The Family That Shreds Together

Disclaimer:  It should be noted that with the shredder turned off and unplugged, I made sure there was no way chubby little fingers could get stuck in the mechanism, and aside from taking the picture, my hands were right next to theirs.

They thought what I was doing was so fun they wanted to join in.  If only I thought shredding 1000 pieces of paper was as fun as they seemed to think.  Silly, silly little boys.

In random news (which I'm so GOOD at), I have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang songs stuck in my head:  P-O-S-H-posh, the traveling life for me.

My Manic Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday

Hehe, I have the best pictures, but I have a rotten, kind of violent feeling cold and am too tired to go to my room and get my camera, so I hope to share the pics and the great little story that belongs with them tomorrow.  Today, as it has been single digits and cold for way too many days/nights for way too long, and it is really showing in the kids hyper level, I did what many moms have done before but what i have never been inclined to do.  I took them to an indoor play place called Planet Kid, and it wasn't too bad.  I did find out I am super uptight about other moms not making sure their kids are following the rules.  Like, no I'm not okay with your 8-year-old being in the toddler ball pit and throwing all the balls out so that the worker has to go to  the outside of the enclosure to get them while you chat away with your friends about conspiracy theories.  See, lame pet peeve, but it is mine and I will own it.  My kids had a great time, and were absolutely exhausted afterwards...for about an hour.  Then, they started with the too hyper because it's too cold and we want to eat lots because it's too cold thing again.  That's ok though.  They are alive and healthy and cute and way better at following rules than a lot of kids and adults I know, so I love them lots.  Pics tomorrow as naughty, naughty The Hulk has been at it again....

Tooth Fairy Tales-3

Tooth Fairy Times-2

I've often thought of the Tooth Fairy as a very busy woman.  Actually, my kids did inquire whether the Tooth Fairy was a boy or girl, and I can't recall the answer, but anyway, I think of s/he as a busy person, all night, every night, go, go, go.  Due to this fact, I'm pretty sure s/he dreads coming to our house where usually a very detailed and inquisitive letter awaits.  Our home, the great time waster.  Poor, poor TF.

Wacky Wellness Wednesday

I know many people who are believers that taste testing food as you're preparing it, including that nice spoonful of cookie dough, doesn't count calorie wise but...

Have you ever told yourself that a certain sugar/fat laden cake or bread was healthy because it has fruit in it?

Have you ever told yourself that it is your moral obligation to eat the rest of that bag of chocolates/chips/candy because once they are finally out of this house, via your digestive tract, then you can finally eat healthy?

Have you ever told yourself you would finally eat healthy, go out and buy all the items to do so, and then let them sit neglected as you go about participating merrily in your old habits?

Have you ever let a good number on the scale give you permission to do some celebratory eating, and conversely, have you ever let a bad number on the scale cause you to do some depressed eating?

See what I have had to put up with all these years of living with me?  Oh, the lies, the lies!!!  Make them stop!

My being more healthy plans this year are starting out simple, and my only concrete measure of success will be fitting into this pair of shorts I picked up at Ross last summer.  I can squeeze into them now, but they are meant to be relaxed fit, awesome outdoors' babe style, so that's the goal.

That Kind of Day

Today was that kind of day.  Best laid plans fell apart.  To illustrate, the highlights of my day were Downton Abbey while folding laundry and the fact that our Franz Bread outlet has awesome customer service.  I am thankful for a new beginning every day.  I suppose the day wasn't a total loss in that I learned that my chicken pot pie is delish with curry powder.  Who would have guessed?  Also, when I had to call our HelpDesk after having a software issue when I was supposed to be working, my lovely service representative, Mohamed, and I had a fab conversation about United States snow and other such fascinating topics.  Nobody from India customer service has ever engaged me in conversation before-I am used to awkward conversation while the computer restarts, etc., but, no, today it was more pleasant than usual.  Back tomorrow with a tooth fairy tale.  Hooray for chocolate and bed!

Mom's Manic Monday

Many of you know what it's like to get immersed into the world of Harry Potter.  Well this young man is certainly in that state of mind right now:

Sorry about the faux-mo.  He wanted it and his barber was accommodating.  He is in the fourth Harry Potter book currently.  He asked me this past week if in the spring he could plant a tree.  I am always flattered when the kids appear to take up my interest in plants and gardening.  "What kind of a tree do you want to plant?" I asked him.  "It just has to be big and strong so I can make things out of it, like a broom and a wand."   O-kaaay.

How many of you have had this problem, reckless destruction of your landscaping for the assembly of witchcraft paraphernalia?  Should I be worried?

The other kids:

Judy Moody has a crush, and listening to her about it, I try to just keep calm.  If I freak out or interrogate her, she will never confide in me again.  It all sounds harmless enough-hands accidentally brushing against each other while playing a math game, smiling at each other across the lunch table.  I would be very disturbed with a third grader telling me they quietly gazed into each others' eyes for what felt like minutes, but then I was reminded of my young love.  Ah, Devin from second grade.  I thought he was great to play with at recess.  We had these awesome toy guns we earned in class that we played with at recess (my. how times have changed), and he was THE BEST.  I really knew it was serious on my part at our end of year talent show.  Devin dressed up as Elvis, including dying his blonde hair black, and sang "Heartbreak Hotel".  Something about his skillful use of Elvis pelvis caused my heart to flutter, so as long as it is just a crush I think I can handle JM liking boys...only crushes though, because I will put the kibosh on all that going steady, etc., etc, in a hurry if that comes about.  Incidentally, Devin moved to Colorado after that school year, but I have never forgotten Elvis the Pelvis's third grade comeback.

The Quiet Man-He has managed to say one word very clearly in prayers which is "gateful", which means grateful, so we have to say lots of thankful prayers to encourage his words coming along.  He has a best buddy in church (which he hasn't really paid much attention to any kids besides bros and sis before, so yesterday I was actually a little proud when he was distracted from paying attention because he was goofing with his friend.  I consider it a good sign.  He was so sick last week and really seemed to decide to live life to the fullest after getting over it.  I've never seen him so happy, and hugging and kissing.  What a fun kid!

The Hulk-Is being characteristically hulky.  He can successfully climb the bar stools with ease.  I thought I was being clever, in a desperate attempt to cook in peace, by gating off the kitchen entry, but TH was on the counter in no time and probably ready to jump off the other side, just to prove to me there is no stopping him.  I am becoming a believer.