AAAAHHH!

Colby's little guardian angel is working OVERTIME lately. I was getting the boys ready for school this morning, and ran out of the room for a SECOND to go get an envelope for their book order. Upon my return, I smelled smoke. Quinn told me that Colby had made fire! WHAT??????? And then I saw it.... the box of matches from the candle I had lit last night, sitting on the table, with four spent matches next to it, wafting smoke. AAAAHHHH! My gut reaction was FEAR that he could've burnt down the house and everyone in it. Instead of screaming, I used my new-found "good mommy techniques" I've been studying up on for our Mothers Of Preschoolers meeting tomorrow. I told him, with a VERY earnest voice, how that was VERY VERY VERY VERY dangerous, and he could've hurt himself and everyone else, and to NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER play with matches again. And to myself, I was thinking "NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER leave the matchbox out again!" I think he understood. He gave me a hug and seemed to feel pretty bad about the whole thing, and Quinn kept saying "It wasn't me! It was Colby! I didn't play with fire!" I think my fear registered all the way around. Rob came into the room, and I told him what had happened. He was impressed that Colby had figured out how to light a match off a box, admiring his problem-solving skills and fine-motor control. "He must've watched me light the sauna last night!"
See THIS is the difference between Moms and Dads!!!

For Grandma and Grandpa

Just for Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jim, who live so far, far away.... this is what the boys looked like talking to you tonight. Sitting in Great-Great Grandpa's rocking chair, each with their own phone, REFUSING to say goodbye.

A long drop

Well, it happened, less than a week after bunk beds. 4:30 am this morning. I was in my bedroom, far far away from little boys' room. I heard a THUNK, and knew instantly what had happened. Running as fast as my pregnant body would let me in pitch darkness, I made it upstairs. There was Quinn, whimpering at having been awokened, but still on top of his bed. Where was Colby? I had put him to bed in his lower bunk, but he wasn't there. I checked the floor as best I could in the dark. No Colby. Then, I heard soft crying on top of the boys' stool. He had fallen off the top bunk, and landed on his belly, still asleep, on a 18" square padded stool which had been haphazardly placed in the EXACT place it needed to be to break his fall. Who says there's not Guardian Angels???

Up before the Sun

The boys have been so excited for school that they wake up LOOOONNNGGG before dawn these days. Today - 6:45 am. They came shuffling downstairs, where I was just getting out of the shower. I asked them why they were up so early! It was still "night time!" Quinn put his head in his hands and said "Yes, I see the moon and the stars. Stars are so cool!" And started singing "twinkle twinkle little star" , which he informed me was ALSO a cool song. It was too cute to be irritated at their early rising.

Snoozing through the lecture

While taking a shower tonight, I discovered the boys had emptied the ENTIRE bottle of shampoo, in order to "get the bubbles out". I made a "GRRRRR" sound upon this discovery. "What's wrong mom?" they asked. I told them they had just wasted the shampoo, and I was not happy.
C: "Oh, sorry mom."
Q: "We'll go to the store and get more"
M: "Yes, but that costs money."
C: "Sorry mom."
Q: "What's money?"
M: "Something we don't have alot of to be wasting on bottles of shampoo." As I launched into a full discussion about earning money by working and the importance of spending money wisely, my son Quinn closed his eyes and started to pretend-snore. WHERE did he learn THAT? Come on, boy. The lectures are only BEGINNING in your life. They will get longer and more boring as you get older, I guarantee it.

It begins....

A first yesterday. As regular readers of my blog know, my children have NO QUALMS at all about nakedness, or any state of undress. In any setting. Yesterday, when getting ready for school, Colby took all his clothes into the bathroom to dress. I followed him in, and said "do you need any help?" He said no, picked up his clothes and walked into the CLOSET. OOOOOOHHHH. He wanted PRIVACY! I left the bathroom, and he promptly shut the door behind me. He's been closing the door when going to the bathroom, too - especially when I am around. This is a good sign, as modesty is a sign of maturity, I suppose - but.... I'm his MOMMY!!!!

The family Dog

Both boys were FINALLY in a good mood yesterday, after a week and a half of "horrendous". I'm blaming it on starting school, which means new schedule, increased behavioral demands, few naps, and the onset of colds. It was getting ugly there for awhile. Yesterday, I had my little boys back (at least for the time being). I was thrilled! I could tell by the smiles as soon as they woke up.
I greeted them at the door, rubbed their heads, and said
"Good morning, little boys! How are you today!"

Quinn just looked at me and said "Why are you treating me like a dog?" I didn't follow. A dog?
"Yes! You're patting my head!"

Oh. Sorry. It's just a natural instinct. "Good boy. Good boy."