Dog snot and scallops

It interesting what comes up in conversation now in my house. Before kids it wasnt quite so silly or abstract. As I was preparing a nice meal of scallops for my family my daughter asked what was better for you, dog snot or people snot. I had no idea what this meant and my face must have shown it because she explained that she had touched one of the dogs' wet noses and was just wondering if it was more germy than people snot. I told her that I thought dog snot was better. Well, I do...

Mother, come down from there.

I saw something interesting at the park on the fourth of July. I came over the hill toward the playground, and I see my almost seventy year old mother crossing the jiggly, swaying bridge thing on the playset. Then I see her make her way to the slide, and Im thinking, "Is she...?" She didnt slide, she bent down on her hands on knees near the top of the slide. She finally stands up and I call out to her, "What are you DOING?" Of course she realizes how it looks and laughs.

Apparently, my daughter, in her ever attention seeking ways, was stopped in the middle of the slide and calling for help. I told my mom "she doesnt need help, shes looking for attention". She said that she realized that once she got up there.

That night I had a little talk with Sasha about risking Grandmas health by "crying wolf". Like most things with her, it probably went in one ear and out the other, until I tell her for the 4th time. Then she might get it.

Go bark...

At our house, since we are such dog lovers, we dont play the card game "Go Fish", we play, "Go Bark". Its a deck of cards with like 5 or 6 different dog breeds on them; you collect them, and 4 of one breed makes a pack. The person with the most packs when the cards are gone, wins.

My mother was playing this with Adam, or trying to, but Adam plays his own way. My mom says, "Adam, give me all your Dachshunds" (at this point Adam is suppose to give any dacshunds he has in his hand to grandma, or he if he doesnt have one he tells her to "Go Bark", at which time she picks from the pile). Adam has dachshunds in his hand and he says "Go Bark", my mother suspicious asks him if hes sure he doesnt have any. He says, "I do but Im not giving them to you." Adam has been informed that if he doesnt play right, he wont play.

Fire in the sky...and in the garbage can.

Our first fourth of a july as a family was great. We pigged out and the kids played for hours in the river. Adam got filthy and was cleaned off like a dozen times. Nick and some random kid at the park ganged up on a couple of girls with water balloons, the girls ran away screaming, but always came back for more.

At night we went to the fireworks show and before the fireworks started, the was a fire in a garbage can. Some kid threw a sparkler in it. Everyone just stared at this fire, and no one was moving to do anything about it. THe little wooden shelter thing over it was going to catch on fire too. Suddenly, my hubby grabs his precious diet coke and walks over and throws it on the fire. I followed suit, and tossed my iced tea on it. Its a good thing I had to pee, and there were no public bathrooms, so throwing my tea out was wise. The kids ooohed and aahed at the fireworks, like loudly and enthusiastically. I dont think they have ever been to see big fireworks. Adam was sound asleep on the way home.

Chicken tenders and enchiladas

So, I have taken the advice of my mother and actually planned my meals last week. This kid stuff is new to me, remember, and Im used to just winging it with meals. I cant really do that. If I dont plan, and then shop for what I need, we end up eating out a lot and that is something that I dont think is good for the body or the bank account. So, moms advice is working.

I think I can do this mother of three thing. I almost have dinner licked. Of course 4 days of the week, hubby cooks. Hey, at least he doesnt have to decide what to make. I do that for him and I even buy all the stuff. He is a good cook though, so that helps.

So far the kids' favorites are the chicken tenders I made and the chicken enchiladas. They like the meat loaf too, but the real awesome part of that was the Australian potatoes. They are called Hot Potato Crash or something. Anyway, they are great and if you want to know the recipe, go to here:



They are delicious, and easy and reading the recipes is fun because the way they are written with humor. Its fun try it.

Wearing out grandma

Today my mom watched Adam for a while when hubby and I were at work. I called her to see how it went and my dad said she was napping. LOL. I know how she feels.

One more chance...

The weekend was interesting. We took the kids for rides on the wave runner and it was a blast until I wrecked. No one was hurt, except the wave runner. The kids got to swim in the river for a while and it was great just seeing them have fun in the water.

Sasha has been on bit of a swimming restriction until Sunday. Apparently at the public pool, where they are supposed to be supervised, she talked to a strange man who ended up giving her his goggles. This is not ok.

The camp chaperone said that she was being watched and that the man was actually a twelve year old boy. When Sasha was asked where she got the goggles, she said "a man gave them to me, when I asked for them". I think camp is just covering thier butts. Ive seen Sasha's lack of fear when it comes to talking to strangers, and so she was punished by not being allowed to swim at the pool during the next camp swim. Did she learn anything? With her, its doubtful.

Actually she has been improving on somethings. I need to keep track of the improvements in behavior, because its important to know that progress is being made. They all have improved on keeping things out of thier mouths. Im sure a lot of that comes with feeling more secure.

Adam is still cracking me up. Today he was in the truck with hubby and they passed the road where summer camp is on. Adam asked hubby if they were going to pick up his brother and sister. It wasnt time yet, so hubby said "no".

Adam said: "Poppy, Im going to give you one more chance, and then I am going to cry, are you going to get brother and sister?"

Well now hubby is both curious and amused, so he said "no" again.
Adam again said, "Ok this is your last chance, are we picking them up?"

Hubby said, "no" and then followed it up with, "Its not time yet".

Adam said, "Its not?OK."