Gifts You're Glad You Can't Smell

My children decided to make me some early birthday and Mother's Day presents:

First they gathered some purple and white wildflowers and greenery

and wrapped the stems in a skunk cabbage leaf.

Have you ever smelled skunk cabbage?

It came by its name honestly.

Then they made multiple trips up our back hill to get the supplies to make me these two beautiful yellow wreaths 

out of Scotch Broom.

The leftover supplies joined my collection of "too beautiful to hide inside" bouquets on the front porch. 

Who needs roses?!?

I've got noxious weeds colorful flowers on my front porch!

Happy (early) Mother's Day!

Be Specific

Isaak was helping me unload the shopping bags after our trip to Walmart this morning, and I asked him to take the Nyquil to my bathroom.

I didn't specify where in my bathroom he should put it.

My Little Yes Man

Isaak has been very agreeable these last few weeks.  At first, if you asked him a question, and the answer was yes, he would simply say "Huh-uh" (which, by the sound alone would mean "No", unless you knew better).  We worked with him a little, and "Huh-uh" was at least combined with emphatic head nodding.  A few days ago, he was down to simple emphatic head nods, with only the occasional verbal accompaniment, and today he FINALLY figured out what we were talking about all these weeks and added an "Uh-HUH!" to his emphatic head nods.

Some examples:

Me: Isaak, do you want breakfast?  (Big nods.)

Me: Isaak, would you like some milk?  (Big nods.)

Me: Isaak, are you cute?  (Big nods.)

Me: Isaak, can you please go put that (thing you're not supposed to be playing with) back where you found it?  (Isaak just looks at me.)

Me: Isaak, are you ready to go back inside now?  (Isaak runs in the other direction.)

You get the idea.

Today, sitting on the couch watching football and eating the last animal crackers:

Me: Isaak, does it taste better if you stick your animal cracker in between your toes before you eat it?  (Isaak looks down at his feet and animal cracker, looks up at me and grins...and gives me a really BIG nod.)  :)

Ewww.

Shenanigans

The girls had a really hard time calming down enough to get ready for bed this evening.  They were very helpful and obedient while they were working with and near me in the kitchen and dining room cleaning up after dinner, but once I sent them upstairs to get ready for bed...it was "let the wild rumpus start!"  

On the other hand, at least they were including their little brother in their shenanigans and no one felt left out!

You're Gonna Miss This

The first time I heard this song was at the Grand Ole Opry.  I had a very sleepy Isaak on my lap --who complained every time the music stopped :) -- and Trace Adkins came out and sang a few songs.  When he sang this one, I bawled like a baby...and I still get all teary-eyed every time I hear it!

Trace Adkins -- You're Gonna Miss This

She was staring out the window of their SUV

Complaining, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
Mama put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me. 
I've got 2 babies of my own. 
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

I listened to this today in the car on the way home from Walmart...the timing could not have been more perfect.  SOMEDAY, I will miss having a four-year-old who out of the blue, pipes up and proclaims loudly in the checkout line at Walmart, "Mommy, I still don't like touching Mommy's underwear."

Yes, she did.  

And only she, Jaela, Macey, and I knew she was referring to our shared chore of sorting out each person's clean laundry into piles.  Which we haven't done for months.  (Because I found it to be quicker and easier to just sort the laundry straight out of the dryer into baskets and give them each their own basket full of laundry to fold and put away.)  

Did I mention it was completely out of the blue?  :)

Someday, I'm gonna miss this! 

Hannah Montana: Part 2

The checker at the commissary today took one look at the girls and began to exclaim (to them, not to me) how beautiful they were, and such beautiful curly hair, and were they on TV, or maybe movie stars, and maybe they SHOULD be on TV because they were just as pretty as Hannah Montana!  When she was met with embarrassed and I-don't-have-a-clue-what-you're-talking-about smiles from all three girls, she changed tactics and began quizzing them on who their favorite TV star is...Hannah Montana?  No reaction.  Miley Cyrus?  No reaction.  Dora the Explorer?  A smile.  Finally, in desperation, Ariel?!?  Two smiles.  I finally excused them go sit on their favorite nearby bench to wait for me, and she asked me,

Checker:  "Don't they know any of those people?"  

Me:  "They don't watch TV, except sometimes football with me in the fall."

Checker: "What?!?  Not even that show on Disney with the little kids on it that has the little girl with curly hair that looks just like them?"

Me: (with a I-don't-have-a-clue-what-you're-talking-about smile of my own) "No."

Checker: (to the next checker over)  Hey, Sarah, those kids don't watch no TV except for football!  Can you believe that!?!  (Yes, she used that oh-so-southern double negative that absolutely drives me crazy!  Then, addressing Isaak, since he was the only one still within earshot)  I think Mommy needs a spanking!"

My response: Hmmmmm

Mike's response: "Someone needs reported to the manager for rudeness!"

Modesty and Hannah Montana

This is tax-free weekend for the state of Tennessee, which applies to all school supplies, clothing, and computer components valued at $100 or less.  So, of course, being the thrifty person that you know and love (gotta save that 9.5%!), I saved up my list of essential school supplies for this weekend, and went to Walmart.  

I have also been looking for plain nylon slips for the girls, so I headed to the girls clothing section after I had everything else I needed.  I could not find the slips anywhere, so I finally asked an older Walmart Associate lady for help:

Me:  Do you carry slips for little girls?

WA:  (looking around) Um, I don't think...hmmm, maybe...

Me:  I've seen them around Easter, but they always disappear.  I wondered if maybe they get moved somewhere else the rest of the year?

WA:  No, I think those are a seasonal item.  I don't know why...

(We look at each other in silence for a moment.)

Me:  Modesty is seasonal?

WA:  (laughing) Well, Hannah Montana doesn't wear one, so why would anyone else?!?

And I hope that you are thinking, as MY daughters would be, "Hannah Who?"