Spring Break

A weekend with no children, delicious food, mellow wine and non stop girl talk... sound too good to be true? It is exactly the weekend I had with a wonderful group of women on our first annual MOPS [mothers of preschoolers] Spring Break.

We stayed in this amazing house:




I had a wonderful time. Did I mention the food? What about the girl talk? Oh, and no children... no diapers, no potty training, no whining and I got to sleep all night long in a bed by myself.

It was also the first time in months? years? that I have been able to read my bible, pray and write in my journal without interruption.


The only bad part was the drive to the house. Driving on narrow, winding roads in the rain and the fog is not fun.

I would need Valium if I lived there year round.

I vote we do this again, soon. How about fall break...at the beach? The roads are straight and FLAT!

Mouse Paint

We love the book Mouse Paint. Three white mice find three bottles of paint and jump in. When they get out of the paint bottles, they make puddles all over the floor. They discover that when they dance in the puddles and mix paint, they make many different colors.

Today, we played mouse paint.

Jakob had a ball mixing the paint with his feet, just like the mice. He was a little upset that we did not have people-sized bottles of paint because he wanted to dive right in like the mice.

We even made a poster with our purple, orange and green foot prints.

Jakob thought it wasn't enough to paint our feet and the paper.


How much fun have YOU had today??

If you don't have anything nice to say...

Since I don't have anything nice to say, I thought I'd share some of my oldest son's latest sayings.

On the way to small group:
"Mommy, Wooly [our group leaders' dog] doesn't have a bible. Wooly is TROUBLE! We should read bible stories to her."

Wanting to play with his little brother:
"Can I pet Noah?"

After wetting his bed:
"My big boy bed is BRO-KEN. Tomorrow, you need to buy me a new one."

After spilling some juice:
"Tomorrow, you need to buy a new house."

Before going to sleep:
"I am going to stretch out my arms in my big boy bed and fly, or something."

While hugging his little brother:
"No, Mommy, Noah is a GIRL."

In the busy restroom of a department store:
"You can do it, Mommy. You can potty. Lookie there. You did GOOD potty, Mommy. I'm so proud of you."

Four Eyes

Fill the tank up with gas. Pack the trunk full of luggage. Turn on your GPS and head out on a car trip. The roads are safe again.

I have been having some trouble seeing, especially while driving at night. It turns out I have mild astigmatism. That's why everything looked weird, like I was a little tipsy.

Yesterday, I picked up my glasses and now I can see. Amazing the difference a small amount of glass can make.

Rainy Days and Mondays

Today is chilly and rainy, the kind of day that has most people snuggling deeper into the covers, wishing they could just spend the day in bed. However, it is also Monday. As a SAHM with two young boys and room to improvise our daily schedule, one might think that Mondays are just like any other day of the week. NOT TRUE. Mondays around here derail as quickly as you can say "toot-toot."

Day 2 of our no-holds-barred, absolutely no diapers allowed, potty training begins pleasantly enough; Jakob awoke with dry underwear. But despite the temptation of temporary tattoos, he does not want to go potty, or eat breakfast, or get dressed.

Noah doesn't want a diaper change or to nurse and he isn't interested in waiting patiently while I try to make breakfast for everyone. He is the loudest little one I know. I'm trying to be quiet because Martin flew several nights in a row and his days are upside down.

I'm hoping to get fed, dressed and out the door as quickly as possible. So, naturally, it takes forever and we miss playgroup, like we normally do, because it is Monday.

I steer the car in the direction of the gi-normous outlet mall; the one with a huge fish tank worthy of a two year old's attention and a carousel in the food court. We are having fun and sporting big grins. I know it is almost potty time and head in the direction of the nearest restroom, but it isn't there! I know this mall has an abundance of restrooms, but I can only find pay phones and vending machines. Where have all the restrooms gone? I start walking faster and Jakob protests, but I know time is running out. I finally spot the bathroom up ahead and we dash towards it.

We roll down the long aisle, into the handicapped stall - the only one big enough to hold the three of us and the stroller. I am pleasantly surprised to find the seat cover dispenser fully stocked. I reach to pull one out, it tears in two. So does the next and the next. I am getting frantic now and I just pile all the torn covers on the toilet seat and I turn to Jakob and ... he is crying and saying, "Help meee, Mommy." He peed all over himself and there is a huge puddle on the floor. It isn't his fault, and I try to reassure him, but he is so upset. And I still have to deal with the puddle on the floor and all the wet clothes on my son. Sigh. It is Monday, after all.