Superhero parenting

In keeping with Colby's new obsession with superheros, he has dubbed me "MommyMan". WHY, then, do I not feel like I have superpowers??????

I just heard a crash downstairs, and yelled "HEY! What're you doing down there?" His response?
"Running around, saving the day!"

Ohhhhhhhh.

Home from the Hospital

On the way home from the hospital last night, Colby informed me that the baby in HIS belly was also causing pre-term labor. "Baby Tucker is making my belly hurt!" I comiserated. Poor Colby. Us pregnant people have to stick together. But then he said "No, maybe it's just the sweet potatoes" (that he had for dinner at grandma's). Figures.

And the truth comes out

At breakfast this morning, the boys started replaying a scene from the bus yesterday.
Q: "The busdriver said 'SIT DOWN! BUCKLE UP!'"
C: "'PUT YOUR SHOES BACK ON!'"
Q: "'I'LL HAVE TO STOP THE BUS AND TAKE YOU BACK HOME!'"

Needless to say, I was a little alarmed.
M: "Did you get out of your seat while the bus was moving????"
Q&C: Giggling. "Yeah - but the busdriver said 'SIT DOWN! BUCKLE UP!'"

We had a long talk about how that was NOT safe, and that they were under no circumstances to EVER get out of their (obviously not very secure) 5 point harness seat belts. I confirmed the incident with the busdriver this morning. HOW did they unbuckle their seatbelts, I asked. She told me they just squirmed out, without unbuckling them and then stood up on the seat. She said she didn't really mind about the undressing thing (it was only shoes this time, thank goodness), but seatbelts were a must, so she had to be stern. I concurred.

So, as they were getting off the bus this afternoon, I heard Colby say to the busdriver
"I was a good boy! I stayed in my seat!" WHEW! Then he looked at me and said "MOM! You were a BIG GIRL! You didn't cry!" Guess it was a good day for all of us.

Preparing for the SECOND day of school.

As I was saying prayers and kissing the boys goodnight tonight, I told them they needed to get some sleep, as they had school again tomorrow.
"Mom, are you going to cry again?" they asked. I can't make any promises, but I think I'll be able to control myself.

The Adventures of ColbyMan and QuinnBoy

New favorite outfit: thermal swimsuits with backwards bibs. New favorite eyewear: goggles. New favorite saying: "To the RESCUE! And BEEEEYYYOONNDDD!"

Let's hope they don't grow up for a long, long time.

The Agenda for the First Day of School

We have talked repeatedly about what the first day of school will be like for Quinn and Colby. They have met their teachers, and tonight we had orientation where they got to see the classroom and playground, and sit on the bus. Afterwards, we bought ice cream and took it to grandma LaVerne's to celebrate the onset of the school age. I asked Colby to tell Grandma what school was going to be like. This is what he said:

"I will get up early to go to school and play with toys. I will ride the bus. Mommy will cry."

Yes. Mommy will.

Getting Ready for Preschool

The boys had a home visit today from Teacher Rosemary and Teacher Karen, in preparation for starting preschool next week. They are VERY excited to start preschool and ride a school bus!!! They each got to pick out a symbol to represent them for the year, starting with the first letter of their name. Colby's is a canoe. Quinn had much more limited options, obviously. He is now a "queen". His father's going to LOVE that one.

The things they think are funny

The boys' new favorite words are "baby diaper". This is the ultimate in off-color humor to them. Every time the words "baby diaper" are said, they dissolve into mischevious giggles. They've been using it CONSTANTLY. In context or not.

"Quinn... you're wearing a BABY DIAPER!" heee heee hee hee hee
"I think this car needs a BABY DIAPER!" ha ha ha ha ha
"That baby is wearing a BABY DIAPER!" ho ho ho ho ho.

Was it not less than 6 months ago THEY were wearing baby diapers???? WHY is that funny? I suppose it could be worse. They're also spending a whole lot of time talking about "petey" lately. We have discussed how certain... uh... body parts need to be "secret" (they don't understand the word private yet), and not be whipped out in public to pee just anywhere, and not be spoken of continually in general company. This often accompanies the lesson about keeping hands out of their pants.

OOOOHHHH, boys. How different life will be with a little girl!!!

ARRRGGGHHH!

I'm having alot of AAARRRGGGHH! moments with the boys lately. Today at Walmart, Colby said he was thirsty. We were just checking out, so I told him to wait until we got home, and I would get him some water. In the parking lot, I was loading groceries into the trunk and asked both boys to get into the car and get their seatbelts on. Quinn did, but Colby dawdled. I found him thirty seconds later with wet pants.
"Colby! I asked you to get into the car, not jump in mud puddles!"
"But Mom, I didn't jump in the mud puddle. I drank it!"

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Disaster Narrowly Diverted

I am deathly afraid of quiet in the house recently, given that it usually means something destructive is going on. This morning, after investigating "the quiet", I found a can of Campbell's tomato soup, two bowls, and a can opener under my bed... this on top of my newly-professionally-shampooed, light-colored carpet. Luckily, I scattered the culprits in time. WHEW! Close one!

The Informer

It's odd to me to have actual, informative conversations that are accurate (once properly deciphered) with my children. It's a whole new experience for us. After working a 13 hour shift today, thoroughly exhausted, I picked up my boys at 9:30 pm from Grandma and Grandpa Aho's. I had tried to call from work earlier, and ask the sitter Beth how the carpet man had done getting the pink paint out of the carpet. I was, after all, paying him alot of money. She was apparently having "a day", thanks to Colby smearing poop all over the carpet UPSTAIRS, and was unable to answer the phone. I don't pay Beth NEARLY enough for what she goes through. Anyways, at 9:30 pm last night, going home, I ask the boys if the carpet guy came.

"Yes," Quinn says. "I talked to the carpet boy. "
M: "Did he clean up the paint?"
Q: "He say 'try again' 'try again'. Paint not clean." This is NOT what I wanted to hear.
M: "Are you sure? He didn't get the paint cleaned up?"
C: "Can we both sleep in the purple bed?"
M: "Uh, no. You paint things when you're together and make mom MAD."
C:"I won't paint anything"
M:" Is the carpet clean?"
Q: "No. He needs to clean again."
M: "I just paid him alot of money. Is there paint still on the CARPET? I know there's still paint on the walls."
Q: "No. Paint still on the carpet."

I really didn't believe him. After all, I was assured when I called that this highly experienced carpet cleaner would be able to get the paint out of the carpet, which, after all, was why I was paying him nearly $200.....

Quinn was right. Not only do I still have to repaint the nursery. The carpet is still pink. And now I'm out another $200 on top of it all. And NO, Colby... you can NEVER sleep together in the same room for as long as you live. DON'T EVEN ASK.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!

The boys were SUPPOSED to be taking a nap. They were, after all, fairly quiet downstairs in what will be the nursery. I heard a giggle so went to go check. They have painted the nursery walls, carpet, curtains, bedspread, and part of the living room wall PINK. AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH! I AM PREGNANT. It takes all of my energy to get through a project ONCE, let alone having to redo it multiple times because of destructive children.

The funny things they say

So, Quinn woke up this morning, convinced that there was a "dragon fly" (his word for a dragon) in the wall of his room, scratching to get out and eat him last night. I think I may have convinced him there wasn't, but only because it's now the light of day. He said "and you and Colby were downstairs, and I was upstairs alone". Poor guy. He throws a HUGE tantrum any time I make him sleep in his own room anymore, and I have a sneaking suspicion it's because he's AFRAID.

As we were cleaning their room this morning, Quinn decides he has to go to the bathroom. I told him to go downstairs, but he wanted to use the little potty I have in there for nighttime emergencies. Colby, playing in the playroom and hearing the "tinkle of water", says "Ohhhh, it's raining outside today!". Too funny.