But I need them!

At the end of our long weekend with family, the boys and I were headed toward the security line at the airport. I told them to say goodbye now because Grandmom and Uncle P couldn’t come with us. Jonas refused. He pointed his chubby fingers at the beloved relatives and exclaimed, “No, I need them!”

Happy wherever

“Do you miss your daddy?” a favored uncle asked Owen. The boys and I left Jack at home for a few days and visited my family up north.

“Not too much, I’ll see him the next day,” said Owen. “I’m happy wherever I am.”

It's tough being a kid, part 3

After a couple 2-year-olds came running to me on the verge of tears, I had to pull Owen aside to explain that even though pillow fights are OK, he couldn't hit his little brother and cousin so hard with the pillows.

"Honey, you're much bigger than them, and you could hurt them without meaning to. You just have to play more gently with little kids."

"But Mom, everything inside of me wants to play rough!"

It's tough being a kid, part 2

I hugged and kissed Owen goodnight and said, “I love you.”

“I know. You always love me,” he said exasperatedly. “But Mom, I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it!”

Life happens

OK, this is a boring, housekeeping type of post, so I must apologize. I've missed my deadline to discuss the book club book, Eat, pray, love, and I'm very sorry. My Internet service was down, I hadn't quite finished the book and Owen's birthday is tomorrow so I've been consumed with planning/prepping that. In a couple of days I'll have my brain back in gear and ready to talk to about the book. Keep checking, I haven't forgotten!

By the way, our next book is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Plan to read it by Nov. 2. And I will too!

Because I'm the mom!

Could you condense everything a mother says in a 24-hour period into a song just shy of 3-minutes sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture? This is so funny! Whether you've been the one saying all this or on the receiving end (or both), this will bring you a smile. Promise!

Aahh, the joys of siblings

Jonas stood facing the window nearest his carseat in the minivan and stubbornly said, "Don't look out my window."

Owen, sitting behind him in his seat, shot back, "I'm looking out your window."

"Don't look out my window!"

"I'm looking out your window!"

Oh, brother!