Hard of Hearing

Both boys have been saying "WHAT?" all day. Continuously. After every single thing I say. Quinn kept asking "what's that sound? What's that beeping? Oh, it's my heart". Colby has been plain ignoring me. My frustration level was rising considerably, when it occurred to me that it's time to clean the boys' ears out. I told Quinn as much, after the last time he responded "WHAT??", while sitting all of 10 inches from my mouth.

Mom: "You don't hear anything I'm saying today, do you?"
Quinn: "WHAT?"
Mom (speaking very loudly directly into his ear): "WE NEED TO CLEAN YOUR EARS OUT!"
Quinn: "OHHHHH. The sound waves aren't getting into my ears because there's too much dirt!".

What a smart boy I have. And what dirty ear canals HE has.

Time To Switch Bathrooms

Evidence that Mom needs to remove her stuff from the boys' bathroom...

#1: A year-old used pregnancy test announcing the pending arrival of Baby Reagan (kept because I'm a sentimental fool) was used this afternoon as a bubble wand

#2: Items used to "fix mom's hair" today included a cheese grater, the base to an electric toothbrush, a hairblower, and a tampon.

#3: A bottle of shampoo was used as bubble juice outside.

Great.

Future Floorplans

My next house is going to have an indoor track. Or at least some circular, unobstructed path. THIS house is built like the digestive system of a worm (you all remember middle-school biology, I'm sure) with one long alimentary canal and little pockets of rooms bulging out to either side. This unfotunately lends itself to high-speed chases from front door to back. I'm currently sitting in the living room watching the blurs go by at high speeds - back and forth, back and forth, with flat little duck feet. In nothing but their skivvies.

Brotherly Love

It's past 10 pm, and I just put the baby to bed. Colby's mattress in Reagan's room, his bed for the last few months, was empty. The couch, where he often ends up during the night, was empty. My bed - another favorite destination - was also empty. WHERE was Colby? After a thorough search of the house, I located him. In bed with his brother, sleeping soundly. Can they not stand to be apart even for a NIGHT? Come on!

Insects

After work today, Colby told me about the "spagitos" that "bite your blood". True 'nuf. He had a huge "spagito" bite on his neck to prove it. I hate "spagito" season nearly as much as I hate 9 months of winter up here.

Saw Blades

Quinn and Colby were playing "karate chop" in the shower last night. Mom intervened.

Q: "But MOM! I need to break a board!"
M: "That would be really hard."
Q: "No it wouldn't. I'll grow my toenails out until they're really long and sharp, and they'll just cut right through!"

Quite the plan. Disgusting, but logical.

Independence... the good kind

Spring break is over, and we're back to the rush rush rush of getting ready for school in the morning. Reagan had a doctor's appointment first thing, so I had to take my shower before the boys left on the bus, rather than afterwards as I usually do. After my shower, I realize that it's 8:00!! They aren't dressed or fed yet, those little men! I panic, and start yelling down into the basement (where I assume they are) to HURRY UP! Let's eat! The bus will be here in 15 minutes!!! No one answered me from the basement. Irritated, I used my "stern Mom voice".
"Boys! Get up here NOW! We have to eat breakfast!"

Still no answer. Know why? Those good little boys were in the kitchen, eating the breakfast they had made themselves -- peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They hadn't gotten themselves dressed, but then again, Dad had let them sleep in their school clothes last night since Mom was at MOPS, and they assumed they already WERE dressed. Who needs a mother these days?????

Not Playing Favorites

Just noticed that my last several blog entries are all about the funny things Quinn says. I'm not playing favorites. He just comes up with things that make me laugh, because he views the world in such a unique way. I may not document it as much, but Colby spends most of HIS time laughing and corroborating what Quinn says. If he were capable of writing this blog, I think he'd be writing down the same things I am.

Colby's World

Quinn was telling me this morning about "Colby's World", where he apparently paid a visit yesterday. I asked him what "Colby's World" was. He just said "you know, when you turn round and round like a tornado until everything spins. That's Colby's World".

I find that intriguingly perceptive, and frighteningly accurate.

Frozen Quinn

Quinn went outside and grabbed a handful of our quickly-disappearing snow, and dubbed it his "pet Quinn". His pet snow now lives in our freezer, to be saved from what would've certainly been a liquid fate if left outdoors. He just told me that "Quinn is still frozen". He's been checking on his snow-pet regularly, to make sure he's still okay. Funny.

Courtesy of Boomerang

Quinn's new favorite expression... "Jumping JumpingJacks!!" I had no idea what that was all about... until I heard "jumping jehosophat" from some snaggle-puss or other from Cartoon Network's Boomerang... circa 1960 or so. OK then.

Humming

Cool moment in my life... just caught Quinn singing the song I wrote Reagan for her baptism. It was just in his head as he was blowing bubbles outside. Don't know why that makes me feel so good, but it does :)

The Recycling Easter Bunny

After finding his Easter basket this morning, Quinn suddenly stopped and said "HEEEYYYY... wait a minute! This is the same basket as LAST year!" I had to think fast...
"Oh, yeah. I set out the baskets from last year for the Easter bunny to reuse this year." So Earth friendly here. Mom is still up by one point. I don't know how much longer I WILL stay ahead of these boys, though. The Easter Bunny apparently left a bag full of grass and the wrappings/price tags for all the fun stuff in the boys' baskets on the coffe table by mistake. It made quite the stir this morning, as the boys thought there were such things as Easter Bags as well as baskets. Nope. Just an over-tired rabbit that didn't put things in the trash where they belonged!!!

A Special Dinner

Quinn is very into the "Cars" calendar he got for Christmas, and locates our "number" every day. Today is 9, on the month of "Doc" (that translates to "April 9th", for all you people using a traditional calendar). Tonight at dinner, he kept telling us that tomorrow was 10, and that meant he got a SPECIAL DINNER!

Dad: "No, you mean 12 is the special dinner. That's Easter."
Quinn: "Today is 9. Tomorrow is 10. 10 is the special dinner."
Mom: "No, the special dinner is in 3 days. Easter is in 3 days."
Quinn: "NO! 10 is the special dinner!"
Mom and Dad, to each other: "WHAT is he talking about???"
Quinn (hauling a stool into the pantry): "I'll show you."
Mom: "What are you doing in the pantry? Come back to the table."
Quinn: "It's my special dinner for 10!!"

Quinn climbed up on a stool in the pantry, and came out with two cans of Spaghettios. Tomorrow is 10, which means mom is at work, and Dad cooks dinner. Or opens a can of Spaghettios, which the boys haven't had in about 2 years. And which he is obviously looking forward to more than any old Easter dinner!!

A Dubious First

The Offense: A Miscellaneous Child was heard uttering the phrase "Stupid Mom" while speaking to his brother

The Perp: Originally, "The Law" (aka "Stupid Mom") thought it was Quinn who had committed the crime. He pled not-guilty very convincingly, and fingered his brother. Colby pled not-guilty very un-convincingly. Later, he was overheard confessing to his brother, so I know I nabbed the right kid.

The Punishment: A first in our house.... washing his mouth out with soap. Colby was more
confused than upset at this punishment. "WHY are you washing my mouth out with soap?" he asked. "Because your mouth is dirty after saying something not very nice, and now we have to make it clean again." "Oh, OK". Afterwards, I heard him telling Quinn that "Mom washed my teeth because they were dirty after I said 'stupid'". Thus the confession, and the realization that washing his mouth out with soap may not have been severe enough a punishment.

Growth Spurt

Colby's tongue has had a growth spurt. It appears freakishly long, and is rarely in his mouth these days. Several people have mentioned it. Weird.

The Big Boy

OK, here's something funny my HUSBAND said (I am now lumping all boys together on this blog, since it's called "Life with boys" and I didn't specify an age). Tonight we had a wonderful meal of roasted ham with whole cloves and pineapple, mashed potatoes, applesauce, and side salads, with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Robbie and the little boys were thrilled with dinner.

Rob: "So, who's going to thank me?"
Mom: "Thank you? For what?"
Rob (dead serious): "For the meal!"
Mom: "But I cooked it!!!!!"
Rob: "Yes, but I dreamed it all up, and came up with the concept, and I think it's the perfect blend of foods."
Mom: "But I COOKED IT!!!"
Rob: "Fine. You don't have to appreciate the fact that this is the meal I requested. I'll pat myself on the back."

You go ahead and do that, big boy. No one else is going to!

Lollipops

The boys got some lollipops today in Marquette, which we saved until after dinner. The following conversations occurred regarding said lollipops:

Q: "If I eat my lollipop with some fruit, does that make it a 'go' food?" (BTW, 'go' foods are healthy foods... that's what they call them at school).

C: "It's not a lollipop. It's a SWEET SUCK. "

PLLLLEEEAAASSEE don't call it a "sweet suck" anywhere but at home!!!

An Apology

The boys' preschool teacher called today, and told me that Colby smashed Quinn's thumb with a wooden block during play time. "I didn't see it," she said "but Colby didn't deny it, so I'm guessing that's probably what happened". I would guess the same. I asked my mom how she thought I should best handle the situation.... do I punish at home, hours after the incident? We both agreed that maybe we should discuss what happened with both boys, and then have Colby tell us how he could've handled the situation differently and apologize. Quinn brought his bandaged thumb immediately to our attention as soon as he got off the bus. The story was told, and Colby explained that he hit Quinn because he wanted a toy. We talked about other ways of sharing toys (set the timer, take turns, etc.). Then I made Colby hug his brother and apologize. Colby WOULD NOT say the words, and so the hug lasted quite awhile. Finally, Quinn said

Q: "Mom, it's okay. I don't WANT Colby to hug me."
M: "I know you don't, but Colby needs to do this."
Q: "I don't want a hug."
M: "Colby, apologize so the hug can stop."
C: "whimper whimper whimper"
M: "Just hurry up and say the words!"
C: "whimper whimper whimper:
Q: (manually moving Colby's jaw, and pretending to throw his voice) "I'm sorry, Quinn... I love you".
C: "whimper whimper whimper"
M: "You can sing it. You can shake hands and say it. You can yell it. But you have to say the words."
C: "whimper whimper whimper"
Q: "Can we stop hugging now?"
M: "Colby, say the words!"

Stubborn little boy. His brother was punished with a hug for several minutes, because Colby wouldn't just say a few simple words. I think Quinn felt more punished than Colby.

Scrabble

The boys played Scrabble this morning -- originally completely on their own for the first two words. Grandma helped them spell "tractor". Afterwards, Quinn and Colby made their first wish on a wishbone. Quinn wished for Dutch Baby for breakfast, and Colby wished for chicken nuggets. Lucky for all of us, Quinn won.