Huh?

BabyGirl: I want toilet paper and pretzels.

Make of that combination what you will. It took me a bit.

She meant "I want drawing paper and a pencil."

They are just so cute when they are still learning all the right words.

Date Day

Yesterday I took the two big kids on our annual "Summer is almost over and we will be done driving each other crazy" dates.

Up first was Curly. We indulged in some pampering, her yearly choice. We both got orange sherbet colored toes and she got a fancy flower and her nails painted too. When we were finished, she got a milkshake, I got a Diet Coke. It was great and we had a very nice time.

After I dropped Curly at her friend's house it was StinkyMan's turn (and yay for Grammy who babysat the littlest ones for me.) He, of course, opted to go to Chuck E Cheese, where he proceeded to blow through eighty coins in about an hour. He spent most of his time on one game in particular and got quite good, managing to earn well over two hundred tickets.

When we were finished, I needed to run an errand. He was less than thrilled and I felt guilty. After all, Mommy/Son date time was not supposed to be about me.

As we drove to the craft store StinkyMan spotted the mall. "Mommy?" he said in that super cute, 6 year old boy voice that melts my heart, "Can we ride the escalators at the mall?"

I debated. I really didn't want to go to the mall. But really, what a sweet, simple request. As moms, we say no to so much. Why say no to this?

"You want to go now to ride the escalators at the mall as part of your Mommy/Stinkyman time?"

"Yeah. I like riding them."

"Okay, sure. Yes. We can do that!"

He was so excited I felt bad for ever even considering saying no. So we ran the errand and headed to the mall.

Up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down. Five trips total, or ten "rides" as StinkyMan called it. We laughed, we raced, we even tried to go down the up escalator.

A few older ladies were watching us, as well as one grandpa-ish looking gentleman. We got several smiles of approval. One lady asked if we were done shopping and so I told her why we were there. She thought that was just about the sweetest thing she'd ever heard.

When we were finished, StinkyMan held my hand as we skipped back to the car. He was so happy and I was, too, because I felt like a good mommy.

But mostly I was happy because I said yes. Sometimes I think I should say yes more often. No is sometimes easier, but yes? Yes can definitely be better.

Chopsticks

The other night Husband was out of town as usual and the children and I decided to indulge in some Chinese takeout for dinner.

The kids are all into trying to use chopsticks with little to no success. It's messy and unproductive and they usually give up quickly and switch to forks.

But this time Curly was determined to give it a real go. After about twenty minutes of trying her very best and getting very little rice into her mouth she said "I don't know how Chinese people get anything done if it takes this long to eat every time. I'd be sitting at the table all day long!"

Practice makes perfect...but in our house Chinese food takes forks.

Summer training

A mom down the street and I have had a Facebook back to school countdown going all summer. At least once a week one or the other of us has posted a status update that has to to with how many days are left until school begins again.

Yesterday, Curly wanted to have other mom's daughter N come over and play. With six kids in the house and me still recovering from a semi unsuccessful weekend at the lake, I was not in the mood for any extra demands on me.

"Fine." I said "She can come over. BUT no sitting there with the TV on, no begging me for food or art projects, I don't want anything that causes me extra work. At all."

She nodded somberly. "OK" and ran off to fetch N from her house.

A few minutes later I received this hilarious Facebook message from N's mom:

Curly and N are getting ready to leave my house and Curly tells N "One thing. We can't ask my mom for anything. Nothing. She said we can't." And N goes "That's OK. My mom said I have to leave her alone. I'm not aloud to talk to her for a while."

I laughed. So glad to know I'm not the only one.

It only took us all summer to train them so well.

Preschooler

Tonight I put my baby in bed for the last time.

You see, tomorrow, she won't be a baby anymore.

She will be a preschooler.

I know, I know. At nearly three years old, she really hasn't been a baby for a while.

But she's MY baby.

And this mama is struggling a little bit.

She's the last one.

We're done with diapers. We're done with endless free days. Baby talk is over.

We're in the big time now.

Preschool.

I told myself it was no big deal. I was sure I would not cry. The last one in school is cause for celebration, right?

But when I tucked her in tonight, amongst her dollies and her Buzzy Bee Pillow Pet, I was already a little teary.

And I kissed a baby goodnight for the last time.

Because tomorrow she wakes up a preschooler.

And this mama isn't ready.

Singing in the Rain, er Sprinklers

Yesterday when the backyard sprinklers came on the two littlest girls came running.

"Mommy! Can we play in the sprinklers?!" shouted Peanut while BabyGirl just bounced up and down next to her.

"Sure. That's fine." I said and they ran off, presumably to get their swim suits.

So you can imagine my surprise when they turned up a few moments later in their slickers and rain boots, ready to get wet.

Super, super cute.