Moms

1. How did God make moms?
Alex: In the bible it was by using, I think it was dirt maybe.
Andrew: Ummmm, ahhhh, eh, ummm. With making them be girlish. Is that right? (Mmhhmm) YES!

2. What ingredients are moms made of?
Alex: Atoms. Water in the brian. Your brain is 87 or something like that percent water.
Andrew: Meat, ham.

3. Why did God give you YOUR mom?
Alex: Um because she could take good care of us.
Andrew: Because he wanted me to know her name and my mom's husband's name.

4. What kind of girl was your mom?
Alex: A nice girl.
Andrew: Kathryn

5. What did your mom need to know about your dad before she married him?
Alex: If he was kind.
Andrew: That he was going to love you.

6. Whose the boss at your house?
Alex: My mom and my dad.
Andrew: Mommy and Daddy.

7. Why did your mom marry your dad?
Alex: He was very nice, kind, and cute.
Andrew: Because the mom needed a husband and the children too so that they got the children. Is that right?

8. What's the difference between your mom and dad?
Alex: My mom's gender is female and my dad's gender is male. (Scientific, huh!)
Andrew: Our dad has boy hair and our mom has girl hair. But sometimes the dad has hair that looks like girl hair.

9. What does your mom do in her spare time?
Alex: Do her crossword puzzles or suduko and not read any of the books I let her read, yet.
Andrew: Make sure the kids are not kidnapped and not lost and make sure they don't do something when they don't ask their moms and um I did that on accident. I didn't mean too.

10. What would make your mom perfect?
Alex: She's already perfect for me.
Andrew: Being nice to her children when they do good stuff.

11. What would you change about your mom?
Alex: I would change her weight to the right weight for her. Wouldn't that be kind?
Andrew: Help them change their clothes and also help them change the way of their hair and also help them help their dad's get their clothes on and brush their dad's hair.

Andrew overheard my delight in Alex's answer to #10. After each answer, Andrew asked, "Did I get the right answer?" To which I said, "Yes." To which he exclaimed, "YES!"

A funny

Every once in awhile, Andrew renews his campaign to share a bedroom. He's not picky -- he'd happy sleep between Mark and me, bunk with the twix, or preferably get the extra bed in Alex's room.

Last night was such a night. Now when Andrew campaigns, he's quite specific. "Mommeee, I want to share Alex's room."

I answered, "No, you have you're own room and so does Alex."

Andrew replied, "But Mommy, there's just one thing." PAUSE

I asked, "What thing."

Andrew explained, "Alex will get lonely being upstairs by himself. If I'm there too then he won't be lonely."

Every argument I made was tramped on. Finally, Mark walked in the room.

"Mark, can you explain to Andrew why Alex needs his own room?"

Mark matter of factly explained, "Alex is a werewolf."

Some projects are doomed from the start

Saturday, I was chatting with my more liberal neighbor -- I feel lucky to have found someone not so conservative around here. He and his wife are very cool, so we're glad they're next door. We've always been lucky with our immediate neighbors, we've never had a bad one!

I was supposed to be doing the dinette set, but Mark went to get more black paint and I was watching the kids. Our neighbor asked, if we'd bitten off more than we could chew. Its been a month without our kitchen table and chairs.

No was my answer. And I really do feel that way. This project has just been constantly sabotaged between unexpected delays, primer not sticking (yeah that was very helpful) leading to having to sand EVERYTHING, and Seany. The actual physical work of the project is quite uncomplicated.

Thanks to Seany, I've gone through an ENTIRE can on stain. He's stepped on a few coats, added his own painting techniques, and left stuff stuck to the wet surface. The tabletop has its 6th coat on it. Its the 6th coat that will be SANDED off. At this point we've given up on staining and are just going to paint the entire thing black. It will still match the kitchen. Its just not the look I'd envisioned.

With any luck or no further sabotage, you should see the pictures by the end of the week.

Proud Mama

While messing around with our new phones (new numbers meant we had to reenter both phone books), my Seany Boy went to the POTTY ALL BY HIMSELF. Nobody telling him, he just went.

And for some unknown reason, Seany woke up in a happy cheerful mood and has been THAT child all day long.

Terms of Endearment

Since joining facebook, I've reconnected with lots of old friends. Some read my blog. I've been asked by a large number about certain lifewithmybabies familiar terms.

Chicklets: came into being because my mother saw us walking and it reminded her of a mother duck and her chicklets. All in a line. I liked it and adopted it when talking about my sons. I wasn't totally happy with "the guys" or "the boys." Chicklets suits me better.

Twix: messy, 2 to a pack, and as Sheila (old friend) said irresistable. Referring to them as the twins never sat well with me. They are twins but there are plenty of other twins out there. To my knowledge Seany and RyGuy are the only twix. And when referring to them as twix it is correct to place 'the' before 'twix.'

Sir RyRy: Ryan was a very regal baby.

RyGuy: More of a husky toddler.

Seany: Original nick name was Seany Boy. Reference to Sean's very Irish name; Sean Patrick Devlin. Recall the Irish Ode "Danny Boy." Shortened to Seany for convenience.

Seanathan: Mark's nick name for Seany.

SPD: When Seany is moving fast. Short for SPEED.

Alex: Likes to be called Alex.

Andrew: Not a fan of nick names for himself. Though wishes Phineas was part of or his name.

AJD: Very infrequently, Andrew likes his intials, but all not just AJ.

I have a Pet Peeve

I find somethings very annoying when St Patrick's Day rolls around. Maybe its just living among so few Catholics? Maybe its just people being unaware that it even matters to some (not all) of us Catholics?

First at Alex's school, the office staff said something to the effect of it just being a day for the Irish to get drunk. No, not entirely true. The Irish are mostly Catholic and celebrate the feast day of their patron saint. And I highly doubt that every Irish person is getting smashed in the middle of the week, national holiday or not.

Second, a mom I know said something about it just being a day to sell stuff on the calendar. No, not true. Its a feast day for a saint that converted many many people in more than one country to Christianity. Bet ya didn't even know about how much the FRENCH love St. Patrick.

Third, the shamrock is not just a green leaf associated for no reason with St. Patrick's Day. The shamrock was used to show the three parts of the Holy Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Fourth, leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, are part of the mythology of Ireland and are therefore associated by smart marketing people. They do not have anything to do with the feast day of a popular CATHOLIC saint.

Fifth, eating corned beef and potatoes (we're not cabbage type people) has nothing to do with St. Patrick. Its just a fun tradition. As are the whole pots of gold, leprechauns, etc. I love the holiday, I just had it with the insults to the Irish and the ignorance associated with the symbolism.

An old friend

Some days to find oneself again, one just needs an old friend. In my case, Jane Austen. Since I would not be able to read from start to finish any of her tales. I watched "Emma" with Gwyneth Paltrow. She is an excellent Emma, totally captures her charm.

And thanks to Ms. Austen, I feel like I can do this potty training thing again today. There is even hope in the sky that the sun will come out and we can make a 2 mile walk with a lazy puppy in the stroller (she's too small to walk the entire distance.

Some days

Some days are harder than others. Today did not start off well. Finally 15 minutes before Mark is due home, I feel like its 'under control.' We live in a world of locks on every cabinet and door. Andrew unlocked and didn't relock the fridge. I had the pleasure of finding Seany taking out the meager supplies we have left and massacring them. I was able to save the carrots.

Alex forgot to lock the pantry. I've been stepping on crumbs for most of the afternoon. I haven't found the broom (how do you lose a broom in a house with few furnishings?).

The puppy has been out in the garage most of the day. I could not handle her and Ryan (mostly) but her and the kids in the kitchen today. As soon as Mark gets home, he needs to take her and play with her for a while. I have a lot to do to get dinner going -- prep work (seems we're out of all the things I usually keep portioned).

In 12 minutes, I have to blot up 15+ stains on the carpet -- Seany traipsed through with mud on his boots.

My tension level was extremely high, I still feel like all the nerve endings are tingling. I can't calm down. I really need a break from the kids but its too cold to just go for a walk.

I know that this isn't my worst day ever. Not even in the top 10. But that doesn't mean it wasn't in the running...

New House Rules

1. If you are responsible for the destruction of an item, you are going to replace it. (i.e. Ryan emptied an entire tube of toothpaste out, he is buying a new one.)

2. If you leave something out where a twix can get to it, (something with an assigned spot) you will pay half the replacement cost.

3. If you have no money, you may exchange the amount owed by spend 10 minutes per dollar lost cleaning up where requested. These can be used anyway as determined by the parent in charge and usual chores do not count.

4. If you open/unlock a cabinet or the fridge and do not relock it or are unwise enough to open it with a twix present, you are responsible for replacing all items destroyed by the twix.

Dollars so far lost this week:
$3.50 - entire Log Cabin Syrup, replaced with nasty off brand costing $1.50 = $5.00 (because we can't afford to replace it with the better quality stuff)
$6.24 - drank coffee creamer = $6.24
$1.60 - brand new tube of children's toothpaste, to be replaced $1.60 = $1.60
$2.50 - unrolled 6 toilet paper rolls (1/2 12 roll package) = $2.50
$8.40 - sanitary napkins unfurled and taped to various surfaces = $8.40
$2.00 - dumped cereal out onto floor = $1.00 (1/2 gone)
$2.00 - traipsed mud throw out the house, to be cleaned up by me (used 10 wipes, bottle of rug cleaner) = $2.00
Total lost this week: $26.74

People responsible:
Alex left the pantry unlocked, didn't put the toothpaste away, traipsed mud: $5.00 (as he owes for 1/2 of the unlocked things)
Andrew traipsed mud: $2.00
Sean emptied entire syrup, unrolled tp, unfurled sanitary napkins, drank coffee creamer: $19.00 Ryan emptied toothpaste, drank creamer, dumped cereal = 6.00

Alex's minutes: 50
Andrew: 20
Sean: 190
Ryan: 60

All dollars are rounded when coming up with time owed.

If we average a $25 replacement cost per week (sometimes we spend a great deal more replacing things) for previously purchased items we are wasting $1,300 a year to REPLACE goods destroyed for NO reason. We have spent sometimes 100s of dollars to replace things we need. Because our children have no respect for belongings. Based on that average we have lost $3,250 since the twix turned 1. And you all wonder why we don't have anything in our home, why we don't have a stock pile of food, why we don't live like other people enjoying nice things. We cannot afford it.

FYI, I didn't not add in the jug of milk, the dog food, or the seasonings dumped this week. So really our total is well over $30 this week and at that averages to $1,560 or $3,900 since the twix hit 1.

Agent D

Andrew: "Mommy, maybe when Daisy isn't a puppy anymore, she'll become a secret agent."

Mommy: "Daisy's a dog."

Andrew: "But Perry the Platypus is a secret agent. Daisy could be Agent D. And we'll have to teach her lots of tricks so she can defeat the evil doctor."

Mommy: "Will she have a secret agent hat?"

Andrew: "Momm-eeeeeee. (sigh). If she's a secret agent WE WON'T see her hat. IT WILL BE A SECRET."

Walking Daisy

Yesterday, Alex and Andrew took Daisy for a walk. I reminded them to bring plastic bags in case she pooped and that they'd need to clean it up.

After 45 minutes, in walked Alex filled bag in hand. "Mommy! Daisy pooped on the grass at the house no one lives at, but I got it all!"

Before I could thank him, listen to him, etc, "Alex, quickly get that bag out of here and into the outside garbage!" As an after thought, "Thanks! Great job!"

Things I'm tired of saying

"Ryan, OPEN the door."

"Ryan, LEAVE the door OPEN."

"Ryan, do NOT SLAM the door."

"Ryan, NO TOUCHIE the door."

"Ryan, do not touch the door."

"Ryan, do NOT lock the door."

and then we're back to "Ryan, OPEN the door."

"Sean, sit on the potty."

"Seany, let me help you sit on the potty."

"Seany, point your penis down."

"Seany, let me help you ...." Yes, I do say that 10 times a day.

Please pray for me

No joke. I've got the twix in underwear and the puppy in and out of her kennel. Please pray that I don't fly into a rage, lose my sanity, or otherwise fail today.

Seany just had accident #1 today.

Daisy's got a kennel

Some call 'um crates, others kennels, still others think we're cruel: Daisy's got her crate. Its a big black wire thing. She's been in and out of it all day. I finally had enough training (with the twix helping) and put her in her garage set up for a bit.

She getting it, no accidents except when Ryan let her out while I was working with Seany on the potty. Yes, it is v. frustrating to think everything is under control only to find, its not.

Seany is still sleeping. He's a wee tired lad. All kinds of preschool fun and then the bus ride home! Two days ago, Mark discovered someone (Seany) had gotten into the stain for the table and applied it to the table, a chair, and the bench top. On each was an item: the bench got the stir stick, the table had the roller, and the chair had a lovely trail of stain running down it. More work for me and another week without a dinette set in the kitchen. V. annoyed.

FYI, we know it was Seany because the evidence puts him at the scene. He was the only chicklet with stain on his hands, arms, and feet. And we have a reliable witness (Mark) who saw Seany exiting that part of the garage in a tremendous hurry. Seany should be grateful it was not, the Mommy who has spent 30+ hours on this project who discovered the 2 hours of sanding, 2 coats of restaining, and 1 coat of repriming that need to be done.

Discovery Gateway

On St. Patty's Day, the 3 youngest chicklets and I met a childhood friend (yes, other Californians live here too) and her 2 youngest girls and hit Discovery Gateway (Salt Lake's Children's Museum). It was a free day! Only cost us $2 for parking, and $15 for a packed lunch (cuz I didn't plan that well). We had fun catching up, the kids played, and then we went to the Gateway Water Plaza to eat our picnic. V. fun and the everyone got wet.

Ryan and Sean working construction with their "BRASSES" on.

"Brasses" still on, Seany drives Ryan around.

We spent a lot of time at the farm. Andrew was a cowboy, Seany was a delivery man with a cop car, and Ryan just seemed to float everywhere.

Newscaster Andrew.

Monster Andrew, from the book "Where the Wild Things Are."

OK, this place was made for Andrew. He wasn't content until he'd done every single activity and even then we had to insist that everyone was hungry. He could have spent all day there. Sean and Ryan are still wearing their glasses, I've had to tape them up. I think they like them so much because Mommy & Daddy where glasses.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Daisy and Daddy.

Mark brought them home a castle to play with!

And Andrew, our little brown leprachaun! "Mommy! Do I look just like a leprachaun?"

Andrew's name

Since we changed Daisy's name, Andrew wanted it set in stone that Cheerio would be her middle name.

Andrew: "Mommy, what's Daisy's second name?"

Mommy: "Cheerio."

Andrew: "What's her third name?"

Mommy: "Devlin."

Andrew: "What's MY forth name?"

Mommy: "YOU don't have a forth name."

Andrew: "How about Phineas? And (getting really excited now) my fifth name will be Ferb AND my sixth name will be Perry! What do you think about that?"

Mommy: "I think those are great names, but it will make your name too long."

Andrew: DEEP SIGH, "Mommy, I wish you would have named me Phineas." Sadness.

The twix or the puppy

Today, while I've been occupied helping Andrew with his throwing up and other unpleasantries, the twix and the puppy got up to no good.

The twix:
1. threw the remote behind the entertainment center when Alex made to turn off the TV
2. emptied a half bottle of syrup onto the kitchen floor
3. dumped an entire cup of milk onto the kitchen floor into which they poured the cereal crumbs
4. locked me out of the house
5. tore open 54 packets of sweet n low and dumped them all out
6. refused to potty on the potty chair than immediately upon receiving a pull-up, filled it
7. took the puppy out of her pen
8. let the puppy roam free around the carpet

The puppy:
1. peed on the carpet when the twix did number 8

Who would you keep?

The Sword Swallower

Last night, Seany accidentally inhaled and swallowed a toy sword. Its very flimsy about an inch to an inch and a half long with a slightly pokey end. I called the doctor. Wait and see if he has abdominal pain. Otherwise he should poop it out in 2 days. Check the poop for blood. I'm waiting for him to poop. Yuck. Almost grosser than any previous Mommy duty. Plus, I'm still worried.

Hold on! More nastiness. This morning, Andrew vomited emptying his belly and lazed around. I had to cancel Ryan's appointment at Primary's -- we don't bring sick kids to the children's hospital. Andrew's got some kind of tummy trouble. He basically is fine except his tummy.

I did take Daisy to get her first shots, microchipped, and got her heartworm prevention meds (which also kill and prevent an array of other worms). V. gross. Don't want my pup getting worms. EWWWW!!!!!!!! She gets her next set of vaccines in 3 weeks. Then 3 weeks later gets her last set and her spaying done. I'm just not sure of the rabies vac. It said must be 6 months. I hope she'll be old enough when they do her spaying. Whatever it is, we'll do. But one can hope for fewer visits.

The microchipping is only $20, how do they afford to run that business? She's registered for life now. Is it like a volunteer thing? Nationwide, if she gets lost any shelter with a scanner (they are free to shelters and vets) will know she's ours and contact us....

General Announcement

The puppy formerly known as Cheerio is from here on out to be called Daisy. That's what I wanted to call her from the being. And that's her name from now on!

Was informed that Cheerio is not a good name for training and therefore felt I could name her what I wanted to instead.

While I was sanding chairs

Don't know how well you can see all the sanding dust on me.

Sean and Ryan got into the mud. And they painted the fence for me! SO GREAT!

You'll never guess what we did today...

Yes. It is a dog. Her name is Cheerio. And she's ours. She was free outside Wally World today and instead of groceries (to be picked up later). Our kids now have their very own puppy. I can't believe I did this. I'm the most anti-pet person ever. But somehow she just called to me. Mark said, "Kathryn finally has her little princess." Better believe she'll be getting some girlie stuff!

Ryan thinks Cheerio is just his and the rest of the boys keep trying to get his dog. Everyone loves her and being a lab she should be able to handle herself. We've got to get her spayed and licensed and trained -- potty and commands.

Dog people, advice please.

Fire

This afternoon while out sanding chairs, a group of boys set off a couple fire crackers in the canal. The next thing I knew, I could see flames and smoke and no group of boys. Grabbed my phone called 911. The fireman got there in about 10 minutes and had the brush fire out in about 5.

Although our house was in no danger, I was so nervous that the house across the canal would go up if a strong breeze blew through. Luckily it remained a very small and easily controlled fire.

A little bit of excitement in our rather boring Thursday.

Window

When we returned from Vegas, I noticed an odd glint from Andrew's bedroom window. I got out the ladder and took down the Christmas lights. And I saw it. Andrew's window was broken on the inside -- a lot.

How could that have happened? If it had been hit by something, wouldn't the outside glass be broken not the inside?

I immediately called the glass company. Very confused male, took my information and promised Beverly would call me back. I waited and waited. I called back the next day. Beverly answered. She was full of apologies. She definitely never heard of the "Dublins."

She got the glass repair guy to come out the next morning and measure the glass. He told me that the old piece was an eighth of an inch too big and that he thought it was a stress crack. It'd be a week for the glass. Scheduled the appointment for Monday morning. Come Monday and instead of worker with glass I got a phone call -- the factory is now closed on Fridays so the glass will be in later and they can put in it Tuesday. Tuesday morning, the worker guy calls and said the glass was delivered broken. Could he reschedule for Thursday? No. I would prefer you install new BROKEN glass... Highly suspicious if you ask me. How do the get the NEW pane so fast after the whole drama getting the first one? Just think someone lied to me somewhere along the line.

Today, I forgot all about it. Luckily, the chicklets and I were home outside sanding chairs. New glass went in and Andrew's window is good as new.

Also, I'm forwarding the bill and the statement that the glass was too big for the hole to the builder -- that's an installation issue and they should pay for it.

Alex's big evening

At boyscouts, Alex unveiled his soap carving. A "P." He chose it in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

At school he showed off his invention. "Can Crusher" uses 3 simple machines -- screws, a lever, and a wedge.

Fireman Alex

A very serious cub scout/fireman Alex. In typical Alex fashion, he said, "Fighting fires is very serious. Its not something to smile about."

Basketball 2009

Alex and the Kings.

Snow

Yesterday afternoon, we had a lot of snow right at commute time. I was relieved when Mark showed up at home.

After dinner, Mark suggested we go shovel the snow. Ryan wanted to help. Then Alex, Sean, and Andrew wanted to help too. I spent the better part of 45 minutes searching for snow gloves, jackets, and boots. Once everyone was properly attired, I realized we were going to have to put my car in the garage -- bad rock chip (repaired) and we don't want to have the windshield crack. So I had to move all the dinette stuff I'm working on. The chairs, table legs, top, etc. Then I had to deal with a bunch of extension cords. After another 20 - 30 minutes I could finally move the car. At that point I was frustrated, stressed, etc. Finally I was able to shovel snow with Mark and watch the kids play.

The excitement of fresh snow and the playing out in it after dark took hold of me and when we were ready to go in. I was in a much better mood. Even made the chicklets hot chocolate.

Fortunately/Unfortunately

"Fortunately, Unfortunately." Written and Illustrated by Alex Devlin (The robber is saying, "You'll never take me alive COPPER!")

Fortunately, a cop had a robber to cuff. Unfortunately, his car needed more solar gas.

Fortunately, the robber was in his car. Unfortunately, the real cuffs were stolen by another robber. (The second robber is saying, "HAHAHA")

Fortunately, he cuffed himself. The End.

Andrew

When we got to Primary Children's last week, Andrew asked, "Mommy is this the hospital where they told you my name was Andrew?"

I responded, "No. You were born at a different hospital and Mommy and Daddy named you."

Andrew questioning our naming authority, "But who was the doctor that told you I was supposed to be called Andrew?"

"We told the doctor what your name was. Parents name their kids, not the doctor."

Andrew quiet and thoughtful, looked slightly disgruntled that a greater authority other than his mother was not responsible for coming up with his greatest source of pride, his name, Andrew.

To find the missing ring

I began to think Mark had imagined the whole ring disappearance. I had cleaned every inch of our bathroom and bedroom. Stuck my hand with mirrors and flashlights down the vents. I was going crazy. Ryan developed croup and had to go to the doctor. Mark got home before us and found his ring.

First he took the bottom drawers out of our vanity. Then he took the vent grate off the baseboard. Then he started looking around.

And resting safe and sound on the baseboard ledge, he found his wedding ring.

A day with the doctors

This morning, Andrew, Ryan, and I headed to SLC for appointments.

Ryan had spina bifida clinic. Basically all the specialists he needs to see come to him during a couple hours in the morning.

Orthopedist: Ryan looks great. He has a few minor issues -- twisted calves, in-toed (related), minor weakness. Very impressed with Ryan's activity level. Would like us to keep up the walking and try to encourage Ryan to walk more legs of the treks. Feels Ryan's hunched shoulders is not a concern as spine looks good and has excellent use of his shoulders. But will watch it.

PT: Ryan has lower muscle tone than a non-SB 3 year old in his lower body (has since birth). But is extremely pleased with Ryan's capabilities. Would like Ryan to be enrolled in gymnastics and tumbling as part of his therapy routine (keep up park visits, playing on playyard at home, stairs, and walking around town as well as shoes outside to help with stability). Feels that gymnastics would even greater increase in Ryan's strength and as will help coordination issues with his lower legs. As Ryan ages, would like him to be involved with soccer and other sports for same reasons as gymnastics. But feels gymnastics will provide the biggest advantages. Said that very few SB kids are able to do these things and Ryan should benefit from the opportunities.

Urology: Ryan will need another CMG and renal ultrasound before next clinic visit in 12 months. Ryan needs to be potty trained asap to help evaluate leakage. Must start keeping a log of potty activities and frequency especially accidents.

Neurosurgery: Start keeping a journal of Ryan's stops during walks and play. Check to make sure it isn't pain in his back. BIGGEST concern right now. Ryan could be stopping due to tethered cord pain and not just to catch his breath. If Ryan has a lot of leakage, a lot of back pain, etc, may need MRI and possibly surgery this year. But as he is so small, preference is to keep journal and put off for at least 1 more year, the hope was until he turns 5.

Head of SB Clinic: Need to attend skill building class for potty training. Need to keep potty record to bring to class. Will help evaluate his condition better, determine need for MRI, etc, once he's potty trained.

---

Andrew saw the dermatologist regarding his nevus sebaceous -- birth mark made up of oil glands. Will get bigger, but not more than double in size. At puberty will become pussy, pimply, rigid, raised, and generally gross. Lots of parents wait until then to remove it when it becomes so noticeable. As the kids can do it with local anesthesia and at the clinic. His long hair is protecting it. Though in the summer the buzz cut (to keep him cool), the sunblock, etc make it irritated and icky. New study shows that the cancer risk is very small.

I want it gone, it will be one less thing to have to take special care of. The scar may spread a little, but if that thing doubles and then has to be removed because its causing pain and discomfort it will be an even bigger scar. Mark thinks we should wait and watch it. We'll see if the pre-authorization comes in from the insurance. It would be a Friday morning, under general anesthesia, and then he goes home around lunch time.

The little thief

This morning as Mark was getting ready for work, he's wedding ring fell off the bathroom counter and 'bounced' on the floor. He 'claims' it rolled toward our bedroom. Having torn apart (literally opened and stuck my hand down all the vents even) the bathroom and bedroom, I, Madame Super Sleuth, am running out of ideas.

Mark claims I am very good at solving mysteries. I'll admit to having solved a few more perplexing disappearances, mysteries, etc in my time. Therefore, I must pose for him the following questions:

1. Was a twix in the room at the time of the disappearance?

2. Are you sure you didn't slink off last night and lose it in another woman's bed?

3. Is this an April Fool's joke you're playing early?

4. Where is the leprechaun and how does one convince him to return gold not belonging to him?

A daddy and his sons

1. What is something dad always says to you?
Alex: "No toe walking."
Andrew: "Be Good."
Ryan: "The ever no ever. The ever no ever the end. That cool that book.
Sean: "SNOWMAN!"

2. What makes dad happy?
Alex: "Getting to sleep in."
Andrew: "Being good."
Ryan: "My not sure mom."
Sean: "Happy Birthday! PRESENT!"

3. What makes dad sad?
Alex: "Breaking something."
Andrew: "When his kids are away."
Ryan: "Hm. Well my not cold so my not sure.
Sean: ""Um. I don't know."

4. How does your dad make you laugh?
Alex: "By tickling."
Andrew: "By tickling us and doing funny faces."
Ryan: "My not sure. Daddy be in trouble on the floor. Thats all. Sit down on the floor."
Sean: "No. A Horse!"

5. What was your dad like as a child?
Alex: "I think that he was getting into trouble sometimes."
Andrew: "Ticklish like we tickle our brothers and our dad."
Ryan: "NO!" giggle
Sean: "What?"

6. How old is your dad?
Alex: "36"
Andrew: "20"
Ryan: "16 19 4 3 12"
Sean: "3!"

7. How tall is your dad?
Alex: "I guess 5' 10"."
Andrew: "Really tall. No not really tall. Dust (just) tall."
Ryan: "Daddy is on the floor. I sink he's a blah blah."
Sean: "Um, this is P!"

8. What is his favorite thing to do?
Alex: "Playing catch with us."
Andrew: "Play his 360 and do his email."
Ryan: "Tools!"
Sean: "Hmmm"

9. What does your dad do when you're not around?
Alex: "Sometimes work."
Andrew: "Check everywhere."
Ryan: "I uh not sure."
Sean: Blank stare

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
Alex: "Being a great dad."
Andrew: "Uhhhh. I don't know THAT ONE!"
Ryan: "Yes! Oh, right. Ok, bye Mommy!"
Sean: Totally ignoring me

11. What is your dad really good at?
Alex: "Teaching pitches."
Andrew: "At his army games. He always plays those games."
Ryan: "I'm don't know, Mom."
Sean: "Um I don't know. A present!"

12. What is your dad not very good at?
Alex: "I guess sometimes remembering things."
Andrew: "Uhhhhh. At his kids' 360 video games. But I once teached him one of Alex's."
Ryan: "Owie."
Sean: "Um, frosting! Heavy my car my room."

13. What does your dad do for his job?
Alex: "Works at Prosper."
Andrew: "Go to work."
Ryan: "I don't know, Mom."
Sean: More blankness.

14. What's your dad's favorite food?
Alex: "Jambalya"
Andrew: "I don't know that one ee-der."
Ryan: "Mac en Cheese."
Sean: "PRESENTS! PRESENTS! PRESENTS!"

15. What makes you proud of your dad?
Alex: "He's nice."
Andrew: "I don't know that one ee-der."
Ryan: "I'm not sure. Um TOOLS!"
Sean: "HA HA HA"

16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Alex: "One of the characters in Star Wars the Clone Wars."
Andrew: "One of the 3 Amigos."
Ryan: "Donald Mickey. No not Daddy. I'm Ryan!"
Sean: "Scooby!"

17. What do you and your dad do together?
Alex: "Play catch."
Andrew: "Walk."
Ryan: "M&Ms."
Sean: "My nose." GRIN

18. How are you and your dad the same?
Alex: "We both are good at catching."
Andrew: "When we wear the same shirts and socks."
Ryan: "Not the store."
Sean: "Doctors boch ahh, moant."

19. How are you and your dad different?
Alex: "Daddy knows a lot of pitches and I don't."
Andrew: "When we don't have the same shirts and not the same socks."
Ryan: "Not your present. My present."
Sean: Totally ignoring me

20. How do you know your dad loves you?
Alex: "Because at night he says so."
Andrew: "When we tons of good stuff."
Ryan: "My present, my cake! My Mickey Cake. My Ferb cake."
Sean: "Look at that. Woos Goo goo goo dragon. I think in owie too I think in owie I think in this."

22. Where is your dad's favorite place to go?
Alex: "Disneyland or DisneyWorld."
Andrew: "Uh...Whereever he goes."
Ryan: "My present."
Sean: "TO BED!"

Reader

Alex is a great reader. He reads everyday in spurts (a magazine article here, a chapter there, a recipe, how to do blank there) to get to his 25 required minutes a day for school. The school is having a reading contest -- each student needs to read 500 this month. I can't get that boy to put his books down! Yesterday he read for 122 minutes. So far today he's read for 43 (yes, I have to TIME him), then brought me Eragon and said, "Mommy, I've finished it now you read it and we can talk about it! I'm starting book 2!"

He reminded me off all my Twilight (fans) friends when the last book came out (may have to borrow them, as I keep hearing more and more about all I'm missing).

Andrew not to be left out, brought me Sean's baby words book, pointed to the picture of the apple and said, "Mommy it says, 'This is a red apple.'"

Mommy: "No Andrew, it just says 'apple.'"

Andrew: "But it really is a red apple."

Mommy: "You're right, Andrew. But the only word on the page is under the picture and it is APPLE."

Andrew: "Well, how do you spell THIS IS A RED APPLE?"

Mommy: "How about you just spell the letters in APPLE?"

Andrew: "Well, I don't know how to say the letter L. Its very tricky. (He squinted his eyes.)"

Mommy: "I think you're tricky you just said L."

Andrew: "Oh, Ok. A-P-(long long pause) P-L (big smile)-D Oh, I mean E!"

Let me apologize

When we travel, the chicklets get motion sickness meds. We've experienced (and my father-in-law can attest) the ravages of motion without meds.

Saturday morning, Mark was heading to work, I was showering. As he was getting ready to leave, Mark said, "Kathryn, Andrew says he's sick and threw up."

I quickly dried off. And there was little pathetic but healthy looking Andrew curled up in my bed. "What's wrong Andrew?"

"Daddy said that if I'm sick I have to stay in bed all day."

"Are you sick?"

"Well, I did throw up in the toilet fake throw ups. I just need one of those medicines for me to not get sick."

I was confused. Andrew doesn't take meds. "What?"

"You know the medicines that I needed to go to Las Vegas?"

"Oh." Light bulb very bright now. "Andrew, those are only for in the car. You cannot have that unless we're going on trip."

"What about my fake throw ups?"

"Well, since they were fake, do you think you feel well enough to play?"

"I guess so." Deep sigh, and with slightly hunched shoulders he scampered off for a more exciting adventure than pretending to be sick.

Cat Cookies for People

Trader Joe's makes chocolate grahams in the shape of cats. They call 'um Cat Cookies for People. My parents always give the chicklets a container of them when they visit. They gave a container to Pat & Cathy to bring to Vegas for the chicklets.

We opened them this morning. I gave each boy a little baggie full and popped one into my mouth.

Seany quickly spoke up, "Hey Mommy. That not your cookies. That my cookies. That not your cookies. That Ryan Andrew Alex Sean cookies. No touchie, Mommy. That not yours." He continued to admonish me shaking his finger at me with his little brows furrowed until I apologized and promised to eat no more.

Dancing at M&M World