Laughable Lunch

The funny things they say at lunch:

C: "Mom, what's this Pizza Christ made of?"

Q: (When told to remove his feet from the table, or lunch would be over) "Well, that would be just a BAD CHOICE for you, Mr. Mama".

Bed Time

I hate it when bed time goes bad. Like tonight, when it took 45 minutes to corral the boys into pajamas and tooth-brushing, with many threats, and lots of nagging. What, do I talk just for the fun of it? Am I INVISIBLE????? Apparently, my children are completely deaf unless I start counting to three. UGH. They lost the privelege of falling asleep in the guest bed, which has been their preference lately. Then they lost the privelege of having the night light on, and then the door open. After FINALLY getting them nearly kicking and screaming into bed, they wanted a story. Fine, I said. This was the story.

"Once upon a time there were two little boys named Quinn and Colby. They listened to their mom, and obeyed when she asked them to do something, because they knew that she was trying to teach them how to be big boys. When they were good boys and obeyed the first time they were asked, they got to go ice skating, snowmobiling, and skiing. THE END".

They HATED the story, and cried themselves to sleep because I refused to tell them a different one.

Christmas Decorating

The boys have been "decorating" my tea set for Christmas. When I cleaned it up, it returned within the hour, with stern warnings that I was not to touch the "decorations" again. Looks more like my tea set is going to Mardi Gras. Anyways. I then had to explain tonight before bed why a Spiderman pinata wasn't necessary for our holiday festivities. They insisted that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, and all birthday parties should have pinatas. Good point. Maybe we'll start a new tradition :)!

Little Boys Love Their Sisters

Every time I let Quinn hold his new sister, he says "Quick, get the camera, Mom!" He wants to document these moments, and so do I.... these times when baby sisters are the coolest thing going. How long do you think THAT will last?

Makes me Wonder

My interpretation of this conversation I had with Colby may be overly "Catholic" of me, but it really DOES make me wonder. So here's the scenario... yesterday after school, I was TRYING to get overly tired four year olds to take a nap. So I, too, could take a nap. I let them lie on my bed, and I had the tv on while I was feeding the baby. I was looking for something BORING that they wouldn't be interested in. I settled on the Catholic channel, where there was a show (in SPANISH) on Our Lady of Guadaloupe. I don't know if you all know that story... if not, you can read about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_Guadalupe. Synopsis: an Aztec Indian by the name of Juan Diego saw the Virgin Mary in the 1500's, who told him to tell the bishop to build a church. She told him to fill his cloak with roses (which suddenly appeared) and take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego unfurled his cloak (tilma) to the bishop, the image of Mary was imprinted on the inside. This cloak almost single-handedly converted the native Aztecs in Mexico - more than missionaries ever could. Massive Christian conversions - in the hundreds of thousands - in the few years after it's appearance, and ended human sacrifice in Mexico. This cloak still exists, and is on display in Mexico. Anyways. That's the story, and this program was about modern day Mexicans celebrating and worshiping in the church where the cloak is. It didn't retell the story, just showed pictures of people singing and praying, and even if it HAD, the whole show was in SPANISH. So that's the scenario, when the tv flashes a picture of the Tilma (cloak).

C: "Mom, who's that?"
M: "Mary".
C: "She came out of the picture."
M: "What?"
C: "She came out of the picture."
M: "What do you mean, Mary came out of the picture?"
C: "She was a person. Like you. She came out of the picture."
M: "Why did she do that?"
C: "Because she loves EVERYBODY."

Now, I have not told my children anything about Mary besides the nativity story and that she was Jesus' mother. WHERE did THAT come from? There were other pictures of Mary on this program, and Colby would ask who they were, but when the show returned to the picture of the Tilma (cloak), he said it again....
"Mary came out of the picture!"

Sometimes I think God speaks through children. And sometimes I think kids are a little more in touch with the spiritual world than we realize. It really makes me wonder.

A Peaceful Dinner

As anyone has ever shared a meal with two four year old boys knows, it is not a peaceful thing. It is a messy, frustrating affair, force-feeding vegetables, threats to use table-manners - it often ends with a timer, some gagging and lots of tears. At least in our house. Not so tonight. I made sweet and sour chicken, minus the "sour" as "my boys" (including Dad) all have sweet-tooths (sweet-teeth???). Basically breaded chicken bits with a citrus sauce and rice. Not the most healthy meal, I guess, but it went over like GANGBUSTERS. Quinn was absolutely RAVING.
"Mom! I love dinner! This is my favorite! I need a second dinner!! I am so happy! It's better than pancakes! It's better than pizza!"
I told him I was glad he liked it. Colby leaned over and gave me a hug. It was like I was a superstar. The accolades went on for several minutes. Astonishing. It was the most pleasant meal we've had in a long long time. I'm going to have to remember how I made that one, and serve it whenever I need some "kudos" about being a good mom.

The Nativity Story

I have been having alot of fun teaching the boys the nativity story. They are GETTING it this year, and it's so sweet! Tonight, for their bedtime story (aka "The Quinn and Colby Story", as they call it) I told them about two little boys named Quinn and Colby who went out to discover the answer to a mystery - the true meaning of Christmas. Is Christmas about snow? "YES! " they replied. Is Christmas about presents? "YES!" they replied. Is Christmas about Santa? "YES!" they replied. But yet, there was more. So Quinn and Colby searched and searched until they found a book that told them the following story.... about Mary and Joseph and a baby named Jesus. We went through the whole nativity story, and the boys were able to fill in the blanks about the shepherds and the angels, and the star of David, the magi... I was thrilled. It was sinking in!!! What a touching Christmas moment!!!! Where is Frank Capra when I need him??? So we wrapped up the story, with Quinn and Colby discovering the TRUE meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. THE END. That's when the following addendums occured:

Q:" What about the bear?"
C: "And the shark? Where was the shark?"
Q: "And the whale? Did Quinn and Colby go fishing?"

Oh well. We tried.

Feel the Burn

I have resumed exercising, to get back to pre-baby, pre-little boy, pre-middle aged spread weight (my goal... is it realistic???). I now have LOTS of help. I think it helps me burn LOTS more calories.

The Paparazzi

Quinn was giving a hug to his baby sister this morning, stopped, turned to me, and said "Quick Mom! Get the camera!" Then he returned to his hug.

He's right - it was a Kodak moment, albeit a little staged. Maybe I take a few too many pictures of my children.

Manger?

So, we were doing our "Santa House", where each of the 25 compartments holds a piece of the nativity story and a bible verse. Yesterday's verse was about Jesus being born and being laid in a manger, and the "object" was, obviously, a manger. I took it out of the compartment, and asked the boys "What do you think this is?" (We had JUST read the verse, it should've been fresh in their minds!). Colby yelled back "A CARSEAT!" I have to admit, it does look a little bit like an infant carseat.

Life imitating Art or vice-versa?

A friend sent me this cartoon. How do these cartoonists know what happens at our kitchen table every night????

Difference between Boys and Girls Part II

Changing the baby's diaper again, this time witnessed by TWO little boys, instead of one.

C: "Where's baby Reagan's petey????"
Q: "Girl's don't have peteys" (oh wise Quinn)
C: "Boys have peteys."
Q: "When Reagan gets bigger, she'll have a petey".
M: "No, girls don't have peteys".
C: "But BIG girls have peteys".
M: "No."
Q: "Daddys have peteys"
M: "Yes"
C: "Mommy's have peteys".
M: "No."
Looks of confusion. MOM's not one of US?????
Q: "No petey?"
C: "But Reagan has a BOTTOM."
M: "Everyone has a bottom."

Peals of mischievious giggles.

Anatomy lesson done for the day.

Prayer

It's advent, and we've been doing an Advent wreath and calendar nightly. I have this "Santa House" with 25 compartments, each of which contains a portion of the nativity story and a small "something" to help the message be understood by preschool minds. At the end, we sing a Christmas carol, and then say the Lord's Prayer as a family. Anyways... this has been our nightly ritual lately. So last night, we do the Santa House, sing our song, and we're getting ready to do the Lord's Prayer. I see that Quinn is prostrate on the floor (poor analogy, but envision a Muslim facing Mecca), hands clasped beneath him, eyes closed, saying repeatedly "Jesus God Jesus God Jesus God".

M: "What are you doing?"
Q: "Praying".
M: "OK. Well, it's time to hold hands and say the 'Our Father'".
Q: "I've already prayed. I don't need to say the 'Our Father'."
M: "YES, you do. Please hold hands".

He held hands with us, but instead of saying the Our Father, said "Jesus God Jesus God Jesus God" repeatedly. I'm all for spontaneous prayer, but I have a feeling this was just a passive-agressive ploy, and he thought those would be the two words that would most likely "get him out of " praying with the rest of us!

Education and Interpretation

Little boys are getting quite an education with the whole baby-producing process. First they discovered that babies come from mommy's belly, then they learned that girls don't have peteys. Last night, as I was using the breast pump (discretion is a luxury that is too difficult to maintain around here) Colby walked into the room. I quickly turned the thing off, and "detached" the cone from underneath my shirt.

C: "Are you done listening to your heart now, Mom?"

I burst out laughing. It DOES look like an overly large stethescope, and the pump does kind of sound like the THWUMP THWUMP of a heartbeat :)

Clones

I hate to admit this, but even as their mother, I would have a hard time telling which son it is in THIS picture. I was there snapping the photo, so I know it's Colby, but... he sure looks an awful lot like Quinn there. I know, I know. "But they're identical twins! Of COURSE they look alike!" Not really. It always amazes me when I see them look REALLY alike. Quinn always looks the same to me, it's Colby's looks that vary so much. Sometimes he looks ALOT like Quinn, and other times, I wonder if it really is the same genetic code. Interesting. Here and now, at the age of four, in this lighting, and smiling like that... I have to say, Colby looks ALOT like Quinn. Craziness.

Fire in the Hole

The phone rang, I answered it and went into the bedroom for some peace and quiet. The boys were eating breakfast in the kitchen. I wasn't gone long, I swear. I come out of the bedroom to the smell of smoke, and an angry husband telling me "he could've burnt the house down!!!". OH NO! Apparently, Colby wanted more cinnamon toast, and took it upon himself to make some. In the microwave. For, I don't know... 10 minutes or so. It was BLACK (both microwave and bread), and the kitchen was filled with smoke. Not good, all this independence coupled with poor judgement and a lack of supervision.

The difference Between Boys and Girls

It was bound to happen. I was anticipating it. Changing Reagan's diapers today, Quinn took notice.

Q: "WHAT? Where's Baby Reagan's petey?"
M: "She doesn't have one. She's a girl, and girl's don't have peteys".
Q: "I have a petey. See?" Proceeds to provide evidence.
M: "Yes I see. Girls don't have peteys."
Q: "Oh."

That was it. No "why" questions (which is what I was dreading). No "do you have a petey, mommy?" questions, either (which is also what I was dreading). Just "oh". Thank God for little favors. I got off easy this time.

Baby Sister

We were eating breakfast this morning, with Baby Reagan asleep in her bouncy seat beside us. She squeaked. Quinn immediately rushed over to her, and had this conversation:

Q:" What's wrong Baby Reagan? Are you sad that I'm going to school? It's okay. Will you miss me? Don't be sad. I'll come home and see you."
R: "ZZZZZZZZZZ".

School is the only time Baby Reagan gets to experience the concept of "peace and quiet" in this house. But yes. I'm SURE she misses you when you're gone, Quinn.