Random Thoughts

Thursday, we had to do some errands that I knew would test Molly's patience in the car, so I promised her that if she wasn't fussy she could buy something at Target. We first had to go to the bank (they were out of suckers AGAIN--I just want to go buy them a bag of suckers and give it to them so when I come through the drive through the bank teller can give one to Molly), then we went to the library to pay a fine and renew Rusty's books on tape (I made sure they knew it was for my husband and not me--I take pride in my "no late fees"). We then dropped off a visiting teaching treat (this month it was the drop off--too many sick people to try to schedule a visit), and finally Target. So during all these errands I kept telling Molly that if she was happy and not fussy she could get a "prize" at Target (I'm a huge believer in bribing, I mean rewarding). Molly made it!!! The odds were against her, but she was still able to stay happy (with the help of the "Barbie, the Princess and the Pauper" cd soundtrack). Therefore, I held up to my end of the bargain and as we walk into Target and I said "Molly, you were so happy in the car. Do you want a Dora or a Princess" (these are usually the items of choice). Molly answered, "No Dora or Princess, Molly wants new tights." I said, "Are you sure you want tights, not a toy?" "Yes, I want tights." So we went and bought her three new pair of tights, two white and one pink. Which I'm sure she will proudly wear on Sunday. It just goes to show that even a two year old knows that there is nothing better than new undergarments.

My friend just posted something that I was also about to post. This fact proves to me that moms with kids have very similar experiences and can totally relate to each other. Anyway, yesterday I asked Ben and Sam to get EVERYTHING out of the van. Then I sent an empty Target bag out with Meg for her to help gather all the trash, and to ensure the job was getting done. When they all came back, six seconds later, I asked them if they got it all cleaned. I did this at least two other times. I even pulled the, "I'm going to go check," which of course made Sam yell "wait!" and go back out. But as it seems all too often, I was making dinner and talking on the phone while this was happening, and therefore did not go out to check until the next morning. Since we were taking our van in to the shop to get a couple of things looked at, I wanted to make sure there is nothing in there that we might need in the next few days. Sure enough I found a game boy, game boy game, two shoes (not matching), goldfish, popcorn, countless wrappers, a Han Solo and Darth Vader action figure and a Qdoba gift card (Meg has a thing with collecting these from different stores--she thinks they are real credit cards). They called my bluff yesterday. I should have gone and looked, but they know when I'm the weakest, when I'm busy and they knew they could get away with it. I've got to be sharper next time.

Today when we were doing errands, I took Meg and Molly to buy jeans (for Meg), and Rusty took the boys to "Michaels" so Sam could by another tube of animals (I know I talk about these animals all the time, but it's because HE talks about them all the time--can you say obsessed?) and to go to baseball tryouts for Ben. I called Rusty from my cell phone to his after a few hours to see if he was almost done, and Ben asked to talk to Meg. He asked her (Rusty told me Ben's side of the conversation and I heard Meg's) what she bought. She told him, and then she asked what he bought. He told her Sam had bought the desert animals and she could play with the snake if she wanted. Then Sam asked to talk to Meg and I heard Meg say, "luv ya" before hanging up with Ben. Then Sam talked to Meg--basically the same conversation, who bought what, and then Sam asked to talk to Molly. After everyone had talked to everyone they each said, "luv ya." I seriously almost cried. Then we got home about 20 minutes later and Sam let Meg play with his new desert animal snake.

Rusty took Sam and Ben to get ice cream at Dairy Cream after the tryouts. Sam got just a regular vanilla cone (he really isn't a sweets guy). He took a lick, then put it on the table and started telling Rusty something. Then it started dripping so he asked Rusty to lick around the cone so it wouldn't be "drippy." Rusty obliged and then same thing, Sam took another couple of licks, put the ice cream on the table and began saying something else (he's in the stage where he wants to use a lot of description when telling a story, but forgets what he's telling about half way through the story). Anyway, he asked Rusty to lick around the side again. Rusty did. Finally when there was just a little left before getting to the cone Sam asked Rusty to get it down to the cone. Then he said, "Dad, I know how much you like ice cream; that's why I'm asking you to do that." What a "sweet" little boy.

By the way, Sam says "to" like "ta." When I try to correct him he "corrects" me by telling me that "to" is pronounced "ta" and "too" is "too." The logic of a 5 year old.

Molly knows only two volumes when speaking. Loud (and I'm talking LOUD) when talking about princesses or what she wants to drink in her sippy cup, telling me what show she wants to watch or what she wants to wear, and talking to me while I'm in the shower. The other volume is a soft mumble when she's praying, telling her name to a stranger, or "forced" to apologize for hitting, biting, pushing, whining or yelling at one of us. There's no in between, and the mumbling doesn't change much when you say, "Molly, say it louder and clearer."

Why do boys think tooting is funny, and tooting on "demand" is even funnier?