Lifelong Nightmares

When the boys were in the NICU as newborns, Rob and I bought them this stuffed kangaroo, and placed it above their isolettes.  It scared the nurses every.single.time. they walked into the room.  We got a kick out of watching those nurses scream and jump ;). After the boys came home from the hospital, the kangaroo followed them into their bedroom, and dutifully watched over them at night.  As soon as they were old enough to get out of their own bed, though, they would stuff the kangaroo into the closet.  Once they could talk, they would tell me that the kangaroo came alive at night, stared at them through the darkness.   In the morning I would often find it turned around facing the wall, or hidden in odd places.  After Reagan was born, I decided to stop torturing the young men, and put the kangaroo in Reagan's room, as it didn't seem to bother her in the least.

Today, I bribed the boys with 15 minutes of computer time to clean their sister's room.  They were more than willing.  When I checked on them, though, I found this....

They'll clean.  But that kangaroo is OUTTA HERE.

Hee hee hee hee hee

ADDENDUM:  Reagan just calmly told me, two days after this incident,  that the Kangaroo is her friend because he comes alive at night and plays with her.  OK.  WHAT is with the kangaroo????

Overheard

Colby: "Well, Quinn... it's time to move.  This mom's not working out."

Cacophony

Quinn shows signs as a budding composer.  He'll sit at the piano, and play and play and play wherever his fingers land, in the rhythm that speaks to his soul, revelling in the sound.  I've tried to peek over his shoulder several times, to see if I can see what chords he's playing, because sometimes they are stunning in their creativity.  I haven't been successful yet, though, because whenever I do, he stops and loses it.  He just plays until he likes what he hears, and I have to admit - he does a dang good job.  They're George-Winston-esque type songs... in extremely rudimentary form.  I've got to get the video recorder out and tape them.  I love listening to my kids play the piano.

Big Boy "DUH"

Rob dropped the kids off at Vacation Bible School tonight.  He came home thoroughly impressed.

Rob: "Pastor Aaron is so cool.  He came up to me and the boys, and started talking, and addressed each of the boys BY NAME!  He could totally tell them apart!  At first, I thought he was wrong, but when I checked... NOPE.  He had them right.  And he was so confident about it.  That's amazing.  He knows which boy is which.  Hardly anyone can do that!!"

Me: "They were wearing name tags."

OH.

Orphans

Quinn: "Mom, is dad allowed to take passengers yet on the plane?"
Mom: "Not yet.  Almost."
Reagan: "Reagan get bigger.  Get big hands.  Fly with Daddy!"
Mom: "You'll have to be ALOT bigger."
Colby: "The only thing standing between us and that plane is YOU!"
Mom: "I'm going to be the first one to fly with Daddy."
Quinn: "Hey, what happens if you crash??  We'd have no parents!"
Colby: "YEAH!  Pop tarts every night!"
Quinn: "We'd take over the house!"
Colby: "Have a nice trip, Mom!"
Quinn: "Yup.  Been nice knowin' you."

Thanks.  Alot.  Ingrates.

EWWW

Daddy gave me a hug and a kiss and an "I love you, Mommy" before leaving for work today.  Mommy gave Daddy a hug and a kiss and an "I love you, too".  Quinn rolled his eyes, disgusted.

Quinn: "You guys!  I'm RIGHT HERE!"

The seven-year-old equivalent to "get a room!"

:)

Touch

These boys.  CONSTANTLY touching, hitting, wrestling, kicking, tickling, tussling, rough-housing, scuffling, patting, bashing, buffeting, and thumping each other.  CONSTANTLY.  They can't keep their hands off each other. 

Mom: "I bet you guys a WHOLE DOLLAR that you can't keep your hands to yourself for a whole day."
Colby: "A real dollar?"
Mom: "Yup.  If you don't touch your brother at all today, I will give you a dollar."
Colby (shaking Mom's hand): "Deal".
Quinn (refusing to shake Mom's hand): "That's worth more like $10".
Mom: "It doesn't matter.  I could bet you a million dollars, and you still couldn't do it."
Quinn: "Fine.  Bet me a million dollars that I can't keep my hands to myself."
Mom: "I don't have a million dollars, otherwise I would."
Quinn: "I take checks, Mom."

We negotiated down to... a dollar.  And it didn't matter.  Because they lasted exactly 5 minutes and 23 seconds before Colby put his foot on Quinn's knee during breakfast.

Mom: "TOUCH!  BZZZZZZT!  Deal's off."
Quinn: "I didn't touch Colby!  He touched me!"
Mom: "It takes two to touch.  You didn't run away."

Colby: "OK.  Same deal, starting new... right..... NOW!"

At least we had 5 minutes without tussling.  That's kind of a record around here, I think.