How to wipe your tushy

I had the most interesting conversation with Ian(age 5) yesterday and thought I'd record it for future posterity (and laughs). We were driving in the car . .. .

Ian: "Mommy, my butt hurts."
Me: "Your what hurts?"
Ian: "I mean my tushy hurts."
Me: "Why does your tushy hurt?" (At this point I'm fully expecting him to tell me about a fall at school)
Ian: "When I go poopy, I don't always do such a job.."
Me: "OK, Ian let's go over this again. What's the first thing you do after you go poopy?"
Ian: "Well, you get some toilet paper and you wipe your butt, I mean tushy."
Me: "Where exactly do you wipe Ian?"
Ian: "Um, well, your bottom -"
Me: "No, Ian. You wipe the hole where the poopy comes out. Now, where do you wipe?"
Ian: "The hole where the poopy comes out."
Me: "Right, then what do you do?"
Ian: "Well, you put the paper in the potty -"
Me: "No, Ian. First you look at the toilet paper to see if there's any poopy on it. Then you put it in the potty. Then what do you do?
Ian: "You get some more toilet paper and you wipe your bottom -
Me: "No, you wipe the hole where the poopy comes out!"
Ian: "You wipe the hole where the poopy comes out."
Me: "then what?"
Ian: "You put it in the potty."
Me: "No, Ian. First you look at the paper to see if there's any more poopy on it."
Ian: "OK, you look at the paper then you put it in the potty."
Me: "Now what?"
Ian: "You get some more toilet paper-"
Me: "OK, Ian, pay attention. You get some toilet paper. You wipe the hole where the poopy comes out. Then you look at the toilet paper. If there is still poopy on the toilet paper you get some more toilet paper and wipe. Then what do you do?"
Ian: "Um, you throw it in the potty?"
Me: "No, Ian, you LOOK! If there is still poopy on the toilet paper, you keep wiping. You keep doing this until there is no more poopy on the toilet paper. When there is no more poopy on the toilet paper you have a clean butt - I mean tushy."
Me: "So where do you wipe?"
Ian: "The hole where the poopy comes out."
Me: "Then what do you do?"
Ian: "Um, you look at the toilet paper."
Me: "And if ther's poopy on it?"
Ian: "You get some more toilet paper and wipe again."
Me: "And if there's still poopy on it?"
Ian: "You wipe again."
Me: "Until when?"
Ian: "Until there's no more poopy."
Me: "That's right."

Can't sleep

I cannot believe how long it's been since I posted last. My only guess is that Kiera stopped being a sleeping newborn and I got busy. She's almost 1 now, I can't believe it. She's very independent and stubborn (wonder where she gets that from?). She has discovered her voice and uses it . . . constantly. Her favorite thing to say is Ah- da, usually at the top of her little lungs in the grocery store. She just repeats it over and over - it sounds to me like she's saying 'all done!' She also says da-da and has been known to get out a ma-ma when she's really upset. She is definitely a daddy's girl. The yelling starts if Dave comes home and, heaven forbid, walks by her to put his stuff down. She has a sweet little smile that's just for him.

Anyway, I don't know why I'm up in the middle of the nighttyping this - I should be getting some much-needed sleep. Every bit of me is tired, except my calves which are in knots and make it hard to sleep. I should just go take some tylonel and a hot shower and be done with it. I don't know why I'm not. Apparently I like being falling down tired . . . . the boys are croupy. Lucas and Ian woke up this morning sounding like seals. Lucas was worse so I kept him home. I probably should have kept Ian too, but it was his 100th day and he had this cute red t-shirt that we glued 100 googly eyes on for him to wear . . . . One of them is coughing now, i'm not sure who - hopefully I won't have to keep anyone home tomorrow!

OK, OK - I'm going to bed.

Summer break

I've had 2 whole days of laziness! As in not having to go anywhere, no carpools, no school, no picking up from camp when it's 110 degrees out. I've actually slept in - if 8:00 is sleeping in! The boys have been getting up and watching TV (I know it's a horrible habit!) and Kiera & I have lazed around in bed. Total bliss!
The kids are starting to get bored already though. We have playgroup tomorrow at the Children's Museum with our church friends. They are looking forward to that - and so am I. The house cleaners are coming tomorrow and they can't clean with the boys running around - hell, I can't clean with the boys running around. Hopefully I will be returning home to a clean house with tired kids.
Not sure how much longer I'm going to keep the housecleaners. I finally feel like I'm catching my stride a little. Kiera is 3 months old and sleeping pretty well at night and naps great during the day. I've been cooking on a regular basis and the house no longer looks like a bomb went off all the time. I signed up for Flylady - guess I'm a flybaby. I'll try that one step at a time. Hopefully in a few more weeks I'll have a routine and can start putting the housecleaner money into the 'saving for dining room chairs' account. Dave sees absolutely no need for anything whatsoever for the house and there is no budget item for it, thus I have to pull it out of grocery money and where ever else I can find it.
(On a side note, I really like our new budget system. We opened a second checking account for my use - technically the household account - but I have complete discretion over those funds andcan save for things now. More on this another time!)
Anyway, I'm on a get organized tear lately. I need to get my house in shape and my body in shape. So, flylady for the house and Body for Life(BFL) for me. I did BFL after Ian was born and had amazing results - so I know it works, I'm having a really hard time with the will power aspect though. I just ordered 3 new books and 3 new journals. I'm planning to give the extras to Mary and Jackie and hope that they will agree to dedicate themselves to it with me. They've both indicated interest, but they both have worse discipline than me . . . . hopefully we can keep each other motivated. I've got a good 30 lbs to lose . . .
So much for this being a blog about the kids! I'm off to shine my sink and go to bed!

adult conversation

We went out to dinner last night with 2 other couples who we haven't seen socially for awhile. It was SO nice. They both have kids about the same age as our older 2, they were just sane enough to stop (ok, one had a third!). We do see them with the kids, but it's next to impossible to have a decent conversation when you're constantly interrupted by the rug rats. So anyway, we went to Terra Cotta (yes Kiera did come, but she was nice enough to sleep all the way through dinner like a little angel) which was delicious as usual. I don't remember all the conversations, but I'll tell you one thing, they did NOT revolve around the kids. We also avoided politics as Dave is a self proclaimed 'radical right-winger' and both of the other couples lean decidedly left. But it was SO nice - I know I keep saying that, but it was just SO nice! Most of my conversations revolve around the kids, housewrok, cooking, homework, carpooling, scheduling, shuffling and how the baby is sleeping. So any other subject, especially with other adults, is pretty much riveting for me. That's almost pathetic, but that's the life of a stay at home mom.
We went out with my sister in law, Sara, for dinner a few weeks ago and somehow I ended up sitting with her and a few of her co-workers at one end of the table. Just listening to them talk about work and the people and tell funny little stories brought back so many memories. I kept thinking, 'I remember doing this kind of thing way back when I worked. I remember when my life revolved around my job.' Except it feels like another life that I did that kind of thing. Sometimes I wonder if the people I was close to then would even recognize me now. Not my looks, but my personality . . . . I am definitely not the same person I was 10 years ago.
OK - I'm totally digressing. If I ever tell anyone I started a blog, I doubt they will want to read my self-analysis . . . . anyway, thank you Val & Andrew and Mary & Kyle for a terrific evening!

OK - the party was fun . . . and Father's Day was too

I really need to be more positive. The party was fun and I had a chance to catch up with a lot of people I hadn't seen for awhile. The boys had a great time playing in the pool with Dave. Apparently Lucas was doing flips off the diving board (before I got there -I came separately with Kiera) and having a grand ol' time until he landed on his back in the water and decided that maybe flips weren't such a great idea. I hope someone took a picture - I'll post it if I can find one. Lauren and Lexi got Webkins out the kazoo. I have no idea what they are other than stuffed animals, but I probably should find out in case one of the boys gets interested.

Today is Father's Day and the boys are very excited. Lucas woke me up 'early' to decorate for Daddy. Unfortunately early was 7:42 which is actually quite late for me and was definitely too late to decorate the house and make it to church by 9:00. I convinced them that breakfast in bed was an equally good surprise for Daddy and actually got them to get dressed while I threw together some fried eggs (I know, not very fancy, but the toast was made from homemade bread!). Kyle wasn't dressed by the time breakfast was ready and cried until I got him some clothes to wear. I think Dave would have preferred to sleep longer, but he put on a good face for the overeager boys and made all the appropriate comments to their father's day artwork. I got Dave the best card. It's a picture from Casa Blanca - the end where Humphrey Bogart is leaving Irene Dunne at the airport. Instead of saying "we'll always have Paris" the caption bubble says"We'll always have children". Her bubble says, "I know, what were we thinking?!" I love my kids to death, but sometimes I wonder exactly that!

Anyway, we actually made it to church on time, for once. I spent most of the service sitting outside the chapel with Kiera, who didn't want to sleep through the service like she usually does. When we got home Dave took a LONG nap and we're getting ready to head out to dinner with my parents at the most kid friendly sit down restaurant in Tucson - Buddy's Grill.

Splash party tonight

Tonight is a birthday party for two of my nieces. They are avid swimmers and the party is at a community pool with a planned movie when it gets dark. I love my nieces, but this sounds like a friggin' nightmare to me. Lucas is the only one who can swim well. Ian and Kyle both need a lot of help if the water is more than 2 feet deep. I'm sure Dave will be happy to go in the water with the boys, but he can't watch all of them and I've got to hold Kiera. Did I mention the boys are completely excited about the party? I'm going to spend the whole time worrying that someone will drown. Ugh! So not my definition of fun - but I'm sure the boys will love it and more importantly my nieces will have an excellent party . .. . must go - Kiera just woke up!

I can't believe I started a blog

OK, so if you're actually reading this, you're probably wondering at the name. The blue train is my three boys (Lucas, Ian & Kyle) and the pink caboose is my baby girl Kiera. She is two months old and really starting to interact with the family. It's quite apparent that she is going to rule the roost around here. She already has her brothers entranced. My normally maniacally active boys are perfectly willing to sit next to her bouncy seat for 15-20 minutes and make goofy faces just for her smile. I'm just excited that they like to entertain her and that I'm not going to have to stoop over holding her little hands when she starts trying to walk in a few short months - her brothers will be more than willing to escort the little princess around.

Anyway, my intentions for this blog are to chronical the events of my family - mostly the kids, thus the name. I'm not sure when I'll tell Dave I started this - if he was doing a blog, it would be purely for the purpose of forwarding his thoughts on politics and religion with an occasional foray into work and family. Since my work is my family and vice versa (did I mention that I love my job?) I will stick with what I know. Though I probably will make a few forays myself into politics and religion - especially when my hubby hands me books he thinks I should read . . . . .

OK - enough for my first post, it's time to feed the baby