no use crying over spilled milk....

and strawberry syrup, or cereal or blue water color paint for that matter.
As my kids grow older, and we are expecting number 3, I have realized that I need to pass some responsibility onto my children.
One of Maesyn's new ones is to make her own chocolate milk, and any other drinks for that matter. I've also asked her to pour her own cereal. She is 5 after all! They are also expected to pick up their toys on their own and Maesyn has extra chores she can do to earn money at her pleasure. (This will change once school starts. She will have actual chores assigned to her and will earn an allowance).
I figured that having the kids do these things will make things easier on me. And, it helps them learn independence. I have always know that teaching them these things will actually be harder at first. Above is photographic evidence.

If I were to always pour Maesyn's milk then I would never have to clean up an entire glass full from off the kitchen table and floor. Same with cereal.
The other day i asked Maesyn to clean up the water color mess from the living room floor. There was paint on the floor, some papers, the paint pans, brushes and water cups. I explained that she would need a wet cloth to clean the paint up.
The result:
Blue paint dripped down the hall, across my carpet, into my bathroom and then smeared all over the living room floor.
She was trying to clean it up, however, she used a painted on cloth and soaked it in water without ringing it out. The kids also insist on using my bathroom, which you have to go through my room - one of the only two areas with carpet in the house - to get to it. I had not yet made my bed, so there was also paint on my comforter which was on the floor.
I know that this is just the beginning and it is hard and messy at first, but the rewards will come later.
Teaching my kids to be self feeders early on (I think they were both eating with utilises - athough messy- on their 1st birthdays) has created big messes on kids and floors, but has freed up my hands during meal times, and my children have been complemented on how well they feed themselves at such a young age.
Doing house hold chores will bring on the same challenges as my children struggle to learn something new, and I practice patience as I teach them. However, the reward will be great! My brother was prepared to clean up every messy apartment that he lived in while attending college and on his mission.
I could cook up a storm and clean a house well in college as well as mend and iron clothing.
All of my siblings can drive stick proficiently (it cost my dad a clutch).
So..
there is no use crying over spilled milk.

people watching

So... i love watching people. In airports I look at their clothes and wonder where they are from and what their houses look like and what they eat and what their jobs are. In hotels, at the breakfast I wonder who had --- the night before. (i think a friend in high school mentioned that they did that so I was hooked too). At breakfast every morning on our honeymoon cruise I would wonder that about people and wonder if people wondered that about me when they were people watching. You know I am not the only people watcher.
I also look at people's bodies a lot. I'm self conscious about my bum so I'm always checking out bums. In search of the perfect bra I was always looking at people's boobs and I wanted to ask women what bra they had so that I could have cute boobs like theirs. If people noticed me doing this I might have appeared to be a pervert. sorry.
At concerts I love to people watch. I love to look at tattoos and really really really love sleeves. Sexy...at least on young people and the occasional old guy that only gets to work in a record shop (i guess). I wonder about their lives. I look at their tight jeans and worn out converse. They buy expensive drinks and I just think about the cost. Money Money Money. Certainly they are not wishing and waiting for a bigger house with a yard, tramp and jungle gum for their kids, not to mention a living room and an additional bedroom and a garage to one day put a mini van in. No, they probably have a small apartment or share one. Worry little about the decor for their lone room.
I remember those days in college. I had a mattress or a loaned bed. A book shelf and a hand me down couch. I bought a huge Indian sheet with an elephant on it to hang for wall decorations in one apartment (I gave it to room mates of my sister in law- Nate hated it - so it is gone). oh so care free. I did not have much money but a concert was an OK cost as were clothes and entertainment. Oh those carefree days.
But I could be totally wrong. Some of those people are my age... some still single with different wants and troubles... but some could be in my same boat.
I wonder what people watchers thought of Nate and I. After all. There I was in my cut off cargo pants, worn out converse with no socks, a white t- shirt and brown cardigan. I had my sassy short hair - no sleeve though.( I love it when girls have sleeves). Nate in his worn out t-shirt and plain Levi's. Was he wearing converse too? Maybe the keen's I bought him on clearance. And the 20 something male trademark faded navy hoodie- no tats for him either- and his beard has been gone for almost 5 years. Did people think of us as young kids or the parents of 2 with one on the way, hoping for the bigger house and mini van?
I wonder?

Bath Time for Mommy

This evening I decided to take a bath. Because I was cold. And because I just got a hair cut and I had itchy little hairs itching all over my chest back and neck. The kids were so gracious to come in and scrub my belly and head with toothbrushes. Jake pointed to a pair of body parts that I own and said either "pee pee" or "baby" and then tried to pinch one of them off ( this is his regular ritual when I bathe...that and trying to get in the tub with me...sometimes he succeeds.). This is why I lock the door most of the time when I use any part of the bathroom facility of our house and Nate is here to entertain our kids.

growing up, having babies, and orange chicken.

Although Nate and I protest, Maesyn is growing up. Sometimes I just watch her carrying on or interacting with others and I can see that she is becoming this independent kid..a big kid. And she totally hangs with the 6 and 9 year old girls that I have in my clay class.
When holding (thankfully she sometimes likes to be held and requests snuggles!) her the other day I asked her why she had to grow up. She said she needed to grow up so she could get married and have a baby. She is really into getting married and having babies. She does not know who she wants to marry at this point (which is OK- she is only 4) but she does want to get married in the temple and have babies once she is married.
She also asked me a while back what I ate in the hospital when I had her. I could not really remember. The food in the hospital was not that great. She asked me to bring her orange chicken when she has a baby. (funny, because I did not care for any Chinese- or Asian food when I was pregnant with her). Orange Chicken is a current favorite. We will see in 20 or so years if the request still stands.

Throwing up and Barfing.

Warning.... may contain graphic material.

So, Maesyn and Jakie both had tummy aches last night and they both began throwing up... it seemed that there were points that as soon as one kid and their stinky mess was cleaned up the other would start.
At their current ages Maesyn and Jakie are very different at throwing up. Jakie will quietly throw up and just want to be held, even while throwing up. I have held his vomit in my hands to keep it from getting on the furniture or I have allowed him to throw up on my shoulder while he holds tight to me.(I have no idea why this does not gross me out). We then have to force him to rinse his mouth and then he will snuggle off to sleep (after we hose him off if needed).

Maes on the other hand is not so pleasant- as if barfing is pleasant. I think she is more like me, and does not like to be helped when she is uncomfortable. Although, if she needs assistance it is me that she calls on. She will do her business while yelling the whole time. And then insist on sleeping in her own room away from people. (I won't let her though. I have a fear of my children choking on their own vomit.)

I can honestly say that throw up is not a problem with me when it comes to parenting. At least my own kids. I remember having to clean up after my younger brother when I was a pre teen and dreading the day when I had to do this with my own kids.
I don't know how well Nate handles the pungent messes. However, last night I realized that in all of our barfing episodes that Nate has never had the opportunity to strip the soiled seat cushions off of our couches and prepare them for the wash. So I graciously gave him the chance. He did a pretty good job and also cleaned up the floors. Thank goodness we have wood floors- no carpet (in the barf zones). I did notice him dry heaving though- so I don't think i'll ask him to do it again.
All in all we are having a lazy dasie afternoon of movie watching, bread making and laundry doing. I don't think I get to get the hair cut I scheduled and Maesyn was OK with staying home from her beloved pre-school. I introduced her to JUNIE B JONES. And now she is ready for PBS kids on the computer.