Characteristic flaw or Bravado???

There is a certain characteristic that my son, Hotrod, has that will be interesting to watch develop.  He is logical, like me...to a flaw.  When deciding what to do, he learns the rewards, weights the consequences, and makes his decision.  Once made, he follows through.  If this means accepting the consequences, so be it.  To give an example, if he doesn't like what is served for supper, he will leave the table knowing full well that he will not eat again until the next morning.  Even if that means foregoing York's or icecream.  He will say that he didn't want it anyway.  Today at pre-school, he did not earn his second set of skittles, why? He was making noises during naptime.  I asked him why he made noises if he knew he would not get the skittles. (He is all about the reward)  He said he didn't want it. Ok.  What do you say to that? Obviously, we have had the "do the right thing" talk, and the "obey the teacher" talk.  I am curious how this will play out at sixteen!

What? Your daughter never gave you a coffee bath???

This morning, I, Melissa, Protector of Swordland, decided that a cup of coffee and a bath would make my sick body feel better. So I made a cup, and proceeded to the tub.  Matt, Chief protector, was home to monitor things while I was occupied.  While I was drawing my bath, Princess decided she wanted in too.  This is unusual, so I agreed and we played in the tub for a while.  When she was ready to get out, we called Daddy and he came and got her.  My little Princess decided to check on mommy one more time, and swung her little arm around the shower curtain to peek in. In so doing, she knocked my coffee mug into the tub!!! "NO!  darn!!! OH NO!! Darn!!!"  I was swimming in coffee.  In utter dismay, I let the water out and fished out my mug. It was chipped and cracked.  Matt's comment?  "Well, that's not therapeutic." 
As I refilled the tub, I soon discovered the little shards of ceramic in the tub...OH YES!!!!!  I spent the next few minutes cleaning out the tub of ceramic.  I eventually managed to get a bath.  I have yet to have my coffee!

Princess Swordland comes down with common malady -a cold!

There is nothing more distressing, disheartening, and flat out exhausting to a parent of young children as when they get sick.  Here on Planet Swordland, Princess has come down with a pretty tough version of the common cold.  At least I think it is still a cold...The last two hours have been spent dealing with a strongheaded, almost two yr old, sick little girl.  WOW!!!!  My nerves are shot!  Hotrod never gave us this kind of ride! (although, unfortunately, he is learning a few things from his sister)  Time to buckle down and guard the entrances, because no one will be allowed in or out for the next couple of days. UGH!!!

New Joys

As a new mom, you love your baby, adore your little one, coo and gaa over it, etc., but there is no reaction from that new life, seemingly, for months.  It is a very lonely time for moms and no one seems to warn them about it, and yet we all experience it.  As they grow, they smile, laugh and follow you around and bring you joy, but it is still a very quiet time when they can't talk.  Then somewhere after yr 3 edging into yr 4 and beyond you have this little person that has ideas and thoughts, comes up with games to play, and is pure joy to be around.  (OK, most of the time) :) Hotrod is now in this stage, as he is almost five going on 20.  Life is rarely boring to him and all experiences are still new and exciting.  We popped popcorn last night and watched The Incredibles and had the best time!  You would have thought he had never seen popcorn pop before!  He made sure all four of us were standing there watching the popcorn machine as each kernel popped and came flying out.  It is times like these that Matt and I steal a glimpse at each other and realize the new joys that our children are bringing us.  As I have said before, life on Planet Swordland, with God's grace and mercy, is good.

Swordland's Protect the Park

At 10:30am this morning the emergency siren went off at

 headquarters. Planet Swordland apparently had a crisis

at the park! So off we went...Rescue Heroes!!! When we

 got there everything was quiet. Crisis adverted!! So we

stayed, played and had a small picnic. It was a beautiful

day for it! Hotrod finally figured out how to swing, and

 Princess sported the new up do on P.S. This is the first

 time for her to have any sort of ponytail. As I was trying

 to put in pigtails, I kept recalling my younger cousin screaming as her mother brushed and put up her hair

 years ago. Needless to say, it was not the easiest thing I have ever done to Princess. We ended up with the Bam-Bam look....Oh well!!!!

 

 

Minivan Thursday

If you were to drive by my house on Thursdays at about noon, you would think a Minivan convention was being held.  And NOT A ONE of these belongs to me!!! I have learned in life never to say never, because when you do it always happens, but God willing, I will NEVER own a minivan!!  Yes, I laugh at the Swaggerwagon song like everyone else, but give me a SUV or a truck and I am happy.
All that aside, Thursdays are balm to my soul.  I love these ladies that God has so richly blessed my life with.  Today in the midst of uncertainty and unrest in most of our lives, we were in my front yard hula hooping like a bunch of kids.  Good thing that wont be put on the internet!! :)

Dimension X

Planet Swordland somehow warped into Dimension X today.  Hotrod and Princess did not get out of bed until 9:20am for starters!!!!  They spent the morning quietly playing with each other, no fighting or yelling occurred.  They spent over 20 minutes at the table coloring...with no talking or fighting over crayons!  I accomplished more this morning, than I had all week.
At supper, Princess actually ate all of her supper for the first time in 9 months, that is how long I have been giving her our supper food.  To top it off, Matt forgot to get Cascade on his way home. I was going to ask for help washing the two loads of dishes by hand, but he beat me to it!!!  While I put the kids to bed he washed all the dishes!!!!  I dried just to say "thank you".   Dimension X isn't so bad! :)