{practice what you preach}

Stay tuned to this blog.  I realized it's been almost an entire month since I've blogged, but trust me, I'm going to be catching up in the very near future.  You may feel like you're drowning in blog posts.

Yesterday, I started teaching a middle school/high school class at our homeschool co-op, so I've been working diligently on that.  I can't remember giving anything up for Lent in the past, but this year I decided to join the bandwagon and sacrifice.  And I guess I followed the "Go big or go home" mindset. I pretty much gave up facebook {although, I've had to go on for a few things here and there}.  The absence of fb in my life has been lovely, and I truly have had more time to work on my to-dos.  

The second half of my Lent pledge was to give up desserts.  This has not been lovely and has truly been a challenge.  I was drooling over the chocolate chip cookie bars I made last Friday for some company, and when I put the extras in the freezer, it was all I could do to not devour the crumbs that were calling my name from the pan.  

Anyway, all this to say that we've been super busy, and I'm in borderline despair over the lack sweetness in my life.  

So, I leave you with a little conversation between Amelia and me this morning...

Background info:  Amelia is a huge exaggerator.  I'm constantly correcting her words to be more appropriate to her situation.  She says things like, "But that's going to take 14 years!!" Really, it's a week.  

Claire and Meredith were reading "Goodnight Moon" to Olivia, and I was working in the kitchen and reciting it along with them.  

Meredith:  Wow, Mom...have you read this book before?!

Me: I read it like a million times to both of you when you were Olivia's age.

Amelia {said in the most perfect "mom" tone}: Several times, Mom.  Say "several times".  I don't think you've read it a million times...and you always say that to me.  

Being put in your place by your 4 year old is one of the most humbling experiences. :) 

{b.i.f. eighteen}

I've been catching Olivia opening the bottom slide out inserts in our kitchen cabinets with her feet.  

Someone around here has been setting a bad example for her.

It might be me.

{practical joke}

Tonight, I do believe, the very first non-parent-led practical joke was carried out in our home.  Claire and I were in a deep educational discussion shortly before bed.  I sent Amelia and Meredith back to their room for a bit so that Claire and I could finish our conversation.

Claire headed back to her room while I read to Meredith and Amelia.  Claire obviously didn't get into her bed {top bunk} before I was finished reading to the girls.

We all headed back to their room and chatted for a bit before they climbed in bed.  Claire began to climb her ladder, turned around, and said, "Who did this?!!  Who got in my bed?!!"

I had no clue what was happening.  I looked over at Meredith, and she had the biggest grin on her face!  It was hilarious.  I said, "I don't know what happened to your bed, but Meredith looks awfully guilty!"  We all laughed.

I checked out the bed, and there were Duplo blocks scattered all across Claire's bed.  Nothing major, but Meredith and Amelia were laughing so hard.  They were so proud of themselves.

{natural instincts}

Tonight while I was washing the pots and pans after dinner {this in itself is shocking, I know},  Olivia pulled out several bowls and measuring cups from the lazy susan.  She placed them in a nice neat line on the edge of the counter.

She chose the smallest one, sat on the floor, wrapped it in a dishtowel, and then proceeded to rock it and sing it a sweet little song.  The tune and the words were made up entirely by her and unrecognizable to us.  This did nothing but make it ridiculously adorable.  

{b.i.f. seventeen}

I just finished helping Amelia get dressed to play outside in the snow.  I found her missing mitten, and this was the conversation:

A: You found it!!  You're a genius!
Me {smiling}: Thank you.
A: What does "genius" mean?
Me: It means you're really smart.  What did you think it meant?
A: I thought it meant "I love you".

I'll take it either way. :)  

{gingerbread houses 2012}

I'm just going to let these pictures speak for themselves.  I absolutely loved doing this with the girls today.  Such a sweet day.  Amelia and I worked on hers together. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{b.i.f. sixteen}

I put Olivia in some old bib overalls today {complete with a hole in the knee}.  A couple of hours later, I noticed that she had leaked through her pants and needed a complete change of wardrobe.  I laid her down to take her bibs off, and she began to wail. 

And I mean wail.  

She grasped onto the front of those bibs and hung on for dear life.  She was yelling, "Noooo! Doooh! Daahhhp!"  {In English, that would be, "No! Don't! Stop!"}

I began to chuckle and said to the girls, "I think she doesn't want to take these off!"  They all agreed.  

I did my best to try to pull them off of her, but she continued to cling to her beloved bibs.  The girls and I couldn't contain ourselves; we were laughing hysterically.  At this point, her little face was beet red.  I think she was even sweating.

I finally pried those overalls out of her sticky little hands while she spewed baby obscenities in my general direction.

This entire scenario made my day.