Robot. Making. Pancakes.

So one morning Emanuel wakes up before anybody else in the house. Instead of letting us know that he was up and at 'em, he took his little self downstairs and proceeding to cook. Now his all time favorite food is pancakes. He has helping me make them many times, and I guess he felt like he had a pretty good grasp of the recipe. He climbed up onto the kitchen counter, opened the cabinet, started pulling out spices and dumping them in a bowl, and stirring them all together. Dustin told me later how he walked onto the scene and Emanuel started doing the robot walk and robotically chanting, " Robot making pancakes". Dustin found this so hilarious that Emanuel sort of got away with his transgressions. Since then every time he makes a big mess and senses that he might be about to get in trouble he pulls the "Robot making pancakes" out and charms us yet again. Why is this so funny to us? Who knows.

Soooo, the other day Emanuel and his sidekick went outside to draw with chalk, which lasted only as long as they were supervised , and then it was into the mud puddle they went. When I acted chagrined at this disaster Emanuel let me know that they just robots making pancakes out of mud.

but that house doesn't look mad

Here it is! Miss America! Our new home! Dustin loves it. I love it. And the kids love it. As you can see; the sky is always blue, the clover grass is always green, and the breeze keeps the flag waving gently.
Inside there is lots of love. And boxes, still. We've got a backyard, And behind that is the "forest". Kind neighbors. Quiet streets. It's better than we had imagined.
Well, the kids might have imagined something this wonderful, but they have great imaginations.

Prissy Missy

The girliest girly girl ever.

She only wants to wear dresses and be clean and pretty

(she usually falls WAY short of clean, as a toddler is wont to do).

 The other night she came downstairs draped in one of my nighties. She was so proud of her 'pretty dress'. There were lots of tears when we made her wear her own pajamas to bed.

She likes hearts, flowers, butterflies, and fishies (?).

 She does NOT like bugs.

 She always prefers a flower bow over a plain clippie.

 When she get food on herself at meals she calls for a "natkin, natkin!" until she gets a napkin,daintily wipes herself off, disposes of the napkin, because it's "dirty!" then she plunges her hands back into her food for another bite (spoons and forks are hard work and she's usually too hungry to be that patient).

 She only wears two pairs of shoes, a pair of pink cowgirl boots, and flower-y sandals.

She is very particular about what color bottle or binkie she uses.

 If I have hair in my face she pushes it over and says, "eyes?".

She's my little cuddle bug.

 She has a little toy drill she points at me and says "pow, pow".

She loves it when I die dramatically.                

Her daddy says, "nobody can be girlier than Sophie." But her little sister will have such a great role model.

We'll see. We'll see.

Darn it!

So yesterday Emanuel asked me if I know what Darn it! means. I was curious to hear his interpretation so I asked for the definition. He said, "It means, Stop making that mess right now!"
 I'd say that's pretty accurate.

For Hire: Artist of Destruction

Do you need revenge? Want to play a cruel practical joke? Is your blood pressure too low? I have your solution!

  Your very own three year old terror. He can absolutely destroy any area in fifteen minutes flat. Just leave him lacking adult supervision and he will create a distressing masterpiece worthy of a psychotic museum.

Some of his favorite mediums:

~ Lotion
~Dirt
~Paint
~Oil (cooking, baby, lubricating, etc.)

~Makeup

~A dresser full of clean laundry

~Female hygiene products

~Eggs

~Gel (hair, aloe, etc.)
~Baking supplies (flour, baking soda, flax seed, powder sugar, etc)
~Lightbulbs
~A garden
~Sticks
~Shaving cream
~Crayons
~Paper (Newspapers, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
~Ketchup
These are only some of the works I have witnessed. If the place you want trashed does not have all or any of these props; don't worry! He is infinitely creative!


Will accept Chicken Nuggets as payment.

note: He seems to do his best work with the encouragement of his little sister, so if you want something truly stunning, extra nuggets must be provided.

Bedtime miracle

Here's how it played out.
 Scene: Emanuel and Symphony sitting on my lap. Betsy playing on floor next to us.

Emanuel: Mommy, can I have some more juice?
Me: No son, It's almost bedtime, so no more juice today.
Sophie: (jumping up and running towards room) Pillow, blanket, binkie!?!
Me: okay sweetie, mommy will put you down.
Emanuel: Can I go to bed too?
Me: Sure
(Emanuel runs to room)
At this point Beatrix pipes in with her tired cry, whick I interpretted as: "please mommy, don't forget about me, I'm tired too!")

Scene: Kid's room with two oldest children. Mommy is lowering Sophie into her bed with night night prayers and kisses.

Emanuel: Oh! Mommy, can I have a fresh diaper?
Me: Absolutely!
( Emanuel leaves rooom)

Scene: Living room diaper changing station. Emanuel lays on changing pad with diaper in hand)
I change diaper, change him into his jammies, kiss him and tell him what a precious son he is.

Emanuel trots off to bed, I follow, tuck him in.
Emanuel : Night Night mommy! Love you! See you in the morning!
Sophie: Nigh Nigh! Wuvvu! Morning!

I leave room, put Betsy down and she immediately falls asleep, no fussing.
Thanks Lord. I needed that!

fishing

It was a lovely day today so I took the kids down to the creek for a bit this afternoon. All of the fancy toys in the world are no match for water, sticks, and rocks. Why is it so satisfying to throw rocks into water, and SPLASH!