Lauren's Laundry

Are you kidding me? I'm in the laundry room again??? Pleeeease. Say it isn't so.
Oh, but it is.

I just had to do a quick blog on Lauren. Today, she came into, yes, you know, the L room and asks, "Mommy, can I help you do clothes?"

Oh, I just pray she has this same motivation for clean clothes in a few years.

(Sorry, I am lost in a daydream where SHE is in the laundry room and I am on the patio sipping a margarita.....ERRRRrrrrrr.....back to reality)

Anyway, she removes each item of clothing from the dryer and says who it belongs to.
Dadddy.
Madeline.
Gabe.
You. This one is yours, Mommy.

I am completely impressed that she knows every item's owner. After about a dozen items, she says, "I'm all done now" and disappears. If only I could be so lucky!

On a side note (I so did not mean it that way Gabe), Gabriel cut his 2nd tooth today.....also was standing in his crib when I went to get him from nap!

Plotting and Scheming....for Dodgeball

A couple days ago, Madeline and I were in the laundry room (why am I always here?) and we are chatting about school as we fold clothes. Here is part of our dialogue:

(preface: this is about to get really random)
M: Mom, what color shirt do you think Michael will wear tomorrow?
Me: Uh, I'm sorry? What?
M: You know....red, blue, white.
Me: Yes, I know colors. Why are you wondering?
M: Well, we are playing dodgeball in gym class tomorrow and Mr. Beals divides up the teams by what color shirt you are wearing.
Me: Go on.
M: So, I want to wear the same color as Michael.
Me: Go on.
M: Because he's the fastest. Anyway, he wore blue today so I think.....
Me: Whoh, hold up, wait. You actually noticed that he wore blue today?
M: Yes, and I think he's going to wear red tomorrow. I'm wearing red.

And there you have it. The perfectly normal, not a bit neurotic or compulsive, family (extended included!) spirit of competition.

32 Days and Counting Down

Today is already a great day. Madeline and Abigail put candles in their toast this morning and sang "32 Days until Christmas" to the tune of "Happy Birthday." Hilarious.

I wish I could have captured the moment on camera but my (almost 34 yo) husband took it with him today to document his flag football tournament. Yes, that's right, he's playing football. Actually, his 1st place trophy from a few weeks ago sits very near Madeline's first soccer trophy. Strange?

So, while the kiddos and I travel several states away (ok, I'm exaggerating) to our annual Wassail, Ron will be re-living the high school days. I hope I don't sound annoyed -- I'm really not. He loves it. I've always said if he had two lives, he'd hang out with us in one and be an NFL player in the other!

This day has only improved by the fact that Madeline came into the office and asked how old God is. I better run....this one could take a while.

Ice Cream and Underdogs

I wish I had time to post all the funny things that have happened in the last 24 hrs!

Hopefully, I will have time to post a picture of us all eating ice cream cones in bed this morning at 8 am....Daddy's out of town!
We started a tradition several years ago that whenever Ron has to go away on business, the kids get to have ice cream for breakfast.

"Before or after you eat something healthy" -- had to add that disclaimer after Madeline went to Kindergarten last year and announced that her Mommy gives her ice cream for breakfast. Oh boy.

Anyway, I was just in the laundry room (my home away from home) and heard Lauren,
"...two....free.....UNDERDOG!"
I come out and see that, yes, she is giving Gabriel underdogs in his jumpee. He is flying high with a look of panic on his face. Holy Moses.

Early Thanksgiving

Madeline brought home an assignment yesterday where she had to write about things she is thankful for. Here is what she said:

I am thankful for Mom sining (signing) me up to go to this school. I am thankful. for dad coaching my socr (soccer) games. I am thankful for my ants and uncls beecus they give me cupkes (cupcakes).

- Madeline

It's Getting Hot in Here

Several friends have asked why I did not blog the following story from a few weeks ago.....

Instead of drawing the entire picture for you, I'll just cut to the point. Lauren peed all over me. Yes, that's right. I'm chatting on the phone with my SIL Jen and she is sitting on my lap. And I feel warm. And wet. Very wet.

Oh, did I mention we are in the car and have just arrived at Madeline's 60 mintue ballet class? Yep. So, I get to go inside and monitor all the children in a 8 X 2 foot hallway, wet. And not warm anymore, cold. Cold and wet and smelling like pee.

A day in the life....

Ding Dong

Yesterday, I look outside and see traveling salesmen (more like teenage boys) making their way down the street. Since I haven't figured out how to get on the "Do not call" list, I always answer the door. Its very awkward because I don't want to buy what they are selling, they definitely want me to buy what they are selling.....you've been there.

So, I decide to try a new approach: We're not home?

I asked Madeline to close the blinds on both sides of the front door and not to answer the door when the doorbell rings. Of course this starts a barrage of questions.....Why aren't we answering the door? Who's coming over? (or not coming over) Why do we need to be quiet?

"I will explain it in a few minutes" (my arms are full of laundry)

I head upstairs to Gabriel's room and sure enough the doorbell rings a couple minutes later. I don't hear anything from the kids and I am relieved. This is much easier than I anticipated. Why, why have I answered the door all these years???
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Ok, I need to stop here and apologize to anyone who has children that have to sell popcorn, magazines, gift wrap paper, encyclopedias, greeting cards, discount cards, coupon books and just about anything else they can think of for children to peddle door-to-door. I am not a fan.
Have your children call me, snail mail me or hit me up at church. I'm a real sucker then.
The one and only exception? Girl Scouts. They definitely have a hall pass -- who doesn't want 14 boxes of Girl Scout cookies?!?
A quick tip: Hit my neighbor Mark up - he will buy anything. (You’re the best Mark!)
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Back to my story. I am almost laughing (so mean) and thinking how great it is that I have outsmarted the traveling salesmen/boys. That's when I hear the window blinds making a lot of noise.....like a hurricane is blowing through. I peek over the railing and....yes, its that bad.
I see Abigail holding Gabriel in one of the windows and Madeline and Lauren peering out of the other window. They are literally flanking each side of the front door, faces pressed up against the window, WAVING at the salespeople on the front porch. Oh, and did I mention a good FOUR minutes has passed since the bell rang? Oh yeah.

Now what do I do? Run to the door, seemingly out of breath, and pretend I was just able to get there?
Open the door and say, "Oh my, you should have rung the bell?"

NOOOOOOO! I whisper in my loudest and most authoritative voice, "Children, get away from the windows!" "Quickly, come upstairs!" "No questions!"

I watch from the window upstairs as they finally walk away. Phew!
I am left feeling horrified, embarrassed and cheap. Should have just spent the $20 for the discount coupon book.

Check, Please!

Last night, Madeline wrote a check from my checkbook....to herself. For forty dollars. Which I guess is a lot of money in kid world. Maybe like me writing one for $4,000?

She had filled it all out correctly which I must say impressed me....especially since many high schoolers in our country are not able to (I used to volunteer teach basic finance at a local high school).

At any rate, she brought it to me for the John Hancock. I asked her what she needed it for and she said, "I'm not sure. I just need it."

I guess I had just pictured this happening many years from now!

Trumped Again

I was in PA last week at Voice of the Apostles....a conference for church. Amazing!

Anyway, a bit behind on just about everything but didn't want to forget this story.

I asked Abigail to leave Gabriel in his highchair and a couple minutes later noticed she was holding him (as she loves to do 24/7) I reminded her of what I had said and asked her to head to the steps to think about it.

A couple minutes later I went to talk with her about the importance of obedience.
Here is the end of our conversation:

Me: Abby, remember that the Bible says to honor your mother and father so that you will live long on the earth.
A: Actually Mom, it says, "so that you will live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you"

Hmmm? Perhaps I was quoting NIV and she was quoting the King James version???

Something Beautiful

I never want to forget Madeline and Abigail belting out the lyrics to the Newsboys song, "Something Beautiful"

It's a voice that whispers my name
It's a kiss without any shame
Something beautiful
Like a song that stirs in my head
Singing love will take us where...
Something's beautiful

It's the child on her wedding day
It's the daddy that gives her away
Something beautiful
When we laugh so hard we cry
It's the love between you and I
Something beautiful

.....especially as they are singing, "It's the Daddy that gives her away" with big smiles to Ron. I will never NOT cry when I see that.

Oh, and Gabriel said "mama" today. So, it wasn't actually TO me....more like AT me. So?
Something beautiful.