How fast things will change...

It is Spring Break right now, and Andrew has been playing with Maddie, our neighbor across the street. She is also in 2nd grade so the two of them get along quite well. Yesterday, the weather was lousy. It was a snow/rain mix (yes, I did say it was Spring Break), so they decided to stay inside and watch High School Musical 2.

So, that night at dinner, Andrew said that Maddie had told him something gross. Maddie told Andrew that Gabriella (the actress from High School Musical 2) had taken a naked picture of herself and sent it to boys. Both her naked front and naked back, and Andrew thought that was gross. Dana asked if he thought it was stupid to take naked pictures of yourself and he said yes.

Flash forward ten years and I am guessing this conversation is a little bit different...

Are children considered body parts?

Today is one of those days where I wish the policies on EBAY allowed me to sell body parts. I know they are trying to prevent me from selling a kidney to the highest bidder, but today is one of those days when I would be happy to offer my children on EBAY to the highest bidder, and I would pay the shipping. How can they be so frustrating and so precious all at the same time. Yes, I always said that the lifespan of puppies and babies would be much shorter if they weren't so cute. Today that holds true.

So tonight, when I tuck them in to bed and kiss them good night, I will say a prayer that I can show them how to be loving and kind and to laugh and to enjoy the simple joys of each day. To smile, and appreciate everything that they have in their lives. I don't know how to make a seven year old and a four year old understand that just because I wouldn't let them watch cartoons this morning that their lives are not ruined, and that words they say to even big grown ups like their father can help more than anything else they can ever do. But all I can do is pick myself up, dust myself off, and try again with a new day tomorrow. In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow is another day."

The brilliant 4-year old!

So, Andrew and his friend Ben spent 40 minutes yesterday trying to do battle with the evil video game villians so they could advance to the new level. Yes, Nintendo battles of all kind were happening in our basement yesterday. It is Star Wars Lego, the new fascination of Andrew and Ben. Each of them have a Jedi knight character and in the past week have started at Level I and overcome their enemies, rescued princesses, found hidden jewels and other treasure to progress to Level IV. Unfortunately, they were stuck and could not get by oone of the Darth Maul looking characters and through the last door.

After 40 minutes of playing inside on a sunny day, Dana did what any good mother would do and shooed them outside to play football or basketball or tag or any game that involved running and exercising more than their thumbs pushing buttons. After dinner, Andrew decided to try one more time and we asked that Delaney play with him. The game had been paused, so they picked up where they left off, well, almost. Delaney started playing before Andrew got there and manage to complete Level IV and move on Level V. When Andrew asked in disbelief, "Delaney, how did you get by that guy?" her reply was, "I don't know. Do you want to play princess Legos now?"

The frustration of a four year old younger sister.

"High" but achievable goals...

We finally watched a movie last night! Yes, that doesn't sound like much, but we have had a DVD movie sitting around the house for about a week and we were always busy doing something else. We had a Cub Scout meeting, or we needed to do laundry, or help Andrew with homework, or we were tired from doing yard work, there was always something that seemed to be more pressing or needing to be done. The last two movies we had never watched and given up and sent back, so we were very proud of ourselves for sitting down and watching a movie from start to finish.

Yes, times have changed. I remember weekends in college or when I was single where you would go out with friends on Friday night, wake up the next morning, watch three or four movies throughout the day as you lazily lounged around the house, and then get ready to go out again on Saturday night. I remember those days, and yes, sometimes I miss them, but on the other hand, if I was still doing that it would be a pretty pathetic existence. The next movie is Night at the Museum, so maybe we can make two movies in a row. A new record!