Those Funny Kids

Kids are funny. Bet you already knew that. Seriously, I could talk all day about how silly these little offspring of mine are, but since that's not fun for anyone other than myself, I'll write them down and you can read them....if you want.

Story #1:
I picked Claire up from the bus stop and asked her how school was. I do this every day and usually get the same uninformative answer of "I don't know, Mom". Then I have to be very specific about my asking. "Did you sit at the green or blue table?" "Did you color or paint?" You know, vital questioning. On this particular day, I asked my question and got a response of....

Claire: "(SIGH).....I'm SOOO tired of telling you how school was."
Me: "Oh? Well, I really like to know what you did during the day."
Claire: "But I'm just so so so tired of it."
Me: "Well, alright. I guess you don't have to tell me."
Claire: "Yeah. I'm tired of it right now, so I'll tell you when we get home."

Story #2"
My brother gave me his iphone 4s and I'm eternally grateful. Since this brother is eternally addicted to cookies, I'm paying him for this gift in cookies. One box of mailed home made cookies each month for 6 months (I know....I'm sooooo sweet, aren't I). The other day, we realized that November is falling away and passing too quickly and we had to get them sent asap or else he'd be at Thanksgiving dinner eating way too many sweets and not in need of any cookies at all.

There we were, Monday afternoon, friends over, cookies baked, an all around good feeling. We ate a hefty amount per person and called it good. Luckily I had set Jason's cookies to the side for shipping and they were left unscathed. After a little while of mom gabbing, we got up to round up the children for the playdate to end. As I peered in the kitchen, almost two dozen cookies from the cooling rack had disappeared. Vanished. Not a trace. We walked back to the kids' room, opened the door and asked, "Did you guys eat ALL those cookies???" Claire, with a mouthful and chewing responded with a smile and a nod. Henry ran to the closet with two cookies in hand while Jared lifted his cookie in the air as if toasting to the occasion and took a bite. They all looked pleased. I repeated the question. "ALL of the cookies? All of them?" Once again Claire nodded, smiled, swallowed, and said,"YES!"

Then Henry poked his head out of the closet and said rather defensively, "Jared just kept bringing us more and more cookies to eat!"

They spoiled their dinner and I laughed my guts out instead of reprimanding them because, afterall, he's gonna be a phenomenal waiter one day.

Story #3
(Beware: this story contains the words nursing, pumping, and "milk things")
Tonight we went to dinner with an old college friend and his beautiful wife. I haven't seen him in over 5 years, so I didn't want to have to leave to go feed Hailey when she inevitably got hungry. She's always hungry. So, during our mad rush to get out the door to the babysitters, I had to sit down and pump before we left. Since I hate pumping, this is a rare thing. I didn't really have time to be discreet about it....and let's be honest....even if I did have time, I wouldn't have been.

While I was doing so, Claire came up and asked me....

"Mom.....why are you doing that.... (Pause)...to your...(pause)...milk things? "
Me: (I smile, but try not to laugh. It IS a valid question after all.) I'm pumping so Hailey can eat while mom and dad are at dinner with our friend.
Claire: "But....why do your....(pause)....milk things do that.
Me: "Well, when mommy's have babies, their bodies make food so that the baby doesn't get hungry."
Claire: "Oh..... Did God give you that?"
Me: "Give me what? This (point to the pump)?
Claire: "yes"
Me: "No, I bought this at the store."

Claire smirks a shy smile and walks away looking rather uncertain about the situation. Ya know, Claire, at 4 years old, I would feel a little uncertain about "milk things" too. I understand.

Happy Halloween

Good gracious! What is all this blogging about? Well, when there's a picture, there's motivation. So, we were the Anderson Avengers for Halloween this year. Yes, Spiderman is in the Avengers in the comics, so it does fit. Claire was Scarlet Witch and everyone at school kept telling her that she's not in the Avengers. Just think of how cool she'll feel when the new movie comes out and they were all WRONG! (Ok, she won't feel that cool because she hasn't even seen the movies....but I know how cool I feel proving a bunch of preschoolers wrong.....yeah....)

I'll be honest, I was SOO excited for this Avengers idea....until we were costume shopping and saw a Scooby-Doo costume. How did I not think of that? We spent a couple of months watching that wonderful cartoon and it is a definite highlight of my year (Yes, we are THAT boring). Next year, for I am destined to be Daphne or Velma.

Our Halloween trick or treating was wonderful. We went to the "Halloween House" and successfully made it through without our kids being terrified of the Jason and Zombies holding chainsaws. Score! Jared is a boy after my own heart because he wanted more when Claire was aching to go home. I went trick-or-treating until I was 20, people. TWENTY! I LOVE IT! Glad to see someone carry on the family tradition. :)

Funny Tidbit. So, I was black widow....and I sort of, kind of...dislike Scarlet Johansson in everything she plays because it is usually a little floozy-ish. Despite her gaining 20 points for being black widow (because it is a killer awesome character and I felt pretty rad), I had to feed screaming and exhausted Hailey while out trick-or-treating and did so walking around. Funny part being when my friend said, "Are you nursing her? I'll just call you Scarlet Johansson." Baha! I guess that's the perk, right? If you're being Scarlet, you have every right to "show off" the goods. (Don't worry, I was completely covered the entire time. No one would have even suspected. Only thought she was a sleeping baby.)

Anyway, I love Halloween. I hope yours was wonderful and safe.

Showing off their powers 

Gosh, I love this family! And look at them bones! Henry looks so rad! Not to mention her adorable little dinosaur. This woman can do some killer things with her sewing machine! 

Bubbles and Chalk

Being outside after being sick for 2 weeks straight is more than heaven sent. Enough said.

This is what I call, the "Grandpa shot". :) 

See that road he made for his cars? 

That time again- 7 Months

What could be better than getting a monthly update about my children? You know, I almost stopped doing this, but then I was trying to find some milestone of Claire's and realized that I didn't really document it anywhere, so it is lost. There you have it. My reason for putting it on the blog. Two years down the road I'm really going to appreciate myself for this.

So, It's been 7 months.

Six months I could understand, but seven. SEVEN! Seriously, I don't know what's happening. I still treat this girl like she's 4 months old, but now she's getting the sass and attitude that comes with getting older and I'm trying not to sigh too much about the time I feel I've lost. 

I got out the 9-12 month clothes the other day thinking that she would definitely have to wait a couple of weeks to get into them. Boy, was I wrong. They aren't even too big for her. Luckily she hasn't gained weight in a whole two weeks, so maybe we will be able to wear these clothes for a while. 

Her talents include: crawling, sitting by herself, falling on the tile nearly every day, standing with the help of the couch and tub, eating baby food, sucking her thumb (still), getting sick and getting exactly what she wants, staying up late (since being sick), waking up at 5 am on her 7 month birthday, smiling adorably, laughing even more adorably, being ticklish, squint smiling (a personal fav. She can't smile too big or else her eyes squint closed). 

She loves all talents and also loves the itsy bitsy spider, pat a cake, peek a boo, any song you sing, chasing siblings, when other kids get right in her face, sleeping in the baby bjorn, driving mom CRAZY with her eating (nursing) tendencies (seriously, folks! suck...PPPUUUULLL.....look around the room, repeat. I set her down, she screams. I try again. PULLLLLL and look around the room. It's infuriating.). She loves the bathroom for some reason I haven't figured out yet. She'll sit outside the door and cry if I've closed it. 

Here are her pics. I'll be honest. I dropped the ball this month. There were so many things I could have done: Halloween, costume, pumpkins....but.....we got sick and it's made me tired and maybe a little ornery. I feel like this will suffice this month.

Also, let me preface. I bought this bow with an entirely different photo shoot in mind. I don't think it looks very good with this outfit/style. I didn't even really mean for this to be her picture day. I had just set up the background and floor, plus Brian was home, so I thought I'd do a test run. There you have it. Test run turned into the 7 month picture day.

And....here are the other two. They were being my lighting subjects and being such hams! Is it appropriate that I posted Jared in such attire? Yes...because this is how he looks every day.

Anderson Household Gets Their Comeuppance

WE'RE GOING CRAZY!!!!!!!! If anyone of you have seen the Parks and Rec episode where Chris gets sick (and if you haven't, DO! It's hilarious), you'll understand why I feel a little like him. He's standing in the hospital looking at himself in the mirror. A machine of athleticism and extremely good health, not permitted to get ill, looks at himself and says rather convincingly, "Stop. Pooping." 

Not that this is our problem or even a symptom, but I have found myself staring at myself in the mirror wanting to scream, "PLEASE END!" I was almost proud about the fact that I hadn't gotten sick from this horrible bout of germs. I eat rather healthy (and yes, my daily ice cream counts has a mental health snack) and I exercise every day. The Chris Machine, if you will. He doesn't get sick. I don't get sick! Heck, MOM'S aren't allowed to get sick. But they do. 

Husbands on the other hand, who eat entire bags of chips by themselves are more prone to getting sick. And sick they get. Very sick. They receive their daily does of all living viral organisms in the house and put on display an adult response to whatever illness their child has been carrying for the week. Don't even get me started on the Hailey illness, sleepless nights, coughing fits, and screaming.... 

Back to our story here, unfortunately mom's DO get the most resilient strain of Hand Foot and Mouth for who knows how long. The good news is, I know that food doesn't taste gross because it morphed into edible crap, and I can manage my hygiene so much better than my 2 year old who turned into the worst drool monster the world has ever known. (Not kidding. His ENTIRE bed was soaked in drool in the morning). 

If you're wondering why things like this get spread around the schools so easily, I will enlighten you. We've had this before and know how contagious it is. Basically, if you call me on the phone, little HFM viruses will transfer through the phone lines, causing blisters along the way, and jump into your immune system on the other end. You will then plague your house with it's horribleness for the longest 7-10 days of your life. Your children will morph into carnivorous dinosaurs on a diet (since they don't eat) and your house will turn into an episode from hoarders. Your sanity will be on the brink of disaster and the only cure for the mental state is a trip to Sam Moon (or comparable cheap jewelry store) to people watch and buy cheap accessories. 

AAAaaaanyway, I called Claire's school to see how long they stay out of school with HFM, asked the desk attendant and was transferred to the school nurse. 

She said, and I quote, "As long as they don't have a fever they're fine to come back." 

Me: "Serious? Even if they still have blisters and are contagious?"

Nurse, "Well, if she's feeling really sick and unwell with the blisters, you can keep her home, but mostly we're concerned about the fever."

Okay? She will be back to school tomorrow then to hopefully not infect her entire class and ultimately allow them to develop their own fevers. (Luckily she's not a drool monster either, so she should be able to keep it to herself).

Before illness, there was silliness and happiness in our house. Thanks for the silly face photo-bombing, Claire! 

She looks so proud of herself in that tub of 12 month clothes doesn't she. 12 MONTH CLOTHES!!!! She's SEVEN months old. SEVEN! Stop it, Hailey! You're too big already! 

The Texas Life

Summer in Texas is always an adventure. I feel like I'm getting used to the heat and humidity...never thought I would. I think we've ventured outside a little more this year and it's been so good for my soul and sanity. 

The kids have had so much fun with these.....

Cicada shells. Thank you Brian for bringing this to their attention. They've had to bring them in the house now. Funny, because Claire refuses to touch them, but wants to create her own indoor colony of them.  She only held this one because it was attached to this leaf. 

Washable markers. They are a joy aren't they? I love them. The kids love them. We have had walls painted with them, but more importantly, my children have to become cats every single night. Then they bounce around the house meowing.

Hailey crawls everywhere. She still doesn't sit by herself without falling over in every direction. Yes child, it IS strange to crawl before you can sit. You're doing things in reverse here!!!

Look at those eyes. I'm in love.

And now for this cheesy smile. This girl smiles with all the parts of her face. I didn't quite catch it in time, but she'll smile so big that her eyes squint closed and then she has to blink it away. Gah! It makes me laugh and melts my heart every time. 

Jared prefers media to people at any given point in the day. I have to greatly restrict Wild Kratts at the moment. 

Last, but not least, Fire Ants. Gosh dang those fire ants! I was mowing the lawn yesterday and apparently came across a colony of them. You'd think I stood in this pile for at least 10 seconds with all the stings that I have. No, sir. I laid one normal, 1 second step into the pile I didn't notice and got bit a bajillion times. 2 hours later, cutting tree branches - same scenario. Now, These things are nasty Mcnasty and I am annoyingly allergic to them. I've seen my kids get these without the same effects. Mine are painful for about 2 weeks and I swell from the sight and extended about 4 inches. Since I have 10 stings around one ankle, I fully expect to have kankles for two weeks. You're also not supposed to pop them, but I've discovered that if I do, they go away much faster (on my body at least).