Joe.

Ever since way back on Mother's Day, if Joe wakes up before me, he tries to make me breakfast in bed.  He attempts to find things that are "nutritious."  This is, of course, limited to what he is allowed to get into without making a mess so I have had some interesting breakfast combinations.  I think that my favorite has been a wrapped cheese slice with some dried cranberries on the side.  Oh, and I think that he also included goldfish crackers on that one.  This morning he brought me a yogurt.  Sometimes I get raisins.  Or dried cherries and blueberries.  Banana.  Whatever "nutritious" items he can find easily in the kitchen.  :)  Such a sweet love.  Such a heart to give.  Always trying to bless others.  Thank you God, for Joe. 

Who Are You Again?

Sam has decided to try on some new identities.  So far his favorites seem to be Star Child (a female character from She-Ra of all things), and Eliot (the dragon in Pete's Dragon).  Although sometimes he is Blue Ninja and once in a while Buzz Lightyear.  When he is Eliot he speaks in dragon "Do, do, do-do, do" just like in the movie.  Dragon is a difficult language to translate.  He is a handful, but oh, so sweet.  What a love!

Common Sense?

I actually had to tell the 3 year old today that it is not acceptable behavior to lick his baby sister's hair.  Shouldn't this be obvious to everyone? 

Colds

Everyone is sick again.  Josh (8) approached me the other morning with the following statement, "Mom, we have a problem...my nose has been drooling all night."  I know baby.  I'm sorry.  Sam (3) keeps telling me that his nose is "soggy."  It is a miracle that I haven't caught it yet.  Oh, and just because it was funny...during the storm we had a couple of days ago Sam informed me that the storm was so bad that maybe a tomato was coming!  It was so difficult not to laugh...bruchetta, marinara, gazpacho, oh my!

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

Dad came home from Singapore with a knowledge of the children's Chinese birth years.  I am the year of the snake.  Surprised?  Anyway, Joe (age 5) ended up with the year of the rooster...

Joe raises one eyebrow, puzzled.  "So I have the powers of a rooster?"

Dad explains that it doesn't work that way but Joe is not convinced and tries out a tentative, "Cock-a-doodle-doo?" just to see if his newfound "powers" are functioning.  :)

No Damsels in Distress for this Knight

My eight year old and I were recently talking about the Knights in Shining Armor/Damsels in Distress theme of many storybooks.  I was rolling  (on the inside of course.)

Josh:  "I don't want a girl like that.  If I get married, I want a girl who can take care of herself.  She will need to because we are going to live in the jungle, and I don't want to always have to be saving her and stuff."   

Note to future daughter-in-law:  Better be starting those karate and target shooting lessons now. 

Detox

Imagine going from having 4-6 people doting over you and taking care of you, having yummy ice creams, cookies and treats, staying up too late and having no responsibilities whatsoever to having 1 slightly cranky lady monitoring your playtime, boring meals (haven't been shopping yet since our return) and immediate immersion into schoolwork and "gasp" housework.  We are definitely going through grandparent detox. 

Grandparent detox is hard all around.  It's hard for the grandparents.  It's hard for the kids and it is hard for the parents of the kids.  It takes days to return to normal.  LONG days.  Can I have a spring break?  Please?