Goodbye Chig

Monday morning Nemo died. James and I found him and was quick to make a trip to the pet and make the swap before the kids noticed. This is actually Nemo3 now, but we have not been ready to face the heaartache of the children by telling them their fish has died. Tuesday morning Roman turned on the tank and discovered his beloved Chig had died that night. We have since discovered a chemical inbalance with the water and are working to correct it, but as Roman made the discovery the thing I have been dreading most occured. The cries and anguish of loosing their first pet was horrible, even worse than I imagined and I found myself crying too as we gave Chig a ceremonious burial at sea. Chig joined our family as a present from Santa this past Christmas. Two years in the waiting, only to leave us 4 months later. Chig was Roman's long awaited pet, his bribe for potty training, his constant promise for an entire year thereafter. Roman proclaims his "heart is breaking". Upon looking for a new fish, Chig2, Roman has decided he does not want to replace Chig. Instead he will enjoy the 2 remaining fish - Rain & Nemo, and is working on setting up a home for his new frog to be named Toad, after falling in love with a red-bellied frog at Noah's pet store in Midlothian. Will keep you posted on how that turns out....

Another opinionated, stubborn motor-mouth....

It will come to no shock for anyone that has met my children that the older 2 are extremely opinionated, very stubborn and total motor-mouths. So it should also come as no surprise to hear that with Bethany's ever growing vocabulary, she fits right in. Yesterday I was discussing with Hope what she thought we should have for dinner and she suggested Spaghetti & Meatballs. Bethany's response "NO" Well, what would Bethany like? "TACO" Mommy doesn't have everything for tacos, how about spaghetti "NO, TACO" After another round of that and she flew off into her unidentifiable blabbering to which I'm sure she was telling me all about it. Finally I got out the meatballs and showed her. Her whole face lit up, "mmmmmmmmm BALL" Is this okay Bethany? "YES mmmmmmmm BALL" Okay, so spaghetti it is tonight. "NO, BALL" Sure enough she wouldn't touch that spaghetti but was careful to pick out every piece of meatball!

Blow Up Pools

James and I have been discussing getting a pool for the backyard. I had originally wanted a more permanent above ground pool, but as of late we have been investigating the popular blow up pools instead due to their low cost and easy removal, therefore no maintenance during the cold seasons. Upon discussing this with the kids Roman became very very excited! "That's the coolest thing ever! So when my friends come over they can play in it and go flying when it explodes! Sweet!" After James and I choke back the tears of hysterics we had to explain to him that in this case 'blow-up' and 'explode' were two completely different things! He was a little disappointed and not so thrilled about the pool idea after that.

Garrett and Egg Dye

James and I are not only the proud parents of 3 little hoodlums, but also the very proud God-parents to 2 almost two year olds. Abigail aka Abby will turn 2 next month, while Garrett will be turning two this summer.

Anyway, we went to the Jones's for dinner and egg dying the night before Easter. The older kids were having a ball playing egg hunts with the plastic eggs, when Garrett toddles into the living room. I had to do one of those double takes then jerked him up for a quick once over before I jumped up and ran to the kitchen calmly yelling to Alicia "It's non-toxic, it's non-toxic, I swear it's non-toxic". As she quickly joined us in the kitchen to see her beautiful son drooling dark purple drool with purple streaks all over his little face and completely covering his hands. A thorough investigation, confirmed my initial suspicions. Garrett had stolen the egg dye tablets and ate two of them!

The Easter Bunny

This weekend was Easter. On Saturday the kids were all hyped up and getting excited about E.B's impending visit. At some point Hopey got it in her head that we had to leave cookies for the Easter Bunny, just like we do for Santa. So I ask, "Okay, but don't you think the Easter Bunny would prefer a carrot or something?" NO "Well, I guess we'll make cookies and set out some cookies and milk just like we do for Santa, okay?" NO, THE EASTER BUNNY WANTS COOKIES, SOUP, AND JUICY JUICE!

No, we didn't leave anything out for the big bunny, we spent the evening over at friends and she was crashed by the time we got home. :)

Daddy's Girl

When Bethany was born she didn't want much to do with James. I was so pleased to finally have a mommy's girl! Well, back in January I went to Texas for a week and I'm not sure how or what he did to corrupt my precious little angel, but she has been a Bmonster and total daddy's girl ever since. She has a very short temper and is going through some major terrible 2 temper tantrums at the ripe 'ole age of not quite 17 months. She will throw herself on the ground kicking and screaming. She has also been known to pinch and bite out of anger and frustration as well. Lately she has added a new twist to her trantrums. When she doesn't get her way, she stands there, screams and starts yelling "I want my daaaaaaaaadddddddddddyyyyyyyyy!"

Mocking Bird

If you were to visit our house these days, you'd swear we had a new pet mocking bird! Bethany Nicole is beginning to talk up a storm and finds herself hysterical over mocking people. Just a little while ago James called and in the conversation mentioned that she was driving him nuts today "Boy oh boy oh boy, she's gonna do me in today". Immediately following I here "oooooh boy" "ooooooooh boy" hehehehe

3 going on 23

Hope strolled up to a group of 4 year old boys at soccer meet 'n greet last night and with her hand on one hip and slightly shaking her booty she says "Hello, boy-eez", then ran away giggling. It's a good thing she has an older brother, cause we're gonna need his help keeping her in line in years to come. She's definitely the one most contributing to her daddy's grey hairs!

Playground Bullies

Last night was Roman's first day of soccer. The normal meet 'n greet. James is coaching again and we currently have 10 players on our team with a possible 2 more by next week's first practice. After the teams were formed and the parents were talking and getting the low down on what to expect, the older kids grabbed a few balls and hit the soccer fields while the younger ones ran for the playground. We began wrapping things up, so I went off to fetch the kids. Dragged Hope off the playground, then began walking to the far end of the field in search of Roman. What I found instead was a 4 year old pinned to the ground by 4 of the older 5 year old boys. Much to my dismay, my son was one of them!

I quickly broke it up, the boy went running off to his mother, but no tears or crying, and the other 3 dispersed while I summoned Roman over for questioning. I did note at this time that the other 3 boys were Roman's friend Sam and two of their new teammates. I marched Roman over to his father for interogation. This is what I heard:

James: "Were you fighting out there?"

Roman: "Yes"

James: "How many?"

Roman: "Just one"

James: "Was he bigger than you?"

Roman: "No, he's only four and this tall (motioning a shorter than him height with his hand)"

James: "Why were you fighting with him?"

Roman: "Because he pushed me down, twice"

James: "Then what happened?"

Roman: "My boys came to my rescue and we got him back"

James: began with the lecture on why that was wrong.... the continued with the follow up. "What do you do next time a bully pushes you?"

Roman: "I push him back"

James: "NO you ask him to stop. What do you do if he does it again?"

Roman: "I hit him"

James: "NO you find an adult and tell him, and you never summon your posse to back you up, unless you're outnumbered. Four on one is not even a fair fight."

We then made Roman apologize to the boy, even though he promised the other kid started it, and when he did, I thought the kid's mother was going to jump me. Let's just say the apple apparently didn't fall far from that tree!

Little Miss Sticky Fingers

Hope has always been the sneaky one of the family. Quietly sneaking food, candy, drinks, and toys behind our backs, and always sure to dispose of the evidence. We've caught her from time to time but mostly we just "know" she does it without actually catching her. Like when you set down a drink and it's mysteriously empty when you return for it.... that's Hope!

Lately I think Hopey has been trying to teach her little sister the secrets of this trade.

All day Saturday we had Tobey (the dog Roman's dog-sitting for) over. She was in the house for awhile and had some nasty gas and I swore she pooped in the house. As we're double checking and looking around, here comes Bethany out of the kitchen, with black tar like stuff all over her face and around her mouth, and covering both hands. James freaked out, we're running around looking for the poop, believing she had sampled it, instead what do we find? A small pile of Milky Way Caramel wrappers that didn't quite make it to the trash can!

Later that same day, I had a diet Pepsi and set it on the bookcase to run and change over the laundry. I return to find Bethany trying desperately to sneak the can back into place before being caught. As if that wasn't evidence enough for a guilty conviction, she was still licking her lips and the front of her shirt was drenched!

I suppose, Hope's lessons on being a sneak weren't happening to her satisfaction, because yesterday morning she decided to take things into her own hands. I was having a snack of some potatoe chips. Bethany walked up, held her hands out like she wanted me to pick her up. Then as I sat the chips down to tend to her, she grabbed the bag and tore off down the hall as fast as her little legs could carry her!

Shop-A-Holic

On Saturday, Hopey grabs my hand and tries to lead me out the door.

"Hopey, where are we going?" TO THE STORE

"What for?" I DON'T CARE

"Well, where do you want to go?" ANYWHERE

"Well, what do you want to do?" SHOP. I WANT TO SHOP AND SHOP AND SHOP AND SHOP ALL DAY LONG. CLOTHES AND TOYS AND DVD'S AND SHOES AND TOOLS AND GROCERIES AND ANYTHING, LET'S JUST GO SHOPPING!!!

Conversation: James & Roman

Last night we're out and about and realize it's dinner time. So James asks Roman if he has any suggestions for dinner:

Roman: "hmmm, I'd really like something that's not on my diet"

James, laughing: "Not on your diet, huh? What would that be?"

Roman: "Oh, I dunno, something really really goooooooooooood!"

James, laughing again: "Roman, where do you come up with this stuff?"

Roman: "I just think it in my brain. I'm always thinking and thinking. Yea, I must be the smartest kid in the whole wide world with all this thinking going on in my brain!"

Hopey Stats

Hope has been eating a lot more than usual lately. We're pretty sure she's about to hit a major growth spurt. She weighed in yesterday at 32 1/2 lbs (that's a 5 lb gain in 6 months) and is 37 inches tall. Her weight and height have flip-flopped in percentiles since her last measurements. The last time this happened she grew nearly 3 inches practically overnight. Come on spring, mama does not want to shop for winter clothes again!

Bethany's Demise of the PS2

Last night, our genious baby, Bethany found her own personal chair. She opened the PlayStation2 disk tray and proceeded to sit on it. Needless to say, it is bent and big brother is devastated!

Dog Sitting

This week Roman is dog sitting for Carol & Eddie. Tonight, Tobey came to our house for a visit. I'm not real sure who was more excited, her or Roman. They played in the backyard for nearly 2 hours just running back and forth and chasing balls. When dragged inside for dinner, Hopey proceeded to hug Tobey to death, while Bethany retreated to the top of the couch screaming her head off now and then. I suppose a large black dog of the same height as you, yet 4 times bigger could be a bit intimidating!

Potty Time with Hope

Last night while at the mall trying on shoes, Hopey began her potty dance, which in itself is hysterical. She had just gone potty when we left the restaurant and we figured this was another one of her attempts toward her goal to visit every potty known to man. But after a few times of telling her to hold on, she loudly pronouces to all that she has to poo-poo NOW. So we run back to Spinnaker's to borrow their bathroom and I, of course, go in the stall with her and help her get up on the potty.... here's where the problem comes in. The girl will not poop in front of anyone so she begins chit chat and laughing instead. Coming up with one of my brilliant plans, I tell her I'm going to go to sleep and she can wake me when she's done, and I lay my head against the wall (yes they have really clean bathrooms there!), close my eyes and pretend to fall asleep. Almost instanteously she's down her business and "wakes" me up. While she's getting ready I decide I better tinkle before we leave and so we switch places. AS I sit down I hear, "Wait mommy, I need to pretend to sleep first"

Hot Stuff

Last night we were at the mall to buy shoes for all the kids. Stride Rite encourages the kids to walk and even run around the store while trying on shoes to get a good feel for them. You can imagine how crazy that was when all 3 needed shoes at the same time (we normally try to keep them staggard to avoid such chaos). Bethany got hers on first, a cute little pair of white and pink tennis shoes for spring/summer. Her first non-walking shoes and cute as can be. I commented on how adorable and grown-up she looked. Told her "You sure are hot stuff Bethany" and within a minute of those words leaving my mouth she took off right out the door, across the hall at an all-out run for Victoria's Secret!

Once Upon a Time...

Hope is our lover of all things Princesses and addicted to Disney Princesses. Over the past several days, anything of importance to her begins with "Once Upon a Time..." and ends with "The End". For example, upon sneaking a cracker after being told no, she would respond when questioned "Once Upon a Time, Princess Hope ate a cracker. The End"

So Hope and I sneak out during nap time for a quick shopping trip on Sunday. We're half way through Target when I hear "OH MY (giggle giggle)"

What's wrong sweetie? PRINCESS HOPE MUST GO TO THE POTTY NOW (in her most highly important princess voice)

So we go the restroom and she proclaims "THE PRINCESS DOES NOT NEED HELP IN THE POTTY"

So I stand guard while she does her business, and when she comes out I ask her "Did you go?"

ONCE UPON A TIME, PRINCESS HOPE WENT PEE-PEES IN THE POTTY. THE END!

Easter Outfits

Friday we were discussing plans for the weekend and, realizing Easter is just a few weeks away, decided it was time to start looking for the kids Easter outfits. I knew just what I wanted for the girls and told Roman we would look for something for him to wear on Easter as well. The boy went hysterical! He was on the verge of tears and so upset. Not understanding what the problem is, I asked. "Mom, I don't wanna wear an Easter Bunny costume, that's for girls!"

I Spy

Last night we tried a new restaurant called A NY Slice. (EXCELLENT!) Well the kitchen is in the middle of the restaraunt and you can walk all the way around it. There is just something about that circular sorta layout in buildings that sets my 3 into total hoodlum mode and Roman and Hope immediately began running around the place. Finally wrestling them into their seats I attempted, successfully, to distract them with a game of I Spy while we awaited our food. I went first:

I spy something blue!
Took them awhile but they finally found the blue water in a painting behind Roman. So, it's his turn.

I spy something black!
James quickly identified the black speakers hanging near the ceiling. So, it's his turn.

I spy something musical!
Ahh, the speakers again? Nope, Hopey found it, a guitar hanging decoratively on the wall. So now it's her turn.

I spy my orange soda in the blue & white cup!
hmmm, she's gonna need more practice at this!