more.from.claire

This one is an ant. I guess kids take pictures when you have ant problems in your house.

These next two are really fun. This is a birdhouse that my dad gave the girls to paint. I bought the paint (last fall), and we obviously didn't get it painted fast enough for the girls.

Here's how the story goes: "Mom! Don't come in here. We're doing something, and we don't want you to see it. It's a surprise!" Hmmmm...this always makes me wonder.

But, I'm trying to be nice...I just think they are playing and "creating" something. Yes, that's what it was. Again, "Mom! We're making your Christmas present...don't come in here."

Ok, now I'm going to feel bad if I see it because I don't want to ruin my Christmas present! So, I go to the back of the house to do some work. I come back out (forgetting that they are working on my Christmas present), and I walk around the corner and see this:

Yes, those are crayons. Yes, those are barrettes. Yes, those are plaster of paris shapes. Yes, that is a Littlest Pet Shop figurine. And, oh yes, they are all glued to the birdhouse.

Me: What did you do?!!! Those are our best crayons! (On a side note...of course, they were the best crayons...this was a Christmas present for Mom after all.)

Claire and Meredith (pretty much in unison): Mom! You saw your present before we wrapped it! Now we can't give it to you for Christmas!!!

Me: (saying nothing...what do you say when you've ruined your Christmas present?) Well, let's just put it on the counter, and we'll talk about it later.

Later...after Josh gets home...

Josh: Girls, don't you think you should ask before you do something like this?

Claire and Meredith: Well, we couldn't ask Mom...it was her Christmas present...then she would have known what she was going to get!

Josh: (just like me...no response to this one.)

I guess I'm not getting anything for Christmas.