Jack-O-Lantern

Jack lost his first tooth! He technically didn't lose it; I tricked him into letting me pull it. I tried to pull it with a piece of dental floss a week or so ago, but Travis told him it would hurt so he wouldn't let me. Today I finally got him to open his mouth by telling him I was just going to look at it. It only took a little tug to get it out. Jack was so excited to put his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. When he woke up in the morning he was so disappointed because he thought the tooth fairy just took his tooth without leaving any money. I took him back up to his bed and helped him find the dollar that the tooth fairy at left. Jack looked a little disappointed.

Me: What's wrong?
Jack: This is only a dollar. I can't buy anything with just a dollar!
Me: Why don't you save it? When you lose more teeth you can put all of your money together and buy something. You have a lot of teeth!
Jack: When am I going to lose more teeth?
Me: Do you want me to pull another one?
Jack: NO!

Todd Bless Benny!

Ben: Mommy, who makes the rain?
Me: God.
Ben: Why?
Me: So the flowers will grow, the grass will get green and the lakes will fill up.
Ben: Is this rain filling up the lake that Grammy is going to live at?
Me: Yep.
Ben: Will we have a rainbow after it rains?
Me: If the sun comes out right after the rain we will get lucky and see a rainbow.
Ben: Who makes rainbows?
Me: God.
Ben: Who is Todd? Is he nice like God?

Stinky Hog

My father-in-law is in town looking for a house. He is going to move closer so Travis and I can help him. He lives alone and can use some extra help. He bathes daily, but unfortunately he doesn't wash his clothes as frequently. The nicest way I can say it is his clothes smell like B.O. When he arrived yesterday he was RIPE! We drove around town house hunting. It was a lot of smell in a small space! This morning while Jack was getting ready for school Doug decided to get ready for the day too. Like I said, he is used to living alone. Jack needed to get in the bathroom to brush his teeth, but Doug was busy taking a bath, shaving, brushing his teeth, etc. He was in the bathroom for over an hour! I told Jack to go wait by the door because we needed to get to school. Jack got to the bathroom only to discover that grandpa was still hogging the bathroom. Jack yelled down to me "Grandpa is STILL in the bathroom, at least he won't stink anymore!"

Spring Has Sprung

I am so happy to welcome spring! I love spring in Texas. We have already had several beautiful sunny days, and this is how I know...

Ben: Why is your face all dirty?
Me: My face isn't dirty.
Ben: Yes it is, look at all of those dots, what's up with that?
Me: Those dots are freckles.
Ben: Why do you have them?
Me: I get them when I am in the sun, just like Grammy.
Ben: Why don't you wash them off?
Me: I can't wash them off; they are part of my skin.
Ben: Why do you want dirty skin?
Me: My skin isn't dirty! Some people think freckles are cute.
Ben: Well, I don't, I think they are dirty.

Just when I start feeling comfortable in my skin I get busted down by a three year old!

Immanent Disaster

I drug the kids around all morning while I took care of business. We had to take a sign out of one yard, put a lock box on another house, pick up a contract from another agent, etc. I promised the kids that if they behaved while I got my work done we would go to Taco Bell for lunch. While I was filling our drinks the kids picked out a table. When I turned around I discovered the kids at a high-top table. They seemed so proud of their choice that I didn't want to burst their little bubbles by making them move. But, I knew disaster was immanent. I assumed the disaster would include someone falling out of a chair and crying hysterically, but alas I was wrong. We unpacked our food and started eating; everything was coming off without a hitch. Just when I started to relax the bell on the door rang announcing that we no longer had the restaurant to ourselves. When I saw it was two midgets (I know that is not the politically correct term, but it makes the story better) I quickly diverted my attention back to my taco so I couldn't be accused of staring. Unfortunately, Ben didn't look away. Not only did he not look away, he announced "Those little people can't get us up here!"

Call Me!

The kids overheard me leaving a phone message...

Hey mom, give me a call back when you get a chance

Jack: Why are you calling your mom?
Me: Because I wanted to catch up with her.
Jack: Why?
Me: I like to talk to my mom, won't you want to talk to me when you are a grown up?
Jack: Yeah, but I won't be able to call you all the time.
Me: Why not?
Jack: Because I am going to be an astronaut, I won't be able to call you when I am in space.
Me: Okay, I understand, as long as you call me all the time when you are on Earth.
Jack: Of course I will!
Ben: I am not going to call you when I grow up!
Me: Why not?
Ben: Because I am going to be a dog when I grow up and dogs can't talk!

Happy Birthday Lexie!

My niece was born today. We took the whole family to the hospital to meet her. Ben and Lauren have Bronchitis so they didn't get to see Lexie. Travis sat in the waiting room with Ben and Lauren while Jack and I got to know Lexie. Then I traded places with Travis and he went to see the baby. Since Lauren didn't get to see Lexie in the flesh I showed her a picture.

Lauren: I like that baby, can we bring her home?
Me: No, that is your cousin Lexie, she is going to live with Aunt Nicole.
Lauren: Why?
Me: Because Aunt Nicole is her mommy.
Lauren: Why?
Me: (knowing this conversation was going no where fast I decided to change the subject) What do you like about the baby?
Lauren: She is pink and a little bit black.

Happy Birthday Jack!

My big boy turned six years old today. Six years ago today I didn't think it was possible to love him anymore than I did the day he was born, but I do! He continues to amaze me everyday. He is so smart and tests me daily with his curiosity. Today he wanted to know where the sun goes when it sets. And, the great thing is he actually wants to know. He listens intently and asks follow up questions when you give him an explanation. He has a great sense of humor and gets sarcasm like no other six year old. Don't get me wrong, he is still a six-year-old boy who finds toots and burps hysterical, but you can't win them all! He is so sweet and caring when he wants to be. He knows just when to give me a hug and a kiss. He is hardworking, helpful and an all around great kid! I am so lucky to be his mom.

His birthday party at Peter Piper Pizza was a huge success. Thirty-two of his closest friends joined us to celebrate. The kids played games and ate pizza while the adults drank beer and wine. It was a huge success!

It's Real

I mentioned a week ago that Jack's sixth birthday wasn't feeling real to me because I hadn't done the massive amounts of planning that I normally do. The party is tomorrow, so today was cake day. My friend Trisha came over to decorate the cake as she always does (God love her!) as I stood in the kitchen giving her moral support. The cake looks fabulous, don't you think?

After Trisha left I started on the cupcakes for school. I decided that Jack was old enough to give me some input on what he wanted.
Me: What kind of cupcakes do you want me to make for school? Jack: Why don't you put green frosting for grass, then put a football on it?
Me: I was wanting to know what flavor you wanted, not how you wanted it decorated.
Jack: I don't care about the flavor, just about the decorating. I want it to have a football on top.
Me: Well, you are not allowed to have things that are not edible on the cupcakes at school.
Jack: Then I guess you will have to make the football out of icing!
Here is what I came up with. I am not one to toot my own horn (well, maybe I am), but I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

Party Of One

This weekend we have been working on putting Lauren's big girl room together. Travis is painting the walls 'pleasing pink' and I was washed her bedding and put it on her new (former guest) bed.

Lauren: Mommy, are you going to share this bed with me?
Me: No, I already have my own big girl bed.
Lauren: Then who is going to share with me?
Me: Nobody, you get your OWN room!
Lauren: But Ben and Jack get to share.
Me: Yes, they are boys and since you are the only girl you GET your OWN room!
Lauren: Why?
Me: Because when you get BIG, boys and girls don't share rooms.
Lauren: But, you and daddy share a room.
Me: You are right we do, but you don't get to share a room with a boy until you are married.

Now that I think about it, I should have used this moment to list all of the things she can't do with a boy until she is married. It is never too early to start, right?

Six Minus Six Days

Jack is turning six on Friday. It hasn't really hit me yet. I think it is because I haven't done the party planning that I am a custom too. Last year Jack had a big superhero bash in the backyard complete with a full-sized bounce house and homemade capes for each of his friends. The year before Travis and I spent the six weeks before his birthday working on wooden frames shaped like a fire truck for his party at the fire station. When he turned 3 we rented two horses and had handlers give rides to all of his guests. This year Jack is having a joint party with another boy in his class at Peter Piper Pizza, picture Chuck E. Cheese with beer and wine. Rather than goodie bags the kids will go home with a certificate for an ice cream cone from Baskin Robins. The boys decided on a football theme so I am going to pick up a couple of football balloon bouquets and make a 3-D football cake. And, that is it. It is really boring to me, but it is what Jack wants. I guess he is outgrowing mommy's babyish birthday parties. It makes me a little sad my boy is growing up. When did this happen?