Parents Are Scary

The boys are old enough (10 and 11) to think they are big enough to take down their father. What they don't realize is that Dominic wrestled in high school, took Akido lessons on his mission, and is practiced in take-down procedures for work. They didn't stand a chance.

The three of them started wrestling. Dominic used some of his incapacitating moves on his sons. Benjamin wouldn't give up, or tap out, for a long time. Samuel, on the other hand, tapped out quickly. He ran and hid behind me saying, "I never knew Dad was so scary!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When my alarm goes off on a weekday morning, I am not in a good mood. I tend to have very negative thoughts about daytime, school, etc. One morning I was making breakfast for Dominic and Samuel after the elementary school kids (Rachel, Elisa, and Benjamin) had left for the bus. I realized that I felt much better, kinder, and happier once I fully woke up. It was a stark contrast to my initial thoughts of the day. I voiced my observations aloud. 

Dominic said, "Whoa, really?"

Samuel's laugh sounded surprised and nervous. "Note to self," he chuckled, "never wake Mom up. Send someone else in, wait 10 minutes, then talk to her!"

Camping can be hot

This last weekend we went camping for Rachel's birthday. While we broke camp, we realized Makayla was missing. After a quick search Dominic found her in the van.

"What are you doing in the van?" he asked.

"Well, you see, it's like this," said Makayla. "The sun is hot and the van is colder."

He has a healthy self-esteem

Samuel came home very excited. "Mom, I saw someone at school wearing a really cool shirt today! It said, 'They told me I could be anything, so I became a NINJA!' "

"Fun!" I said. "I once saw a shirt that said, 'They told me I could be anything, so I became AWESOME!' "

He was not that impressed. "Eh," he said, "I'm already awesome."

Zombies

Makayla is still adjusting to life as the only one home while everyone else goes to school. On the first day of school, she got herself dressed, put on her shoes, and found a play backpack. She started marching out the door with the others. When Daddy said "no, you still get to stay home," Makayla sat down and cried. Poor child. Plus, a mommy recovering from surgery is not the best playmate for an active and imaginative 3-year-old.

Throughout the day she has come to me talking about zombies invading our home or trying to eat her brains. She found a kindred spirit in Benjamin this afternoon. They are battling zombies with baseball bats and imaginary swords and ... my hair brush. Makayla occasionally puts down her weapons when she's dying or zombified. I "heal" her and off she goes, back into the fray. Benjamin doesn't die as often as he used to. I guess his increased experience has improved his zombie fighting skills.

After I healed her from one death, she asked for her imaginary sword back. I obligingly returned it to her. Then she asked for my brush back. "Is it another sword?" I asked.

Her face held a strange expression as she said, "No, it's a brush, for brushing my hair." Then she started brushing her hair. She is such a girl that good-looking hair is important in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Conversations with Rachel

Genetics are very interesting. Mine and Dominic's genes have mixed in unexpected ways in our children. Samuel, Elisa, and Makayla all have blue eyes like me and smile dimples like their dad. Benjamin and Rachel are dimpleless like me, but Benjamin has green eyes like Dominic's uncles, and Rachel has brown eyes like her dad. Our children's sun tolerance runs the scale between Dominic's tan and my sunburn with freckles. Rachel, at 5 years old, can see that she looks different from most of her siblings (except for Benjamin, who doesn't seem to notice or care).
 

L-R: Rachel, Benjamin, Makayla, Samuel, Elisa

One day when I was in the kitchen making dinner, Rachel came up to me and asked, "Why do I have to have brown eyes? Everyone else has blue eyes." I love her brown eyes. I thought all my children would have brown eyes like my husband, so I am very happy that at least one child does. Plus, I think her eyes look like melted milk chocolate - just gorgeous. So I explained that she's special because she's the only one with eyes just like daddy's, and I love his eyes. Besides, the world would be a boring place if we all looked the same. She agreed and skipped away.

Rachel with our first rabbit, Freya

This summer we put up a pool in the backyard. Half the neighborhood children spend every afternoon in the pool. I make sure all the kids that go into our pool wear sunscreen. Despite that, Rachel has gotten very tanned. Last night she was the last one brushing her teeth in the bathroom. She put down her toothbrush and asked, "Why do I look so different from everyone else?" as she looked down at her very tan arm. I explained that she has some of both Mom and Dad in her. Her skin looks more like Dad's. She remembered what I've said before about how she has Mom's cheeks (meaning no dimples). Then we looked in the mirror. I pointed out that the shape of our eyes are the same even though they're different colors. We also have the same shaped lips. We smiled at that, and our smiles match, too.

What's in a name?

"Mom, I like how you say my name. Elisa. It's so pretty when you say it!"

"Thanks. That's why I gave you the name - because I like it."

Love Those Freckles!

I'm making breakfast. Elisa is wandering around the kitchen and chattering.

"Mom, I have lots of freckles," she states.

"Yes you do," I say.


"They make me adorable!" I look up and see her grinning from ear to ear. Freckles are not the only adorable thing about her.

It's all a matter of perspective

 Me: "Why do you have a dishrag on your head?"

Makayla: "It's not a dishrag. It's a hat!"

Mom: "You're getting so big, Honey!"
Makayla: "I not big, I little."
Mom: "Don't you want to be big like your brothers and sisters?"
Makayla: "No."
Mom: "Do you want to be small because everyone else is big?"
Makayla: "Yes. I little."

Makayla will be 3 years old on Monday

A Conversation with Makayla

Makayla: *sneeze*
Mom: "Bless you, Makayla."
Makayla: "I didn't sneeze. You did."
Mom: "No I didn't, you did."
Makayla: "No I didn't, you did."
Dad: "You sneezed, Makayla."
Makayla: "No I didn't, Daddy. You did."
Dad: "You sneezed, silly girl."
Makayla: "I not silly! I Makayla!"

Naps are tough on those who stay awake

"Aaah! Mom! I lost my Way-chel (Rachel)!" Makayla came screaming into the kitchen.

"Did she fall asleep?" I asked.

"Yes!" lamented Makayla.

Rachel and Makalya: sisters and best friends

Pokey Little Puppy

Elisa doesn't do anything fast. Although I appreciate her laid back style, sometimes she needs to move faster than a snail. For instance I wake her up in plenty of time to get ready for school. I even stand there reminding her to get dressed: "Now put on your shirt, your shirt, put your shirt on, yes the one you're holding. Remember your socks, both socks, put them on your feet, not your hands, your feet." You get the idea. Somehow she still misses the bus. I drive her to school at least 2 days a week. (I hope I never get into an accident, because now I just wear my bathrobe and slippers.)

Poor Lisy, the other day when we were in a hurry to get to a doctor's appointment, she looked up at me, and with wide eyes asked, "Why does everyone always tell me to hurry up?"

Our fishy cutie

Driving along yesterday, Makayla started growling. Dominic told her, "You're so vicious!"

From the backseat we heard, "Grr, yes I fishy. Fishy, grrr. I fishy. I swimming. I a mermaid! Grrr."

Today, while driving again, Dominic commented that all our kids are going to be nerdy.
Makayla piped up, "I not nerdy."
"What did you say?'" I asked, not sure I heard her correctly.
"I not nerdy. I a cutie," and then she stuck her thumb in her mouth.

They are mutually exclusive

Grandma: "Rachel, you need to pick up your toys now."

Rachel: "But I'm beautiful."

Sorry, kid, but that has nothing to do with it. You want to be beautiful on the inside, and that means you need to be obedient.

Matching Outfit

My girls are already concerned about looking pretty because of their hair or clothes. I try to balance that attitude by telling them they are beautiful because of their sweet personality and their hair looks nice, too.

This morning Lisy asked if she was beautiful in her dress. I said, "You are beautiful because you are always happy, and everyone can see it when you smile."

She smiled really big and said, "I matched my dress to my smile!"

I did not pose her. This is all Lisy.

A child's prayer . . . cracks me up

Me: "Thank you for your family,"
Rachel: "Thank you for rainbows,"
Me: "and thank you that Daddy has a job,"
Rachel: "and thank you for butterflies and flowers,"
Me: "Please help you sleep well. Amen."
Rachel: "and thank you for unicorns. Amen."

All the children, when learning how to pray, have gone through the phase when they only say, "Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." Not quite, kiddo - you still need something in the middle. Makayla took it one step further tonight.

Me: "Okay, fold your arms."
Makayla: "Fold your arms, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."