Death and Taxes

Death and taxes, two things we know are certain. But I found two more that are not only certain but never-ending....dishes and laundry. How can a family of four create so much?

If I woke up one morning and was granted 3 wishes
my first wish would be for someone else to do the dishes

My second wish to mind it most quickly does come
with just the wiggle of my nose for all the laundry be done

My third wish I'd take the first 2 back
for the following I know is a fact

Unnoticed by others, my chores seem to be
I still do it lovingly for my precious family

J.Lo. = Jay Leno

David went out-of-town for a couple of days so my dad came over and stayed the night with me one of the nights. It was great to have the one-on-one time with him. Seems like we just don't get that anymore. As we were talking he told me something that made me laugh. He said for the longest time he thought that J.Lo meant Jay Leno. It wasn't until recently that he figured out that J.Lo is Jennifer Lopez. Sorry, Dad, had to blog about this. Had to document it for our next blog book. Good times!

Mamma, I chewed on it

Benjamin woke up this morning at 5:30 with a pretty nasty stomach virus. It only lasted through the morning, thank goodness. This is the first time in his little life that he has ever thrown up. (Except for one time last weekend and once he did that was the end of it - not sure what that was all about). Anyway, I have no experience in this area when it comes to kids so I really had no idea what to do to help him. I thought giving him juice would be good so that he wouldn't get dehydrated, but then our pediatrician's office said that's a no-no. So that's an example of my ignorance. Sweet little guy would cry so hard right before he'd get sick and then would scream afterwards. He was so confused and didn't understand what was happening. He REFUSED to use the trash can so we had to follow him around with paper towels. Too much info? Sorry. I brought him one of his blankets that he hadn't gotten sick on and he looked at it and said "mamma, I didn't chew on that blanket". It was so cute, that was his way of explaining to me if he got sick on it or not. He actually said it to me several times with different items. Thankfully, he's much better now. Tired, but better. As I was tucking him in bed tonight he reached up and gave me a hug and said "Thank you Mamma, I love you". My heart smiled.

Blurb.com

This blog is really about nothing exciting for everyone else, probably only to me. My friend Sherry has posted some pictures on her blog where she was able to isolate single colors in a photo. I finally figured out how to do it! Super excited about it. I've been playing with the pictures below and having so much fun with it.

By the way, not sure if anyone else has done this but I had my blog for the year 2008 turned into a book. It turned out really well. Great quality and was a lot of fun to put together. I'll be doing it again next year. If anyone else is interested and you want to turn your blog into a book, just go to blurb.com. It was super easy and very affordable. I've decided to do one each year and consider it our "baby book" for the kids. Which explains why I talk so much about milestones each time one happens.

Mother May I?

Benjamin's new thing lately is to ask permission for everything! He'll say "Momma, is it okay if....(insert whatever he wants)?" If I say yes, he'll run to daddy very excitedly and say "Momma said it was okay!" Or when I'm making his lunch he'll pull up his little chair to the island and watch me make it. While I'm putting the grapes, green beans, or whatever finger food it is at that time on his plate he'll ask "is it okay if I have one?" How can you say no to that? Sweet little man.

We've made some major progress with Savannah. She's only nursing one time a day now - right before bed. I'm a little concerned that she really doesn't drink much during the day. I'll offer her a bottle several times a day and each time she'll only drink an ounce or maybe 3 ounces. There's only been a couple of times that she's taken an entire 4 ounces. I guess if she's thirsty she'll drink more, right?

So What's Your Favorite Color?

On the way home from the gym the other day I asked Benjamin to name all of our favorite colors. He got 2 right. Mine and his. Not sure where he came up with the other two. Here's his response:
1. Mamma's is orange.
2. Savannah's is black.
3. Benjamin's is pink.
4. David's is a BIG BIG rainbow.

I must be easily amused because #4 made me laugh all the way home.

Savannah Strikes a Pose

Recently Savannah has started reaching for us to pick her up. Makes us smile every time. (By the way, she doesn't normally hang out around the house in a tutu...I was trying to get some pictures for Valentine's that day).













This is another variation of the pose, she puts her head down and stretches her arms as far as she can. Funny girl.

Children

I know I said I wasn't going to smile for the next few days but my mother-in-law made a liar out of me. By the way, I've received some phone calls and emails about the last post, seriously, it was written mostly out of humor (although there might be a little truth to it). I'm really okay - my attempt at humor failed miserably. Things are all good (except for David's leg) and I'm extremely blessed. As my dad says, "life is good". At any rate, this is an email she sent that made me laugh....

Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was 'DON'T !'

'Don't what?' Adam replied.

'Don't eat the forbidden fruit.' God said.

'Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve...we have forbidden fruit!'

'No Way!'

'Yes way!'

'Do NOT eat the fruit!' said God.

'Why?'

'Because I am your Father and I said so!' God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants.

A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked! 'Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?' God asked.

'Uh huh,' Adam replied.

'Then why did you?' said the Father.

'I don't know,' said Eve.

'She started it!' Adam said.

'Did not!'

'Did too!'

'DID NOT!'

Having had it with the two of them,God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

3. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word
what you shouldn't have said.

4. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

5. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day

AND FINALLY:

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

'TAKE TWO ASPIRIN'
AND 'KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN'!!!!!

No More Nice Kelly

Just FYI, I'm tired of being nice and I'm taking a few days off....no more smiling, no more "how are you", no more compliments, no more doing nice things for other people just because I feel like it. Basically, no more being friendly for the next few days. So if you see me, run the other way. (psssst, I'm having one of those "glass is half-empty" days). Good mood come back!