He knows how it feels...

Today after school, T Jay walked by me kind of quietly and said, "You know how Dad said that one of these days I would miss a spelling word?" I nodded and he said, "Today's the day. Now I know how it feels to miss a word (kind of somber). Man was the cafeteria noisy." Like the cafeteria is only noisy on "lunch with the teacher" day! FYI-Every Monday following their Friday spelling test, T Jay's teacher does "lunch with the teacher" if they get a %100 on the spelling test. He and Mrs. Taylor have been eating together every Monday since August when the tests began. A little later, when we were at home, I asked him if he was upset about missing a word. He said that he was until I pointed out that he has gotten all of his spelling words correct for almost 8 months. He was impressed with that statistic and then went on to play Play Station. He is his Father's son when it comes to wanting perfection in school. Those of you who knew me while in school know that I would rather be socializing than studying, at least until college. I guess if you are going to apply yourself, college is a good place to start! Jess brought some great traits to the match, don't ya think?!

Turning of a Page...

Alexis' 1st Birthday from Kelli Melin on Vimeo.

Today kind of marks the end of a chapter in our family. With Lexi turning 1, we have officially left the baby years and moved on to toddlers, loose teeth and bumps and bruises. It's a shift that I knew was coming, but it always felt so far away. We have been in baby mode for 7 and 3/4 years, which translates, roughly, of course, to about 12,000 diapers changed so far. Wow, right? That means we've purchased as many, too! Anyone want to do that math? This thought brought tears to my eyes, not because the diapers were stinky or because the number was so staggeringly high, but because I literally felt the shift. I guess that means I need to enjoy this last year or so of Lexi in diapers! I've loved each and every moment of each baby. Now, the next best thing that I will hold will be my own grand kids. It kind of makes me feel old.
As I was sitting on T Jay's bed listening to him read a bedtime story to Matthew, my mind was soaking in the surroundings. Summer on Daddy's lap reading to him, Matthew engulfed in T. Jay's words and Lexi walking around between all of us. I literally felt the page turn, and it felt right. As sad as it is to leave one phase, the elation of watching my children learn, grow and change is worth the cost of the ticket. I have a front row seat to the best show I've ever produced!

A 3 year old's St. Patty's Day prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Bless the food.
Bless to be safe from the Leprechaun.
Give all the kids their candy and chocolate.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen
"I feel much better now."

Like I said, the leprechaun really freaked him out there for a little while. Now he keeps talking about how Leprechauns get into trouble and then give all of the children all of the candy and chocolate. Reasonable logic, I suppose.

A little Leprechaun Mischief!

Last night while we were sleeping, we had a wee leprechaun sneak into our house and wreak a little havoc! The kids warned me it could happen. They learned in school that leprechauns like to make messes and leave footprints. They also told me that if you caught one, not to blink before you made your wish, because if you did, you wouldn't get your wish because he would be gone. Well, they were right. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself!
Matthew was quite terrified at the idea of a little leprechaun in his house. Literally he was shaking. As the day has worn on, he has warmed to the idea. He even thinks that all the kids should get candy from the leprechaun. He has blamed everything (even the bite I took of his "dang quesadilla") on the leprechaun! Here he's pointing out the green footprints left behind by the wee fella.

T Jay was beyond ecstatic to find that a leprechaun did, in fact, choose his home for a little mischief spree! Here are the partially eaten candies, a packet of Taco Bell sauce and the little green footprints.

He must have used his magic (according to T Jay) to walk sideways along the oven and then jumped onto Lexi's tray and then over to the window where he escaped. Very nimble fella indeed.

Let's not forget his green mark on the milk! I really never knew St. Patty's day could be so much fun.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Untangling

On Friday morning, I was brushing Summer's hair for school. As I did this, Matthew was playing in the shower. I sprayed some detangler into her hair. She asked me what it was for and why I was putting it in her hair. I told her how it helped get the tangles out of her hair so we could brush it easier.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon...
I was at the sink doing dishes when I saw Matthew out of the corner of my eye leave the bathroom with the detangling spray and head upstairs. Knowing that could only spell trouble (let's face it, trouble is his middle name), I quickly finished what I was doing and followed him. As I called for him, his response came from the girl's room. I found him spraying the detangler all over the blinds, which were all scattiwumpus, one side up and the other down. When I asked him why he was spraying that on the window, he told me, "the blinds are all tangled." I can't believe the things kids pick up, and how confusing some of it must be to them.
He also split his pants sometime between getting dressed this morning and the middle our church meeting. It didn't bother him one bit! I so enjoy being his mother. No seriously, I love it!

Commercials

I was watching TV with the kids this morning when a commercial for Ultra Leak proof Huggies came on. It was of a Dad who laid his son on the bed to change him. When he opened up the baby diaper a fire hose sized spray came out and sprayed in every direction, all over the walls. The add basically said, have fun, here is a product to help you. When I saw it, I laughed out loud! It caught me off guard, and I thought it was funny. Here's where this gets a little interesting. Fast forward about 15 minutes when the kids were instructed to go to the bathroom so we could run our errands. I went into the bathroom to check on Matthew. (it's always Matthew, isn't it?!) He was upset about something, and then I saw it. He had hosed our bathroom walls around the toilet. He was borderline sobbing that he "makes bad choices with his pee." I got him changed and the walls and floor cleaned up. As we were walking out the door I asked him the question I already knew the answer to. Me: "Were you trying to do what the baby did on the commercial." Matthew: "No." Me: "Were you copying the baby on TV?" Matthew: "yea, I was trying to make you laugh with my pee." Of course this conversation was followed up with the "We only pee in the toilet" speech. It makes me wonder if this possibility ever came up in the brainstorming sessions of the particular commercial!

Matthew can fix his own hair...

That is if I want a bottle of hair gel used all at once!
He's such a big boy, so independent!

I haven't had much time to post lately. I have had a lot going on. (who doesn't?) Anyway, the kids have been sick, Jess has been travelling an insane amount, and I have been working on a little redecorating. I have a lot of projects that I am working on. A lot of painting, reupholstering, refinishing and sewing. I'll post some pictures when I finish. If I finish, that is! No, it'll get done, how long, that's a totally different story!