The Most Annoying Sound In The World

Children up at 6:30 this morning.  All three promptly decide to hold a screaming contest.  On purpose.  To see who can scream the loudest.  Fun times. Fun times. 

I'm the guy in the middle, in this video.

Emotion

At dinner last night:

Colby: "What kind of critter do secret agents like best?"
Mom: "I know.  A spy-der."
Colby: "YES!"
Quinn (sounding JUST like Beavis and Butthead): "heh heh heh"

I laughed out loud at Quinn's laugh, because it was just so PHONY, and he didn't even realize it was.

Colby: "Mom, that's the first time I've ever heard you laugh for real!"
Mom: "Really?  I laugh all the time."
Colby: "But not for REAL."
And then both boys started laughing uncontrollably, like they do, over nothing.  And I realized it was true.... I don't laugh like that.  At least, not alot.  And not around them.  When did I stop laughing for real????  When did I become a grown up??  I'm always the straight-man in the "Quinn and Colby" show.  The one to tell them to quiet down, and use good manners, and get their hands out of their pants,and stop picking their nose.  They never get to see me having fun.  And that bothers me.

Colby: "It's okay, Mom.  I've never seen you cry for real, either."
Mom: "Really?"
Colby: "Nope."

So interesting to me, their perceptions. I never thought about that.  I save my emotion for after they're in bed, when I'm unloading to their father (lucky guy).  Like there's some unspoken rule that a parent needs to be STRONG and CONTROLLED around their kids (well, they've seen me angry lots and lots of times, I guess).  I need to let them know how much JOY they bring me.  And to share in the silliness that seems to be their world on a daily basis.  I'm always so busy trying to UN-silly them, maybe it's okay to join in.  Just every once in a while.

Because they really should know that their mom can laugh.

Gross Breakfast Conversations

Bodily functions and little boys.  WHAT is with that???  Seriously.  Annoying. 

Quinn: "Colby, who's the world's best burper?"
Colby: "I know!  Grandpa!"
Quinn: "No.  He's the Famous Farter."
Mom: "Boys, that's not nice.  You need to stop this."
Colby: "No, it's true, Mom.  Grandpa farts and then always says it's one of us!"
Quinn: (with obvious awe in his voice - as if this was the greatest talent known to man) "Grandpa's the best farter ever."
Colby: "Dad's the best burper ever."
Quinn: "Burp.  Excuse me.  Burp.  Excuse me.  Burp.  Excuse me."
Colby: "You only have to say 'excuse me' once."
Quinn: "No.  I'm just trying to be annoying."
Mom: "Well, you're doing a really good job."

((((SIGH))))).

And I apologize to grandpa for sharing this story online.  I'm going to hear about this, I have no doubt!!!

First Piano Lessons

I had tried to teach the boys piano this past school year.  It was fun, but they struggled GREATLY to listen to their mother.  So, today, we brought in the professionals.  My boys are officially piano students.  I told them that if they both stuck with piano for 4 years, they would be able to continue on with whatever musical instrument they chose.  Quinn has already chosen the mandolin.  Very practical choice, Quinn.  Mandolins are in high demand, and march very well in parades and at football games.  Colby hasn't yet decided, but then... he has four years to ponder.  He was leaning towards the banjo earlier today, because, as he put it, it's a "drum AND a guitar".  Okay then.

I overheard Quinn during his lesson say over and over again "I already KNOW how to play the piano."  His teacher was extremely patient, and would just say "Okay, but then let's just review.  What are the numbers of the fingers of the right hand?"  Which of course he couldn't answer, because he never listened to his mother back when she was trying to teach him the piano.  UGH.  Great.  At one point, the teacher stuck her head out of the room, and asked me how much trouble she would be in if she gave the boys different things to practice.  Because Colby had apparently remembered a little more than Quinn had, despite Quinn's overconfidence ;).  Fine by me. 

I'm excited that the boys will get some one on one time with an adult.  I'm excited that they're beginning their musical careers.  I'm excited that they'll be working on those little hand muscles for fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination.  It's all good.  It's all good!

Bless you, My Son.

I put a band-aid on Quinn's torn up toe this morning, and he said "Oh, look! Now my toe looks like a girl!"  I had put the band-aid over the top of his toe, so it did kind of look like a veil.

Quinn: "It's like my toe's an olden day girl.  They used to call them 'women' back then in the olden days."
Mom: "No.  A girl's a child, and a woman is an adult."
Quinn: "So, you're a WOMAN?"
Mom: "Yup".
Quinn: "No you're not.  You're a girl."
Mom: "Well, I'm an adult."
Quinn: "No you're not.  You're just a big kid.  At school, everyone says that people in their 30's are old, but I said NO!  My mom is in her 30's and she's not old!"
Mom:  "You keep saying that, Quinn, and I just might believe it."

Darling, adorable child.

This Morning's Conversation

Quinn: "Mom, why do we thank God for our food, when you're the one who made it?"
Mom: "Well, who gave us the hands to make this food?"
Colby: "You did!  We came from your belly, so you made us!"
Mom: "Well, who put you in my belly?"
Quinn (simultaneously with his brother): "God"    Colby: "A little penis".
Mom: "WHAT??? Colby, where'd you hear that?"
Colby: "From you, Mom!"

I am 1000% certain that I have not given "the talk" to my 6 year old boys.  POSITIVE.

Colby: "Remember, Mom?  You said that when we were in your belly, we were just little peanuts."
Mom: "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  Peanuts.  Yes.  Yes.  You were a little peanuT."

I can breathe again now.

AND..... again with a big boy story

Rob makes me laugh just as much as his sons do.  Lastnight we were lyiing in bed watching a show about the military.  This was the conversation.

Rob: "I think I would've been good in the military".
Me: "I think not so much.  You don't like to be told what to do, and you like being by yourself."
Rob: "I can be told what to do, if I believe in the cause!"
Me: "In the military, you have to do what you're told, whether you believe in the cause or not.  Or whether you think an order makes sense or not."
Rob: "And you don't have to be a 'team player' to be in the military.  Look at Rambo!"
Me: "Well, Rambo was EX-military.  And....uhhhhh...... fictious."
Rob (letting that sink in for a moment): "Well, I'd have been a good fighter pilot."
Me: "Yes.  Yes you would."

Everyone secretly wants to be Tom Cruise in Top Gun, I think.