it was either blood or poop. So after I'd washed and re-hung the shower curtain I asked Sam and Jake what the stain was. And yes ... Jake had wiped his butt on the shower curtain one day when there was no toilet paper handy. To add to the lunacy of the situation, he recoiled in disgust and horror when I suggested that next time (yes, of course, there will be a next time) he use a discarded piece of paper from the garbage can. So, using a tissue from the garbage is disgusting but wiping your butt on the shower curtain is not.

Speechless.