Thursday, March 22, 2012

3yr old talk

Rosie: Leo, can we have a playdate?
Leo: Sure!
Rosie: Ok.
Leo: Where do you live?
Rosie: Uhm... I live in Minnesota.
Leo: ME TOO!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Holy Spring!

Nothing gets older than a Minnesotan talking about the weather. Super duper boring, right?

But HOLY CRAP! I can't NOT talk about the weather! It has been in the 70's-80's for the last week. IT'S MARCH!!! This is historically the snowiest month of the year in my fair cursed state. This is when we leave the stark white tundra for a warm spring break and come back depressed because it's still a stark white tundra. I have never bought crocs prior to spring break because we would never be able to use them. I can pack for spring break in November because none of the requisite clothing would be used prior to that time.

Yesterday, we had pulled pork sandwiches off the grill with slaw and cobbler, all eaten on the back patio with the whole family. The adults sat and drank *lemonade* (with a little bourbon) while the kids played capture the flag in the yard with the dog chasing them around. Max asked me to turn the sprinkler on (which is, of course, impossible, because no one in their right mind turns their sprinklers on this time of year).

All of this, on March 18th.

What the hell is going on? My tulips are popping through the mulch. My windows are open. My kids all went to school today in shorts.

I am just soaking it all in. Mostly because I am pretty sure it will snow in April.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mr Defiant

I don't like repeating myself. I REALLY don't like repeating myself when it comes to things that shouldn't need to be said the first time around. Examples?

Put your dishes in the dishwasher
Put your clothes down the laundry chute
Put your homework where it belongs
Sit down in your chair when you eat
Don't walk around the house with food

I could go on and on, but let's be honest, you are already bored. *I* am bored with myself when I say these things. And yet, these are the things that drive me to insanity with how often I am saying them. Most of the time, the boys have not done them simply because they are being space cadets.

But not Calvin.

Oh, no. Not Calvin.

Sometimes he's a space cadet, but many a times it is because he simply doesn't like being told what to do. He consciously chooses not to listen. Calvin knows best. Go ahead and ask him. I'm sure he would readily agree. And please don't discuss this post with my brother. His opinions on where Calvin gets this trait are not needed or appreciated.

It will come as a surprise to no one that this has become a problem.

I got the dreaded "Parent Contact" phone call the other day. Apparently Calvin and a friend decided to sword fight with pencils, with the purpose of the game being to stab the other in the stomach. The teacher caught them doing this and told them to stop. Calvin, knowing that he knew better, continued the stabbing.

Thankfully, no one got hurt. I had 3 hours to craft his punishment in my mind before he got off the bus. He got to spend the entire afternoon and evening in his room, with dinner as the only break (though I was very tempted to scoot stale bread under the door crack). No more of his favorite iPhone game, and he had to write a letter of apology to the teacher.

I have no idea if any of this will make one whit of difference.

It really sucks when your kids take your own personality flaws and craft them into a whole new art form....