overheard.

The other day the boys were playing pirates, running through the house after dinner with their treasure maps and hooks that they had made at camp. Rowan is singing "we're both cranky crooks. We're both sneaky snooks" And Andy just keeps telling him "Follow me, Silly Slob!"

Later, I hear Rowan tell Andy, "Go swab your own deck!"

Another one I loved was when Rowan asked me to make him an egg for lunch. Of course he didn't actually eat it. But if he wanted to try, I was not going to discourage it. So as I was scrambling the egg, Rowan asked me, "Is it ready yet?" And before I could answer him, Andy says "No, Rowan. It doesn't stink yet. You'll know it's done when the kitchen smells terrible."

superbad.

After yesterday's events I couldnt even come up with one more punishment, empty threat, or waste of breath to discipline Andy. So I told him he'd have to wait for his daddy to come home, and then he would receive his punishment. Tom decided he should write me an apology and sit and think about how he behaved. This is what he came up with, with help spelling the words, of course:

If you need a translation, it reads:

"Mommy. I am sorry. Mommy. Are sorry. I'll be better to

morrow. Mommy. On Tuesday."

That's a picture of me and him on the top. I'm sure someday I'll look back at this note and it will melt my heart. Someday.

this child.

This boy. He is beautiful both inside and out. He has a way of saying things that will just melt your heart when you are least expecting it. Last night, before bedtime, I told the boys I had a secret for them. First I told Rowan. Then Andy. I whispered, "I really, really love you!" Rowan kissed me. I expected Andy to tell me that it wasn't a secret at all. But instead, he told me, "That is the best kind of secret! Love is the most important present!"

He is so special. Anderson, I really, really love you.

hello, wound. have some salt.

Yesterday was one of those days. Allow me to introduce into evidence: the kitchen wall.

Andy was sent to time out for smothering his brother with the couch cushion. While he was in time out, I decided to change Rowan's diaper. I could hear an unfamiliar sound coming from the kitchen, but without being able to see him or identify it by ear, I simply said "You are not supposed to be moving while you're in time out." He stopped. Once the time out was over, I walked over to him, bent down to his level (like all the books say you're supposed to do) and reiterated to him why he went to time out blah, blah, blah. It was over. And I didn't ever make eye contact above counter-height.

Which was when Andy proudly said, "Look, Mommy. I ruined your wall."

Can you see it? The photo's not great. Here's what he did: he put his fingers on the wick of that candle (which had been inside our jack-o-lantern and was just hanging out there on the counter waiting to be put away -- by Mommy, I guess -- even though I'm not the one that made the jack-o-lantern. ahem.), broke off a piece, and then smeared it on the wall, ever so artistically.

And it doesn't come off. 


That was just one, of many "challenging" situations we had yesterday. Many. Many. Many.

Now, I know I'm supposed to be posting about being grateful this month, and this story doesn't really fit the bill; but I think I can still pull it back, and tie it all together. . .

Today, I am grateful that Yesterday is over.

17 walnuts.

Andy (from back seat of car): "Mum-Mum, I wanna tell you tumthing. About teventeen walnuts."

Seventeen walnuts. We have a numbers puzzle in the playroom that speaks. Only we are missing a piece. The "17". So everytime the light goes off in the playroom, the puzzle announces: "Seventeen (pause) walnuts." It's been going on for about four months, but Andy just realized it the other day. And to him, it is the greatest thing ever. "Do you hear that?", he'll say as he turns the light on and off. So, the fact that he was thinking about it when we were in the car, nowhere near our house, and needed to tell grandma about it, is just hilarious to me. His mind is a crazy-interesting place.

And so is our house. Here's a little taste of the cherry on top of the sundae that was this week. T.G.I.F.

Happy Weekending!